Volume 31, No. 3 November 2017 Official Monthly Publication of the ARKANSAS-BOSTON MOUNTAINS CHAPTER NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Chapter No. 188 founded in 1987 2017 DIRECTORY OF OFFICERS President Bob Stark Vice President Al Kaeppel Secretary Malcolm Cleaveland Treasurer Tom Duggan Program Director open Advisory Council Ken Eddy Board Director Larry Cain Editor Mike Sypult The Midland Valley Railroad in Arkansas - Part 2
A Midland Valley motor car awaits departure in Fort Smith, Arkansas. – Ft. Smith Museum of History photo Page 1 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
ARKANSAS RAILROADS – THEN AND NOW A series of articles on Arkansas railroads both past and present. THE MIDLAND VALLEY RAILROAD IN ARKANSAS Part 2 - By Mike Sypult
A 1903 product of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, 2-8-0 Consolidation Midland Valley #7 poses for the company photographer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before delivery to Arkansas. - John Dill Collection
The Midland Valley would return to Baldwin in 1923 and 1925 for five USRA light 2-8-2 Mikados. Brand new #93 is pictured in Eddystone, Pennsylvania in 1925. - Bill Pollard Collection Page 2 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
Midland Valley Steam Locomotive Roster
No. Wheel Builder Date Drvr Weight Disposition 1 4-6-0 Hicks 1892 51” 75,000 ex PRR, acquired 1903, scrapped 1922 2 4-6-0 BLW unk 51” 75,000 ex (?), acquired 1903 3 4-6-0 Pittsburgh 1890 51” unk ex P&LE 65, acq 1903 4 (1st) 4-6-0 Pittsburgh unk unk unk ex (?), acquired 1903, sold/scrapped 1906 4 (2nd) 2-8-0 BLW 1906 50” 138,000 Camelback 5 (1st) 4-6-0 Pittsburgh unk unk unk ex (?) acquired 1903, sold/scrapped 1906 6-26 2-8-0 BLW 1903-07 50” 138,000 28 unk Hicks unk 61” unk “2nd hand loco, thrown out 5/07” 29 4-4-0 unk unk unk unk “scrapped by 1907” 30-32 4-4-0 BLW 1903-04 69” 17272 33-35 4-4-0 BLW 1904-07 63” 18835 50-55 4-6-0 BLW 1905-06 57” 20900 55 4-6-0 BLW 1906 unk unk ex CVR 7, acquired 1920 60, 61 2-6-0 BLW 1907,06 50” 13300 ex BCG&A 10, 11 70-76 2-8-2 BLW 1917-22 57” 19950 80,81 2-8-0 BLW/PRR 1899,1900 56” 18650 ex PRR 1828, 978, acq. 1917, scr 1927 90-94 2-8-2 BLW 1923,25 63” 24200 based on USRA light Mikado 100,101 0-6-0 BLW 1907,17 50” 12800 110 2-10-0 BLW 1925 56” 21200 ex Osage RY 10, acquired c.1929 NOTES: 16: sold to MNA as no.1, Dec 1927 17: sold to MNA as no.2, Dec 1927 21, 22: sold to SAU&G as 21, 22, renumbered 1004, 1005, then to I-GN 1004, 1005. 50-55: were originally numbered 20-24, renumbered in 1907 to make room for more 2-8-0s. Second #4 was a 1906 Baldwin “Camelback ” which fea- tured a larg- er firebox suitable for burning Se- bastian County coal. Philadelph- ia, PA - Baldwin Locomotive Works photo
Midland Valley Consolidation #14 with crew at Greenwood, AR in 1914 - John Dill collection Page 3 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
General Electric Gas Electric Car M-4 poses in Muskogee, OK on December 16, 1925. This car was purchased in 1923 by the Midland Valley and was formerly #26 for the defunct Hawkinsville & Florida Southern Railway. Originally built for the Frisco in 1912 as their #2110. - Bill Pollard collection Page 4 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
Resting between runs in Denison, Texas on July 19, 1954, Midland Valley GE M-8 (2nd) was rebuilt in 1935 using parts from other motor cars. - Jim Buckley photo, Louis Marre Collection. Midland Valley Passenger Motor Car Roster No. Type Builder Date HP Notes M-1 Gas-Electric GE 1913 175 Retired 1934 for parts. M-2 Gasoline McKeen 1911 200 Purchased from Sand Springs Railway #2 – sold to UP in 1925 M-3 Gas-Electric GE 1916 175 Originally Electric Shortline Terminal 312, acquired 1917 M-4 Gas-Electric GE 1912 175 Originally Frisco 2110, ex Hawk. & Fla. Sou 26, acq. 1923 M-5 Gas-Electric GE 1912 175 Originally Pittsburgh & Lake Erie 500, acq. 1922 M-6 Gas-Electric GE 1912 175 Originally Dan Patch 10, ex. Oklahoma, New Mexico & Pacific M-7 Gas-Electric GE 1912 175 Originally Missouri & North Arkansas 102, acquired 1927 M-81 Gas-Electric GE 1914 175 Originally Missouri & North Arkansas 103, acquired 1927 M-82 Gas-Electric GE 1935 175 Rebuilt using parts from other motor cars, scrapped Nov. 1954 Page 5 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
