the DISPATCHER

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA RAILFAN CLUB LTD

VOLUME XXV MARCH 1993 NUMBER 3 RRH5 fcJUAHURHEEIIN U LI 11 Lt= ROCK, MAR 26, By Howard Thornton FEBRUARY DINNER MEETING HELD AT PIGGY'S BBQ Be sure to include the NRHS SPRING BOARD MEETING from March 26-28 in your plans. CORC's February dinner meeting planned by Complete details and a registration form were in CORC's new program chairman, Howard the FEBRUARY DISPATCHER. Fill it in and Thornton, featured Santa Fe trainmaster, Ron plan to go—we can share rides—if you have any Sherman, and the head of Operation Lifesaver, questions contact CORA's NRHS Director, Gary Weathers, Santa Fe Engineer. Howard Thornton at 405-732-0566-a visit to the Gary Weathers and John Bjork joined CORC huge UNION PACIFIC North Little Rock Shops after the wonderful door prizes were Handed out. and the Pine Bluff Museum are included. BE A Santa Fe calendar, a silver glass from the SURE TO GO! • 3751 Santa Fe employee recognition steam excursion, and a train order stick were the first Wear your CORA red diesel-shaped badge to all prizes along with a 1975 Official Railway Guide. meetings and activities, and if you don't have "Operation Lifesaver" lapel pins, Amtrak one, you can order one for $4.30 ($5.00 luggage tags, 1993 Amtrak Travel Planners and postpaid), from Howard Thornton, 732-0566. r Timetables were given away, to the delight of trie eighty people attending.

CENTRAL OKLA. RAILFAN ASS'N CORC's March meeting will be held at 7 pm on the first Saturdav. March 6. at Kirkpatrick Center, 2100 NE ^ in OKC. Another railroad HOWARD THORNTON will have the featured speaker in the Goldman Room after CORC members view the operation MIDWEST CITY OKLA; of the huge toy Lrain exhibit and tour the interior of the restored parlor car donated to Kirkpatrick Center by CORC life members, Howard and CORC F-UNIT GETTING REPAIRS Peggy Thornton. •

Guy Lynn and Matthew Stitt have been going to TABLE OF CONTENTS Watonga to repair oil leaks and to make minor repairs to CORC's F-9A in Cent. OKChaptNRHS 2 preparation for the Spring season of the Watonga House Creates Panel, Focus on Transit 2 Chief Excursion Train. Anyone interested in Fascinating Trip through Land of History....4 participating in this phase of CORC operations Do You have any Grey Poupon, too? 6 should call Matt at 405-354-0393. • New Train to Upgrade US Service 7 Trains Made Strong Comeback 8 Bill Seeks Funds for Rail Service 8 One oi our members, Steamboat Deason, wants House Bill 1078 9 to buy the 1980 and 1981 CORC calendars to Timetable 12 complete his collection. If you have one and are willing to part with it. piease call Steamboat at 631-1722. Page 2 the DISPATCHER CENTRAL OKLAHOMA HOUSE CREATES PANEL TO CHAPTER-NATIONAL RAILWAY FOCUS ON TRANSIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY Reprinted from THE JOURNAL By Howard Thornton RECORD

