GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER

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Juliet Sophie Greene
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The 14-car train from New York City to Salt Lake City had Nickel Plate 2-8-4 No. 759 as far as Kansas City.

22, the Texas Eagle, on May 31, 1969, Dallas became the largest U.S. city without rail passenger service.

1 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Transportation Museum and the Wichita Chapter National Railway Historical Society May 2009 Volume VIII Number 5 LOOKING BACK By Michael M. Bartels 40 YEARS AGO The Golden Spike Centennial Limited headed west from Kansas City to Denver May 7, 1969, behind brand-new Union Pacific Centennial No and two SDP35s. The 14-car train from New York City to Salt Lake City had Nickel Plate No. 759 as far as Kansas City. It returned from Cheyenne to Kansas City May 13th behind three E units, with 759 taking it on east the 14th. See With departure of Texas & Pacific No. 22, the Texas Eagle, on May 31, 1969, Dallas became the largest U.S. city without rail passenger service. (This was remedied in the Amtrak era and today Dallas also has light rail and commuter service.) (Trains, August 1969) A May 4, 1959 "Wichita Silhouette" in the Eagle featured Herbert J. Ottaway, operator of Joyland Hillside amusement park with his brother, Harold. He also manufactured miniature steam locomotives with his father, the late L.A. Ottaway. More than 100 were built before they sold their plant to Gerald Chance. (Today, Chance Morgan's gas/propane 1863 C.P. Huntington Train is a staple of zoo and park railways. By July had been made.) 70 YEARS AGO Kansas City Southern inaugurated a diesel-powered day train from Kansas City to Shreveport, La., May 14, 1939, with overnight connections to Houston and New Orleans. It left Kansas City at 10:15 a.m. and arrived in Shreveport at 10:25 p.m. It arrived in Kansas City northbound at 8:10 p.m. The Flying Crow left Kansas City at 9:55 p.m. and arrived back at 7:55 a.m. 80 YEARS AGO St. Louis. The first run arrived in Wichita May 5, 1924, behind No (Wichita Beacon, May 5, 7, 1929) For the first time in two years railroads reported increased passenger traffic from Wichita, up 8 percent at Union Station, 6 percent on the MoPac and slightly on the Midland Valley. (Wichita Eagle, May 5, 1929) Arkansas Valley Interurban received its new $26, ton General Electric freight motor. (#602 - Ed.) It was expected to go out on the road May 13th or 14th. It could pull 20 cars at mph. (Wichita Beacon, May 10, 1929) 50 YEARS AGO Missouri Pacific No was open for public inspection May 6, 1929, in honor of the fifth anniversary of the Sunflower, the overnight passenger train to AVI 602 in Wichita, which went to the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee as #457. Don Ross Collection.

GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 2 MAY 2009 THE MISSION OF THE GREAT PLAINS TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM To be THE Railroad Museum Of Kansas.

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.

2 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 2 MAY 2009 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 MAY NRHS MEETING The Wichita Chapter NRHS monthly meeting will be on Friday, May 15, The location will be at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church located on N. River Blvd. Meeting time is 7:30 pm. The program will be about the history of the Rock Island in Hutchinson, presented by Lynn Aldrich. As is becoming the custom, those interested will gather at the Riverside Cafe, located at 739 W. 13th, prior to the meeting. Social and subsequent dining will begin at 6:00 p.m. Please let Harvey know via or phone call , preferably by Thursday morning of the 14th, if you plan to attend the dining festivities. FUTURE NRHS MEETINGS June: Picnic July: No meeting Aug: Platform Sept.: Annual Banquet Oct.: Kansas City Chapter Program OTHER EVENTS May 29-31, June Thomas the Tank Engine, Midland Railway, Baldwin City, KS June 3-6 Railroad Station Historical Society National Convention, Topeka Ramada. Banquet Friday with Rev. Herman Page as speaker; bus tour on Saturday. June Mid-Continent Region NMRA Convention, Best Western Airport, Wichita, KS MCoR_2009_Convention.html Aug NRHS Convention, Duluth, MN July UPHS Convention, Capitol Cheyenne, WY. July SFRH&MS Convention, Chicago, IL. July 31-Aug. 1 Railroad Date Nail Show, VFW Building, Ellsworth. Fri. 8:00-5:00, Sat. 8:00-12:00 noon. Information: Marvin Bush, , Mbush@eaglecom.net Sept Frisco Convention, Watco Companies, 315 W. 3rd, Pittsburg. Sept BRHS Convention, Rockford, IL. Oct MPHS Convention, Omaha, NE. GIFT SHOP NEWS The gift shop has several issues of Railroad Magazine from the 1940s and several issues of Railroad Fan magazine. Also available are several books that have been surplused from the museum collection.

