NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
NEXT MEETING : TUESDAY , M A Y 1 , 2 0 0 7 GREET - 7 P M . MEET - 7 : 3 0 P M . P R O G R A M : T EXAS E LECTRIC R A I L W A Y A T : I NTERURBAN R AILWAY M U S E U M , 9 0 1 E . 1 5 T H S T . , P L A N O
V ALLI H OSKI , NORTH TEXAS NEWS DISPATCHER O PINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN MAY NOT REFLECT THE OFFICI AL POSITION OF THE N ORTH T EXAS C HAPTER OR THE N ATIONAL R AILWAY H I S T O R I C A L S OC IET Y . ALL CONTENT RIGHTS RETAINED BY ORIGINAL AUTHOR . EVERY ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TOCOMPLY WITH FAIR USE ANDCOPYRIGHT LAW .
NM RAIL RUNNER ABQ AIRPORT STATION SERVICE STARTS APRIL 20 .. 12 CHAPTER MEETING...... 1 ON THE ROAD (A GAIN ) WITH E AND F UNITS ...... 12 MAY 1 MEETING – TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY ...... 1 CP 2816 & MR 261 STEAM EXCURSIONS , AUG -SEPT ‘07...... 12 NYC SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY GETS UNDERWAY ...... 12 CHAPTER EVENTS & SPECIAL NEWS...... 2 NEW WORLD TRAIN SPEED RECORD SET - 320 MPH ...... 13 SEE THE GRAND CANYON ON A MIGHTY MIKADO ...... 13 “24 HOURS @ SAGINAW ” 2007 – 5/25-26...... 2 SUSQUEHANNA BRIDGE SINGS ON TRACK 2...... 13 LIFE AFTER SAGINAW , LONE STAR RAIL FAIR 2007 – 5/27...... 2 RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR CAPITOL HILL ’S RR DAY ...... 13 SPECIAL FEATURE – TEXAS ELECTRIC RESTORING FLATBUSH ’S GLORY DAYS ...... 13 RAILWAY...... 3 PCC CAR FLEET TO BE RESTORED , BAYONNE HARBOR , NJ ...... 14 HAMMOND GROUP HOPES TO RESTORE NKP MIKADO 624 ...... 14 TER CREATOR , COLONEL STRICKLAND , RECOGNIZED BY TEXAS RAILS ESSENTIAL TO PENN STATE GREATNESS ...... 14 TRANSPORTATION HALL OF HONOR ...... 3 REFLECTIONS ON THE CAREER OF COLONEL JOHN STRICKLAND ...... 3 CHAPTER NEWS ...... 14 SPECIAL FEATURE – CLIMBING ABOARD 10 YEARS AGO WITH THE NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER – SPRING 1997...... 14 CHAPTER MEETING MINUTES , APRIL 3, 2007 ...... 15 THE TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY ...... 5 CONVENTION CORRAL – LONE STAR TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY & THE INTERURBAN RAILWAY MUSEUM ...... 5 RAILS 2008 ...... 15 SPECIAL FEATURE – IMAGES OF CONVENTION COMMITTEE REPORT ...... 15 INTERURBANS IN TEXAS...... 7 CHAPTER DIRECTORY...... 15 TEXAS INTERURBAN CAR 109...... 7 DALLAS RAILWAY AND TERMINAL CAR 120...... 7 NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER OFFICERS ...... 15 NORTHERN TEXAS TRACTION “C RIMSON LIMITED ” ...... 8 NORTH TEXAS CALENDAR ...... 16 TEXAS INTERURBAN AND THE KATY ...... 8 NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER HISTORY ...... 16
NORTH TEXAS HOT SPOT DETECTOR...... 9 Chapter Meeting SMITTY ’S ROADHOUSE , AMIDST ECHOES OF EAST TEXAS TRACTION ...... 9 NORTH TEXAS RAIL NEWS...... 10 May 1 Meeting – Texas Electric Railway
DART 10 TH ANNUAL RAILDEO WINNERS !...... 10 Where : Interurban Railway Museum , 901 E. 15th St., Plano. DART GREEN LINE EXPANSION – COMMUNITY MEETINGS , 6/8-14/07 ...10 www.interurbanplano.org DART DOWNTOWN TRANSIT STUDY – PUBLIC MEETINGS , 6/2-3/07 ...... 10 Driving ? From Central Expressway, exit at 15th St.; turn right INNOVATIVE DALLAS COUNTY RAIL HUB PROMOTED ...... 10 on 15th St. past H St.; Museum is in Haggard Park on left. IPOD , U DART, & WE WIN ! ...... 11 Parking on left after museum, before DART RR tracks. NEW COO JOINS TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS ...... 11 DART ? Red Line to Downtown Plano Station. Look west to TEXAS & REGIONAL RAIL NEWS ...... 11 see Museum can be seen from DART train station platform. Entrances are on south and west side of the building. LATEST TEXAS STATE RAILROAD ACTIVITY ...... 11 TSRR-related Bill 1659 Moves To Senate Floor, 4/12/07 .....11 Remembering the Texas Electric Railway … Palestine City Council Ratifies TSRR Contract, 4/09/07 ...... 11 This issue’s Special Feature sections focus on Texas TSRR Supporters Promote Legislative Action ...... 11 interurban and the very special Texas Electric Railway. Enjoy Texas Legislature Considers TSRR Operating Authority ...... 12 this inaugural number in the special edition series of the GENERAL RAIL NEWS...... 12 North Texas Zephyr newsletter, for the NTC, NRHS.