It was a busy year for the Central Oklahoma A new panel has been created in the Oklahoma Railfan Club, an affiliate of the NRHS, as its House of Representatives to focus on emerging "Watonga Chief" carried 6,527 passengers concepts in mass transit and to cope with new including many for its full-course dinner. The federal regulations. Club had more than 9,000 present for its annual December train show and sold more than 2,000 An Aeronautics and Railways Subcommittee of calendars with pictures by member Preston the House Committee on Transportation was George of past Oklahoma steam trains. approved recently by Speaker Glen D. Johnson. Its tourist trains operate on the tracks of the AT&L Railroad using former Rock Island tracks According to the Oklahoma Corporation and operating out of Watonga, 69 miles Commission, 20 rail lines operate almost 5,000 northwest of Oklahoma City. The trains include miles of train track throughout the state. In 48-seat former Santa Fe dining car 1492, once addition, Oklahoma has more than 400 airports used on the TEXAS CHIEF, former Great and approximately 10,000 licensed pilots, Northern 68-seat chair car 1304, once used Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission records between Chicago and Seattle, a Great Northern reflect. Caboose belonging to the Club, and AT&L's refurbished Burlington caboose. Motive "It's vital that Oklahoma get in the mainstream of is provided by the Club's F9-A 814—formerly transportation issues, and explore new concepts Northern Pacific 7003A—that was completely for the future," said Rep. Larry E. Adair, who is rebuilt by Club members and has passed FRA starting his second term as chairman of the House inspection—Club members serve as train hosts as Transportation Committee. well as handle all the reservations and promotion details. Because of the AT&L's freight Rep. Jerry Hefner, D-Wagoner, will be chairman obligations the "Watonga Chief" operates from of the 11-member subcommittee, and Rep. Mike April to June, and September to December each Tyler, D-Sapulpa, will be vice chairman. year. Other members will be Reps. Ed Apple, Club members handled all ticketing and hosting R-Duncan; Danny Hilliard, D-Sulphur; Joe for three units of the Texas Tour of Union Hutchison. D-Jay: Don Kinnamon. D-Stroud: Al Pacific's 3985 and 19 super condition cars. Sadler, D-Ardmore; James E. Henshaw and These were from Coffeyville to McAlester, David Smith, both R-Tulsa; Gary York, D McAlester to Fort Worth and Van Buren to Blanchard: and Adair. D-Stilwell. Parsons. Passengers came from throughout the United States. At least four pilots serve on the subcommittee. Hefner flies helicopters in the Oklahoma Army Club meetings are held on the first Saturday of National Guard; Apple was a fighter pilot in the each month at the Kirkpatrick Center U.S. Marine Corps: Smith formerly was a (Omnipiex). 2100 NE 52. in Oklahoma City, corporate pilot rated in commercial multiengine whicn also houses within the building former aircraft; and Henshaw, too, is a flier. Missouri Pacific business Car ff4 as well as a very large Club-built model layout featuring "State and federal highways are getting crowded, seven different scales of operating trains. and the federal government is tightening its The annual train show usually early in December vehicle emissions controls," Adair said. in the Transportation Building on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City, has "We think it's important to have a legislative exhibits and models layouts from many states committee that concentrates on innovations in air and is without question the largest train show in and rail transportation - such as regional the Southwest. • wayports and high-speed railways — for moving people and products." • the DISPATCHER Page 3 The luxurious way- is Santa Fe LTD IIII ii Page 4 the DISPATCHER NEWSLETTER EDITOR RIDES comprising 102,000 acres. I have always been interested in geography and believe that travel­ OKLAHOMA 3985-This account continues ing by train enables one to see sights not seen by from last month's issue of the dispatcher. It is any other means of transportation. This trip is written by Steven Morse, editor of the newsletter bearing out that truth as I am seeing parts of of the Heart of Dixie NRHS Chapter in Oklahoma I never knew existed. Birmingham, AL. We arrive at McAlester well ahead of our A FASCINATING TRIP THROUGH A scheduled 5:00 p.m. arrival. Our early arrival LAND OF HISTORY. By Stephen Morse, catches everyone off guard. Buses finally arrive Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Inc to take us to the fairgrounds located in an iso­ lated area west of town. We decided to skip the We are now riding on the former Missouri, Bar-B-Que which was scheduled here at 6:30, Kansas and Texas (MKT) railroad. Congress and following another long wait in the hot passed a law in the 1860's granting right-of-way Oklahoma sun, buses arrive to take us to the from Kansas to Texas to the first railroad able to Comfort Inn. We have traveled 81.2 miles on lay track to the Indian Territory Border. The the former MP and 76.6 miles on the former MKT line drove the winning spike on June 6, MKT, a good day of rail travel indeed. 1870 and thus was launched the bustling Katy Railroad. The MKT was soon nicknamed the Thursday morning comes early again. Another "Katy" from the last two letters in MKT. The good breakfast at the restaurant adjacent to the "KT" has stuck and this line is still referred to as motel helps me wake up for today's ride. It is the "Katy". The Katy was an important link be­ nearly a ten mile ride to the train and I am tween the midwest and Texas for many years and thankful we have a van to transport us. When suffered from mismanagement during and after we arrive trainside, Rick and Phil Moser are World War II. Passenger service ended in 1965 waiting at the boarding location to guarantee us on the MKT, so traveling on this route was a real good seats. We again board at 7:30 and again treat as this was my first big trip on the MKT. I find the same seats we have enjoyed for most of was a graduate student in 1965 and had no money the trip. or time for train riding then. Save for a few miles on Amtrak and a detour in 1958, this was We leave McAlester at 8:12 and soon cross the my first trip on the MKT. former Rock Island line that once ran from Memphis to Tucumcari, NM. McAlester We are now traveling south and cross the Barge developed in 1889 where these two railroads Channel which is part of the Arkansas Navigation crossed. The Rock Island was then known as System running between Tulsa and the Gulf of the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad The Mexico. A few minutes later we cross the track is still in place at this crossing and it is Arkansas River, and arrive in Muskogee for a now known as the UP Shawnee Branch. At service stop. A good crowd has assembled here Navy, 8 miles south of McAlester, we pass a to see our train. Muskogee is a city of nearly U.S. Army Ammunition Plant. 40,000 and was an important division point on the MKT. It was established in 1872 when the The two Oklahoma chapters are again sponsor­ MKT crossed the Arkansas river. Muskogee was ing today's trip. Soon, three characters appear. named by Robert Stevens, MKT General They are chapter members dressed in costume. Manager, after the Creek Indians who sometimes The first was the engineer who gave a corny called themselves "Muskogee". speel, then came the cook who talked about cooking some roadkill for lunch. The third Soon we are on our way and traveling at track character was dressed as a Baptist missionary speed of 55 MPH. We have a photo run-by at telling how he came to Oklahoma to convert the MP 519.5 on a hill near Oktaha. A public rela­ heathen. He told that we were traveling on the tions stop is made at Checotah, and upon leaving MKT which was first a Pawnee Indian trail, then nere we resume our track speed of 55 MPH. We called the East Shawnee trail, and later the cross the North Canadian River, travel alongside Texas trail following the Civil War. The route Lake Eufaula and pass through the town of we were traveling over became the major cattle Eufaula, which is named after Eufaula, AL. trail to move the cattle north, before the railroad Lake Eufaula is the largest lake in Oklahoma was built on this historic trail. It gives one a the DISPATCHER Page 5