It is July 19, 1954 in Denison, Texas and Midland Valley’s M-8 (2nd) awaits a certain fate. In just a few months, this car would be retired and scrapped in November 1954.- Jim Buckley photo, Louis Marre Collection.
A 1905 first class ticket from Maney Junction, Indian Territory (where the Midland Valley crossed the Frisco in Rock Island, I.T.) to Bo- koshe, Indian Territory. - Bill Pollard collection
Page 6 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
The Midland Valley in Arkansas along with other now abandoned railroads in the region south of Fort Smith. - Map used by permission of Steam Powered Video’s Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America: Prairies East & Ozarks.
Page 7 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
1906 Map of the Midland Valley prior to completion to Wichita, Kansas. The Midland Valley used trackage rights for 15 miles over the Frisco to enter their yard in Fort Smith. - John Dill collection
On June 14, 1944, Midland Valley Mikado 2-8-2 number 72 sits on the Armstrong Turntable in Fort Smith, Ar- kansas. - Mike Condren collection
Page 8 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
Page 9 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
July 8, 1911 Midland Valley Timetable #17 showing the Hoye, Excelsior and Arkansas Districts. - Bill Pollard Collection
Midland Valley #76, a 1922 product of the Baldwin Locomotive Works in between assignments in the MV’s Fort Smith, Arkansas yard on July 16, 1944. - Mike Condren collection
Page 10 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
December 8, 1929 Midland Valley Public Timetable. - John Dill collection
Page 11 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
Excelsior’s Railroad The Excelsior shops are pictured below. by Mike Condren I consider the Midland Valley my family’s railroad. In 1903 a railroad was organized to service the coal My grandfather Condren’s first job was in the shops in mines in South Sebastian County. Three rail lines Excelsior. He worked his way up the ladder to a posi- were built from Excelsior. One was toward Green- tion of fireman on one of the passenger trains. This wood where it connected with the St Louis Iron lasted until 1911 when a friend from Cameron, OK Mountain & Southern and served the Fidelity mine was killed in a head-on collision at Bokoshe, OK. east of Greenwood. Another headed south from Ex- That upset my grandmother who demanded that my celsior through the valley toward Hartford and a con- grandfather quit the railroad for a safer job. He got a nection with the Choctaw Oklahoma & Gulf (Rock job above ground with one of the nearby coal mines. Island). The third line headed west toward Hackett and Rock Island, IT. At Rock Island it connected with In the early days of the Midland Valley individuals the Frisco line from Ft Smith toward Paris, TX. The rode horses or walked where they needed to go. Cars Midland Valley used track age rights on the Frisco to were rare. To meet the need of workers, the railroad reach its facilities in Ft Smith. The Midland Valley began running numerous passenger trains to get the line continued from Rock Island toward Muskogee, miners to work. They were not known as commuter Tulsa, and Wichita and points in between. The shops trains, but they served the same purpose. and headquarters were originally located in Excelsior.
