[Joseph Berry]

Thanks for the post, Charlie. I only knew Mike via email, but he was always very nice and helpful. I knew he had been ill for a while and just saw a post on the Sooner Rails Facebook page about his passing. I have spent hours viewing his “railroad pages”…many very nice photo’s from all over. Obviously, Mike was a huge Frisco fan. I always enjoyed his MP and Muskogee Roads pages as well.

Link to his obituary below:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/tahlequah-ok/stewart-condren-9912687

[Joseph Berry]

Some shots here in the MPHS archives:

http://www.mopac.org/archives/online-images-and-documents/structures/right-of-way-details/25th-st-yard-wichita-ks-2491

Gary

[Joseph Berry]

Larry,

I got to ride the train out and back one night when my great uncle was the fireman. It was in the late 50’s, very early 60’s…I was about 10 or less. We arrived at the MP passenger station and the train was set to go. The GP-7 was facing south looking at Douglas Ave, next was the bagg-exp-rpo, like in Charlie’s photo, next was a modernized HW coach like 6309, I think, then the 6-6-4.

I boarded the coach, got to a seat and we left shortly after…backing out to the ML, then heading west out of town. Out in the country the train stopped for an inspection, and I was taken off the coach and turned over to my uncle. On to the head end and away we went. After a cup of coffee (to stay alert) sitting with my uncle, I moved over to the engineers side and was taught when and how to blow the whistle. These were my duties until the next stop just as we arrived Geneseo. I went back to the coach and fell asleep for the remainder of the activities. Can’t tell you how we swapped Pullman cars with the Eagles…I missed it. I was aware of the arrival back in Wichita as my uncle woke me up. As we walked to his car I did notice that the Geep was now pointed North as we had backed into the station.

It was way too cold to be much fun as I helped scrape the windows on my uncles car…I was back asleep before we left the depot I did ask how the train got turned for the next night and my uncle told me that a switch engine would drag it out to 25th Street Yard for cleaning and service. I don’t know about the Pullman.

It was a great adventure for a young boy! (even though I missed the Pullman swap!)

Gary H.

[Joseph Berry]

Mike,

Just watched the video…thanks for sharing! Nice loco, great sound! Layout was very nice, great scenery and nice track work. Enjoyed seeing the other MP power as well. Great looking S scale car fleet…all very enjoyable.

Thanks again,
Gary H.

[Joseph Berry]

Charlie,

Container looks great. Looking forward to seeing one on a flat or in one of the gons. Thanks for sharing your work.

I can’t believe how much you get done…and so quickly!

Gary

[Joseph Berry]

Charlie,

Yes! Sign me up for those. Great idea, already have the tractor….

Gary

[Joseph Berry]

Charlie,

Thanks for all your work on the project and building the pilot model…it looks great!

Used to see these cars all over the railroad. All over KC and many other points in Kansas…and really, everywhere.

They really stood out account the lower roof line…great project!

Gary

[Joseph Berry]

Nate,

Thanks for the good information. I will look forward to what you hear back from Intermountain.
They have produced some very nice models. I have a few of their 4650 3 bays for other roads/private names.

Hopefully they will do these 2 bays with good MP numbers.

Gary H.

[Joseph Berry]

Charlie,

Your photo is of the ‘replacement’ depot. Built after the original collapsed into a salt mine.

The photo with the business car train shows the train parked by “a” freight house…not the depot.

At Hutchinson, when I worked there in the late 70’s….I think I remember an older freight house just to the west
of the depot. I could be making that up??? As many times as I checked the yard….I couldn’t remember the street overpass. Not to say there wasn’t (isn’t) one…I just don’t remember. I worked in the ‘new’ passenger depot, as in your photo. The Agency office was in the center of the building, the operator did have a bay window (in the new depot), and the Traffic Office was in the east end with a separate entrance, which your photo shows.

In the photo with the train, you can see the concrete passenger platform where the photographer is standing.
This was just outside the bay window and was longer than the length of the ‘new’ depot.

Also, in your photo of the ‘new’ depot, you can see the old freight house in the background! Now that I have FINALLY
enlarged the photo…….Ha, Ha. To me, that says: Hutchinson.

Maybe…I should trust my memory more often???

Gary

[Joseph Berry]

To All…

Anyone with an interest in Carona, KS or the NEO might want to look at the Frisco Historical Society web site….
they have a lot of interesting information on both items.

Link:
http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php

It’s a great web site.

Just as info,
Gary

[Joseph Berry]

Robert,

The Intermountain F’s and their train look great! Nice shot….thanks for posting.

I just know of the MPHS page on Facebook, but not a modelling page.

[Joseph Berry]

You can click on the first link in the above message which will take you to the description on the Company Store part of the MPHS web site….there you should see the link to the PDF for the instructions.

[Joseph Berry]

Nate,

That’s a very interesting series of photo’s. Both logo’s with the later frame stripes, but no evidence I can see of the later, or any nose nose chevrons. Makes you really wonder what happened during the last trip to the paint shop????

Great details on the roof shot and the one of the fireman’s side. Thanks for posting.

Gary

[Joseph Berry]

I can’t believe the MP would have sprung for a set of ‘custom’ wheels!!

[Joseph Berry]

Charlie,

Is there a listing of what is already scanned? That might generate some interest…just seeing what is available.

Gary H.

[Author]

Posts