I love the Frisco website software we have now. What year did this website start and who posted first? I would like to see the first post. Joe
By going through all the Forums and Sub-forums and looking at the earliest thread created, I believe that: Doug Hughes, founder of the Frisco Modelers Information Group (FMIG) made the first post on Frisco.org on May 16, 2001. His post was posted under a Guest account identifed as doug. http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/fmig-25-years-old.78/ By Doug's second post on May 18, 2001 he was a fully registered member of Frisco.org The second post was made by Chris Abernathy (under a Guest account identified as chris), the same day, same thread. Thanks to Doug for collecting together a group of Frisco-minded individuals back in 1976 which ultimately led to this site
One problem with individual railroad sites and historical societies, is how long the railroad been merged, and how few people are left to have worked or seen the railroad. I worked for the MKT/UP,but most of my family worked for the Texas & New Orleans. I think the railroad historical societies should be merged, into groups like Southwestern states, or C&EI, CRI&p, SLSF, which were the B.F. Yoakum system, or railroads, that were owned by Jay Gould. This is just a comment. Michael Lowe
The guest accounts in those old posts are misleading. What actually happened was that in one of the site upgrades, all of the old posts were restored to the new system as posts using guest accounts. You'll find old posts I made identified as "paul". I'm surprised I haven't ever answered the poll in this thread. However, my answer to the question posed by the poll, is that, as far as I am concerned, FMIG IS the Frisco historical society, but it is a rather loose knit historical society compared to others, and it has primarily been centered around this website for the last 2 decades. Prior to that, there was an e-mail list, and then, before my time, to the mailed newsletters Doug started with. There was a Frisco Museum, but that fell apart about the time this website started. That is a sore subject for many who were involved with it. Paul
There was also a brief, stillborn, Frisco Railroad Historical Society, incorporated in Missouri, created by a number of people in St Louis, plus several others in MO and other parts of the US. Around ~1982. The publication was to be The Meteor. FRHS died early because of two reasons - there was some friction voiced from FMIG members (which was unfortunate and wouldn't have been a problem), but mainly because only a few people were willing to shoulder the burden. That's a common problem with these historical organizations. Then, later frisco.org surfaced, and proved to be a fun, valuable, growing organization. I've enjoyed every day I've been a member, and I go way back. I was told about frisco.org by close friends who ran Tinkertown, and immediately joined up. I do regret, however, that such a neat railroad as the Frisco does not benefit by being formally documented in a professional SLSF publication such as most of the others do. If you have a chance, take a look a the publications put forth by HS's such as PRR, NYC, N&W, ATSF, UP, MP, L&N, ACL/SAL, GM&O, RI (failing now), WAB, IT, Monon, SP, IC, Milw, C&NW, CB&Q, MKT, and, yes, StL TRRA, among many others that I don't know much about. Most put out excellent publications for their members for a nominal annual membership fee. But, frisco.org is so good that I'm sure its success would preclude an effort to form another FRHS. And another word of appreciation to Doug Hughes, who worked very hard on his FMIG organization, which many of us greatly enjoyed participating in, forming friendships in, and learning from. I know I did. Ken
Would be possible to formalize the name of our webpage/group so that what it represents when we reach out to manufacturers about producing Frisco models it appears to be on behalf of something resembling a historical society rather than as a website or individual? This is just a thought to give our group a little more clout as the other railroads’ formal HS’s have among the modeling companies.
We have been blessed with many excellent models of Frisco equipment over the past decade or two/three from the manufacturers. I think frisco.org's name and the reputation of our group has had much to do with that. In my opinion, as I recall, we have enjoyed more excellent SLSF models than have several of the large midwest railroad historical societies have with their RR's. Particularly in HO. We have done pretty well - and the sales must have been strong enough to continue with new introductions. Publication of magazine articles by our members, and their models and layouts, have also brought huge credit and recognition to frisco.org and to the SLSF. Regarding diesels, for example, every diesel, except most of the "critters", that the Frisco rostered have been modeled, many of which have been decorated in SLSF livery. Not all though - I'm still waiting for our F7A/F7B units in b/y to appear under the Athearn Genesis label! It would be easy to do - don't know why they haven't. We are doing pretty well! But, would frisco.org as a formal, successful major historical society bring even more Frisco goodies to us? I'd say yes - our beloved railroad is an easy sale. But, a formal historical society requires a whole lot of time and work by several members, and a lot of cooperation. Believe me, I know - I was heavily involved with our prior ill-fated FHS attempt in the early 1980's. It cost me a friend or two before we trashed the project. So be it. I say we stick with what we have. Ken
My advice over the years has never changed. If you want a historical society, make it so. The no. 1 management task is to assign action to the complainer(s) and watch what does or does not get done. Also, printed newsletters are on short life spans. Digital media are preferred, Frisco-dot-org is a leader.
Fair enough! Thank you for the responses, gents. I definitely do not have time to commit to heading a group. I was not aware of the formal impact our group had in the past models. Thanks for all that y’all do on the back end which is unseen! I will say, in N scale I would like to see more done. I have been in contact with only two manufacturers - RailSmith and Union Station Products. I hope I have not overstepped - I think this was my basis for my query. I do use information gathered from this site and others to give as accurate detail as possible. Regards, John C.
