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THE DISPATCHER Newsletter for Central Oklahoma Railfan Club Ltd

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THE DISPATCHER Newsletter for Central Oklahoma Railfan Club Ltd THE DISPATCHER Newsletter for Central Oklahoma Railfan Club Ltd. Affiliated with: February -1936 National Railway Historical Society Editor, Lawrence Gibbs, 623 McFarland, Stillwater, OK 74074 TRA President, David Eads, 3108 Berkshire Way, OKC 73120 Treasurer, Roger Morton, 2424 Northwood Lane, Edmond, OK 73013 ¥ SPECIAL FEED ATSF MILESTONE Lynn reported that despite the Logan County Historical Society On Jan. 17 Santa Fe Railway uncertain future of our location, has acquired the Santa Fe station in marked the 1 millionth auto to be restoration continues, specifically on Guthrie. The railroad operation has shipped on the railroad from the the F unit. Good weather the past been moved to a smaller structure. GM assembly plant in OKC. month has allowed work to be done Jay Hannah of the society said the Since production began in April each Sunday. The brake system has station was completed in February 1979, ATSF has hauled more than been restored to working order and a 1903, so it's appropriate for it to 68,000 tri-level carloads of auto­ new addition of a Nathan five-chime change hands again in February and mobiles for the facility. horn has given audio to the unit. for that reason, a special feed has E.ail cars* take inbound traffic Morton gave a treasury report of been planned. directly into the plant for immediate some concern. It seems that income Hannah said the society is hosting use in the production process. Since the past two months is the lowest in a bean dinner at $3.50 on Tuesday, 1979, Santa Fe has handled some several years. This is due to two 118,000 inbound carloads represent­ factors; one, calendar sales are lag­ Feb. 25. ing more than 2.6 million tons of He also noted Guthrie's '89ers ging and, two, membership dues Day celebration this year will have material to feed assembly lines and renewal are very slowly coming in. plant operations. This is an unusual event but no an iron horse theme and they want cause for alarm at this time. The to work closely with CORC. budget continues in force for the Serving at the bean dinner will be time being. 5 p.m to 7:30 p.m. See you there!! Discussion of business concluded at 7:10 p.m. and the meeting was NEXT MEETING adjourned to attend the program. By Carl Webb THE BUSINESS CAR As a comment, I might add that The next regular meeting will By Jack Austerman the films presented by Jim Terrell begin at 7:13. p.m. on Saturday, The board of directors meeting were among the best ever seen in the March 1, at Kirkpatrick Center, was called to order at 6 p.m. on Feb. 16-year history of CORC. I am 5200 M.L. King Blvd. (formerly 1 by President David Eads. Those tempted to go so far as to say THE Eastern). Notice that this is the first present included Roger Morton, very best, but that may not be fair to day of the month and will be here Eddie Birch, Carl Webb, Guy Lynn, many other fine presenters. Those sooner than you expect. Bill Carpentier, Howard Thornton, present at the show were really Pierce Atchley of rural Edmond Don McNally and yours truly. wowed at Jim's expertise with the will provide a full night of 16mm . Guests included Carol Eads, Phil Super 8 sound camera. films for our entertainment and in­ Ford, Don Detherage and Tom Thank you, Jim. formation. Maupin. Birch reported Penn Square Mall I had to pry out of him the fact STATE TO BUY that he had some "old" films of the management has requested CORC Santa Fe taken during the 1960s to present a weekend model railroad State transportation commission­ show and meet the third weekend in ers have approved a $2.8 million mid '70s. They include ATSF diesels purchase of 69.6 miles of rail line in in old paint schemes, the Texas March. This show would be geared eastern Oklahoma, marking comple­ Chief and subsequent Amtrak trains. for local interest and could be an tion of a plan to preserve the bank­ The films were taken at various opportunity for some good public rupt Rock Island RR's main east- seasons between Edmond and Win- relations. Penn Square would be the west line through Oklahoma. field, Kan., where the Texas main­ underwriter and promoter. The line breaks away from the California board authorized Birch to enter ne­ The line purchased runs from line. Should be lots of action and gotiations, if we can get the date of McAlester in Pittsburg County to our choice. Howe in LeFlore County. surprises. The