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. Engine consist includes a Dec. 28 witnessed nine BN coal blue GP-38, orange 'n white ICG Ken reports a probable UP pur­ trains and one trailer train. BN's chase of 60 SD-60s in 1986. GP-10, blue MP B23-7 and blue MP coal traffic on the former FW&D is GP-38. Ken also reports a blue Katy (ex- down to 15 trains each way daily. Conrail) GP-38 (7813) through FW. Late December produced a rumor BN has lost several coal trains to of two different engines for the Thank you, Ken, for your contin­ competition. ued interest. Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railroad. Mid- Add another merger loss; on Jan. Steve's Dec. 29 trip to Altus February has not yet seen any i UP merged MOP into the UP found Hollis & Eastern engine 39 changes. Railroad. All present MP markings towing 18 cars of sheet rock to the On Jan. 26 Santa Fe's pool power and trappings (according to written BN. Steve also photographed H&E's into Tulsa brought blue 'n yellow instructions) are to be removed into dead center-cab 0248 in Altus. rebuilt U36C 9502. Also included coming months. Is the pattern famil­ Alright, I concede. What is an was rebuilt SD-45 5335 in new red iar?? Document that MP history RCE wheat train on the Santa Fe?? 'n yellow. I personally am convinced while it remains. Jack Austerman's hometown Po­ that this new scheme is closely akin teau newspaper continues adequate to a gaudy two-bit traveling carnival. On Jan. 10 Terry LaFrance found reporting of Rock Island revival SF F-45 in merger paint through Have you seen one that has already efforts between McAlester and faded? (This one was weathering Waynoka. Terry also alleges a U36C Howe. If the state of Oklahoma (8763?) in merger colors. Can any­ quickly.) actually purchases this segment serv­ Dennis Sullivan sends interesting one verify this sighting? ice could be restored as early as mid­ Terry also claims an orange- fare frequently. His St. Louis Post- summer. Whether the new operation Dispatch item of Jan. 21 tells of a snouted BN GP-50 was in OKC in will become known as the originally- early January. Can anyone provide BN train that plowed through a UP intended Kiamichi Valley Railroad train in Lamar, Mo., on Jan. 20. more information? Who saw it? Co. has not yet been clarified. On Jan. 13 appeared a more inter­ Five BN units were derailed (one esting engine combination. Train Oh, only those MOP engine num­ overturned), six cars were derailed 731 (Tulsa-OKC) was headed with bers that (don't ? - ed.) conflict with and only one or two UP cars were four engines: GP-40, GP-30, GP-20 UP's numbers will not be immedi­ derailed (overturned?). The cause I and GP-9. ately relettered. However, all MP shall not explain here but be sure Seen on a UP interchange move units will ultimately be renumbered that human error was the cause. in Tulsa on Jan. 14 were two yellow into a new Up numbering system. Yep, only six years previously that MP GP-38s. Catch these MP identi­ That MOP renumbering, incidental­ crossing was Frisco and MP. fications quickly; in mid-January a ly, was found in UP's computer in Another Post-Dispatch item of GP-15, B23-7 and B30-7 (all ex-MP) October 1985 (or earlier). Jan. 27 tells of BN's conducting a have been spotted in MP numbers On Jan. 15 Bruce found a south­ 60-day test of Road-Railer trailers but in UP lettering. bound Santa Fe grain train (through between Chicago and Wentzville On Jan. 16, silver C&S caboose OKC) with three horses on the point (GM plant). Who knows — someday 10635 (with green window covers) and two horses in the middle. Lead someone might find a way to make appeared in Cherokee Yard. horse was a new-paint C30-7. this concept work?!? I personally The Boulder, Colo., sister sent a On Jan. 16, on an SF southbound- recall Chesapeake and Ohio's noble picture of the Colorado Turnpike's er through Norman, Dean found effort — on the rear of regularly newly-replaced overpasses over BN four engines. Among the three blue scheduled passenger trains yet — in near Westminster. TJh, guess who 'n yellow SF engines was a low-pro­ 1965 and 1966. This service was paid for them?!? (I'll give you a clue; file Norfolk Southern SD-40 (6125). finally terminted as impractical. Be the state of Colorado did NOT!) On Jan. 18 SFs new-paint 9514 patient; sooner or later someone will An interesting letter from David arrived in Tulsa, was serviced and find a way to make this concept Hartwell tells of continued restora­ quickly returned on another train to workable. tion work on Katy's former passen­ Waynoka. All action, alas, was post- Also in late January SP unit 7557 ger station in Denison, Texas. One dust. (Yup, I'm training the round­ — in new paint yet — was seen on a of two proposed restaurants is now house foreman to be a diesel spot­ BN local from Lincoln, Neb. Late open. ter!) January brought later reports of this David found NO red rolling stock On Jan. 19 SFs GP-40X 3807 unit in local service into Wyoming. in Ray Yard. At that moment all was found again in CY. Also in late January BN's new Katy rolling stock was green. One Mid-January rumors a purchase SD-60s operated from Alliance to bright note was Katy's business car of those four leased Morrison-Knud- Fort Worth then returned. 