THE DISPATCHER Newsletter for Central Oklahoma Railfan Club Ltd
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**&§*<• THE DISPATCHER Newsletter for Central Oklahoma Railfan Club Ltd. Editor Address other club correspondence to: National Railway Historical Society Lawrence Gibbs 623 McFarland Jack Austerman 2613 NW 66th August 1979 Stillwater, OK 74074 Oklahoma City, OK said in an interview he voted percent. Initial members are Dr. SPECIAL DELIVERY against the takeover because Under the order, the ICC also Stephen Levine of Midwest City, Anticipating the last Lone the commisson never talked to would allow other railroads Charles Stookey of Norman and Star run from Chicago on Sept. the Rock Island to find out temporarily to operate parts of Roger Elliott Carter of HO — Oct. 1. your editor is whether it is in fact out of cash. the Rock Island, under an Chickasha. hooked aboard that fateful trip. "We have not heard a single, arrangement that costs the "Our purpose is to either save Some other club members are solitary official word from Rock government nothing. the Lone Star or spend a long also scheduled to be aboard. Island," he said. Gresham The Rock Island strike time fighting for its restoration At this writing, your editor is would have ordered the Rock continues despite a back-to- and improvement," according planning to take all copies of Island to appear before the ICC. work order issued last week by to Carter. this edition of The Dispatcher The action marks the first President Carter. Shipments of "We'll also promote other with him on the Lone Star to time the ICC has used its 6-year- grain and other farm products promising rail routes through Chicago. old authority to order the have been snarled along the Oklahoma. This is imperative if Then, when the train begins takeover of a major shut-down midwestern railroad's 7,300- train service is ever to become its last run to Oklahoma, your railroad. Four years ago it mile, 13-state route. more practical and relevant to copy will be aboard. We will ordered two railroads to take Goldschmidt, in his letter the Sooner State." drop it in the mail somewhere over operation of the small Sept. 24 to ICC chairman A. An organizational meeting is along the route. (Check the Lehigh & New England Daniel O'Neal, urged the scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7, at postmark.) Railroad. agency to issue an immediate 8 p.m. at the Chickasha Hotel, If, lor some reason, Amtrak is The Rock Island shut down order to direct service over the apartment 2G — Jim Parks' forced to continue the Lone Star when clerks struck on Aug. 28. Rock Island. residence. lor a period of time, The The company says it doesn't DOT'S Federal Railroad If you plan to attend, or if Dispatcher will be mailed as have enough money to pay an Administration said after a July you'd like more information usual in Stillwater, OK. estimated $14 million it owes its survey of the Rock Island's write to Carter at 1120 S. 21st, But if nothing changes bet workers, nor does it have the $25 physical plant that about 1,700 Chickasha, OK, 73018. ween this writing and Sept. 30 — million to $30 million estimated miles of Rock Island's main line this very copy of The Dispat to start operations. track was "below standards cher was aboard "The Last The ICC has $14 million (and) by law cannot be ROUNDHOUSE RUMORS Train to Oklahoma!!" available to run the Rock Island operated." Equipment was (Editor's Note: This is a and has asked Congress for an found to be "dismal" and since regular feature of The additional $50 million. July, the reports said, con Dispatcher. Persons wanting to OCTOBER MEETING The strike has severely ditions have "further contact the author can reach -Note Change- disrupted grain shipments deteriorated." him at Rt. 16, Box 123, Tulsa, Because of two conflicting throughout the Midwest. Just As a result, the DOT also said OK, 74131.) meetings, the October meeting Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary it supports an offer by Southern By Frank Tribbey will be held on the second Bob Bergland urged the ICC to Pacific Transportation Co. to At 6:35 a.m. on Aug. 16, Saturday — Oct. 13. act immediately, warning that buy a 992-mile southern stretch Ringling Bros. Blue Train left Steve Levine will be the further delay in starting up the of Rock Island rail for $55 Tulsa for Perry. Via Santa Fe program. He'll report on his Rock Island "will have serious million. On Aug. 16, after my leaving railfan vacation to Denver. He consequences" throughout the Southern Pacific filed written Cherokee Yard, Daryl and thuh rode and photographed the 8444 midwestern grain belt served testimony with the ICC Sept. 24 kid viewed part of Daryl's steam special from Denver to by the line. asking to buy the 992-mile line