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
Chapter Events & Special News “24 Hours @ Saginaw” 2007 – 5/25-26 Come watch trains and have a good time with members of the North Texas Chapter, NRHS. Last year, we had up to 100 rail fans attend. At least 5 stayed the full 24 hours. We recorded 75 trains. Let's break the record! Date and Time: Friday, May 25th & Saturday, May 26th, 2006 – 7:00pm to 7:00pm, for 24 hours! Our Goal: Spend 24 hours at the Saginaw Heritage Center (the depot) at 301 S. Saginaw Blvd. in Saginaw, TX Our Objective: Watch and record trains for a 24 hour period. Come watch, talk, listen and photograph trains safely while sharing fellowship and education with like minded rail fans and families. Also, help us promote the City of Saginaw as a nationally known hot spot to watch and record trains safely. It is reported up to 60 trains pass the Saginaw depot per day! Plenty to fill your train watching appetite! Activities Include: • Operation Lifesaver Rules on “How to watch trains safely”. • A safe area to watch trains. 24 hours of Railroad videos and slide programs. • Railroad theme games and trivia to help pass the time. • Railroad Scanner broadcast of approaching trains. • Master board to record the running total of trains. • Door prizes and merit awards for hours logged watching. • Food, Fun and More... Admission is FREE , Donations are accepted. Sponsors: • The North Texas Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society ( www.ntxnrhs.org ) • Saginaw Chamber of Commerce (www.saginawtxchamber.org ) Check out Wes Carr's "Rail fan Primer" about Saginaw http:// www.trainweb.org/southwestshorts/saginaw.html Want to do a program, clinic, or media show? We are still accepting anyone who would like to put on a program or clinic during the "24 hours @ Saginaw" event. Whether it's a slide show, a video, or film or a clinic on photography, recording sound or video or documenting trains via train logs, we welcome your program. Any length or subject will be considered. Please contact Skip Waters via email or call at the number below if you are available. Thanks for your interest! Skip Waters, Vice President, Trips & Events, North Texas Chapter, NRHS. 214-987-2888 office (call anytime) Life After Saginaw, Lone Star Rail Fair 2007 – 5/27 Don’t forget the 27th Annual Lone Star Rail Fair - Railroad Collectible and Train Show in the Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall - Will Rogers. Memorial Center - Ft. Worth, TX. It’s the premier railroad collectible / artifact show in Texas!
Have Fun With a Full Railfan Weekend! Come to Saginaw! Come to Fort Worth! Please plan to join us Friday night for a pick up slide show or a few hours on Saturday and have fun watching Trains, Trains, Trains... Bring your friends; make a full railfan weekend out of it!
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
Special Feature – Texas Electric Railway This Special Feature Section is dedicated to the loyal TER employees, riders, historians, and fans who all have contributed to an endearing, enduring legacy of Texas railroading. Many thanks to Steven D. Siegerist, Johnny J. Myers, and LeRoy O. King for their historical contributions, Claude Doane for his loyal assistance and TER book loan, and Harry Fasick, my loyal husband for his patience with my endless phone calls, and urgent photo run to the Plano Interurban Museum – you all made this very special issue possible. VH, TER Creator, Colonel Strickland, Recognized By Texas Transportation Hall Of Honor By Steve Siegerist The Texas Transportation Hall of Honor recognizes the "true transportation leaders" in the state. Mr. Ray Barnhart, Former Member of the Texas Transportation Commission said "This is not a hall of fame, for fame is fleeting and it's shallow. This is a Hall of Honor. It has depth; it has meaning that will go on for years to come." The Texas Transportation Hall of Honor is located at Texas A&M Research Park, College Station, Texas. On October 30, 2006, the honorees in the hall were expanded by one more person. Colonel John F. Strickland , the creator of the Texas Electric Railway (TER) was inducted into the hall. It is fitting that the induction ceremony was held at Dallas Area Rapid Transit headquarters and a plaque was presented to DART President Gary Thomas for display in the DART building. DART is recreating the interurban of old in the Light Rail of today. In the process, the light rail builders are finding some of the streetcar and interurban tracks buried under the asphalt in the streets that they are reconstructing. Some of the interurban right-of-way is being used again for electric traction. A speech by Mr. John Wilson, General Manager, Citibus, Lubbock, recognized the life and career of Colonel Strickland, is featured in the article below. The first induction into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor was made in 2000, so this is a rather recently conceived honorarium. Most of the inductees made their mark in the second half of the twentieth century. The only "railroad" honoree in the hall is Harold J. McKenzie, President of the Cotton Belt Railroad from 1951 to 1969. Under his leadership, the headquarters of the Cotton Belt were moved from St. Louis to Tyler. If you would like to learn more about the hall, the website is http://tti.tamu.edu/hall_of_honor . Reflections On The Career Of Colonel John Strickland Presented by John Wilson, General Manager, Citibus, Lubbock, upon the occasion of the induction of Colonel John F. Strickland into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor on October, 30, 2006. COLONEL J.F. STRICKLAND GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A MAN THAT WAS SO INFLUENTIAL IN THE ELECTRIC AND TRANSIT INDUSTRY. COLONEL STRICKLAND WAS TRULY AN AMAZING PERSON THAT WAS HIGHLY REGARDED IN THE COMMUNITY AND BY HIS EMPLOYEES. JOHN FRANK STRICKLAND WAS BORN IN GADSDEN, ALABAMA ON DECEMBER 9, 1860. HE TRAVELED TO ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS BY WAGON TRAIN IN 1878. BY 1887 COLONEL STRICKLAND HAD HIS OWN RETAIL GROCERY STORE IN WAXAHACHIE; J.F. STRICKLAND AND CO. IN DECEMBER OF 1887 COLONEL STRICKLAND WAS PART OF A GROUP OF LOCAL CITIZENS BEGAN MAKING PLANS TO BRING ELECTRICITY TO WAXAHACHIE. IN 1892 FRIENDS PERSUADED COLONEL STRICKLAND TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE AILING WAXAHACHIE ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY AND HE BECAME VICE-PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER. BY 1901 HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER. COLONEL STRICKLAND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN THE ELECTRIC
