Talk:Harry McClintock

Harry?
Was he really born "Harry" or rather "Harold" or "Harald"? Maikel (talk) 14:02, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes. Nothing uncommon about it. Lewis Trondheim (talk) 17:17, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

CD Cover missing
Where is it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 141.91.240.162 (talk) 18:45, 2 December 2010 (UTC)


 * It was apparently deleted for copyright violations. Bms4880 (talk) 21:14, 14 February 2011 (UTC)

A second opinion for this video
A music video of Big Rock Candy Mountain, which appears to have Harry singing the song. But for all I know it could be a fake. If anyone can authenticate the video for sure that would be great. Until then I will add it to the Videos section.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGCpGzFWh0 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.246.242.225 (talk) 17:46, 1 August 2012 (UTC)

Assessment comment
Substituted at 17:13, 29 April 2016 (UTC)

What is a boomer?
The article says quotes McClintock as "the son of a railroad cabinet maker and nephew of four boomer trainmen". The word 'Boomer' links to the page for the Industrial Workers of the World. What does boomer mean in this instance? How does the link to the IWW page clarify it?

Flameoguy (talk) 22:21, 11 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Many of the IWW members (Spellbinders) would travel around the US working as independent "Boomer Brakeman" for many railroads. This would enable them to travel for free and get paid to go to places around the country where IWW organizing is required. Mac KFRC (talk) 17:58, 25 April 2023 (UTC)

Birth place
Do we have a source that says he was born in Uhrichsville? Bluegrass Messengers and Bay Area Radio Museum both say he was born in Knoxville. Uhrichsville was added in this edit. GA-RT-22 (talk) 18:52, 19 July 2022 (UTC)


 * (Certified Copy of Birth Record)The State of Ohio, Tuscarawas County Probate Court No. 100191, Record of Births, Date Filed June 4, 1885 Vol. 1, Page 383, No. 35, Witness my signature and the seal of said Court, at New Philadelphia, Ohio, this 26th day of October, 1981. Judge George J. Demis By Janet Lane Deputy Clerk.
 * I sent for a copy, the Uhrichsville record was recorded June 4, 1885.
 * The one from Knoxville was recorded in March 11, 1941 Mac KFRC (talk) 17:37, 25 April 2023 (UTC)

Removal of Railroad Work List
I noticed when McClintock's name showed up on the Tooele Valley Railway article that there was an extensive list on this page claiming to be every railroad he worked on. There was no citations, or any verifiable source that claims where he worked. I did notice one possible source which wasn't online, an obituary in the October 1957 Railroad magazine, so I went and bought a copy and the only railroad by name it ever mentions there is the following.

"He was born at Knoxville, Tenn., the son of a railroad cabinetmaker and nephew of four boomer trainmen. His drifting began when he ran away from home as a boy to join a circus He railroaded in Africa, worked as a seaman, saw action in the Philippines as a civilian mule-train packer, supplying American foods with food and ammunition, and in 1899 found himself in China as an aide to newsman covering the Boxer Rebellion."

''"Back in the States, he hired out to the Pennsy in the Pittsburg area, and from there he took the boomer trail as a railroader and a minstrel. Mac lived an adventurous life and never lost his sense of humor." ''

Of course I do wonder how much of the eulogy could have been exaggerated itself as a tall tale such as the Africa railroading, sailor work and other adventures or if they are based in truth... but regardless there is no mythical source here naming every railroad he worked on; and until such a verifiable source arises the only confirmed railroad we have is the PRR. Until more sources can be found we can assume this "list" of railroads worked is foamer legend, hearsay and potentially page vandalism. Xboxtravis7992 (talk) 21:20, 23 April 2023 (UTC)


 * More railroads are listed at the Bluegrass Messengers source, but that appears to be a personal web site with no editorial oversight. I agree the list should be removed. Quite a bit of the material added to this article lacks proper sourcing, or is even contradicted by the sources we have (see the section on his birth place above). GA-RT-22 (talk) 21:59, 23 April 2023 (UTC)
 * I added everything I had on Macs railroading to Wikipedia after I went to Southern Pacific RR and saw this:
 * "Notable employees, Jimmie Rodgers (country singer), Father of Country Music, Singer-Songwriter." No mention of Mac working for SP CO.
 * I would frequent very old junk Book & Magazine stores in the late 1960s and early 1970s looking for old railroad and detective magazines. My Dad (SP retired after 45 years), and his friends started me looking into Mac and "The Big Rock Candy Mountains" which brought me to the IWW, Archie Green, Wallace Stegner, Ralph Chaplin, etc. I compiled the list of Mac's railroad jobs over 50 years.
 * Harry K. McClintock born in Uhrichsville Ohio in Oct 8 1884 and was recorded on June 4, 1885. I have a copy
 * The one from Knoxville was recorded in March 11, 1941. I have a copy. Mac KFRC (talk) 19:22, 25 April 2023 (UTC)

Missing The Railroad Name
Settles down in San Francisco: He married a railroad engineer's daughter, Bessie (Jan. 25, 1899- Dec. 16, 1980); they had a daughter and settled in San Francisco. McClintock worked full time for the railroads, mainly as a brakeman. According to the 1920 census, his daughter was four years old, making the date the McClintocks established a permanent residence in San Francisco around 1915-16. He worked for the" Railroads" doesn't mean that he worked for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. It's too vague. Southern Pacific railroad. San Francisco Belt Railroad. San Francisco-Sacramento Railroad. Just to name a few. Bibliography: The mention of the Railroad Magazine needs to be checked out. The magazine was bought out by Carstens Publications, now White River Productions. WRP, should have a copy of each magazine to clear up the information of which he worked for.

Eric Erie Ericerie (talk) 05:09, 11 November 2023 (UTC)