11 Volume 43 Number 4 April 2012

A 1984 Trip to California on by Richard Tubbesing

Westbound California Zephyr at Roseville, California. Photo by Richard Tubbesing Contents Meeting Notice The April meeting of the Northstar Chapter of the NRHS will be held on April 21st at 6:30 pm, at Roseville Lutheran Church at 1215 Roselawn Avenue, Officer Contact Directory P.2 midway between Lexington and Hamline Avenues in Directions to the Meeting Site P.2 Roseville. See map on following page. My 1984 Trip to California P.2 Memories of Railroad News Butchers P.3 Note the EARLIER START TIME at 6:30 pm. Amtrak Superliner Sleeper Names P.5 Program: It will be Burlington Route and Burlington North Dakota Train Depot Station Booms with Northern Night with Cy Svobodny’s slides and Warren Oil Patch Passengers P.6 Krekelberg’s scanned images. Streetcar Museum Needs Operators P.7 From Trains Newswire P.7 There will be a pre-meeting get-together at the Keys Membership Meeting Minutes of March 17th P.7 Cafe and Bakery at the northeast corner of Lexington Chapter Library Hours P.8 and Larpenteur starting about 5:00 pm. PLEASE Railfan Calendar P.8 CALL Bob Clarkson at 651-636-2323 and leave a mes- sage with your name and the number of persons coming with you.

1 Northstar Chapter Officers

Board of Directors President Dawn Holmberg [email protected] 763-784-8835 Vice President H. Martin Swan [email protected] 612-961-1684 Past President Cy Svobodny [email protected] 651-455-0052 National Director Bill Dredge [email protected] 952-937-1313 Treasurer Dan Meyer [email protected] 763-784-8835 Secretary Dave Norman [email protected] 612-729-2428 Trustee Bob Clarkson [email protected] 651-636-2323 Staff Program Chairman Richard Tubbesing [email protected] 763-757-1304 Newsletter Editor Russ Isbrandt [email protected] 651-426-1156 Newsletter Production and Distribution Richard Tubbesing [email protected] 763-757-1304 Chapter Librarian / Historian John Cartwright [email protected] 651-481-8479 Webmaster Dan Meyer Website: www.northstar-nrhs.org Chapter Mail Box Northstar Chapter PO Box 120832 St. Paul, MN 55112 NRHS MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Dues are $51($36 for the National dues and $15 for the local dues). Family memberships are $5 per person additional. The student rate is $22 ($16 for the National, $6 for the Northstar Chapter). If you want to join, an application is available at http:www.northstar-nrhs.org/. Print out this application and send it with a check made payable to “Northstar Chapter NRHS” to Northstar Chapter NRHS Membership Services, P.O. Box 120832, St. Paul, MN 55112. A subscription to this newsletter may be obtained for $18 for either printed or electronic edition by sending a check to the post office box above specifying the form of the newsletter you desire. A subscription does NOT include voting privileges at chapter meetings nor any of the NRHS membership benefits and no membership application is needed. Directions to the Meeting Site I had a sleeper or just rode coach, but I was impressed From the east and west take MN 36 to Lexington Avenue. with the Superliners. The run from Havre to Seattle was Drive south on Lexington Avenue to Roselawn Avenue and on time and uneventful. My itinerary was to stop at Sac- turn right. The large lighted parking lot is on your right as ramento for a day, and then take the train to Salinas, CA you travel west on Roselawn. Use the lower entrance to to visit my friends. While in Sacramento, I rented a car the church and turn left through the commons area. We’ll and drove around, visiting SP’s Roseville yard, where I be in room 40, the Diamond Room. saw a GP in the shops painted in Daylight colors, saw a westbound Amtrak California Zephyr pass and caught a Western Pacific freight. After an overnight stay, I re- boarded the Coast Starlight to Salinas where we went to

