Central Oklahoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Oklahoma Railway Museum Ltd, NARCOA Affiliate Member

Transcription

1 the Dispatcher Volume 49 Issue 12 December 2014 Central Oklahoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Oklahoma Railway Museum Ltd, NARCOA Affiliate Member Halloween train rides were held on October 25th. Turnout was great with many volunteers and visitors dressed for the occassion. above: Cale and Bethany Benham from Enid Volunteer Steve Davis dressed as a test dummy Miles and Liam Hulbert from Edmond were two of our best dressed. Miles came as the Marshmellow Man from the movie Ghost Busters. Liam was the Pilsbury Dough Boy.

2 Page 2 The Presidents Column We have not paid all the last bills for Thomas, but I estimate that we made about $150,000 for our expansion fund. Thank all of you for your efforts. It was the largest ridership we have ever had. December brings the annual Oklahoma City Train Show. Ed Birch has told me the spaces in the larger building are all sold. Now we want good weather for the show. We have enough volunteers to fill our commitment at the gates for the show. Come on out and see the largest Train Show in the Southwest. We still need car hosts for the Christmas train on December 20th. We will run five trains and then have a short break and run two special trains for the Dental Depot Party. It will be a fun day. Carols will be sung; Stories read; Santa and Smiley O Reilly will be on the trains; chocolate and cookies in the Shop. me if you can help. Stan Hall the Dispatcher Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. Board of Directors Stan Hall, President Erick Dilbeck Vice President and Program Chair Drake Rice, Secretary Charles Price, Treasurer Bob Nantois, NRHS Director Bob Cossairt, Director of Buildings & Static Displays Bob Hussey, Director of Track Maintenance Terry Birchett, Director of Mechanical Operations Harry Currie, Director at Large Greg Hall, Director of Museum Activities Bob Cook, Director of Museum Displays Photographs and stories by Gary Githens unless credited otherwise Oklahoma Railway Museum Board of Directors elections Nominations listed below. Board Position Incumbent Vice President Eric Dilbeck Secretary Drake Rice NRHS Director Bob Nantois Greg Robertson Note: Bob Nantois decided not to accept another nomination at this time Director of Track Maintenance Bob Hussey Director of Museum Displays Bob Cook Nominees will be published in the December and January issues of the Dispatcher. Elections will be held during the annual membership meeting on January 10, 2015 at Furr s Fresh Buffet in Moore. Arrive at 6:00 P.M. to eat. Meeting starts at 7:00 P.M. The Oklahoma Railway Museum By-laws require Ed Birch Jr., Train Show Chair Gary Githens, Dispatcher Editor elections for the positions listed at left in The position term is for two years. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Wishing for you and your families a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Years. Editor Gary

3 the Dispatcher Museum Update by Drake Rice Page 3 The holiday season has arrived and activities are happening. We hope all members that can will be involved in at least one of the activities. First we have the OKC Train Show at the Fairgrounds. We are in a new location this year at the fairgrounds, and Ed Birch, Jr. is expecting a record crowd this year. Our new location at the Fairgrounds has a little more room for vendors and layouts. Come out and support this great event. Second, we need car hosts for the Christmas Train. Ticket sales are running ahead of previous years. If you were going to purchase tickets for your family do so very soon. Over a 1000 tickets have been sold and we only have around 500 left. But your help is needed. In addition to the five trains we run, we have a charter for two additional trains that day. So December 20th will be a very busy day at the museum. This year, the museum is setting a record for the number of passengers carried. By the end of the day on December 20th, we should be close to 25,000 passengers, which include the Thomas Trains. This will extend an earlier record of around 21,000. So 2014 will go into the record books as a banner year for the ORM and it is all made possible by you the members who provide your time and help. Thank you. Changes will be starting in December at the museum with the arrival of the Santa Fe Steam Engine from the Fairgrounds. It will become part of the museum s increasing collection of equipment on display. We thank the Fair Board and the City of Oklahoma City for allowing this to happen. In addition to the engine, there is a wooden caboose and hand pump car. You may have seen pictures of the hand pump car that was delivered previously and has now been restored and is operational. If you have the muscle power come try it out. The engine will be for display, but needs a very good cleaning. Volunteers are currently getting the engine ready for movement. The board is beginning to work on preparing for the construction of the first phase of the proposed museum plan, which you have seen on the website Upcoming ORM sponsored NARCOA speed runs The Nov speeder trip on the Farmrail Railroad had to be rescheduled to Jan Oklahoma Railway Museum trip out of Clinton two days. Approximately total of 200 miles for trips. Cost $ Contact Drake Rice for more information for information about motorcars visit: narcoa.org Join us on Facebook. Become a friend of the Oklahoma Railway Museum. Please continue to support your ORM by renewing your membership for 2015

