In the early days of the Chapter, a majority of the programs were slide shows and
home movies by members such as Shelby Campbell and Marion Perrin, with
anywhere from 55 to 60 people showing up to the meetings just to:
A.---See the evenings' Railroading entertainment; And,
B.---To Talk about trains.
Futhermore, Marion Perrin (Another former Chapter member notable) always saw
to it that our Chapter members had refreshments at each and every one of
the meetings and appropriate Holiday decorations for the November and
December meetings; The result was that the members always had a good time at
the meetings---with many thanks to the efforts given by Marion to make it
a reality.
Topeka Chapter Railfan Trips: A History---
Before the Topeka Chapter NRHS was created, local rail enthusiasts would
participate in Kansas City Chapter NRHS fantrips (Like riding the
St. Louis San Francisco Railroad from KC to Clinton, Missouri, for example).
But, that all changed with the creation of our Chapter.
Officially starting in June of 1952, our Chapter members would try to take a fantrip once
a year on Santa Fe's Alma, Kansas branch until operations came to a halt on the line
in 1962; Generally Speaking, it was either that or else try to host a fantrip
somewhere along the Santa Fe in Kansas.
Usually, "Art" Jr's. father (Who worked for the Santa Fe and was good friends with Mr.
Rose---who worked in the General Manager's office at that time) would get a
freshly shopped coach to put on the rear of these trains. Moreover, they (the trains)
always had ATSF combine #2312 and a locomotive of some kind.
In 1952, that locomotive was ATSF #1079 (A 2-6-2 Steam Locomotive---Which
currently is on display in Coffeyville, Kansas at Johnson Park); Later on, the train
was pulled by Fairbanks-Morse Road Switcher #3012.
For the most part, the crewmembers that operated the Chapter fantrips up the
Alma branch of the Santa Fe were the same people every year that the trip was
run---so long as it was regularly scheduled. The traincrew consisted of the
following people:
Ralph White (Engineer);
Ray Williams (Fireman);
Joe Gooch (Brakeman);
Joe Louis [Lewis???] (Brakeman); And,
Tom Mcdade (Conductor).
When I talked to "Art" Jr. about these fantrips, he said that:
"It was an interesting operation to go up the Alma Branch too, because the crewmembers
were class one---All Railroad---when they were on the mainline; And then, once they
got off (the mainline and onto) the branch, it was pretty informal [Not to say that
Railroad rules weren't being followed, persay, but it was just less formal]; It was
always an enjoyable ride."