Page 10 - July August 2010
P. 10

Kansas City Southern Railroad – Wade, Arkansas
Just south of Horatio, Arkansas at a place called Wade on the Kansas City Southern Railroad’s mainline, mid-train helpers that are used to assist coal drags bound for Texas coal plants over the mountains between Heavener, Oklahoma and Wade, Arkansas are cut out.
Sometimes the helpers are stacked up and sent back up north in batches of up to ten locomotives at a time. At other times the locos are attached to the next empty coal drag heading back north.
Southern Belle Locomotives
Three 1750 HP locomotives built in 1957 by General Motors’ Electro Motive Division (EMD) for VIA Rail Canada. In 1995, KCS
Kenneth Williamson
bought three units from the Ohio Central Railroad and Independent Locomotive and began refurbishing them at Mid- America Car in Kansas City.
One sentimental holdover remains from the locomotives of old: a whistle cord. As in years past, a tug on the cord produces the distinctive train whistle.
KCS #1, The Shreveport; Type: F9A
KCS #2, The Meridian; Type: F9A
KCS #3, The Pittsburg; Type: F9B
The restored “Southern Belle” is used for business, public and charity events.
NMRA Scottish Division 2010 Meet
Niall Smith – NMRA Scottish Division Organiser
The Scottish Division’s annual meet took place on 17 April at its usual venue, Cross House in Linlithgow. As has been the case for the past few years, we had an additional room for an RPM (Railroad Prototype Modelling) display, organised by Des Norman. This is an area where visitors can display their work on improving a model, on a “show and tell” basis, and swap ideas and methods.
Trade support was provided by Ten Commandments. The ever popular “bring and buy” stand was also present.
Two layouts were on offer – the largest being an O scale switching layout provided by Arry Dodd; thanks are due to him particularly for driving down from Elgin for the day. The other layout was an HO scale switching layout provided by David Thomson.
Continuing the larger scale theme, Des Norman had an O scale diorama being worked on in the RPM room; as well as this the
RPM room also boasted a static display of Gauge 1 locomotives – thanks to Paul Flint for these. Reverting to HO, Laurence Gordon provided a good display of modern diesel power.
A talk was provided by Ken Williamson who showed an interesting selection of historic and modern slides of US railroading.
The meet was well supported by members and non-members, and I hope provided an enjoyable day for all who came.
I must thank all those who helped out in making it such a good day, with particular mention of those who provided and transported layouts to the meet, and those who ran stands and demonstrations. Also thanks are due to my wife Janet, her
mother, and the others who helped by supplying the much appreciated home baking!
 Brief Note on the Benson Meet
The Benson meet was a very pleasant affair, with temperatures reaching 85 degrees on my way home! By late lunchtime about 160 people had attended. The gentleman in front of me in the queue, at about 10.45 am, was joining up to BR on the spot, and benefited by being admitted at the NMRA member rate – that’s the way to do it!!
The Region T-Shirt
The Editor
Except for about 2 minutes gulping a cup of tea, I don’t think I stopped talking, or being talked to, the entire time. Perhaps next time I’ll disguise myself as a tree (no dogs please.)
Special thanks to the organisers, Robin and Mike and all their helpers; thanks also to Tom Winlow and Mike Hughes for acting as press photographers for me, and to companies Walthers and Carstens for supplying substantial raffle prizes.
The all new 65th Anniversary polo shirts are now ready to order. After the great success of the 60th anniversary shirts, I have again designed a new polo shirt for the 65th, the difference this time is you can include your own name (see picture page “X”).
They cost the same price as back in 2005 which is not bad after five years, £17.50 P+P £1.95. The order form is on the main website. If you do not have web access then let me know and I’ll send you one.
Nobby Clarke
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