Happy Fathers Day

Discussion in 'General' started by frisco1522, Jun 18, 2017.

  1. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    Happy Father's Day to my Dad, who has been gone since Jan 1964. I always looked up to him and spent many an hour listening to him telling me railroad stories and about running steam locomotives. He hired out on the Frisco in 1916 as a fireman on the run between St. Louis and Newburg, MO and was still working as an engineer when he lost his life in an auto accident. Was always known as "Big John". He is responsible for me being such a lifelong Frisco RR and Steam lover.
    I got to follow in his footsteps so to speak as an engineer on Frisco 1522 and running on his old division many times. In case anyone is wondering how I got all ate up with Frisco steam, look no more.
    Still miss you and Mom after all these years. Lost you both way too young. — at Newburg,MO 1945 oiling around a 4400. Had several nice rides with him and got to run my first steam engine, 4146 around the Pacific gravel pits and the main.

    Dad.jpg
     
  2. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    What a nice memorial and remembrance...

    Tom G.
     
  3. Great stuff Don. As you know my dad is from a long line of FRISCO engineers from Newburg and also the one that got me into trains and modeling. Thanks for sharing that pic!
     
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  4. Steamnut

    Steamnut cinder sniffer

    Very cool Don. Thanks for your story.
     
  5. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Amen Don. Nice remembrance on Father's Day.

    K
     
  6. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    I wasn't aware of that. Couldn't find your name. What were their names?
     
    modeltruckshop likes this.
  7. Hey Don, look for Roy and Marion Tankersly. I would love to know how long the were active. Roy died at the station waiting for his trip on 2010 Count Fleet. Marion was on the extra board most of the time,by choice because he also built homes. I believe Richard Hurt also but he was in Texas according to my grandma. Also if you have any Harvey House records the Tamkersly's that were there are the same family.
    My dad was pretty sure Roy had 50 years with the BLE but was buried with his ring.
    I will try to get some pics of them all. Between Jerry and I we have pics of all of them at work.

    Thanks,Steve
     
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  8. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    That is a very touching story Don. Thanks for sharing it with us.
     
  9. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    I remember the Tankesly name from when my Dad was working. He was local chairman on the Bof LE div 428.
     
    modeltruckshop likes this.
  10. Don, if you don't mind me invading your thread here I will give you a little of the info I dug out on my family. I took quick pics of a few pics I had and will dig out some better ones. Fortunatley my grandma. ( Jerry's mom) kept good records and took photos.
    First off with Roy Tankersly: His first job with the FRISCO was running mules with sand from the river to the sandbox at the engine house. At 17 he lied about his age to get a fireman job. Eventually becoming an engineer. Working the yard during WWII and eventually all the way up to Texas Special service. Her records showed him two weeks short of 50 years with the BLE. He died in the engineers break room at the depot in Newburg june 1957.
    His brother William Marion Tankersly started in the same time frame as a fireman, sometimes with his brother. He also became an engineer but usually on the extra board. He died in '65.
    Earl "Bud" Tankersly worked as a cook both on trains, work trains etc....Much of his career was in the Harvey House he started there as a child ringing the bell for customers to hurry when the train was arriving. During WW1 he was a cook in France and returned to cook at the Harvey House. He moved to Springfield and cooked at the Harvey House until it closed. His farm is what became the Coca Cola plant there. What little I remember of him in the 70s was the best fried chicken ever cooked. HA The FRISCO ran through his field for some great train watching.
    Through marriage they also had Robert Whiteside that worked for the FRISCO aroun Newburg and I believe Sullivant. (?)
    Funny they all loved to be railroaders but all forbid my dad to do it. Which I think he still regrets listening to. If you find anything about them I'd sure love to hear it!!
    I will add some pics below. Thanks for making me dig this out Don, even if it wasn't your plan!
     
  11. I didn't take a picture of it but if any of you have a copy of Trains in Transition. Roy was the engineer on the cover. Both the original and the Bonanza reprint. Here he is on the left:
    [​IMG]

    He is the engineer in this Lucius Beebe photo also:
    [​IMG]

    This was one of Marions assignments off the extra board. The first FRISCO car haulers out of the Chrysler plant. This was for a Chrysler promotion and also in Modern Railway in 1961:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    This was 2010 pulling in to Newburg the day after Roy died waiting for it:
    [​IMG]

    Thanks for letting me hi-jack this Don.
     
  12. I forgot also. Richard Hurt or he may be found as Charles Richard Hurt. He was from Newburg but did not work for the Frisco until he moved bed to northern Texas. Once again if you ever stumble on to anything of them it would be great. Thanks, Steve
     
  13. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    Thanks for adding those. This is making a good thread about the era that I model. I've always sworn the fireman on Beebe's doubleheader on "The Meet" was my brother in law Ed Wofford. I remember so many of the names from the 40s that Dad worked with. Tankersly, Gollahon, R. McRoberts, Morrison and many others. I can remember being in Newburg after the war and staying with Dad in his room and marveling at how busy it was.
    Keep posting those.
    I wish I could find how Newburg was run during those times. Where did the inbound freights go or did they change crews or engines there? That sort of thing.
     
    Ozarktraveler and modeltruckshop like this.
  14. Thanks Don. My dad and I leave for St Louis and possibly Newburg Thursday for the RPM show. I will quiz him on the drive over and let you know. I will also add more pics when we are back. Among them I have him beside 807 in steam. Me beside 807 the U25b.
     

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