My 1984 Trip to California By Richard Tubbesing At the tail end of the family’s annual get together at a Mon- tana youth camp, I thought it was time to check out the SP SD-40 7342 in a Daylight paint scheme. This was new Amtrak Superliners. So I took a train trip from Havre, one of the diesel units to help the 4449 powered MT to Los Angeles via the and Coast Star- Louisiana Daylight over mountain grades in Califor- light. I had some friends with whom I played softball while nia to and from the New Orleans World’s Fair. Photo working at Control Data to visit in Salinas, CA. Therefore I by Richard Tubbesing thought it was a good deal to kill two birds with one stone! From Bozeman, I flew a puddle jumper plane to Havre, MT to catch Amtrak’s Empire Builder. I really don’t remember if 2 to Carmel, where we had a beer at the Hog’s Breath owned by Clint Eastwood. The next day I was driven to the Salinas depot to catch the southbound Coast Star- light. There must have a problem with the F40’s since this train had two SP Geeps, an SD45 and SD45 tunnel mo- tor, on the point. We left on time, and proceeded south to LA. I took a picture near San Luis Obispo which I think was on the Cuesta Grade. Then near the Vandenberg Air Force base we were right by the Pacific Ocean, then through picturesque Santa Barbara and finally into one of the great stations, Los Angeles Union Passenger Termi- nal. I rented a car and drove to my hotel, as I had an old army friend that lived in LA and wanted visit him. After a couple of phone calls and driving around trying to find where he lived, I struck out. The next day I went to LAX to fly home. SP SD-40 7342 in a Daylight paint scheme. This was Memories of Railroad News Butchers one of the diesel units to help the 4449 powered Compiled by Russ Isbrandt from All Aboard Yahoo Louisiana Daylight over mountain grades in California Group--Jonathan Meeks, H. Martin Swan, Fred Mills, to and from the New Orleans World’s Fair. Photo by Tom Hoffman, Gene Poon, Garl Latham, Internet Sites Richard Tubbesing Network 54.com, phmuseum.org, afrigeneas.com, Yahoo Group-- Bill Joynt, Paul of Seattle , Bill Shisler and Denny S. Anspach MD Railroad news butchers, news butch or news agents were vendors who would walk down the aisles of the coaches on passenger trains with or without dining cars. They offered sandwiches, snacks, candy, magazines and newspapers. For the budget minded, they were an alter- native to eating in the dining car when there was a dining car or diner lounge available. In some cases they would get on trains at major terminals, sell and get off before departure.

The profession probably goes back to the earliest days of passenger trains. Between 1859 and 1863, Thomas Edi- son worked as a railroad news boy at the age of 12 out of Port Huron, MI and the Grand Trunk Railway. – Southbound Coast Starlight at Salinas, CA with two South- www.phmusuem.org. ern Pacific units lead by a SD-45 and SD-45T on the point. Photo by Richard Tubbesing Recently the question arose on the Yahoo All Aboard group about news butchers, as follows: “Probably show- the bay area across the big Suizan Bridges, to Oakland, ing my age by bringing up the subject of news butchers. San Jose and Salinas where I met up with Norm and Pat. As a child I remember leaving Grand Central on a Spring- While there, I was taken via VW Beetle to Monterey and field Line train and soon seeing a little man carrying a tote visited the docks and saw some sea otters, Then it was on loaded with soda, snacks, candy bars, and cigarettes burst into the coach and bark an auctioneer-like spiel of what he had to offer for sale. He could even keep up his banter as he did his business down the aisle and then on into the next car. Of course all his goodies were just be- low eye level as he passed by and it was difficult to resist the ham and cheese and a Coke. My recollection is the news butchers would get off in Bridgeport or some other intermediate stop and head back to New York. Occasion- ally one would get on at New Haven and ride northbound to Hartford. And I barely recollect spotting them loading their baskets either at an Armstrong or Union News com- pany shop in the station.

Any other all-aboarders remember news butchers? Did other routes in the US have them? Maybe this would be something we could bring back on a few short distance trains lacking food service”. – Jonathan Meets, All Amtrak #11 , the Coast Starlight descends Cuesta Grade Aboard Group about to enter San Luis Obispo. Photo by Richard Tubbesing

3 “I remember news butchers onboard Rock Island's Twin I'm not quite sure I can emphasize this next point enough Star Rocket between Houston and Dallas in the mid- without sounding crude. Suffice to say she was VERY 1950s.” –Sunset Express, All Aboard Group attractive!