Excelsior, Arkansas is milepost 0 with the Midland Valley main line, Hartford, and Excelsior branches radiating outward. - Mike Condren collection
Page 12 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
Midland Valley locomotive 26 and crew in front of the two story depot and headquarters of the Midland Valley in Excelsior, Arkansas, 1910. - John Dill collection Here we see the station and a passenger train at Excel- MV engine and crew in front of the Excelsior, AR sta- sior. The headquarters of the railroad were located in tion in 1910 among those in the picture are Jack Lat- this building. ham, Bill Maddox, Tom Scott, Jack Beck, and Bill Keefer.
Excelsior, Ar- kansas Midland Valley station and water tank on a very cold winter day. - Mike Condren collection
Page 13 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
My grandmother Condren gave me the following pic- land Valley tracks ran behind the Jail, home of the tures of a passenger train heading down the line to- South Sebastian County Historical Society, to the sta- ward Hartford. In the second picture, note Sugar Loaf tion across AR10. - Mike Condren Collection Mountain in the background. In Greenwood the Mid-
Page 14 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
In addition to my grandfather, a cousin, Bonnie Philadelphia and the headquarters and shops were Condren, became the first female station agent in the moved to Muskogee, OK. nation at Pawhuska, OK in 1918. She later married a The husband of my father’s older sister, Richard Skin- MV switchman. He was killed in a railroad accident. ner, was a miner in the Excelsior area after WWII. She married another MV switchman and settled in When the mine closed, he hired on to the Midland Muskogee. Another couple of cousins from the Pigg Valley as a fireman, later promoted to engineer. Be- family also worked for the Midland Valley, Frank and low is a photo of him on the front of his locomotive Lank Pigg. while they were stopped in Panama, OK. In 1923 the Midland Valley, the Kansas Oklahoma & Gulf, and the Oklahoma City Ada & Atoka were bought by the company called the Muskogee Roads of
Midland Valley westbound with GP7 153 and Engineer Skinner pauses at the Kansas City Southern crossing in Panama, Oklahoma on August 30, 1962. Panama is milepost 20.8 from Excelsior, Arkansas. - Mike Condren photo
Page 15 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
One of his uncles had been the engineer killed in 1958 Frisco line south from Ft Smith. We passed through in the second head-on collision at Bokoshe, OK. (see the tunnel between Bonanza and Jensen before we the December 2017 ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER) When reached Midland Valley rails at Rock Island, OK. he retired, the Muskogee Roads had been purchased (Maney Junction) There we boarded the second unit of by the Texas & Pacific which was owned by the Mis- the locomotive and headed down the line toward Ex- souri Pacific. The Missouri Pacific quickly merged celsior. At Hackett we crossed the Frisco line to the T&P into their system. In 1967 the last Midland Mansfield and proceeded to a coal mine east of town. Valley train ran into Ft Smith. In 1982 the Missouri We set out some empty coal hoppers at the mine and Pacific became part of today’s Union Pacific system. picked up some loads before returning to Rock Island. In 1960 a rumor was going around that railroads char- At Rock Island we again boarded the caboose for the tered in Oklahoma were required to carry passengers ride to Panama, OK. At Panama we got off and rode in their cabooses. Gordon Mott and I went to the sta- with the crew in a car to a cafe/bus station. After tion in Ft Smith to purchase a ticket from the agent. lunch we caught a bus back to Ft Smith. He had not heard this rumor but agreed to check with
Excelsior, Arkansas, August 6, 1960. Midland Valley GP7s 152 and 154 handle today’s switching of the coal mine. - Louis Marre photo headquarters in Muskogee. The response he got from Muskogee was that he could allow us to ride in the caboose for free because the paper work would be too expensive to file all the paper work required. On Au- gust 6, 1960 we went to the station, met the crew and got on the caboose. On our ride we first were on the
Page 16 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
Hackett, Arkansas Johnson Mine #2 on August 6, 1960. Mike Condren and friends were aboard the Midland Valley locomotives as they switched this coal mine. - Louis Marre photo IN NEXT MONTH’S ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER PART 3 of 3 of The Midland Valley In Arkansas Midland Valley diesel locomotive roster The Fort Smith Midland Valley station The 1958 Bokoshe, Oklahoma head on collision Transition to MoPac’s Jenks blue Hartford, Arkansas Excelsior shops photos And several color photos from Mike Condren and Louis Marre
SPECIAL THANKS TO: John Dill Dr. Bill Pollard Dr. Mike Condren Dr. Louis A. Marre The late Lloyd E. Stagner, Sr.
