General

[chris]

Karl Brand gave me this tip. The following web site:

Railroad Accident Reports (http://dotlibrary1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?websearch&site=dot_railroads)

has a search engine for looking for various archived accident reports, searchable by railway name, location, date, etc. If you are looking for Frisco
accident reports, use:

ST. LOUIS-SAN FRANCISCO RAILWAY

[chris]

How might accident reports benefit the operations-oriented modeler? I initially asked myself "What information can be gained from these reports for the modeler interested in modelling the prototype as faithfully as possible?"

Let's take the case of a 3/29/1928 accident at Nash, MO on the River Division, which I will be modeling someday. This report not only gives very specific prototype information on the physical plant of the area where the accident occurred, but it also provides detailed information on the trains themselves. To wit: Extra 4012 South was hauled by Engine #4012, with 39 cars and a caboose and departed Nash at 3.55am. From my experience, the only other way to obtain such detailed information is from old train orders or interviewing former employees (although I'm sure there are other accurate methods as well).

On some of the newer accident reports, you can actually
view a diagram of the accident. I've found this especially useful for recreating the look of a particular area's track arrangement, if the accident occurred in a yard or area with multiple tracks.

In searching by St. Louis-San Francisco Railway in the railroad field, there are 83 different documents. I've included a table of these dates and locations. Hopefully this information will help others to take advantage of what I see as an extremely valuable source of prototype information that's available with point-and-click ease!

Ship IT on the Frisco!


DATELOCATION 4/29/1929 Spaulding OK 2/16/1914 Nichols Jct., MO 5/5/1914 Mansfield, AR 9/15/1914 Lebanon, MO 12/10/1914 Joplin, MO 1/3/1915 Olathe, KS 1/12/1916 Lola, OK 1/20/1916 Schulter, OK 7/14/1916 Carthage, MO 7/18/1916 South Greenfield, MO 11/23/1916 Una, MO 9/1/1917 Heyburn, OK 9/14/1917 Snyder, OK 9/28/1917 Kellyville, OK 12/8/1917 Weleetka, OK 5/9/1918 Heyburn, OK 7/18/1918 Fickinger, AR 9/17/1918 Marshfield, MO 12/25/1918 Norge, OK 12/26/1918 Keighley, KS 8/19/1919 Adamsville, AL 12/21/1919 Knobview, MO 2/26/1923 Pratt City, AL 6/28/1923 Linton, KS 11/11/1923Meadows, AR 11/29/1923 West Tulsa, OK 2/15/1925 Kellyville, OK 10/27/1925 Victoria, MS 1/1/1920 O'Hara, OK 5/31/1920 White Oak, OK 11/3/1920 Racine, MO 4/25/1922 Girard, KS 7/22/1922 Logan, MO 8/16/1922 Horine, MO 9/1/1922 Starland, MO 1/25/1923 Neelys, MO 10/27/1925 Victoria, MS 12/25/1925 Osceloa, AR 12/14/1927 Portia, AR 3/29/1928 Nash, MO 5/15/1928 Hardy, AR 2/3/1929 Megargel, AL 10/29/1913 Chelsea, OK 8/18/1929 Henryetta, OK 10/15/1929 Wilson, AR 11/11/1929 Fickinger, AR 1/23/1930 Monett, MO 8/31/1930 Osage Hills, MO 8/5/1931 Smeltzer, AR 6/2/1932 Lowell, AR 5/16/1933 Neodesha, KS 1/3/1934 Swift, MO 4/5/1934 Dora, AL 7/20/1937 Winfield, KS 11/9/1937 Pierce City, MO 9/14/1938 West Tulsa, OK 10/10/1938 Columbus, KS 10/27/1938 Rotan, AR 2/16/1939 Quincy, MS 8/10/1939 Pickensville, AL 3/7/1942 Granby, MO 7/17/1942 Malden, MO 10/9/1942 Marionville, MO 4/20/1945 East Richland, MO 7/3/1945 Custer City, OK 3/16/1946 Bristow, OK 2/6/1947 Scullin, OK 2/7/1947 Republic, MO 4/19/1947 Ada, MO 4/24/1947 Fulton, KS 5/30/1947 Mansfield, MO 6/12/1947 SOoner, OK 10/5/1947 Nichols, MO 4/25/1948 Adamsville, AL 7/10/1948 Lawton, OK 5/6/1949 Ravia, OK 9/12/1949 Seventy-Six, MO 6/23/1949 Lebanon, MO 10/6/1949 Bridge Jct., AR 12/2/1949 Preston, OK 7/23/1950 Holland, MO 12/30/1952 Cedars, OK 7/25/1953 Menfro, MO 10/24/1953 Edward, KS

