Mullen to speak on BNSF operations at July 1 ORM meeting

Transcription

1 Central Oklahoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mullen to speak on BNSF operations at July 1 ORM meeting Phil Mullen, BNSF Superintendent of Operations, will be the guest speaker at the Oklahoma Railway Museum meeting on Saturday, July 1 at 7 pm. Phil will be giving a Power Point presentation on BNSF operations and an update on activities at the railroad. Following record revenues and earnings in 2005, BNSF Railway Company ranked #171 on Fortune's 500 list of top companies. Prior to Phil's presentation, we will have pizza at 6 pm with all the ORM water you can drink. His presentation should be interesting and I look forward to seeing everyone at the Museum. BNSFFacts Route Miles: 32,000 Number of Employees: 40,000 Larry D. Dodd Vice President and Program Chair Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. Locomotives: 6,300 Average Freight Cars On System: 220,000 The next OMPA Board of Directors meeting will be held Tuesday, June 27 at 7 pm atorm. Inside this issue: Museum Update 2 Holderbaum To Attend 3 Train School In Kansas The President's Column 4 Order Engraved Platform Bricks 7 Surf The Web.. The ORM Web site address is: oklahomarailwaymuseum.org. Telephone number is 405/ Any idea what happened? See page 2. Gary D. Githens Photo Professional Affiliate Member of Association of Railway Museums "Advancing Railway Heritage"

2 Museum Update... by Drake Rice, ORM secretary The pictures in "the Dispatcher " show the value of a kids' play area at the Museum. Thanks to the work of Harry Currie, Bob Cossiart and Charles Price, kids can burn off some additional energy prior to getting on the train. This investment is already paying dividends, according to our visitors. Jim Murray continues to push ahead on the diner interior. The walls are being repaired and some metal replaced, the electric work is proceeding and the air conditioning duct work is nearing completion. Jim is always looking for help, so if you can help, stop by the car any time. Brake work on all the equipment is nearing the final stages as we get everything recertified prior to the "Day Out With Thomas" event for The brake valves on the F-9, Rock Island combine and diner, are being sent in for cleaning and testing. This will give them two more years. The brake cylinder on the ORM caboose needs to be taken off, cleaned and lubricated. If some of you strong guys want to give a hand a hand on this project, it would be appreciated. We still need to finish the fence work at the south end of the Museum, which we hope to finish in June. Charles Price and Bob Cossiart have been mowing along th e right-of-way, while Gary Githens has been mowing on the grounds and weed eating. It's a never ending job in the summer and early fall, but the Museum sure looks nice after its been mowed. Bob Hussey, Guy Lynn and Wally Davis have taken care of the weed spraying this spring along the right- of-way and tracks. During the week of June 12 from Eckroat to NE 36th Street. the spraying took place and weeds were mowed down. As always, we have a lot of other items, such as pa inting and clean up that need attention. Just completed is the work on UP car's (CORX 1) roof, thanks to a hard effort by Harry Currie. It looks good and completes a project in which the Museum received a grant from the Union Pacific Foundation in Plan to stop by the Museum on any day and provide a few hours of volunteer volunteer labor. Also, if you could be a greeter at the Museum during the week for a few hours, please let Jim Murray know. We are in need to have the Museum open more hours to allow the Museum to apply for some additional grants. From page 1 - According to Gary D. Githens, "As a result of a grass fire earlier this year, a trestle burned under the track serving Altus Air Force Base. The trestle was totally destroyed, dropping the hopper in the creek with nine other cars trapped behind it. The spur is owned by the government. Our own Bob Hussey upgraded the track several years ago for the Air Force in the event it was needed during military action in the Middle East." Gary Githens Photos Day Out With Thomas 2006 by Drake Rice, ORM Secretary Planning and scheduling for the Day Out With Thomas 2006 is under way. Work is proceeding on schedule for this year's event, which is set for September 29, 30, October 1, 6, 7 and 8. The schedule has been approved for the operations, ticket sales are underway and the entertainment has been placed under contract. The marketing plan also has been approved and is under way in the two major Oklahoma market areas, Oklahoma City metro area and the Tulsa Metro area. As noted in the Chairman's article on page 4, we are now in the process of signing up volunteers to help with this wonderful event. We will be asking our model railroad friends to assist with this event as we have in