APRIL-MAY 1992

VOLUME 6 April-May, 1992 NUMBER 6

Rick's Tips 8Frisco Folk Rick McClellan shares with us an assortment of modelingtricks, tips, and neat things to do that are relatively simple, inexpensive,and quick, all of which can enhance the appearance and operation ofyour layout. This installment provides some general gluing tips.

Doodlebugging on the Frisco 9This is the last in our four year, thirty-two article, series on Frisco's fleetof Motor Cars. This concluding issue profiles the fleet of DoodlebugTrailers.

Frisco Roster Tales 12Frisco Folk Ken Wulfert shares with us the second of a series of RosterTales on the Frisco's diesel switcher locomotives. This installmentfeatures the Fairbanks Morse H-10-44 and H-12-44 switchers.

In 1949, Lee Monroe experienced the romance of the Frisco at Lebanon,MO. In 1982, he recorded his experience in the words & music of a song.In April, 1992, the song is declared the official theme sone of The FriscoRailroad Museum Inc.

The Lebanon Experience 6Frisco Folk Lee Monroe shares the story-behind-the-song of the BalladOf The Frisco.

RESEARCH SERVICE UP-DATE 8Frisco Folk Larry Thomas shares additional information on the Frisco-GM&O through sleeper service mentioned in the Frisco On The Pennesyfeature, ALL ABOARD, December 1991-January 1992.

FRISCO TWIN BAY HOPPER #90538 14In this edition of the NEW CAR SHOP Frisco Folk Louis Griesemerprovides details for detailing an "N" Scale version of the Frisco's fleet of1940's era Twin Bay Hoppers.

Alan SchmittClarence PearceSaundra Schmitt

Charles E. MahaffeyWarren Hall

Richard Napper

Editor Alan SchmittFMIS Editor Richard Napper

Contributing Editor's Rick McClellan Lee MonroeKen Wulfert Louis Griesemer

Larry ThomasMembership Secretary

Rachel SchmittDistribution

Sarah Schmitt

They were called Soldier Diners and this article provides an historicalprofile of their construction, rebuildings, and service on the Frisco.

Frisco Folk Dan Spellman shares a December 1991, photo of Ex-FriscoSW-9 #313, repainted & renumbered BN 268, in switcher service at theConsolidated Grain & Barge Co. in Cincinnati, OH.

ABOUT THE COVER It's the new official theme song of The FriscoRailroad Museum Inc.. See related storieson pp. 5 & 6.

The Frisco Folksheadlinemarked the section in the variouscompany publications that reportedthe activities and accomplishmentsof company employees and theirfamilies. The Frisco was a familyoriented company! The FriscoRailroad Museum Inc. iscontinuing that family tradition inour FRISCO FOLKS supportorganization, for individuals whobelieve in the purpose and objectivesof the museum and are committedto preserving the rich heritage ofthe Frisco. A variety of membershiplevels are offered, as follows:

SWITCHMAN: A one yearmembership for a donation of$25.00BRAKEMAN: A two yearmembership for a donation of$50.00.FIREMAN: A three year membershipfor a donation of $75.00.CONDUCTOR: An expanded threeyear membership for a donation of$100.00.ENGINEER: A life membership fora one time donation of $500.00 ormore.

The museum is pleased toacknowledge the followingmembership renewals in theFRISCO FOLKS:

Wallace McMillan BrakemanMarylandHoward Biby SwitchmanOklahomaJoseph W. Koch SwitchmanMissouriScott Muskopf SwitchmanMissouriP. Allen Copeland SwitchmanCaliforniaJohn Bradbury Jr. SwitchmanMissouriMark Evans SwitchmanKansasGale Hall SwitchmanArkansas

Jim T. Martin SwitchmanFloridaMike Sypult SwitchmanArkansasSteve Manhard SwitchmanCaliforniaKevin Johnson SwitchmanMissouriRoger Cottrell SwitchmanKansas