4 Page 4 Around the grounds Halloween train ride day the Dispatcher Anne Murray Childton dressed as a bat Michael Githens with his daughter Graycn ORM President Stan Hall Ken Kozak. Great job of makeup Smiley O Riley from Dental Depot is always a big hit

5 the Dispatcher Page 5 Around the grounds during Halloween train rides Dental Depot is a partner with the ORM during the Halloween and Christmas train rides. Visitors enjoy the Dental Depot vehicles and the dental hygiene packs given to the children are well received. Clown Smiley O Riley is always popular with the visitors. Left picture: Dental Depot always provides a dental hygiene kit to the children during Halloween and Christmas train rides. The two most important items are the tooth paste and tooth brush. Left picture: The back side of the Dental Depot hygiene kit. Inside are instructions for having healthy teeth.

6 Page 6 the Dispatcher Oklahoma City Train Show December 6 & 7 Christmas train rides December 20th Annual membership meeting January 10, 2015 at Furr s Fresh Buffet in Moore Arrive at 6:00 P.M. to eat. Meeting starts at 7:00 P.M.

7 the Dispatcher Page 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 by donations for these items support the Museum projects. The Depot Store, located inside the Oakwood Depot on the Museum grounds, is open during regular Museum hours 9 am to 4 pm on the first and third Saturday operation days of each month April through August. The store is also open for special events. Become an ORM Member 2014 ORM/NRHS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: New Membership Line 1 Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Renewal Membership (begin Jan 1st) Date $36.00 per year Individual Membership in the Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. (spouse included) Pro-rated dues $3.00 per month $30.00 per year Individual Senior (age 65 and up) (spouse included) and Individual Student (full time student) Membership in ORM Pro-rated dues $2.50 per month 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 Purchaser s Name Phone No. ( ) 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: ORM, 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma If you have any questions call Thursday or Fridays. $50.00 per year To add Railway Historical Society (NRHS) Membership (add $5.00 for spouse) (Student Memberships: $16 per year) SEND NRHS DUES TO ORM ADDRESS BELOW, NOT DIRECTLY TO NRHS $ Lifetime Membership Send your application and dues to: Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Name Address City State Zip Code Phone Fax Cell Phone E Mail 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 $50.00 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, mail to: ORM Ltd., 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, 73111

8 Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, OK RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Page 8 the Dispatcher TIMETABLE Any changes to the following information or articles for the Dispatcher, should be directed to the Editor, Gary Githens, (e mail: githens@cox.net). For information on upcoming programs, contact Larry Dodd dodd@airosurf.com). Oklahoma Railway Museum (ORM) Open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 9:00 A:M: until 5:00 P:M. except on major holidays ORM Train Rides - First and third Saturdays April through August at 9:15 A.M, 11:15 A.M, 1:15 P.M. and 3:15 P.M. ORM Board Meetings Last Thursday each month at ORM, Oklahoma City 7 pm. Oklahoma N Rail For information, call Rick Inselman, 405/ Central Oklahoma Garden Railroad Society [COGRS] Contact information: Steve Lemcke (405) steve.lemcke@att.net or Marshall Douglas (405) or Steve Kamm (405) skamm@college.occc.edu 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 7:50 am. 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. OUT OF TOWN 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, and Lionel layouts, Meets 3rd Tuesday at 7 pm at Old Santa Fe Freight Depot, 702 North Washington, Enid N Waynoka Station/Waynoka Historical Society 202 South Cleveland, Waynoka Call Sandie Olson, 580/ Notice: They need help with their model railroad layout. If you could help some call Sandie.