403 at the car shop's main building. sen SD-40s by Katy. (All four were On a Springfield, Mo., trip on Idle equipment spotted ahead of it stored in Parsons on Jan. 12, says Jan. 19, Dick Calder found many indicated the car apparently had not Dick Caler.) Verification, please? stored SD-45s, three F-45s and seve­ been used recently. Dick also reported Katy switchers ral GP-9s. Thank you, David, for your 6, 9, 23 and 28 as being cannibalized On Jan. 24 UP operated another timely Katy report. in Parsons Yard. of its increasingly-common passen­ A lo-o-o-ong letter from Steve Another rumor reports a possible ger trains northward across eastern Rhodes reports a novel approach to UP Director's Special (with Mr. Ke- Oklahoma. Two waxed yellow UP railfanning. Steve's frequent frustra­ nific in charge) on Jan. 23 from KC SD-40s (3213 3248) headed four tions in recording pertinent details to Texas and possibly to Little Rock yellow cars. Consist of this ISLCB- while photographing trains has ap­ later. 16 included a yellow MP sleeper parently been satisfactorily resolved. Also, another Jan. 16 rumor (says (Eagle, Nr. 11), yellow UP business Yup, a "micro cassette recorder" Dick) reports UP's intentions of car Feather River (Nr. 1), yellow UP was acquired to record Steve's seve­ near-future trackage rights — on the business car (Nr. 101), and yellow ral utterances (epithets??) in the Katy — from Wagoner to Durant. MP business car (Houston, Nr. 8). course of photography. Uh, Steve, I This rumor reports UP's earlier Yup, UP has brought us another of fear the impracticality of this solu­ dropping of ribbon rail north of its merger benefits. Coffevville. This rail is to be remov­ Continued Continued acquire an ex-Rock Alco RS-1 worthwhile project and he promises (1,000-hp road switcher) from the for every $10 donation, the club will On Jan. 18 Steve Rhodes, Larry Sydney & Lowe RR in Sydney, Neb., give a BN 814 T-shirt in the size of Campbell, and Bruce Frazier went to ' according to Ed Birch Jr. your choice. Fort Worth. Tower 55 provided This unit will be added to the So come on CORC, let's get our F ample reward in both quality and CORC equipment collection in unit operational. quantity. hopes it will one day be a part of the Many blue MP units were photo­ museum. Birch said the unit is in DANGEROUS RIDING graphed. excellent condition considering age Manufacturers of imaginative de­ A Conrail caboose was found with and mileage. vices for cycling on railroad tracks two MP cabs on one train while a seldom, if ever, mention the practice later Katy train bore a CNW ca­ Permission is being sought to rep­ aint the unit in her original Rock is both dangerous and illegal, accord­ boose. After dark (of course), Katy ing to a report from the Association operated FIVE SD-40-2s on a loaded Island red, black and white winged stripes scheme. The unit is to be of American Railroaders. coal train. Railroad tracks, even abandoned On a coal train in BN's Fort moved from Sydney via the UP and MKT sometime around March 1. ones, are private property and tres­ Worth yard were four green BN passing is illegal, the report explains. units and one Santa Fe. This SF unit Birch can give you an update on the arrival. Call him at 842-4846. Rights-of-way no longer needed (5068) was in red 'n yellow and also for rail traffic are sometimes sold to bore both sets of headlights. Upon arrival, it is planned to state or local authorities for recre­ Bruce also reports another Nor­ store her at the OG&E Mustang folk Southern unit southbound plant until the museum site is estab­ ational purposes such as hiking, bik­ through OKC on Jan. 20. lished. ing or equestrian trails. On Jan. 21 always-alert Dean Vas- If the rails are still in place, it is likely that the property is still owned ilakos found two SF SD-39s in red 'n RESTORATION PROJECTS yellow headed south through Nor­ by the railroad and may, in fact, still By Eddie Birch Jr. be in use, the report says. man. Work on our equipment stored at Bruce tells of Katy's return to the school warehouse has progressed Moreover, track where a train has daily service into OKC on Jan. 22. quite a bit in the past few months. not recently run is not necessarily an On Jan. 29 Henry Frick reported The mechanical division has kept abandonded track. In some agricul­ Santa Fe unit 5254 (ex-Amtrak itself busy maintaining, repairing tural areas, for example, tracks are SDP40F) on a BN coal train into and preparing our equipment for used only seasonally — but may be Denver. eventual operation. In recent weeks used at any time. The last week of January wit­ our ex-BN F-9 has had its brake There is the very real possibility nessed the first appearance (of more system reinstalled. The BN had re­ that buyers of cycles, finding there to follow) of Sea-Land container moved the independent brake sys­ are no unused tracks in the area, will traffic from SF at Waynoka (via BN) tem years ago when the unit was simply take their vehicle to the near­ to Memphis. Watch for more. converted to a slave helper. est rail line, erroneously assuming On Feb. 3 Daryl McGee found Several months back, Guy Lynn they will have ample time to get off three D&RGW engines on a south­ procurred a brake stand for our unit the track if a train approaches, the bound mixed freight through Clare­ with the intent of restoring it to a report states. more. Daryl also reports increasing fully functional independent brake One type of rail bike is actually sightings of equipment in UP mark­ system. Tests proved quite success­ being promoted for use by hand­ ings but bearing MP identifications. ful. The hiss of the brake stand in icapped persons, it said. Many freshly-repainted MP grain operation is quite a sound in that The potential for accidental death hoppers have preceded more recent cab. sightings of six or seven MP auto or crippling injury on the rails is A Nathan P-5 Chime Horn has real. According to the Federal Rail­ racks now in UP yellow and mark­ also been added. It was purchased ings but bearing MP identification. road Adminstration, some 588 tres­ by a club member and fetched by passers were killed on railroad Watch MP fade as quickly as Alan Webb. After it was mounted, a Frisco has disappeared. Rock Island, rights-of-way in 1984, and 773 oth­ test produced a melodic sound drift­ ers were injured. of course, literally vanished over­ ing amidst the roar of the interstate night. traffic. Victims included 114 children Daryl reports a new fast freight The only problem: years of cabin who were playing on railroad tracks. that UP apprently began at year's dust and soot was blasted loose from "If bike riders are lured to the beginning. The southbound KC- inside the roof lining of the cab with rails, those numbers undoubtedly North Little Rock train remains to every intonation of the horn. would grow," the report states. be identified but the northbounder Yes, we've made quite a bit of "Trains tend to move much more is NLMP. Does this train continue progress in the restoration of our F swiftly and more quietly than people beyond KC? Clan?? Daryl also re­ unit lately. expect them to, and, as these statis­ ports this train as "super hot" be­ tics demonstrate, getting out of the cause anything that is operating is As a matter of fact, the unit is approximately $1,000 away from way is easier said than done," it stashed into a sidetrack until this continues. freight has passed. being FULLY operational. Our in­ spections of the units engines have even riders who don't meet trains Consist is as expected — trailers, on the tracks can fall victim to other many containers, autoracks and me­ revealed only minor damage. We chanical refrigerators. Yup, changes need to replace one piston, one head hazards, it warns. in Oklahoma railroading (and rail- and three piston liners. These "Some of the rail bikes are very fanning) are occurring fast. needed engine parts can be acquired unstable and spills are common. Late January witnessed removal from various diesel rebuilding com­ Falling off a conventional bicycle of most (or all?) of BN's U33Cs panies. traveling on a roadway or bike path from Livingston, Mont., to Kansas Wouldn't it be nice to have this is bad enough; falling off a cycle City. Are these units headed to the unit operational once again? It could onto a roadbed of wooden crossties, scrap yard? At KC their eastward be if we could but purchase these gravel ballast and steel rails is court­ movement ceases. Help! necessary parts. Our club needs to ing very serious injury," it adds. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 get something fully operational — Rights-of-way which are no longer p.m., all interested railfans will join why not the F? used for rail traffic are not main­ again for a most informal session at This unit could become the start­ tained. Therefore, a cyclist may well the Golden Corral at west 51st and ing point, the first unit to run under encounter broken rails, washouts, Harvard in Tulsa. All interested rail- CORCs ownership. The possibilities rock slides or other debris and even fans are encouraged to join us as we for operating this unit are limitless. detoriating or collapsed bridges and indulge in another session of movies Railfan runs, special trains or state tunnels. fair trains are just a few of the and color slides. We are dedicated to Cyclists might also encounter no formal organization but, intead, avenues open to us once we get operational motor vehicles at highway crossings. simply gather to share experience It should also be remembered that and enthusiasm commonly. One thousand dollars is not alot of money to raise. Why, last year we abandoned spur lines are often con­ So, bring anything of railfan inter­ nected to heavily-traveled mainline est and share with us if you so raised almost $1,000 in just two meetings in order to purchase and track. Therefore, a cyclist might easi­ desire. Your presence is aggressively ly move from one to the other with­ solicited. transport the M-300. Let's do it again. Who will join me at the next out realizing it, it said. RS-1 TO BE ADDED meeting in trying to raise this money Final paperwork has been filed to see a dream come true? allowing" two CORC members to Bill Carpentier feels that this is a HISTORICAL GUIDE cleanest trains in the U.S. It had just lar old head crew had laid off, I The newest release from Kalm- lost its RPO car due to the govern­ guess they didn't want to take her bach Books, "The Historical Guide ment's scrapping of mail contracts out to pasture. The last engine crew to North American Railroads," is an because official Washington said it to take her out of DeQueen was encyclopedia that provides histories was too expensive to haul mail by engineer W.J. Thomas and fireman of and statistics for more than 160 rail. A.J. Henry. By the way, in 1968 you could Right on the 30 minute late call railroads abandoned or merged since mail a first class letter for 6 cents. No. 1 pulled into DeQueen with 1930. Today it is 22 so that should tell you engine 23, a B unit, one baggage car, This 376-page, 8%"x5%" soft- something. two chair cars and business cars cover book ($20.95) contains 229 Due to declining passenger reve­ Kaysee and Tolmak on the rear black and white photos and 115 nues and the killing cut the loss of occupied by then vice president R.J. thumbnail maps. The book was com­ the mails the KCS found itself in the Blair. The Belle eased to a stop and piled by George H. Drury, the librar­ same position all railroads found the carman iced the engine. Railfans ian for Trains. themselves in in the 1960s. Passen­ and others boarder her and the plat­ According to Drury, "the railroad ger deficits rose and ridership form full of people watched in a scene has changed so much and so dropped. Most railroads, in an at­ rather somber mood as she whistled many famous names have disap­ tempt to discourage patrons, let their off and pulled out of town for the peared that a reader needs a trains go, delaying them intentional­ last time. I watched the red marker guidebook to keep it all straight." ly, using dirty equipment and such light on the rear of the Tolmak as it Included in The Historical Guide tricks as that, but not the KCS. Even faded in the darkness and around are brief histories of the major rail­ in the mid- and late 60s, manage­ the curve south of town. roads that have disappeared since ment on the KCS tried to keep their Somewhere in the darness down 1930, statistics, maps, biographies of trains in A-l condition. They even around Alexandria, La., it would significant men in railroad history, a remodeled and refurbished passen­ meet the last No. 2 the northbound glossary of RR terms and an index. ger equipment in 1966. Southern Belle and fade into history. The railroads are listed alphabeti­ In March 1968 the KCS dropped Before I closed the books out I cally to help the reader find his or trains 15 and 16 between KC and sold myself the last ticket issued at her favorite. Shreveport and Port Arthur. These DeQueen, a round trip coach ticket Among the statistics are miles of trains ran through Green Country in to Neal Springs, Ark., nine miles eastern Oklahoma at night, but they south of DeQueen. It cost 35 cents. railroad operated and the number of still kept the old Southern Belle, I still have that ticket and the last cars and locomotives at the end of which gave a spectacular tour of the set of train orders given No. 1 that 1929 (or when the railroad began, if mountains of Missouri, Oklahoma night. after 1929) and at the end of the and Arkansas in daylight hours. railroad's existence. Drury recom­ The Southern Belle in all the time ENID CARS SOLD mends books for further reading, I knew her was very seldom late on Four rail passenger cars originally provides names and addresses of her schedule. Usually 30 minutes or destined to sit idly in a shopping historical