the DispatcherCentral Oklahoma Chapter

of the National Railway Historical SocietyOklahoma Railway Museum Ltd,

NARCOA Affiliate Member

Volume 47, Issue 10 October 2012

(left) article from Santa Fe Magazine Nov. 1954, Stan Hall Collection

AT&SF number 643 at Menard, Texas in September 1949. Stan Hall collection

by Gary Githens

It started about 8 years ago with a letter written by Harry Currie to the Fair Board requesting the ORM be considered a home for #643, caboose and hand car in the event the direction the Fair took with displays changed. On August 23rd a meeting was held and an agreement was reached that at a future date the ORM would be home for the equipment.

The ORM Board of Directors is thrilled to offer a home for #643, Frisco ca-boose, and hand car. It will be well maintained, protected and on display for the public to view.

It will be no earlier than the fall of 2013 before the equipment arrives at the ORM. During this time the display location and shelter will be determined and constructed.

City of Oklahoma City and Fair Board bestow great honor and responsibility on ORM

Page 2 the DispatcherOklahoma Railway

Museum, Ltd.

Board of DirectorsStan Hall, President

Larry Dodd, Vice Presidentand Program Chair

Drake Rice, SecretaryCharles Price, Treasurer

Bob Nantois, NRHS DirectorBob Cossairt, Director of Buildings & Static Displays

Bob Hussey, Director of Track Maintenance

Jim Murray, Director of Mechanical Operations

Harry Currie, Director at LargeGreg Hall, Director of

Museum Activities

Larry Loomis, Director of Museum Displays

Ed Birch Jr., Train Show ChairGary Moore, Membership

Chair

Gary Githens, Dispatcher Editor Stan Hall

Volunteers NeededOklahoma City Train Show

setup Friday Nov 30thshow December 1st and 2nd

please contact Bob Cookphone: 405-326-8879

email: bobcookorm@cox.net

Volunteers NeededHalloween train rides

October 27thChristmas train rides

December 15ththese are fun events to be

involved with

By the time you get this the First weekend of Thomas will be over. We have been preparing for some time and I expect a success-ful time. The pressure of emptying the shop for use as a store causes a lot of trouble for the Mechanical department, but also gets a lot of work done. Jim Murray and crew have successfully repaired air conditioning problems on two of the coaches. These problems have been very hard to find and repair. This will allow the crew to move on to other projects after Thomas.

Terry Birchett has completely rebuilt our car mover and it is ready to move out of the Shop. There are still some problems with the hydraulic system so Terry still has some work to do. In honor of all his work I have named the car mover the TERRY B.

The work on the Rock Island caboose is coming along slowly. Harry Currie and several helpers have been working on the roof to protect the car while it is outside during Thomas. The roof has been re decked, tarpaper applied and roofing over that. The roof should last another hundred years.

Come out and see all the improvements. You may even find a project you would like to do.

NOTICE:This issue has a supple-

ment page attached which may be of interest to mem-

orabilia collectors

For the Halloween train ride many volunteers and members come out in costume. Put on a costume and come out or just come out to look at your fel-low ORM members and guests

Page 3the DispatcherMuseum Update by Drake Rice

RR Memorabilia Salerefer attached supplement

Robert Chester RailroadCollection Estate SaleOctober 25, 26 & 27

3805 North Lincoln, Enid, OK

Bob Cossait, Harry Currrie and Stan Hall working on the Rock Island caboose roof

Raymond Woods

It’s Thomas Time at ORM!!! Hope everyone has signed up for the fun. All volunteers who help are always appreciated since this is our big activity of the year. It also allows the museum to showcase its passenger train equipment and making the museum an inviting place to visit after the event. So if you haven’t signed up to help please do. Work has continued up to the preparations for Thomas. Jim Murray, Terry Birchett and Guy Lynn were able to repair a leak in the AC of car 115. It has been leaking for over a year, but thanks to the continual looking and determined desire to fix the leak, Jim Murray was able to locate it on a pipe in a very restricted location. Some of interior roof was removed, repairs made and reinstalled on Sunday.

Terry Birchett has completed repairs on the Car Mover and said it would run which it did. It was used to move the RI Caboose out of the shop on Satur-day to make way for the Thomas store.

The Rock Island Caboose is undergoing major re-hab this year. The museum received a grant from the NRHS to assist with the work. Many of ORM members have been helping on this project. Al-though the floor is out and the sides are gone, the roof has been repaired by a crew led by Harry Currie with helpers Stan Hall, Charles Price, Phil Ford, Bob Cook and Drake Rice working to get the new wood down and the tar paper roofing on the ends. The caboose has been placed on the far north end of the rip track for the Thomas event.