state will buy the rail line, Pierce will also show his ride on Also, Birch reports planning has started for the 1986 OKC Train right of way and related facilities the CB&Q steam excursion from KC from the L.B. Foster Co. and the to St. Jo in the early 1960s, the Show. Many inquiries have already been received concerning partici­ Brewer-Taylor Co. CB&Q No. 4960 steam excursion The purchase will mean the east- from Chicago to St. Louis in 1969 pation. Birch said the show can accommodate a larger building so he west line from Erick in Beckham and some UP 8444/3985 trips from County in Western Oklahoma to Denver to Rawlins. will be negotiating for a larger loca­ Howe in eastern Oklahoma will be And Pierce will show Blackhawk tion on the fairgrounds. The board preserved and back in service. The films of the old Pennsylvania and approved his further negotiations to state owns the line from Erick to Norfolk & Western. continue. Oklahoma City and the MKT owns You won't want to miss this one. Carpentier gave a report on prod­ it from OKC to McAlester. uct sales and other marketing propo­ And there will be refreshments this Several years ago the Rock's month. See you there. sals for 1986. He also reported on the status of the MKT "Braum's north-south line was purchased by Spur." The proposal is still in a the state. DUES ARE DUE holding pattern because of delays in McGRATH HONORED Because of some special an­ negotiations for the approval of the Bud McGrath, Railroad Contrac­ nouncements in this month's edi­ Rvjmington Park Racetrack. If the racetrack fails, then the rail line is tors Inc. of Tulsa and a member of tion, treasurer Roger Morton has the Oklahoma Indian Contractors kept some members on the mailing gone and our possibility of a rail site list after the deadline. is finished. If the racetrack is ap­ Assn., is the new president of the But this is the last month you'll proved, we probably have a 50-50 National Railroad Construction and receive this newsletter if your dues chance of survival, depending upon Maintenance Contractors Assn. haven't been paid by March 1. the success of Oklahoma City in Installation was earlier this month Don't delay. convincing the MKT management to in San Diego. He's a member of release the line to the city under Sunbelt RR Historical Trush and the some reasonable conditions. Cherokee Tribe. ROUNDHOUSE RUMORS tion for every rail photographer. At ed (it has not yet been installed) for By FRANK TRIBBEY least several of their spontaneous later laying on Katy's Wagoner-Du- (Editor's Note: Roundhorse Rumors is a regular monthly outcries in passsionate, emotional rant portion. Wild? Oh, be certain feature of The Dispatcher. Frisco Frank is compiler and editor. He welcomes your notes and would like to hear from you at moments of train photography that, despite UP's present annouce- 8506 S. 81st West Ave, Tulsa, OK, 74131. We thank you. would not be exactly the most desir­ ment of its financial offer cancella­ And now back to our program where Frank was about to say:) able for permanent recording for tion, UP nonetheless wants Katy Ken Moore, in Fort Worth in posterity's sake — I fear! (check the dualized stretches) and December, found two pairs of UP Among Steve's many sightings in wants to remain ahead of all poten­ SD-45s in switching and hump serice SF merger paint was a B36-7 (7486). tial suitors. Watch this section ver-r- in Centennial Yard. In the yard ry closey in coming months. immediately east of Tower 55 was a On a Dec. 21 trip to Waynoka pair of blue MP SD-40s as switchers. Steve and also Larry Campbell On Jan. 22 or 23, five UP 6900- Yup, UP's philosophy continues to found two trains whose consist was series Centennials left Los Angeles overtake the MOP. half double-stacked cars. Another for an unknown eastward destina­ train was tail-ended with an ATSF tion. Were the units merely relo­ In Saginaw, Texas, Ken found a lounge car and inspection car. westbound BN 38-car all-container cated or did they go to scrap? train. On Dec. 23 another BN corn train Also in late January at least four On Dec. 27, in Ennis, Texas, Ken (OKC-Quanah) was headed with or five WP cabeese were in circula­ found SP's eastbound (inbound) Nr. three SD-40s. Some of these corn tion on UP's western lines. LANTA. Five engines headed a train trains go to the Dorito factory On Jan. 26 Daryl photographed of 82 loaded autoracks plus cab. Can (Frito-Lay) at Plainview, Texas. an interesting UP local through Cla­ anyone top this total? Steve's day in Quanah, Texas, on remore.
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