GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER

Transcription

1 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Transportation Museum and the Wichita Chapter National Railway Historical Society FEBRUARY 2011 Volume X Number 2 ANNUAL MUSEUM BUSINESS MEETING The annual Great Plains Transportation Museum business meeting will be held Friday, February 18, 2011 at 7:30 PM. Location of the meeting will be: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1101 N. River Blvd, Wichita, Kansas. LOOKING BACK By Michael M. Bartels 50 YEARS AGO Fire damaged the roof of the Rock Island building at 729 E. Douglas Saturday night, Feb (Wichita Eagle, Feb. 19, 1961) 60 YEARS AGO Twenty-seven city buses are now using liquid propane gas. Not all can be converted but before long as many as 84 may be in use. Propane fuel was introduced with two buses purchased last May. (Wichita Eagle, Feb. 16, 1951) The February 1931 Frisco Employe's Magazine said under Wichita News, "Mules are mules but they were given a special train to markets in the Southeast, this as a result of the annual Wichita sale last week." Also, Frisco had in three new 3700 engines (0-6-0s) from Fort Scott, to be used at the Wichita Terminal Association yard for a period of six months, alternating in this service with other roads. Frisco reduced coach fares between all points from 3.6 cents a mile to 2 cents Feb. 1st to boost business. The March issue noted about 700 employees from Wichita's six railroads met Jan. 30, 1931, and organized the Ship by Rail Club to promote rail use and bring about proper regulation of bus and truck operations. repairs. In the past month the average time for heavy repairs has been reduced from 15 days to 10. The motive power department is employing more skilled mechanics than at any time in its history, including 58 machinists, 38 boilermakers, six blacksmiths and seven sheet-metal workers. The number of helpers, laborers and apprentices has also increased. (Wichita Beacon, Feb. 1, 1921) The streetcar company began selling tokens instead of tickets Feb. 10, 1921, for the same rate of nine for 50 cents. (Wichita Beacon, Feb. 10, 1921) 80 YEARS AGO Arkansas Valley Interurban is opposing the application of W.A. Vincent, who recently purchased the bus line from Newton to Salina from C.B. Marks, to extend it from Newton to Wichita. (Wichita Eagle, Feb. 20, 1931) 90 YEARS AGO The Orient shops have redesigned and rebuilt a number of engines during the past year, increasing efficiency 40 percent. Originally equipped with Stephenson valve gear, slide valves, inside steam pipes and old-style ash pans, they now have Modden ash plans, Walschaert valve gear, piston valves and outside steam pipes. The car department is handling about 40 cars daily requiring light repairs and keeps about 16 in the shed for heavy The Orient shops are now repairing an engine seldom seen in the area, of the 1100 type,. built during the time of government operation, with the initials U.S.A. on the tender. It's now owned by the Frisco and is to be sent to Arkansas. (Wichita Beacon, Feb. 15, 1921) Formal opening of the AVI passenger depot was Feb. 15, At a dinner at the Wichita Club afterwards, George Theis told a group of about 75 (Continued on page 3)

2 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 2011 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 FEBRUARY NRHS MEETING The February NRHS meeting will be held in conjunction with the annual GPTM membership meeting. The program will feature The Museum Year In Review. The meeting will be held Friday, February 18, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 1101 N. River Blvd in Wichita. Meeting time is 7:30 pm. FUTURE MEETINGS March: Randy Spillman, Working for the Railroad April: Topeka Chapter Exchange Program May: Robert Walz on the Santa Fe Speedway June: Annual Picnic July: KC Chapter Exchange Program on July 29. Please note that this is a change from the normal third Friday and a change from the original plans for July. August:?? September: Annual Banquet October: KC Chapter Exchange Program November:?? December: Annual Slide-Free-for-All If you have a presentation you would like to assist with, contact Harvey Koehn. OTHER EVENTS Feb Wichita Train Show & Swap Meet. Cessna Activity Center. Sat. 9-6, Sun Phil Aylward Feb. 19 Lawrence Model Railroad Show, Douglas Co. Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St., Bldg 20. Information: James Taylor, jimforegolf@hotmail.com March Boot Hill Model Railroad Show, Finney Co. Fairgrounds, W. Pavilion Bldg, 601 Lake Ave., Garden City, Sat. 10-6, Sun Info: Robert Simmons, ras@odsgc.net April 9 Ozark Model Railroad Show, Springfield Catholic High School, 2340 S. Eastgate, Springfield, MO, 9-3. Info: Ron Williams, rjwilliams1@mchsi.com April Katy Railroad Historical Society Convention, Clarion Inn, Wichita. April Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum Train Show, Agri- Business Bldg, 712 W. Washington, Arkansas City, Sat. 10-5, Sun Information: May Cherry Valley Model Train Show, Phillips Recreation Center, Broadway &Heacock, Parsons, Sat. 9-5, Sun Free admission. In connection with Katy Day Festival. Information: john@dvmrc.com June Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society Convention, Phoenix, AZ. June NRHS Convention, Tacoma, WA. June National Garden Railway Convention, Overland Park International Trade Center, 115th & Metcalf, Overland Park; hosted by KCGRS. Info: Dave Roberts, gscaleisfun@hotmail.com Aug. 6 Turkey Creek Division, MCoR NMRA Meet, Lenexa Community Center, Oak, Lenexa, 8-3, model & photo contests, swap tables, railroad groups; 3:30-9:00 layout tours. Information: Robert Jefferis, jeffbob@everestkc.net Sept. 17 Frisco Convention, Frisco Bldg, Springfield, MO. Information: Ron Williams, rjwilliams1@mchsi.com

