Train No 409 - GP7 567 - 4 Cars - Quanah, TX - 6/9/1951 - Action Photo - Oklahoma Historical Society

From Oklahoma Historical Society: "A photograph print showing St. Louis & San Francisco (SLSF) "Frisco" 567, single unit diesel-electric on passenger train No. 409, crossing FW&D track at Quanah, TX, 4 cars."

Citation:
George, Preston.St. Louis & San Francisco (SLSF) "Frisco" 567, photograph, June 9, 1951; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2294174/: accessed April 28, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

 

Another great shot that hits close to home!

My mom grew up in Quanah; my granddad was a lineman in Quanah.

We currently live about 80 miles south of Quanah.

 

For the life of me, I could not determine the location of Preston George’s photo. The USGS topo sheets only added to my disorientation. I found USGS 1953 and 1956 aerial photos, which clarified my confusion.

I took the 1953 set of photos and annotated them. The original Frisco mainline is depicted in red. The QA&P is depicted in orange, and the FtW&DC is shown in green. I did not mark the Frisco or FtW&DC connections nor side tracks.

It should also be noted that west of MP G715.80, the east bank of the Red River, the Frisco leased its tracks to the QA&P. As is known, railroads, which operate in Texas must have their “headquarters" in Texas. The QA&P operation satisfied that requirement.

Based on this new information, I think that Preston George’s photo of train 709 is located on the aerial photo with the brown arrow. The train would pull by the QA&P connection, and then shove back to the QA&P depot. How the train gets turned for the morning trip back to OKC still remains a bit of a mystery.

The 1956 aerial photos no longer depict Tower 27 nor the original Frisco mainline - FtW&DC crossing. During this time, the Frisco also constructed a wye from its connection with the QA&P. That trackage is shown on the posted USGS topo sheets; based on the 1956 aerial photos, the “original Frisco mainline” shown on the USGS topo sheets is in error.

During the late 1930’s, Chickasha Sub trains 409 and 410, were protected by a pair of Bull Mooses. Train 409 left OKC Union Station at 1:30 PM, and it arrived at Quanah at 7:35 PM. Train 410 departed Quanah at 10:20 AM, and it arrived at OKC at 4:20 PM.

During the war years, the Frisco replaced the Bull Mooses with conventional passenger equipment. The Frisco passed through Ft Sill, and the fort generated sufficient traffic so that the usual consist of the Chickasha Sub passenger local swelled to a Baggage-Express-RPO, a Baggage-Chair (32-seat), and two chair cars. The Frisco altered the war time schedule so that both trains had morning departures from OKS and Quanah. The Chair-Baggage combine was often replaced with a full baggage car. Frisco Power, Frisco Southwest, and Frisco Steam Salute have good photos of these trains and their motive power.

When the Frisco placed the new streamlined Meteor train-set into operation, it renumbered the the eastbound train from number 410 to 404. The schedule remained about the same, however a lunch stop was scheduled at Lawton, where box lunches, beverages, and snacks could be ordered. Due to the postwar decline in passenger volume, the Frisco discontinued 409 and 404 effective. July 7, 1955. Not doubt this explains the demise of Tower 27, and its absence from the 1956 aerial photographs..

The next day, July,8, 1955 the Frisco Meteor service and the St Louis to OKC Pullman to Lawton. The Pullman service lasted until Feb 7, 1960. The Meteor between OKC and Lawton ceased August 23, 1963.