the DispatcherCentral Oklahoma Chapter

of the National Railway Historical SocietyOklahoma Railway Museum Ltd,

NARCOA Affiliate Member

by Gary Githens

Volume 50 Issue 4 April 2015

Wow...the CB&Q caboose is how old!

continued on page 5

Most will remember the news stories when Mr. Frank Buckles the last known surviving American WW 1 veteran passed away February 27, 2011. Mr. Buckles passed away at the age of 110.

While Frank Buckles had a fascinating life and deserves the upmost respect, my attention alarm went off when I heard it mentioned he was from Oak-wood, Oklahoma. Yes…Oakwood, Oklahoma as in your Oklahoma Railway Museum has the Oakwood, Oklahoma depot. If you have been to the ORM on a ride day you have been in the Oakwood depot.

Speculation about 1917 ticket purchase at Oakwood station

Oakwood station ticket windows 2015

CB&Q caboose

Geronimo’s surrender date was one of the “when was that” thoughts I had as I sat on the steps of the CB&Q caboose last fall. While waiting on a Thomas train to return, I read the CB&Q plaque again and began considering just how old our caboose is.

Even though I knew the caboose was built in 1878 this was the first time I had given any seri-ous thought about how long ago that was. I also decided to do a little research to check the dates for a few of the long ago “goings on” I thought may have occurred after the caboose was built.

by Gary Githens

continued on page 4

Page 2 the DispatcherOklahoma Railway Museum,

Ltd.

Board of DirectorsStan Hall, President

Erick Dilbeck Vice President

and Program Chair

Drake Rice, Secretary

Charles Price, Treasurer

Greg Robertson, 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

Ed Birch Jr., Train Show Chair

Anne Murrary Chilton, Membership Chair

Gary Githens, Dispatcher Editor

Stan Hall

The Presidents Column

Oklahoma Railway Museum 405-424-8222

Photographs and stories by Gary Githens unless credited otherwise

Guard rails have been installed at the Grand Blvd. signals. Hopefully this will prevent a signal from being knocked down as happened at 36th street last fall

Please continue to support your ORM by renewing your membership for 2015

The Oklahoma Railway Museum now has a youtube page. Check out the page and subscribe. New videos will be added fre-quently.

The house has been moved. This picture shows the founda-tion and porch concrete stacked in preparation for removal.

It’s a week away for our first Easter Train. It will also be the first run day of the season. As usual we need car hosts and flaggers. If you would like to participate in train operations this is a good way to get started. Our Easter Bunny is ready to pass out eggs to our child rid-ers. It will be a fun day.

Work is proceeding on repairs to the Steam Locomotive. Several large cracks in some of the cast steel fittings have been fixed as well as

the steam box door that had rusted through at the bottom. We will be starting repairs on the boiler jacket soon. A general cleaning will happen as soon as the weather allows us to pull it outside.

The displays in the Display car are about ready for our first run day. They have been redone and we have a completely different bunch of artifacts out for you to see.

Page 3the DispatcherMuseum Update by Drake Rice

Please continue to support your ORM by renewing your membership for 2015

Join us on Facebook. Become a friend of the Oklahoma Railway Museum.

The Easter Bunny trains are scheduled to start the 2015 operations season. A lot of effort is still needed to prepare for the start of the operating season and to keep trains operating all summer.

David Townsend with his award presented by Greg Hall ORM train crew volunteers attending GCOR class

GCOR training March 21st

photo by Eric Dilbeckphoto by Eric Dilbeck

photo by Eric DilbeckGold locomotive reverser

GCOR instructor David Townsend was awarded an ORM Gold reverser after the training session. David is a professional locomotive engineer and ORM volunteer.

Page 4 the Dispatcher

Easter rides April 4th

Frank Buckles was determined to serve during World War 1 and managed to enlist at the age of 16. Dur-ing World War II he was a civilian prisoner of war for 3 1/2 years in Japanese prison camps. He met with President Bush at the white house when 107 years old. President Obama and many other dignitaries paid their respects to him and his family while he was lying in honor at Arlington National Cemetery.

My initial thought was that young Frank Buckles pur-chased a ticket to head off to serve in World War 1 at “our ticket window.” However likely this is, I cannot one hundred percent say he did.

According to the website Pershing’s Last Patriot Mr. Buckles states in part “In the charming little frontier town of Oakwood, population 300, I worked at the bank, lived at the hotel, and went to high school.” Then he mentions when summer vacation came at-tending the Kansas State Fair in Wichita and spend-ing time with relatives in Larned, Kansas.

He was successful in joining the Army in Oklahoma City on August 14, 1917. I mention all this because I do not know how many times he may have, if at all, returned to Oakwood after leaving during summer va-cation 1917 and joining the Army.

I have concluded that Mr. Buckle’s life in Oakwood was actually a short period from December of 1916 until no later than August 14, 1917.

After World War 1 he states he returned home (to USA) in January 1920. Next he states he went home to visit his parents then decid-

ed to attend business school in Oklahoma City.

The source of information concerning Mr. Buckles liv-ing in Oakwood is the website Pershing’s Last Patriot. This is a website for a documentary film about Mr. Buckles that will be released in 2015.

My conclusion is that America’s last surviving World War 1 veteran:

1: most likely purchased a ticket to Wichita at the Oak wood depot in the spring of 1917.2: probably returned to Oakwood from Kansas. In that event he would have purchased a ticket to Oklahoma City where he joined the Army.3: appears to have made the decision to attend busi-ness school in Oklahoma City while visiting his par-ents in 1920. Therefore he probably did not have an idea where, when or what he was going to do when he arrived in Oakwood. So when he left he most likely purchased a ticket at the Oakwood depot for the trip to Oklahoma City.