The museum is pleased to welcomethe following new members to theFRISCO FOLKS:

Donald D. Banwart ConductorKansasR.J. Fassler ConductorMichiganA.B. Dean ConductorMichiganJim Blair BrakemanAlabamaJames T. Rucker BrakemanTexasDavid S. Hass BrakemanOklahomaThomas W. Moody SwitchmanFloridaDoyle Jones SwitchmanMissouriRobert C. Oswald SwitchmanArkansasRandall E. Cape SwitchmanCaliforniaDonn P. Branstrator SwitchmanAlabamaMark L. Burton SwitchmanPennsylvaniaDavid Bulbow SwitchmanTexasMike Thomasson SwitchmanTexasJimmy Stone SwitchmanOklahomaDavid E. Lindquist SwitchmanKansasR. Scott Marchbanks....SwitchmanMissouriRon Chamberlain SwitchmanKansasDouglas W. Williams SwitchmanMissouriLarry Burt SwitchmanMississippi

NEW MEMBER REFERRAL

For every new member thata current member refers, they willreceive a 10% credit towards theirnext renewal. EXAMPLE: When aSwitchman member refers a newmember, they will receive a $2.50credit on their next renewal. Referten new members in one year, andyour next renewal is FREE! It's thebest of two worlds: Refer new FriscoFolks and help the museum grow,while saving yourself some bucks!The New Member Referral programapplies to Switchman throughConductor levels of membership.

MEMBER RENEWALDISCOUNT

All renewals that arereceived prior to the mailing of asecond renewal notice will receive a10% credit towards their nextrenewal. EXAMPLE: When aSwitchman member sends in theirrenewal prior to a second noticebeing mailed, their next year'srenewal will be $22.50 rather than$25.00. It's not much, but everylittle bit counts! The 10% discountcredit is always based on the normalmembership amount and is open toSwitchman through Conductorlevels of membership.

DON'T MISS OUT ON ANY FRISCOHISTORY!

Back issues of the ALL ABOARD are currently availablefrom Volume 1 Number 1 to the present issue!

In order for us to maintain current records, avoidexpensive forwarding postage, and so you will receive yourALL ABOARD in a timely fashion, PLEASE notify the museumoffice of any change in your address and/or phone number.

The EXCESS BAGGAGEprogram is a member benefit of ourFrisco Folks membership programthat allows members to purchaseduplicate and/or non-Frisco itemsof memorabilia that are donated tothe museum. When available,selected items are purchased forresale. Members receive a periodiclist of items available and pricing isusually well below "market" value.

An Excess Baggage Mailinglist is established to ensure thatthose who wish to receive the listwill get it, while at the same timeminimizing the cost of printing &mailing lists to those who do notwish to receive one. If you want tobe included on the current listand have not yet mailed yourExcess Baggage reply card,please do so as soon as possible.

We are always looking fornew items to include on the list andwelcome inquiries concerning itemsour members have for sale, trade,or donation.

Please note that our ExcessBaggage inventory includes moreitems than we have room for on thelists. If you are looking for a specificitem, please let us know. We mighthave it or known where you can getit.

The Frisco Railroad MuseumInc. proudly supports theefforts of...

One of the most interestingfacets of the day to day operation ofthe museum is the many inquireswe receive from folks desiringinformation about the Frisco andthe programs & services themuseum has to offer. We answerwell over fifty a month from virtuallyall over the world and many of ourFrisco Folks are members of ourFrisco family because of suchinquiries. They are all interestingand unique... but few have been asexciting as the letter we receivedfrom Frisco Folk Lee Monroe inMarch, 1991.

On March 25, 1991, wereceived a letter from Mr. Monroe inwhich he shared an experience hehad some forty-three years ago alongthe Frisco line at Lebanon, MO. Itwas a joy to read of his encounterwith Frisco steam locomotive No.4308 as he described the awe-inspiring impression it had on himand how he remembered theexperience as though it hadhappened yesterday. That joyturned to elation when he informedus that he had recorded hisexperience in the words & music ofa song, appropriately titled TheBallad Of The Frisco. The elationturned to excitement when Mr.Monroe offered the song to themuseum to use as yet anothermeans of preserving Frisco history.

