Mixed Train Daily - Wichita to Pratt

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Does anyone out there know anything about or know where there is specific information on Santa Fe trains #67 and #68. It is a mixed train daily from Wichita to Pratt Kansas.

I don’t need general suggestions like try the:Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society
because believe me for the last two months I have. I’ve contacted the Great Plains Transportation Museum, the railroad itself, every historical museum & society up and down the line, the Wichita & Western Railroad Historical Society, Wichita State University History Department, Friends University History Department, tried the Beebe books, etc. etc. and just finished about 20 hours searching the web.

So far, all I have is one video clip and a schedule of when it arrived and departed the Wichita station in 1966. Yipes, this is probably the most desolate a search I’ve ever conducted.

2

Years ago, the SFRH&MS website had a “guestbook” where people could trade comments, questions and answers specifically about Santa Fe on a website frequented by Santa Fe buffs and knowledgeable folks. Unfortunately, this feature was discontinued by the society after it was abused by Nigerian money-transfer scams, sexual solicitations, political rants, etc.

The main SFRH&MS “journal” called WARBONNET is a resource everyone wants to “keep forever”, but there is so much good Santa Fe material tompublish, once could wait forever for a specific question to be answered. And look through 30 years of back issues without finding that info.

There IS a place for MEMBERS to trade questions and answers. In addition to the WARBONNET, there is an accompanying 4-6 page publication of current organizational news, events, etc. called RUNNING EXTRA, which includes a Q&A column.

A place on the web for ATSF-specific discussions is the Santa Fe subforum under the “Fallen Flags” forum of http://www.railimages.com/

THE single best published source for information on Wichita-Pratt mixed trains is probably Coach, Cabbage & Caboose by John B. McCall, Dallas [Kachina Press, 1979]. “A one-hundred year history of Santa Fe mixed train service from 1869 to 1971 in words, photographs, equipment rosts and timetable schedules.”

Some of my notes from Coach, Cabbage & Caboose and other sources:

PRATT KS

1912 photo of Pratt depot with 10-wheeler #241 and crew posing, Coach, Cabbage & Caboose p.197

November 1958 photo of combine 2410 ready to leave Platt Coach, Cabbage & Caboose p.140

(another photo of same combine at Cleburne paint shop, 1956, p.141)

WICHITA

3

Here are some published photos and plans for TOWNS on the Wichita-Pratt run. Except for the highlighted/ enlarged entry, these do not necessarily show the mixed trains you asked about, but they show towns and scenes on the route.

CALISTA, KS train pulling loads from Garvey elevator 1990 Warbonnet 4Q 05 p.23

CHENEY, KS depot Warbonnet 1Q99 p.24

caboose partly blockS Main St. at night Warbonnet 4Q 05 p.10

CUNNINGHAM, KS 24’ std branchline depot, RR Mod Craftsman Apr84 p.67

#1 standard depot,Warbonnet 1Q99 p.27

train pulling loads from Farmers Coop elevator 1989 Warbonnet 4Q 05 p.23

GARDEN PLAIN KS depot pix & modeling article, Santa Fe Modeler 1Q93 p.26ff

prize model depot, Santa Fe Modeler 2Q93 p.20

#3 standard depot, Warbonnet 1Q99 p.29

KINGMAN, KS platform scene, mixed train #67’s baggage-express-combine unloading shipment , Coach, Cabbage & Caboose p.95

grain extra, Ninnescah River in bg, 1991 Warbonnet 4Q 05 p.40

MURDOCK KS spotting the elevator Warbonnet 4Q 05 p.22

4

Some more modeling information----

Combine 2410 shown in a previously referenced picture of the mixed train was in series #2410-2415. Some information on these series of combines:

rblt 1956-7 ATSF from #1094-99 16 seat, 70’length per 1957 “Pass Eqpt Circular” (in SFRH&MS website under “electronic resources” I believe)

floor plan of 1094-99 Quarter Century of Santa Fe Consists p.24

color pix #2411, 1960 Coach, Cabbage & Caboose p.53

floorplan #2413 Coach, Cabbage & Caboose p.253

floorplan #2414 Coach, Cabbage & Caboose p.253

pix 2415, ATSF Color Guide to Frt & Pass Eqpt p.21

Hope some of this is of some help for you. And if you know anything about the Santa Fe freight station in Galveston, Texas, let me know…

5

Way cool. You must have spent some serious time looking that up for me. I really appreciate it.

6

Sorry, I’ve got some information on the locomotive facilities in Galveston. I just looked through all the pictures and couldn’t even see the freight station in the background of any of them. Then my other book of Santa Fe stations is only for the western lines and doesn’t include much of anything on the Gulf lines.

I will keep my eyes opened though.

7

Yes, I had found those, but at the time didn’t know which cars might be appropriate. This is really great.