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
BUSINESS AND SOON FORMED THE IDEA OF ACQUIRING ELECTRIC PLANTS IN SEVERAL NORTH TEXAS TOWNS AND LINKING THEM TOGETHER WITH TRANSMISSION LINES. IN 1904 THE STRICKLANDS MOVED TO DALLAS AND WITH HIS ASSOCIATES ORGANIZED THE DALLAS SECURITIES COMPANY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OWNING AND OPERATING BOTH POWER AND TRACTION LINES FROM A GENERAL OFFICE IN DALLAS. THE DALLAS SECURITIES COMPANY BOUGHT ELECTRIC PLANTS AT BONHAM, CLEBURNE, HILLSBORO, SHERMAN AND TEMPLE IN ADDITION TO WAXAHACHIE. MANY IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE BY THE STRICKLAND INTERESTS, MOST NOTABLE OF WHICH WAS ESTABLISHING ELECTRIC SERVICE ON A 24-HOUR SCHEDULE IN EACH TOWN. COLONEL STRICKLAND NOW PLANNED TO TIE THESE PROPERTIES TOGETHER WITH AN INTEGRATED GENERATING AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. WHAT WOULD BECOME TEXAS POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY IN 1912 WAS TAKING SHAPE. IN 1905 COLONEL STRICKLAND, OCIE GOODWIN, AND M.B. TEMPLETON BEGAN PROMOTING THE IDEA OF AN INTERURBAN RAILWAY BETWEEN DALLAS AND SHERMAN. THIS WOULD CONNECT WITH AN ALREADY EXISTING PROPERTY, THE SHERMAN AND DENNISON RAILWAY, AND WOULD GIVE DENNISON CITIZENS THE ABILITY TO GO ALL THE WAY FROM THE OKLAHOMA BORDER TO DOWNTOWN DALLAS. TEXAS TRACTION COMPANY WAS FORMED ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1906 WITH J.F. STRICKLAND AS PRESIDENT. THERE WERE TIMES DURING CONSTRUCTION IN 1907 AND 1908 WHEN THE FATE OF THE SHERMAN INTERURBAN WAS IN DOUBT BUT COLONEL STRICKLAND’S OPTIMISM AND GOOD HUMOR PREVAILED. EVEN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS REPORTED: “HE WAS CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS EVEN DURING THE DARKEST DAYS, AND HIS ASSOCIATES DECLARE HE SUCCEEDED IN KEEPING UP THEIR CONFIDENCE AS WELL”. THE LINE WAS COMPLETED IN 1908 IN SPITE OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES. JOHN MYERS’ BOOK, TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY, DESCRIBES THE EFFECT OF THE NEW INTERURBAN LINE: THE NEW LINE, THE LONGEST INTERURBAN IN THE SOUTHWEST AT THE TIME, PROVIDED IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THE “BLACKLAND BELT” OF TEXAS. LINKING URBAN AREAS WITH THE COUNTRYSIDE, IT STIMULATED SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND MADE THE CONVIENIENCES OF THE CITY AVAILABLE TO THE RURAL POPULATION….” IN 1911 THE STRICKLAND INTERESTS PLANNED TO BUILD AN INTERURBAN LINE SOUTH FROM DALLAS. STONE AND WEBSTER ENGINEERING COMPANY ALSO PLANNED A LINE SOUTH FROM DALLAS. STONE AND WEBSTER BEGAN DALLAS SOUTHERN TRACTION AND BUILT THE LINE FROM DALLAS TO WAXAHACHIE WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT BY THE STRICKLAND INTERESTS ON OCTOBER 2, 1912. COLONEL STRICKLAND NOW CONCENTRATED ON BUILDING THE CORSICANA LINE AND COMPLETING THE WAXAHACHIE LINE THROUGH HILLSBORO TO WACO. AFTER COMPLETING THE TWO SOUTHERN TRACTION LINES IN 1913 COLONEL STRICKLAND MERGED TEXAS TRACTION WITH SOUTHERN TRACTION TO FORM TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY. THE MERGER TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 31, 1917 AND CREATED THE SOUTHWEST’S LARGEST INTERURBAN SYSTEM WITH SOME 218 MILES OF TRACK. STRICKLAND WAS ELECTED THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY. DURING 1916 DISCUSSIONS WERE BEGUN WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FORMING NEW COMPANIES TO CONSOLIDATE AND OPERATE THE ELECTRIC POWER AND THE STREET RAILWAY PROPERTIES. AT THIS TIME THERE WERE FOUR STREET CAR COMPANIES OPERATING IN DALLAS AND SEVERAL ELECTRIC POWER COMPANIES. THE NEW FRANCHISES WERE SET UP AND APPROVED BY GENERAL ELECTION ON APRIL 3, 1917. J.F. STRICKLAND WAS GRANTED A POWER AND LIGHT FRANCHISE AND C.W. HOBSON WAS GRANTED A STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISE. DALLAS POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY BEGAN OPERATING ON OCTOBER 1, 1917 AND DALLAS RAILWAY COMPANY BEGAN THE SAME DAY HOWEVER C.W. HOBSON WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE ARRANGEMENT AND COLONEL STRICKLAND WAS PERSUADED TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF THAT COMPANY IN ADDITION TO DALLAS POWER AND LIGHT.
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
COLONEL STRICKLAND DIED OF A HEART ATTACK ON MAY 21, 1921. AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH IN 1921 HE WAS EASILY THE OUTSTANDING FIGURE IN THE ELECTRIC UTILITY BUSINESS IN THE SOUTHWEST AND A MASTER INTERURBAN BUILDER. HE WAS PRESIDENT OF TEXAS POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY, TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY, DALLAS POWER AND LIGHT, DALLAS RAILWAY COMPANY, DALLAS SECURITIES COMPANY AND UNION TRUST COMPANY. MR. TOM PETR HAS DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON COLONEL STIRCTLAND, AND HAS STATED THE MORE HE LEARNED ABOUT COLONEL STRICKLAND THE MORE HE MARVELED AT HIS VISION, TALENT AND PERSISTENCE. HIS DETERMINATION TO WIN, HIS CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND HIS COMMITMENT TO HONESTY NEVER WAIVERED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. HIS EMPLOYEES AND HIS ASSOCIATES HAD A GREAT LOVE FOR HIM. IN 1924 THE EMPLOYEES OF HIS COMPANIES PLACED A BRONZE BUST OF HIS LIKENESS AND SUPPORTING STONE PEDESTAL IN THE LOBBY OF THE INTERURBAN BUILDING. TODAY THAT MONUMENT IS IN THE PLANO INTERURBAN MUSEUM. THE INSCRIPTION ON THE STONE PEDESTAL IS A COMPLIMENT TO A GREAT MAN: IT READS; “HE WAS OUR LEADER AND FRIEND”. LONGTIME FRIEND AND ASSOCIATE W.B. HEAD SUMMED IT UP AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD AT OAKLAND CEMETARY IN 1925. HE SAID: “TEXAS HAS LOST COLONEL STRICKLAND, BUT THE RESULTS OF HIS EFFORTS ARE IN CONSTANT EVIDENCE AND USE… PROPERTY VALUES HAVE BEEN ENHANCED AND THE ENTIRE TERRITORY MADE A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE”. Special Feature – Climbing Aboard The Texas Electric Railway Texas Electric Railway & The Interurban Railway Museum Come home to a vintage Texas Electric Railway memorial right here Plano, TX –visit the TER’s grace, beauty and elegance. (Harry Fasick, Wylie, TX collection, 4/19/07.)