3 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 3 MAY 2009 THE HISTORY OF RALSTON PURINA IN WICHITA By Sam Andrews One of the longtime rail shippers in Wichita is the Ralston Purina feed mill located in the north part of town. The operation is actually older than some of the former railroads from Wichita's early years. The mill traces its roots from 1879 when a small feed milling plant opened on the Santa Fe tracks south of downtown by well known Wichita business/civic leader Otto Weiss under the name Otto Weiss Milling Company. The business continued to grow to the point it outgrew itself and a new larger & modern mill was constructed in 1906 at the corner of 13th & Santa Fe connected to the Wichita Terminal Association tracks. Much of the property was destroyed in a 1909 fire but it was all rebuilt. Mr. Weiss retired and sold his mill in 1934 to St. Louis based Ralston Purina. After exiting the milling trade, Weiss continued living in Wichita on north Topeka until passing away in Construction of a new mill took place in 1977 at 18th & Topeka. This was directly connected to a former Red Star Milling grain elevator that dated from The new mill then began receiving its rail service from the Missouri Pacific. Operations at the new site began in exactly 100 years after the Weiss Company was first organized. Upon vacating the old mill, it was purchased by Cargill, which then constructed its oilseed processing refinery on the site and began production in It is interesting to note that soon after moving to the 18th street location, Ralston suffered two minor grain dust explosions in 1980 & 1981 followed by a major explosion in January, Union Pacific turned over switching of the mill to WTA in 2005 which more or less made this full circle from first starting out on the Santa Fe, then to WTA, then to MP-UP and finally ending back with the WTA. WICHITA NRHS MEETING MINUTES APR. 17, 2009 The meeting was called to order at 735pm by Pres. David Meek. He announced that a quorum was present. Since the Secretary was absent there was no reading of the minutes of the last meeting. Treasures report by Steve Corp on there was a starting balance of $ and an ending balance on $ Filed with this report is a copy of the financial transactions for Feb. and March. A motion to accept the report was made by Norm Walters and seconded Harry Adams. Motion carried. A new membership application was presented by Steve Corp. The application was for Sonny Smith of Andover, Ks. Motion to accept was made by Steve Corp and seconded by Randy Spillman. Motion carried. National Directors Report by J. Harvey Koehn. Hasn t heard from the National Board recently. VP Report by J. Harvey Koehn In May there will be a Quad Chapter Meeting.. The regular meeting program will a program on the RI RR short history in Hutchinson, Ks. and some RI slides of activity in the area. Harvey gave a report on future meetings. Guest speaker for the evening Doug McCandless gave a report on the Quad, now Tri-chapter, meeting at Abilene, Ks. In May. J H Koehn noted there were photos to view of the recently deceased member Mike Provine for members to view. A Rail Camp application was presented by David Meek on behalf of Guy Heffington. The Chapter will pay one-half of the $425 tuition. Steve Corp had previously written a check for $250 to send in with the application. A motion to approve of the application was made by Norm Walters and seconded by Randy Spillman. Motion passed. (John Arbuckle questioned the reason why the applicant was flying to Rail Camp instead of taking Amtrak. Reason given was that Amtrak doesn t go to Nevada.) Old Business: Frank Ruff noted that they were moving items in to the gift shop area. New Business-None Motion to adjourn was made by J H Koehn and seconded by Norm Walters. Motion passed. The Program was given by Topeka Chapter member Doug McCandless. The program was a DVD recorded interview of Bill Calwell father of Topeka Chapter member Dave Calwell. Minutes submitted by Substitute secretary L. Aldrich

GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 4 MAY 2009 RESTORED STEAM LOCO- MOTIVE READY TO ROLL ABILENE, KS: The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad will have the inaugural run of Santa Fe 3415 on Saturday May 23.

Invited guests will include former Santa Fe employees who worked on the 3415 in regular service and elected state officials.

The railroad plans to power their excursion train with 3415 one weekend a month on its 5.5 mile long route from Abilene to Enterprise. The ticket price for the inaugural run is $100.

