GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER"

Rodger Palmer
5 years ago
Views:

1 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Transportation Museum and the Wichita Chapter National Railway Historical Society September 2008 Volume VII Number 9 LOOKING BACK By Michael M. Bartels FORTY YEARS AGO The September 1968 Mixed Train said Santa Fe was using three F7s between Concordia, Kan., and Superior, Neb., with an occasional Geep thrown in. Power was added farther south as needed with as many as 10 units seen between Abilene and Emporia. Another item said some 3000-class Santa Fe Fairbanks-Morse units reported as being out of service were seen in operation recently. Train No. 87 from Little River to Lyons had Nos. 3019, 3005 and YEARS AGO Santa Fe consolidated its Western and Middle Kansas Divisions. The expanded Middle Division, based at Newton, extended from Emporia to Dodge City, Arkansas City and Wellington. (Wichita Eagle, Sept. 2, 1958, Dr. Edward N. Tihen Notes, Special Collections, WSU Libraries) Interstate Commerce Commission Railroad Accident Investigation No. 3800, issued Aug. 20, 1958, said a head-on collision of Midland Valley freights Nos. 41 and 42 at Bokoshe, Okla., Feb. 1, 1958, was the result of improperly issued train orders that created overlapping authority for two opposing trains. No. 42 was to have received an order at Stigler changing the meet but passed five minutes before the operator went on duty. Three crewmen were killed and seven were injured. GP7s Nos. 152 and 153, destroyed in the collision and fire, were rebuilt as basically new GP9ms. specialcollection.dotlibrary.dot.gov 80 YEARS AGO Arthur E. Stilwell, 68, builder of the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf (Kansas City Southern) and the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient, died in New York City Sept. 26, His connection with the Orient ended with the 1912 receivership. The ICC on Aug. 28, 1928, approved sale of the Orient from the Kemper interests to the Santa Fe for $14.5 million. The longest operating segment was 735 miles from Wichita to Alpine, Texas. (Wichita Beacon, Aug. 28, Sept. 27, 1928, Time, Sept. 10, 1928) Workers began razing a Wichita rail landmark Sept. 17, 1928, the small yellow Missouri Pacific structure on First Street. It was originally the depot and ticket office of the Wichita & Colorado Railroad. After the Gould interests acquired the road the threeroom frame building was made into an office for the division superintendent and his assistant. Since 1900 when the MoPac depot was completed, it was used for various purposes, most recently as a yard office. (Wichita Eagle, Sept. 18, 1928) The Frisco Employee s Magazine for September 1928 said "Twelve enthusiastic members of the Frisco Employee s Club of Wichita, Kans., held a business meeting July 25. The new auto dock, second-day delivery of LCL shipments from St. Louis to Wichita and other topics were discussed. The members were urged to patronize those merchants who shipped their goods via Frisco Lines, having particular reference to several large grocery stores in Wichita." Wichita s first Missouri Pacific depot was located between Wichita and Waco St. south of First St. Date is about Wichita Public Library Photograph Collection

2 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 2008 THE MISSION OF THE GREAT PLAINS TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM To be THE Railroad Museum Of Kansas. Dedicated to record and exhibit the importance of railroad transportation in the human, agricultural, commercial and industrial heritage of Wichita, Kansas and the Great Plains. To showcase that heritage with an Action Display of rail equipment operation. Giving visitors an exciting learning experience through motion, set in an unique, historic and scenic urban location. To enhance the action display with significant and appropriate railroad locomotives, rolling stock, equipment and structures; through interpretive displays, dioramas, exhibits and media; and educational and community programs. The GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER is the official monthly newsletter of the Wichita Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, Inc. and the Great Plains Transportation Museum, Inc. Members receive the DISPATCHER as part of their membership. All material submitted for publication should be submitted by the 25th of the month for publication in the next months DISPATCHER. Submissions may be sent to the editor at: editor@gptm.us, or 700 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS ANNUAL BANQUET IN KINGMAN This year s banquet will be Saturday, September 20, at the Santa Fe depot in Kingman, Kansas. Reservations are being taken. See the flyer on page 5. NRHS OFFICERS It is time to begin thinking about officers for next year. All positions are open for nomination. These are the offices of president, vice-president (currently vacant), secretary, treasurer, and national director. If you want to run for one of these offices by having yourself nominated, or you may volunteer, let David or Harvey know. David's phone number is ; Harvey's is Harvey's is jhkoehn@prodigy.net. Elections take place at the December meeting. FUTURE NRHS MEETINGS Oct.: Kansas City Chapter exchange program Nov.: Joint Line Steam Dec.: Slide free-for-all OTHER EVENTS Sept Burlington Route Historical Society 2008 Fall (Annual) Meet - WIU at Macomb, IL Oct MPHS Convention, Leavenworth, KS Oct. 4 - Kansas City NRHS bus trip to Omaha Oct. 5 Topeka Apple Festival, Old Prairie Town, Ward-Meade Park Oct Kingman s 125th birthday celebration Oct Wichita NRHS fall driving tour to Anthony Oct WTTC Swap Meet, 4-H Bldg., Wichita, KS. Nov. 8 - WTTC Kidfest, Century II, Wichita, KS. 9 AM - 7 PM Nov WTTC Town East Mall Run, Town East Square, Wichita, KS. 10 AM - 5 PM FALL DRIVING TOUR The October 18th driving trip. We will depart from the museum at 8:00 and travel toward Anthony primarily paralleling the Orient. We will stop at various Orient locations along the way, particularly Milton, Runnymede, Harper, and Anthony. Anthony, which over the course of its history, once had five or six railroads, now has none. We will locate various railroad routes through Anthony and visit the historical museum in that city. We will have lunch in Anthony. You may pack your meal or have lunch at Pizza Hut or McDonalds. This will be a car/van caravan trip. Please make arrangements to ride with someone or to take one or more people with you. There is a $5 cost for this trip to cover the expenses for handouts. It will be helpful to me if you make a reservation so that I can plan ahead for the number of handouts. Please reserve by Wednesday, October 15. My phone number is ; is jhkoehn@prodigy.net. JHK

GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER 2008 ROBERT EDWARD POUNDS October 2, 1946 - August 27, 2008 Mr. Pounds died at his residence on August 27.

3 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER 2008 ROBERT EDWARD POUNDS October 2, August 27, 2008 Mr. Pounds died at his residence on August 27. He was born October 2, 1946 in Beaver, OK to Robert L. Pounds and Hazel (Pounds) Lockhart and was raised in Booker, TX. He married Rebecca Eggleston of El Paso in Nov, He proudly served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He began a lifelong career in law enforcement in Amarillo as a police officer before hiring on with the Santa Fe Railroad in November, 1973, receiving a special commission as a Texas Ranger in He retired March 2007 as a Senior Special Agent for the BNSF Railway. Robert was a lifelong enthusiast of railroad history and was a member of numerous historical societies and museums including DeGolyer Library at SMU, Colorado Railway Museum, Temple Railway and Pioneer Museum, San Angelo Railway Museum, Western History Collection at Angelo State University, the Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling society, the National Association of Timetable Collectors and the West Texas Railway Historical Society. In 1984, he had a book published, Santa Fe Depots, the Western Lines. He was an avid collector and noted historian of both the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway at the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, donating significantly from his collection to museums and universities. He was a member of the Western Hills Church of Christ. Robert is survived by his wife of over 40 years; four sons, Travis and wife April of Tomball, Marshall and wife Theodora of Houston, Robert and wife Kristy of San Marcos and Preston of Round Rock; two sisters, Judy Chizek of Chouteau, OK and Cynthia Vestal of Wichita Falls; and three grandchildren, McKenna and Jackson of Tomball, and Robert of Houston. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Cancer Society or any of the aforementioned museums, societies or universities. Memorial service was held Saturday August 30, 2008 at Western Hills Church of Christ. JOHN B. NORWOOD, JR. Early on the morning of Sept. 6 one of the most colorful employees of the D&RGW RR passed away at age John B. Norwood, Jr., author of several books about the Rio Grande, began a 37-yr. career on the D&RGW in 1937 as a telegrapher on the narrow gauge and went on to become its dispatcher, Trainmaster and Superintendent. He eventually rose to Asst. VP and Asst. to President Gus Aydelott, representing the RR's interests during numerous hearings when several western RRs were consolidated to form the BN. When the Silverton branch washed out in Sept John personally hiked the line from Rockwood to Silverton to inspect the damage for the president. Perhaps unknown to some, John was also a chef, and he always felt he was "born too late." Why? He wished to be a trail boss, guiding the first wagon trains across frontier America. His funeral is 3 p.m. Thurs. Sept. 11, Vista Verde Cemetery, Meadowlark Blvd., Rio Rancho, N.M. OKLAHOMA DERAILMENTS By Jayhawk and Fred Tefft BNSF train H-TULTPL9-22 operating on the Stillwater Central (ex-frisco between Sapulpa and Oklahoma City) derailed at 14:30 on the 22nd of August at near Luther, 35 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. The derailment was caused by poor cross-level of the track allowing 13 cars to derail. Eight of the cars derailed were loads of crude oil that caught on fire and made a tremendously hot fire that set off a load of methanol. That exploded into a mushroom shaped fireball. The cars were about 25 cars deep in the train when they derailed. BNSF typically runs 2-4 trains per day across the Stillwater Central between Sapulpa and Oklahoma City. This single main track was not put back into service until 21:40 on the 25th. The Stillwater Central is owned by Watco. The track is owned by the state of Oklahoma with SLWC as the operator of the former Frisco/BN/BNSF line. BNSF and SLWC call this the Sooner Sub. The second derailment occurred Friday August 29th. Train M-WTFW hit a propane truck 3 miles south of Medford, OK on the Enid Sub. Medford is about 30 miles north of Enid on the ex Rock Island main line. Sadly, the train crew died instantly. The truck driver died 4 days later at the St. Francis Hospital burn center in Wichita, KS. The tracks are right next to US highway 81. The fireball from the explosion for about 5 miles. The ensuing fire burned the high lines causing a power outage in Medford for most of the day. The incident occurred at 09:30 AM. The truck driver had just loaded his truck with propane at the OneOk facility east of the tracks. The train was traveling at 37 MPH on 40 MPH track and applied the brakes 140 feet from the crossing. Power was a Dash 8-40CW 9402 followed by SD70M 3825.