Car 360 awaits your adventurous spirit – ready to hop aboard?
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
Rails moved more than people – rails brought mail and more home to people.
Does this have a bearing on the TER?
Take DART’s Red Line to Downtown Plano Station, look west from the station platform, and here we are!
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
Special Feature – Images Of Interurbans In Texas
Texas Interurban Car 109 Ordered for Denton service, positioned for an ad photograph at Dallas Interurban Terminal. (LeRoy O. King collection)
Dallas Railway And Terminal Car 120 Ex-Texas Interurban 109, ca. 1936. (courtesy of LeRoy O. King, and Barney Neuberger collection.)
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
Northern Texas Traction “Crimson Limited” Publicity photo, in front of Tarrant County Court House, ca. 1925. (J. J. Myers collection)
Texas Interurban And The Katy Katy passenger train meets the Texas Interurban car 105. (LeRoy O. King collection)
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
Or enjoy the dining car feel, long, narrow, vintage Americana North Texas Hot Spot Detector decorates the clerestory style ceiling. Nice wood trim details, quality dining ware, all fit for an on-board dinner. A well Smitty’s Roadhouse, Amidst Echoes Of East stocked bar gets you in the mood, or. Texas Traction New staff, eager to please, brings drinks, appetizers, on the By Valli Hoski run. Dining options are classic American grill fare and more -- Welcome to the inaugural NTx Hot Spot Detector column! salads, burgers or fancier entrees. A wide selection pleases Look for hot eateries, hot fun spots, or hot tips of the town to whatever may be your taste and wallet-size. Salads, share with your NTC pals, and rail enthusiast readers! sandwiches, burgers with fries or home chips, about $7-8, or full dinner entrees $10-14, plus your favorite beverage. No A rail enthusiast’s location, rail history, small town setting, smoking inside, just good company, tasty food, and fresh air. good food, beer (or iced tea), just 20 minutes east – come out Interurban way, look for Smitty’s Roadhouse Grille out by the If you want a memory of a pleasant spring evening with a view old East Texas Traction Company right-of-way on the east side into East Texas and "the interurban that wasn’t”, of the city of Rockwall.
visit Smitty’s for intimate, on-board lounge atmosphere, tasty food, special service, almost as good as being on the Zephyr. Take an after-dinner walk along the old right-of-way; enjoy the Tucked away, a new well-kept secret hides on a vintage street sunset’s lights and sounds, and hints of the past in the wind. filled with small town feel, cozy homes and blooming gardens. Walk around the square, admire the westward lake view. No, not Tyler, not Waxahachie, not Weatherford, not Leaving, you pass white picket fences, gable-roofed homes, McKinney. Definitely not Wylie. Take a nice evening’s drive twilit fond reminiscences only 20 minutes east of the across the lake to Rockwall. Metroplex’s fancy lights and loud noise. Enjoy what you’ve recaptured, and had almost forgotten – life can be good just at the outskirts of the Metroplex, with friends, railroads and a soft spring night. Smitty’s Roadhouse Grille & Bar , 308 North Fannin Street, Rockwall. (972) 772-9888. Hours: Tues-Thurs. 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm; Sun. 11am-10pm. Closed Mon.
Step out to the deck overlooking the East Texas Traction Company’s planned right-of-way.
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
North Texas Rail News activity, 3) notify the public of any project change. For more information, call DART Community Affairs, 214-749-2522. DART 10 th Annual Raildeo Winners! Meeting times: 6:30 p.m. Open House . 7 p.m. Presentation The team will go into the record books as another title for • Tuesday, May 8 , Carrollton Public Library @ Hebron & veteran Adolphus Armstrong, but it didn’t come without a fierce Josey, 4220 North Josey Lane, Carrollton challenge from runner-up Fasil "Easy" Yigezu, who finished 30 • scant points behind the defending champ. Both men will Wednesday, May 9 - Grauwyler Recreation Center, 7780 represent the agency in the APTA International Rail Rodeo on Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas June 2 in Toronto. A strong third-place winner was John Mann • Thursday, May 10 - Bachman Recreation Center, 2750 Gardner II, no stranger to the winner’s circle himself. He will Bachman Drive, Dallas travel to Canada in the event either of the frontrunners is unable to participate. • Monday, May 14 - Farmers Branch Community Rec Center, 14050 Heartside Place, Farmers Branch Source: 4/18/2007, DART News Release. Original article at http://www.dart.org/meetings/publicmeetingsrss.asp?ID=283 DART Downtown Transit Study – Public Meetings, 6/2-3/07 DART has scheduled two Public Scoping Meetings to officially kick off the Downtown Dallas Transit Study. Join DART staff to view a comprehensive overview of the Alternative Analysis / Draft Environmental Impact Statement (AA/DEIS) for this project, which include a multimodal transit study of bus, streetcar, light rail and subway. Left to right : Philip Podhrasky, Carl Gillmen, Arthur Seals. Meeting location: DART Headquarters Board Room , 1401 Photo credit: Joe Swift, Dallas Area Rapid Transit . Pacific Ave. (Downtown Dallas), Dallas, Texas 75202. MAPSCO 45-K at Akard Station Also making the trip north of the border will be the rail • maintenance team of Carl Gillmen, Arthur Seals and Philip Wednesday, May 2, 2007, 12 p.m. – Public Scoping Meeting #1 Podhrasky , who outlasted a field described by Fleet Services Senior Manager Lee Brodie as one of the tightest in the • Thursday, May 3, 2007, 6:30 p.m. • Public Scoping decade-long history of the event . Meeting #2 Steve Siegerist further reports: Philip Podhrasky , son of The two-year study will allow the public to participate through chapter member Dave Podhransky , is one of the three several avenues, including: availability of information on local winning team members of the 10th Annual DART DART's website, www.dart.org, which may include Raildeo. questionnaires or surveys; a series of public meetings and/or workshops; advisory committees; and the display or Source: 03/27/07, Dallas Area Rapid Transit internal news, from distribution of public information materials in downtown Dallas. Steve Siegerist. Source: 4/13/2007, DART News Release. Original article at DART Green Line Expansion – Community http://www.dart.org/meetings/publicmeetingsrss.asp?ID=281 Meetings, 6/8-14/07 Innovative Dallas County Rail Hub Promoted Please join us for important updates regarding the new DART Long-awaited railroad development and expansion in south Rail Green Line. Like the color green, this line is a symbol of Dallas county is planned to kick off in April, as reported in the our communities on the move. This line will provide service to Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 12, 2007. Approximately the cities of Dallas, Farmers Branch and Carrollton. The 6,000 acres have been acquired for development into a major meetings will 1) discuss construction schedules; 2) provide warehouse / distribution complex near the Union Pacific updates on street closings, detours and other construction terminal in Wilmer. The development plans are due to be