[jerry]

Chris,
Use some common sence when reading these reports. On the MP side we have found what appears to be some major typo's. On one accident report for a branch line they listed some 173 trains per day where we can only account for 4 per day.

Also, look at the .pdf files which are included with the reports as these are the orginial one's that were filed before someone transcribed them.

[chris]

Excellent point, Jerry. This is exactly why I generally prefer to use such reports in combination with other data.

As MPHS archivist, do you know of any other good sources of prototype operation data that are available on-line?

A few years ago, I passed up an opportunity at a swap meet to buy some old train order flimsies from the River Division (in the 1960s, I believe). I've been kicking myself ever since.

Ship IT on the Frisco!

[jerry]

Chris,
Some of the sites that I visit are:
Terraserver Maps
http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/

http://index.mrmag.com/
Index of railroad magaizines articles

The Library of Congress
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html

Actual topo maps for Missouri
ftp://msdis.missouri.edu/pub/drg/

These sites can give you a lot of information or very little. Terraserver is good for arieal maps.

The actual topo maps for Missouri will almost require you to have an index of the different quads that they cover since they are recorded by code, not by location. These are very nice if you are trying to research a abondand line segment where the railroad grade might still be un-developed.

The Library of Congress is great for researching history. A good search engine once you get used to it. When you go there, if you havn't already, do a search on Iron Mountain Railroad but first click on the photo button on the right side of the search screen so that it will only return photos. After it has completed look for the pan photos of DeSoto, Mo. On one of these it shows a Frisco Car sitting in the Iron Mountain Yards. Now do a complete search on St. Louis San Fransicso. Have fun.

[chris]

Various photos of Tulsa, OK Yardmaster‘s Office and Engine Dispatching Operations. Photos by John Vachon, October 1942.

Pictures are from the Library of Congress’ American Memory Collection, “America from the Great Depression to World War II: Photographs from the FSA-OWI, 1935-1945 “. I have posted since they are not eligible for copyright protection within the United States. For more information on searching or , information on Reproduction and Rights, refer to Library of Congress American Memory (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html)

Crew waiting at Tulsa Yard Office.


Engine Dispatching at Tulsa


More Engine Dispatching…


Interior of Tulsa Yardmaster’s Office

[chris]

Table 1 - List of Physical Plant Facilities; St. Louis and Chaffee Subdivision

Wyes
Brooks Jct.
Hayti
Blytheville
Wilson
Turrell
I have other information that also indicates wyes at Luxora, but this isn't Timetable 31B - 1940.

Turntables
Chaffee (70' Iron -mfg. by Phoenix)
Yale (Memphis - Eastern Division)

Water Tanks
Chaffee
Brooks Jct.
Sikeston
Rudd
Portageville
Hayti
Blytheville
Luxora
Wilson
Turrell
Yale (Eastern Division)

Coal Stations
Chaffee (Gravity - 14 aprons)
Hayti (Mechanical)
Luxora (Cars)

Track Scales
Chaffee (80 ton, 40' Fairbanks)
Hayti (80 tons, 40' Fairbanks)

Icing Stations
Chaffee (Emergency Icing Station - more on this elsewhere in the Operations section)

