The Dispatcher December 2020 - Upcoming Events All End-of-Year Events have been Cancelled - Oklahoma Railway Museum
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The Dispatcher December 2020 Upcoming Events All End-of-Year Events have been Cancelled Please have a Safe and Merry Christmas Season and a Very Happy New Year! We can't wait to see you next year! -The ORM Board and Staff
Museum Update By Drake Rice The COVID Grinch has struck the museum. With a spike in COVID cases and not enough volunteers, the Trustees voted to cancel the Christmas Train. Running the Christmas Train was considered too much of a risk to the public and our volunteers. Many of our volunteers are older or at higher risk, so we decided it was best to cancel the event. This will hurt us financially as we were depending on the Christmas train income to get us through to Summer. Without an income, the museum will need to make hard cuts in expenditures to keep the museum open. The museum is requesting donations to keep the museum open, so please keep us in mind when making your end of year giving decisions, but we also know times are hard for everyone right now. Volunteer, Debbie Dunn, has done a great job decorating the museum for Christmas, and we will keep the outdoor decorations up thru the Holiday season. Storm cleanup is an ongoing project, but we are just about back to normal, volunteers, including Paul Pennell, Bob Nantois, and others have been invaluable in clearing limbs and Owanda siding this month. Work continues on the Le Flore Depot corbels. There is still lots of work to do, but we hope to finish in 2021. Museum volunteers worked on the track replacing ties to ensure it was in shape for our Christmas Train, had we ran it.. Tie work has finished north of the golf course, south of the 23rd Street Bridge, and on the interchange with Union Pacific, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Track leveling is ongoing and we still have some rails to be replaced. This work will need to be completed before we run our Summer train rides. The nice thing is, we already have the rails and ties and the volunteers to do the work!
Engine 48 is continuing to run well, after its recent tune up thanks to Guy Lynn. Work on the 814 is ongoing.
Three injectors are being replaced the oil needs to be changed. When this is finished, the museum will have
two operating locomotives again! After this, shop folks will be looking at the CF-7 to get it running.
Volunteer, Steve Kamm, is starting a project that will take the wooden boxcars down on Owanda siding to
create a track side structure. Many railroads had them around their yards and along the tracks for storage. If
you would like to help with this project, please contact the museum or come by the museum on a Saturday
and talk to Steve. Remember we are always looking for new volunteers!
As always, we hope to see you at the museum. Please wear your mask, wash your hands, and have a very
Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.
Board of Trustees Meeting November 24th, 2020
• Trustees review the museum financials and discussed holding cost down.
• Reviewed the status of the Polar Express Contract which will be a three year agreement.
• Set next Trustee Meeting for December 29th.
• President reported the saving account a Mid-First Bank had been established.
• Trustee Lawson talked about having a Bar B Q cook off at the museum to bring people in. She will
look at the details and report back.
• Report on Track work and equipment given with work needed south of 23rd street. Need 3 new
injectors for the F-9 to get it back in service.
• Christmas Train Sales were at 446. Discussed issues in getting volunteers to help. Will continue to
monitor situation. Decorations are ongoing.
• Farmrail Passenger cars are heading to the museum. Will need to coordinate with the UP on the
delivery.
• City Engineering is looking at ways to correct drainage at NE 36st. Street.
• The GP-10 at Muskogee is now in the UP Yard there.
• Meeting Adjourned at 8:12pm.
Special Trustee Meeting, November 28
regarding the Christmas Train
The Trustees after discussion and polling, it was determined that the museum would not be able to staff the
train, due to the sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 Cases being reported, over 6000. Eight members
voted to cancel, one voted to continue and one did not respond. Therefore the event was cancelled and
refunds will be offered.
As you consider making any year-end charitable contributions, you might not be aware of some tax benefits
that were included in the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:
• If you itemize deductions, you may deduct up to 100% of your 2020 adjusted gross income for
charitable gifts made in cash (up from 60%)
• If you don't itemize deductions, you may take a deduction of up to $300 for charitable gifts made in
cash.
• If you are 70 1/2 years old or older, you may make a qualified charitable distribution of up to
$100,000 from your individual retirement accounts.
• If you make a gift of appreciated stock in 2020, you may eliminate capital gains tax on the
appreciated values and may receive a tax deduction for the fair-market-value of the appreciated
asset.
We not a tax professional and we do not offer tax advice, so we encourage you to speak with your financial
and/or legal advisors about taking advantage of these charitable giving opportunities, which may only be
available until December 31, 2020. Information about the $300 charitable deduction rule for 2020 can be found
at www.irs.gov/about-irs/...
We know this has been a tough year for many ORM members but, if you are looking for a worthy cause this
year, I hope you consider supporting the future of your museun by making a donation to the Oklahoma Railway
Museum at https://www.oklahomarailwaymuseum.org/donate/
Motor Car Run Being Planned
ORM is working with Farmrail on scheduling a motor car run in
Western Oklahoma, in April. Tentative dates are April 10-11, so
watch for future details on this activity.
ORM appreciates Farmrail and the staff for all the help and
support they provide our museum. Oklahoma has many good
short lines like Farmrail, A-OK, WT&J, AT&L and the Stillwater
Central. They provide a great service to our state and its citizens.
Donation Box
Because of closings and cancellations, we are in need
of donations more than ever before! Brick purchases
and donations will make a real difference during this
difficult time.