and technical societies and so into DeQueen going south and complex in Enid will be rebuilt and lists the railroads' lines that are still about that gomg north. placed back on the tracks as rolling in service. The KCS managed to make good restaurants and party cars, one of Drury compiled the information connections in KC with other rail­ the new owners says. from sources such as The Official roads. Example, No. 2's arrival at Les Kasten, president of Minne­ Guide, Poor's Railroads, Moody's KCUS connected with less than a apolis-based Kasten Railway Sys­ Transportation Manual, The Official two-hour layover with UP No. 9's tems, and Bill Ross, a Salt Lake City Railway Equipment Register, 1928 train the City of St. Louis to San businessman, have purchased the Handy Railroad Atlas and the cur­ Fran, LA and the Pacific Northwest. four cars from First Enid Realty, an rent Handy Railroad Atlas. Each Also the train made good connec­ official of First National Bank said. entry was reviewed by experts. tions to Chicago on the ATSF and Mark Jeffries, comptroller of the Hobbyists who model vanished St. Louis on the MOP. bank and treasurer of First Enid railroads will find plenty of informa­ But in 1968 the KCS had to come Inc., said the cars sold for $25,000 tion and photos in The Historical to the realization that the trains to $30,000. Guide to help them make their pikes were costing too much and had to Kasten said the cars — two club authentic. go. As I mentioned the old Flying lounges from the Santa Fe and an The Guide is available in Crow No. 15 and 16 went first in the Illinois Central twin diner — will be bookstores and hobby shops or di­ early spring of 1968. But the South­ rebuilt and put back in service. rect from Kalmbach Publishing Co. ern Belle held on until November The lounge cars "once were used Add $1 per order for postage and 1969. on Chicago to Los Angeles runs on handling when ordering direct. In May 1969 the Pullmans came off, but were returned to service in the Super Chief and El Capitan. The September *ud pulled off for the last twin diner was part of the Panama time in October 1969. The obser­ Limited, a companion to the City of LAST DAYS vation diner however remained until New Orleans on runs between Chi­ OF THE SOUTHERN BELLE the end. The KCS had one of the cago and New Orleans. By PHILIP MOSELEY The cars originally were proposed P.O. Box 888 nicest dining cars with the most Blanchard, LA., 71009 reasonably priced and tasty meals of as part of a theme restaurant in When I first started railroading in any railroad its size in the U.S. Also Enid. the mid-1960s as an agent telegra­ there was always a most courteous Kasten said the diner and at least pher, the age of luxury passenger crew and dining car staff. one of the lounge cars will be leased trains in the U.S. had already started Unlike the Katy adn Frisco which or sold after restoration. to end. I have always considered allowed their passenger trains to go "We will probably keep 1389, the myself very lucky to have gotten in down terribly in their last days, the Santa Fe lounge car in the back," on the end of the Golden Age with KCS kept the Southern Belle's Kasten said. "The others will be passenger trains, small town depots, equipment clean and in top notch placed back on the track and back in express, mail business and telegraph. shape until the very last run. service. This is a business I have, to It indeed was the glorious and I was working that night, Nov. 3, buy salvagable cars and restore romantic age of railroading. The 1969, when the last southbound run them. We run private railway cars only thing I missed was steam. of the Southern Belle made its way behind Amtrak trains." But this is the story of the last into DeQueen. I remember it very ASSOCIATED PRESS years of operation and the death of well. No. 1 the Southern Belle left the "Sweetheart of American Heavener with engine 23 30 minutes Trains," the Kansas City Southern's off the advertised and didn't make RESTAURANT DEAL "Southern Belle," which made its up any time. Some months ago, it was reported daily cruise from Kansas City to So it was called at DeQueen 30 in these columns how an OKC res­ New Orleans passing through what I minutes late. I soli more tickets that taurant would rebate to the club 10% believe is the most scenic country night than I had sold in any night in of food bills on CORC members east of the Rockies, the mountains the little more than a year I had who ate there. of eastern Oklahoma and western worked second trick at DeQueen. Question: how much has the club Arkansas. People came from everywhere to made from this deal? Can we still In 1968 when I came over to the ride it and watch her pull out of DeQueen for the last time. earn money by eating there? What's KCS from