sense of history to discover that we were Caiera is named after our Caiera in Alabama or traveling over the same trail that Sam Houston not, but at Caiera I spot an Oklahoma Highway took when he went to Texas. I recently saw the Patrolman videotaping our train speeding by. movie "Far and Away" and couldn't help being We cross the Red River on the joint UP/BN captivated when Joseph and Shannon were bridge about five miles north of Denison at reunited in Oklahoma. Joseph said, "I came by 11:27. The MKT reached the Red River first train". Shannon responded, "I came by train and built a bridge. The Frisco arrived in 1901 too". and worked out an agreement with the MKT to use its bridge. There is a connection to each We stopped at MP 612, just south of Atoka for a mainline at each end of the current 4-span truss photo run-by. It was here that I encountered the bridge which was built in 1909. We now enter most unfortunate incident of the trip. An the state of Texas. Oklahoma is definitely OK! overzealous volunteer gave conflicting We have another photo run-by at MP 658 and instructions for the photo run-by and then arrive Dennison at 12:04 for a service and PR became ugly when I followed the instructions as stop. Helicopters hovering overhead signal that I best understood them. He began shouting at me the Dallas-Fort Worth news media have noticed and threatened to not allow me to participate in our train and that we will be featured on the any additional run-bys and throw me off the evening news. We eat our box lunch during our train. This was most unsettling and wasn't at all stop in Denison and depart at 12:46. We have a necessary. After all, I thought I had been a most photo run-by at MP 675.7 and then continue west responsible passenger and photographer. It was on our journey to Whitesboro. not at all expected and didn't make any sense at all to me especially since his wife seemed so We turn south at Whitesboro and are now sweet. I didn't see him smile the entire two days traveling on the former Texas & Pacific. The and dismissed the matter thinking he was just in MKT acquired the Denison and Pacific Ry. to a bad mood or having a bad experience on the extend its line to Whitesboro and in 1881 gained train. access into Ft. Worth by trackage rights over the T&P. North Texas provides an interesting land­ People were watching our train at nearly every scape. Horse ranches dot the scene as we possible vantage point since we left Kansas City. approach Aubry. North of Denton, a golf game It was obvious that the train was better comes to a halt as the golf carts all line up to publicized in Oklahoma because we had more watch our train pass by. We arrive Denton at observers. A passenger train is indeed an 3:09 for our final PR stop of the day, departing unusual sight in Oklahoma as there is no at 3:40. regularly scheduled rail passenger service in this state. We arrived in Durant at 10:40 for a public We meet FWKC with UP 9307 on the point at relations stop. Howard Thornton, National Roanoke. This through freight has an unusual Director of the Central Oklahoma Chapter, has lashup of Soo and UP power. As we approach spent a lifetime organizing rail tours to Mexico Ft. Worth, we cross the SP (Cotton Belt) and other locations. He organized several Commerce line, pass the Amtrak depot and groups from Oklahoma City and Tulsa to ride Tower 55. Tower 55 stands guard over one of the two day trip which was called the Oklahoma the nation's busiest rail crossings where ATSF, Indian Nations Tour '92. Howard told us that SP and UP all vie for clearance. We back across the UP spent $18 million during the last three Tower 55 to the T&P depot, still standing in years to rebuild the ex-MKT between McAlester good condition and rumored to possibly become and Durant installing welded rail and CTC. This the new Amtrak depot in Ft. Worth. Rick is now a busy route for the UP hosting 25 freight Knutson, a BN manager who lives in suburban trains a day. Howard's son, Roy, is editor of the Ft. Worth, drives us to the Worthington Hotel Central Oklahoma Chapter's newsletter and we where we are staying tonight. Chuck Weinstock had several interesting conversations. I found shares a room with me tonight and our only both Howard and Roy to be delightful. All in disappointment is a group of Baptist teenage girls all, they have done a good job hosting and who have a room next to us. They were part of a sponsoring these excursions. large Baptist youth gathering staying at the hotel. The girls next to us had a big party