FL9

After a BBQ supper on the evening of Thursday June 21st following our train and bus trip to southern Oklahoma, the Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society group visited the Oklahoma Railway Museum in north Oklahoma City.  Judy and I were pretty beat, so we drove instead of being dependent on the busses this time.  The museum is located on a mile or two of track remaining from the M-K-T’s line between Oklahoma City and Parsons, KS that was abandoned back in the late 1970’s.  The museum staff had a passenger train ready to go for the members, but Judy and I opted to photograph its departure rather than ride.  Power for the train came in the form of a 45-ton side-rod GE locomotive of US Army heritage.

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All three SFRH&MS busses were together at our last stop before returning to Oklahoma City.  Named after early settler Smith Paul, Pauls Valley, OK has accomplished a great deal in preserving its railroad history.  ATSF 2-8-0 #1951 was rescued from a city park and put on display with an-ex Frisco wooden caboose after both were given new paint jobs.

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When our Bus Two arrived at the old Dolese crusher in Big Canyon along the Washita River, it marked the first visit to this rugged location by many of the SFRH&MS members; but for me it was a return to a place I have visited many times over the past 35 years.  The other two busses were there ahead of us, and Bus One was about to leave while the members from Bus Three were outside taking in the sights.  Everyone getting off a bus was required to wear a hard hat by OSHA rules, and there were only enough available for one bus at a time. We decided to hand out the lunch boxes on our bus until it was our turn to explore.  Being a part of the staff paid off for me, as I was able to shoot this northbound BNSF train while balancing six or more lunch boxes on my left arm.

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Bus Two left the David depot and its home besides the BNSF Red Rock Sub to next visit the AT&SF Dougherty depot several miles east towards Sulphur, OK on the south side of Highway 7.

While the Dougherty depot is no longer within sight of any railroad tracks at its new location,  we found it to be in excellent physical condition following a complete restoration.  The new owners told us they plan to open it as a restaurant in the near future, and kindly let us tour the building.

Turning back the clock thirty-four years to the summer of 1973 we see a northbound local passing this same bay window at its original location in Dougherty.  The F7A and F7B unit are taking their short train to the Kerr-McGee refinery at Wynnewood to do some switching.

Now our bus load of hungry travelers headed back west toward Davis and then south towards Dougherty to visit the old Dolese rock crusher at Big Canyon further south in the Arbuckles and have lunch.