3 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 3 FEBRUARY 2011 LOOKING BACK (Continued from page 1) men the AVI would begin active plans about April or May to extend its line to Salina. (Wichita Beacon, Feb. 16, 1921) Repairs to Wichita Union Station were about complete. For several months the building has been surrounded by scaffolding for removal of the terra cotta cornice and substitution of a cornice built of copper shell blocks. The wooden platforms from the tracks to the exits to the station have been replaced with concrete and the exits leading to Douglas Avenue have been removed and the openings sealed. Total cost is $100,000. (Wichita Eagle, Feb. 11, 1921, Wichita Beacon, Feb. 26, 1921) KATY RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY CONVENTION Wichita will be the host city to the 2011 Annual Katy Convention April 15-17, Wichita was an important terminal on the northern end of the Katy's Oklahoma, Kansas & Texas line from 1980 until 1988, operating on former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific track. Wichita today continues to be an important rail hub for Union Pacific, BNSF, Kansas And Oklahoma, and South Kansas And Oklahoma Railroads with lots of grain, aircraft, import and chemical shipments keeping the rails busy in the area. Our convention will kick off Friday April 15 with registration at our host hotel, Clarion Inn and Suites Wichita, beginning at 9:30 AM. Tables will be available for our annual swap meet, models, and Katy historical memorabilia displays from 9:30 AM until 3:30 PM. Also on Friday we will have clinics and our annual KRHS modeling and photo contest throughout the day. The K&O RR Orient Shops locomotive repair facility will be available for the KRHS to tour on Friday afternoon at 4 PM. This facility does heavy locomotive repairs on road power for Watco's shore lines in this region. On Friday evening we will continue with the model and photo contests, swap meet, slides, and displays until 10 PM. Saturday April 16 we will start early with a 7:45 AM boarding and 8:00 AM departure from Wichita aboard a joint K&O RR - Heart of the Heartlands excursion over the former Missouri Pacific Hutchinson. Subdivision for a 100 mile round trip ride across the prairie to Hutchinson and return aboard our own KRHS coach. En route we will hold our annual business meeting on board the train arriving in downtown Hutchison at 11 AM for lunch at the Anchor Inn Mexican Restaurant. After lunch we will have time to browse the local antique stores and downtown area until our 2:00 PM departure for the trip back to Wichita for a 5:00 PM arrival time. Beginning at 6:30 PM we will hold our annual KRHS banquet at our host hotel. Following our annual banquet and guest speaker presentation we hill have an auction to benefit the KRHS and afterwards even more slides and Katy stories until the lights are turned out. Sunday, April 17 we will depart our hotel at 9:45 AM and caravan to Abilene, home of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum for lunch at the famous Brookville Hotel at 11:30 AM. At 1:30 PM climb aboard a 1902 Katy passenger car for a ride over former OK&T and Rock Island tracks on the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad to Enterprise and return. This is a special private charter for the KRHS that requires us to have a minimal number of seats sold for this event. Please plan to attend and be part of the activities that we have planned for April as the KRHS comes to Wichita for our 2011 annual convention. We look forward to seeing you and all our Katy friends and having you as our guests. For more information and a registration form go to wichita2011.pdf or contact Dusty McCoy at or dustmkt317@yahoo.com. WICHITA CHAPTER NRHS OFFICERS President David Meek Vice President vacant Treasurer Lee Swanson Secretary vacant Editor Fred Tefft Director J.H. Koehn GPTM OFFICERS President John Gries Vice President Steve Corp Treasurer Gale Meek Secretary John Deck NRHS President David Meek NRHS Appointee J.H. Koehn Board members at large: Eddie Allen Tim McGill Drew Meek Frank Ruf Fred Tefft Norman Walters BARBARA WALTERS We regret to announce the passing of Barbara Walters, wife of Norman, long-time Wichita Chapter member and museum supporter. Barbara left this world the night of Feb. 1, and will certainly be missed by all. Obituary will be included in the March issue of the Great Plains Dispatcher. Services will be Sat., Feb. 5, 3:00 PM at Resthaven Mortuary and Cemetery, 119th St. W. and Kellogg.

