Reply To: 2017 Convention, Mt. Vernon, IL

[Bill Pollard]

The 2017 convention was another good one – they just keep getting better. Joint conventions, such as this year’s with the C&EI HS, helps to increase the attendance, thus attracting more dealers, more presentations, etc. The swap meet this year was one of the best in recent memory in terms of the volume of material, and the company stores of both MPHS and C&EI HS offered great material for sale. Who would have thought that MP paperwork from Arkansas Division passenger conductors at Little Rock would be found in the $1.00 bargain box of the C&EI group.

The Friday morning tour highlight was visiting the Crab Orchard & Egyptian shortline, where two of the locomotives were ex-Missouri Pacific. Chuck’s Depot, an amazingly well stocked hobby shop in Marion, opened early for the group and enjoyed brisk sales as well as offering a visit to Chuck’s downstairs layout under construction. Excellent driving instructions were distributed to allow participants to quickly find (and photograph) the remaining C&EI depots between Marion and Mt. Vernon.

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We were unable to make the Salem tour on Sunday, but those who made the trip saw the MP Heritage locomotive freshly repainted. En route to our next destination, we did make time to visit three former interlocking towers that have been preserved in the area. Vandalia was the former crossing of the Illinois Central and Pennsylvania, Ramsey was the crossing of the same IC line with the Nickel Plate, and Pana was the crossing of the IC and the New York Central. C&EI had trackage rights over the NYC between Pana and St. Louis.

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As we returned back home, we visited the former MP station at Dexter, MO and the former MR&BT (M-I) station at Bonne Terre, MO.

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We will be looking forward to next year’s Austin convention, perhaps with the opportunity to ride Amtrak’s Texas Eagle in place of this year’s long road trip.
Bill Pollard