“Great Northern Railway used news butchers on #359/360 That fact, combined with fresh coffee, quailty food items, Seattle/Portland, #23/24 (The Badger) Duluth/St. Paul, a winning personality and a sure-fire sales pitch must #27/28 Fast Mail, before the Western Star was discontin- have made for a pretty lucrative career.” ued and the Fast Mail renamed the Western Star. That's a couple that I can recall.” – H. Martin Swan, All Aboard From a search of Railroad News Butchers, this from Group Network54.com “: George W. Armstrong in March 1852 became a newsboy on the Boston & Worcester Railroad. “In Canada, we had “Canadian Railway News", that sup- By 1871 he owned the business. He died June 30, 1900. plied ‘News Butchers' on many trains of CP and CN...... that The company (G. W. Armstrong Dining Room and News was the original company that went on to become a pub- Company) remained in business until 1965.” licly traded company call "Cara Corporation". – Fred Mills, All Aboard Group From George Harwood on afrigeneas.com: “ My best friend worked for Union News during the summers in high “They were not just on short distance pre-Amtrak trains. school in the early1960s. He mostly worked as a "news For a goodly portion of its existence, SP had a news agent butch" on the (Central of Georgia) Man O' War passenger on the whole 400-mile run of its Daylight, later Coast Day- train between Atlanta and Columbus, GA. It went down to light. Special facilities for the news agent were built into Columbus in the morning and came back up in the after- SP's coach-baggage cars.” – Gene Poon, All Aboard noon. Group He sold newspapers, soft drinks, snacks, sandwiches, Your editor recalls ridng the Coast Daylight in 1957 and pillows (actually rented pillow cases and pillows), and having the white jacketed “news butch” pass through the sometimes would illegally sell liquor when there were car selling Applets and Cotlets (candied fruit), post cards troop movements from Fort Benning. The conductor and packs of California photos. I believe the Milwaukee would buy cases of half pints and they would split the Road would send a dining car waiter through the coaches profits. with a basket of sandwiches and a huge pot of coffee. The Pennsylvania Railroad would have a news butch get on at During the layover in Columbus he also would work both the Cincinnati, OH suburb of Norwood and ride train #71 to the "down" and "up" Seminole (Illinois Central / Central of Logansport, IN where it would meet #70 and he would re- Georgia) during the Columbus station stops. The Semi- turn on that train. I seem to recall a Union News Company nole had a diner north of Columbus, so they would often man boarding B&O train #58, the Night Express, in Cincin- run him off the "up" train. Southbound had nothing until nati selling items until the train was about to depart. another news butch worked the train between Albany and Jacksonville. That was listed in the timetable as "Sand- I believe the Santa Fe had them also on the San Diegans wich and Beverage Service." and possibly the Chief, if I recall correctly. The sandwiches had a label attached indicating what commissary made He also worked the Kansas City-Florida Special and other them. trains as needed out of Atlanta.

From Tom Hoffman of the All Aboard Group: “I recall two of The employees and managers were notorious for "work- them. One was on the RF&P/ACL Everglades, train 375, ing their own goods in" and thus the company was not from Washington to Richmond. I bought something from especially profitable. In Columbus, my friend would visit the guy and it wasn't bad. the Coke bottling plant, the local newspaper office and I forget where else restocking his supplies on his own The other was on B&O trains 11 and 12, the Metropolitan nickel and pocketing the profits. Special. Here, the guy set up shop in a pair of facing seats at the end of the car. I think the company finally declared bankruptcy when their sales followed the fate of the demise of the privately I also recall instances where the schedules or Guide entry run passenger train.” led one to believe a train had no food service, when in fact it had a news butcher. I've no idea why.” A man named William Skelly started the Union News Company according to Dawn Owing of the same site. From Garl Latham of All Aboard: “Several trains which served Dallas maintained that position.” Union News Co. (1908-1969) New York, NY: “As a wholly owned subsidiary of the American News Company they “The most recent experience I've had with a real, live news became major distributors of postcards and other printed agent (in this case, a "butchette") was on the BCR out of items through their newsstands at hotels, rail and subway North Vancouver in 1977. Her wares seemed traditional stations." From the Metropolitan Postcard Club of New and complete in every respect, save (perhaps) for the pro- York City’s web site. verbial "French postcards"! [I didn't inquire!]. Bill Joynt of the Milwaukee Road Yahoo Group had this: “In the 40s I would travel with my parents from Emmets-

