Santa Express passengers entertained. Photo by Fenner Stevenson THE IRHS AROUND REPORTER OELWEIN – Right now, the future looks bleak for another piece of Iowa’s railroad past. Union Pacific 2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS: officials have announced plans to level the Dean Briley (Past President), Wayne Paterson Great Western’s running repair shops and old boiler (President), Alan Schroeder (Executive Vice house in Oelwein. Built in the late 1890’s, the shops President), Darin Jacobs (Vice President of were well-known for completing many of the Operations), Dale Mount (Treasurer), Ken Barkwill, Chicago & North Western’s heavy repairs and Bryan Anderson, Ron Rindfuss, Mark Halbmaier. rebuild programs of the 70’s and 80’s. The Oelwein Roger Stirling continues to serve as the Board shops were closed in the early 1990’s, prior to the Secretary. THOMAS DATES SET: Thomas The Chicago & North Western’s merger into the Union Tank Engine will be returning to Boone for two Pacific. weekends in September. This year’s Day Out With Thomas event will be taking place on September 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26. For more information, visit our website: www.bsvrr.com. C&NW HISTORICAL SOCIETY IOWA DIVISION MEETING: The Iowa Division Meeting of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society will be held at Sacred Heart School in Boone on Saturday, March 20 from 12:30 PM until 9:00 PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour our shops. A special night excursion, pulled by Minneapolis & St. Louis Alco 244, will be operated as well. Tickets for the night run are $16 per person. VALENTINE TRAINS: 2010 brought another successful run for our Valentine WHERE AM I? Trains. The three trains which were initially In the last issue of Keeping Track, we attempted to scheduled sold out, and a Saturday, February 20 test your knowledge of former Fort Dodge, Des trip was added. Due to inclement weather, the run Moines & Southern structures by asking for the for Sunday, February 14 was cancelled. Persons location of the photo above. Answer: This remnant holding tickets for that train were issued gift cards, of the Fort Dodge Line can be seen on the southeast and will be able to re-schedule. NEXT STOP, THE corner of the “Hallett Building” (former FDDM&S th NORTH POLE! The 2009 operating season ended shop building) located at 12 and Division in Boone. on a positive note, as more than 5,800 passengers The made the photo to trek to the the left North Pole shows aboard the shop the Boone building & Scenic at the Valley top of Railroad. the Tricky picture, travel with conditions Division forced the Street rescheduling of three trains, but the trains running themselves operated without a hitch. Above, Kathi from top Stirling (at the microphone) and a helpful young to lady from the audience (holding the book) keep bottom. KEEPING TRACK | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE IOWA RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MARCH 2010, PAGE 1 the Chicago & North Western PASSINGS Railroad after 39 years. Bob was a third-generation newspaperman, following in the DOUG BULLARD He is survived by his wife, footsteps of his paternal Douglas Ross Bullard, 89, of 1116 Darlene, and three children; grandfather and father. He 19th Street in Boone, Iowa twelve grandchildren; seven worked in the newsrooms of passed away at the Israel Family great-grandchildren; a sister; and newspapers in Champaign- Hospice House in Ames, Iowa on nieces and nephews. Urbana, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Wednesday morning, October 21, Utica, New York; Decatur, Illinois; 2009. His body was cremated. and Edwardsville, Illinois, and as Interment with presentation of a corporate officer for Lindsay- He was born October 8, 1920 in the flag by the Marine Corps Schaub Newspapers in Decatur. Pine Island Minnesota, the son of League was at Linwood Park He retired as publisher of the Luther “Pug” and Doris (Schmoll) Cemetery in Boone. Boone News-Republican in 2004. Bullard. Editor’s Note: Doug played a Bob and the former Jeannine Doug graduated from High major role in my interest of the Rhine were married June 4, 1961, School at Arlington, Minnesota in B&SV. Not long after my Mom and became the parents of two 1938. He was always interested in bought my first Boone Railroad sons. trains. He started working as a Historical Society membership, station helper for the Minneapolis Doug was one of several of the He was a member of Grace & St. Louis Railway at Arlington early volunteers who looked out Episcopal Church, Boone Rotary after graduation, and at various for me. I was his shadow on Club and the Boone Area other stations in Minnesota and many of the trips that he made as Chamber of Commerce. He Iowa. In April 1941, he was hired brakeman, including the day that served on the board of United as a telegrapher on the Chicago & the Kate Shelley car made its Way of Boone County. North Western Railroad, and unplanned journey to the valley. worked at various stations Often after the day’s run, he Survivors include his wife; sons between Clinton and Council would take me back to his home, and daughters-in-law. He leaves Bluffs, Iowa. Doug retired from where we would give his N-Scale four grandchildren. the Chicago & North Western trains a good workout, following Railroad in September of 1980, that up with a dish of ice cream. after becoming a car distributor Doug was always very kind to JUNE THOMASON at Boone. me, and he will certainly be June L. Thomason, 91, formerly missed. of 1123 West 1st Street and the He served with the 1st Marine Eastern Star Masonic Home in Division during World War II in ROBERT SCHAUB, JR. Boone passed away at the the Pacific Theatre including Robert Churchill Schaub Jr., 76, Evangelical Free Church Home in Okinawa and China. Doug was of 1416 Aldrich Avenue in Boone, Boone on Monday morning, honorably discharged on May 6, died Monday afternoon, February October 19, 2009 where she had 1946 and returned to work for the 1st in his home. He had coped been a resident for the past week. Chicago & North Western with multiple myeloma for six Railroad at Boone. years. She was born on June 1, 1918 in Boone, Iowa the daughter o f On August 17, 1948, he married He was born May 2, 1933, to Charles F. and Blenda (Anderson) Darlene Blue in Hospers, Iowa. Robert C. and Louise (Denz) Lundstrom. Schaub in Decatur, Illinois. He Doug was a member of the graduated from Phillips Exeter On August 30, 1942, she married Central Christian Church, Masons Academy in New Hampshire and George Munson. The couple Mt. Olive Lodge #79 AF&AM and Stanford University. He served in divorced in July of 1958. On the Marine Corps League. He France with the U.S. Army, November 21, 1962, she married worked for the Minneapolis & St. separating from the service as a Leonard Thomason at Princeton, Louis Railway and retired from first lieutenant. Missouri.