Page 17 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
Midland Valley Railroad History Timeline Compiled by Mike Sypult ([email protected]) updated October 2017 YEAR DATE EVENT 1902 Ingersoll group sells the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf to the Rock Island 1903 June 4 Midland Valley Railroad incorporated 1904 November Line extended from Muskogee to Tulsa, IT 1906 March Glen Pool oil field discovered 1906 May 1 Completed construction to Silverdale, KS – 292.7 miles 1906 June First train entered Arkansas City, KS over MP trackage rights from Silverdale 1906 MV adopts the slogan “Arkansas River Route” 1907 November 16 Oklahoma enters the Union 1910 July 29 MV leases the Wichita & Midland Valley Railroad – extends line to Wichita 1911 September 22 MV enters Wichita, KS – route is now 322 miles in length 1912 January 15 A.W. Lefeber appointed as MV’s General Manager 1923 February 27 The Muskogee Company is organized by the Ingersoll brothers 1926 May 1 The Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf Railway merges with the MV 1930 Midland Valley acquired by the Muskogee Company (“Muskogee Roads”) 1934 October MV discontinues passenger service and institutes mixed train service 1943 November Excelsior to Hartford Junction authorized for abandonment 1953 February First diesel locomotives arrive – GP7’s #151-154 1953 May All steam locomotives on the MV are retired Most serious accident of MV history at Bokoshe, AR – head-on with 3 fatalities 1958 February 1 – locomotives 152 and 153 are destroyed 1964 September 25 Muskogee Roads sold the Missouri Pacific Railroad 1964 October Arkansas City to Wichita, KS abandoned after flood 1967 MV officially merged into MoPac’s Texas and Pacific 1968 Silverdale to Pawhuska, OK abandoned by the MP 1968 Excelsior to Panama, OK abandoned by the MP 1982 September 13 MP sold to the Union Pacific 1984 Pawhuska to Barnsdall, OK abandoned by the UP SOURCES http://www.mopac.org/corporate-history/62-muskogee-lines-mv-ko-g-ocaa http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/smu/00131/smu-00131.html http://www.r2parks.net/MV.html https://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/railway/trainord.htm#Boko
Midland Valley: Rails for Coal, Cattle and Crude - Paperback By Lloyd E. Stagner (Author) - South Platte Press - 56 pages - 1996
Page 18 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
ABMT NRHS CHAPTER MINUTES ̶ OCTOBER 19, 2017 Meeting of the Arkansas-Boston Mountains Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society at the Reilly McCarren Transportation Museum, A&M Depot, Springdale, AR. The chapter was called to order at 7 PM by President Bob Stark. 14 members were present including two visitors, John and Patricia Dill. Members ap- proved the September 2017 minutes as reported in the October Scrambler. Reports from officers are as follows: Chapter VP, Al Kaeppel, reminded members present of the important year-end activities for our chapter which included our volunteer presence and contribution to the 2017 Chil- dren’s Christmas Train activities. Al also announced that our annual Christmas dinner party aboard the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad dining car would take place on Thursday, December 21. Reservations can be obtained from Al when he has received your money. The cost will be $20 per person. Details of this activity are in the November Scrambler. Membership chairman, Chuck Girard, distributed a current membership list to all present. A few membership details still need to be worked out. Local chapter dues are $12 which includes the chapter member and his or her family. Tom Duggan, chapter treasurer, was present and gave the chapter financial report. Scrambler editor, Mike Sypult, reported a significant number of historical rail fans showing interest in our chapter activities through our website. Bill Merrifield reported that as the former Scrambler editor, he gave a one year subscription of Trains maga- zine to the new Scrambler editor in order to take advantage of the numerous railroad historical articles that Trains magazine makes