4 burg, IA to on the Sioux. My dad being an agent Amtrak Sleeper Names had a pass. In the evening the porters would come From the Pacific Northwest Chapter’s Newsletter through and rent pillows for, I think, 25 cents for the night. Trainmaster In the morning after they added the dining car at Madison By Ron McCoy, et.al. one of the waiters would come through with coffee and sandwiches for sale. They had a carrier much like those If youʼve travelled aboard Amtrak in the past, you might used by the vendors at the ballpark. I don't remember the have noticed that the sleeper cars were identified by variety but ham was my favorite. That made it an exciting names in addition to their normal Amtrak numbers. In the trip for a kid. In fact it would be exciting if I could do that central and Western US, that equipment is typically from trip today.” the Superliner II fleet; on the East coast itʼs from the Viewliner fleet. In the past few years, the names have “The Inter-State Company (the company that operated been removed from the exteriors of the sleeper cars as beaneries in the depots) did some of this, at least out they converted to the newest style of logos and reflective west. I picked up an agent's stock book from 1915 stripes during refurbishment, and perhaps something less for a news agent that worked Butte-Lewiston on trains 34- tangible than a sticker is being lost. If I looked for it, I 33. It lists candy, cigars, chewing gum, papers, and fruit.” could have seen that the carʼs Amtrak number was – Paul of Seattle, WA, Milwaukee Road Group 32095. Iʼve heard other passengers answer a query with, “Yes they did peddle items thru the trains. I remember it “Iʼm in the Indiana.” On later trips, Iʼve often seen a carʼs mostly in the crowded wartime coaches because of the name and fondly recalled the trip I rode in it. The names mess it created as they came through. It’s hard to confer a certain familiarity, a warmth. I happily note that, believe once so many people rode trains that no diner to date, most of the cars still display their names on their could feed them all and stops were once made at stations doors at each end of the car, but those are visible only if to feed the people. News butchers sold anything they you pass through the train, not as it passes you by. could, which people would buy and which could be During the recent visit of Amtrakʼs 40th Anniversary Train lugged through the aisles.”- L.Shisler, Milwaukee Road to Portland, I had the opportunity to talk at length Group with Christopher Jagodzinski, Amtrakʼs General Manager of Transportation in the East. I asked about the car From Denny S. Anspach MD, Sacramento, Milwaukee Road Yahoo Group: The news butchers on the Midwest names, and learned that Mr. Jagodzinski is also involved Hiawatha were common to my family's many long in the assignment of numbers to all the rolling stock in travels on that train during WWII and afterwards (Chicago Amtrakʼs fleet. He likes the names, and I came away with to Mapleton, IA). My mother counted pennies even when the impression that removing them wasnʼt a plan of the she did not need to do so (scars remaining from the De- refurbishment, just a side-effect. pression), and she counted on the news butcher coming For posterity, Mr. Jagodzinski has provided us with a through the train to supply us with sandwiches, milk, and complete roster of all the Viewliner and Superliner cars: cookies. If I recall correctly, they wore a trimmed white VIEWLINER 62030 - PATRIOT VIEW coat, white pants or a long apron, and wore a trimmed 62000 - AMERICAN VIEW 62031 - PRAIRIE VIEW white overseas hat. We never, not once, ever did eat in 62001 - ATLANTIC VIEW 62032 - RIVER VIEW that train's fine diner, which my brother and I would have 62002 - AUTUMN VIEW 62033 - SCENIC VIEW loved (we did realize that we were not getting the good 62003 - BAY VIEW 62034 - SEA VIEW stuff!). 