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3 released on April 13, and represents possibly innovative collaboration between two railroad competitors – the Union Texas & Regional Rail News Pacific and BNSF railroads. If a BNSF terminal is successfully negotiated, the development would have a rail link between the Latest Texas State Railroad Activity UP and BNSF terminals. The developers see the south Dallas property location as ideal for its easy access to rail and TSRR-related Bill 1659 Moves To Senate Floor, 4/12/07 interstate transportation. Source: 4/12/2007, Fort Worth Star- As reported in the Palestine Herald-Press (4/13/07), Senate Telegram article by Andrea Jares, staff writer. Original article at Bill 1659 has moved to the full Texas Senate. Senator Robert http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/65603.html Nichols, filer of the bill, recognized community leaders for their iPod, uDART, & We Win! work in “preserving the Texas State Railroad”. From April 5 through May 27 to improve DART's route planning A sister bill has been filed in the Texas House by and scheduling, the agency will conduct a Transit System Representative Byron Cook. House Bill 3113 and SB 1659 Travel Pattern Analysis Study. The study is being conducted in both address the on-going operation of the Texas State cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Railroad by transferring it to a private company with the Governments (NCTCOG) to learn more about how customers oversight of a local railroad authority. Source: 4/13/2007, Palestine Herald-Press, by Beth Foley. Original article at use DART's growing bus and rail network, to improve DART's http://www.palestineherald.com/archivesearch/local_story_103125528.html route planning and scheduling. Results will be based on a customer survey, which will be Palestine City Council Ratifies TSRR Contract, 4/09/07 placed on board randomly selected buses and trains. As reported in the Palestine Herald-Press (4/10/07), a contract Participants who answer all the questions will have an between American Heritage Railways and the Texas State opportunity to register to win one of five iPods or five $100 Railroad Operating Agency was ratified at the April 10, 2007 cash prizes! Source: 4/3/2007, DART News Release. Original meeting of the Palestine City Council. The contract must be article at http://www.dart.org/news/newsrss.asp?ID=745 ratified by the cities of Rusk and Palestine in order to meet New COO Joins Trinity Railway Express conditions required by the “interlocal agreement” with the operating agency. Even with ratification by both cities, the Bill Farquhar, commuter rail director for the Nashville Regional contract must still be approved by the Texas Legislature. Transportation Authority, will become the new chief operating Source: 4/10/2007,Palestine Herald-Press, by Beth Foley. officer of the Trinity Railway Express, beginning April 16, 2007. Original article at http://www.palestineherald.com/archivesearch/local_story_100104917.html Farquhar's career spans 25 years in operations, planning and consulting for passenger and freight railroads and public TSRR Supporters Promote Legislative Action transportation agencies. He created the operating plans for several passenger railroad services, including the Music City As reported in the Dallas Morning News (4/10/2007), Star in Nashville, Coaster in San Diego and Metrolink in supporters of the Texas State Railroad were expected to Southern California. As interim executive director/director of descend upon Austin on April 10 to promote their cause, and commuter rail with the Nashville Regional Transportation avert closure of the historic railroad. Two alternatives are Authority (RTA) since 2005, Farquhar implemented a new 32- being considered – transfer from state to private operation mile commuter rail system, the Music City Star. through a private operator, or continued operation by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. All supporters prefer The Trinity Railway Express commuter railroad operates on a that the TRSS continue as an operating railroad, rather than be 35-mile east-west track with nine station stops between changed into a “static” display of stationary railroad equipment. downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth, serving 2.4 million Source: 4/10/2007, Dallas Morning News, by Diane Jennings. passengers a year with average 8,500 daily ridership. Jointly Edited due to space limitations. Original article at owned/ operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T), it is the only /legislature/stories/DN- commuter rail in Texas and was the first in the Southwest. tailroad_10tex.ART.State.Edition1.4459bd8.html Source: 3/23/2007, DART News Release. Original article at http://www.dart.org/news/newsrss.asp?ID=745
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
Texas Legislature Considers TSRR Operating Authority • Georgia Southwestern – 2 ex-CN/VIA FP9s, 6302 and As reported in Trains News Wire (4/06/07), the Texas Senate 6308, relegated to backup power, wear a variation of the and House are considering legislation for a Texas State old Central of Georgia Railroad colors. • Railroad (TSRR) Operating Authority. The TSRR is currently The Southern Railroad of New Jersey – 2 ex-Bessemer supervised by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, but, if & Lake Erie F7As for occasional freight service. • approved, supervision would be transferred to the new RailAmerica , Canada – a pair of Canadian National/VIA operating authority. The seven members of the proposed FP9s, 1400 and 1401 in service on the Goderich & Exeter authority include three members each from Rusk and Railway's Goderich Subdivision. Palestine, and another area member. • Keokuk Junction , Illinois – Pair of CN/VIA FP9s in regular freight service between Peoria and La Harpe, Ill. Proposed legislation, as described by a staffer of Senator Source: 4/18/2007,Trains News Wire. Original article at Robert Nichols, includes “a