JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1993 Flagging On The VOLUME 8 January-February, 1993 NUMBER 1

The Great Frisco Bridge. 3 Michael Finger provides a detailed account of the construction and history of the Frisco Bridge at Memphis, IN, complete with rare construction photos.

In this installment of Roster Tales Frisco Folk Ken Wulfert continues his discussion of Frisco Yard Power, Part 4, the Alan Schmitt 44-toners. Charles E. Mahaffey Saundra Schmitt Warren Hall Friscos Executive Fleet 12 Richard Napper This is the first in a new extended series of articles profiling the Louis Griesemer history of Frisco Business Cars. Guy S. Pollard

DOWN AT THE DEPOT 16 Billings, MO, on the Springfield Sub-Division. Eastern Division, Editor Alan Schmitt is the featured station in this issue. FMIS Editor Richard Napper Contributing Editors Michael Finger Ken Wulfert Rick McClellan Its a classic and rare turn-of-the-century glimpse of Seligman, MO. Membership Secretary Rachel Schmitt Distribution Ricks Tips 18 Sarah Schmitt Frisco Folk Rick McClellan shares with us an assortment of modeling tricks, tips, and neat things to do that are relatively simple, inexpensive, and quick, all of which can enhance the appearance and operation of your model railroad layout. This installment features NEW USES FOR SCREEN WIRE.

An assortment of Frisco equipment in the 1990s is captured for us in this photo feature by the cameras of Chris Bowles, Richard Napper, Wayne Porter, and Rick McClellan.

ABOUT THE COVER QUESTION: What do two Frisco Folks do in the middle of a 12" Midwest snow storm? ANSWER: They go railfanning, of course! Our cover this issue features the award winning photography of Frisco Folk Aubrey McBride, as museum president Alan Schmitt recreates the once common practice of Flagging On The Frisco! GREAT FRISCO BRIDGE by Michael Finger

The Great Frisco Bridge, standing on the Memphis side of the Mississippi The river stayed a formidable River, May 27, 1992. Wayne Porter photo barrier for decades. Finally, in 1885, the fledging Kansas City, Fort Scott EDITORS NOTE: The place and time? The Great and Memphis Railroad met the Michael Finger is Senior Editor for Bridge Celebration at Memphis, challenge and found an engineer Memphis Magazine, and first pub- Tennessee, on the afternoon of May who could design and build such a lished the following article in the 12, 1892, when workers finally structure. He was George S. Elks Magazine, February, 1992, spanned the Mississippi River with Morrison of Chicago. Morrison had issue. It is reprinted with permis- the longest bridge in all of North already designed six steel bridges sion of the author who graciously America, and the third longest in along the Missouri River, as well as provided the rare 1891 construction the world. the great bridge across the Ohio at photos included in the article. Before the days of the Cairo, Illinois. The new bridge, railroads, Old Man River was one of however, would be his greatest work. The eighteen heavy loco- this countrys most vital Morrison and his crew came motives, coupled end to end, began transportation arteries. But by the to Memphis in 1885 to find the best to roll slowly across the high bridge. late 1800s, the steamboating days location. After examining and Far below, a crowd of more than were over, and America now began rejecting several sites, they 50,000 men and women, boys and to head west on gleaming rails of eventually chose the high bluffs on girls silently watched the slow pro- steel. The trouble was, many of the southern edge of the city as the cession, and each of them wondered: those rails stopped short at the most stable foundation for the Would the new structure carry the Mississippi River, since the eastern end of the bridge. Two tremendous weight, or would it southern-most bridge was at St. years later, the U.S. Congress collapse, as some had predicted, Louis. authorized its construction and into the deep, muddy waters of the There was a good reason for officially chartered the Kansas City Mississippi River below? After all, that. Below Missouri, the river was and Memphis Railroad Bridge no one in America had ever built a as much as a mile wide in some Company. bridge like this before. places, and though the eastern Construction began When the massive engines bluffs usually stood high and dry November 7, 1888. The design of reached the middle of the span, an above the water, the western banks the bridge involved "a unique scheme alarmed inspector discovered that were often low, marshy and prone of such intricacy as to baffle the roadway was sagging four to flooding. A railroad bridge on description," according to a Memphis inches. But that was within the that part of the Mississippi would newspaper. Since the river was far expected limits, so the engines not only have to span the broad too wide to bridge with a single continued to creep forward. Finally, river itself but also extend a great span. Morrison decided to employ a tense minutes later, the entire train distance over the western shore. It cantilever-type structure: crossed the river into Arkansas, would have to be greater and longer a row of five stone piers would extend and relieved spectators burst into than any bridge ever built in this high across the water, with the huge wild cheers, shouts and applause. country. weight of the bridge partially supported by these piers and partially carried by the upper steel only toil for 45 minutes at a time if tending over the muddy lowlands of framework. they wanted to avoid the dreaded the Arkansas shore. In fact, in the The piers were a special "bends," which claimed four work- whole world only the Firth of Forth problem. Because of the soft, muddy ers before the bridge was finished. Bridge in Scotland and the bottom of the Mississippi, they The last pier was set in place Lansdowne Bridge in India were couldnt simply be dropped into the on June 6, 1891. After that, ma- longer. water at selected locations, but sonry teams attached sturdy fac- somehow had to be sunk down ings of granite and limestone The Great Bridge Celebra- through the mud until they reached quarried from Georgia and Indiana. tion, described in newspaper head- a firm foundation. To do this, Steel workers then lines as a Worlds Wonder," kicked Morrison designed hollow stone scrambled high over the water to off the morning of May 12, 1892, piers without bottoms. These were lace the huge bridge together, even- with a fancy parade through first assembled on land, then floated tually using more than 9,500 tons downtown Memphis that featured out into the river on barges, tilted of Pennsylvania steel and 100,000 the police force, six marching bands, upright, and carefully lowered to rivets. One pin alone, linking two of military companies from through- the bottom. Once in place, air was the largest trusses, weighted 2,200 out the region, and a host of elaborate