62004 - BEACH VIEW 62035 - SHORE VIEW 62005 - CAPE VIEW 62036 - SKYLINE VIEW In the early days of passenger trains, the railroads would 62006 - COLLEGE VIEW 62037 - SOUTHERN VIEW schedule meal stops. That’s how Fred Harvey civilized 62007 - COLONIAL VIEW 62038 - SPRING VIEW the west. He established the Harvey Houses at strategic 62008 - EAGLE VIEW 62039 - STREAM VIEW spots along the Santa Fe’s “Transcon” with his Harvey 62009 - EVENING VIEW 62040 - SUMMER VIEW 62010 - FOREST VIEW 62041 - SUMMIT VIEW Girls, depicted by Judy Garland in a major motion picture. 62011 - GULF VIEW 62042 - SUNRISE VIEW 62012 - HARBOR VIEW 62043 - SUNSET VIEW Ironically, as railroads dropped dining cars from their 62013 - HARVEST VIEW 62044 - SYLVAN VIEW runs, meal stops were re-established. Tom Hoffman of 62014 - IMPERIAL VIEW 62045 - TOWER VIEW the All Aboard Group recalls, “Not quite the same thing 62015 - ISLAND VIEW 62046 - TRANQUIL VIEW (news butchers), but when Southern dropped dining cars 62016 - LAKE VIEW 62047 - VILLAGE VIEW on a lot of trains, they at least had the decency to provide 62017 - MAJESTIC VIEW 62048 - WAYSIDE VIEW "box meals" from restaurants along the line. 62018 - MEADOW VIEW 62049 - WINTER VIEW 62019 - METROPOLITAN 62091 - EASTERN VIEW Your editor experienced the same thing on Southern’s VIEW SUPERLINER I 62020 - MOONLIGHT VIEW 32000 Acadia Royal Palm. As lunch time approached, the conductor 62021 - MORNING VIEW 32001 Arches came through the coaches of nameless #3 at Danville, 62022 - MOUNTAIN VIEW 32002 Badlands KY to take orders for KFC to be taken on at Somerset, 62023 - MYSTIC VIEW 32003 Edward Ullman KY. 62024 - NATIONAL VIEW 32004 Big Bend 62025 - NORTHERN VIEW 32005 Biscayne Thus did the railroad dining experience come full circle 62026 - OCEAN VIEW 32006 Bryce Canyon prior to Amtrak. 62027 - ORCHARD VIEW 32007 Canyonlands 62028 - PALISADES VIEW 32009 George M. Pullman 62029 - PALM VIEW 32011 Channel Islands 5 32012 Crater Lake SUPERLINER II now overflowing with oil workers, Amtrak regional man- 32013 Denali 32070 - ALABAMA ager Dan Valley said. 32014 Everglades 32071 - ARIZONA 32015 Gates of the Arctic 32072 - ARKANSAS "Now it's strangers from the oil field," Valley said. "You 32016 Waterton Glacier 32073 - CALIFORNIA can walk in and smell the petroleum." 32017 Glacier Bay 32074 - COLORADO 32018 Grand Canyon 32075 - CONNECTICUT 32019 Grand Teton 32076 - DELAWARE Not that the federally funded rail corporation is complain- 32020 Great Basin 32077 - DIST/COLUMBIA ing. The spike in ridership at the Williston depot helped 32021 Great Smokies 32078 - FLORIDA offset losses the railroad suffered last year due to heavy 32022 Haleakala 32079 - GEORGIA spring flooding in North Dakota and other parts of the up- 32023 Hawaii Volcanoes 32080 - IDAHO per Midwest. 32024 Hot Springs 32081 - ILLINOIS 32025 Isle Royale 32082 - INDIANA The number of people getting on and off Amtrak's Empire 32026 Katmai 32083 - IOWA. Builder trains at the seven stations in North Dakota 32027 Kings Canyon 32084 - KANSAS dropped 10.6 percent in fiscal 2011, to about 111,000 32028 Lassen Volcanic 32085 - KENTUCKY 32029 Mammoth Cave 32086 - LOUISIANA passengers, compared with the previous fiscal year. 32030 Mesa Verde 32087 - MAINE However, at the stations in the heart of the oil patch, Wil- 32031 Mount Rainier 32088 – MARYLAND liston and nearby Stanley, ridership increased despite 32032 North Cascades 32089 - MASSACHUSETTS several months of disruptions due to flooding and track 32033 Olympic 32090 - damage. 