Central Oklahoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Oklahoma RaHway Museum, Ltd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma o~.u!t."'>. ~~ if~; "OOsll Membership Meeting to be held August 6 in Edmond On Saturday, August 6, the Oklahoma Railway Museum (ORM) will be holding its monthly membership meeting at Johnnie's Charcoal Broiler restaurant, 33 East 33rd Street in Edmond starting at 6 pm. We wanted to hold the meeting inside a cool place to escape the August summer heat. After the meal at 7 pm, ORM Member Terry LaFrance will give an entertaining slide show. I appreciate Terry for providing the program for this month. Don't miss the chance to avoid the summer heat and meet with your fellow members to hear and see Terry's slide presentation. As a reminder, we will be operating excursion trains in August on the 6th and 20th. There's always a need for volunteers for the operating days and for projects around the Museum. Larry D. Dodd Vice President and Program Chair Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. The next ORM Board of Directors meeting will be held Tuesday, August 24 at 7 pm at ORM. Museum Update 2 Heartland Ryer Proves It Brings 3 Money To State President's Column 4 Note: The September ORM membership meeting date has been moved to September 10 due to the labor Day holiday. Order Engraved Platform Bricks 7 Surf The Web.. The ORM Web site address Is: oklahomarallwaymuseum.org. Telephone number Is 405/424-8222. John Ansell, ORM Member, (right) receives the "Oklahoma Operation Lifesaver Volunteer Presenter of the Year 2004" Award from Allyn Mills, Director of Operation Lifesaver, on June 25. Professional Affdiate Member of Association of Railway Museums "Advancing RaHway Herimge"
Museum Update... by Drake Rice, ORM secretary Work at the Museum continues despite the very warm weather we have been enjoying in Oklahoma. Work on the top of the Rock Island Baggage Car has been done to clean the top and put a coat of primer on prior to painting. The Santa Fe FP-45 has been cleaned and prepared for painting. Member Greg Hall, who is a Santa Fe Modeler, will be taking charge of the restoration painting of the engine in the War Bonnet Santa Fe style. If you haven't been by the Museum in recent weeks, you will notice the rip track has been extended another 100 feet and the Rock Island Caboose is now on the end. This will be another major project for our Museum in the restoration of the caboose. A special thanks is given to Bob Hussey and his crew, for the track extension, which was much needed to allow additional storage for work projects. The main line south from around 25th Street has been sprayed and grass and weeds are going away, while the north will be sprayed in the coming weeks. Materials are also being set up for the work on the 16th Street Crossing and Grand Avenue crossings. Repairs need to be made. The Grand Avenue project will be done in coordination with the City of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County on the resurfacing work they will be doing on Grand Avenue and the paving of 34th Street. We are really excited about 34th Street. It's probably the heaviest travel dirt and grass street in Oklahoma City. Since we paved the parking lot, with the help of Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth, our city street will now be paved along with help from Council Member Willa Johnston for the Grand Avenue repaving. That along with the new sign the Centennial Commission is preparing for the Museum - things will really look different this fall at the Museum. Grass mowing is continuing and those involved in the thankless job of mowing and keeping the flower and shrubs looking nice at the Museum, we appreciate your work. It's nice to see the changes that have taken place on the grounds since 1999. We have a number of other projects that need someone to be the key contact for the project. If you have interest, please let us know. All efforts are appreciated and enjoyed by all who visit our Museum. Please contact Jim Murray at 4 78-1176 if you would like more information on a specific ORM project. 1st Annual PassRaiiOK trip will be August 10-17 Evan Stair, Executive Director, Passenger Rail Oklahoma, said in an e-mail "Is anyone else still interested in the Fort Worth to St. Louis private car trip? We have enough people now to run the car and I have sent in a check to make it happen. Here are the details. You can ride any portion of the trip that you like. The main trip is the Fort Worth-St. Louis-Fort Worth run." "We would ride the Heartland Flyer to Fort Worth and back to make connections with the private car. The main trip is $582.15 round trip. We would use the car as our hotel in St. Louis. Some meals would be provided." "I am going to rent a van in St. Louis to shuttle people in between the transportation museum and the station. Union Station is just a few blocks away and is <f grand tourism destination." "NOTE: No food/beverage service will be provided on this trip. The Amtrak lounge car will be available for light meals and beverages between Kansas City- St. Louis. Between St. Louis Ft. Worth there will be no access to the Amtrak lounge car, but passengers may bring their own items. Skykomish River is equipped with a small kitchen which has a microwave and limited refrigerator space. n (Top and bottom) Those taking the 1st Annual PassRaiiOK Trip August 10-17 from Fort Worth to Kansas City will travel In Skykomish River Pullman cars. For more information, contact Stair at 405/366-8957 or evanstair@oassengerrail.org.