Frisco Bridge construction, 1891, facing east with Memphis across the river. Michael Finger collection pumped into the piers to form an air bubble inside, enabling workers to pounds. Because of the great length floats. By noon, tens of thousands climb down in them and actually of the spans, special allowances of people were jamming the river stand on the river bottom, protected had to be made for expansion during front to see the official testing of the from the water rushing around them temperature extremes. Instead of new bridge. Each of the eighteen only by the air pressure within their being bolted tightly together, some railroads which would use the bridge bubble. They would then dig portions of the bridge were fitted provided a gleaming locomotive through the mud and sand on the into grooves to allow movement, adorned with colorful banners and bottom, and as they shoveled, the and the bridge actually glided on streamers, and special train crews pier reached a solid foundation. rollers atop pier two. had been hand-picked for the event. It was incredibly dangerous All the sections were finally One of the crewman recalled his work. The diggers in the first piers linked into a single span over the special role years later: were working as far as 130 feet river on April 6, 1892. And what a "I was a machinist with the below water level, and the slightest tremendous bridge it was: the old Memphis and Charleston Railroad break in air pressure would send longest in American, five graceful at the time," said Charlie Lawson. the water rushing into them. Whats spans 2,597 feet across the mighty "One of the engineers who was to more, working at such depths de- Mississippi. That didnt even drive one of the first engines over the manded a pressure of 47 pounds include the 2,500-foot viaduct ex- bridge got cold feet, so the master per square inch, and workers could mechanic told me to take it across" river put on by the Pain Company of New York, one of the nations top pyrotechnic experts. The fireworks show began with "nests of hissing serpents" and something called "the aerial acre of variegated gems." Next came a wild assortment that in- cluded such oddities as "twin fiery dragons, which fly from place to place," the "Grove of Jeweled Palms." and "the Grand Cascade of Fire, or Falls of Niaguara, 200 feet in length and falling from a great height." Frisco Bridge construction, 1891, facing west, The show concluded with "an exact Michael Finger collection facsimile of the new bridge, accu- The young engineer wasnt locomotives cleared the bridge, two rately and artistically depicted in the only one who was nervous. engines from either side of he river jets of covered fire, covering a space Plenty of others in the crowd that each pulled a gaily-decorated flat- of 1,500 feet." day doubted such a long, spindly car to the middle. One carried After that, the Great Bridge bridge could carry the weight of Governor Buchanan of Tennessee. Celebration was over; no one had three million pounds of locomo- When they met in the center of the ever seen anything quite like it. tives. bridge, the two officials exchanged The new structure at first Just before noon, the pro- formal greetings and pledged their was simply called the Memphis cession of steam engines began to states eternal friendship. Bridge. When the Frisco Railway move toward the river. An eyewit- The ceremonies that after- bought it a few years later, it became ness reported, "From the sea of noon also included a lengthy ora- known as the Frisco Bridge, the 50,000 faces lining the shore arose tion by Indiana Senator Daniel name it still carries today. a great cheer as weeping women Voorhies (called The Tall Sycamore Over the years, the old bridge kissed their husbands and sweet- of the Wabash"), advertised as has had its shares of accidents, hearts good-bye, all positive the "foremost among American orators fires, suicides and other events. bridge would collapse with their of the present generation." The One of the strangest occurrences loved ones who had volunteered for newspapers the next day carried took place on the night of February the test." portions of his hour-long speech, 7, 1912. Bandits lurking on the The powerful engines built and reported that Voorhies "ex- bridge leapt aboard a Rock Island up steam and slowly chugged pressed in language of the choicest train heading west out of Memphis across. Lawson remembered, "Then selection the feelings that found when it slowed to cross the river. As we got our orders In come back at top most hearty response in the minds soon as the train reached the Ar- speed. We opened the throttles and of all who heard." kansas side, they made their way to those eighteen engines all hooked The Great Bridge Celebra- the engineer, stopped the train, and together made a pretty sight. We tion ended that evening with a tre- attempted to blow open the mail car were doing about 65 miles per hour mendous fireworks display over the safe. when we crossed, with the flags on the fronts of the engines standing straight out. The Concord (a federal gunboat visiting Memphis) fired 21 cannons, and everyone in the boats and along the riverbanks either shot off a gun or a firecracker. It was the most deafening and the most glori- ous din I have ever heard." The hero recalled it was certainly worth the risk: "Back on this side, the girls swarmed all over me. Twelve of them kissed me, because I was somewhat of a ladies Frisco Bridge construction, 1891, facing east with Merri- man in those days, and they were phis across the river. Note the railroad ferry, S.S. afraid I would be killed. Barlow, in the foreground It was operated by the St. That was just the beginning Louis, Iron Mountain, Southern Railway Co. of the celebration. After the ei ghteen _ _ Michael Finger collection Using a dozen pieces of dy- namite only wrecked part of the mail car, so the robbers piled more THE than twenty sticks on top of the safe and set them off. The resulting GREAT BOOM shook windows all the way across the river. The blast not only FRISCO blew the car into a thousand pieces and set it afire, it destroyed the safe BRIDGE and everything in it. Police at the scene the next day reported that With Frisco 4106, scraps of dollar bills "had been blown providing motive into the treetops and hung on the power for the Memphis Freight," limbs like snowflakes." The ban- No. 232, circa. dits, no doubt red-faced, got away 1942. empty-handed. The Frisco Bridge was a Frisco photo landmark for twenty-four years. But almost as soon as it opened, people complained that it wasnt sufficient. The single-track railroad bridge still didnt enable folks in buggies or on horseback to cross the river. At one THE time, planks were laid down between the rails, and for a while cars and GREAT carriages could creep across the bridge, as long as no trains were FRISCO headed their way. But that was rather nerve-wracking, and besides, BRIDGE the approach on the Arkansas side With Frisco 2021, was so steep that many horses providing motive couldnt pull a wagon up the in- power for the "Kansas City- cline. Florida Special," No. So, by the turn of the cen- 105, circa. 1952. tury everyone was clamoring for a second bridge across the river. As a Frisco photo result, the Harahan Bridge was constructed a few dozen yards north of the Frisco Bridge in 1916. This was a railroad span, though a wider one, and to meet the demand for the newfangled automobile traffic, rickety wooden roadways were THE suspended from the outside of the GREAT new bridge. Anyone afraid of heights simply didnt cross the river by car FRISCO until the four-lane Memphis-Ar- kansas Bridge opened nearby in BRIDGE 1949. A fourth span across the river, the Hernando DeSoto Bridge carrying Interstate 40, opened far- ther north in 1973. In service, Though the Harahan Bridge May 23, 1992. closed some years ago, the Mem- phis-Arkansas and Hernando Wayne Porter photo DeSoto bridges are still in use. And the granddaddy of them all, the Frisco Bridge. still carries railroad traffic across the river. The MAIL CAR is a feature of the ALL ABOARD in which we attempt to answer some of the many questions that are submitted to our Frisco public timetable, listing the Dixie Flyer, November, 1911. FRISCO RESEARCH SERVICE. In 1913, the Frisco System If you have a question about went into receivership, and in the the equipment, facilities, or opera- ensuing reorganization of 1915, was tion of the Frisco, please send them divorced from both the C El and to the RESEARCH SERVICE. All the Gulf Coast Lines. request are answered individually The C EI Dixie Flyer and and selected questions will appear companion train, Dixie Express, in the MAIL CAR feature. continued Chicago to Florida service well into the 1930s. QUESTION: I recently found an old Did the Frisco ever go to advertisement for a train called the Chicago? Yes, as the C EI Dixie Flyer, that ran from Chicago subsidiary line. What was the to Florida. At the bottom of the page Evansville Route? The Frisco / C is a Frisco logo with "Evansville EI line through southwest Indiana. Route" in the middle. Did the Frisco Where in Florida did the trains go? ever go to Chicago? What was the Palm Beach, St. Petersburg, and Evansville Route? Where in Florida Sarasota. did the train go? Can you please solve this mystery for me?