32034 Petrified Forest 32091 - MINNESOTA 32035 Redwood 32092 - MISSISSIPPI Williston's ridership grew by more than 5,330 people in 32036 Rocky Mountain 32093 - MISSOURI the last fiscal year, and it served nearly 30,000 passen- 32037 Sequoia 32094 - MONTANA gers. Stanley depot served 6,146 passengers, or nearly 32038 Shenandoah 32095 - NEBRASKA 1,600 more than it did during the previous 12 months, 32039 Theodore Roosevelt 32096 - NEVADA 32040 Virgin Islands 32097 - NEW HAMPSHIRE railroad records show. 32041 Voyageurs 32098 - NEW JERSEY 32042 Wrangell-St. Elias 32099 - NEW MEXICO In Minot, which is on the fringe of the oil patch, passenger 32043 Yellowstone 32100 - NEW YORK service was interrupted for five months last year due to 32044 Yosemite 32101 - NORTH CAROLINA flooding. The number of riders who passed through the 32045 Zion Park 32102 - NORTH DAKOTA. station dropped from 40,360 in fiscal 2010 to 29,179 in 32046 Assateaque Island 32103 - OHIO fiscal 2011. 32047 Canaveral 32104 - OKLAHOMA 32048 Cape Cod 32105 - OREGON Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said the Williston stop 32049 Cape Hatteras 32106 - PENNSYLVANIA on Empire Builder is on track to be among the busiest 32050 Cape Lookout 32107 - RHODE ISLAND 32051 Capitol Reef 32108 - SOUTH CAROLINA along the Chicago-to-Pacific Northwest Empire Builder 32052 Fire Island 32109 - SOUTH DAKOTA route, surpassing ridership in passing through stations in 32053 Gulf Islands 32110 - TENNESSEE some bigger cities, such as St. Paul, MN. 32054 Padre Island 32111 - TEXAS 32055 Point Reyes 32112 - UTAH Some 4,500 people got on or off the train in Williston in 32056 Apostle Islands 32113 - VERMONT January, which were the latest figures available. Magliari 32057 Indiana Dunes 32114 - VIRGINIA said the railroad expects the numbers to climb as oil pro- 32058 Pictured Rock 32115 - WASHINGTON duction increases. 32059 Sleeping Bear Dunes 32116 - WEST VIRGINIA 32060 Carlsbad Caverns 32117 - WISCONSIN Ridership on the Empire Builder from October to February 32061 New River Gorge 32118 - WYOMING 32062 Arapaho 32500 - PALM BAY was jumped more than 10,000 passengers to 207,417 32063 Flaming Gorge 32501 - PALM BEACH compared to the same period a year earlier, Magliari said. 32064 Hell’s Canyon 32502 - W. G. CLAYTOR JR. 32065 Mount Rogers 32503 - A. P. RANDOLPH The 5.1 percent ridership increase on the line — much of 32066 Oregon Dunes 32504 - PALM HARBOR it attributed to oil patch passengers in western North Da- 32067 Sawtooth 32505 - PALM SPRINGS kota — compares to a 3.2 percent rise in ridership nation- 32068 Wind Cave ally, Magliari said. 32069 Seneca Rocks North Dakota Train Depot Booms with Oil- North Dakota's oil rush is boosting ridership all along the Patch Passengers railroad's network as itinerant oil workers travel by train to From the Bismark Tribune the state and head back home during time off, Valley said. By James Mac Pherson "Even stations that are nowhere close to Williston, the BISMARCK, ND — Armies of workers migrating to and impact is still there," Valley said. "It's not going to die from North Dakota's rich oil fields have made Williston's down anytime soon." train depot the busiest Amtrak stop in the state and the fastest-growing station in the nation, the railroad said. Valley, who has been with Amtrak for 25 years, said the railroad has never seen such explosive growth in such a The once-sleepy little train station in western North Dakota short time. where the sole ticket agent knew passengers by name is