KEEPING TRACK | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE IOWA RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MARCH 2010, PAGE 2 PASSINGS CONTINUED

In 1936, June graduated from Boone High School. During her early career, she was a secretary in law offices in Boone and Ames. She was employed by Iowa State University from which she retired in May of 1980.

She was a member of the Augustana Lutheran Church where she was a Sunday School teacher and also served as secretary. June was a faithful volunteer with RSVP, serving the Historical Society, Mamie Eisenhower’s Birthplace, the Tourist Information Center, Boone and Scenic Valley Railway, and was for many years the chairperson of the kitchen committee for the Boone County Chapter of AARP.

Survivors include her sister Ruth Carlson of Boone; stepson Daryl Thomason and stepdaughter Mary Linn Thomason of Ames, many nieces and nephews.

Her body was cremated.

ELIOT KELLER We also learned that on Monday, December 28, Eliot Keller, well-known advocate for Iowa passenger rail service, died of Complications from ALS. Keller was 62. TOP LEFT: Travis Stevenson works on getting 6540 An active participant in the Iowa Association of masked-off. Photo by Jim Gardner TOP RIGHT: Railroad Passengers for more than 20 years, Keller Scott Stephens finishes painting the grab irons. served as the excursion chair of that organization. Photo by Loren Karr BELOW: A much sharper looking 6540 emerges from the shop. New number Keller was a longtime member of the Iowa Railroad boards were also installed, which obviously weren’t Historical Society. in when this picture was taken. Photo by Loren Karr

MAINTENANCE NEWS A new workhead was installed on the tamper, and it NEW PAINT FOR THE F-UNIT: Former Canadian is now ready for the 2010 season. Engine crews will National FP9-A 6540 has received a fresh coat of be happy to learn that new air tank drains have been paint, clear coating, and decals. The elements had installed on the Alco RS-1, M&StL 244. The old taken their toll on the paint of what has really system proved to be quite challenging. A new check become the face of our first-class trains. The unit valve has been installed into the fuel line of 2254. was completed in time to power the season’s final This should help to alleviate issues with starting the Valentine run. MORE EQUIPMENT NEWS: Other unit. Always a major winter shop project, the to-do shop projects include: Lackawanna open-air coach list for JS8419 continues to shrink. In addition to its 3218. It is undergoing interior work, and awaits new continuing winter inspection, recent work includes exterior paint. As usual, track equipment has servicing of the brakes, cellar boxes, and undergone a good deal of winter work. modifications to the tender.