ANSWER: Yes, we can solve your complicated mystery! On October 1, 1902, under What is a "Glad Hand," "Rip the leadership of President B.F. Track," and a "Shoo-Fly."? Yoakum, the Frisco purchased the controlling interest of the Chicago Eastern Illinois Railroad. It was Be the first to tell us what these during this "Yoakum Era" that the terms mean and receive a 10% Frisco also acquired the Gulf Coast discount on your next Frisco Lines and the Ft. Worth Rio Folks membership renewal. Grande Railroad. Dixie Flyer Timetable, circa. 1934 On May 1, 1903, the Chicago, Rock Island, Pacific Railroad took control of the Frisco, In Memoriam including the C EI, and operated On February 9, 1993, our Frisco it as a part of its system until Folks family lost a special member December, 1909, when the Rock and friend with the death of Howard Island sold its controlling interests D. Killiam, Sr. Although Howard back to the Frisco. was a carman for thirty-six years In 1911, the C EI absorbed with the Santa Fe Railway, he was the Evansville Terre Haute an ardent fan of the Frisco and was Railway and thus established an a life Engineer member of our Frisco "Evansville Route" through Folks. His vast collection of photos, southwest Indiana. During that which he freely shared with fellow same year, the Dixie Flyer was railfans, will silently serve as a living Frisco Folk Howard Killiam, standing inaugurated as the first all Pullman memorial to Howards life-long on the platform of Frisco caboose train between Chicago and Palm commitment to rail preservation! #876, Wichita, KS, May 1, 1988. Beach, FL. R.E. Napper photo LOOKING BACKWARD is a regular feature of the ALL ABOARD that takes a look back through our files at the people, equipment, facilities, operations, and events that were a part of the Frisco 25, 50, and 75 years ago.

