Hi, I am Mike Pendleton.I am almost 70 and have been modeling HO for about 10 years.I have a 26 X 10 ft layout- ATSF and Illinois Central in Moline(yard) Galena(yard) Waterloo,Ia.,Edmond,Ok,Bagwell,Tex.and Moab,Utah.That covers a LOT of ground.I like to scratch-build my buildings and Build mts.I was formerly an accountant in my real life.I have been to Tulsa and participated in a roundrobin with the big guys.I am now working on a project for the Paris Chamber of Commerce Transportation Museum,located in our newly renovated Frisco depot.Will put some pictures of it in here as soon as i figure out how.I really need some info on the Frisco operations here.The round house and coaling ramp are long gone but the turntable Frisco built is now on the Texas State RR near Rusk.We are building a diorama in "N"scale of Paris Railroading in the 1913 era.Well thats about it.Mike Pendleton
What a cool project! I don't have much firsthand knowledge of Frisco operations in Paris TX, but I do recall reading in Joe Collias's "Frisco Power" that the Fort Smith - Paris line was the Frisco's first main line to Texas, making southerly connections to the AT&SF to Dallas, Texas Midland with connections to the H&TC at Corsicana, and the Paris & Mount Pleasant. Official Guides of the 1913 era will supply passenger schedules, as well as information about any through Pullmans that might have been handed off between the SLSF and its Paris connections. I'll check when I get home. The Journal of Texas Shortlines did an entire issue about the Paris & Mount Pleasant. Although no longer in publication, it's available in several university libraries in Texas. Electronic copies are also available for purchase via http://www.ttarchive.com/tta_store.aspx . The description of the issue states that it discusses other railroads in Paris, including the Frisco. By the way, don't discount the Texas Midland as a mere "shortline" connection. Between the 1890s and the 1920s, its eccentric owners, Hetty Green (the so-called "Witch of Wall Street") and her son, aggressively improved the line and pursued through traffic via the Frisco connection. See the Handbook of Texas entry on the TM: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/eqt22.html As I understand it, the Frisco was never able to get direct access to Dallas/Fort Worth via Paris, so it eventually built another connection through central Oklahoma that did reach Dallas and Fort Worth directly. In later days, after the Paris line was downgraded to secondary status, I think they used a GE 44-tonner and a gas-electric motorcar as Paris yard switchers. Perhaps others in the groups will have more operational information. Have you already found good information about the 1913 track layout, structures, etc.? I noticed that you had gotten some good basic research suggestions from previously posting this query on www.trainboard.com, but I don't think any of the folks who responded there mentioned that the Texas State Electronic Library has a statewide subscription to digitized copies of the old Sanborn insurance maps. Any Texas public or college library can probably get you access to them. Combined with resources like old plat maps, photos of local historical landmarks, etc., you should have plenty of interesting stuff to model. Gotta go now, but I'll check back in later.
Hi Bradley Scott,Thanks for replying.I have all the Sanbourne Mars from 1885 to1956 so I have good tranck layout info and where the structures are.Sanbourne gives no detailed info on the RR structures,ie.size,dates,etc.I supposedly have a copy of the Texas Shortlines Journal coming on order.I ahve also tried surfing the web and visiting the Commerce,Tx and UTCommerce libraries with no results.I found a guy who wrote a book about Tex Midland and got it,no help.All he talks about is the owners.No Maps or pictures.I can find no other books or publications on the subject.Unfortunately that fire in 1916 burnt all the Paris records up so no local references.Well thanks for your help and I will keep looking Mike Pendleton