available to subscribers on their website. This also includes hundreds of reproducible digital railroad photographs to go with the articles. A motion was made and seconded for the chapter to con- tinue this valuable resource from chapter funds. Motion carried unanimously. Chapter President, Bob Stark, gave indication that we will again seek to honor some individual or organiza- tion that have been instrumental in supporting historical railroad activities. Train Talk: Program: The evening’s interesting program was presented by chapter president, Bob Stark. The presentation was aided by visitor, John Dill, who volunteered his personal computer when our chapter computer was dis- covered not to be available. Bill Merrifield, filling in for Malcolm Cleaveland, Chapter Secretary
Page 19 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
Chapter Notices
ABMT Chapter of the NRHS Christmas Party, Thursday, December 21, 2017 Once again this year, Brenda will provide us with the A&M Dining Car. Let’s have a large turnout - it is al- ways fun. The excellent dinner cost per person is $20 each. You will have reservations when Al Kaeppel has received your money. You can pay at our next meeting in November or send your check to Al Kaeppel’s ad- dress below: 3831 Tara St. Springdale, AR 72762. His phone number is 927-3163. See you there.
Chapter Legal Documentation Update November 2, 2017 At a Chapter meeting President Bob Stark appointed Al Kaeppel (Vice President) , Chuck Girard (Membership Chairman)and the undersigned to review the Chapter’s investing policy. Our objective is to in- vestigate alternatives and submit recommendations for discussion and decision by Chapter members. Stemming from our discussions that the Chapter may have to open one or more new financial accounts, we have concluded that the Chapter’s 1987 legal documentation is no longer current. It may not comply with the standards of a bank or mutual fund company. Some of the changes relate to our IRS 501-c-3 nonprofit status. As we are a nonprofit we enjoy exemption from Federal income taxes. Donations to the Chapter, whether of money or goods, are also deductible to the extent allowed by IRS regulations. Our current documentation does not include important IRS required language. From a State of Arkansas standpoint we were organized under a 1963 nonprofit law. This law was replaced by a 1993 nonprofit law that reflects many legal and societal changes. We need to have Articles of Incorporation and Byelaws that are current. Our documentation also needs to resolve some housekeeping issues that have grown up over the years. We thank you for reading this memo. We will keep Chapter members informed as we work on this subject. Tom Duggan Treasurer
Page 20 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017
MEETINGS: Meetings of the membership are open to the public on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm at the ADA compliant Reilly P. McCarren Railroad Museum at the Arkansas & Missouri Depot lo- cated on Emma Avenue in downtown Springdale, Arkansas. Meetings in winter months are not held when the Springdale public schools are closed due to inclement weather. Visitors are welcome at all chapter meetings.
UPCOMING SPRINGDALE PROGRAMS: November 16 - Chapter Show and Tell December 21 - Christmas Party aboard the A&M January 18, 2018 - TBD
QUESTIONS: Call 479-419-9674 or email us at [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.arkrailfan.com
SUBMISSIONS: Send content (articles, stories, photos) for the monthly SCRAMBLER newsletter to Mike Sypult, editor – [email protected] DEADLINE for the next SCRAMBER is the 9th day of each month.
MEMBERSHIP: Local chapter membership is $12 per year. Membership coordinator for the Arkansas -Boston Mountains Chapter is Chuck Girard, 7510 Westminster Place, Fort Smith, AR 72903-4253. Please make checks payable to ABMT NRHS. Regular membership for the National Railway Historical Society is $50 per annum and Family Membership is $54 per annum. Please refer to the NRHS website www.nrhs.com for complete details.
Page 21 - THE ARKANSAS SCRAMBLER November 2017