4 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 4 FEBRUARY 2011 RAILROADING IN WICHITA FEBRUARY 1911 By Fred Tefft February 3 The Santa Fe Railroad is negotiating for purchase of the entire block bounded by Douglas Avenue, Santa Fe tracks, William Street, and Rock Island depot, as site for new union station. The south half of the block is owned by the Lehmann-Higginson Wholesale Grocery Company. Facing Douglas Avenue there are three pieces of property. One, owned by Henry Schweiter, is the Santa Fe Hotel, abutting on the Santa Fe tracks, with 50 foot frontage on Douglas. The next 50 feet east is owned by W. H. Bretch and occupied by the Rock Island building, which contains a restaurant, cigar parlor, and barber shop, and rooming house on the second floor. The third 50 feet is owned by a brewing company in Milwaukee. Half of this is vacant and the other half occupied by a low two story building leased by the Wichita Mineral Water company. February 4 Article says Santa Fe has now purchased all the Douglas avenue property needed for the new union station, paying $37,500 for the Schlitz Brewing Company 52 feet on the east, $50,000 for the W. H. Bretch 66 by 140 foot property in the middle, occupied by a new two story building, and $42,000 for the 52 by 140 foot Henry Schweiter property just east of the Santa Fe tracks, occupied by the Santa Fe hotel. The Lehmann-Higginson property to the south of these may have to be condemned and is estimated to cost between $80,000 and 100,000, making a total of nearly $225,000 for the whole block. Article reports reduction in Pullman fares for upper berths, which were previously same as lowers but will now be 20% less. List of Pullman fares given. To Chicago is $4.50 for lower and $3.60 for upper. To Kansas City $2.00 for lower and $1.60 for upper. To New York $9.50 for lower and $7.60 for upper. February 5 The Arkansas Valley Interurban Railroad company is greatly in need of the finished depot, baggage rooms and freight storage rooms at Water and 1st streets. The company is awaiting the action of the Wichita Railroad and Light company to build the tracks in from Main street on 1st, when it will commence work on terminals, and when these are completed the depot will be placed in commission for freight. Article about progress on Orient shops. A ten ton electric crane is being installed. The ten stall round house is now full of engines and the new power plant is in use. The Orient has moved about one-half of its 180 men from the shops at Fairview, Oklahoma. Formal opening of the new shops will be at a grand St. Patrick s day ball on March 17. February 9 The Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway company have arranged for use of the northwest corner room of the Beacon building for a waiting room. This will be more convenient, as the cars can be seen. For some time a room pretty well back in the building has been used as a waiting room, but one could not see the cars from it, and it was occasionally locked up as it was also used for other purposes. February 10 Article saying railroad engineers in Chicago are preparing plans for track elevation and union station will submit them to city commission in a short time for approval. Cost will be about $1,500,000. The union depot will be located east of Santa Fe tracks and south of Douglas avenue, and the train sheds will be on west side of depot. Henry Schweiter is believed to have sold to Santa Fe railway lots 97 and 99 on corner of Douglas and Santa Fe avenues. It is reported Santa Fe will use the ground as part of site for new union depot. The two story Santa Fe hotel is located on the lots. February 15 City of Wichita voted strongly in favor of bonds in aid of Midland Valley Railroad in election yesterday, and the railroad has responded by purchasing the old fair grounds today for about $50,000. It is a tract of about 32 acres, and the improvements are to be removed within 60 days by Mr. Theis, who owned most of the stock of the Southwestern Fair Association. After six month argument, the Missouri Pacific has made a contract with the government to carry mail from Kiowa to Hardtner as a continuation of the Wichita to Kiowa service. Last June the Kiowa and Hardtner railway was put into service. This road is but ten miles long. It soon passed into the control of the Missouri Pacific railway and trains running over the Missouri Pacific between Wichita and Kiowa were extended to Hardtner. February 17 Article about plans for building the 50 mile extension of Midland Valley to Wichita. Details. Expect to do it in next six months. Before many weeks pass, the Arkansas Valley Interurban will be running into its own terminal station at 1st and Water. This will be accomplished when the special track work for West 1st street switch connections arrives. For the present the company plans to have one track extending across its terminal property. As the system grows more tracks will be built. With the use of its station on First street, passenger business will be handled largely by tickets instead of by cash fares on the cars as at the present time. (Continued on page 5)