Upon receiving a tape of thesong and listening to it over & over& over... the thought occurred, Thisshould be the official theme song ofThe Frisco Railroad Museum Inc.!After additional correspondence,phone calls, and a delightful visitlast summer with Mr. Monroe andhis wife Sylvia, we went to work!

The end result was therecording of Ballad Of The Friscoby the Cornerstones Gospel Quartetat Crystal Recording Studios inBranson, MO on October 6, 1991.

It is with a great deal ofpride that, on behalf of the Officers& Board of Directors, we declarethe The Ballad Of The Frisco to bethe official theme song of The FriscoRailroad Museum Inc., and toannounce that copies of the songare now ready for immediatepurchase and shipment!

Our Ballad Of The Friscopackage includes a professionallyduplicated audio cassette of thesong, along with a copy of the words,The Lebanon Experience (the storybehind the song, see page 6), anhistorical profile of Frisco steamlocomotive 4308, specificationdiagram of the engine, and an 8 1/2" x 11" photo of the locomotive.The tape alone is currently availablefor $4.95, and the complete packageis $5.95, plus $3.00 postage &packaging.

Production costs have madeinitial quantities limited so orderyours today and get on board forThe Ballad Of The Frisco!

THE LEBANON EXPERIENCE

In the spring of 1949 myDad and I drove from Illinois toLebanon, MO, where he wasinterested in buying a medicalpractice and settling down in hishome state of Missouri. Dadwas a general practitioner andcountry type physician andsurgeon. Our hotel was locatedscarcely a block from the Friscomain line between St. Louis &Springfield, MO, and steampower was still quite active inhauling trains. Early in themorning the day after our arrival,I was awakened by sounds of abeautiful, distanced, steamlocomotive's steamboat chimewhistle - ah, yes, real genuineactivity about to take place onthe Frisco!

Nobody dressed morequickly or quietly than I did onthat special morning. Dad wassnoring lightly, "dead to theworld", and soon I, withVoightlander camera in hand,was hot footing it to the Frisco"main". No sooner had I arrivedwhen in rolled a magnificent4-8-2 Mountain class steamlocomotive, #4308. As she slowlyrolled to a stop under the watertank I thought, this scene has itall! A very traditional, yet veryFrisco drama of steam eraactivity. The fireman directingthe flow of water into the tender,the engineer inspecting andoiling his iron steed, the headbrakie performing his duties, allaccompanied by the distinctsounds that only a steamlocomotive could make at rest.Servicing completed, the crewclimbed back into the cab andthat magnificent start of engine& train, a long freight, began.

By Lee E. Monroe

I had a love affair with theFrisco going back to the 1929-30 Great Depression era when Iwas a boy. My GrandmotherMonroe lived at Eureka, MO, herhome scarcely a block from theFrisco main line to St. Louis.Needless to say, I witnessedFrisco trains first hand everyopportunity I had, both atGrandma's house and when myparents and I would vacation inMissouri. As we would travelalongside U.S. Route 66,especially where it paralleled theFrisco, trains of every type weremy car window companions.

With 4308 and companyout of sight, I returned to the ,hotel and found Dad still soundasleep. When he finally awoke,I told him about my encounterwith 4308. I don't recall if I gotin trouble for sneaking out. Iprobably did however, since hedespised fully any slight chancethat his only offspring would bethe least bit desirous of workingin locomotive service, on anyrailroad.

