Passenger Train Historical Society Meeting, La Plata, MO, Aug. 7

PTHS
Passenger Train Historical Society

A non-profit organization of passenger train enhusiasts devoted to the presentation and exhibition of Passenger Train History, especially that of Amtrak.

<>Depot Inn & Suites toll-free at 888.814.3669

Above titles and graphics by: Steve Grande, TrainWeb.com, Announcement: http://www.trainweb.org/pths/

August 7 - 10, 2008

Passenger Train Historical Society Meeting, Picnic, and La Plata Train Tour

Photos and text by Carl Morrison, Carl@TrainWeb.com, Comments welcome.
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Southwest Chief arrives at La Plata, MO, Aug., 2008

Next Stop, La Plata, MO.

Wednesday, August 4-5, 2008.

Because of the scarcity of Roomettes on the SWC from Fullerton, CA, to La Plata, MO, I left the evening of Monday, August, 4, arriving in La Plata about 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 6.

Chris Guenzler was on the same train, so we both arrived on Wednesday and checked into the Depot Inn & Suites where we were greeted by Manager, Maria, and Desk Clerks, Sally and Andrea. Brock had evening duty.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

After breakfast and out only other stop in Missouri, Kansas City, we proceeded to the next stop, La Plata, MO, where we would detrain. Two items were of interest to me between these two stops: The Missouri River, and the RR bridge over it. The middle span is where Chris reached his One Million Miles of Train Travel point in an earlier trip to La Plata, Misisouri.

(Click any photo below to see a double-sized copy; Click BACK in your browser to return to this page.)

Pre-Event Activities

Since Chris Guenzler and I arrived on Wednesday, and the official activities were to begin on Thursday, we had a day to renew acquaintances with the people and places in La Plata. After our arrival around 10 a.m. in the morning, Maria Snodgrass, Manager of the Depot Inn & Suites, picked us and our luggage up in the Depot Inn bus and took us to the Inn. We walked in and it was as usual, like meeting our family as Sally and Andrea welcomed us as Maria helped us in with our luggage. The weather was perfect, near 80 with bright sun, puffy white clouds, and a nice parairie breeze. (The pervious week they had a combination of heat and humidity making the hheat index over 100). Since Chris and I were the earliest arrivals for the Meeting, Maria mentioned what our duties would be, picking up picnic supplies for Friday's picnic at the Lookout BBQ and a slide projector for the Attendee Slide Shows., She said through the generosity of Depot Inn owner, Tom Marshall, we had the use of the "Orange '41 Chevy Pickup" I had used before in La Plata.

Depot Inn & Suites (above) with the aforementioned Orange '41 Pickup. Depot Inn indoor swimming pool with simulated Steam Engine water spout (right).
Entry porch at the Depot Inn & Suites with "Harold's Train" ready for passengers.	Depot Inn, La Plata water tower, Depot Inn Sign.

Since Chris had never eaten at the Pear Tree in Bevier, MO, about a 40 minute drive southwest of La Plata, and this event would have a dinner there on Saturday night, and since Chris was leaving La Plata on Friday night, we decided to enjoy our first experience at the Pear Tree together on this evening. We drove the Old Pickup out to Bevier, and found a locomotive awaiting our camera clicks in perfect horizontal light.

Bevier & Southern's 112, "Have Train, Will Haul"

Directly across the street is the Pear Tree Restaurant (right and below) where I enjoyed the house specialty, Onion Rings, followed by a delicious salad and Filet Mignon with baked potato. The filet dinner was about $23.

Thursday Evening, August 7, 2008

~8:06 PM CT
Arrival of Westbound Amtrak Southwest Chief Train #3 From Chicago

Pre-event slide show by attendees

Chris and I walked out for a morning of train watching at his Lookout.	The BNSF Freights cooperated with high-speed runbys.
From the Lookout, Chris and I photographed the arriving, westbound, Amtrak Train #4.	Westbound, Amtrak Train #4, at La Plata, Missouri.

Train 4 reflecting in the Lookout window.	Coaches spotted at the La Plata Station.
Train 4 heads for Chicago.

A "Hello Honk" to Chris as he passes.	Heading under Brown Street Bridge, La Plata.
We walked back to the hotel, and clicked a couple more pictures.	For this evening's meal, the Depot Inn recommended the Dukum Inn and the Manhattan in Kirksville.

	Chris and I had not eaten at either eatery. Chris checked them out and chose the Manhattan. Good meal.
Steve Grande had made some repairs to the live TV transmission from the Lookout to the Depot Inn and Chris enjoys a passing Intermodal Frieght from the Inn's Lobby.	David Mangold, Events Coordinator, at davemangold [AT] hotmail.com, had arrived on the 8:06 pm westbound SWC and was ready for the Meeting.

It was Steve Gande's birthday today, so Shelli Tucker (his sister) provided a cake and decorations as a surprise for Steve at the beginning of the Meeting.	Bob Cox, local rail fan and Photographer, from Show-n-Off Photography, was in attendance.
Kunal, smartest boy in 3rd grade, son of Rajesh, employee of TrainParty.com, shared Indian cuisine with Steve and other guests.	Narciso Lopez, (Center) Larry Leibundguth, (Right)

Rajesh, Kunal's Father, prepares the food.	Shelly and Tom Marshall, Owners of the Depot Inn & Suites.
Kenny Marshall (left) Tom's younger brother, with Chris Guenzler. Kenny wrote and performed the song about Chris' Millionth Mile. Kenny has a new CD coming out with that song on it.	We sang, "Happy Birthday, Steve" as Shelli presented Steve with a cake.

Chris Guenzler and Dave Mangold, the two Presenters at this Passenger Train Historical Society Meeting. Chris presented his personal Amtrak History of slides taken since 1971.

After slide presentations by both Chris and Dave, we adjourned with the next activity being a Bus Tour at 9 a.m. the next day.

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