5 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 5 FEBRUARY 2011 RAILROADING IN WICHITA (Continued from page 4) The days of the Teapot engines of the Frisco railway in this city are numbered. In a few days they will be replaced by the new Battleship type of locomotives, which will pull passengers and freight trains entering and leaving Wichita. These new engines are of the 1100 and 1200 type and it is said they resemble the big 2100 type, which pass through Wichita on the Rock Island railway. The Frisco is finishing new concrete and steel bridges between Wichita and Neodesha, and when this work is done the new engines will be put into service on this division. The 1100 type will be used on passenger trains and the 1200 class on freight trains. February 19 Article about Missouri Pacific schedules says we are building seven new steel girder bridges between Wichita and Iola and these will be completed about May 15. As soon as these bridges are finished we will receive new engines. Following its plan to have trains over the Midland Valley into Wichita by September 1, the Wichita, McPherson and Gulf Railway company yesterday let the contract for grading its roadbed between Wichita and Arkansas City. Work is to begin by March 1 and be completed by July 1. As soon as the roadbed is graded, the Midland Valley, which will absorb the Wichita, McPherson and Gulf as soon as it completes the line into the city, will begin track laying, and this is expected to take 50 days. Practically all of the right of way has been secured between Arkansas City and Wichita. Work on the roadbed will begin at Arkansas City: The contractor agrees to have at least 120 teams at work by the middle of next month. Maximum grades must not exceed 30 feet to the mile. From northern limits of Arkansas City the road will go northwest up the eastern bank of the Arkansas river, then will turn west over a bridge across the river to enter Geuda Springs from a point near the southwest part of that town. A short distance north of the town Slate Creek will be bridged, then the road will follow the course of the Arkansas river to the western part of Oxford. North of Oxford the Ninnescah will be bridged. From there the new road will practically parallel the Missouri Pacific into Belle Plaine. The Cowskin will be crossed north of Belle Plaine, and the line will go from there directly to Wichita, crossing the Santa Fe s Englewood branch about half way between Mulvane and Peck. The Rock Island crossing will be about a mile north of Haysville. Two new stations will be built and towns started -- between Geuda Springs and Oxford, and between Wichita and Belle Plaine east of Haysville. Seventy-five pound steel will be used on the extension between Arkansas City and Wichita. February 20 The Rock Island railway has established a new town about three miles north of the Wichita passenger station, named Cline in honor of Right-of-Way Agent Cline, who purchased the ground for the new Rock Island freight yards extending from 25th street to 30th street. The station of Cline was opened for business a few days ago and the majority of trains passing through Wichita stop there. February 24 President Boyle says the Arkansas Valley Interurban hopes to have cars operating to Newton by July 1. Extension north of Newton to Goessel will depend almost entirely on the support the people of Goessel are willing to give. Dr. Edward N. Tihen's Notes from Wichita Newspapers, Special Collections and University Archives, Wichita State University Libraries 2011 RAILROAD STATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY CON- VENTION IN OKLAHOMA Oklahoma is known as the "Sooner State" because of the many "Sooners" who jumped the starting line early for the great 1889 Oklahoma Territory land rush. Much like these early frontier settlers, we will be rushing around the state (by bus) visiting as many railroad stations as possible in our annual tou, June 8-11, The featured railroads for the 2011 RSHS Tour include the: Santa Fe, Rock Island, Katy, and the Frisco. We shall be visiting some interesting stations from each of these major railroads, as well as structures from several smaller railroads and interurban railways. We shall utilize the Best Western Saddleback Inn and Conference Center, located five minutes from Oklahoma City Airport (code:okc) at 4300 SW 3rd Street in Oklahoma City, as our daily departure point and for the Saturday night banquet. For more information go to or contact Ted Xakellis, Brunswick Avenue, Silver Spring, MD Phone: WICHITA TRAIN SHOW & SWAP MEET FEB 12-13, 2011 WICHITA TRAIN SHOW & SWAP MEET, Cessna Activity Center, 2744 George Washington Blvd., Wichita, KS, Sat: 9-6, Sun: 11-4, Swap tables, Modular Layouts, Switching Contest, Model Contest, Photo Contest, Live Clinics & much more; Adm: $6.00 for both days, Advance Table Registration includes 2 admission tickets, Before 12/31/2010 take off 10%, 8 foot tables are $25 each, Info: mail registration to Phil Aylward, 603 Chestnut, Halstead, KS or aylward1@cox.net

