Page 12 - March April 2009

from page 11
Exhibitions
It is impossible for any one individual to attend every possible exhibition. When I took up the post of Marketing Co-ordinator I indicated that, as I work nights and weekends, I would not be able to attend many exhibitions. Ideally we should have a team of people willing to attend exhibitions local to their area. If anyone wishes to volunteer I'd be very happy to make up a list matching them to the various exhibitions.
It may also not be cost-effective to be at some exhibitions as the returns do not appear to justify the costs. Having said that, we have to be careful that, especially in the present economic climate, we look at all the benefits, as a decision not to attend an exhibition for short-term economic reasons can be detrimental in the longer term. Each case will have to be carefully considered. If anyone has a suggestion for suitable exhibitions please let me know.
New Owners -ror Mae's
A simple, low-cost, effective way to publicise the NMRA is to encourage members who are exhibiting their layouts to display a small plaque or sign. It is intended to update the original designed by Nobby Clarke when our logo revamp has been finalised (see above). Please look at the website regularly to see when they are available.
And finally . . .
I hope that this report has given you some idea of the efforts that are being made to enhance the awareness of the NMRA British Region. There are many talented people working for the benefit of us all. Everyone can help. What can you do to help?
We are pleased to announce that, all being well when the lawyers
and redrafting the sale contract, we have sold the business and the new owner should take over on 2 March.
The new owner is Ian Sangster, and his shop will be at 4/8 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, Scotland. We are closing the shop here in Helensburgh. The company name will still be Mac's Model Railroading, and the website and e-mail address will be the same. All our outstanding advance orders will be passed on to the new owner. Obviously it will take a while for him to get up and running, but we are already taking orders again to pass on to him.
Ian is into American railroading with an interest in Canadian outline. We are sure he will give the same high level of service we have worked at achieving ourselves.
Many thanks, and best wishes from Bernie and Sylvia McQuiggan (Mr and Mrs Mac!)
The Kansas City Southern (a brief history)
The railroad that eventually evolved into the Kansas City Southern was founded on 8 January 1887 by Arthur Edward Stillwell who was born in Rochester, New York on 21 October 1859.
Arthur Stillwell's grandfather, Hamblin Stillwell, had been one of the founders of the New York Central Railroad as well as being the builder of the Erie Canal.
It was, apparently, on hearing a conversation between his grandfather and Cofnmodore Vanderbilt that young Arthur decided he wanted to go into the railroad business.
Arthur E Stillwell's vision was to build a direct north—south from Kansas City, Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico, focusing on grain, coal, lumber and other minerals. His original idea was to terminate the railroad at Galveston, Texas. However, on mulling this over he decided to terminate the KCS at a town on the shores of Lake Sabina, Texas where a canal would be built to connect the lake to the Gulf. This, he thought, would be a safer haven in view of the storms that hit and are still hitting towns directly on the Gulf. The town was called Port Arthur.
During the course of building the original railroad Arthur Stillwell encountered severe cash problems, so much so that he went to Amsterdam, Holland to raise funds. He was successful in this venture and raised the necessary capital to continue building
12 ROUNDHOUSE
Mike Hughes, Marketing Co-ordinator Modelling the North American Way
New Importer
Tim Mulhall is the new UK importer for Rivarossi. They have the latest Big Boy loco, in a weathered finish, arriving at shops next week. He'd like to publicise this with the NMRA members here in the UK. Their website is www.hornby international. co.uk.
Phone 01981 241 268
Kenneth Williamson
his railroad. To show his appreciation to his Dutch friends many towns along the railroad were given Dutch names, places like DeQueen, Arkansas, Mena, Arkansas and Nederland, Texas. Today the KCS operates 3226 miles in ten US states with major hubs in Kansas City, Missouri, Shreveport, Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana and Dallas, Texas.
The KCS owns the Kansas City Southern Railroad, the Kansas City Southern de Mexico (previously Grupo Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexico), the Texas Mexico Railway Company and the Panama Canal Railway Company.
The KCS also owns 400 miles of UP trackage rights from Beaumont, Texas to Robstown, Texas which together with ownership of Tex Mex allows KCSM and KCSR to connect at Laredo, Texas and Beaumont, Texas.
Tex Mex also owns the important Texas Mexican Railway International Railway Bridge which connects the US with Mexico at Laredo, Texas. Without this bridge it would be difficult for KCSR and KCSM to act as a single company under KCS.
While not achieved in his time, Arthur E Stillwell's vision of a direct railroad from the Midwestern United States to the Pacific Gulf Coast of Mexico has been realised.
For more detailed information on the KCS there are many sites on the web. You can also contact the Kansas City Southern Historical Society.
have finished drafting