Business car "Harry S. Truman"

Discussion in 'Business Cars' started by jmlaboda, Jan 7, 2012.

  1. jmlaboda

    jmlaboda Member

  2. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Looks like it might be number 3, formerly with the Smoky Hill folks from Belton, MO. Didn't carry the HST monicker during its Frisco days.
     
  3. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    The business cars named Missouri, Springfield and Oklahoma were all numbered 3 at one time or another. The last car numbered 3 was the former "Oklahoma" which was numbered 3 on 11-22-63. (Karl, do you think that is the one that's now the "Truman?") I have most of the namings and numberings, but only a few of the final dispositions.

    Tom G.
     
  4. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    I think so.
     
  5. Rancho Bob

    Rancho Bob Member

    That's the one the "REAL" Smoky Hill folks received from the SLSF.....the one we had parked at the River Quay museum and used with the Hospitality for NBC's HQ during the 1976 Republican Convention.
     
  6. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    Funny...The "Truman" car at the Republican Convention!!

    Tom G.
     
  7. gbmott

    gbmott Member

    For some reason, the more I look at that photo the more it strikes me as being at a Frisco location while in service on the Frisco. The building in the background looks familiar to me, but I can't place it. Someone should be able to, however, especially with the hills in the background. As for the car, if it had been in private hands for several years, as it sounds like is being suggested, usually you can tell -- the steam connector will have been removed, or the signal line hose, or sublettering applied, or something that gives it away. It is very likely that I am dead wrong in all this, but is there any chance that this could have been some type of temporary special event renaming? Sort of like the famous example of the 4500 with the tender lettered for the Will Rogers.

    Gordon
     
  8. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    Gordon it just may be the "look!" The car looks well kept as it was on the Frisco (As all the Frisco business cars were) and it doesn't have any amateur paint work or the decorator colors of a "private" car like so many do. Also "Harry S. Truman" is a believable name for a Misouri centered railroad. It's not named like a bass boat's owner's wife or a daughter, e.g: "Debbie" or "Susan M." etc.

    Tom G.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 9, 2012
  9. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Weighing in on the mystery, wasn't there a documentary film or motion picture of sorts done years ago about Truman and this car was loaned by the Smokey Hill group for use in it?

    Thinking more about this I did find a PBS documentary about Truman and do believe they used the car and shot footage west of KC.

    I hope someone can help jog my memory!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 28, 2012
  10. meteor910

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

    Folks ..... to be totally correct, the name should be Harry S Truman. President Truman's middle name was just "S". The S was not an abbreviation of a middle name like Samuel or something, that would be S., not S ..... his actual middle name was just "S", no period after the S ..... another bit of Missouri/Frisco trivia!

    Ken
     
  11. pbender

    pbender Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 28, 2012
  12. Brad Slone

    Brad Slone Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Ken,

    That is correct Truman had no middle name for "S" although it was highly speculated that it stood for Ship as that was his Grandfather's name. There was a PBS documentary on Truman it was from their American Experience series narrated by David McCullough and was very good, it is doubtful that the car appeared in this film though as it was mostly all archive footage. There was also the HBO film Truman and it is possible the car was in this film, the 1522 was also shown in this movie as well. Although it is possible that a car was relettered for Truman after his Presidency if he traveled on the Frisco during his time in office he would have used the Ferdinand Magellan which ran over the Frisco at least twice.

    Brad
     
  13. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    The car in the HBO movie ("Truman," starring Gary Sinese) was the restored Katy business car (I forget the number??), however the Frisco ENGINE 1522 was in the film.

    Tom G.
     
  14. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    After Truman retired, I've read (Someplace??) he had at times traveled on the ex-Texas Special observation-lounge 1350 "Joseph Pulitzer." Evidently, the Frisco used that car as a lounge on special moves after the Texas Special was discontinued. It was usually parked at the Springfield depot in the early 60's.

    Tom
     
  15. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    The car named "Harry S Truman" in the photo wasn't the one sold to the Texas Tank Car Co. That car was the "Florida," which was sold to TTC 2-5-65. Before it was named "Florida," it had been numbered #6 (5-5-47), then later #11(2-28-48).

    Tom
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 29, 2012
  16. pbender

    pbender Member Frisco.org Supporter

    There is information elsewhere on the site that indicates Texas Tank Car made as many as three different cars through the years.

    The car in the link I posted earlier appears to be the same one in the photos that started this thread. I have no doubt the author of that page has the location correct.

    Paul
     
  17. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    My information on final dispostions of the business cars was from the Frisco Passenger Car Historical Record. There isn't really much in there about any of the cars and "Florida" was the only one connected with the TTC. In other words, the historical record only mentions "Florida." Evidently there were others. Sounds like the fella must have had several cars.

    Tom
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 29, 2012

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