Heartland Flyer proves it brings money to state Train provides tourism dollars In its sixth year, the Heartland Flyer is doing more than ferrying passengers on day trips. The Amtrak train that runs daily from Oklahoma City to Fort, Worth, Texas is providing Oklahoma with vital tourism dollars and allowing small towns along the route to tap into the market, its supporters say. Just ask Judi Elmore. As the owner of an antique store in Ardmore, she gets customers daily from the train stopping nearby. "Ardmore had the most passenger traffic for the month of May," said Elmore, who is also the chairwoman of the Heartland Flyer Coalition. "That's 1, 794 passengers in Ardmore. If each person spent a dollar, it has some impact on our economy, don't you think? Keeping the passenger train in Oklahoma hasn't been easy. Train enthusiasts had to rally lawmakers this year after the House omitted state dollars needed to keep the train running from its budget. If the House and Senate had not reached a compromise and provided $2 million to keep the train in Oklahoma, its service would have stopped in October. Governor Brad Henry signed the bill into law on June 9. Passenger train service in Oklahoma began in 1999, getting a chunk of funding from the federal government wh en the train began service. Passenger rail service in Oklahoma ended in 1979 when freight trains stopped running a passenger car. When passenger train service began, it was criticized for taking Oklahoma dollars to be spent in Texas. Over the past six years, the tide has changed, Elmore said. The most popular destination for passengers is Oklahoma City, according to Amtrak's figures for May. More passengers are coming to Oklahoma City from Fort Worth than any other city pair on the route. The second most-popular city pair is Fort Worth to Norman and then Gainesville, Texas, to Oklahoma City. "That negates the argument that we are taking business to Texas," Elmore said. "We've known that's been happening, and its nice to see it in writing and have our feelings confirmed." With new hotels, restaurants and a growing entertainment district, Oklahoma City's Bricktown is drawing visitors; much like state officials has hoped it would when the rail service began. "I think it was one of the things Oklahoma was needing," said John Dougherty, assistant division manager for rail programs with the Oklahoma Transportation Department. "It's just one more avenue Oklahoma can use to get people here to see the things we have to offer." The Heartland Flyer also is being used as a link for national travel, Elmore said. Nearly a third of all daily passengers use the Fort Worth Train to connect to the Texas Eagle, which has service to Chicago or the Sunset Limited in San Antonio, which travels to Los Angeles three times a week. While the Heartland Flyer is seeing success, its parent company struggles to stay afloat. Amtrak reported losses of $245 million from fiscal 2002 to 2004 and was the subject of a congressional hearing this week. The rail line also is considering eliminating food from its train lines to cut costs. - by Julie Bisbee, Business Writer, The Oklahoman, June 11, 2005, page 68 : ORM'S first NARCOA event held.... On Saturday and Sunday, July 23rd and 24th, Museum members, who are members of the North American Rail Car Operators Association (NARCOA) and have motor cars or hyrail vehicles, took to the rails of the Grain belt Railroad out of Clinton, Oklahoma. This event was a NARCOA covered event and was the first operated by ORM as an Affiliate of NARCOA. The Museum had five motor cars and one hyrail truck operated on Saturday from Clinton to Okeene and back and then on Sunday from Clinton to Hobart and back. The weather was hot, but everyone seemed to enjoy the activity. Museum members participating were Guy Lynn, David Dollar, Jim Murray, Terry Birchett, Mike Harker, Kenneth Rice and Drake Rice. ORM appreciates Rodney Roof of Grainbelt Railroad for all the assistance in the trip and allowing the Museum to have the trip. ORM has planned a couple of more outings this year on short line railroads in the state. And more participation is expected. For more information on motor car activities, go to www.narcoa.org website.