I am convinced the last surviving American World War 1 veteran was in the Oakwood depot and purchased a ticket[s] at one of the ticket windows we still use.

Maybe this is important to me because I want to think young Frank Buckles adult life away from parents be-gan at the Oakwood Depot ticket window.

Speculation about 1917 ticket purchase at Oakwood station

original floor at ticket windows

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CB&Q caboose

Sink

Built in 1878, General Custer’s 1876 defeat at the Little Big Horn was still fresh in people’s minds. The Indian wars were still being fought and opening Indian land to settlement was a major issue. Geronimo did not surrender until 1886.

The first “land run” leading to the creation of the State of Oklahoma was not until April 22, 1889.

From 1850 to 1882 the James gang was the most feared band of outlaws in America. Jessie James died April 3, 1882. The infamous “Lincoln County Wars” starring Billy the Kid were underway in 1878. Billy the Kid was killed July 14, 1881.

Sharpshooter Annie Oakley joined Buffalo Bills Wild West Show in 1885.

These long ago “old west” events helped me put in perspective how old our caboose is.

I wondered about the many crews that climbed the steps I was sitting on. The discussions that must have went on as those crews lived through current events that are now our history.

Our CB&Q caboose was working the rails during a great deal of American history. So on those nights when you are having difficulty going to sleep you can think about our caboose and ponder what crew con-versations may have been like after the Wright Broth-ers flight, sinking of the Titanic, Wall Street collapse and other historic events.

wood construction

wood beam truck

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Winter at the ORM

photo by Eric DilbeckWe finally got it open....now what. The guys did not expect what they found in photo at right.

Around the grounds

Bob Cook above and Bob Nantois right busy doing prep work for 2134 paint job. Lovomotive will be painted in the green with yellow stripe MKT scheme. Engine will be number 48.

Decades of birds getting trapped and dying inside. Bob Cook wore a protective suit and breathing equipment to clean this.

photo by Eric Dilbeck

photo by Eric Dilbeck photo by Eric Dilbeck

Tree removal at the west fence line

2015 ORM MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION:

New Membership 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 $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 ________________________________________ State _______ Zip Code _______________________

Phone ________________________ Fax ______________________ Cell Phone_____________________

E–Mail __________________________________________________________________________________

Line 4

Line 3

Line 2

Line 1

the Dispatcher

Order Form – Engraved Platform BricksCost 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 BricksMore than one platform

brick can be donated to the Mu-seum and you can make cop-ies of the attached form. Mail completed forms with checks or money orders to: ORM, 3400 NE Grand Boulevard, Okla-homa City, Oklahoma 73111. If you have any questions call 405-424-8222 Thursday or Fridays.

The Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. (ORM) has items available for both chil-dren 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 opera-tion days of each month April through August. The store is also open for special events.

Crosstie Donations Friends and families of ORM continue to make dona-tions for crossties, equipment and facilities on the Museum property and on the leased track.

If you want to make a do-nation to purchase a crosstie, a donation of $50.00 will help purchase a new crosstie. You can donate a crosstie in recog-nition 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 Bou-levard, Oklahoma City, 73111

Become an ORM Member

ORM Depot Store

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Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd.3400 NE Grand BoulevardOklahoma City, OK 73111-4417

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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 email: 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, 405/412–1552.

Central Oklahoma Garden Railroad Society [COGRS] Contact information: Steve Lemcke (405) 703-0209 e-mail steve.lemcke@att.net or Marshall Douglas (405) 290-8989 or Steve Kamm (405) 685-3755 e-mail 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, 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 TOWNWaynoka Station/Waynoka Historical Society – 202 South Cleveland, Waynoka Call Sandie Olson, 580/824–1886. Notice: They need help with their model railroad layout. If you could help some call Sandie.

Curtis Hill Rendezvous Rail Fan Event May 15,16, 17 Watch and photograph trains from Tangier to Waynoka with emphasis on train watching on Curtis Hill. Lunch at Waynoka Historical Society on Saturday. Some folks come for all 3 days and others just Saturday. Visit web site http://members.trainor-ders.com/sd39/ The website has track maps, area maps with rail fan hot spots, lodging information, etc. The event has a face book page. Contact Duane Koss at dak507@plateautel.net.

the Dispatcher

Birthday Party package options and membership information next page

Oklahoma Railway Museum, Ltd. 3400 NE Grand Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111 Museum Information Contact us-Tuesday through Friday. We have someone to answer your questions 405-424-8222. Our museum is open every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Admission to the muse-um 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 25, 26, 27 and October 2, 3, 4, 2015. We rec-ommend that tickets be purchased in advance. 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 31, 2015 Tickets $12, $5.00 children from 3 to 12 years old. 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 19 and 20, 2015 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 on Saturday. and 1:30 and 3:00 on Sunday. Santa Claus will be here, hot choc-olate, 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% depos-it. The balance is due day of the party.

Package One includes one hour and fourty five minutes 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: $200.00 Party Coach: $250.00

Package Two is a one hour and fourty five minute party without a train ride. This package is available throughout the year on most non-operating Saturdays. The costs are: Birthday Caboose: $100.00 Party Coach: $150.00 Bookings and date/time availability are available on our website -www.oklahomarailwaymuseum.org -and can also be made with our party coordinator Chuck Shinn. He can be reached at 405-850-0597 or by email -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) Emailed 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.

Birthday Party package options