25 YEARS - 1968

On January 17, 1968, bridge No. 92.2, a 450 3-span I-Beam Rare construction photo of Meramec River Bridge, circa. 1889. structure, located approximately John Bradbury collection five miles south of Cuba, MO, was raised and replaced with a 5-span deck plate girder bridge. The 75 YEARS - 1918 opening of the new Lead Belt Line and the resulting heavier loads In accordance with a crossing the Meramec River made it proclamation issued by the necessary to replace the aging President of the United States on structure. Built in 1889, the old December 26, 1917, and order bridge consisted of three pin- issued by the Director General of connected truss spans each Railroads dated December 29, 1917, approximately 150 in length. 1918 was the first of two years that the Frisco operated under the 50 YEARS - 1943 supervision and control of the U.S. Government, the end result of American involvement and support In 1943, Red Devil engine With new deck plate girder in of the Allied forces fighting in World coalers were installed at Pittsburg place, the 1889 Meramec River War I. and Wichita, KS, and at North Bridge slowly comes down, circa. Springfield, MO. 1968. Frisco photo

Red Devil engine coaler, in operation at North Springfield, MO yards, circa. 1945. Frisco photo YARD POWER PART FOUR The 44-Toners

In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, railroad management and labor were often very much in an adversarial position, constantly maneuvering to gain advantage of each other. Today, things hopefully are much better, with both groups aware that mutual success can only come through cooperation instead of confrontation. Back in the era of the beginnings of steam to diesel locomotive transition, an unusual SLSF #1, Davenport, IA, February, 1942. Davenport builders photo provision in the agreements between the railroads and the locomotive engineers was the basis behind the wide use of some unusual locomotives - the 44-ton light diesel switchers. These little locomotives were fairly popular with the railroads in the 1940s and 1950s, and, as usual, the Frisco was involved as well. In fact, these units were among the first diesel switchers to serve on the Frisco. Ive always liked them - they are another example of something that was so ugly they were cute! The unusual provision in the labor agreements between the SLSF #1, Springfield, MO, January 17, 1948. A. Johnson collection railroads and the engineers union was a provision that a locomotive with less than 45 tons of weight on its drivers only required an engineer to operate - no fireman was needed. This created a market for the 44- toners and a number of railroads bought them. Understand that though 44 tons of weight sounds like a lot, this is a very light weight for a diesel switcher locomotive. A number of locomotive suppliers entered the market - General Electric, Whitcomb, Davenport, and Plymouth being among them. They were remarkably similar in design - in fact, the SLSF #1, Newburg, MO, August 7, 1949. A. Johnson collection Frisco 44-toner #2, Paris, TX, September 8, 1952. A. Johnson collection