the past. If you would like to have your model railroad group participate in the event, or a member of ORM, please let Harry Currie or Drake Rice know. Harry can be reached at and Drake can be reached at drakerr@telepath.com. We look forward to another successful event...,..... : Museum trains run on first and third Saturdays The Oklahoma Railway Museum (ORM) offers excursion trains on the first and third Saturdays of the month for the general public : from 10 am until 2 pm. Trains run on the hour starting at 10 am with the last train leaving the historic Oakwood Depot at 2 pm. The Museum itself is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm and there is no admission charge to tour the grounds. However, trains run only on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Train rides are free for children under the age of 3, $5 for children 4 years to 12 years, and $8 for those 13 years and older. On : Saturday, July 1, ORM is offering special rates for all military and ex-military. With a current military ID, or an American Legion, VFW or DAV card, military and ex-military can ride the train for half price ($4). In addition to the train ride, various railroad equipment. : including motor cars, locomotives and passenger cars, are on display. A display car contains permanent exhibits of railroad memorabilia. ORM is located in Oklahoma City at 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, just west of 1-35 and south of NE 36th Street. The phone number is : 405/ or visit the Museum Website:

3 train school in Kansas by Larry D. Dodd ORM Vice President CONGRATULATIONS to ORM member Mark Holderbaum! Mark has been accepted to the National Academy of Railroad Sciences (NARS) in Overland Park, Kansas. Mark will be training as a Trainman and learning basic instruction of railroad operations. "I will be in Kansas City from June 26 through August 4 attending Conductor and Yard Crew School at the National Academy of Railroad Sciences," said Mark. He hopes to find employment with a Class 1 railroad after his graduation from NARS. We wish Mark the best of luck as he 'throws the switch' on a new career. We look forward to having his expertise back at ORM. ORM hosts young visitors by Gary D. Githens On June 8, your ORM was host to 15 children plus adult supervisors from Kidville Child Care Center in Mustang and 80 children from Sayer Elementary School plus teachers. The students from Sayer were from grades K through 5th. The highlight of the visit was the train ride, the first for most students and many adults. The model railroad layout was a great attraction. Thanks to Tommy Cook who undertook the model operation alone. The playground set proved to be a successful idea. The first tower is now in place. Harry Currie, Charles Price and Bob Cossart plan to start on the second tower soon. (Top Photo) Teachers get students from Sayer Elementary School situated for the train ride. (Bottom Photo) Harry Currie, ORM President, (left) greets children from Sayer at the loading platform. Gary D. Githens Photos (Left) Children enjoy the new playground at the Museum during the operations day on June 3. John Ansell Photos Heartland Flyer celebrating 7th anniversary, bright future by Julie Bisbee Business Writer, The Oklahoman June 17, 2006, page 6B The number of people riding the Heartland Flyer continues to increase as more travelers discover a trip on the train might be cheaper than driving. The Heartland Flyer, the Amtrak train that runs between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas, is celebrating its seventh anniversary on the route. If ridership figures have any sway of how the train gets funded, the future looks good. During the first seven months of 2006 federal fiscal year, which bean in October, 34,724 people have boarded the Heartland Flyer. Those figures are up by 4. 7 percent from the same time period last year when 33,173 people rode the train, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said. While many have used the train for leisure trips, others are using it for commutes. An increase of about 4. 7 percent is a good sign, but it could be a few years before state officials come up with the money to expand the rail system in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has discussed expanding rail service to Tulsa and eventually to Newton, Kansas, where an Amtrak cross-country route runs. The department also has discussed adding a second train between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. Congress also is debating how it will fund Amtrak. Earlier this week, Congress approved about $1.1 billion for the entire Amtrak system. Funding for Amtrak has been widely debated. Last summer, President Bush proposed doing away with federal funding for the train system that fails to make a profit. 1 ~111tr.1k officials expect a filwf budget by L1bor D.1y," Amtr.1k spokesman Af.1rc M1gliari said.