4 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 4 MAY 2009 RESTORED STEAM LOCO- MOTIVE READY TO ROLL ABILENE, KS: The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad will have the inaugural run of Santa Fe 3415 on Saturday May 23. A christening ceremony will be held at 10:00 AM followed by the first run at 11:00 AM from the A&SV depot. Invited guests will include former Santa Fe employees who worked on the 3415 in regular service and elected state officials is one of three operational, former Santa Fe steam locomotives and the only operating steam locomotive in the state of Kansas. It has undergone a complete restoration over the last four years. The railroad plans to power their excursion train with 3415 one weekend a month on its 5.5 mile long route from Abilene to Enterprise. The ticket price for the inaugural run is $100. Two round-trip cab rides in the locomotive for the first run will be auctioned off after the ceremony. Afternoon runs at 2:00 and 5:00 will carry a ticket price of $45 for ages 12 and older; ages 3-11 will be $30.00 and age 2 and younger will be free. Cab rides for the afternoon runs will be $ each for a round trip will be out on the high iron again Sunday May 24 and Monday May 25 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM each day. The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad depot is the former Rock Island depot. It is located at 200 SE 5th, in Old Abilene Town, directly south of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. For more information on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, including additional steam schedules and ticket prices, please visit the railroad's web site at Requests for information can be ed to asvrail@gmail.com. The A&SV depot phone line can be reached at MICHAEL J. PROVINE McPHERSON - Michael J. "Mike" Provine, 63, died April 10, He was born March 8, 1946, in Los Angeles, to Jerry and Betty June Hochstrasser Provine. Survivors include: cousins, Erma Perkins, Chester Perkins, Nadine Bonham, all of McPherson, Mary, Nickerson, Earline, Marion; and several other cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mike attended the Lincoln Grade School, Park School, McPherson Junior High and graduated from McPherson High School class of He then attended Central College, all of McPherson, Kansas. Mike honorably served his Country in the U.S. Army as a Sp4 in the Vietnam War. He received the following medals and honors: Medical Specialist; NDSM, VCM, VSM, GCMDL, CMB 2 O/S BARS, MKM (M-14) MKM 45 Pistol. Mike was a member of the American Legion Post 24, McPherson; life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 809; and was a member of the Wichita Chapter of National Railway Historical Society since After his service to his Country, Mike returned home and started working for Femco Company as a painter. Through the years Mike also worked for Kansas Jack as a machine operator, painter, and assembly worker; for Alumax Aluminum; and Kit Manufacturing as an assembly worker. Mike was currently working for Central Plastics as a machine operator. Mike enjoyed collecting trains, die cast cars, military tanks and planes. He also enjoyed railroad photography, chasing and riding trains. Services were held Tuesday, April 14, at Free Methodist Church, McPherson. Burial was at the McPherson Cemetery. Memorials to McPherson Opera House or McPherson Humane Society or Great Plains Transportation Museum.

5 GREAT PLAINS DISPATCHER PAGE 5 MAY 2009 Steam Returns to Kansas! The Topeka Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society invites you to the annual Quad Chapter meeting in Abilene, Kansas, Saturday May 23, Join us as we welcome former Santa Fe 3415 back to the rails after a 4 year restoration by the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. 10:00 AM - Attend the 3415 christening ceremony at the A&SV depot 11:30 AM - Lunch and meeting at the Hitchin Post Cafe, next door to the depot Entree will be Chicken Fried Steak. Sorry, no substitutions 2:00 PM - Ride the train to Enterprise and back behind 3415 The cost for this event is $60 per person, which includes lunch and the train ride. If you would like to attend the lunch and meeting only, the cost is $15. Please make your check payable to Topeka Chapter NRHS and mail it and the registration form below BY MAY 5, 2009 to: Doug McCandless Topeka NRHS 733 NE Edgewood Topeka, KS The A&SV depot is located at 200 SE 5 th, in Old Abilene Town, directly south of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. Note to Topeka Chapter members: Please meet at Sam s Club at 7:30 AM for carpooling / caravan arrangements Name: Chapter: Street: City / State / ZIP Phone $60 Lunch & Train Ride Qty: $15 Lunch Only Qty: Total Enclosed

6 May 2009 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat GPTM BOD NRHS Meeting NRHS/3415 at Abilene 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 May 2005 V o l u m e I V N u m b e r 5 CONSTRUCTION