"THE CALL BOARD"---
Our secretary-treasurer Howard Killam recently returned from a railfan's vacation. He rode the
Frisco from Monett Missouri to Paris Texas and return, and a Frisco motor train from Hugo
Oklahoma to Ardmore Oklahoma.
OSL 596 that showed up last December with a long tender is now out of the Kansas City shops with
a short switch tender. The cab is lettered OSL 596 and the tender UP 596.
When called upon by the Boy Scouts for their Jamboree on the West Coast the railroads once again
were ready with dependable mass transportation. Here in Topeka we observed part of this movement
when a special Santa Fe train of Eastern Kansas Boy Scouts left Topeka pulled by 2925 (4-8-4). Over
on the Union Pacific seven specials went by. Those which we know about were: Engine 844 (4-8-4)
pulled a second section of train 39 on Friday July 10th. Engine 801 (4-8-4) pulled a special the same
night. Engine 7865 (4-8-2) was at the head end of one on Saturday and 7013 (4-8-2) had a short string
of blue Wabash cars with a couple of yellow Union Pacific diners tagging along behind, on
Sunday afternoon.
(From the October 1953 issue of "Sparks"; Volume #1/Issue #9):
"THE CALL BOARD"---
On October 8th, three Southern Pacific passenger diesels were seen in a westbound Rock Island
freight.
Some of us were wondering what 221, a 2-8-0, was doing coupled to four Pullmans last
October 13th, over next to the Union Freight office. According to Frank Kelley she was being used
to supply train heat. Incidentally, 221 was painted and polished to a degree seldom seen on the
Union Pacific.
We wish to welcome Clayton Tinkham who became a member at the September meeting. Clayton
was formerly a resident of Amarillo, Texas.
(From the August 1953 issue of "Sparks"; Volume #1/Issue #7):
"THE CALL BOARD"---
The Frisco which once had numerous motor trains scheduled now has but one, which runs from
Hugo, Oklahoma to Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Our Chapter is growing very steadily. Harry Landis, Marion Perrin and Delbert Marshall are welcome
new active members while Oliver Gibson of Amarillo, Texas is a new associate member.
Vacation time is here and there are three of our officers absent. Ray Hillner is on his honeymoon
in Colorado. Bill Gibson is on vacation in Minnesota. Rennie Neider is enjoying western scenery and
steam power of the U.P., N.P., D.M. & I.R. Art Gibson has been to Colorado narrow gauge country
and is now in Minnesota.
(From the December 1953 issue of "Sparks"; Volume #1/Issue #11):
"THE CALL BOARD"---
From Art Johnson of Springfield, Missouri, we learn that the FRISCO has given the City of
Springfield a modern steam locomotive No. 4524, a 4-8-4, which has been placed in Grant Beach Park
in that city. This was the last steam engine purchased by the Frisco. Another 4-8-4, No. 4500 was
given to the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. A fast passenger engine No. 1529, a mountain type, was given
to Armory, Mississippi. This makes five Frisco engines on public display now and one is yet to be
given to Birmingham, Alabama.
We have sorely missed the lack of any steam locomotive on the Santa Fe rails through Topeka, so we
rejoice over the appearance of No. 2913 on a work train seen by two of our members Friday
morning, November 27th.
Shed a tear for the passing of steam from the head end of the UNION PACIFIC'S daily except Sunday
Kansas City local freight. A couplde of whining screeching, Alco diesels have taken over the chore
from the faithful 2-8-2's.
Our former chapter director Vernon L. Smith, has been promoted to Assistant Supervisor of Diesels
for the SANTA FE and has moved to Chicago. We regret to see Vern go and will miss him at our
meetings, but we sincerely congratulate him on his promotion.
