Even though I have been a member since 2005, I rarely visited until this year. I have posted a few replies lately and thought it was only fair that I introduce myself before participating any further. I grew up in Carthage, MO right next to the Missouri Pacific yard. As a result, railfanning became a passion early in my life. I spent a lot of time watching the activity on the MoPac and as I grew older I was able to explore the Frisco presence in town as well. I got interested in model railroading and built my first layout when I was in junior high. In 1978 I went to work for the Missouri Pacific as a trainman. I worked one of the traveling switch engines at Carthage quite often and interacted with the guys on the Frisco local quite frequently. I suffered through the merger with UP and eventually wound up in the Kansas City area. I was on the local that worked Clinton, MO just after the merger with the MKT. That was in 1991 and we still served several customers that were located on old Frisco trackage there. I was also heavily involved with the Smoky Hill Railway in the mid-'90s. So, I have a little time working on Frisco rails. I am interested in all railroad history, especially in the Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma area and I have been a member of the Missouri Pacific Historical Society for several years. The model railroad bug bit me, again, a few years ago. I have a good collection of cars and locomotives, but no layout has been started, yet. I look forward to being a part of this fantastic site. Thanks. Kevin Love
Very good. What era is your roster of locos and rolling stock? Right now I'm mainly 1920s and earlier. It's a very lonely era to model.
Kevin, Welcome Aboard! If you are interested in getting involved in the near-prototype operations of model railroading, there is plenty to be had in the KC Metro area. One way to get introduced is to begin coming to breakfast (if possible) on Saturday mornings at Jerry's Woodswether Cafe down in the West Bottoms at 7:00 am. That's where all the local guys gather to discuss railroad history and modeling. Afterward we retire to Doc's Caboose followed by a scheduled operating session on one of the many operating railroads in the KC Metro. There are a few of us Frisco modelers in the bunch and that number seems to be growing. There are three nice MKT roads in the group, several ATSF (the path of least resistance), and a number of others (SPS, GN, CB&Q, and more). We have one great Frisco layout in the mix thus far with that of Rick McClellan and Rick is always welcoming "newcomers".
Thanks for the welcome. I am modeling the late 1970s and early 1980s. Steam was before my time, so it doesn't catch my fancy like it does other modelers. I am modeling the MoPac (naturally) and intend to include the Frisco with their interchange at Carthage. The gathering in the West Bottoms sounds interesting. I'll have to see if I can make it sometime. I've spent plenty of dollars at Doc's place. What I've seen of Rick's layout on this forum does look pretty interesting. I hope to be able to see it sometime. Kevin Love
Kevin: Welcome aboard. Saying you're from Carthage made me immediately wonder if you have a copy of the David Cash video "Trains of the Heartland". Lot of MOP acton around Carthage so who knows, you might be in it! You can get it from Dale Rush at Blair Line (also in Carthage) at http://www.blairline.com/davecashvideo/.
Thanks for the welcome, Bob. I got my copy of David's video from Dale about a year ago. I've watched it several times and it's quite possible that I'm in the locomotive cab in some of the later stuff at Carthage. I was able to visit David's layout in my younger days (junior & senior high school). I have an HO scale Frisco airslide covered hopper that I bought from him. It's nothing fancy, but I still treasure it. Since I lived in close proximity to the tracks, I saw David out and about with his cameras many times. The run-thru trains with Southern power seemed to draw him out the most.
An official welcome aboard, Kevin: I have enjoyed reading your posts. Even though we worked, more or less, side by side at Smoky Hill, I had forgotten about your experience on the MOP. It's interesting to hear about your experiences. I don't know if you remember Don Spencer, but he's done a post or two on this web-site, earlier this year. Paul Brand's brother, Karl, is a regular contributor and quite a Frisco historian. I still reminisce about those days when we brought new life to the Frisco rails in Belton. An interesting chapter in our younger lives! Take care - hope you enjoy this site as much as I do! Bob McKeighan Lenexa, KS
Thanks for the welcome, Bob. This is an interesting and enoyable site. You're right about Karl. He is quite the historian and I have really appreciated his contributions. Smoky Hill was quite the experience and I enjoyed working with you and the other fine folks that were there during my tenure. Hopefully, we can meet again somewhere down the road.
Hi Kevin! The one on the left was shot this fall, and the one on the right I found on google images and was shot in the twenties. I should repost the color version of the one on the left - it was a beautiful fall morning along The Spring River! I grew up in Carthage in the seventies. I'm modeling Carthage, MO in N Scale from 1950-1980. Everything from two Mopac yards, one Frisco yard, and local structures made easier from Blair Line. I'm also modeling foreign trains that ran through Carthage as well: Union Pacific, Southern RR, and KCS reroutes, including The Southern Belle! David Cash's DVD and other info has been very helpful in this project. I'll probably never totally finish it all before I pass on, but I'll try! I go back to Carthage twice a year, spring and fall, on vacation away from working for the railroad on the west coast. I do research for all this every time I'm down there. I can't wait to retire and move back! Best wishes, Pete
Hi Pete, Sorry I missed you. You should have called. Would like you to stop by and see the progress on my N scale Clinton Sub layout, Kansas City, Osceola and Southern, "The Blair Line". Give me a call when you come back next spring. Pete, Kevin and everyone, this invitation is open to anyone in the Carthage area. Dale Rush Carthage, MO 417-359-8300
Pete, thanks for the info on the pictures. I was surprised by the most recent one. The last time I looked at this location, the track was full of cars in storage. It saddens me greatly that the railroad presence in Carthage is not what it used to be. I was also surprised by the MP bridge in the older photo. I was not aware that the current structure was not the original. Dale, I appreciate the invitation to view your layout. I'll be sure to contact you the next time I am headed to Carthage.