4 AI/ Aboard! June 2006 Greetings To All! Harry Currie ORM President 5 ummer time Is here and our Day Out With Thomas event Is just a Uttle over 80 days away. We need to put on our full court press now to get everything ready. The ticket sales have started and the response has been good. Already there have been over 1,200 tickets sold. We are in need of several more volunteers to step forward to help. We need folks in the merchandise tent as cashiers, stockers and baggers and to provide customer assistance. We need several to be greeters at the gate where people come in that would be available to give directions and answer questions. We also need rail car hosts for each car, plus other areas for volunteers to help. It is not rocket science to help in these areas. There is a brief training time. If you volunteer to give two or three hours or all day, and just for one day or for all six days, you name it- for any time would be helpful. Give me a call during the day at or after 6 pm at my home Our preparation time for our young visitors is really getting short with so many things to get done. It is going to get real exciting. The dining car has to be completed and ready to go: In addition, sound systems for the train and grounds need to be installed, the grounds need work, additional walkways need to be put in place, and everything needs to be cleaned up and painted. Then there is always the regular maintenance of our tracks and grounds to keep your Museum looking good. These things just don't happen. It takes dedicated volunteers, such as Gary Githens with his mowing and trimming; Bob Cossairt, Charles Price and Jim Pasby for keeping up with the mowing of the rights-of-way and large areas; Guy Lynn and Jim Murray for maintaining the operating equipment along with JD Donaldson and Dave Dollar; Neal Baucom keeping up with the lettering of equipment, plus other improvements; Mike Harker, our in-house electrician; Nancy Hall, who takes care of our merchandise; Marvin Holderbaum for selling tickets for our train rides along with taking care of our accounting; Bob and Tom Cook for taking care of the model train layout; Bruce Ackerman, our monthly newsletter editor; and Bob Hussey for keeping our track maintained. The list could go on and on for I am sure I missed several names. All of our volunteers are so appreciated for they keep our operation going. It takes a lot to keep everything looking good and operating, so that all of us can be proud of the Museum. Have A Great Month! Harry Currie Visitors to ORM on June 3 stroll around the historic Oakwood Depot. John Ansell Photo

5 Rail Happenings "Thomas The Tank Engine," that classic storybook engine, chugs into ORM for two weekends this year. The dates of the first weekend are September 29, 30 and October 1. The second weekend dates are October 6, 7 and 8. J Tickets are $16 for ages two and up. Those under two years of age do not need a ticket and will sit on their parent's lap. For tickets, call or visit oklahomarailwaymuseum.org. In addition to a 25-minute ride with Thomas, there will be a variety of activities including.,~:?i!;!:tl~e!ii!~!w.j Thomas & Friends "" storytelling and video viewing, live music, Imagination.. Station, magician, ventriloquist, and arts and crafts. Don't miss this opportunity to spend "Day Out With Thomas 2006 Ride the Rails Tour." =========================== ==================== Happy Birthday!- COLORADO - Trains has started running again for the season on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, which is celebrating its 125th birthday this year. The railroad between Colorado and New Mexico was built in 1880 to access the silver mines and forests of the San Juan Mountains. It ran between Alamosa and Silverton through Antonito. Trains now run between Antonito and Chama, winding across the state line 11 times during the 64-mile trip. Trips will continue through October 15. The train is owned by Colorado and New Mexico. ======================================================== BNSF Railway Asks Rail Fans For Cooperation To Keep America's Rail System Safe- BNSF Railway Company is recruiting rail fans to help keep BNSF properties safe by reporting suspicious activities and to help prevent possible security breaches. Rail fans can register for the program by going to the Citizens United for Rail Security (CRS) Website ( CRS participants will receive an official identification card along with access to news and information on the BNSF CRS Website., To reportsuspicious activity, call (800) let your child have a fun filled event