6 "Williston, North Dakota," he said. "Who would have constructed was the tallest building in . CP will thought?" lease 80,000 square feet, or about a fourth of the building. The railroad will complete its move in August. Amtrak is in the process of hiring a second fulltime station worker at Williston to help keep pace with passengers, Val- The has been sold, with a developer plan- ning to convert the office space into about 250 apartments ley said. starting later this summer.

Iowa Interstate to operate steam specials in June Published: April 5, 2012 MITCHELLVILLE, IA — The Iowa Interstate will operate public trips with one of its Chinese QJ-class 2-10-2s this spring. On June 2, two steam trips will operate from Mitchellville to New- ton, Iowa over the Iowa Interstate’s ex-Rock Island main line. The excursions are being operated as fundraisers for the Mitchellville Firefighter’s Association. Trains will depart from Mitchellville at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children, and will be available starting April 15 at the Mitchellville Fire Department, 110 2nd Street NE, Mitchellville, IA 50169. For more informa- tion call 515-249-7799, or e-mail [email protected].

Iowa Interstate steam will also see action on June 19 and 20, Minnesota Streetcar Museum’s Como - Harriet cars when a QJ will pull excursions for the National Railway His- line up for the 40th Anniversary of the museum’s torical Society Annual Convention west out of Rock Island, IL, opening. Learn how to run these cars. Look carefully on June 19, and from Homestead, Iowa to Newton on June and you may see your editor at the controls of the 20. For more information, go to http://www.nrhs.com. PCC car. Photo by Jeff Terry Meeting Minutes of the March 17, 2012 Minnesota Streetcar Museum Needs Operators Membership Meeting Join your editor in the operator’s corps of the Minnesota The meeting was called to order by Chapter President Dawn Streetcar Museum. The group is cordial, the cars are fun Holmberg at 6:35 pm in the Roseville Lutheran Church with 23 to run, and it’s rewarding to see the eyes of little kids light members and guests present. up when they get to ride a streetcar. My favorite to run is the PCC car. Memorial Day we serve a pure transporta- Introductions were made around the room. The minutes of the tion function as folks who can’t find parking in Lakewood February 18th Meeting were approved, with a small correction to Cemetery, park at Lake Harriet and ride the streetcar to the spelling of member Ben Presnell's name. Subscriber status members were reminded by President Holmberg that they may the Lakewood gate at our north end. not participate in the business portion of the meeting, but they need not leave the room.Treasurer Dan gave a report on Chap- Call Chris Heck at 651-249-5358 or email him at ter finances. He would like to review last year's budget versus [email protected] to set up an appointment for train- actual expenses and also to prepare a 5-year budget for the ing. Chapter. From Trains Newswire Dan also reported on the membership numbers. We have 56 will be new CP Minneapolis members renewed along with 9 additional family members. headquarters About 88% of last year’s members have renewed. We also have Published: April 6, 2012 8 subscriber members. Dan also has been maintaining our web- MINNEAPOLIS — will begin the site. He has updated the membership application and has us up process of moving 400 employees this month from the former on Facebook. He needs to update our Chapter newsletter sam- Soo Line Building to Canadian Pacific Plaza, another office ple section. Since Dan is wearing many hats he would welcome building on the same block in downtown Minneapolis. The Soo help with any of his current tasks. Our National Director Bill Line Building was the headquarters for the Soo until CP pur- Dredge was not present, but left a message that if any member chased full control in 1990. wishes to run for National office they have until the end of March to file. “The Soo Line Building will always hold a special place in the history of CP, but the move to the newly retrofitted offices, spe- John Goodman reported as Trip Chairman on several possibili- cifically built to the needs of today’s railroad, is a good and ties. First: he reccommends a August 18, 2012 trip to Duluth to timely fit for our U.S. operations,” CP United States Vice Presi- ride behind the Soo Line Pacific #2719 on a day long trip over dent Doug McFarlane said in a news release. the North Shore Scenic Railroad to Two Harbors and back. John has quote from Voight's for a 48 passenger bus at a cost of The Soo Line Building stands 19 stories tall at 105 5th Street $1,100. The schedule calls for departure at around 7:15 am and South, adjacent to a stop on the Hiawatha light rail line. Soo return around 9:30 pm. A stop would be made at Hinckley on the Line Railroad partnered with First National bank to complete return for dinner. Lunch would be in Two Harbors. Nearly all the building, which opened in 1915. At the time, it was the city’s members present were interested in going, at least at this point tallest skyscraper. Few external changes have altered the in time. The 261 group will be running their annual Fall trips the building since its construction. second weekend in October: to Boylston on Saturday, and Wi- nona / LaCrescent on Sunday. A discussion of summer picnic CP is relocating to the 26-story One Financial Plaza office options ensued. It was decided to anull the June event due to building around the corner from the Soo Line Building, which the proximity of the National NRHS Convention in Cedar Rap- will be renamed Canadian Pacific Plaza. One Financial Plaza ids, IA. The July picnic was proposed for Red Wing and motion was built in 1960 as the headquarters for First Bank and when 7 was made to that effect. However, it was not acted on by the Respectfully Submitted members, with no votes either for or against. It appears that the John Cartwright, Acting Secretary for Dave Norman picnic will be held at Maiden Rock, WI the exact date to be an- nounced at a later date. Most likely it will be on July 21, 2012. Chapter Library is Open Every Wednesday 10 am -11:30 am and 1 pm - 3 pm The Newsletter Editor Russ Isbrandt reported that members who Come visit the chapter library / clubroom at 2010 E. Hennepin have not renewed will not receive any further issues. Members Ave. Take I-35W to the Hennepin Ave. exit from the south or were encouraged to receive their newsletter in the electronic edi- Stinson Blvd. exit from the east and north. Take the first right tion. It saves mailing and printing costs and members receive available east of Stinson to enter the parking lot. We’re on the much additional content, and it's in color. Dick Tubessing reported second floor of the building with the Research Laboratories sign on upcoming programs: Cy Svobodny on the CB&Q in April; John on it. There’s lots to see, books, magazines, video tapes, DVDs Cartwright in May on photos from the last 40 years Hudson Leigh- and players and a TV to view them on. ton in September; Greg Smith in October; and Joe Stark in No- vember. Railfan Calendar Newport Model Railroad Club Train Show and Sale H. Martin Swan reported on the Cheer Committee for the past Saturday, April 14th, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Woodbury High month. Cards have been sent to Ben Presnell after his surgery, School, 2665 Woodlane Drive, Woodbury, MN. Dick Tubessing on the death of his sister, and Marv Mahre on his Admission: $5, kids 11 and under are free. hospitalization. Granite City Train Show and Sale Dawn reported on the Calendar sales. We have made a small Saturday, April 21st,10 am - 3 pm, National Armory, 1710 Vet- profit this year. We have about 130 calendars left out of this year’s eran’s Drive, St. Cloud, MN. run. Admission: $5, kids 12 and under free.

