hitting a firm beat on the upgrades. Watching from the rear platform, our course could
be traced through the green countryside and golden wheat fields by a low hanging
cloud of fragant coal smoke. A rare sight indeed these days. At many of the towns along
the way people were on hand to see the train chug by. One incredulous young fellow
was seen with a look of great disbelief still on his face long after the ancient diamond
stacker and open platform coaches had passed. The only casualty was the engine bell
clapper which parted company this side of Meriden. With the sun nearing its rest, the
Cyrus K. Holliday proudly led its train over the Kaw River bridge and into the yards
at Topeka. A switch was thrown, the engine reversed, and the train was backed into a
service track near the round house. The crew clambered down. Bill and I gathered our
cameras and after dusting off a cinder or two joined the trainmen for the walk to the
depot. (From the July 1954 issue of "Sparks"; Volume #2/Issue #6)
(By Clayton Tinkham)---
Kansas, operated over the Santa Fe on Sunday, October 2, 1955. Our journey started
shortly after 10:00 a.m. when locomotive 303 started train No. 5 out of the Topeka
station. Most of the party located seats in one of the coaches made from a former
Pullman car, so the passage to Emporia was occupied with looking at photos
belonging to those making the trip. Despite our late start from Topeka, and some delay
in meeting train No. 12, the Chicagoan, we rolled into Emporia very little late. Train
No. 25, in the form of motor car M.176, was waiting for us on an adjacent track.
After No. 5 departed for Newton, we boarded the M.176 to find Lee Clerico,
Newton Breth, A. L. Widener, and E. M. Fein, all of Wichita Chapter, already seated.
They had arrived earlier on the Chicagoan.
With passengers entrained, the highball was flashed, and No. 25 followed No. 5 down
the main line. The addition of our group to the regular customers of No. 25,
overflowed the motor's seating capacity. However, the overcrowding was quickly
solved when the door to the baggage compartment was discovered. Many fans found the
windows of this compartment a fine place to watch the passing countryside. Others
occupied places on the rear vestibule where, from vantage points at the rear door and
windows in the vestibule end, they could watch the track recede from the speeding
train. The 13 miles to Ellinor were covered quickly, then slowing to 40 M.P.H., we
swung through a pair of remote controlled switches and were headed for El Dorado
over the Second District of the Middle Division. Passenger business wasn't very
brisk in the Flint Hills, although we did pick up and discharge an occasional rider
along the way. At Matfield Green we were routed into the siding to meet an eastbound
freight headed by locomotive 412. At El Dorado we backed off the main track and
into the depot, paused briefly, then headed back to the main line and on to
Augusta. While not signalized, the Douglass District proved to be a well kept piece
of railroad offering the same smooth riding noticed on the CTC equipped Second
District.
During the run down the Second District we became acquainted with our conductor,
Mr. F. W. Lyons who seemed to enjoy having a group of railroad fans aboard. Many
of us got to know Mr. W. M. Thomas, the baggageman, who pointed out interesting
landmarks along the way. The skilled hand at the throttle belonged to Mr.
J. S. Mowl, who took the M. 176 over the road with dispatch. Perhaps we shall have the
pleasure of riding with these gentlemen again.
Winfield was reached only 10 minutes late. The motor remained in the station long enough to enable us to take photos of it. While waiting for No. 6 and our return trip, a
freight train pulled through from the south behind six diesel units headed by
No. 123. The next train to arrive was No. 5 which we had left earlier at Emporia.
No. 6 arrived on time behind locomotive No. 302. Again we all rode in a coach built
from a Pullman. These cars have excellent seats and ride very well. At Udall, during
the station stop, many cameramen took pictures of the town that was leveled by a
tornado early in the summer. Now the shattered and stripped trees stand as
monuments to the disaster amid the rebuilt homes and buildings. At Wichita our
Wichita Chapter friends left us, having completed (Cont. on the next page---)