one-time $12 million subsidy to http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=1787 upgrade the condition of the railroad and as a cushion against initial losses.” American Heritage Railways, the currently CP 2816 & MR 261 Steam Excursions, Aug- preferred private contract operator, has a long-term profitable Sept ‘07 view of the line, but the railroad needs work to be in good Canadian Pacific Railway 4-6-4 "Hudson" steam engine repair. The line current loses about $2 million/year. Source: 4/6/2007, Trains News Wire. Original article at No. 2816 will pull CPR's luxury passenger train from Calgary, http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=1736 Alta., to Chicago in August and return in September. The trip, which will run Aug. 17-Sept. 22, will show off CPR's historic General Rail News main line across Canada and its former Soo Line and Milwaukee Road lines in the United States. Ex-Milwaukee NM RailRunner ABQ Airport Station Service Road 4-8-4 steam engine No. 261 will join 2816 for a Starts April 20 doubleheader down the scenic Mississippi River Valley on Sept. 15 between Minneapolis and La Crosse, Wis. The trip is On April 20, the New Mexico Department of Transportation sponsored by CPR and the Friends of the 261. and Mid-Region Council of Governments will open the new Bernalillo County/International Sunport Station on the Rail Passenger trips include Aug. 17-22 – Calgary to Minneapolis; Runner Express (www.nmrailrunner.com ) commuter-rail line. Aug. 29-30 – Minneapolis to Chicago; Sept. 1-3 - Franklin The station will serve the Albuquerque International Sunport Park (IL) Metra station to Sturtevant, WI; Sept. 4-5 – Chicago and Mesa del Sol, a residential community under development. to Minneapolis; Sept. 8-9 – Minneapolis to Glenwood (MN) In July 2006, the agencies launched service on the Belen-to- daily, also Sept. 9 to Dresser (WI); Sept. 15 – Engines 281 Bernalillo Rail Runner. The system currently carries between and 261 doublehead to La Crosse (WI) and return; Sept. 16-22 1,800 and 2,400 passengers daily. Source: 4/19/2007, Minneapolis to Calgary. Progressive Railroading Transit News. Original article at http://www.progressiverailroading.com/transitnews/article.asp?id=10544 Starting in mid-April, tickets will be available through the Friends of the 261 Web site at www.261.comor , by calling On The Road (Again) With E and F Units 651-765-9812, or mail ticket orders to: Friends of the 261, 4322 Lakepoint Ct., Shoreview, MN 55126. Source: 4/17/2007, While EMD's last FL9 left its factory in 1960 and the last E9 in Trains News Wire. Original article at 1963, a handful of streamlined cab units can still be found in http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=1776 regular, everyday service freight and passenger service across Ticket info , 4/15/2007, Milwaukee Road group page www.261.com North America. • Connecticut Department of Transportation – 6 New NYC Second Avenue Subway Gets Underway Haven-painted FL9Ms It’s taken 80 years, but MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) • Metro North Railroad – 1 FL9 and 3 F10s. has finally started construction on the Second Avenue Subway • Canadian passenger operator VIA Rail – nearly all the project. Yesterday, the agency broke ground on the project’s other operating F units in freight service today survive $3.8 billion first phase, which calls for extending the subway thanks to CP’s F units, former passenger motive power. system from 105th to 62nd streets by 2013. • Carolina Southern , South Carolina – ex-Canadian National F7Au 9163 and F7Bu 6622 in occasional service. First proposed in the 1920s, the Second Avenue Subway has become a critical project since the 1940s and 1950s, when the
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3 elevated train lines on Manhattan’s east side were demolished. of the track improvement work, schedule adjustments have Since then, NYCT’s Lexington Avenue Line has become the been made to Acela , Regional and long-distance arrival and agency’s most congested and the M15 bus route that operates departure times. Beginning April 14 and continuing through along First and Second avenues has become the busiest in the June 4, trains will operate on a single track over the bridge and country, carrying 60,000 passengers daily and running every its approaches. The project involves upgrading Track 2, the 90 seconds during peak periods. east side track, of the two-track open deck bridge with new ties and continuous welded rail (CWR). Track 2 is slated to return Once complete, the new subway line will relieve congestion on to service the first week of June Source: 4/4/2007, Amtrak News the Lexington Avenue Line and bus route, and enable Release at passengers to transfer to other subway lines and MTA Metro- http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/a North Railroad. . Source: 4/13/2007, Progressive Railroading m2Copy/News_Release_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1173376445190&s Transit News. Original article at sid=180 http://www.progressiverailroading.com/transitnews/article.asp?id=10525 Record Attendance For Capitol Hill’s RR Day New World Train Speed Record Set - 320 mph Over 350 railroad executives, supply companies, public The French National Railway (SNCF), railway owner Reseau officials and others took to Capitol Hill on March 14 for the Ferre de France and Alstom Transport have given new largest Railroad Day on Capitol Hill ever! The railroaders meaning to the term “high-speed rail.” In early April, 2007, the participated, throughout the course of the day, in railway and rolling stock manufacturer set a new world train Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill and met with legislative speed record at 357 mph, breaking the previous record of 320 leaders to discuss key railroad issues for the 110th Congress. mph set by the French railway in 1990. The parties set the More than 240 offices were visited in one day, which is a record on a recently upgraded stretch of track between Preny record number compared to that of previous years. Among the and Bezannes. Alstom modified the record-breaking train by issues discussed in congressional meetings were reregulation installing larger wheels and a 25,000-horsepower engine, and tax incentives to encourage more investment in rail double the power of a conventional TGV high-speed train. capacity. With the widespread changes in the House of Source: 4/4/2007,Trains News Wire. Original article at http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=1717 Representatives and the Senate, a vibrant and well-attended Railroad Day on the Hill event has grown in importance. See The Grand Canyon On