in their room Departure from Durant is at 11:05. We are soon and became quite rowdy in the middle of the traveling at 60 MPH and pass through Caiera six (Cont'd next page) miles south of Durant. I don't know whether Page 6 the DISPATCHER night and I had to call hotel security to get them a morning flight to Birmingham on Southwest quieted down. Their advisors hadn't learned Airlines. what I learned the first time I took a group of Presbyterian teenagers to a hotel in a UP 3985 was on display near the Astrodome metropolitan city. They were uncontrollable and during the Republican National Convention. I vowed that would be the last time I would do Following the convention, No. 3985 powered that. I was up all night attempting to keep the boys and girls separated. Once they quieted several excursions in Texas. I caught up with the down, Chuck and I had peace and quiet. train again on September 1, and rode from Little Rock to Van Buren, Ar. This trip was called Friday morning marks another early day as we The River Challenger, was sponsored by the meet Rick Knutson in the lobby and accept his Arkansas Railroad Club and ran on the UP kind offer to drive us back to the T&P depot in (former MP) route paralleling the Arkansas river. two shifts. These early mornings are beginning On September 2, I concluded by travel on UP to take their toll on me and I am not as alert 3985 by riding Soonerland 3985 from Van Buren today as I was earlier in the week. The antenna to Parsons, KS, via Wagoner, OK. on my scanner was not functioning due to a broken connection, so I was also at a disad­ All in all, it was a fascinating trip through a land vantage in keeping track of the action. of history I hadn't seen before. I now have a The Gulf Coast Chapter, NRHS, sponsored keener sense of the geographical beauty of today's trip to Houston. We depart from the art Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Union deco T&P depot and headquarters building, run Pacific No. 3985 had just made its first tour of past Tower 55 again and head southeast on the the Southern United States and I was one of the UP (former MKT) Houston subdivision. We fortunate passengers. The only negatives were stop at Waco Jet. for about 20 minutes to lube the the ugly incident during one of the photo run-bys locomotive. Waco Jet. is where we leave the and a bad case of chigger bites on my legs that ex-MKT and enter the UP (former MP) Houston caused me pain and misery for weeks. I guess I subdivision. Upon leaving Waco Jet., we pass should have skipped most of the photo run-bys. through Waco, which is situated near the con­ fluence of the Bosque and Brazoz Rivers on the However, the pluses far outweighed the nega­ site of an ancient Waco Indian village. tives. I had a great group to travel with and most of the passengers were pleasant companions. I Sixty miles later we are at Valley Jet. where the would jump at the opportunity for a similar trip UP Austin subdivision branches off to San in a heartbeat. • Antonio. At Bryan we begin operating on a joint SP-UP ime that also hosts Amtrak" s Texas Eagie. The Texas Eagle is one of the few Amtrak routes I have not traveled, so this is new territory DO YOU HAVE ANY GREY for me. I have an opportunity to have a quick POUPON, TOO? chat with good friend Bob Sunderland who is From the Green Block, Reprinted from membership chairman of the Gulf Coast Chapter Old Dominion Chapter Highball and a member of the crew. We arrive at College Station at 1:08 p.m. and stop opposite the cam Recently, the northbound and southbound Coast pus and football stadium of Texas A&M Starlights met at Chorro Siding on the Cuesta University. We are permitted to detrain during Pass, north of San Luis Obispo to exchange pie. this PR and lube stop. Departure from College The southbound was in need of apple pie and Station is at 2:08 and at Navasota we leave the other condiments. The crew requested the joint line and stop for our final PR stop. We Southern Pacific dispatcher to arrange the meet then travel on the UP Ft. Worth subdivision to for the across-the-track exchange by dining car Spring Jet., where we pull into Lloyd Yard and crews. The diners were spotted opposite one end our trip. Buses are waiting to take us to another, and after a seven minute pause, the various locations in Houston. My bus takes me trains continued on their journeys, (via "The to Hobby Airport where I catch a shuttle to the Pioneer") • Ramada Inn. After a good night's sleep. I am on .1 r»mn A *Tt*-^TTr?T» Page 7 ine uii>rj\ i ^HER