Uncle John's Santa Fe, the latest? the Southern Belle was still in opera­ The engine crew who changed at tion and was still one of the nicest, DeQueen was called. Note the regu­ VOTE FOR SALE "State officials have brought for­ blew after six years of layoffs, there Oklahoma's two U.S. senators eign visitors to our place on several were only 360 employees left, but voted Feb. 4 for a plan to sell occasions," he said. "The state Tou­ the shops were still a major source Conrail, the government-owned rism and Recreation Department of livelihood in the southern Mon­ freight railroad, to Norfolk Southern has been very interested in our pro­ tana town of 7,000 people. Corp. for $1.2 billion. ject, especially our steam train we Nearly half the workers have ac­ The full Senate approved the sale are preparing to add." cepted transfers to other BN shops, of Conrail to Norfolk Southern in a Wilds has put the railroad into a mostly in Iowa, Illinois and Nebras­ 54-39 vote. Sen. David Boren, D- limited partnership and has some ka, and most will leave their families Okla., joined his Republican col­ offerings available for sale. He needs behind to try to sell houses and pack league, Sen. Don Nickles, in voting a few more investors before track family goods. with the majority. work can begin. "I guess we'll survive, but it's The vote capped a two-week de­ Some CORC members might disrupting our whole lives," said bate, sure to be rekindled in the want to visit with Wilds. Perhaps Lorraine Gilberg, whose husband, House, between Norfolk Southern's the club could invest in the project. Charlie, headed for West Burlington, supporters and its critics, including He has a prospectus available Iowa, and his new job. advocates of a rival offer for Conrail along with additional details. Wilds The Gilbergs, who have two sons, from the 43-member Morgan Stanley can be reached at 262-1228, 262- had wanted to retire in Livingston, a Investor Group. 7275 or by writing Rt. 3, Box 197A, picturesque town nestled along the Transportation Secretary Eliza­ El Reno, 73036. Yellowstone River beneath the Absa- beth Dole says that the sale of Con­ roka, Crazy and Bridger mountains, rail to the Norfolk Southern is the about 50 miles from Yellowstone best guarantee of no recurrence of RAILROAD AUCTION National Park. the threat to shippers that arose The Great Plains Transportation Marty Johnson, an electrician when the Penn Central and six other Museum of Wichita is sponsoring a with BN since 1974, also was headed freight railroads went under in the railroadiana auction on Friday, for Iowa. "You just don't find very 1970s. March 14, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is many jobs that pay $13 an hour, Critics, however, argue that the $1. plus benefits," he said. "There just Norfolk Southern plan would create It will be held at the National isn't any way out here." a monopoly, shortchange the govern­ Guard Armory, 620 N. Edgemoor, Town officials, union representa­ ment and pose a threat of reduced in Wichita. tives and Montana Gov. Ted services and increased costs for ship­ The museum is sponsored by the Schwinden made an effort to try to pers. Wichita NRHS chapter. Consign­ get BN to change its mind, but the ments are welcome. Additional de­ railroad never wavered from its deci­ tails are available from Harvey sion. RAILROAD PLANNED Koehn, 316 733-2085, or by sending BN spokesman Brian Sweeney of A steam train will be running a SSAE to 1502 Heorman, Andover, Overland Park, Kan., said the deci­ again on a portion of the Fort Smith Kan., 67002. sion was "for strictly economic rea­ & Western in plans announced by an sons." El Reno man. COLORADO EXCURSION "We have two major locomotive Steve Wilds Jr. has 240 acres that CORCs Jay Queiser and Bob repair shops (in the region), and are being developed into an old Chapman of the Tacoma chapter of both of them are under-utilized," western 1880s setting. NRHS are teaming up to offer a Sweeney said earlier. "We have purchased a 2-6-2 1912 Colorado narrow gauge Steam in the Union leaders waged an unsuc­ Prairie-type Baldwin steam engine Aspens fall color excursion. cessful court fight to keep the shops which is being rebuilt at this time," Dates are Sept. 23-28. The cost is open, at least until a meeting of the Wilds told The Dispatcher. The $450, OKC to Colorado and return, state Public Service Commission, Prairie Chief Train will include the double occupancy. That includes all which is exploring whether it has tender and four 40-foot cars. bus and rail transportation, hotels jurisdiction to block the closure. "About 80% to 90% of the dirt and motels and two meals: lunch at And community leaders have work for the 2.7 miles of track has Ozier and a steak cookout at Ouray. been working to try to broaden Liv­ been completed." All the usual sites will be covered ingston's economic base. Wilds said the train will travel including the Railroad Museum at "Livingston has to secure its own over an 80-foot bridge and a 300- Golden, Georgetown Loop, C&TS, existence without the railroad," said foot trestle with an old west prairie Durango & Silverton and a ride on Robert Gersack, president of the atmosphere passing 7 ponds and the California Zephyr. First Bank of Livingston. animals and game that were in the For more details, and a flyer, old west. "A year from now, Livingston will contact Queiser at 5416 Charwood exist, but the shape in which it will "It will travel on part of the Lane, OKC, 73135, or ct& 677-1656. exist depends a lot on what we do historic Fort Smith & Western now." which went through our property." Wilds owns a rustic 8,000 square BN CLOSES SHOPS Some workers planned to stay in foot restaurant, handmade mainly Burlington Northern Railroad Livingston, even without jobs. by the family, which is called, what shut down its service shops in the Kevin Albrecht says his income else, The Wilds. It's a fish farm, rail town of Livingston, Mont., Feb. might drop by as much as two- restaurant and recreation area. 4, and although the move was an­ thirds, but he loves the state too much to leave. "It took us a year to build it. The nounced three months ago, local restaurant has been very successful officials and the 360 workers still "Montana — that's all you have in its 2 and a half years of operation, took it hard. to say. You're not crowded here, serving an average of 85,000 per "I kind of thought they were you've got a little bit of freedom," year." bluffing, but I guess they proved he said. The recreation area includes pic­ they weren't," said Mayor John nicking, fee fishing, hayrides and Printz, who took office last month. RAIL REPAIR bonfires, and a Rabbitville for the The actual shutdown was "just as The state has had to ante up an young-at-heart. There were at least a big a shock today" as it was when additonal $1.2 million for refurbish­ 300 outside parties this past year railroad officials announced the clo­ ing rail lines in southwestern Okla­ homa. and the recreation area visitors were sure Nov. 5, he said. The railroad is consolidating its That amount was recommended estimated to be 30,000 to 35,000, he by a Board of Claims which presided said. locomotive repair shops in other states for economic reasons, and it over a dispute betwen the state With restaurant and visitor fig­ Transportation Dept. and Railroad ures like that already, Wilds is antic­ closed the shop doors for good after the last shift late the night of Feb. 3. Builders Inc., the contractor. ipating a minimum of 100,000 train The dispute involved work » 30 riders per year. Once, more than 1,100 mechanics miles of track in Cotton and Tillman An 8-foot fence will surround the and carmen had worked around the counties. The contract called for 240 acres to house antelope, deer, clock to keep Burlington Northern's rehab of tracks and industrial spurs elk, buffalo, and farmyard fowl and fleet of gleaming green locomotives at Devol, Grandfield, Loveland, animals. Wilds already has 4 elk, 19 ready to thunder over the mountain Hollister and Frederick. buffalo, as well as a variety of chick­ passes to the west or speed lumber, The amount of the contract was ens, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, wild grain and coal back to the East. $1.8 million, but the contractor said turkey and sheep. By Feb. 3, when the final whistle it cost more to do the work. \\W ssem \SM J ssuHisna NVJ1IVU

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trains a day, which haul primarily control only because of a govern­ RI HELP NEEDED grain and poultry products from ment bailout following the 1973 Club member Larry Thomas is firms in Springdale, Rogers and bankruptcy of the Penn Central sys­ finishing up research for an article Fayetteville, Ark. "Monett is just a tem.) on the two streamlined Rock Island junction point for that line," he said. At issue is to whom Conrail business cars. Wiggins said the line is making should be sold, under what condi­ If you have information on these some money but has lost business tions and at what price. The Reagan cars, please contact him at 309 SW since 1981, dropping from 30,000! administration's current proposal 93rd St., OKC, 73139. loads a year to 17,000 loads. constitutes nothing less than another Larry has managed to track down Ken Cornell, local chairman for sweetheart deal for another large both cars following their sale by the the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, corporation. trustee and is in need of stories or said selling the line enables BN to The Transportation Department accounts (or