Frisco 44-toner #3, Joplin, MO, September 7, 1947 A. Johnson collection

Frisco 44-toner #7, Tulsa, OK, November, 1971 E. Stoll collection Davenport and whitcomb examples ON 7 (SLSF 12) discussed in the last sold it to the Alton Box Board Co. the Frisco bought suggest to me the Roster Tale, as part of the Frisco No. 5 was sold to Armour design might have been developed acquisition of the ON in 1964. This Agricultural Chemical Co., Crystal jointly. They all had a high center unit, however, was never added to City, MO, who in turn sold it, in cab and rode on light, four wheel the Frisco roster, and was sold in 1968, to Fiber Industries, Inc, trucks. The GEs trucks were 1965. Salisbury, NC. fabricated from sheet steel, the The paint schemes of the No. 6 was traded to EMD on 3600 others used cast components. They Frisco 44-toners was interesting. HP units (900-913) in 1967. had twin diesel engines housed in The original three units appeared in No. 7 was traded to EMD, in 1972, short hoods jutting out from each a royal blue color, with a white on GP 38-2 units (663-699) after a end of the center cab. A radiator stripe about two feet wide running long storage at Tulsa, OK. was on the front of each hood. Total down each side. Ultimately all joined No. 8 was also traded to EMD, in horsepower developed from the twin the newer GEs in being painted 1972, on GP 38-2 units (663-699) diesels was 360 HP to 380 HP. The black with yellow safety stripes, a after a long storage at Tulsa, OK. units were symmetrical, but had yellow number on the cab sides, controls for forward operation in and Frisco coonskin heralds on each An excellent dual powered one direction only. They had no end of the two short hoods. plastic model of the GE units is capability for MU operation, at least Though this bunch of 44- available from Bachmann. Keystone not on the Frisco examples. toners was interesting, they were makes a metal one. Following are the basic descriptions not considered a success on the of the Frisco roster of 44-toners: Frisco, the same opinion most other railroads also developed. They were Passenger Train No. 1 - Davenport, 360 HP too light to do other than industrial Consist Placed in service at Newburg, MO, switching or very light yard work. March, 1942. They also were slow and could not Eastern Division be MUed, greatly limiting their Memphis Sub-Division No. 2 - Davenport, 360 HP utility out on the main line. The August 31, 1963 Placed in service at Joplin, MO, Frisco employed them mainly at Trains 105-106 April, 1942. small yards, such a Newburg, MO. Kansas City-Florida After many years of sitting around No. 3 - Whitcomb, 360 HP idle more than they were used, the Special Placed in service at Fayetteville, AR, Frisco began unloading them in the April, 1943. 1960s, mainly to those who wanted 105 106 an industrial switcher, or by trading Southbound Northbound No. 4 - GE, 380 HP them in. Placed in service at Arkansas City, I recently observed a GE 44- 2006: 2011 KS in July, 1943. toner built in 1950 (not an ex-Frisco 2016 2002 unit but similar) still in use at the No. 5 - GE, 380 HP ACF shops in Milton, PA, that PA 1907 SAL 788 Placed in service at Cape Girardeau, looked, sounded, and ran just fine. SLSF 363 REX 7753 MO in July, 1943. I saw their backup unit from a SLSF 211 REX 1074 distance - it looked to be either a SLSF 387 SLSF 412 No. 6 - GE, 380 HP Davenport or a Whitcomb! SLSF 373 SLSF 211 Placed in service at Hugo, OK in SLSF 1102 SLSF 387 August, 1943. EDITORS NOTE: SLSF 769 SLSF 372 SOU 816 SLSF 376 No. 7 - GE, 380 HP According to records supplied by SLSF 1251 SLSF 761 Placed in service at Fayetteville, AR Frisco Folk Wayne Porter, the 44- SLSF 1454 SLSF 1060 in February, 1944. toners dispositions were as follows: SLSF Birmingham SOU 874 SOU 811 No. 8 - GE, 380 HP No. 1 was traded to EMD on 3600 SLSF 1456 Placed in service at Neodesha, KS in in 1967. HP units (900-913) SLSF Memphis. March, 1944. No. 2 was sold to the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railroad, Sapulpa, OK. These train consists were taken To be complete, we must No. 3 was sold to the Mobile River from a recently acquired mention that the Frisco briefly had Sawmill Co., Mobile, AL. collection of Dispatcher Train another 360 HP Davenport 44-toner, No. 4 was sold to Precision National Sheets. the Okmulgee Northers No. 8, which Corporation in 1969, who in turn came to the Frisco - along with the FRISCO'S EXECUTIVE FLEET