the silver and gray slope-nosed train early next year as one of its regular premium-service Metroiiner trains between Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and New Haven, Conn.

The X2000 is special — and offers Amtrak great promise as a way to increase train speeds — because of the unusual ability each car has to tilt as it goes around curves. That means it moves safely through the curves at higher speed than a normal train. And because each car independently tilts as it goes through the curve, it counterbalances centrifugal forces Source: Amtrak. A8B TracOon inc AP/MaflM P. MIIWWI almost ana passengers get a comtortable NEW TRAIN TO UPGRADE U.S. moiionless ride. SERVICE Reprinted from The Sunday Oklahoman During the trials, the X2000 will run on straightaways at 130 mph only 5 mph faster than WASHINGTON - The future of high speed rail a regular Amtrak Northeast Corridor train by 20 travel in America just may have arrived. mph less than the Swedish train's top speed.

The sleek train of tomorrow is called the X2000. Because the train does not have to slow to 90 It was built in Sweden by Asea Brown Boveri mph or so on curves, Amtrak figures the total (ABB), the big Swedish/Swiss industrial trip time using an X2000 between Washington company. It is quietly idling on a track at and New York, where it will run most of the Washington's Union Station. You can't ride it time, can be cut by at least five or 10 minutes. yet, but it won't be much longer. Metroliners make the trip now in about three hours. The five car X2000, which arrived in the United States by ship from Sweden last month, is owned But not being pitched about on curves is only the by the Swedish State Railways and is on loan to beginning of what Amtrak officials say customers Amtrak for a nine-month trial to see how it will like about the X2000. might fit into the U.S. passenger-rail system. Anyone who's a regular Amtrak passenger on the After a period of testing at Union Station and out Northeast Corridor line knows that the on its rail lines, Amtrak plans to start running (See UPGRADE. Pa.se 10) Do™* S the DISPATCHER x ugw u TRAINS MADE STRONG COME­ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS WHAT MAKES THE BACK AS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS RAILFANS CALL THEIR LOCAL STATE A New-old Industry: Rare Experience for LEGISLATORS Children. Grown-up Kids. Reprinted from THE JOURNAL RECORD BILL SEEKS FUNDS FOR RAIL To me, this overwhelmingly big, black monster SERVICE exuded so much power it was frightening. The Reprinted from THE JOURNAL RECORD had come to a stop on the Some $1.8 million would be raised toward Santa Fe tracks at E. Park Ave., but it continued re-establishing Amtrak or bringing high-speed to chug with an irregular beat - and let off passenger rail service to Oklahoma under House mysterious puffs of smoke. Bill 1078, passed Tuesday by the House of Representatives Revenue and taxation I was just a boy, probably about nine or 10. Committee. World War II was still underway, and steam were still operating in America, but Authored by Rep. Gary Stottlemyre, D-Tulsa, I never lost the feeling of being next to so much the bill would earmark a portion of the State power. The sheer size, noise and smoke Transportation Fund's state gasoline tax revenues captivated my imagination. for railroad passenger services. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration. Though I have ridden hundreds of trains since then, many powered by steam locomotives when The transportation fund gets 70 percent of the I lived in Germany, I have never lost that proceeds of Oklahoma's 4-cent per gallon feeling. It returned last spring, when I visited gasoline tax. House Bill 1078 proposes the Steam Museum in Pawnee and again when I earmarking 4 percent to 5 percent of it for the saw the in eastern Oklahoma Department of Transportation to use to Oklahoma. contract rail services, "including but not limited to a route linking stations in Oklahoma and Tulsa That must be one of the reasons trains are counties with other primary points in the national making a comeback as tourist attractions these railroad passenger system." days. The Challenger brought back memories for thousands of people who rode the train or The money also would go toward necessary waved to it last summer as it chugged depot, signaling and track improvements. majestically to Texas. The Watonga Chief and Hugo Heritage short tour trains have been Stottlemyre said estimated revenue from the tax operating for several years, and another was would be $1.8 million a year, and this would be started near Tulsa. an ongoing fund. Now, there is talk of a "rolling theme park" train on an excursion line from Guthrie to Enid. It Committee Chairman Howard Cotner, D-Altus, has been pushed by Don Coffin, president of the wondered if there should be a provision in the Logan County Economic Development Council. bill that would cap the comprehensive total The $1 million project would include federal amount of state funds to be spent on the project. funds available through the Intermodal Surface There also was some discussion about ensuring Transportation Efficiency Act for facilities such that any leftover funds would not be left sitting as a depot. idle in the passenger rail account.

