STAYING ON

TRACK

The Newsletter of the Lubbock Model Railroad Association October 2003

“TRAIN MAN” IS KEEPING TRACK

Continued from the July newsletter

By Laura Griffin as printed in the Dallas Morning News, December 10, 2002, pg. 29A.

I note that in the July issue of the newsletter I published the next to last installment of the article on the “train man” who keeps the railroad running at the Dallas Children’s Hospital. Here is the conclusion of the article. By the way, if you are in Dallas, this railroad is worth seeing. It will be the biggest layout you ever lay eyes on.

Mr. Fitzgerald [the “train man”] recently perched Santa and some reindeer atop a snow-covered mountain. But that meant removing the plastic Tyrannosaurus rex - “I didn’t want it to look like the T-Rex was chasing Santa Claus” he said. Mr. Fitzgerald also added a santa train that plays Jingle Bells as it passes downtown.

“Because he’s always changing details and subtle nuances or decorating the set for the holidays, it’s always interesting,” said Ellen Hollon, director of the hospital’s Child Life program. “It’s a great motivator for the children. It’s a goal for recovery for children in post-op to get well enough to go see the trains.”

Mr. Farr tells a story of a child who came in for day surgery. “When his father told him it was time to go home, the boy said, ‘We can’t go yet. We haven’t seen the trains.’”

In his workroom, under the mountain, Mr. Fitzgerald maintains a bulletin board with letters from children and parents and pictures of kids who’ve spent a lot to time in the hospital - and at the train scape.

“This little guy started coming here when he was a baby,” Mr. Fitzgerald says, pointing to a photo of himself with a boy about 6-years-old who died not long after the picture was taken.

“It can be heartbreaking here sometimes,” he said.

Though it’s the mechanical work that keeps the trains going, Mr. Fitzgerald said his favorite part of the job is working on tracks in the landscape and watching the children. “The kids are always amazed by it,” he said.

A boy, still groggy from a CT scan, recently visited the massive train room before leaving the hospital. His face brightened, and he bolted upright in his stroller. “Choo-choo-choo-choo,” the 19-month-old said, pointing in every direction.

The Train Man smiled. “That’s what it’s all about,” he said.

AMTRAK LAUNCHES NEW FARES

From Trains.com.

Submitted by Ron Warner

Amtrak launches new advertising campaign to promote low fares: WASHINGTON, D.C. (10 Sep '03)

Amtrak this week launched a new national advertising campaign in Washington, D.C. and five other major cities - Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Seattle - to promote the railroad's lowest fares to its most popular destinations. Advertising will expand to 70 cities later this month.

The campaign marks a significant change in the way Amtrak markets itself, reflecting the railroad's new "back-to-basics" strategy to simplify its pricing structure as well as roll back its coach fares. Previously, Amtrak's seasonal fall, winter, and spring promotions featured advertising that emphasized discounts ranging from 25 to 50 percent. Under the new strategy, Amtrak's advertising will promote actual low fares-not percentage discounts-to specific destinations.

Amtrak will continue to drive sales to its Web site, offering a 5 percent discount off the lowest available rail fare for passengers who book their travel on-line from through December 13. The online discount is not valid on some Northeast Corridor trains, and blackout dates may apply. In addition, Amtrak will continue to offer 15 percent discounts for seniors (ages 62 and up) and a 50 percent discount for kids (ages 2-15) off the lowest available rail fare. Children under the age of 2 ride free.

The bulk of the campaign's budget will be allocated to newspaper advertising in Amtrak's top 21 markets, plus 49 smaller markets, in an effort to increase consumer exposure while keeping costs low. Use of radio advertising will be limited to six markets, while television commercials will not be used at all. On-line advertising, which has increased 400 percent over Amtrak's 2002 fall ad campaign, will include banners on Yahoo, CitySearch, and blackplanet.com.

RAIL STATION RENAISSANCE continued

By Cory Walton as printed in Texas Highways February 2001, pg. 26.

San Antonio’s elegant 1907 International & Great Northern (I&GN) depot is a prime example of this creative trend. The Mission revival style brick structure, with its copper-clad dome, stained-glass windows, massive interior columns, and sweeping stairway, now serves as the main branch of the San Antonio City Employees Federal Credit Unition (SACEFCU).

As you gaze at this historic treasure, it’s hard to imagine that in 1985, it awaited the wrecking ball. At that time, recalls SACEFCU president Tim Haegelin, the credit union was within 10 days of closing on a site for new headquarters two blocks from the station. Vandals had broken the windows and stripped away the copper sheathing on the dome, leaving the ceiling’s exposed beams and plaster to crumble. Even the copper statue of an Indian archer had been pilfered from its perch atop the dome. It was later found dumped in a nearby rail yard.

At the urging of the then-mayor Henry Cisneros, the credit union halted its site negotiations and, after carefully studying the depot and finding it sound, decided to buy it and adapt it to its needs. “It was a leap of faith,” says Tim. “I questioned my own sanity when I walked into this building later and realized the undertaking our board had voted on.”

To re-create the station’s stained-glass windows, local artisans looked at old photographs and used glass fragments found around the window’s frames. New copper sheathing recapped the dome, and the Indian archer resumed his lookout.

Tim understands the pride of ownership that members of the credit union feel for the building. “Many members have brought in Depot memorabilia from life-changing experiences they had here,” he says. “They left from this depot to go to war, to visit distant relatives or to take jobs in other cities.” For Tim, the depot’s reopening brought its own personal meaning. “Forty-four years after arriving in San Antonio at this depot with my mom,” he says, “I returned to it as an office in the organization that revived it.”

To be continued . . .

THANKS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Randel wanted me to be sure to thank the members who helped with the Cowboy Symposium this year.

A big Thank You to members that helped with the set-up at the Cowboy Symposium. Their names are Terry Chancellor, Curly Bunting, Jim Matlock, Charles McCartney, and Randel Bittick. Also a big Thank You to Terry Chancellor and Jim Matlock for running trains Friday, September 5. Another big Thank You to Randel Bittick and Charles McCartney for running trains Saturday, September 6. Also a big Thank You to the members who helped tear down Saturday. Their names are Curly Bunting, Randel Bittick, Charles McCartney and the help of Ron Campeau, Curly’s long time friend.

Randel L. Bittick