4 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 2008 RAILROADING IN WICHITA SEPTEMBER 1908 By Fred Tefft Friday, September 4, 1908 Five of Wichita s street car lines will be equipped with extra switches at once, according to Superintendent Morrison. Another switch has just been completed on the West Side line near Martinson street on Maple street Other switches are to be placed on South Main street, South Emporia avenue, College Hill, and North Main street. Tuesday, September 8, 1908 With the opening of the school year at Fairmount college tomorrow, street cars will begin giving a 20 minute service to Fairmount from Main street. Friday, September 11, 1908 Fairmount summer car Number 127 stalled on the Frisco tracks on Hillside yesterday morning and was struck by a Frisco passenger train. Fortunately everybody had time to get off the street car before it was hit. Tuesday, September 15, 1908 Wichita Railroad and Light company broke its record Saturday (during circus and fair) and collected 68,000 fares and transfers. Claude Holmes, a conductor on Cleveland avenue line, broke company record for fares collected in a single day with 1,823. Forty-eight cars were used that day. The eight new trailers were used on the line to the circus grounds. Twenty-three cars are ordinarily used. Tuesday, September 22, 1908 H. E. Chubbuck has been appointed general manager of the Illinois Traction company, the largest interurban railway system in the world. He will retain his office as general manger of the Western Railways and Light properties in Illinois and Kansas, which includes the Wichita Railroad and Light company. City engineer estimated it will cost the street railway company $27,103 to pave its right-of-way on North Topeka avenue. Tuesday, September 29, 1908 Sunday morning while officials or others who might object were at church, the Orient Railroad tore up the sidewalk on Mosley avenue from Douglas to Hunter street and laid a house track in place of the sidewalk. The company s franchise gives it a right-of-way down Mosley avenue but not down the sidewalk. Wednesday, September 30, 1908 The Orient Railroad has been completed from Wichita to Chillicothe, Texas, 290 miles. Dr. Edward N. Tihen's Notes, Special Collections, WSU Libraries Santa Fe locomotive no. 3416, a Pacific type, is doing the honors for the California Limited, train no. 3, in Topeka, KS on a spring day in Baldwin Locomotive Works built this locomotive in 1919 as a coal burner. The Topeka Shops converted it to an oil burner in October Photo by Lee Clerico. CARGILL SOYBEAN MILL By Sam Andrews Several grain elevators dot the Wichita skyline with some of these buildings dating close to 80 years of age. This business has always generated railroad traffic in town. One of the city elevators has always stood out from among the rest. In 1943, Soyrich Inc opened a soybean processing mill at 15th st & the Rock Island tracks. The plant was expanded in 1948 and again in The '53 project consisted of the construction of the tall grain elevator tanks & headhouse that were put up in just a 30 day period after constant around the clock pouring of cement. Soyrich received inbound carloads of soybeans which were then cooked & crushed into soymeal and shipped out by rail. Soymeal is a mixture in cattle feed and very high in protein. In 1961, Soyrich sold the operation to Cargill which continues to operate the mill. Since the days of World War II, the mill has been a steady provider of daily switching for Rock Island/Katy/ Union Pacific yard engine jobs.

5 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 5 SEPTEMBER 2008 Wichita Chapter National Railway Historical Society Annual Banquet 2008 Saturday, September 20, 2008 Place: Santa Fe Depot Kingman, Kansas Time: 6:00 p.m. (social time) 6:30 p.m. (dining) Menu Pear Salad (Union Pacific) Baked Steak (a Santa Fe depot specialty) Copper Pennies [carrots with sour cream] (Nickel Plate) Photo by Lee Clerico, May 01, 1965 Narrow Gauge Noodle Casserole Cowcatcher Sour Cream Biscuits with Apple Pie ala mode if desired Coffee or Iced Tea Early bird reservation, per person: $14.00 (due by Sep. 5 ) Regular reservation: $16.00 (due by Sep. 12) Mail reservation to Annual Banquet c/o J. Harvey Koehn 237 N. Lakeside Dr. Andover, KS Make check payable to Wichita Chapter NRHS. Detach and enclose with check. Name(s):

6 September 2008 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Labor Day GPTM BOD NRHS BOD NRHS Banquet GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER Great Plains Transportation Museum 700 East Douglas Ave Wichita, KS (316) Return Service Requested

GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER

GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Transportation Museum and the Wichita Chapter National Railway Historical Society SEPTEMBER 2010 Volume IX Number 9 50 YEARS AGO The