A Mighty Mikado GoRail is a national grassroots, non-profit organization The Grand Canyon Railway has acquired a former Spokane, dedicated to keeping railroaders and others who care about Portland & Seattle/Northern Pacific 2-8-2 (SP&S No. 539), rail informed about policies that affect the freight rail industry. which it will restore to service for use on its 65-mile tourist line GoRail is part of a larger organization called Growth Options between Williams, Ariz., and the Grand Canyon. The railroad for the 21st Century, or Go21. GoRail home page: www.gorail.org operates another 2-8-2, ex-Burlington Route No. 4960. Source: 4/3/2007, GoRail E-newsletter. Alco built the locomotive for the Northern Pacific in September Restoring Flatbush’s Glory Days 1917 as NP 1762 at a cost of $40,995. It was one of 135 class MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) recently marked the 100th W-3 Mikados built for the NP by Alco's Brooks Plant between anniversary of the Flatbush Avenue Terminal, part of a major 1913 and 1920. The W-3s were heavy Mikados, which downtown Brooklyn transit hub that's also served by MTA New weighed more than 300,000 pounds with a grate area of 70.3 York City Transit (NYCT) subway lines. When it opened on square feet. At 200 pounds of boiler pressure they produced April 1, 1907, the terminal was the final piece of an 11-year 63,460 pounds of tractive effort and 2,800 cylinder Atlantic Avenue improvement project that included more than horsepower. Source: 4/4/2007,Trains News Wire. Original article at http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=1728 five miles of new tracks between downtown Brooklyn and the then-less populated outskirts of the city. Now, the terminal — Susquehanna Bridge Sings On Track 2 which serves 25,000 LIRR passengers daily — is in the midst of a major renovation project. Source: 4/3/2007,Progressive Amtrak’s biggest engineering project of the spring is underway Railroading Transit News. Original article at on the Susquehanna River Bridge between Baltimore, Md., http://www.progressiverailroading.com/transitnews/article.asp?id=10463 and Wilmington, Del. A key rail link on the busy Northeast Corridor, the 4,154-foot-long bridge spans the Susquehanna between Havre De Grace Md., and Perryville, Md. As a result
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
PCC Car Fleet To Be Restored, Bayonne NKP 2-8-4 No. 765 is operational in Fort Wayne, and 2-8-2 Harbor, NJ No. 587 is being overhauled in Indianapolis after operating for several years. "The one in Indianapolis is virtually a twin to the NJ Transit is giving the City of Bayonne eight Presidents one in Hammond," he said. Source: 3/30/2007,Trains News Conference Committee (PCC) trolley cars. The cars, originally Wire. Original article at from Twin Cities Lines in Minneapolis/St. Paul, were put into http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=1712 service on what became NJ Transit's Newark City Subway line in January 1954. They were retired in August 2001 and stored Rails Essential To Penn State Greatness at the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line Communipaw Facility in The Bellefonte Central Railroad provided a vital economic Jersey City. The eight-car fleet will be completely rehabilitated service in facilitating Penn State's transformation from an and placed in operation along a proposed 2.5-mile loop serving obscure agricultural college to one of the nation's elite public a 299-acre mixed-use development at Bayonne Harbor. universities, say the authors of a newly published book, "Rails The PCC was developed between 1930 and 1935 and became to Penn State." the workhorse of street railway systems. Approximately 5,000 The 19-mile-long rail line was Penn State's primary passenger PCC cars were built. The PCC cars were developed by an and freight transportation link to the outside world for several engineering team contracted by the presidents of several of decades, beginning in 1892. At Bellefonte, it connected the the nation's street railway systems and is named after the campus and the surrounding State College community to the Electric Railway Presidents Conference Committee that vast Pennsylvania Railroad system. Even with the advent of undertook its development. Source: 3/30/2007,Trains News better highways in the 1930s, the railroad continued to be an Wire. Original article at http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=1708 important bulk freight carrier for town and campus until 1974. The book is the culmination of a 20-year research and writing Hammond Group Hopes To Restore NKP effort by Michael Bezilla and Jack Rudnicki, both alumni of the Mikado 624 University. Bezilla is a longtime member of the University A non-profit group is being formed in Hammond [Indiana] with Relations staff and author of several books on Penn State the ultimate goal of restoring ex-Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 No. history. Rudnicki, a graduate of the Smeal College of 624, the Northwest Indiana Times reported. The locomotive Business's supply chain management program, is in sales has stood across Sohl Avenue from the Hammond Civic management for BNSF Railway. "Rails to Penn State" is Center since the 1950s. "Our ultimate goal is to get the 624 published by Stackpole Books. See running again," Kevin Heggi, of the Hammond & Northwest http://bellefonte.com/heritage/BCR/BFCRR.html for more Indiana Railroad Preservation Society, told the Times. information and photos about the Bellefonte Central. Source: 3/29/2007, Penn State Live Original article at Heggi said, the idea is not so far-fetched, as similar Nickel http://live.psu.edu/story/22964 Plate steam locomotives were already restored in Indiana. Press time : 4/20/07, 8 AM. File: NTx Newsletter 2007-05 vB3 Chapter News 10 Years Ago With The North Texas Chapter – Spring 1997 By Valli Hoski, Chapter VP Publications Looking back 11 years to May 1996, we … • Enjoyed our 4th meeting as a group, as our 1 st meeting had been held 3 months previously on Feb. 11, 1996, and viewed Jim Hollis’ “Midwest Rail Potpourri” program. • Elected our first officers – President: Dennis Hogan (remember when?) Vice President: Mike Mackner (since gone home to BN territory) Secretary: Valli Hoski (still writing!) Treasurer: Steve Siegerist (still in office) • Entertained all manner of creative ideas on “future” Chapter outings , such as a) riding the Kiamichi Railroad (we did that!), b) charter a streetcar on the McKinney Avenue Trolley (we did that!), c) take a DART shop tour and light-rail ride (we did that!), and publish an historical guide to Dallas/Fort Worth railroading (we will do a version of that in 2008!)