Fuel Oil Stations
Chaffee

Stock Pens
Blytheville (4 car capacity)
Bassett (chute only)
Chaffee
Conran (4 cars)
Frenchman's Bayou (2 cars)
Hayti (8 cars)
Holland (2 cars)
Juanita (2 cars)
Joiner (4 cars)
Lilbourn (3 cars)
Luxora (4 cars)
McMullen (1 car)
Matthews (3 cars)
Marston (2 cars)
Netherlands (2 cars)
Oran (2 cars)
Osceola (1 car)
Portageville (4 cars)
Sikeston (4 cars)
Wilson (2 cars)

River Division MOW Cars (Based out of Chaffee)
102154 Kitching & Dining
102235 Bunks & Lockers
105320 Rail
105319 Ties & Trucks
105296 Blocks
102236 Cables & Tools
105905 Water Tank & Coal Bin
101793 Trucks
Chaffee was also the home for the River Division derrick.

Table 2 - List of Industries/Businesses served by the Frisco on the River Division

Under Construction
Cape Girardeau
International Shoe Co.
Hely's Crushed Stone
Marquette Cement
Central Meats(1)
M.E. Leming Lumber Co.

Crystal City
Pittsburg Paint & Glass Co.

Ste. Genevieve
Missouri Utilities

(1) Named "Central Meats" at least into the 1980s when the plant closed. I am not certain as to whether it operated previous under different names; it does appear on Sanborn Maps as early as the 1960s.

Table 3 - List of River Division Junctions and Crossings (from Employee Timetable 31B, 4.14.1940)

ST. LOUIS SUBDIVISION


RailroadLocationMPProtection Eastern DivisionSE Jct.7.3Interlocking PPG CrossingCrystal City40.0Gate Missouri & IllinoisSte. Genevieve63.2Interlocking Missouri PacificCape Girardeau132.7Interlocking Hoxie SubdivisionNash, MO139.2N/A SSWRockview, MO141.7Interlocking
CHAFFEE SUBDIVISION


RailroadLocationMPProtection Missouri PacificOran, MO149.9Interlocking Leachville SubdivisionBrooks Jct., MO154.9N/A Missouri PacificSikeston159.8Interlocking SSWLilbourn, MO186.1Gate SSWBlazer, MO216.4Gate Jonesboro SubdivisionBlytheville, AR237.3Gate Jonesboro SubdivisionEvadale Jct., AR266.8Gate Southern DivisionTurrell, AR
Interlocking
LEACHVILLE SUBDIVISION


RailroadLocationMPProtection Missouri PacificMorehouse, MO173.1N/A SSWParma, MO192.3Gate SSWArbyrd, MO244.3Gate
LEACHVILLE SUBDIVISION - Caruthersville Branch


RailroadLocationMPProtection SSWBragg City, MO222.5Interlocking Chaffee SubdivisionHayti, MO212.6Gate SSWCaruthersville, MO220.8Gate
LEACHVILLE SUBDIVISION - Campbell Branch


RailroadLocationMPProtection SSWCampbell, MO217.2Gate
LEACHVILLE SUBDIVISION - Malden Branch


RailroadLocationMPProtection SSWMalden, MO216.9Gate
LEACHVILLE SUBDIVISION - Piggott Branch


RailroadLocationMPProtection Missouri PacificPoplar Jct., MO195.0Interlocking SSWPiggott Jct.227.8Interlocking
JONESBORO SUBDIVISION


RailroadLocationMPProtection Chaffee SubdivisionBlytheville, AR237.4Gate SSWChickasawba238.7N/A SSWLeachville, AR261.7Station
JONESBORO SUBDIVISION - Wilson Branch


RailroadLocationMPProtection Chaffee SubdivisionWilson264.0Gate

Notes: Turrell, AR = MP 283.3 on the River Division.

[chris]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: The following is from a 1950s magazine article that was reprinted in the FMIG newsletters; unfortunately I can not remember the magazine of origin. It provides some interesting insight into operational facets of the Frisco immediately after the steam-to-diesel transition.-CLA

<font size="+1">Rip Track Operations</font>
The Frisco keeps rip tracks clean and neat to a degree not commonly
found on the theory that neat surroundings have a physchological effect on causing a man to want to do higher quality work. All concreted rip tracks are swept several times a day with power sweepers. Several points paint work equipment &#40;jacks, stands, A-frames, etc.&#41; bright yellow so that it is evident, even from a distance, whether or not these items are being stored neatly and safely.

