I recently received a catalog of exclusive HO scale models which are sold by the Amarillo Railroad Museum. The introduction reads "Greeting to our mailing list friends and welcome to the first catalog from the Amarillo Railroad Museum! This is an update on our exclusive line of HO scale models. We hope to produce this catalog on a continuing basis as we have new and exciting models to offer our customers. They offer the following:
Pacific Fruit Express R-40 in the 1949 paint schemePacific Fruit Express R-40-25 in the 1962 paint scheme
Northern Pacific PFE clone in the 1949 paint scheme
Northern Pacific PFE clone in the 1960 paint scheme
FtW&D ARA 40' box car
Southwestern Portland PLCX Cement cars
I will bring the catalog with me to the next meeting for those interested.
submitted as received by Bob Batson
Wouldn''t it be nice to go to a railroad museum in Lubbock that displays the Fort Worth & Denver railroad? You, in Lubbock, have a potential classic steam locomotive on static display that no one sees that was a proud member of the FW&D RR for many years. My suggestion to you, and your compadres who share love of railroading, is to formulate a plan to create a museum that celebrates a major part of Lubbock's past, the Fort Worth and Denver RR. A potential site for this museum could be the so-called warehouse district where the old FW&D depot sits. A club could be formed to renovate the old FW&D engine at TTU and make it the star of the railroad once again.
I live in Indianapolis, Indiana and am a member of the Indiana Transportation Museum. We renovated the old Nickel Plate #587 steam engine and it now is our lead engine on many events we have each year, including pulling the state fair strain from Fishers into the fairgrounds, some 25 miles one way. It has been a tremendous success for our tourist industry.
As long as the FW&D tracks exist, the potential is there for a museum. It is truly a diamond in the rough, so to speak. I was raised near the FW&D switching yards near 34th and Avenue A. I began my train buff career there. In 1960, my favorite engine #404 was sold for scrap, along with the last of the old steamers.
Help bring back the old days by looking into the possibilities. I will be glad to offer advice and will provide you with names and addresses of our members here that have been with the ITM since the 60s. Believe me, you don't know the potential of what you have until you shake the building.
Sam L. KingIndianapolis, IN
By Nancy San Martin, The Dallas Morning News, Sunday, January 14, 2001, page 45A
Las Vegas is among the dwindling number of depots that still offer passenger service.
After the train tracks were laid across the new frontier, the depot in Las Vegas greeted the first train in New Mexico Territory in 1879. The original building was replaced in 1899 and still stands today, with two train stops daily. "I've got to get out west for some business," said Mark Daniels, 44, whose car broke down in Las Vegas as he headed to Santa Barbara, Calif., from Minnesota. "I didn't think there would be a train stop here. I figured I'd be going by bus."
Marie Eldh, owner of the historical Casteneda Hotel, a former railroad hotel on an adjacent lot, holds the key to the depot. She opens and locks the door each day while tending a bar at the former hotel.
"I remember when I was a little girl, there was lots of traffic." Ms. Eldh said as a train rumbled past, shaking light fixtures in the dim watering hole. "There was a band out there to meet the train and greet the passengers. It was beautiful."
After a $900,000.00 restoration job, the station will serve as a transportation facility for train, bus and taxi passengers.
"I think the renovation will be great for the town," said Ms. Eldh. "You have to save what you've got here because it's history."
Like Las Vegas, a lot of railroad towns began to decline in the 1920s as the economy changed, automobiles became a more popular mode of transportation and the southwest unveiled Route 66, the ": first continental highway." The railway company began divesting itself of depots in the 1960s.
In 1955, Santa Fe merged with Burlington Northern, The company continues to operate one of the largest rail networks in North America, with 33,500 route miles covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces.
Once heavily reliant on passenger service, the railway industry in the Southwest today generates most of its revenue from transporting coal, grain, intermodal containers, trailers, chemicals, metals and minerals, forest products, automobiles and consumer goods.
"The railroad is still an important part of our society," said Mr. Pino, the man from Belen with hopes of purchasing an old depot. "A lot of people have forgotten about them. If you let them go, they'll just become an eyesore in the community." - see NEW MEXICO DEPOTS
Where do I get these catalogs? I found in my file a catalog from Fun & Games (www.scalefigures.com) located in Jefferson City, MO. They apparently have a special interest in O scale figures, both painted and unpainted. The selection is impressive. They have workers, travelers, animals, nudes, and a host of others. If you need figures in O scale, you will find it here. I will bring this catalog with me to the next meeting in April. (The editor has no proprietary interest in this company.)
Creosote stain can be purchased at hardware stores, and it can be used to stain model ties just as it is used for the prototype. Dip the ties in the stain and then spread them to dry. Varying shades can be obtained by thinning the creosote with turpentine.
For laying ballast after applying glue, an ordinary saltshaker words wonders. It not only saves ballast but also does a very neat job.
The clinic for the April meeting will be given by Randel Bittick. He will talk about "The Age of Steam Railroad museum in Dallas."
Jack Seay wants to give a special thank you to those who gave of their time to set up the club pike at the library in March. They are: Sheldon Klock, Bill Lynch Ray Zipps, Garon Cagle, Bob Anconetani, Brad Jones, David Lamberts, and Margi O'Neill.
Lubbock Model Railroad Association
P.O. Box 53674
Lubbock, TX 79453
Staying on Track is published monthly by the LMRA - David Lamberts, editor.
Visit us on the Internet at www.railserve.com/lmra
E-mail me at DWL1944@cs.com
Our mailing address is PO Box 53674, Lubbock, TX 79453
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