2019 4fal19

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by  mbrown

2180 South Carson St.
Carson City, NV 89701
775.687.6953
NEWSLETTER OF THE NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM
The Last American: A Personal Odyssey
By Dan Markoff
How many of you have
wondered what it
would be like to live in
Visit our website at:
carsonrailroad museum.org a particular time of his-
tory? I know I have

wondered that often.
What would it be like to
live in the time of the
www.facebook.com/
nsrmcc American Revolution?
What would it be like to
FALL 2019 be a participant in the
141th Edition Civil War? How about
the time of the Old
Inside this issue:
West, or World War II?
Featured Article: The What about when man Dan Markoff’s former Eureka & Palisade locomotive, the Eureka, hauls a
Last American: A train on the Durango & Silverton’s ex-Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow
first stepped off Earth
Personal Odyssey gauge line near Hermosa, Colorado. (Jerry B. Day Photo)
By Dan Markoff and landed on another
(Continued on page 4)
Western Pacific’s Vener-
able Bay Window Western Pacific’s Venerable Bay Window Caboose
Caboose
By Steve VanDenburgh
Message from Friends’ 2
The Nevada State Railroad
President Barry Simcoe
Museum’s WP waycar no.

657 has “a new lease on
Historic Convoy Visits 6
NSRM life”, thanks to its recent
paint job.
With AmazonSmile, 7

Support the Museum But first, here’s some his-
At No Cost to You
torical background, from
NSRM’s comprehensive

Equipment Guidebook
(which is available at the
Museum Store: 3rd edi-

tion, 2018, 53 pages, and After her paint job was complete, the former boxcar glistened in the bright
THE NEVADA STATE mid-autumn sun, with new lettering and a WP logo. (Steve VanDenburgh
RAILROAD MUSEUM (Continued on page 3) Photo)
An Agency of the Nevada
Department of Tourism
and Cultural Affairs
Page 2 SAGEBRUSH HEADLIGHT ∙ FALL 2019
NEVADA STATE
VISIT THE MUSEUM
RAILROAD MUSEUM

Open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 2180 South Carson Street
Thursday through Monday Carson City, NV 89701
775.687.6953
(closed Tuesday & Wednesday)

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
Message from the President of the

Museum Admission:
Friends of the NSRM, Barry Simcoe
Adults 18 & Over - $8.00
Children (Under 18) - FREE
We just completed another successful year at the mu-
Museum Members - FREE
seum including our second Rail Camp, a night photo

STEAM TRAIN & MOTORCAR RIDES shoot, our regular operating season, and three week-
ends of Santa Train.
Rides run every weekend May through September with

select dates in October, November, and December.
We want to continue these events during 2020 and

The complete 2020 operating schedule is available at:
would like to add events in the future. All these events
carsonrailroadmuseum.org require significant volunteer participation. In some of
our events, Santa Train in particular, it looks like we
STATE OF NEVADA
were at the limit of our volunteer participation.
Steve Sisolak, Governor

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND For 2020 I would like to increase our volunteer in-
CULTURAL AFFAIRS volvement for both operations and other support. I
Brenda Nebesky, Interim Director have a couple of suggestions to help make this happen:

DIVISION OF MUSEUMS AND HISTORY
• Members that currently volunteer for events
Myron Freedman, Interim Administrator
should talk with other members about helping

NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM, with events.
CARSON CITY
Daniel Thielen, Director • We must recruit non-members to help with events
with the goal they become more involved with the
SAGEBRUSH HEADLIGHT NEWSLETTER
museum and eventually become members.
Adam Michalski, Curator of Education: Editor

Lara Brown, Museum Store Manager: Designer
• Increase participation in events planning meet-

BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FRIENDS OF THE ings. Discuss volunteer involvement in future
NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM events.
Barry Simcoe, President, 2021
Rick Kohler, Vice President, 2021 Overall, this has been, thanks to your support, a fan-
Larry Knack, Treasurer, 2021 tastic year at the museum. Once again, I want to say
Bill Kohler, Secretary, 2022 how much the museum and the Friends organization
Rebecca Bevans, Trustee, 2020 appreciate all the time and thought you put into the
Michael McClain, Trustee, 2020 museum. I hope every one of you had a fantastic holi-
Amanda Thompson, Trustee, 2020 day season and look forward to an even better 2020.
Ron Allen, Trustee, 2022
Thanks, Barry
Verne Horton, Trustee, 2022

Address correspondence for the Friends to: FNSRM Board Meetings are scheduled for
Friends of NSRM February 3, 2020 & April 6, 2020. All
PO Box 1330 members of the Friends organization are
Carson City, NV 89702
encouraged to attend.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: [phone]
NEWSLETTER OF THE NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM Page 3
Western Pacific’s Venerable Bay Window Caboose
(continued from page 1)

So, what does the future hold for
no. 657, now that she’s much
more presentable? How about
occasional “open-house” interior
displays? Maybe rare, extra-fare,
in-train service (but after she
gets a brake job!)? And possibly
even catered small-group birth-
day/anniversary rentals? Time
will tell. Regardless, though,
she’s a very welcome “re-
addition” to Carson City’s rail-
roading experience.

Steve VanDenburgh, a charter
NSRM supporter, is grateful to
WP caboose no. 657 looked a bit decrepit in early May 2019, before the major painting effort
museum volunteer Mark Reece,
began. (Steve VanDenburgh Photo)
who initiated the arduous task
only about $10): The caboose Currently, the colorful caboose,
of repainting no. 657; to Chris
originated more than a century with its bright yellow and silver
DeWitt and the NSRM Restora-
ago as an outside-braced boxcar “safety trim”, new lettering, and
tion Shop professionals, for in-
(WP no. 15637, 1916); conver- classy Western Pacific logo, is
formation on the paint itself
sion to end-of-train service hap- on prominent display just south
and the final coats of Tile Red;
pened during World War II in of the museum’s Jacobsen In-
and to Adam Michalski, Wen-
1943, and the car remained terpretive Center. Give her up-
dell Huffman, and Dan Thielen,
available for that use until its graded exterior a look-over dur-
for additional input and en-
retirement in 1972. ing your next visit.
couragement.

Later, in its “third life”, no. 657
A special
became a ticket office at the thank you to
Cartwrights’ Ponderosa Ranch NSRM volun-
teer Mark
(of TV fame) in Incline Village,
Reece, who
Nevada. She was donated to the spearheaded
the effort to
NSRM in 2009.
repaint WP