recent efforts. Beautiful Sterling and return and spent Bergland said the strike is from Tucumcari, N.M., to rewards included much GTW in time photographing the costing farmers $4 million to $5 Kansas City and St. Louis. DOT Battle Creek, Mich., and Am Colorado Railroad Museum, million a day because they must general Counsel Linda Heller trak results in Chi-town. Among including the ex-California use truck transportation. Kamm called the proposal "a the Cotton Belt and MOP slides Zephyr cars. The ICC discussed the case positive step. Approval of this in southern Illinois were lokeys He will share the films of his for several hours Tuesday after acquisition," she said, "will from B&O, A&S and a brace of adventure with us at the Oct. 13 Secretary of Transportation permit Southern Pacific to offer three Chessie System GP40s on meeting. Neil Goldschmidt wrote the better service and attract lost a Cotton Belt freight. Cairo Dr. Levine said the program agency saying he was "shocked traffic. It will also benefit produced interesting ICG will be "good medicine" for at the actions of the trustee." shippers by increasing com motive power combos of ICG, everyone. He said the trustee, William petition among railroads IC and GM&O. Refreshments will be M. Gibbons, had "failed to pay operating between the western Daryl confirmed the fact he's provided by ATSF signal wages when due, jeopardized United States and the East-West trying to beat both the fuel maintainer Ross and Shirley the safety of the public and gateway cities of Kansas City, shortage and rising inflation St. Louis and Chicago." Jamison of Cushing. Shirley's a railroad employees, and driven with concerted travel efforts good cook and Ross has service to shippers steadily Southern Pacific spokesman through this summer. But ony promised to leave the battery downward." Andrew Anderson said, "We half of his slides from these acid out of the coffee. The Kansas City Terminal hope to buy the Tucumcari line several jaunts were viewed! Don't forget the meeting will Railroad will take over the but we're also willing to operate On Aug. 17, Frisco's Nr. 330 be Oct. 13 at the Omniplex, 52nd Rock Island's operations im it without government" money, left Wichita with a GP-15 and and Eastern, promptly at mediately for 60 days. But the he said. two GP-7s (120, 594 and 620) so 7:19.34 p.m. order could be extended for Anderson said Southern the Geeps are present yet. another 180 days if the Rock Pacific will sink $250 million On Monday night, Aug. 20, Island cannot continue its own into rehabilitating the route eight souls joined in the Tulsa KCT TO RUN THE ROCK service. because "it's a 400-mile shorter Public Library to view two color The Interstate Commerce Kansas City Terminal now route for us and we don't want slide presentations of Mel Commission decided Sept. 26 to must form a management team to see it erode any further." Patrick, friend of Bill Gillfillan. order the Kansas City Terminal composed of the 12 railroads Chicago's Union Station and Railroad Co. to take over the that own it plus representatives also the Rigo Grande Zephyr service of the bankrupt from Southern Pacific, Western NARP IN STATE were beautifully featured. Chi's Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Pacific, and the Denver & Rio Three Oklahomans are in the Union Station simply becomes Railroad Co. Grande Western Railrod Co., to process of forming an more protogenic and nostalgis manage and direct the Rock The commissioners voted 7-1 Oklahoma Passenger Railroad with age while the RG Zephyr Island's service. in favor of the takeover. Association (OPRA), the state provides a sad glimpse of that Commissioner Robert C. The Kansas City Terminal affiliate of National Association previously-stunning class that Gresham, the only dissenter, line would be paid costs plus 6 of Rail Passengers (NARP). Continued and B&O units on Big Jawn Continued On Sept. 3 Daryl and thuh kid CVSAYSTHANKS Santa Fe in Gainesville, Tex. went to Coffeyville for Labor Bob Read, who along with his epitomized the earlier My sincere appreciation for Day. Much MOP action in wife, Mazie, and their son, Bob California Zephyr. that memorable Sapulpa station cluded several coal trains too. Jr. of Ketchum, own the Ron Kiser reports 18 new RI photograph is extended to Power ranged widely — MOP, Cimarron Valley Railroad boxes came through the City on Preston George. I much ap BN, Conrail and CNW. Among Museum in Cushing, said to the 21st. Fifteen were in the preciated the inclusion of the units on 10 different MOP trains "please thank everyone who standard blue, but three were in picture, because, although I'd were a blue CR GP40, and two came over to help paint and solid white, black lettering and often seen that old relic in the black (ex-PC) CR GP-40s.