at the Oklahoma Railway Museum! The following information is about having a Birthday Party at the ORM Museum inside the ) Birthday Caboose. The caboose can be reserved during the months of April - September. r-..;:=::::::;;;-.jj The Birthday Party Package is available to the public the third Saturday of the month at the ORM Museum. The cost of the package, which includes a train ride, is $175. The 11/ 2 hour Birthday Party Package includes: * 1 hour use of the Frisco Party Caboose * Engineer paper party hats * Coloring books * Party host or hostess * Guided tour through the Display Car * And, 1(2 hour ride on the Museum train for all birthday guests The 2006 Train Ride Party Schedule for the first and third Saturdays of the month at the Museum is as follows: Party 1 9 am - 9:15am 9:15 am - 9:45 am 9:45 am - 10 am 10 am - 10:30 am 10:30 am - 10:45 am Set-up Time Party Time Tour Display Car Train Ride Clean Up Time Party 3 12:15 pm - 12:30 pm 12:30 pm - 1 pm 1pm-1:30 pm 1:30 pm - 1:45 pm Set-up Time Party Time Train Ride Clean Up Time; Tour Display Car Party 2 10:45 am - 11 am 11 am - 11:30 am 11:30 am - Noon Noon - 12:15 pm Set-up Time(Tour Display Car Train Ride Party Time Clean Up Time Party 4 1:45 pm - 2 pm 2 pm - 2:30 pm 2:30pm -3 pm 3 pm-3:15 pm Set-up Time/ Tour Display Car Train Ride Party Time Clean Up Time To engineer your child's party at the Oklahoma Railway Museum, contact , or mail request to ORM 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

6 On track: CO PTA officials examine possibility of streetcars, trains in city's future -Part 2 by Marie Price The Journal Record, Apri/1.8, 2006 The population makeup of this area is problematic too, Rick Cain, COPT A administrator, said. "Probably our biggest issue here in Oklahoma City is one of density," said Cain, adding that light rail works best in cities with more population per mile. According to a study chart outlining characteristics of peer cities, Oklahoma City's population density is people per square mile, for the county. Population density in Dallas is cities as 3,4 71 per square mile, 2,946 in the Dallas/ Fort Worth region. Of the areas in the peer-city summary, closest to Oklahoma City is the Minneapolis, Minn., region, at per square mile. However, Minneapolis proper has 6,970 per square mile. It has a 12-mile transit project under construction. lstook Opposes Light Rail Oklahoma City included a light-rail trolley system in the list of MAPS projects a decade ago, but the idea ran into ultimately fatal opposition from U.S. Rep. Ernest lstook. lstook said the cost of light rail was prohibitive and unjustifiable for an area like Oklahoma City, and he blocked federal funding for the idea. He helped secure funds for the lessexpensive rubber-tired trolleys that now operate in Bricktown and out to the lodgingentertainment corridor along Reno and Meridian Avenues. lstook was not immediately available for comment. Rail Brings Development "The argument for rail systems in general is, once you start putting rails in the ground or in the street. they become fixtures, and that brings on economic development, because developers know you're not going to be moving and they can count on it staying there," That's what happened in Dallas and Portland, officials say. Mary Fetch is communications director for Portland 's TriMet system. Oklahoma and the City of Portland have similar total populations, about 506,000 and 529,000 respectively, although their degrees of urbanization and other characteristics differ. Edmond, Midwest City, Norman and Moore have a combined population of about 260,000. Fetch said TriMet serves a region of about 1. 7 million people in an urbanized threecounty area of about 575 square miles. She said its lightrail system operates about 100,000 trips per day, which is about a third of its public transit trips each day. Buses carry the remaining two-thirds. Those 100,000 daily trips came with time and expansion of the original 15-mile light-rail track. Since 1986, Fetch said, ridership on that line has increased from 19,500 to 52,600 daily trips. Fetch said adding lines is key to boosting ridership in the overall system by "connecting more people to more places." "Light rail here is seen as a catalyst to help maintain communities, build communities," she said. "Light rail is a catalyst for transitoriented development." Portland Sees $3.8 Billion, Dallas $3.3 Billion Since Portland opened its first light-rail line about two decades ago, she said, more than $3.8 billion in development has occurred within walking distance of the