EDITORS NOTE: The first record of a car on and a number designation: Postal Between January, 1987, and the Frisco roster, designated for Cars were Al -A7, Passenger/ Mail February, 1988, the All Aboard official use, appears on company were B22 -B34, Passenger/ featured a series of articles profiling records in 1879. Listed only as Baggage /Mail units were C41-C47, the history of Frisco Business Cars. "Directors Car," no additional details Passenger/Baggage D63-D69, Since then, additional information are provided. In 1881, a second Special Express were E71-E73, and and photos have been acquired and Directors Car appears on the roster, Chair Cars were F83-F104. This a number of members have again with no details. Records for numbering scheme appears to be a requested that we up-date and 1885 and 1886 indicate that the remanent of an earlier system of reprint the series. Consequently, fleet was reduced to one unit, and classification because the 1897 this is the first in our new series on the Directors Car designation was roster also lists Coaches (22-70), the Friscos Executive Fleet. replaced with "Officers Car" . Baggage / Express (151-179), and One year later, 1887, Official Cars (99-100) with numbers Question: What do Tennes- Officers Car classification was only. If this is the case and the "0" see, Missouri, Alabama, Oklahoma, changed to "Official Car". It is designation represented Official Car, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, interesting to note that our 1887 then No. 99, ex 0-68, may possibly Florida, and Texas all have in records list the two cars in executive have been the first or one of the first common? They are all states... Yes! service at that time as being named Business Cars on the Frisco roster. They are all states in which the the Catoosa and Wyandotte. This In the 1903 renumbering program, Frisco operated... Yes! They also is the only record of Frisco Business No. 99 was changed to No. 800. have one additional distinction in Cars carrying name designations Car No. 100 was a 53 wood that .they represent the names that prior to the 1954 naming program car built by Pullman in December, were once carried by a sleek, luxu- in which all the cars in the fleet were 1881, and appears to be the first car rious, and sometimes mystical fleet named for states and locations on the Frisco to be built specifically of Frisco Business Cars. associated with the Frisco. as a Business Car. In 1903. it was According to our records, The Official Car roster renumbered No. 600. the oldest car, by built date, to serve remained at two units between 1888 The 1898 roster of Official on the executive fleet was a 518" and 1896. In 1897, there were still Cars lists three in service: No. 100, steel composite car originally built two cars in the fleet. However, they a new car No. 101 a 55 wood unit in 1870 by the Chicago, Burlington, were now rostered as Nos. 99 and built by Pullman in 1882, and car Quincy Railroad as Coach No. 13. 100. No. 99 was a 3911" wood car No. 98, an otherwise unknown It was first used as an Officers Car that records list as being rebuilt 4810" wood unit. on the Kansas City, Ft. Scott, from car No. 0-68. What happened to No. 99? Memphis Railroad and entered the It is interesting to note that For some unknown reason, it Frisco roster in 1903 as car No. in 1897, seven classes of Frisco disappeared from the roster until 300, the same designation it carried passenger cars included both a letter 1901 when it rejoined Nos. 98, 100, on the K.C. F.S. M. 101. In 1903, car No. 98 became No. 1000, and No. 101 was changed 700 an otherwise unknown 704" Between 1904 and 1911, the to No. 900. steel car added to the roster in Friscos 1903 fleet of fourteen Offi- As part of its 1897 reorga- 1903. cial Cars remained in service. In nization from control of the Santa 1912, Kansas City, Ft. Scott, Fe, the new Frisco System adopted 800 ex-Frisco No. 99, ex-068, a 39 Memphis No. 502 was delivered from a new, more uniform manageable wood car. American Car Foundry, built in numbering system that incorpo- November, 1911 as a 74 steel unit. rated the consolidation of its own 900 ex-Frisco No. 101, a 55 wood equipment and that of its prede- car built by Pullman in 1882. cessor lines. Consequently, in 1903, the Friscos fleet of Official Cars was 1000 ex-Frisco No. 98, a 4810" both increased and renumbered, as wood car. follows: 1100 ex-Kansas City, Ft. Scott, 100 ex-St. Louis, Memphis Memphis No. 100, a 60 composite Southeastern Railroad 70 com- car built by the Barney Smith Co. posite car, built by Pullman in April, in March, 1883. 1902. 1200 ex-St. Louis, Memphis, 200 ex-Kansas City, Ft. Scott, Southeastern No. 200, a 63 com- Memphis Railroad 5210" compos- posite car built by Ohio Falls Car Co ite car built by St. Charles Car Co. in June, 1896. in February, 1881. 1300 ex-St. Louis Gulf Railway 300 ex-Kansas City, Ft. Scott, No. 151, a 49 wood car. Memphis No. 300, ex-Chicago, Burlington, Quincy No. 13, a 1400 ex-Frisco 512" wood car 518" wood car built by the C.B. Q. originally built in March, 1882, as in 1870. Coach No. 50, by the Harlan Hollingsworth Co. 400 ex-Kansas City, Ft. Scott, It should be noted that car No. Memphis No. 200, a 456" wood car 1900 was also included in the 1903 Observation platform, Kansas City, Ft. Scott, Memphis "Official Car" built by the Missouri Car Co. in roster as ex-Kansas City, Ft. Scott, No. 502, American Car Foundry October, 1880. Memphis No. 175, a 5010" com- St. Charles, MO. plant, November, posite car built by the St. Charles 1911. Kevin Johnson collection 600 ex-Frisco No. 100, a 53 wood Car Co. in January, 1889. It was car built by Pullman in 1881. listed as "Dynamometer and Busi- ness Car".

Kansas City, Ft. Scott, Memphis "Official Car" No. 502, American Car Foundry St. Charles, MO. plant, November, 1911. Kevin Johnson collection During the 1913-1916 reor- leased to the Frisco and renum- remaining Business Cars were ganization of the Frisco, one car, bered No. 1925. renumbered, as follows: No. 700, was dismissed from ex- In 1933, three of the wood 1920 to No. 1 1200 to No. 6 ecutive service and six new units cars were removed from executive 100 to No. 2 2200 to No. 7 were added, as follows: service. No. 300, the oldest of the 1924 to No. 3 1925 to No. 8 fleet was converted to Maintenance 1100 to No. 4 1400 to No. 9 1500 ex-Kansas City, Ft. Scott, of Way Boarding Car #100579, along 2500 to No. 5 Memphis otherwise unknown 48 with No. 1300, renumbered as wood car built in 1910. #100500. On May 31, 1933, No. Between 1948 and 1951, the 1600 was dismissed from service at Frisco rebuilt six (Nos. 644-648) ex- 1600 ex-Kansas City, Ft. Scott, Springfield, MO. World War II Soldier Diners into Memphis otherwise unknown 48 Between 1939 and the 1947 new Business Cars. As the new wood car built in 1910. renumbering of the fleet, the roster units were phased into the fleet, a was further reduced by five with the rather confusing and complicated 2200 An otherwise unknown 518" retirements of Nos. 200, 400, 800, renumbering process occurred that composite car built by Ohio Fails 900, and 2300. Thus, prior to the will be detailed in future articles in Co. in 1884. 1947 renumbering, the Business this series. Car fleet included the following: 100, In June, 1954, the remain- 2300 An otherwise unknown 578" 1100, 1200, 1920, 1924, 1925, ing twelve cars in the fleet had their composite car built by Ohio Falls 2200, 2500. No. 1400 was numbers replaced with the names Co. in 1913. temporarily assigned to revenue St Louis, San Francisco, Springfield, passenger service in 1945. and those of the nine states the 2500 An otherwise unknown 70 In April May, 1947, the Frisco operated in. composite car built by Ohio Falls Co. in 1913. St. Louis - June 8, 1954 - a