Caboose No.
To say that this well-weathered
657. (Adam
waycar was thirsty for paint by Michalski
2019 is an understatement. In Photo)
fact, she guzzled nearly a dozen
gallons of Rust-Oleum’s High
Performance Tile Red (“Trusted
quality since 1921”)!
Page 4 SAGEBRUSH HEADLIGHT ∙ FALL 2019
The Last American
(continued from page 1)
heavenly world? that allowed me to have cination for me. The States, and thereby had
All these things have a long and fruitful life smell of black powder, a part in framing the
passed through my and to experience things the fight for independ- perimeters of Constitu-
mind over the years. In that would have never ence, the formation of tional law. In addi-
my life, I have known been possible in times the American Govern- tion, I have had the joy
people who have lived in the past. So, from ment are all periods I of shooting and hunt-
through some of those just that perspective I wish I could have expe- ing with black powder
periods and have been am thankful. But there rienced. But alas, I was flintlocks that were
fascinated by their sto- is more. In spite of the not born then. Yet, in common during the
ries. Even I have lived fact that all those other my life, I have had the Revolutionary period.
through some of them, eras have been fascinat- grand experience of ar- The result is that what
like the Moon landings. ing, I have had the infi- guing life and death was experienced by our
nite pleasure of experi- constitutional issues forefathers in terms of
All in all, I have come to
encing many of them before the Supreme firearms, has been as
the conclusion that in
regardless that they Court of the United common to me as it
spite of all the fascinat-
were long past.
ing histories of these
and many other events, Many of you know that
there has not been an- one of my passions is
other period of history aviation. I love to fly
that I would like to live and travel around the
than the present period country by just hopping
of my life. I have come into the airplane and
to this way of thinking cruising off to some far
because of my experi- off place. That would
ences with my locomo- not be possible in the
tive Eureka. Eureka 18th or 19th centuries.
has given me a perspec- God knows, there were
tive that I would not exciting times back
otherwise have had. It then, but flying was not
did not come all at once one of them. It was
to me, but in looking man's earliest dreams to
back over the 33 years I soar with the birds, and
have spent with Eureka that was not possible
it evolved and I am as until the Wright Broth-
happy as can be that I ers took off at Kitty
live in our current peri- Hawk. But now, such a
od. feat is a common every
day experience for
First, if it had not been
which I am eternally
for modern medicine, I
thankful.
would have been long The Eureka traveled to the Durango & Silverton in 2010 for an
gone decades ago. It The American Revolu- excursion run. The crew featured FNSRM members (left to right)
Barry Simcoe, Loren Jahn (standing), Todd Moore, C. W. Craven,
was modern medicine tion has always held fas-
and Dan Markoff.
NEWSLETTER OF THE NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM Page 5
today much as it was in I said "you bet." I
centuries gone by. Yet, drove to Nellis and met
there is one major dif- Bill at the club. While
ference. In today's we were chowing down,
world we have televi- Bill introduced me to
sion, radio, digital com- another man. His
munication devices that name was Colonel Tom
can provide infor- Henricks. Now, I did
mation from around not know this guy from
the world at the flick of a hill of beans, but Bill
a switch. That is pretty was telling Henricks
darn heady and some- about Eureka. I
thing our ancestors chimed in and started
could not even imagine. telling him stories
We now have the best about the locomotive,
of both worlds through and our adventures
reading books and with it. By and by,
communication that Henricks asked if he
Eureka crew members (left to right) Major General (Ret.) Bill McCoy
gets transmitted at the could see it. I told him
and Dan Markoff perform maintenance work on the locomotive.
speed of light. of course. A time was
Major General (Ret.) McCoy, who passed away in 2018, was the
commanding general for Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. He was agreed to, and after
All these things, and
a valued friend of the author and dedicated member of the Eureka’s
lunch I went home.
crew. many more, did not
come to me all at once. Later, General McCoy,
was the horse. Oh, by
would have been to
I kind of thought of his wife Linda, Col.
the way, I was raised on
them with the sights
them, but beyond that, Henricks and his wife,
a horse ranch in Arizo-
and smells and experi-
I continued to dream and his parents showed
na and was thoroughly
ences of times long
about what it was like up at my home where I
familiar with the means
gone.
"back then." But, there keep Eureka in my
of travel by one horse
Back before the advent was one event that shop. Henricks was
power. So, I have had
of the railroads, most made it all gel into a fascinated by it, jumped
the pleasure of travel
people did not travel coherent articulable in the cab with his wife,
not only by mechanical
