Ron Merrick (mopacfirst)

[princessclyne69]

Guess it’s my turn in the barrel.

I was a college student with time on my hands (read: lots of opportunity for modeling) in 1973 when I saw a blurb in MR asking for contacts from railroad historical societies, which were new at the time. So I decided it was time to create one for MP. I had become a MoPac fan in the first place because the MoPac seemed to be all over Wichita but always in odd places. For example, they had their own station rather than using Union Station, and they didn’t run parallel with anybody else. I had also been on the train between Wichita and Denver when that was still possible. One more point of significance to those who live in southern Kansas — there were so many Santa Fe fans I just had to be different.

MR published my letter, mangling my name in the process, and I drew thirty or so responses. Since I had time and opportunity, I created a typewritten, mimeographed newsletter and planned for monthly issues. Got plenty of editorial copy, and even hand-traced a few photos. That lasted until the end of 1974, when I graduated and took a job in Houston. I’m still here, both Houston and job.

Didn’t have time to continue the newsletter, so I agreed to let it be taken over and I proceeded to mostly build freight cars, built a partial layout, moved it into a bigger house, and eventually built a bigger railroad room which still has partially-finished layout, only more of it. My plan is to move it to Wichita in the next few years, at least the modular part of it, and I’m still building freight cars.

Ron Merrick
I might very well sign these posts as RG7 – that’s my usual signoff but etiquette up to this point has compelled me to be more formal.

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