The Doodle Bug Train Page by Marge Marshall

By Marge Marshall

Updated 31-Jul-13

A note from our son Larry in August 2007

I have an interesting story. The mayor of Belen (my barber, Ronnie Torres) was on a

trip to Sacramento and ran across the old doodlebug train that ran from Belen to Santa Fe. Apparently back in the day, it was a popular way to travel to Albuquerque to shop, etc. Anyway, the mayor made arrangements to get the train back to Belen - which included twisting the arm of Bill Richardson (Governor of NM and dark horse presidential candidate). I've attached several pictures of the doodlebug at its final resting place.

The new Rail Runner train is running and I'm trying to ride it at least once a week. www.nmrailrunner.com

Click on the pictures to see larger versions

Like bugs, the self-propelled short trains scampered back and forth with limitless energy.

When Larry told me about new Rail Runner train, I mentioned the doodlebug I remembered hearing about when I was young. It surprised him because the term was new to him, although he is now familiar with it because the old Santa Fe Doodlebug had recently been brought to Belen. When Howard heard about it, he did some internet searching because he recalled seeing the one that ran through our hometown, Lyons KS. He didn't find a picture of it, but I just now found a website with photos of many old railway stations, including the one in Lyons. Click here.

Most people have probably heard of trolley systems, cable cars and interurban trains because they were in cities; many ran on electricity from overhead wires. The small doodlebug trains were self-propelled and didn't need external wiring. From what I've read the doodlebugs seem to have been abandoned in the 1950s.

But with the increasing costs of gas and pollution, maybe the doodlebugs will be back. Think "mass transit" and "light-rail." By the way, the Santa Fe Railway is now part of BNSF.