Dawn reported that we need to make a few revisions to our By- Great Minnesota Train Expo Laws due to the changes in the governance of the National NRHS Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29th, 9 am - 5pm, Saturday, and the change of duties of the National Director. 9 am - 3pm, Sunday, Eagan Civic Arena, 3870 Pilot Knob Road, Under New Business President Holmberg is calling a Board Meet- Eagan, MN. ing for April 1, 2012. Admission: $5, kids 7 and under free.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 pm Twin City Model Railroad Museum Spring Hobby Sale Saturday May 12th, 9 am - 3 pm, Minnesota State Fair Grounds The program was provided by Bill Herzog consisting of movies Education Building. taken around 1983 in various parts of the country including New Admission: $6, kids 4 and under free. Ticket includes admission York, Dallas and California. to the TCMRM Museum and Toy Train Division Northstar News Northstar Chapter National Railway Historical Society 1515 Creek Meadows Drive NW Coon Rapids, MN, 55433-3768 Address Correction Requested

8 Blast from the Past - Minnesota Railfans Association Fantrips

Minnesota Railfans Association headed out to Glenwood, MN on Soo parlor observation car 750. Date unknown. From the Northstar Chapter library collection.

If you go back far enough, you’ll find that besides the 5632 and 4960, the Burlington used other steam locomotives for fan trips. Here is an example of Hudson type 3003 on an Minnesota Railfans Association fantrip to LaCrosse. Here’s the runby and water stop at Alma, WI. Photo by Al Wallin from the Collection of John Goodman

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