There also have been proposals to include El The bill would be effective July 1. • Reno and Oklahoma City in the project. Other similar tour trains are springing up all over the country, often led by cities with strong historical preservation oroerams such as Guthrie and El Reno. The nostalgia for trains also can be seen in the restoration of old railroad depots all over Oklahoma. (See COMEBACK, Page 10) sgfissaBg? the DISPATCHER Page 9

STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 44th Legislature (1993) HOUSE BILL NO. 1078 By: Stottlemyre

AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to revenue and taxation; amending 68 O.S. 1991, Section 504, which relates to motor fuel tax; modifying apportionment of motor fuel taxes deposited to State Transportation Fund; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 1991, Section 504, is amended to read as follows:

Section 504. The excise tax of four cents ($0.04) per gallon on gasoline that is levied by Section 502 of this title and all penalties and interest thereon collected by the Tax Commission under such levy shall be apportioned monthly and used for the following purposes: (a) Three percent (3%) shall be paid by the Tax Commission to the State Treasurer and by him placed to the credit of the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury. (b) Seventy percent (70%) shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Transportation Fund: (DA minimum of four percent (4%) of such sum deposited to the credit of the State Transportation Fund shall be used by the Secretary of Transportation to contract railroad passenger services, including but, not limited to a route linking stations in Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties with other primary points in the national railroad passenger system and to provide necessary facility, signaling, and track improvements for those contracted services, and (2) The remaining sum of said fund shall be used at the discretion of the Secretary of Transportation. (c) Five percent (5%) shall be transmitted by the Tax Commission to the treasurers of the various incorporated cities and towns of the state in the percentage which the population, as shown by the last Federal Census or the most recent annual estimate provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, bears to the total population of all the incorporated cities and towns in this state. Such funds shall be expended for the construction, repair and maintenance of the streets and alleys of the incorporate cites and towns of this state. (d) Twenty-two percent (22%) shall be transmitted by the Tax Commission to the various counties of the state, on the following basis, to wit: (1) Forty percent (40%) of such sum shall be distributed to the various counties in the proportion which the county road mileage of each county bears to the entire state road mileage as certified by the State Transportation Commission, and (2) The remaining sixty percent (60%) of such sum shall be distributed to the various counties on the basis which the population and area of each county bears to the total population and area of the state. The population shall be as shown by the last Federal Census or the most recent annual estimate provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Each county shall use not less than fifty percent (50%) of the monies apportioned to it for the construction, improvement or repair of highways under the provisions of this article, for the purpose of participating in or sponsoring federal projects for the building or maintenance of roads, bridges or culverts; and it shall be the mandatory duty of the county excise board to appropriate such funds for such purpose. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 1993. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. • Page 10 the DISPATCHER

