Volume 45, Issue 5 May 2010 Fifteen feet of Historic trolley guiderail saved from Walker St. bridge Photographs and story by Gary Githens Central Oklahoma Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Oklahoma Railway Museum Ltd, NARCOA Affiliate Member Union Pacifi c Railroad and Operation Lifesaver present awards Photographs and story by Gary Githens Demolition of Walker Ave. bridge continued as ORM members salvage a section of trolley guiderail with assistance from Allen Contracting and Sherwood Construction companies. John Ansell receives Operation Lifesaver Presenter of the Year award from Larry Dodd, BNSF Railroad On March 13th ORM members Terry Birchett, Jim Murray, Charles Price and Stan Hall met at the Walker Avenue bridge for a salvage operation. The effort was to save a historic section of the trolley cable guideway that has been under the bridge for about 80 years. This was made possible through the assistance of Dean Shirf with the Retro Metro Oklahoma City Group and Paul Ryckbost, the City of Oklahoma City Planning Department. More about the Retro Metro Oklahoma City Group in future issues. A big thanks to Korey Klover with Allen Contracting for providing an equipment lift for our use and Craig Watters with Sherwood Construction for making access available to us. Continued on page 5 John Ansell Operation Lifesaver efforts recognized as UP s Director of Corporate Relations & Media, Southern Region Raquel Espinoza-Willams presents award on behalf of the Union Pacifi c Railroad. Continued on page 4
Page 2 Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. The weather has finally turned into Spring. We have been working on projects both inside and out. The Blue car work is progressing and it will be a big improvement to have it repaired and painted. We are currently doing some repairs to the Diner. Anyone that wants to help on this, see Jim Murray. Outside the grass is growing faster than Jim Pasby can keep up with. If you have some time please give him some help. In the last week or so we have been cleaning up the North property. There is a lot of work to be done there to be able to use the meeting room and house until we can go forward on our long term plans. For those of you who are interested, I would like to get your thoughts as to the best use of the buildings as they are now. Please email or write me with your ideas. Stan Hall June 19th Railroad motor car (speeder) exhibit Board of Directors Stan Hall, President Larry Dodd, Vice President and Program Chair Drake Rice, Secretary Charles Price, Treasurer John Ansell, NRHS Director Bob Cossairt, Director of Buildings & Static Displays Bob Hussey, Director of Track Maintenance Jim Murray, Director of Mechanical Operations Harry Currie, Director at Large Greg Hall, Director of Museum Activities Kenneth Kozak, Director of Museum Displays Ed Birch Jr., Train Show Chair Gary Moore, Membership Chair Gary Githens, Dispatcher Editor Jim Stroud crazy jims cowboy cookin will be out with his John Deere engine powered double 5 gallon ice cream maker machine this summer. Date will be announced soon. Articles and/or photos are due by the 15th of each month. Email to Editor at: ormnews@cox.net Surf the Web... The ORM Website address oklahomarailwaymuseum.org ORM telephone number: 405/424 8222 ORM FAX number 405/424-0504 Showing Up Special events at the ORM are to increase attendance for train ticket and store sales. These are major sources of fi - nancial support for us. We also want these events to be beneficial for our guests. Please make an effort to show up on special event days to show support. Editor
The trains have started running for the eighth year on the first Saturday in April. It s hard to believe the time has passed so fast, and so much has been accomplished. ORM is truly making its mark on the preservation community around the country as others look at what has been accomplished so quickly. The common response heard when asked, is ORM has a long range plan that continues to be updated. Planning is a key to success in any organization and ORM is a real example of that. With that said, the trains running and a lot of work that needs to be done and now with the rains, the grass will be growing. The museum has been gaining some new volunteers to help in the many areas of service that need to be addressed. It s good to see new volunteers helping and working on the many different projects and helping make a difference at ORM. President Hall now reports the house on the property ORM purchased to the north is now vacant and plans will be considered on to how best to use the facilities in the coming months. The museum will need to use them for museum business to maintain the tax exempt status of the property. Currently the plan for the property has been movement of the museum office into the house and maybe the library and other historic record storage. But this will need to be reviewed more in depth and then a long range plan will need to be developed to cover the future use of the property and tying it into the existing property. In the shop, work continues on the CNW 7721 chair car on repair to the sides. On the other track OKRX 113 is receiving some attention on the HVAC system. Out in the yard, Bob Cossiart is beginning to think about the restoration project on the Rock Island Caboose and I m sure he can use a lot of help. Greg and Stan are still working on the Santa Fe Caboose while the museum has applied for an NRHS Grant to help with the painting of a Box Car back to the original Santa Fe, Route of the Scouts paint. Anne Murray helped put the application together. Museum Update Page 3 Many people do not realize that the museum is a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS). We are known as the Central Oklahoma Chapter and John Ansell is our representative who attends many of the meeting throughout the year on behalf of the museum and chapter. It would be good if our membership count could be increased. Of the 175 museum members, only 31 are NRHS members. If we could increase to 50, it would make our chapter better recognized. Someone has said why? First they are the National voice for our work. Second, they by Drake Rice have been working hard to streamline the overall efforts, which have not been easy, but they are beginning to work and make obtaining information and participating in events a lot easier and third they do sponsor some very nice opportunities to enjoy special steam and diesel passenger trains. The contacts are worth the price of the membership. If you re not a member, contact John Ansell and he is always willing to help. ORM members go beyond the normal call of volunteering Photograph taken by Tony Wessel of the car at Flynn yard waiting for movement to New Braunfels ORM members Jim Murray and Guy Lynn donated a considerable amount of time over the course of many weeks to raise additional funds for the ORM. The New Braunfels Historical Railroad & Modelers Society purchased a passenger car from the Guthrie Arts Council. Considerable maintenance was required prior to the car being acceptable for moving. Items of work for preparation of car movement: boarded up 27 windows and/or doors greased wheel bearings installed new air hoses installed 7 new brake shoes adjusted brakes repaired leaking break adjuster applied AEI identifi cation tags switching out break valves Their efforts required several trips to Guthrie with air compressor in tow. A special thanks to Guy and Jim for their tremendous efforts on behalf of the Oklahoma Railway Museum.