In the early 1980's, whileteaching at Three Rivers JuniorCollege in Poplar Bluff (on theFrisco River Division), I was re-reading some books on the FriscoLine and the memories of myLebanon Experience hit me likea Joe Louis punch! You've alwayswanted to write a railroad ballad- why not write one about theLebanon Experience - it tells itall! The end result was the Balladof The Frisco which I wrote in1982, first performed, with thehelp of some brave colleagues,at a faculty talent show inNovember of that year, and hadthe song copyrighted inFebruary, 1983.

The Ballad of The Friscois dedicated to the idea that oneof the symbols of beauty in theworld in which we have lived wasthe sight of a Frisco steamlocomotive performing in onlythe distinctive manner that onecould hauling tonnage freightand passenger trains with redmouthed bell and melodiouschime whistle, telling humanityno task was too difficult for thegrand alliance of Frisco power,people, and pride of achievementto get the train in right on time.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The train #4308was pulling in 1949 was No. 31, adaily freight that arrived in Lebanonat approximately 5:30 a.m.

This eerie silhouette of the Frisco coalingstation & water tank at Lebanon, MO,was what Mr. Monroe first saw as heapproached the Frisco main in 1949.

Frisco photo, October 16, 1942,

LOOKING BACKWARD is a regularfeature of the ALL ABOARD thattakes a look back through our filesat the people, equipment, facilities,operations, and events that were apart of the Frisco 25, 50, and 75years ago.

25 YEARS - 1967

In 1967, the Frisco becamethe first railroad to haul horsetrailers by piggyback. Shipped onBi-Level cars, series 3300-3359,originally designed to accommodateautomobiles and trucks, they wereused by the Hale ManufacturingCo. of Sherman. TX to ship varioussizes of trailers from their Sherman& Denison, TX plants. Dependingon the size of the trailer, the carscould carry between twelve andeighteen units.

50 YEARS - 1942

In 1942, two Coaches wererebuilt as Diners for use in militarymovements, as follows:

Coach 1082 to Soldier Diner 644Coach 1084 to Soldier Diner 645

Two Coaches were rebuiltas Snack-Buffet cars as follows:

Coach 1201 to Snack-Buffet 1610Coach 1202 to Snack-Buffet 1611

One Mail-Baggage car, No.142, was rebuilt to a Baggage-Express car, No. 309.

Frisco Bi-Level cars with horse trailers on board, Sherman, TX,June, 1967 Frisco photo

Frisco Coach #1211, June 22, 1937, Springfield, MO Frisco photo

75 YEARS - 1917

In 1917, six reinforced watertanks were built at Cuba,Marshfield, Springfield, Monett, andtwo at Newburg, MO.

Snack Counter, Frisco Snack-Buffet #1611, December 21, 1942, Springfield, MOFrisco photo

Frisco Folk Rick McClellanshares with us an assortment ofmodeling tricks, tips, and neatthings to do that are relativelysimple, inexpensive, and quick, allof which can enhance theappearance and operation of yourlayout.

General GluingTips

Glue is something wemodeler's don't think about untilsomething goes wrong when we useit wrong. Here's Frisco Folk DougHughes describing a commonproblem using Goo adhesive onstyrene plastic:

"It will only hold for about12-18 months. There is a chemicalreaction between the two materialsthat causes the bond to disappear.Logan Holtgrewe's modeling articlein the March & April 1986 issues ofMODEL RAILROADER discusses itin more detaiL Logan uses a lacquer-based contact cement put out byWeldwood and John Nehrichrecommends Elmer's Latex-basedcontact cement. The Elmer's stuff iseasier to use, however, theWeldwood can be thinned 50-50 withlacquer thinner to make it easier touse. The modeler is recommendedto try both to see which he prefers. Itwill be a matter of personalpreference and a decision as to whichodor is least offensive!"

Applying glue is a commonproblem for most of us. Whileworking on the Museum's modularHO layout, I couldn't help butnoticing Alan Schmitt applyingdiluted white glue to the layouthard-shell scenery with a paintbrush! He could spread a great deal

of glue in a short amount of timethen he would sprinkle scenicmaterials on the glue. Needless tosay, my days of using an eye dropperfor applying glue are over!

