[clemmie_doris12]

At this point in time, the convention is still a go. We have every intention of having the convention and will not cancel unless we are forced to. Due to the fluid nature of the pandemic, we are waiting until August to begin taking registrations. The goal is to keep from having to return payments, etc. if the event does get cancelled. If you are able, please continue making plans to attend.

[clemmie_doris12]

Welcome aboard, Nathan. This is a very good place to ask all of your questions concerning the MoPac. There is an index of all issues of The Eagle magazine which is available on the MPHS website. Here’s the link to the page where you can find the index and all available back issues of the magazine.

http://www.mopac.org/store/the-eagle-magazine

There are several back issues that have info on the White River line.

[clemmie_doris12]

Dusty,

We now have an index to all issues of The Eagle. It is in PDF format and a link can be found on the mopac.org home page.

[clemmie_doris12]

William,

Welcome to the MPHS and this forum.

I worked in and around St. Joe in 1993, 1994 and 2006. There is a lot of interesting history surrounding this area.

This bulletin board is the place to come if you have questions about the MP.

[clemmie_doris12]

The editor has returned all the chapters and captions with her comments and corrections and I’ve already returned them. She also has all the photos, maps and various documents electronically. As it currently stands the book will be printed in July or August. The only exception is if the plant shuts down due to concerns with the workers spreading the coronavirus within the facility. Last I heard they are still in production but are keeping ‘social distances’. So far Missouri has not issued a ‘stay at home order’ which if they do could obviously push the printing timeline back.

The governor of Missouri issued a stay at home order, yesterday. It is effective from April 6 thru April 24 and it may be extended. So, it is highly likely that our print date will be postponed.

[clemmie_doris12]

The biggest problem with these cars is the outlet gates. The model has some type of pneumatic outlet which very few, if any, of the prototypes ever did. Certainly none of the MP or subsidiary cars were equipped with this type of outlet. InterMountain needs to remedy this before any of these models are even close to accurate.

[clemmie_doris12]

My first thought was Fredonia, KS. Tony would have been in this area, but I am sure there are others more familiar with the Kansas branch lines. Jerry

I worked there in 1978 and 1979 and it is definitely not Fredonia. I’m guessing it is somewhere other than the SE Kansas area.

[clemmie_doris12]

Also, if you have interest in this area and its history, you might enjoy this map from 1906-1908:

https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/218290

It shows a large swath of the Pittsburg Sub in S.E. Kansas and the mines at that time.

Bob,

That’s a very interesting map. Thanks for sharing the link.

[clemmie_doris12]

Joel,

Welcome to the forum. I’m sorry that I did not respond sooner, but I don’t get on this forum as much as I would like. Too many irons in the fire.

I used to work on the Carthage Subdivision as a brakeman and conductor, and traveled through the Monteith Jct. area many times. But, I have no idea as to where the name came from.

Good luck with this endeavor.

[clemmie_doris12]

Robert,

Thanks for posting this photo. In the early days of my train service career, the Pittsburg Sub. was part of my seniority district. It wasn’t a lot of fun to work this route in the ’70s and ’80s due to poor track conditions and few customers. But, today, I am very interested in the history of this line and I am a member of the Heart of the Heartlands.

The MP depot, in this photo, sits in the NW corner of the crossing with the NEO. Originally, it was located in the vicinity of the grain elevator to the south. It was moved and remodeled somewhere around WWII.

[clemmie_doris12]

As an update, the block of rooms at the two Hilton hotels are filling up fast. The only rooms still available at the Convention Center Hotel are double queens. The Promenade Hotel, across the street, still has some king rooms in addition to queens. Branson is a busy place, all year, and the weekend of our convention is no exception. Make your reservation, NOW. There are lots of hotels in Branson and you can probably find a room somewhere even if you wait. But, in my opinion, the convenience of one of the two Hilton hotels that we have contracted with will be hard to beat.

[clemmie_doris12]

The hotel reservation links have been posted on the MPHS website. I strongly recommend that you make a reservation as soon as possible. Rooms will go fast.

http://www.mopac.org/annual-convention/256-2020-branson-mo-train-scheduled-to-depart

[clemmie_doris12]

This convention is now in the books. A great time was had by all. I look forward to seeing everyone at Branson, next year.

[clemmie_doris12]

Ron, I have a sign just like yours. It came from the estate sale of a retired MP employee. If I understood things properly, he was in the marketing department. I have no idea what it was used for. My best guess is that it came off of an early auto rack. But, that is only a guess.

[clemmie_doris12]

The convention web page has been updated, today. If you have any interest in attending, check out all of the information that is presented there.

Time is running out to get your reservations in for the train trip and the banquet. October 1 will be the last day. So, get that taken care of ASAP. If you are going on the train trip, we highly recommend that you use the bus to get to the depot at Van Buren. The cost will be $15.00 per person which will just cover our cost for the bus. Money will be collected at the convention.

The hotel room block has been released, but the hotel should honor the MPHS rate if rooms are still available. Make your call ASAP.

A convention t-shirt will be made available for purchase, but quantities will be extremely limited.

If you have any questions, at all, send a message to [email protected]. I look forward to seeing everyone, there.

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