various extensions. "What we hear from developers is, they like the permanence of rail, Fetch said. Several mixed use developments have popped up, she said. "You can drop off your dry cleaning on your way to work, grab a cup of coffee and off you go," Fetch said. Fetch said each extension has been funded a bit differently, depending upon whether it involves only Portland or other cities. She said an airport extension is being partly funded by Bechtel Enterprises in exchange for development rights. Operating expenses are funded largely by a payroll tax. Morgan Lyons is manager of media relations for Dallas Area Rapid Transit, which includes light rail, buses, car and van pool ride-sharing assi:;tance and higheroccupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. On its light rail, Lyons said, DART has a ridership of 60,000 per day on weekdays, with a third of a million on all transportation modes. Lyons said Dart is funded by a 1-cent sales tax charged by the 13 cities it serves. He said the system serves a population base of 1.8 million to 2 million. "We've seen $3.3 billion in private investment along the rail corridors," said Lyons. The light-rail portion of DART has been in operation for a decade and now covers about 45 miles, says Jack Wierzenski, director of economic development and planning. Initially, he said, developers didn't take DART into their calculations. "That has all changed now," Wierzenski said. "All of the rail stations are seen as development opportunities." Now, he said, developments are being planned in anticipation of rail stations opening up. Wierzenski said Dallas is now considering the potential of downtown streetcars, because its downtown bus circulator system has proven less than successful due to long travel times and other issues. Told that one recurring criticism of light-rail service in Oklahoma City is the fact that it covers so much area, Wierzenski laughed. "It can't be any more spread out than it is here," he said. "We hear the same thing here. What rail has done is spurred on a lot of urban in-fill and density around the rail station areas to make it walkable." Herbert Pushes Rallldea Central Oklahoma could do the same thing, said former state Sen. Dave Herbert, who has long championed rail service, both for this area and a line between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. "We can have eight different directions coming in to Oklahoma City, and the tracks are there," Herbert said. "It's a better deal than anybody knows, and it can be done dirt cheap." The state owns some rail rights-of-way, including one between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, purchased for $6.5 million several years ago with Herbert's support. As Herbert points out, several rail lines meet downtown, near Bricktown. While he was in the Senate, Herbert pushed for a high-speed rail line between the state's largest two cities, which a previous Carter-Burgess study said could cost more than $800 million. Herbert's idea was to fund the start's portion of that with a 1-cent gasoline tax increase. Conclusion to this article will be in the July "Dispatcher."

7 ORM Depot Store The Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. (ORM) has items available for both children and adults at the Depot Store. These include baseball caps, polo shirts, t-shirts, lapel pins, and coasters. Funds raised Text by donations for these items Line 1 support the Museum project. Order Form- Engraved Platform Bricks Cost is $50.00 per brick. Up to a maximum of 4 lines with 16 letters and spaces per line To avoid confusion, please complete the form in Capital Letters Purchaser's Name: Phone Number: ( The Depot Store, located inside the Oakwood Depot Line 2 on the Museum grounds, is open during regular Museum hours- 10 am to 4 pm on the first and third Saturdays of each month April through September. Line 3 The store is also open during special events like "Day Out.. With Thomas 2006 Come Ride Line 4 the Rails Tour." - I I Become an OHM Member For those interested in becoming members of the Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd., Central Oklahoma Chapter of the NRHS, memberships are available at the following rates: Regular Membership- $30.00 per year, Senior Member (Retired) - $25.00 per year, and Student Member (Full-Time Student) - $25.00 per year. National Railway Historical Society dues are $21.00 per year (Spouses are an additional $3.00). (Student memberships are $10 each.) For information on membership, contact the Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd., 