Another common problemis applying super glue such as Zap-a-Gap or Hot Stuff. It seems that itonly comes out in drops and that isusually more than needed to holdmost things we want to gluetogether. I have found that a smallpiece of scrap brass wire worksgreat for applying glue. I squeeze adrop of glue onto a scrap piece ofplastic or cardboard and dip thebrass wire into the glue. The brasswire can only hold a small amountfrom the drop which is usually justthe right amount that I need and Iavoid those ugly blobs of extra glue.

I hope these tips will helpwith your next project, so GOODLUCK and don't forget to...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Frisco Folk LarryThomas has submitted additionalinformation on the Frisco-GM&Othrough sleeper service, mentionedin the FRISCO On The PENNESY,feature, ALL ABOARD, December1991-January 1992, p. 8.

The GM&O ownedlightweight sleeping cars but theyhad been previously committed toSt. Louis - Chicago and Chicago-Mobile service. The Frisco, as aresult, operated the Oklahoma City-Chicago service using Frisco cars.A check of Frisco passengertimetables reveals that 14-4 carswere offered on that route.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Frisco's fleetof 14-4 (14 roomettes, 4 doublebedrooms) lightweight cars includedthe 1457-1466 "River" series units,as follows:

1457 Meramec River1458 Osage River1459 Gasconade River1460 Niangua River1461 James River1462 Grand River1463 Canadian River1464 Neosho River1465 Spring River1466 Cimarron River

Cars 1450-1456 were also 14-4 unitsoriginally built for Texas Specialservice.

GM&O's sleeping cars werean unusual 4 sections - 8 roomettes-3 double bedrooms and onecompartment. Before the Friscoreceived their lightweight Pullmansthe Oklahoma City-Chicago servicehad been provided with an 8 section-1 compartment - 2 double bedroomcar.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Frisco's fleetof heavyweight Pullman 8-2-1 carsincluded:

1833 Rock Park1834 Rock Run

In 1943, the Frisco hadaltered their schedules such thatthe sleepers went south on No. 3 theAbraham Lincoln and returned onthe Midnight Special. When theFrisco re-equipped the Meteor in1948, SLSF schedules were changedsuch that the Oklahoma-Chicagosleeper operated to and fromChicago in the consist of theAbraham Lincoln.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Larry Thomas isEditor for the Terminal RailroadAssociation of St. Louis Historical &Technical Society Inc. and haswritten a number of articles onMidwest passenger service includingtwo on the Frisco in Passenger TrainJournal, November & December,1984,issues.

Doodlebugging On The Frisco

In March, 1988, Doodle-bugging On The Frisco made itsinaugural run as an extended seriesprofiling the history and equipmentof the Frisco's fleet of motor cars.Four years and thirty-two articleslater, we are concluding the serieswith this instalment on the fleet ofmotor car trailers.

According to our records,there were at least eleven cars ofvarious sizes and configurationsthat were assigned as motor cartrailers. Five were Mail-Baggagecombinations, two were straightBaggage, and four were Coaches.

Numbers 1-5 were woodcomposite Mail-Baggage cars. Units1 & 2 were 60' units and No. 3 wasa 43' car. All three started theircareers on the Kansas City,Clinton, & Springfield Railwaythat ran from Olathe, KS, southeast,to Ash Grove, MO. They wereoriginally numbered 1-3. In 1900,when the K.C.C.&S. became part ofthe Kansas City, Ft. Scott, &Memphis rail system, the cars wererenumbered 501-502-503. In 1904,when the K.C.F.S.&M. became partof the Frisco System and a newnumbering system was establishedfor all equipment, the cars wereassigned Nos. 157-158-159. In1926 & 1927 they were rebuilt bythe Frisco with steel siding andwere once again renumbered 1-2-3.

Car No. 4 was a 55'composite car built in 1889. In1936, it was rebuilt by the Friscowith steel siding.