KEEPING TRACK | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE IOWA RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MARCH 2010, PAGE 3 MAINTENANCE NEWS CONTINUED

WORK DAYS: Attendance for this year’s Saturday work days has been down significantly. Successful work days are necessary to keep projects moving along in a timely fashion. Typically, Saturday’s work days begin at 9:00 AM, and run through 4:00 PM, with a break for lunch. If you have some time to spare, and would be interested in helping to keep things running smoothly, please contact Travis at 515- 432-4278. SNOW REMOVAL: This season’s numerous winter storms have had our crews dedicating much of their time to snow removal. Left, Jimmy Will works on clearing the platform to allow for the assembly of the Valentine Dinner Train. TOP: Finally, 785’ of clear track! Without a doubt, the longest section of clear track that the crew will find this day. BOTTOM: Between the Des Moines River Bridge and Fraser, the locomotive grabs the attention of a deer.

Why not participate in the shop department’s volunteer work days? Every Saturday through the winter. For information, contact us: [email protected].

WINTER WONDERLAND In the photos to the right, Jim Gardner shows us a side of the line that not everybody gets the opportunity to see, as light power is run along the line to break through the drifts prior to the running of our Valentine trains. While things went smoothly, some coupler-high snow was encountered. It could have been worse!

KEEPING TRACK | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE IOWA RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MARCH 2010, PAGE 4 FROM THE GIFT SHOP B&SVRR Patch This 3 ¼” by 1” patch features our original logo, updated to Iowa’s Railroads: An Album reflect our name change in H. Roger 2008. Grant and Don L. Price: $3.00 Hofsommer explore the pivotal role that railroads played in the urban B&SVRR Wall Tapestry developmen t of the state as well as the symbiotic relationship Iowa and its rails shared. With more than 400 black-and-white photographs, a solid inventory of depots and locations, and new information that is sure to impress even the most well-versed railfan, this detailed history of the state's railroads—including the Chicago & North Western, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, and the Iowa Northern—will be an essential reference for railroad fans and historians, artists, and model railroad builders.

Paperback, 320 pages, 461 black and white photos, 6 maps, 8.5” x 11”.

Price: $26.75 Dimensions: 50” X 68” Price: $50.00

COMING SOON: A new cap design for the new Heritage Pin Set season. The caps sport the logo of the Boone & This set features three Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum, as well as the different pin designs: depiction of a steam engine in the hills. “The Fort Dodge Line”, “The Scenic Line”, and We are also looking forward to the addition of etched “B&SVRR” featuring a wine glasses featuring our logo. It is expected that the the depiction of a steam glasses will be available separately, or sold as part of a locomotive pulling a gift set, which would feature our “Whistle White” or passenger train. “Scenic Valley Red” wines.

Price: $6.75 Help support our preservation efforts by visiting the Iowa Railroad Historical Society Gift Shop today, or by shopping online: www.bsvrr.com!

KEEPING TRACK | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE IOWA RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MARCH 2010, PAGE 5 LOOKING BACK: Pufferbilly Days 1982 For me, probably one of the neatest recent additions to our museum has been a collection of books, photos, and more, from George Davison. I think the following photos will help to explain why his collection is a favorite of mine. Let’s travel back in time, to Saturday, September 11, 1982, as the Mid Continent Railway Museum’s 1385, and two of the Chicago & North Western’s “Presidential” f-units carried passengers aboard three of the North Western’s bi-level commuter coaches from Boone, across the Kate Shelley Memorial High Bridge, then returned to town. At this time, the C&NW’s freight house was still intact, and the thought of the Kate Shelley High Bridge standing dormant was an impossibility.

KEEPING TRACK | THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE IOWA RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MARCH 2010, PAGE 6 IOWA RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY 225 10TH STREET, PO BOX 603 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE BOONE, IOWA 50036-0603 PAID PERMIT NO.15 BOONE, IA

ON THE COVER A wintry scene from atop the 156’ tall Bass Point Creek High Bridge. Photo by Jim Gardner

KEEPING TRACK | MARCH, 2010 The Iowa Railroad Historical Society publishes Keeping Track periodically throughout the year.

Editor: Loren Karr Iowa Railroad Historical Society PO Box 603 Boone, Iowa 50036 515-432-4249 Extension 13

ON THE INTERNET http://www.bsvrr.com

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INSIDE THIS EDITION… . THE IRHS REPORTER . PASSINGS . FIGHTING THE SNOW . BACK TO 1982