more than 20 miles be- frame of mind back in and we spent hours
means, but by the four
yond their home. Not the 1990s. One day I talking about the histo-
legged variety as well. I
only did the advent of got a call from Maj. ry of the locomotive.
even got to ride my
aircraft shatter that General Bill McCoy, Somewhere in our con-
horse to school and
limitation, but so did who was the former versations, General
then back home. Now
the railroad and the commander at Nellis McCoy told me that
that is a blast from the
automobile. Now, trav- Air Force Base. Bill Henricks was a Com-
past in today's world.
eling is not only possi- and I knew each other mander of the Space
Then there is reading. I
ble, it is commonplace from our aviation ties. Shuttle, and had more
am an avid reader of
at speeds that would He asked me if I would time flying it than any
history and science and
have been fantastic in like to meet him for other person at that
politics. I love the stuff.
an earlier century when lunch at the Officer's time. The thought
Reading is available
the only thing available Club at Nellis, to which
(Continued on page 7)
Page 6 SAGEBRUSH HEADLIGHT ∙ FALL 2019
Historic Convoy Visits NSRM
By Guy Clifton and Adam Michalski
Visitors inspect the MVPA Convoy in the NSRM parking lot on September 12, 2019.
A convoy of vintage military ve- ciation. It left the Ellipse in On September 12, the convoy
hicles, making its way cross Washington, D.C., on August 11 departed the Churchill County
country to celebrate the 100th and arrived at Lincoln Park in Fairgrounds in Fallon and con-
anniversary of the first U.S. Ar- San Francisco on September tinued to the Nevada State Rail-
my Transcontinental Convoy 14, exactly 100 years from the road Museum for its lunch stop.
from Washington, D.C. to San arrival of the first convoy. The convoy visited the museum
Francisco, visited the museum for approximately 90 minutes.
The entire trip lasted 36 days
on September 12, 2019.
and spanned more than 3,200 The public had an opportunity
The original convoy in 1919 was miles. The convoy crossed Ne- to view the historic military ve-
used as a method to test military vada on U.S. Highway 50, stay- hicles and talk with the owners
vehicles and to encourage con- ing overnight in Ely and Austin about them.
struction of highways. It was al- before spending two rest days
so the opportunity for the U. S. in Fallon. The convoy partici- After lunch, the MVPA convoy prepared for
departure from the museum. The historic con-
Army to thank the American pated in Fallon’s Patriot’s Day
voy’s destination on this date was Placerville,
people for their support of the ceremony on September 11.
California.
U. S. initiative during The Great
War, known now as World War
I. It was the first motor
transport convoy ever to cross
the U. S. One of the officers on
the convoy was then Lt. Col.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the fu-
ture general and U. S. President.
The convoy was made up of
about 70 vehicles from the Mili-
tary Vehicle Preservation Asso-
NEWSLETTER OF THE NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM Page 7
The Last American
(continued from Page 5)
raced through my mind that that. Gee, I wonder why. the really incredible advance-
this guy flew the fastest thing ments that occurred since then.
Henricks did say that on his last
of the 20th century (and the And it all was driven home to me
flight in the Shuttle, he had his
21st) and here he was sitting in in Eureka's cab. So, the next time
personal video camera with him
the cab of one of the fastest you are at the Nevada State Rail-
in the cockpit. He took footage
machines of the 19th century. road Museum and see Inyo or
from launch to orbit and then
Holy Cow! I have, as noted Glenbrook running be thankful
back down to landing. He said
above, been fascinated with that you live today where we can
he would make me a copy, which
flight, but never thought I experience the history in motion
he did and sent it to me later. It
would have the opportunity to of a bygone era, along with the
is one of my prized possessions.
sit in a 19th century locomo- incredibly fascinating things that
tive cab with a Shuttle Com- Since then, I have had other the present brings us.
mander. My mind went to shuttle commanders to my home
In closing, I have but one regret.
racing! I told Henricks that to see Eureka, including one who
That is, I would really like to see
they needed a lawyer (me in became head of NASA.
what the future holds for us. Go-
particular) in space aboard the
On top of that, General McCoy ing to Mars would be a step in the
shuttle. Colonel Henricks got
became a regular on Eureka's right direction.
a rather puzzled look in his
crew and one of my closest
eyes, and asked, "why is that?"
friends.
I responded that you guys at
Now, what has all this got to do
NASA may think you under-
with what I wrote about earlier?
stand the law of gravity, but as
It is simply this: Our present
a lawyer, I know all the excep-
time is the best of times. We can
tions! Everyone got a laugh,
experience all the things that our
but the answer was NASA
forefathers experienced, plus all
would probably not go for

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