Please visit our if you are able to give! DONATE
Below are items the museum needs the following items:
Contact Anne Chilton 405-424-8222 annem@oklahomarailwaymuseum.org if you would like to purchase
anything on this list. To donate funds click link DONATE and mention what funds are for in the note section of
donation form.
• Rail Drill
• Rail saw
• Heavy Duty shelving is needed for the Archives (2 units) and museum storage area (3 units)
• The museum is in need on a box blade for our tractor. The one we have is worn out and beyond
repair. If anyone has one to donate or funds toward a new one, it would be greatly appreciated.
History's Worst Winter Train Rides
By Amanda Resnick
A snowbound trains may be a staple of the murder mystery genre, but it has also been a very real problem since
the beginning of train travel. As we head into a Winter lockdown, it's good to remember that things could be
much much worst. The following are tales of the four worst winter train rides in history.
1. The Blizzard of 1888
In March of 1888, one of the biggest blizzards in American History, hit New York City, dropping nearly 55
inches of snow. Nearly 15,000 people were stranded on the city's elevated train system for up to 3 days. Citizens
with ladders helped some of the passengers, for large fees. The disaster lead to the trains being moved
underground.
2. Snowed in Nebraska, 1912
In Mid-March 1912, a train headed from Eagle, NE to Elmwood, NE was beset in snow. There was heat and
food, but passengers quickly got restless, especially after the rescue train also got stuck in the snow. Seven
men tried to get out on a borrowed sleigh, but spent most of their time was spent shoveling snow. When they
finally reached nearby Alvo, NE, they realized the the stranded train had been rescued not long after they left.
The passengers that had remained on the train, had already been shuttled to Lincoln, NE.
3. "Snowbound Streamliner", 1952
On January 13th, 1952, a Southern Pacific passenger train bound for Oakland left Norden, CA. They were
soon stopped by an 18 foot wall of snow. They called for help, and the passengers settled in for what they
thought would be a short wait. The next day the pipes froze, the steam heat went out, the lights stopped working,
and fear set in. It didn't help that they were within miles of the Donner Pass. Passengers started burning any
wood they could find and used the curtains for extra blankets. Rescuers worked around the clock to dig out the
train. Passengers were evacuated to waiting cars on January 16th, but the train was snowbound and blocking
the route for another 4 days.
4. 21st Century Stranded Starliner, 2019
In late February 2019, The Amtrak Coast Starlight Train 11 left Seattle bound for Los Angeles. It was quickly
stopped by a felled tree and heavy snow. Passengers were stuck on the train for nearly 40 hours, since the near
by town of Oakridge, OR, was snowed in and without electricity. The train eventually returned to Seattle and
passengers were given refunds.
Around the Museum
Halloween Costume Contest Winner, Colin Fordenbacher,
picks up his trophy, for his BNSF Locomotive costume.
A big thank you to Hugg&Hall, for
loaning us one of their back hoes to
help with storm clean up and track
work.
Track work near the 23rd St. Bridge. Volunteers
(clockwise from the top) Eric Dilbeck, Tuna Dobbins,
Greg Hall, Dmitry Ofitserov, Paul Roessler, and Justin
Reihm.
The two new Farmrail passenger cars
arrived on Thursday, December 3rd, 2020.
Interior of Farmrail passenger cars Photos: Justin Reihm
Copyright © 2020 Oklahoma Railway Museum, All rights reserved.
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The Dispatcher
Timetable
Oklahoma Railway Museum (ORM) - Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM
Closed on major holidays.
ORM Train Rides - First and third Saturdays, April through August at 9:15 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:15 PM and 3:15 PM
ORM Board Meetings - Last Thursday of every month at Oklahoma Railway Museum - 7:00 PM
Oklahoma “N” Rail - For information call Rick Inselman (405) 412-1552
Oklahoma Model Railroad Association - For information contact Phil Howell via email omratrains@gmail.com
Central Oklahoma Garden Railroad Society Contact information:
Steve Lemcke (405) 703-0209 e-mail steve.lemcke@att.net
Marshall Douglas (405) 290-8989
Steve Kamm (405) 685-3755 email skamm@college.occc.edu
Passenger Rail Oklahoma - Passenger Rail Oklahoma volunteers provide Amtrak depot hosting for the Hartland Flyer in
City of Norman, OK most evenings, holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The depot opens at 7:50 AM. Contact Evan Stair at sfrr@aol.com, www.passengerrailok.org,
or (405) 366-8957. Depot volunteer opportunities are available.
Oklahoma S.W. Division NMRA - 2nd Saturday of each month, 1:00 PM, Goldman Room, Kirkpatrick Center,
Jim Heidon, President
Yukon’s Best Railroad Museum - Thursday/Saturday/Sunday and by appointment. Located 1 block north of Main and UP
tracks in Yukon. Call John Knuppel, (405) 354-5079, for times and information.
Waynoka Station/Waynoka Historical Society - 202 South Cleveland, Waynoka, (580) 824-1886. If you can help,
call Sandie Olson.
Corrections
Any changes to the above information or articles in “the Dispatcher” should be directed to the editor, at
info@oklahomarailwaymuseum.org. For information on upcoming programs contact Anne Chilton at
annem@oklahomarailwaymuseum.org.You can also read