AI/ Aboard! July 2005 Greetings To All! Harry Currie ORM President 0 ur railroad museum has been blessed and is very fortunate. Starting five years ago, it was a homeless operation, but soon it purchased 3.1 acres of land and now has a jam-packed railroad facility. Almost a V2 mile of tracks and a depot have been built. And we have 19 pieces of railroad rolling stock for use and display with four more pieces coming. In addition, we have an operational train providing train rides for the public. A lot of credit goes to many individuals that have contributed their time, energy, efforts and their money. I give every one a big thank you for how much you have helped to improve our community and to preserve the history of railroading in Oklahoma. As Henry Ford, inventor of automobile mass production, once said: Coming together is a beginning Keeping together is progress Thinking together is unity Working together is success I think this fits ORM member volunteers. Have A Great Month! Harry Currie The ORM excursion train leaves the historic Oakwood Depot at the Museum. Trains run on the first and third Saturdays of the month.
Rail Happenings Amtrak Resumes Schedule For Fleet - WASHINGTON -Amtrak resumed limited Acela Express runs on July 11 for the first time since April, when the high-speed fleet was pulled from service because of cracks in many of the trains' brake rotors. Amtrak restarted the Acela service with two daily round-trips, Monday through Friday, between New York and Washington. Montreal-based Bombardier Inc., which makes the Acela trains, said its target date for equipping the entire Acela fleet with the new brakes is September. Bombardier still is investigating what caused the millimeter-size cracks in 317 of the Ace Ia's 1,440 disc brake rotors. The cracks were found on all 20 Acela trains. The remaining 18 Acela trains will be put back in service once they are equipped with the new brakes, Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said. Resumption of Boston's Acela Express will be July 25. 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 1::::::~::;:;::::;,) Birthday Caboose. 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 2005 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 9:15am-9:45am 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 1 pm -1:30pm 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 2:30 pm-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 424-8222, or mail request to ORM 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111-4417. 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 on 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. 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 405/424-8222 or visit the Museum Website: www.oklahomarailwaymuseum.org.
Russell Crump's The Testimony of Boomer Bill There had been a railroad accident in which several people were injures. Some lawsuits resulted and in the trial of the first case, the attorney for the defense had as one of his principal witnesses an old "boomer" brakeman. After properly identifying him and establishing his status as a witness, the attorney said: "Now Bill, I want you to tell this jury all you know about this alleged accident. Where you were and why you were there; where the train was located and all other facts and circumstances in connection with the affair. Just turn right to the jury and tell them the whole story in your own words." Bill was rather embarrassed and looked doubtingly at the judge, who nodded to him and indicated he should proceed. Bill switched his quid over into the other jaw, turned to the jury, and told this story: "We was heading' south with the 456-32 loads and 10 empties and we had a meet order with 2 for 149 at 4:15. There was a dynamiter in the drag and it looked like we was goin' to stab.149 about 15 but the broncho quit buckin' and the hogger wheeled them, so we got to 149 at 4:10. We went in on the cold end of the passin' track and closed the gate, drifted down to about ten lengths from the south target and ground the kettle. The hoghead got down and went to greasin' her ankles and the tallowpot was in the cab hustlin' diamonds. Cap was back in the crummie shufflin' tissues and the hind-shack was in the dog house bull in" a Yahoo that was dead-heading' on a Zulu outfit. Me, I was sittin' on the pilot waitin' to twist the monkey's tail and head out on the main when 2 cleared. I seen her com in' through the cut and she was workin' steam and puttin' up a feather. Hogger cut her off at the limit board and she come in greasin' at about 25. When she passed the target, the ponies split the switch and took down the siding. The hogger big-holed her but she jumped the rabbit and took to the country. I seen a smash was coming' and joined the bird gang. I hit the cinders yell in' "Spread yer wings, tellers." And when they came together, I was on the other side of the main scratch in' gravel. I dodged into the palace and told the brass punder to tickle the Supe and tell hime we had two on one spot and there was Hell to pay." The above is an actual account of testimony from a trial handled on behalf of the ATSF by Attorney Luther Hudson Understanding Boomer Bill "456"- the engine number of Boomer Bills train a 4-6-0 "32 loads and 10 empties - the train consist "had a meet order with 2 for 149 at 4:15. - A train order in the form C&E extra 456 and two extras Extra blank and blank meet 2 at 149 ( probably the train schedule number of Boomer Bills train) "2"- most likely a scheduled passenger train "dynamiter"- a car with a bad order triple valve which tends to place the train in emergency stop at in appropriate times. "drag"- slow