9 Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Museum Information Contact us-thursday and Friday. We have someone to answer your questions Our museum is open every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Admission to the museum is free. The Museum is an outdoor museum and MAY BE CLOSED for inclement weather or when the temperature is below 40 F. Find us From I-35 North take the NE 36th St. exit, at the stoplight on NE 36th turn left and go west about 1/2 mile. At the stoplight for Grand Blvd turn left for about two blocks, we are on the left at NE 34th St. Regular Trains Train Rides are scheduled the First and Third Saturdays of the month from April through August. The trains leave the Station at 9:15 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:15 PM and 3:15 PM. Ticket Price is $12 for Riders 13 years old and up, $5 for Riders from 3 to 12 years old, Children under 3 are free when carried on adult lap. Special Trains Thomas the Tank Engine will be here on September 26,27,28 and October 3,4,5, We recommend that tickets be purchased in advance. Tickes are available from TicketWeb toll free call Tickets for groups of 20 or more are $14 on all trains if purchased as a group All Tickets are $16 on the Friday Trains. These leave the Station every 50 minutes starting at 9:50am All Tickets are $18 on Saturday and Sunday Trains. These leave the Station every 50 minutes starting at 9:00am Halloween Train October 25, 2014 Tickets $15, Two dollars off if you are in costume. Children under three are free on lap of parent The trains leave the Station at 9:15 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:15 PM and 3:15 PM. Smiley O Riley the Clown will be here. This is for Children, no scary stuff. Christmas Train December 20, 2014 Tickets $15 Children under three are free on lap of parent The trains leave the Station at 9:00, 10:30, noon, 1:30 and 3:00. Santa Claus will be here, hot chocolate, candy canes, songs and more fun. Birthday Parties We offer you two unique venues to host a birthday party. You supply the cake, presents and the guests while we supply tables and chairs. Also included are paper engineer hats and a rail safety activity book. We have a 1921 wooden caboose which can accommodate up to 25 people and a 1921 Party coach which can accommodate up to 60 people Time and date must be held with a 50% deposit. The balance is due day of the party. Birthday Party package options and membership information next page

10 Birthday Party package options Package One includes two hours for the party and an approximate 40 minute train ride for 20 guests on historic railroad passenger cars. Additional train tickets can be purchased for $5.00 each. The train rides are available on the schedule for regular trains above. The costs are: Birthday Caboose: $ Party Coach: $ Package Two is a two hour party without a train ride. This package is available throughout the year on most non-operating Saturdays. The costs are: Birthday Caboose: $ Party Coach: $ Bookings and date/time availability are available on our website - org -and can also be made with our party coordinator Chuck Shinn. He can be reached at or by -chuck@oklahomarailwaymusem.org Membership -Membership benefits include: Two free train rides on regular run days (Does not apply to Day Out with Thomas, Halloween and Christmas trains) ed copy of the ORM newsletter The Dispatcher Member Picnic and train ride Memberships are available at the following rates: Regular Membership $36 per year (spouse included) Senior Member (age 65 and up) $30 per year (spouse included) Student Member (Full-Time Student) $30 per year [these are prorated if you join during the year]. Lifetime Member $500. If you wish to join the National Railway Historical Society, dues are an additional $50.00 per year. This organization s due are not prorated. Note: Events, dates, times and charges subject to change without notice.