Summer 2007 Vol. XXXV, No. 2

Messages from President Joe Petric... Enclosed with this Switchlist is Issue 115 of the NEWS.  My congratulations to the Publications Committee for a job well done and a sincere thank you to the authors that contributed their time and talents to this magazine.  This is one of the most outstanding issues that we have ever published!

Also enclosed with this mailing are a number of forms pertaining to the 35th Annual Meeting of the Society which is being held in suburban Chicago at The Oaks Inn in Burr Ridge, IL over the weekend of September 28-30, 2007.  As mentioned in the Spring Switchlist, we are ho1ding a joint meeting with the Rock Island Technical Society in conjunction with their 33rd Annual Meeting.

Show Chairman Dave Wagner reports that as of the writing of this Switchlist (6/20/07), we already have 36 vendor tables sold for the event.  This is fantastic support for a show that is still three months away.  If you are a vendor or just a “regular" railfan who wishes to part with some of your collection, you better hurry and reserve a table(s) so you will not miss out on this outstanding event. Please see the enclosed full page flyer for details on the Swap Meet and Annual Meeting Banquet. The Autumn Switchlist with additional information for the Annual Meeting will be mailed in early August.

In addition to the Saturday Show and Banquet, we are sponsoring an excursion on Metra over the Rock Island District from Joliet Union Station to LaSalle Street Station in Chicago, and returning via the Heritage Corridor, which is the former GM&O main, from Chicago Union Station to Joliet.  We will depart the hotel at 12:15pm Friday afternoon for the bus ride to Joliet and we should return back to The Oaks Inn by 7:00pm in time to participate in the Friday Night Hospitality Suite.

On Saturday afternoon, we are offering a tour and run session at the Lake Shore Model Railroad Association.  If you have an HO-sca1e, DCC equipped locomotive, bring it along as LSMRA has opened up their club to GM&OHS/RITS members for a Saturday afternoon operating session.  Details on both the Friday fantrip and LSMRA visit can be found on the enclosed half sheet flyer.

Please note; In an effort to help our volunteer staff with details of the Annual Meeting, please send in your reservations for the fantrip, LSMRA visit and Annual Meeting Banquet as early as possible.

New Illinois Central group forming... We are pleased to announce the formation of the Illinois Central Railroad Heritage Association (ICRHA).  The ICRHA is a group of railfans interested in everything Illinois Central, past and present.  This includes both the Green Diamond and Orange and White eras, Illinois Central Gulf (ICG), Chicago Central and Pacific (CCP), Paducah and Louisville (PAL), MidSouth (MDSR), etc.  Their magazine, the Mid-American is in color and produced by White River Productions, the same people who help the GM&OHS with the NEWS.  For further details on membership you can contact; ICRHA, Membership Services, P.O. Box 47, Bucklin, MO 64631. Good luck guys!

It is never too early to start making plans for the 36th Annual Meeting of the Society.  We are pleased to announce that Board Member (and former President) Darren Doss will be your host for the 36th Annual Meeting being held in Union City, TN over the weekend of October 10-12, 2008.  Union City is a thriving community just south of the Kentucky-Tennessee state line about an hour north of Jackson and roughly ninety minutes from Memphis.  In fact, it is strategically located just about half way between Mobile and Chicago.

Classic articles in Classic Trains... Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the current Classic Trains magazine (on shelves until July 30th).  Four GM&OHS members are contributing authors for the Summer 2007 issue.  Gene Glendinning’s condensed history of the Alton for the regular 'Fallen Flags Remembered' feature includes some nice photos, Dick Wallin writes of his experience aboard an Illinois Central 2-10-2 on a night run, J. Parker Lamb (with Tony Kline) presents a history of the Texas State Railroad which is now a tourist line, and Senior Editor J. David Ingles recounts his epic 6000 mile western odyssey on one-year-old Amtrak.

Publications Committee Report by Dave Wagner... On behalf of the Publications Committee I hope that you enjoy Issue 115 of the NEWS.  My thanks to authors David Bridges for his outstanding story on the NOM&C/GM&N 40-class Pacifics, good friend Charlie Volkar for his insightful perspective of the original Rebel paying a visit to Chicago, and last but not least Owen Leander for presenting a unique look at a GM&O time capsule in Joliet.  My personal thanks also goes out to the PubCom staff who worked as a group on the Heralding the Rebel feature.  Special thanks to Ken Donnelly who sacrificed his copy of the June 15, 1935 Railway Age in order to illustrate this story in detail.  Several of the advertisements used in the presentation had to be cut from the original magazine.  Kenny, you will be rewarded in heaven!

Issue 116 of the NEWS is scheduled for mailing in mid-November.  As of this moment we have an updated story on the GM&O’s 60-foot box car fleet by Curt Kyger and drawings of these cars by Art Richardson as well as a major feature entitled Sperry and Speno on the Gee-Mo.  This story will highlight the equipment used to help keep the GM&O’s right-of-way in order.