Train crews under the direction of Greg Hall have set the Thomas Train on the station track and checked

equipment while other volunteers assisted with getting tents, minia-ture golf course and Sir Topham Hatts platform on the grounds.Mike Harker worked on the electri-cal hook ups making sure they are in place for the different vendors.

The store will be set up in the shop and the grounds will be a bee hive of activty the week prior to Thom-as.Truman Hefner has his car host crews ready and Pat Riley is getting cleaning supplies for the cars, batteries for the Thomas toys, signs ready, and the many other little details that have to be addressed.Larry Dodd will be in charge of the store so the set up will get underway on Tuesday with the arrival of the tables.

According to the ticket sales the event is running a little ahead of last year. Following Thomas and the tear down of all the ven-ues, work will resume on the RI Caboose and other equipment needing attention. This fall and winter will be a busy time for ORM. With the shop building projects can continue through-out the winter. Also work will be completed on the Rock Island Combine car to complete the AC installation which will allow the car to host larger birthday parties.

Remember, the museum can always use volunteer help. Hope to see you at the museum.

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Jim Pasby and Carl Stevenson are busy setting up the O Gauge trains that will be running on the shelf around the top part of the room. The museum is fortunate to have received a Southern Crescent Scale 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive, Tender, and 5 cars. It is something to see. It is a magnificent model, and seeing it run will be a real treat once Jim and Carl work their magic. Be sure and stop by and take a look.

Tip of the Hat section Somebody put yellow paint on the top railing of the steps leading into the exhibition car. It looks nice. Give yourself an 'attaboy'.

Contributions Gary Githens, Editor in Chief of the newsletter, has allowed me, Geoff Hendrick to become his swamper. Geoff welcomes any and all contributions. Articles could be complete and ready for printing. Or, they might be something as simple as a note saying "You ought to write about...." that could be fleshed in. Please do not be offended if the wording of submis-sions is changed. Articles and news items which point out work done on behalf of the museum are es-pecially welcome. If you see a task, large or small, which deserves recognition, please let us know.

The signs in the yard north of the station need paint-ing. Problem is that the lettering is getting faded and could use a touch up. If you know somebody who is artsy-like and would want to do it, let one of the board members know. Otherwise, a museum member who is eager but not especially gifted will touch up the lettering. If someone else will do it, the signs can easily be disassembled and taken wher-ever for the art work. Thanks. The metal steps on our antique Birthday caboose are needing repair. Currently, as a stopgap mea-sure, cement blocks have been placed under the steps. Obviously the step assembly needs to be taken off and the unit welded. Taking the steps off could, however, result in extensive damage to the structure. One museum member has suggested that 4 1/4" holes could be drilled into the metal step assembly and some wooden legs attached. It is de-batable whether or not this would look better than the current cement block arrangement. If you favor leaving the cement block arrangement, please ad-vise a boss. If you favor drilling into the metal step assembly to make a crutch device, please advise a board member.

THE BULLY GETS THE HOT SEAT

by Neal Baucom This story is about a payback that took place in the roundhouse where my dad was the clerk.

The rest room facilities for the roundhouse were in a building next to the clerk’s office. The inside of this facility was constructed with a long bench against the wall and had holes cut in the seat. No individual stools with lids. Suspended under the holes was a large diameter pipe sliced in half forming a trough that ran the length of the bench. It was sloped and water flowed constantly through it from the high end.

The sidewalk went by the windows of the clerk’s of-fice and you could see everyone coming and going. Dad said he didn’t have time to pay attention to who went by. However, he happened to be sitting at his desk one day eating lunch and he saw Samuel go by. Samuel was the roundhouse prankster. With in a few seconds Dave followed. Dave seemed to be Samuels favorite target for his pranks.

A short time later dad heard some someone shout-ing in a distinctly recognizable railroad manner. Im-mediately, another worker named Charlie went by the window leaving the area quickly followed by Dave. After calm returned, the roundhouse fore-man came into the clerk’s office. He asked dad if he knew what had transpired. Dad told him what he saw and heard.

The foreman said.“ Well, here’s what Charlie told us. He had finished his business and was getting ready to leave when Samuel came in. When he went outside he looked around the corner and saw Dave lighting up an oil-soaked rag and dropping it into the trough. Samuel won’t talk about it.”

by Geoff Hendrick

the Dispatcher Page 5

Christmas Dec 15, 2012 at the Okla-homa Rail-

way Museum

The cabinet in the photo above was donated by Dayton and Helen Webb. Dayton is a retired Santa Fe employee. Thanks to Lawrence and Shirley Kelly for going to Perry to load and bring the cabinet to the ORM

The cabinet came from the Perry, OK depot. Train orders, section crew orders and forms were stored in this cabinet. It will probably be installed in the Oak-wood Depot.

Raymond Woods

The following Board of Director positions are com-ing up for election in January.