photos) of their use. reduce the number of railroad em­ says the most suitable buyer is the Perhaps some of you saw his two- ployees who must be paid and fur­ Norfolk Southern Corp., a major part Frisco article in the Novem­ ther undermines the unions' railroad that has offered $1.2 billion ber/December 1984 issue of Passen­ influence on behalf of their mem­ for Conrail — but the merger of ger Train Journal. bers. The move cuts expenses and those two lines would be blatantly In the very near future PJT will maximizes profits while reducing anti-competitive. publish his next article; this one on service and hurting local economies, It would create the nation's larg­ GM&O's Midnight Special. His next he said. est railroad whose 32,000 miles of project is a history of the Twin Star track sprawling across 23 states Rocket on which he plans to begin DRUG, ALCOHOL TESTS would enable it to dominate the rail work this fall. A federal regulation allowing rail­ freight business throughout much of road supervisors to test employees the eastern half of the country. RAIL SALE PROPOSED for drugs or alcohol if impairment is In an era of deregulation, compe­ Burlington Northern Railroad of­ suspected became official this month tition is the most important con­ ficials say they have received an despite protests by unions represent­ straint on greedy carriers inclined to offer from a regional railroad that ing railroad workers. gouge shippers to maximize profits wants to purchase a 146-mile BN The regulation also for the first — but the proposed merger would line between Monett, Mo., and Fort time prohibits railroad workers from drastically reduce competition. Smith, Ark. reporting to work under the influ­ In many parts of the South, com­ "We are agreeable to selling it ence of alcohol or drugs or consume petition would be provided by the under the right conditions and alcohol or arugs while on duty. thriving CSX system, a major rail terms," BN spokesman Jim Wiggins The National Transportation carrier formed in 1980 by the merg­ said. "Ultimately, there would be Safety Board recommended 12 years er of the Chessie and Southern lines. between 90 and 10U employees af­ ago that such regulations be enacted In the North, however, there fected." because of the frequent link of alco­ would be virtually no competition BN employees who are not hired hol or drug use to railroad accidents. — a situation implicitly acknowl­ by the potential purchaser — Arkan­ The Transportation Department edged by Norfolk Southern when it sas and Missouri Railroad — would announced the new regulations last claims that it would be challenged in be able to exercise seniority rights year and had sought to impose them the region by two small, obscure within the BN system, Wiggins said. last November. But the rules were railroads — Guilford Transportation Union leaders in Springfield crit­ challenged in the courts by the rail Industries and the Pittsburgh & icized the railroad's plan to sell the unions. An appeals court set aside Lake Erie Railroad Co. line, which they said is profitable. the regulations, but the Supreme The evidence suggests otherwise. They said the move reinforces their Court sided with the government A CSX analysis, for example, shows opinion BN has been interested only and let the rules stand. that the massive new carrier wouP in long-haul shipping for large cus­ dominate traffic moving in and ov _ tomers since its merger with the RAILROADING A MERGER of the busy rail hub of Chicago — Frisco Railway in 1979. It's a helluva way to sell a rail­ carrying 66.3 percent of all freight to Wiggins declined to respond to road. Pittsburgh, 82.3 percent to Cleve­ the criticism. That's the best that can be said land and 91.5 percent to Buffalo. The request to purchase the Mon- for the arrangement devised by If Conrail was not a government «tt-to-Fort Smith line was filed with members of President Reagan's Cab­ entity, the proposed merger would the Interstate Commerce Commis­ inet to unload Conrail, the freight- have to be examined at a full-scale sion in late December. Dennis Wat­ carrying rail line owned and oper­ hearing before the Interstate Com­ son, an ICC spokesman in ated by the federal government for merce Commission, be subject to Washington, said the ICC staff is the last 13 years. ICC approval and be vulnerable to reviewing the case. He said he could The wisdom of selling Conrail is judicial review. not estimate when the case will be not open to question because the Instead, legislation submitted to decided. government has no business running Congress on the proposed sale Wiggins said the line carries two a railroad. (Conrail is under federal waives all of the public's protection.. By Robert Walters, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.