To complete this article, we need your help!  Though we have extensive information and photograhic coverage of both Sperry and Speno equipment operating on the Northern Region, we have very little information and fewer pictures from south of the Ohio.  If you have any information or photographs (black and white or color), please contact Ken Donnelly at either 815-278-0384, kennednn@aol.com or P.O. Box 2457, Joliet, IL 60434.  We could really use some help to expand this piece and make it interesting and truly comprehensive.

Also enclosed with this mailing is an order form for our 2008 calendar.  This will be an all-color production featuring 13 different GM&O scenes from all corners of the railroad.  Please see the order form for specific details and respond at your earliest convenience within the noted deadline.

Secretary's Report by Marc Liberta... Nominations are now being accepted for all four officer positions and five Board of Director seats for the 2008 membership year.  Please send all written nominations to; Election 2008, P.O. Box 1753, Marion, IL 62959.  A simple statement for the desired candidate and your signature is all that is required to nominate a willing member.  Electronic submissions are acceptable, as well.  Current Board Members are required to submit their names if they wish to run again for a seat on the BOD.  All nominations must be received by August 3, 2007.

The GM&OHS Members Directories are now available for those members who have a red “Y” on their mailing labels.  This indicates participation in the project, and only those persons included in the Directory may purchase one.  The final number of members listed is just shy of 300.  To order your Directory, please send a $3.00 check/money order (made out to GM&OHS) to; Directory, P.O. Box 1753, Marion, IL 62959.  PayPal may be utilized by Emailing the Secretary for an invoice.

The recent Postal Service restructuring of mail classes and pricing tiers is having a significant impact on the day to day operations of our Society.  Most troubling, is that our bulk mail rate, while still non-profit, has increased by approximately 33 percent (33%) due to the new ‘large’ envelope designation our mailings now receive.  Between now and the end of the year, the Board of Directors will assess the feasibility of maintaining our current membership rates, but be forewarned that an increase in our dues structure is a very real possibility next year.

Our 35th Anniversary Commemorative Adlake Switch Keys are still available.  Fewer than 20 of these beautifully polished brass keys remain from the 50 originally produced.  Carry one on your key ring and always have a great conversation starter at hand.  $20.00 postage paid.

Earlier this year, we placed a second order for Dr. James Lemly’s book reprint in order to satisfy the waiting list that arose out of the previous sell out.  Those persons on the waiting list have now received their copies and there are a few remaining books for any member that missed out last year.  $25.00 postage paid.

Modeling Committee Report by the staff... By the time you receive this mailing, the members that have ordered GM&OHS #32, our white MDT reefers should have received them via the Postal Service.  The majority of these orders were shipped June 20, 2007 from Bedford Park, IL.  We do have a few sets remaining, so if you want this set of reefers, don't delay, get your orders in as soon as possible.

Once again our thanks to Life Members Joe Legner and Dave Wagner for handling the inspection, packing and shipping of these cars. Thanks also to Ken Donnelly who handled the original research and development of this project.

As always, we are interested in what the membership would like to see produced in a prototypically correct GM&O model.  If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please contact the Modeling Committee at the Society's post office box or via Email to the Society's website.

Kato SD40 Repainting Program... We have some added information for those participating in the very positively received Kato S040 Repainting Program.  The question of detail parts has been brought to our attention, so here are the do’s and don’ts.  Roof top details (horns, lift rings, fans) are okay and not a problem if they have been added.  However, handrails will need to be removed for painting, and no aftermarket grabs or other modifications to the sides and ends can be allowed (these interfere with the application of paint and graphics).  If one wishes to pre-drill holes for such add-ons, just make sure that all surfaces are smooth and this will be acceptable.  Remember the deadline is October 1, 2007.  We will be accepting your S040’s at the Annual Meeting for this project.  Keep looking for a good deal on a unit that you can send in for our special treatment!

New Products... Walther’s is releasing a new model of the Alco RS2 in their Proto N Series. GM&O no. 1504, in the two-tone red and maroon scheme (stock no. 920-75102), is slated to be available on June 30, 2007.

In Memoriam... Life Member Al Biggs of Alton, IL passed away on June 6,2007.  Al was a good guy and always willing to help the Society.  For many years, he worked at Henze’s Hobby House in St. Louis.

And an era passes... Midway Cartage ceased operations on March 31, 2007 after 47 years.  Rising fuel and labor costs forced third generation owner Tim Evans to close the doors.  Midway was the GM&O’s, and later ICG’s, drayman in Chicago for their piggyback operation.  For those of us that grew up at Glenn Yard, the Evans family was always friendly to railfans and allowed us to rummage around their property to find the best angle for that special or unique photograph.