Page 4 Continued from page 1 Union Pacifi c Railroad and Operation Lifesaver present awards Eddie Kroupter from Tulsa receives Operation Lifesaver Volunteer of the Year award from Larry Dodd, BNSF Railroad Eddie Kroupter s Operation Lifesaver efforts recognized as UP s Director of Corporate Relations & Media, Southern Region Raquel Espinoza-Willams presents award on behalf of the Union Pacifi c Railroad. Allyn Mills, Exectutive Director Oklahoma Operation Lifesaver; John Ansell, Eddie Kroupter; Raquel Espinoza-Willams and Larry Dodd John Ansell s awards presented by Operation Lifesave and the Union Pacifi c Railroad Oklahoma Operation Lifesaver (OKOL) is a nonprofi t, public safety education program committed to preventing and reducing collisions, death, and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights-ofway. Many members of the ORM are volunteer program presenters. Visit the OKOL website at: www.okoperationlifesaver.org
Page 5 Fifteen feet of trolley guiderail from Walker Ave. Continued from page 1 Korey Klover, Allen Contracting project manager whose cooperation made the efforts possible. Terry Birchett and Stan Hall up in the air with safety harness. In this photo Terry is cutting the guideway. Terry Birchett loosens 80 year old bolts with the assistance of ORM president Stan Hall. [left] temporary support at one end of section to be removed. ORM Director of Mechanial Operations Jim Murray has about any tool that may be needed in his truck. Notice the generator for power tools. The operation began with sawing through the guideway at two locations. With some effort Terry was able to break each nut on several anchor bolts holding the guide rail loose. A temporary support was placed under one end of the guide rail. Anchor bolt nuts were removed in a stratigic sequence allowing the center of the guide way section to be supported by a ladder placed in the bucket. After center support of the guideway was accomplished, the end support was removed and the guideway lowered.
Page 6 Museum goings on Photographs and story by Gary Githens Maintenance of wood equipment is on-going with restoration of historic equipment and facility maintenance. Above photograph shows the ORM carpentry shop. The carpentry shop is located in the refrigerator car. Period light fi xtures recently installed in Oakwood Depot. Fixtures donated by Bob Hussey and installed by Mike Harker. Some of the projects by ORM carpenters: Miniature golf course for DOWT Steps to display equipment Replace car siding and trim Car window sills Depot and yard offi ce repairs and upgrades Repairs to Carlson house, barn & club room We still need tool donations. These can be new or used if in good condition. Cash donations can be made to the ORM. When cash donations usage can be specifi ed. Flatcar damage as mentioned in last months The tale of two fl atcars article. Brake shaft and handle has to be replaced, step straightened and coupler repaired. Drake Rice constructing forms for a concrete equipment pad. Harry Currie doing restoration work on the birthday caboose.
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 October. The store is also open for special events. Line 1 Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 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. ( ) Become an ORM Member 2010 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: $30.00 per year Individual Membership in the Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. (spouse included) $25.00 per year Individual Senior (age 65 and up) (spouse included) and Individual Student (full time student) Membership in ORM $36.00 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 $500.00 - Lifetime Membership Send your application and dues to: Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. 3400 NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111 Name Address City Phone Fax Cell Phone E Mail In next issue of More trolley history comes to ORM Restoring #2 The Fun and Games Associated with Restoring a Classic 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: jtmurray@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 $42.50 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
Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. 3400 NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Coming This Summer Railroad Motorcar Exhibit Home made Ice cream by Crazy Jim s Cowboy Cookin RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1323 Oklahoma City, OK Page 8 TIMETABLE Any changes to the following information or articles for, should be directed to the Editor, Gary Githens, (e mail: ORMnews@cox.net). For information on upcoming programs, contact Jim Pasby, email: jimpasby@att.net). 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 October at 10:00 A.M, 11:00 A.M. Noon, 1:30 P.M. and 2:30 P.M. ORM Board Meetings Last Thursday each month at ORM, Oklahoma City 7 pm. Oklahoma N Rail For information, call Rick Inselman, 405/412 1552. 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 7423 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, 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. 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, N and Lionel layouts, Meets 3rd Tuesday at 7 pm at Old Santa Fe Freight Depot, 702 North Washington, Enid Waynoka Station/Waynoka Historical Society 202 South Cleveland, Waynoka Call Sandie Olson, 580/824 1886. Curtis Hill Rendezvous - May 14-15-16, 2010 a Major Oklahoma rail fan event. Contact Duane Koss at dak507@plateautel.net or your Dispatcher edior at ormnews@cox.net Website: curtishill.com