(UPGRADE, From Page 7) Amtrak to be competitive with airlines. The all-reserved-seat Metroliners and most other three-hour Metroliner running times do make it Amtrak trains usually provide reliable service. competitive with airlines. But practically all of Amtrak's cars are at least 10 years old, and some are much older. They Indeed, the X2000's tilting ability is the one are beginning to rattle and fall apart. feature that ABB emphasizes the most about the advantages of the train. The tilt technology By contrast, the X2000 is the equal of the most makes the X2000 usable on thousands of miles of celebrated high-speed trains of France, Germany conventional rail lines the world over. • and Japan, offering passengers a modern, spacious, brightly lit gray-and-blue interior and (COMEBACK, From Page 8) numerous features lacking in Amtrak trains. In You only have to read reports of the regular service in Sweden, the X2000 runs Challenger's trip last August from Kansas to Fort between the country's two largest cities. Worth to realize that a pent-up fascination with "The folks are going to love this train" said trains exists over a broad spectrum of the public. Amtrak spokesman Clifford Black. "It's jazzy. Adults gave their children the thrill of their first It's modern." ride on the train — and revived their own childhood thrills. Each of the X2000's five cars is what European railroads call a first-class configuration, seating It's the reverse of a thrill many of us experienced 51 passengers, with each row having two seats with airplanes in the 1940s. We would go to the together on one side of an aisle and one by itself airport to watch twin-engine passenger planes, on the other. Handsome wooden tray tables fold often DC-3s, land and take off. Now, airplanes down from the backs of seats. May of the seats are so much a part of our lives they are a are in clusters of four, with passengers facing nuisance in some cases. each other and a large wooden table between them. But a train — now there's a rare experience for today's children and grown-up kids. It's a sort Two of the cars have special clusters of four of new-old industry, starting all over again. seats, two facing each other with a table between, that are sealed off by sliding glass The Union Pacific's Challenger, No. 3985, was doors. Business travelers can reserve the seats advertised as the largest locomotive ever to travel and have private conferences en route to their through Oklahoma with 1,069,800 pounds of destinations. snorting power. It equals four of today's diesel-electric locomotives, and it pulled 19 Food service on the X2000 also will be a striking passenger and support cars. It burned No. 5 fuel change from the Amcafe snack bar on Amtrak oil, rather than coal. trains. Besides a "bistro car" with a walk-up snack bar and a couple of tables, first-class It passed through cities such as Claremore, passengers can get meals served by attendants at Eufaula. McAlester and Durant before waving their seats. On some runs, an attendant will crowds, wishing they had a chance to ride this a trolley, loaded with snacks and drinks chugging behemoth of days gone by. for sale, up and down the aisles, another service on many European trains. Dick Mayo of the Sequoyah County Times wasn't so sure it was the biggest ever in Among other features are smoking compartments Oklahoma. separated from the rest of the car by a glass partition, large handicapped-accessible rest "I don't know for sure, but the Kansas City rooms, a digital clock high on a wall in every Southern's Mallet engines of yesteryear sure car, a coat hook at every seat, and lots of seemed bigger," Mayo wrote. "A call to cousin electrical outlets for passengers' PCs. Seymour Drake, our chief Kansas City Southern watcher, failed to turn up any Maliet weights but Ultimately, the train could find its greatest use did find that Mallet No. 763 could generate up to on the Boston-to-New York portion of the 147.220 pounds of , compared to Northeast Corridor, where numerous curves i See TOURIST. Pace 11 make for a 4 l/2-to-5-hour trip, too slow for the DISPATCHER Page 11 TOURIST, From Page 10 Flying always includes the anxiety of taking off Challenger's maximum force of 97,350 pounds. and landing, plus the cramped feeling of being tied to my seat and unable to escape. I have "Whatever, Challenger is big enough to be, in flown hundreds of thousands of miles, but I have the words of a young onlooker, 'Awesome!'" always felt it was like being shipped in a Like Mayo, I found it delightful to watch the pneumatic tube from one point to another—with­ crowds along the track at the stations. Old men out the experience of actually going. would tell their grandsons and great-grandsons Trains provide the luxury of being detached from how steam from the giant boiler was harnessed the world, with the option of walking from car to to turn the and pull the giant load. car and dining in comfort. Watching the scenery "Kids were hoisted up on the cowcatcher (that's pass my window, I can actually see the country the frame work on the front of the engine for and cities change as I travel. those of you too young to remember)," Mayo I once took a train from Minnesota to Florida for said, "to have their pictures snapped, steam spring training when I was a baseball writer. It whirling around their big, round, apprehensive took several days, with layovers in Chicago and eyes." Washington, D.C., and it was one of the most In Durant, the crowd gathered at the old Katy relaxed trips of my life. Depot long before the Challenger's whistle could Students were let out of school to watch the be heard. Margie Buckheister of the Bryan Challenger as it roared along the tracks parallel County Star reported that a youngster put his ear to U.S. Hwy, 69. That reflects the basic reason to the rail at the urging of his grandfather. excursion lines are growing now. "I can't hear anything," the boy said, but it Howard B. Thornton realized this when he brought back memories of others who once did started the Watonga Chief in 1989 out of the same thing regularly when they waited for Watonga. Over the last 50 years, he has organiz­ trains in "olden times." It was just one of the ed train tours for students, football fans, civic memories revived by the Challenger. clubs and numerous other organizations. He still "There were two rails going through here in the books passengers on train trips around the 1950's," said James O. Braly, a Durant lawyer, country through his Midwest Travel Service and "When we came here, trains could come from the Watonga Chief is operating again this fall. each direction, passing here." The Hugo Heritage Railroad operates on week­ Throughout the crowds, people talked of watch­ ends with trips across the Red River to Paris, ing trains slow down just enough to pick up mail Texas, and on trips north to Antlers, west to from a hook, of seeing loved ones go off to war Boswell and east to Villiant. on troop trains, of seeing President Theodore Roosevelt come through Oklahoma on a train "Of the 150 passengers on a trip to Paris, 90 and of "hopping freights" during the 1930s. percent are adults," said Mike Gallagher, charter and reservation coordinator. Engineer W.G. These stories brought me back to the scene of Wilkins said the trip to Valliant, Okla.. provides watching the Rock Island train go through my the best scenery, including a pass over the mother's hometown of Okarche and of my first Kiamichi River with a good view of Hugo Lake ride from El Reno to Enid when I as a boy. Dam, and a pass over a 50-foot trestle, crossing the tip of Lake Raymond Gary. Trains always started slowly and so smoothly I wasn't sure if we were moving at first. Now and Oklahoma City provides a significant market for then there was a jerk, but that slow, easy the proposed rectangular line in central Okla­ is something I have always anticipated when homa. The Cherokee Strip Centennial is building riding trains in Europe or even in recent years excitement for 1993 in Enid, where there is a between eastern cities. railroad museum. With delightful tourist visits also in Guthrie and El Reno, the idea of a new My cares seem to vanish when I get that feeling, excursion line has great potential. because I know there is nothing I can do about them for the next few hours. No one can reach You might say it's an idea whose time has come me by telephone. It's sort of limbo that airplanes — again. • can't match. TIMETABLE Listings in this column are handled as follows: -REGULAR SCHEDULED- runs until a change is submitted -EXTRA BOARD- runs until date expires or canceled. Submit listings to: Neal Baucom; CORC Timetable; 431 E. Mohr Lane; Mustang, OK. 73064; - or Call 405/376-2148. Deadline for publication is first Saturday of month. REGULAR SCHEDULED