Highway movement of mounted wheel sets for emergency changes out ont he road will be tried with a truck hauling a trailer. The wheel set will be raised and &#34;snugged&#34; into position by a jack against a pair of concave supports shaped to the tread contour. The lifting jack is built into the trailer and chains which wrap around the axle are fastened to a mounting fixture on the end of the shaft.

To protect rip track areas by putting out small fires quickly before they become big ones, four-wheel fire fighting wagons are being installed at the larger points. These can be pulled along the concrete runway either by the workmen or by a shop truck. They extinguish the blaze either by fog nozzles or by dry extinguishers.

The wagons carry 275 gal. of water &#40;a seven-minute supply&#41;, two CO2 dry extinguishers, two axes, and two reels, each with 50 ft. of 1-in. hose. The wagons are charged with air for water delivery from one of the rip track outlets. Anti-freeze &#40;calcium chloride or similar solution&#41; is added to the water during the winter to permit storage outdoors.

The Frisco has also found it to be a worthwhile practice to remove the grease, oil and road dirt from the wheel plates on used mounted car wheels before turning journals. The cleaning takes about a minute a wheel and is done by a steam gun.

Two principal advantages result from removal of this accumulation: &#40;1&#41; elimination of fouled up cutting tools and burnishing rollers of axle lathes, which would otherwise be caused by this accumulation falling off while the journals were being turned; and &#40;2&#41; better inspection of the plates of the wheels for cracks or other defects.

[john]

Hi. I&#39;ve been trying for a long time to find some info. I grew up in Ardmore, Ok in the 60&#39;s and early 70&#39;s. The train station there was shared by the ATSF Newton, Kansas-Houston mainline, and a Frisco branch that terminated there. The Santa Fe used the east side of the depot and the Frisco the west. The Frisco line is now long abandoned but I well remember short freights coming to town about once a week... I also took a few pics of them. But my question is this: on the Frisco&#39;s side of the depot, above the door, is the logo of the Rock Island cast in concrete. It&#39;s still there today. And when I was in junior high in about 1968, a friend said her grandfather was an engineer on the Rock Island out of Ardmore years earlier. I&#39;ve been able to find nothing about a Rock Island line to Ardmore but it clearly existed and suspect it was taken over by the Frisco. I also have an Official Guide from 1953 that lists Frisco passenger service out of Ardmore using a gas-electric Doodlebug, so it would be before that. Does anyone know if the Frisco line was taken over from the Rock Island and when? Thanks}}

[chris]

I have some pictures of a Frisco engine pulling a freight train through northeastern Arkansas in 1980 or 1981. The little town was Hardy. I don&#39;t know anything more about the Frisco but I always liked the paint scheme.

I am currently evacuated from the Florida panhandle due to hurricane ivan. Wemt to a local hobby shop and low and behold, a frisco engine and matching caboose by Atlas. I got both for $90 and wont have to install a decoder.

Chris

[stripeshirt]

Hi. I've been trying for a long time to find some info. I grew up in Ardmore, Ok in the 60's and early 70's. The train station there was shared by the ATSF Newton, Kansas-Houston mainline, and a Frisco branch that terminated there. The Santa Fe used the east side of the depot and the Frisco the west. The Frisco line is now long abandoned but I well remember short freights coming to town about once a week... I also took a few pics of them. But my question is this: on the Frisco's side of the depot, above the door, is the logo of the Rock Island cast in concrete. It's still there today. And when I was in junior high in about 1968, a friend said her grandfather was an engineer on the Rock Island out of Ardmore years earlier. I've been able to find nothing about a Rock Island line to Ardmore but it clearly existed and suspect it was taken over by the Frisco. I also have an Official Guide from 1953 that lists Frisco passenger service out of Ardmore using a gas-electric Doodlebug, so it would be before that. Does anyone know if the Frisco line was taken over from the Rock Island and when? Thanks}}
According to the State Transportation map, the Rock was abandoned on 2-4-38. the map still shows the SLSF going into Ardmore.