Car number 5 was a 50'composite car built in 1880. In1936, it too was rebuilt by the Friscowith steel siding. There is someindication that cars 4 & 5 may havebeen renumbered 140 & 141,although we cannot currently verifyit. By the early 1940's, all five Mail-Baggage trailers had been scrapped.Number 1, with trucks removed,was used for many years as the

Yardmaster Office for switchingduties at Benwood Yard, located inthe northwest area of the WestSpringfield Shops, along theHighline tracks. The Benwood Yard,named after B.T Wood, long timeVice-President & Chief PurchasingOfficer, was used primarily forsorting duties of equipment incompany service.

Two Baggage cars wereassigned to the Frisco's fleet of motorcars. Number 80 was originallybuilt in 1924 as a 25' all steel trailercoach for service on the St. Louis,Kennett & SoutheasternRailroad that operated betweenPiggot & Kennett, MO. In May,1928, following the lease of the lineby the Frisco, No. 80 was convertedto a Baggage trailer and operated inthat configuration until beingremoved from revenue service in1931.

Car number 299 was a 60'all wood unit added to the roster in1927. Other that a blue print of thecar currently in our files, little elseis known about it.

Four coaches were assignedto Frisco motor car service. Number81 was originally built in 1924 as a25' all steel coach trailer for service(with sister car #80) on the St. Louis,Kennett & Southeastern. The carwas removed from revenue servicein 1931 and is currently the propertyof the museum, awaitingrestoration. (See ALL ABOARD,Doodlebugging On The Frisco, April-May, 1991, pp. 4-5)

Coach trailers Nos. 500 &501 were first placed on service onthe Kanss City, Ft. Scott &Memphis Railroad as (500) an1880 built 45'10" Second ClassCoach #14, and (501) an 1883 built50' Second Class coach #53. Duringthe 1904 Frisco Systemrenumbering, they wererenumbered respectively Nos. 550

and 565. In 1926, they were rebuiltby the Frisco as motor car trailersNos. 500 and 501. They wereremoved from revenue service inthe mid to late 1930's.

Car number 502 began itscareer on the Butler CountyRailroad in southeast Missouri asa 48' steam powered motor car. In1929, the Frisco converted it to gaselectric motor car #3002 and oneyear later, it was again rebuilt ascoach trailer #502. (See ALLABOARD, Doodlebugging On TheFrisco, December 1991-January1992, p. 18).

For over forty years theretraveled on Frisco rails a uniqueseries of railroad conveyancescornfully yet affectionately calledthe Doodlebugs. Officially knownas gas electric or gas mechanicalmotor cars, the name Doodlebugwas used by many to denote theinsect like appearance of the railcar. Other more mechanicallyminded observers viewed them asan unorthodox contraption, incomparison to the stalwart steamlocomotive, that at top speed coulddo no better than to dillydally ordoodle down the track! What manyof its early critics did not realize wasthat the gas electric motor car, andits concept of an internalcombustion engine powering anelectric traction motor, was the earlypredecessor of the diesel electricengines that ultimately replaced thesteam locomotive. The early skepticsalso failed to realize the majorcontribution the motor car wouldmake in providing passenger,freight, and mail service to manybranch line communities.

Hopefully, our series onFrisco Doodlebugs has provided anaccurate, concise, and completepicture of the equipment,operations, and major contributionthe motor car indeed made toproviding passenger, freight, andmail service to many communitiesalong the Frisco line.

MOTOR CAR TRAILERCLASS: MAIL-BAGGAGE

MOTOR CAR TRAILERCLASS: MAIL-BAGGAGE

MOTOR CAR TRAILERCLASS: MAIL-BAGGAGE

MOTOR CAR TRAILERCLASS: BAGGAGE

Frisco Motor Car #2124

MOTOR CAR TRAILERCLASS: COACH

MOTOR CAR TRAILERCLASS: COACH

MOTOR CAR TRAILERCLASS: COACH