6 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 6 FEBRUARY 2011 Upper Right. ATSF SD w/bd through Augusta on Feb. 14, This locomotive had a nose extension of 35" to house Radio Control Equipment for use on loaded grain and coal trains. The even number of the series made it a lead unit in RCE use was built by EMD, delivered in Nov. 1980, and wrecked and retired in Sept. 1994, having been derailed in southern California. Center Right. BN U25B 5215 was x Frisco 813 in Wichita, KS on Feb. 23, GE built this locomotive on 7/63; BN retired it on 10/81. Both photos by JH Koehn 30 YEARS AGO THROUGH HARVEY'S CAMERA LENS NRHS MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS NRHS membership renewals will be due December 31. If you have not received your renewal card contact Lee Swanson at NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD LOCOMOTIVE MKT 1, a SW1200 built in 1957, has been given a second life. The locomotive was retired and sold to National Railway Equipment Co. in 1986, before the Katy was sold to the UP. #1 sat rusting outside the NREC shop at Mt. Vernon, IL and was one of eight locomotives built for use at the Crane Indiana Naval Ordnance facility. NAVFAC 7 (Naval Facilities Engineering Command ) at Jasonville, IN on Jan. 5, This 1GS7B was built from the remains of MKT 1, a SW1200 retired in Photo by Christopher Thompson, Indiana Rail Road Co. Powered by a 700 horsepower, six cylinder Cummins diesel operating on bio-diesel, the locomotive is expected to reduce fuel consumption by percent.

7 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 7 FEBRUARY 2011 SANTA FE YARD SLUGS By Sam Andrews Santa Fe began using GP7 slug sets at area yards in the early 1980's, an era which lasted for nearly 25 years relocated from Texas to Newton in August, 1983 becoming the first slug to work there. By years end, 1319 came to town. Both engines also spent many visits uptown to the flour mill later left to find a new home in Hutchinson. The first slug to work in Wichita was 1322 for a brief time in early That April, the 1329 came down from Newton and made Wichita its home for about the next 15 years. One interesting slug was Normally this one worked in Dodge City but did make short visits to Newton. While switching the mill at Newton in 1989, the engine was seen in SPSF red & yellow. A year later it was back to ATSF blue and by 1999 was decked out in BNSF orange. This engine received three paint jobs in just a little over a 10 year period and 1322 were regular assigned at Newton by 1989, both staying into the early 2000's. Both these engines and rest of the 1310 slug class were renumbered into BNSF 3820 & 3830 series in the early 2000's. The last known slug to work the flour mill in Newton was the 3823 in No more of these engines work around here anymore. Some of the slugs themselves have been sitting behind the Newton roundhouse for several years rusting away. Here is a list of slug engines that switched the Cargill mill at Newton from : 1312, 1315, 1319, 1320, 1322, 1327, 1328 & , 1317 & 1325 also switched the mill, but by themselves with no slug. THE GREAT PLAINS TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM Membership and Volunteer Application Membership Categories Regular Memberships Individual $25 Family $35 Supporting Memberships Sustaining $50 Contributing $100 Sponsor $250 Patron $500 Benefactor $1000 I want to volunteer in the following areas: Shop & restoration Gift shop Interpretive guide/tours Fund raising Displays & artifacts Library General Maintenance Office Planning & Development Newsletter Other: Add me to your special activities mail list I would like to receive my newsletter via I am paying by Cash Discover Visa Check Master Card Account Number Exp. Date Name Address City State Zip Telephone: Signature: Date Received: Please remit to: BNSF 3962 in the dead line at Newton July 21, Photo by Fred Tefft Great Plains Transportation Museum Membership Coordinator 700 E. Douglas Ave Wichita, KS

8 February 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Evening Work Session Evening Work Session Evening Work Session Evening Work Session GPTM BOD Annual Museum Meeting Museum Open Work Day Museum Open Work Day Museum Open Work Day Museum Open Work Day GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER Great Plains Transportation Museum 700 East Douglas Ave Wichita, KS (316) Return Service Requested