2600 An otherwise unknown 70 Mr. Gimson: composite car built by Ohio Falls Co. in 1913. It has been decided to change the identifying num- bers of the balance of our business cars to names of states and a city, as follows: In 1916, the fleet was re- duced by two cars when Nos. 1900 CAR CHANGE TO and 2300 were removed from the roster. In 1917, the Official Car 2 Tennessee designation of the fleet was changed 3 Missouri to "Business Cars," and in 1918, No. 502 was renumbered as #33 for use Springfield by the U.S. Railroad Administra- tion. In 1920, No. 33 was changed 5 Alabama to No. 405, stationed on the Mis- 6 Oklahoma souri, Kansas, Texas Railroad, and listed in Equipment Registers 7 Kansas as an "MKT car. In 1921, NO. 405 was released from government 8 Arkansas service and returned to the Busi- 9 Mississippi10 ness Car fleet as No. 1920. Car No. 600 was damaged Florida in a derailment on November 3, 1920, at Racine, MO, and was re- 14 Texas built in August, 1924, as Baggage This will necessitate Changing the name of present Car No. 393. diner "Springfield", and it is desired to rename this car In 1925, the roster of Busi- Memphis. ness Cars numbered sixteen, with the addition of No. 1924, a rebuilt Please work out necessary arrangements far re- Sun-Lounge Car origjnally built by lettering of the various cars with those to whom assigned. Pullman in April, 1912, as No. 1702. In 1928, the roster was increased to (s) R. J. Stone seventeen when Quanah, Acme, Pacific Business Car No. 6666 was Original June 8, 1954, memo authorizing the naming of Frisco Business Cars. In 1963, the four cars still in 1980, the remaining two cars in the No. 2 became BNA9, Meramec executive service were once again fleet were renumbered and renamed River. According to our records, numberd, Nos. 1-4. When the as follows: Frisco No. 1 became these two cars are still in operation Frisco I BN merger took place in BNA8, Canadian River, and Frisco on the BNs Business Train.

Frisco Business Car #2, Springfield, MO. ex-Frisco #2, BN Business Car #BNA9, "Meramec River, Wayne Porter photo Springfield, MO. Wayne Porter photo. DOWN AT THE DEPOT

Billings, MO Station 257 Springfield Sub-Division Eastern Division

In the summer of 1870, the South Pacific Railroad Co. completed its line from Franklin to Pierce City, MO, a distance of approximately 253 miles. The South Pacific Co. was incorporated on May 12, 1868 under the provisions of an Act of the General Assembly of Missouri, approved March 17, 1968, entitled, "Art Act to dispose of the Southwest Pacific Railroad and other property belonging thereto, and to secure the early completion of said road." Sub-Division of the Friscos Eastern wainscot. The exterior was 1" x 12" On October 26, 1870, the Division. box battens, painted Frisco South Pacific conveyed its The station was set on a pile standard gray white. The station franchises and property to the head foundation with 2" x 6" walls had a chatts platform that extended Atlantic Pacific Railroad Co. who, and a 1/ 4 pitch gable roof covered 19 6" to the track. six years later, was sold (Missouri with Frisco standard green shingles. In addition to the depot, the Division) to the St. Louis San The combination station was divided Billings facilities included a 16 x Francisco Railway Co. into a waiting room on the northwest 24" 50,000 gals. water tank, 18 x Although probably not the end, center office, and large freight 26 pump house water treating first station in service, in 1898, room on the opposite end. The plant, a 14 x 36 section house, 12 forces of the Frisco completed a 60 ceiling height was 1110" in the x 26 signal maintainers supply x 20 wood frame depot at Billings, waiting room office and 1111" in house, and four stock pens. MO, Station 257 along that original the freight room. The interior finish In 1917, the approximate South Pacific line, on the Springfield was 7/ 8" x 5 1/ 4" M B 58" date of the photo shown below,

Billings, MO, looking northeast, circa, 1917. Kevin Johnson collection Billings was served by seven daily Springfield-Joplin Accommodation In September, 1965, the Meteor passenger trains, as follows: westbound. and Will Rogers were replaced with Nos. 27 28: No. 27, The Local the Oklahoman, Nos. 1 2. Nos. 1 2: Texas Special Passenger westbound and Nos. 28, Although passenger trains Nos. 3 4: The Texan The Springfield Accommodation continued to pass through Billings Nos. 5 6: No. 5, The Texas Lim- eastbound. until May, 1967, our records indi- ited westbound and No. 6, The St. In 1947, service had been cate that the depot was retired and Louis Limited eastbound. reduced to four daily trains: 1 2, closed in 1963. The building was Nos. 7 8: The Southwest limited Texas Special, 3 4, Will Rogers, 7 abandoned, windows boarded up, Nos. 9 10: The Meteor 8, Bluebonnet, and 9 10, the and remained in that condition until Nos. 12 13: No. 12, The SL Louis Meteor. By 1960, service was lim- the mid 1980s when it was eventu- Express eastbound and No. 13, The ited to the Meteor and Will Rogers. ally raised.