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NORTH TEXAS ZEPHYR NEWSLETTER N ORTH T EXAS C HAP TER , N ATIONAL R AILWAY H ISTORICAL S OC I E TY W W W . NTXNRHS . O R G M A Y 2007, V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S U E 3
Chapter Meeting Minutes, April 3, 2007 NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER, NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MEETING MINUTES AND NOTES, DATE: April 3, 2007, 20 MEMBERS AND GUESTS, LOCATION: Sokol Hall Greenville Ave. Dallas President Ron Anderson opened the meeting at 7:30 pm. Ron discussed the pros and cons of email distribution of our newsletter. Additionally he told us about our two new websites, one for the chapter only and one for the Lone Star Rails 2008 National Convention. We also discussed and concluded that our July meeting will occur one week later than normal, on July 10th because of the July 4th holiday. Vice President Skip Waters updated us on Lone Star Rails 2008 Convention planning progress. The dates of the convention are June 16-22, 2008. The Hotel contract has been signed and a contract from the National NRHS binding us to host the convention is in our possession. Planning for trips and events has begun. Skip reminded us about the 24 hours at Saginaw event coming up over Memorial Day weekend. We still need presenters of railroad related slide shows and lectures for this event. The event will start at 7 pm Friday and run until 7 pm Saturday. Our chapter is providing Zak Lybrand a scholarship to attend Rail camp 2007 at Ely, Nevada. Vice President Programs Jon Shea outlined upcoming programs for us: May, Plano Interurban Museum (tour); June, DeGolyer Library (Lecture and Book Signing); August , Ed Stoll (Railroad Depots in Texas); September or November Dr. Richard Francaviglia UT Arlington professor (lecture Central Pacific Railroad); November, annual auction; December annual banquet. KRHS Historian Pat Coughlin presented our April program. Pat showed us interesting slides of Illinois Central passenger trains he saw while he was stationed in the Marine Corps in Memphis. Among the trains in his slides were the Panama Limited, The City of New Orleans the Hawkeye and The City of Miami. Pat’s slides showed the subtle variations in the ICs’ attractive orange and brown paint scheme over the years and their always sparkling clean in service appearance. Pat also showed us some slides of IC and GM&O trains at St. Louis, and IC passenger trains at New Orleans. Submitted by Mike Bedford, Secretary. [Editor made punctuation, name, date corrections, 4/18/07] Convention Corral – Lone Star Rails 2008 Convention Committee Report Lots of exciting work is underway! The hotel contract has been signed. The convention contract with the National Office, NRHS is in the works. Skip's going to the Spring Directors meeting, April 19-22,I n Greenville, SC. More information on the convention registration software is coming. Major excursions are being investigated, but trip specifics and details won’t be ready for some time to come. (Please don’t speculate on particular railroads, destinations, dates, as gossip and rumors are deleterious to the health of the convention and our credibility!) Smaller in-town sight visits are being planned. Workshops and programs are being explored, such as sessions on the preservation, organization and classification of hobby / amateur collections. Historical field trips, such as East Texas Traction remnants, are being considered. Skip, Convention Chair, 04/18/2007. Program publications are being drafted, such as an eating guide (see this month's new column). Considering use of ads in publications - give your spouse or partner a small ad to say "thanks honey for putting up with all my trains" at a small price! Valli, VP Pub. , 4/19/07. Chapter Directory
North Texas Chapter Officers Chapter Business Address • President , Ron Anderson, [email protected] North Texas Chapter, NRHS, • Vice President/Programs , Jon Shea , 972-480-9054. P.O. Box 600304 • Vice President/Publications , Valli Hoski, [email protected] Dallas, TX 75360 • Vice President/Trips and Events , Skip Waters , 214-987-2888. • Secretary , Mike Bedford , 214-692-7137. • Treasurer , Steve Siegerist , 972-234-2682. • National Director, Dale Wilken, 817-370-8227 .
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North Texas Calendar Tues. May 1, 2007 North Texas Chapter meeting - Plano Interurban Museum, tour, project and news update. Sat. May 5, 2007 – Cotton Belt Train Show . 10am-5pm, Sat; 10am-4pm Sun. Harvey Conv. Center, East Texas Fair Grounds, Tyler TX. Sun. May 6, 2007 Info. 903-561-8946 or 903-839-2501. Fri. May 25 - Sat. “24 Hours @ Saginaw” – Annual NTC event for railFUN watching and recording your favorite trains in Saginaw, May 26, 2007 Texas. For details, contact Skip Waters. Sun. May 27, 2007 27th Annual Lone Star Rail Fair - Railroad Collectible and Model Train Show & Sale . 10am-5pm, Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall, Will Rogers Memorial Center, Ft. Worth TX http://www.railroadcollectors.org/pgCalendar.php or http://www.gserr.com/shows.htm Tues. June 5, 2007 North Texas Chapter meeting - DeGolyer Library, SMU, University Park. Guest speaker:“The Rock Island In Focus”, book signing. Wed. June 6 – Sun. Lone Star Region / NMRA Hill Country Special National 2007 Annual Convention – Info. http://hillcountryspecial.net June 10, 2007 Sat. June 9, 2007 Ham Radio & Rail Enthusiasts, All On The Same Track, Program – Sharing the love of our hobbies. HamCom Convention, Plano Civic Center, Plano TX. See www.hamcom.org or email [email protected] Tues. July 10, 2007 North Texas Chapter meeting – Founder’s Building (by Cotton Belt Depot), Grapevine, TX. Guest speaker: 135th anniversary of railroads coming to Dallas. North Texas Chapter History Founded and chartered in 1996, the North Texas Chapter is one of the newest chapters of the National Railway Historical Society . The chapter is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational organization incorporated under the laws of the state of Texas. Emphasis of the chapter is activity, history, and enjoyment of railroading past and present. Meetings are held 7:30-10:00 PM, first Tuesday of each month, usually (but not always) at the Grapevine Tourist & Visitor Information Center at Main St. and the FWWR railroad tracks. Visitors and newcomers are welcome. Regular membership is $35 a year ($22 national dues + $13 chapter dues). The membership include: a) subscription to the NRHS Bulletin (5 issues/year) and our monthly chapter newsletter, the North Texas Zephyr. Chapter mailing address: North Texas Chapter NRHS, P.O. Box 600304, Dallas, TX 75360.