convention

Railroad Museum Moving to Frisco, Texas
Bob LaPrelle, President & CEO

The Museum of the American Railroad has entered into an agreement with the City of Frisco to relocate its permanent collection and operations to that city. The new museum will anchor other cultural heritage facilities and compliment a system of planned parks and recreational areas. Formerly known as the “Age of Steam”, the Museum of the American Railroad is a 45-year old Dallas institution currently located in Fair Park. It houses an extensive collection of historic locomotives, rail passenger cars, and related artifacts. The museum’s mission is to …share with the general public the heritage, as well as the current and future development of American Railroading through artistic, cultural and educational programming.

The museum completed a comprehensive strategic plan in 2006 which calls for a minimum 9 acre site, with 15 acres optimal. Prepared by M. Goodwin Associates of Los Angeles, the plan points out challenges at Fair Park, but the principal constraint is the lack of space at its present 1.8 acre site. The strategic plan was the product of a reorganization of the museum which included new governance, a new name, and a new focus on programming that appeals to today’s audience. The City of Frisco became aware of the museum’s plans for expansion and contacted officials in early 2007.

C. Chapman (Chap) Boaz, General Manager and Lori Pennington, Marketing Manager for the Texas State Railroad will give a presentation on recent activity and current goings on at the railroad. With American Heritage Railways assuming the management of the Texas State Railroad in September 2007, some changes in the way the railroad is operated are being implemented. American Heritage also operates the Durango & Silverton Railroad and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Chap and Lori will show some video clips that will give us an update on the operation of the railroad.

The Texas State Railroad has in its roster of engines, a Baldwin 2-8-0, a 2-8-2, a 4-6-2, a Cooke 4-6-0, and an Alco RS-2. Two additional engines can be expected to join the roster soon.

The Texas State Railroad runs from Palestine to Rusk, Texas. Riders can purchase tickets to originate trips from either depot. More information is available at www.texasstaterr.com.

At the Trinity River Interchange this coming June, we will honor Dallasite John “Jack” Leming who was the last member of that most innovating group of model railroaders in Texas during the 1960’s and 1970’s that set the patterns for much that we do today.  Jack passed away on April 25, 2008 after a brief illness.
 
Jack developed very realistic model railroad scenery and building techniques and shared this information with countless LSR and NMRA members.  Jack, his son Tom and friends like Bill McClenahan, Malcolm Vordenbaum, Cliff Robinson, and Bill Sims built the first Cape Able and Port Enchos Railroad in his garage.  This HO layout had some very unusual motive power.  You’ll have to wait until the convention banquet to find out about this.  All I will say now is that it was really inexpensive.  Jack gave away many beautiful totally scratch-built buildings and cars… quite sufficient to qualify for NMRA achievement certificates.  However, Jack was more interested in helping others than in receiving awards.  

Jack was the chairman of the 25th LSR convention in Dallas in 1976.  As editor of The Marker Lamp for many years, he was always bringing unusual stories about railroading to us.  Jack was the director of the Advertising Art Department of The Dallas Morning News, and his wife Helen was a noted fashion illustrator for the newspaper.  In 1976 Jack was the proud recipient of the prestigious Pop Loeffler Award, presented by the San Jacinto Model Railroad Club.

More about “The Kid” next time . . . .

Bill McPherson