Billings, MO, March 2, 1948. A. Johnson collection Billings, MO, 1985. H.D. Connor collection

It was Station #313 on the Ft. Smith Sub-Division, Central Division, at Seligman, MO, circa. 1900. John Bradbury collection Frisco Folk Rick McClellan shares with us an assortment of modeling tricks, tips, and neat things to do that are relatively simple, inexpensive, and quick, all of which can enhance the appearance and operation of your Photo #1, screen wire guard rails layout. factory finished edge could be used plastering can be avoided in these New Uses on top. Using a construction stapler areas all together. Photo #1 shows with 3 / 8" staples, the screen was the toothpicks planted ;into the for stretched and stapled on both sides mesh while Photo #2 shows how the Screen Wire of the staging track. In areas where wire is used to make the basic shape the screen buckled (like the inside of of the hill. In areas where a curve is Screen wire has taken a back the curve), just fold the wire together needed, just fold the wire and staple seat as a landscaping tool as todays and secure with the office stapler. with the office stapler. Also, fold modelers are using various types of To allow clearences for overhanging those sharp edges under and staple foam to make their landforms. Two cars, I bent the wire outward to to avoid all those cuts! different uses for our old friend about 60 degrees. No cars have Screen wire can and has have surfaced as a result of necessity derailed since installing these found more uses on the layout than being the mother of invention. One guards but now Im ready! our founding fathers of model use is to provide guard rails or walls Screen wire can also provide railroading might have envisioned. for hidden or staging trackage. The a quick and large expanse of land to If you have any other ideas for screen other is to provide a fast, large place a dense forest. It can be wire or any other modeling tips, expanse of terrain on which to plant fastened to wood/plywood with the write to me: a dense forest common to Frisco construction stapler or with territory. construction adhesive / nails to Rick McClellan Only a few tools are needed foam. Photo #1 shoes the bead of 15405 W. 144th Terrace to work with screen wire. snips, construction glue and the nails used Olathe, KS 66062 to cut the wire, a stapler, both office to hold it in place until the glue construction type, and dries. Poly fiber trees (make construction glue. Screen wire hundreds as most layouts needeml) Good luck on your modeling projects comes with finished edges but once mounted on toothpicks can be and, as usual, dont forget to... it is cut it is quite sharp and can cut "planted" into the screen mesh quite Ship it On The Frisco! and grab skin and clothes. I have easily and hide the screen so that found that by simply folding the rough edge under and stapling the fold with an office stapler works very well. Guard rails or walls were needed on my staging trackage after a mishap sent several cars 4 1 / 2 feet down to my concrete basement floor. What was needed was something that one could see through (to make sure everything was on the track) but could be angled outward to allow clearance for longer cars with overhang. Photo #1 shows the result. The screen was cut into a 4" strip from one edge so that the • Photo #2, screen wire hill base Frisco in the 90s is a photo feature of the All Aboard in which we showcase photos of surviving 1990s Frisco equipment facilities as photographed by members of our Frisco Folks. Have you seen a piece of "real" Frisco equipment or facility lately? Did you get a picture of it? If so, please let us know and, if possible, send us a copy for publication.

Frisco Box #9312, Merriam, KS, August, 1992, Rick McClellan photo

Frisco Box #44219, Superior, WI, June, 1992 Frisco Box #150019, Turret, AR, February, 1993 Christopher Bowles photo Wayne Porter photo

Frisco Box #700245, Springfield, MO, April, 1991 Frisco Box #177817, Enid, OK, June, 1992 Richard Napper photo Christopher Bowles photo HE luxurious train de Luxe of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois leaves La Salle Street Station at 9:10 P. M. every day in T the year. Nothing but the newest equipment throughout— electric lighted Pullman drawing room sleepers and compartment observation cars. Dining car, meals served a la carte, between Evansville and Atlanta. The route is over the green covered mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, around Lookout Mountain, the scene of one of the mightiest conflicts of the Civil War, through the cottonfield and the quaint old Southern towns of Georgia to the Florida coast, arriving at Jacksonville early the second morning. Reduced rate tourist tickets now on sale.

A. B. SCHMIDT, General Agent Passenger Department

108 West Adams Street La Salle Street Station Tel. Harrison 5115, Automatic 52377 Tel. Wabash 1408, Automatic 53495

Advertisement (see MAIL CAR, p. 7) showing Frisco logo with "Evansville Route," as printed in the Fine Arts Journal, November, 1912, Chicago, IL.