-METRO AREA- Central Oklahoma Railfan Club - 7 pm, March 6, Kirkpatrick Center, 2100 NE 52, OKC CORC Board of Directors Mtg - 7 pm, Sat 27 Feb 93, Willowsprings Office Complex, 3838 NW 36th, Suite 101 (2 blocks west of Portland, south side of street (Use South Entrance)) Model Railroading Clinic — For modelers in any scale. Held at North Park on the first Sat each month. Oklahoma HN"-RAJL--Sat 10:00 to 6:00 -operating session-North Park Mall. 2nd Wed 7:00 PM - business meeting. For information call Richard Setzer 405/751-2765 Oklahoma Passenger Rail Assoc.—Rail Consumer Advocate Organization. Meets bi-monthly. For information write or call Roger Carter; 1120 S. 21st; Chickasha, OK. 73018: 405/224-7423 Oklahoma Rail Enthusiasts (HO)-Wed 7:00 - 10:00 PM for Info call Bill Parks at 405/672 5015 The Section Gang (HO)-Fri 7:30 PM & Sat at North Park Mall. 405/329-1262 Gordon MacNiven. Yukon's Best Railroad Museum—Thu/Sat/Sun and by appt. Located 1 Blk N of Main and UP tracks in Yukon, OK. Call John Knuppel 405/354-5079 for times and info

-OUTofTOWN- Railroad Museum of Oklahoma-Tues thru Fri afternoons. Sat mornings. HO & N layouts. Meets 3rd Tue 7:00 PM at old Santa Fe freight depot 702 N. Washington, Enid, OK 73701 405/233-3051 Enid Model Railroaders (HO & N) Thurs 7-9 pm, Sat 9 am to 12:00 noon. For info contact Jack Amos 405-237-2320 EXTRA BOARD Toy Train Operating Society- Looking for volunteers to help operate large toy train at Kirkpatrick Center, OKC, 405/528-1122, E. Swan

The DISPATCHER is the official monthly publication of the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Memberships are available at the following rates: Regular Membership - $15.00 per year. Senior Member (Retired) $10.00 per year and Student Member (Full Time Student) $10.00 per year. National Railway Historical Society dues are $14.00 per year (wives, an additional $2.00). Dues for membership will be sent to Membership Chairman, Carl Webb, 5713 NW 83rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73132. Any other correspondence should be mailed to Editor, (Roy Thornton) 2921 Bella Vista Dr., Midwest City, OK 73110.

Editor - the DISPATCHER Non Profit Org. 2921 Bella Vista Drive U.S. Postage Midwest City, OK 73110 Paid Permit No. 1323 Oklu. City, OK

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