Board position Incumbent Vice President Larry DoddSecretary Drake RiceDir. of Mechanical Operations Jim MurrayDir. or Museum Displays Larry Loomis (Larry has chosen not to run for re-nomi nation)Dir. Of Track Maintenance Bob HusseyNRHS Dir. Bob Nantois Nominees will be published in the December and January issues of the Dispatcher.

Elections will be held during the annual member-ship meeting on January 5, 2013 at the Furrs Fresh

Buffet in Moore.

The Oklahoma Railway Museum By-Laws require elections for the positions listed at left in 2013. The position term is for two years.

Nominees Qualifications:ORM member for six (6) months prior to Friday, November 9, 2012

Nominations must be received on or before Friday, November 9, 2012.

Send nominations to: Gary Moore, Membership Chairman Mail: 1112 Providence Ct. Edmond, OK 73003-6155 E-mail: gkrim@swbell.net

2013 Board of Director Elections

Depot orders cabinet donated

Halloween Oct 27th at the Oklaho-ma Railway

Museum

Oklahoma City

Train ShowDec 1 & 2

the DispatcherPage 6

A volunteer returns

ORM chapter of NARCOA to host motorcar events

November 3, 2012A-OK railroad from McAlester. 92 mile round trip

November 17-18Farmrail out of Clinton. Two day mileage approxi-mately 200.

Underside view of new decking being installed on the Rock Island caboose roof

Raymond Woods

Raymond Woods

We were glad to see a new old friend. Mark Holder-baum volunteered years ago, but found he needed to devote time to other things, primarily his work schedule.. Recently he showed up to help get ready for Thomas days. Mark was immediately put to work applying sealer to the ramp leading up to the yard office. After that, he straightened up the thick rubber pads which make up the railroad cross-ing just off the parking lot. No telling what else he did that day. Next day, he came out and did some mowing. We need to encourage folk to come to the museum to volunteer, and of course we want to en-courage people like Mark to come back and keep on coming. Be sure to say Hi to Mark if you see him.

by Geoff Hendrick

A new display in the model railroad car. Major expansions have been made to the model railroad this summer.

Raymond Woods

Phillip Ford repairs a tool in the ORM shop.

Please continue support of your Oklahoma

Railway Museum by renewing your membeship

2012 ORM/NRHS 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 $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 ________________________________________ 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 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.

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 $42.50 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

Page 7

the DispatcherPage 8

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: ORMnews@cox.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 August 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 TOWNRailroad 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.

Cutris Hill Rendezvous 10th Anniversary Fall Meet - October 19, 20 & 21. Photo ops on the “Hill” - Tour the Waynoka Depot and Harvey House - Meals to-geather Friday and Saturday evening in Woodward. Contact Duane Koss at dak507@plateautel.net. Or if you come across me, editor Gary, or feel freen to contact me, ask me about it. Website: members.trainorders.com/sd39

Robert Chester Railroad Collection Estate SaleOctober 25, 26, & 27, 2012

(Thursday-Saturday)3805 North Lincoln, Enid, OK

Held by Nottingham Sales of Enid, OK 580-234-7321

www.nottinghamsales.comVisit the website to see photos of the items—

this will be updated, so check back often

Robert Chester is a founding member of the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma, located in Enid, OK and has been collecting railroad memorabilia for 50+ years.

He has recently moved to North Carolina and must part with most of his collection. This is a wonderful opportunity for other collectors to pick up some unique items.

INCLudEd IN ThE SaLEOver 150 lanterns & lamps, many globes, 400+ locks, 250+ keys,

400+ passes ranging from 1863-1960s, paper fares dating 1867-1873, a complete conductor’s kit, playing cards, menus, silver & china dining car items,

glassware, lantern & locomotive candy containers, oil cans tall & short, torches, tools, fire buckets, considerable tinware, ticket punches, stock certificates,

drawers of railroad timetables, lots of large cast & metal signs including RR crossing signs, LOTS of railroad books, encyclopedias, maintenance manuals, insulators,

all of Jim Beam RR Decanters in original boxes, HO gauge cars & locomotives, artwork, mirrors & framed posters, hundreds of street car tokens, depot furniture,

cabinets & ticket cases, railroad mechanical & wood pencils, spittoons, calendars, souvenir items, tie & bridge date nails, fraternal awards, badges & medallions, car seals,

uniform badges, caps, baggage rack, brass baggage tags, railroad belt buckles, antique brake wheels, scissor desk phones & scissor with telegraph sounder box, Enid street car coin fare box, passenger counter

15,000+ postcards—mostly RR—includes depots from all 50 states plus Mexico, Canada & Europe

…and MuCh, MuCh MORE! This is a sale not to be missed! 3 days Only!