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: per year - Membership to the Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. $25.00 per year- Senior (age 65 "plus") and Student (full-time student) Membership in Oklahoma Railway Museum, ltd. $22.00 per year- To add Railway Historical Society (NRHS) Membership (add $4.00 for spouse) (Student Memberships: $11 per year) Send your application and dues to: Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 731:11 Name Address City Phone Fax Type of Membership: 0 Membership toorm 0 TOTALENCLOSED Senior or Student Membership D Add NRHS Membership Engraved Platform Bricks More than one platform brick can be donated to the Museum and you can make : copies of the attached form. : Mail completed forms : with checks or money : orders to: Jim Murray, : ORM, 3400 NE Grand : Boulevard, Oklahoma City, : Oklahoma : If you have any questions, : you can Murray : at jmurray@cox.net Crosstie Donations Friends and families of ORM continue to make donations for crossties, equipment and facilities on the Museum property and on the leased track. If you want to make a donation to purchase a crosstie, a donation of $42.50 will help purchase a new crosstie. You can donate a crosstie in recognition or in memory of someone. All donations should be made out to the Oklahoma Railway Museum ltd. Please note on the check what the donation is for, and mail it to: ORM Ltd., 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

8 Any changes to the following information or articles for "the Dispatche r, should be directed to the Editor, Bruce Ackerman, 183rd Terrace, Edmond, Oklahoma , ( For information on upcoming programs, contact Larry Dodd, ( Larry. ORM telephone number: 405/ Oklahoma Railway Museum (ORM) - Saturday, July 1- Phil Mullen, BSF Superintendent of Operations, ORM, Oklahoma City - 6 pm ORM Board Meetings- Tuesdays, June 27 and July 25 at ORM, Oakwood Depot, Oklahoma City - 7 pm Upcoming ORM Meeting - Saturday, August 5- Program To Be Announced - ORM, Oklahoma City- 6 pm Oklahoma "N" Rail -For information, call Mary Hanson, 405/ Oklahoma Passenger Rail Association- - Rail Consumer Advocate Organization. Meets bimonthly. For information, write or call Roger Carter, 1120 South 21st Street, Chickasha, Oklahoma 73018,405/ Passenger Rail Oklahoma - A grassroots advocacy organization. Meets every Saturday and Sunday morning an hour prior to the arrival of the Heartland Flyer in Norman. The depot opens at 7:50am. Contact Evan Stair at sfrr@aol.com, 405/ , or 517 Claremont, Norman, OK Depot volunteer opportunities are available. Oklahoma S.W. Division NMRA - 2nd Saturday each month, 1 pm, Goldman Room, Kirkpatrick Center, Jim Heidon, President Yukon's Best Railroad Museum - Thursday/ Saturday/Sunday and by appointment. Located 1 block north of Main and UP tracks in Yukon. Call John Knuppel, 405/ , for times and information. OUTOFTOWN Railroad Museum of Oklahoma - Tuesday thru Friday afternoons 1 pm to 4 pm, Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm, Sunday 2 pm to 5 pm, or by appointment, HO, N and Lionel layouts, Meets 3rd Tuesday at 7 pm at Old Santa Fe Freight Depot, 702 North Washington, Enid Waynoka StatlonjWaynoka Historical Society South Cleveland, Waynoka Call Sandie Olson, 580/ Enid Model Railroaders (HO & N) - Wednesday 7 pm to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to Noon, Sunday 2 pm to 5 pm, 702 North Washington, Enid 580/ Memberships are available at the following rates: Regular Membership is $30 per year, Senior Member (Retired) is $25 per year, and Student Member (Full-Time Student) is $25 per year. National Railway Historical Society Dues are $22 per year (spouses are an additional $4). (Student Membership: $11 per year) For information on membership, contact the Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd., 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma The Dispatcher is the official monthly publication of the Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd., Central Oklahoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Opinions expressed by individual writers are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Editor, Central Oklahoma Rail Club, or the National Railway Historical Society, Inc. However, the Editor reserves the right to reject any or all contributions or hold items for a future issue. Any articles in the Dispatcher may be reprinted in other newsletters, providing credit is given to the Dispatcher. Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No Oklahoma City, OK