train "broncho quit buckin"- the car with the bad brakes quite putting the train into emergency "Hogger - The locomotive engineer "wheeled them - ran the train fast "cold end of the pass in"- the end of the passing siding away from the approaching traffic "closed the gate"- the switch "south target"- the south turnout target grounded the kettle"- set the brakes on the locomotive "hoghead" - The locomotive engineer greasin' her ankles" lubricating the running gear on the locomotive "Tal/owpot -the fireman "hustfin' diamonds"- shoveling coal "Cap"- the conductor "crummie"- caboose "shufflin tissues"- paging through train orders "hind-shack"- rear brakeman "dog house"- small shelter on the locomotive tender for the brakeman "bullin"- talking to "Yahoo"- a character? "dead-heading - traveling on a pass; not working crew man "twist the monkey's tail"- throw the switch "workin' steam - under power "puttin' up a feather - safety valve issuing escaping steam, under maximum steam pressure "cut her off"- closed the throttle started coasting "limit board"- yard limit board speed in yard limits maximum 20 mph "she"- locomotive greasin'"- speeding "ponies"- the leading truck on a locomotive "split the switch"- derailed by trying to go down both track at the switch points "big-holed her - put the train in emergency stop "palace - the depot 'brass pounder"- the telegraph operator 'tickle"- call supe"- the division superintendent Site maintained by Russell Crump all rights reserved 913-462-4556 73077.2356@compuserve.com YOUR VIEWS Trains are a better alternative In response to the recent banter about bad highways, heavy trucks and increased fuel taxes, no one ever mentions what is the only logical answer: trains. Trains run at a much greater fuel efficiency than trucks, release fewer pollutants into the atmosphere, haul larger loads in a faster and safer manner and reduce traffic congestion on the highways - which in turn reduces wear and tear. Logic would suggest that mile for mile, railroads can also be built less expensively, especially when you factor in longevity of use compared with highways. It's probably not a popular opinion among truckers and the industry, but with the ever-growing demand for fossil fuels and concern over rising fuel taxes, it's the only viable solution to a multitude of problems. -Jim McCain Hinton The Oklahoman, July 8, 2005, page14a
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 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: ( Text Llne1 The Depot Store, located inside the Oakwood Depot on the Museum grounds, is open during regular Museum hours - 10 am to 4 pm on the first and third Saturdays of each month. The store is also open during special events. Line 2 Llne3 Llne4.......... Become an ORM 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 73111. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: 30.00 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. $21.00 per year- To add Railway Historical Society (NRHS) Membership (add $3.00 for spouse) (Student Memberships: $10 per year) Send your application and dues to: Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. 3400 NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111 Name -------------------------- -------- Address City ------------------------------------------------------------- Phone---------- Fax E-Mail-------- Type of Membership: D Membership toorm D TOTAL ENCLOSED ---------------- 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 73111. : If you have any questions, : you can e-mail Murray : at jmurrav@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 $25 will help purchase a new crosstie. You can donate a crosstie in recognition or in memory of someon e. 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 73111.
Any changes to the following information or articles for "the Dispatcher," should be directed to the Editor, Bruce Ackerman, 183rd Terrace, Edmond, Oklahoma 73003-4066, (e-mail: backerman@ompa.com). For information on upcoming programs, contact Larry Dodd, (e-mail: Larry.Dodd@bnsf,com). ORM telephone number: 405/424-8222. Oklahoma Railway Museum (ORM)- Saturday, August 6- ORM Member Terry LaFrance's slide show- Johnnie's Charcoal Broiler restaurant, 33 East 33rd Street in Edmond- 6 pm ORM Board Meetings- Tuesdays, August 24 and September 27 at ORM, Oakwood Depot, Oklahoma City - 7 pm Upcoming ORM Meeting- Saturday, September 10- Program To Be Announced- ORM, Oklahoma City- 6 pm ORM Operations (Excursion Trains)- Saturdays, August 6 and 20- Train rides 10 am - 2 pm every hour- ORM, Oklahoma City Oklahoma "'N" Rail -For information, call Mary Hanson, 405/478-2302 Oklahoma Passenger Rail Association- -Rail Consumer Advocate Organization. Meets bimonthly. For information, write or call Roger Carter, 1120 South 21st Street, Chickasha, Oklahoma 73018, 405/224-7 423 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, www.passengerrailok.org, 405/366-8957, or 517 Claremont, Norman, OK 73069-5020. 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, 405/354-5079, 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 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 580/233-3051. 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 $21 per year (spouses are an additional $3). (Student Membership: $10 per year) For information on membership, contact the Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd., 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111-4417. 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. 3400 NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111-4417 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1323 Oklahoma City, OK