A Publication of the Travel Town Museum Foundation

Greetings from Travel Town!

Volume 6, Issue 3November 2008

The Travel Town Tender is a publication of the Travel Town Museum Foundation, a d.b.a. of the American Southwestern Railway Association, Inc. The Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational corporation, dedicated to the preservation and interpretive presentation of railroad history. We work in partnership with the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation& Parks, helping to support their operation of the Travel Town Museum. Contents © A.S.R.A., Inc., 2008, unless under other copyright.

Greg Gneier, PresidentTravel Town Museum FoundationNovember 2008

It was great to see so many of our Travel Town Museum Founda-tion members at Depot Day on October 12th! I was excited withthe great turnout we had this year and want to express my enor-mous thanks to the many hardworkingvolunteers who came together to makethe event such a big success.

This was our fourth Depot Day celebra-tion and each successive year we havetried to enhance the event’s program of-ferings. For 2008, we welcomed backour good friends from CalTrans, Opera-tion Life Saver, and Women in Railroad-ing as well as some wonderful new par-ticipants including wood carving artistJackie Hadnot and Bob Crone of the LosAngeles Live Steamer! Jackie displayedseveral of his incredible base-reliefsteam locomotive carvings, includingone that was over eight feet long! Bobbrought over his 1880s-era Baldwin 2-6-0 “Mogul” steam locomotive andshared information with visitors aboutour Griffith Park neighbors, the L.A.Live Steamers Museum.

This year, we were also able to increaseour musical offerings to FOUR differ-ent groups! Building upon Depot Dayveteran Jim Starr “The Singing Cop” and Glendale’s own HooverHigh School Jazz Ensemble, we were also fortunate to feature twolocally-renowned folk groups: the Hollow Trees and The Conduc-

tors. All four were great hits – especially with the kids! The Con-ductors even used Depot Day to their kick-off event for premierof their new CD release, “Navigating the Spectrum.”

Besides Depot Day, Travel Town hasbeen a hoppin’ place all summer. Ourvolunteers have be making great strideson several restoration projects: the“S.P. 219” steam locomotive is nowcompletely torn-down to the basic un-der-frame and the Foundation’s 1945Railway Express Agency delivery truckis now running and ready to be licensedand repainted!

Our annual Polar Express Pajama Partyis coming soon, on December 5th, soget your RSVPs in! You can click on alink at our website:www.traveltown.org!

Have a great Holiday Season and I’lllook forward to seeing you at the Park!

A color copy of the Travel Town Tender is available on our website atwww.traveltown.org: Click the “Hours & Activities” button.

If you would like to sponsor color printing, please contactNancy Gneier at 323-668-0104. Thanks!

AMERICAN SOUTHWESTERN RAILWAY ASSOCIATION

P.O. BOX 39846 - GRIFFITH STATION

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90039323-668-0104 • www.traveltown.org

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDGlendale, CAPermit No. 6

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How it All Got Started — “way back in 1947”

Travel Town, the Los Angeles City Recre-ation and Park Department’s unique displayof vehicles representing many modes anderas of conveyances, is visited each week byhundreds of youngsters and adults who areinterested in the development of transporta-tion.

Located on a 9-acre site at 5200Hollingsworth Drive in Griffith Park, TravelTown is open to the public daily from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. There is no admission charge.

Displaying everything from a 104-ton loco-motive to a one-horse shay, Travel Town of-fers its visitors what for most of them is theonly opportunity they ever have to see andexamine at close hand many different typesof vehicles.

Credit for the idea which evolved into TravelTown goes to William Frederickson, Jr., thecity’s superintendent of recreation. It wasFrederickson who, way back in 1947, wasstruck with the realization that thousands ofyoungsters had never been close enough toclimb into an airplane and get a look at thepilot’s cockpit and its myriad of controls andgauges. This was at a time when the federalgovernment was disposing of large amountsof surplus war material, so Frederickson re-solved to see if it would be possible to ob-tain a surplus plane to be exhibited at one ofLos Angeles’ municipal playgrounds.George Hjelte, general manager of the CityRecreation and Park Department, and theBoard of Recreation and Park Commission-ers thought the idea was a good one and al-located the sum of $700 for the purchase ofseven planes which were stored in the MiddleWest. But by the time the necessary purchaseorders had been properly channeled, the air-craft were unavailable. Although officiallythe project was dormant for several years,Frederickson continually mulled the idea ofestablishing an exhibit where youngsterscould actually climb aboard various ve-hicles.

Just a few months ago, in late September of1952, Frederickson was able to start the

project—his dream—toward reality. Enlist-ing the aid of Orin Wennersten, the Recre-ation and Park Department’s supervisor ofmaintenance, he set about the work of ob-taining Travel Town’s first Exhibit.Wennersten assigned a member of his staff,Charles Atkins, the task of writing a letter toD.J. Russell, president of the Southern Pa-cific Company, in which the suggestion wasmade that the railroad company might bewilling to donate an obsolete locomotive tothe display. Russell heartily approved thedonation and directed his staff to have En-gine “3025” prepared for its emergence from“retirement” and its appearance as an hon-ored exhibit at Travel Town.

With the donation assured, Atkins’ next prob-lem was to determine how to move the gal-lant, oil-burning chugger from Glendale toTravel Town. The Belyea Truck Companyagreed to tackle the ticklish task and, on Oc-tober 10, the unprecedented hauling job wascompleted as a free public service. TheBelyea Truck Company has since performedseveral other similar assignments in aidingthe development of Travel Town.

The giant locomotive and its 25 1/2 ton ten-der, which in their heyday pulled several“presidential specials” during campaignsweeps across the nation, now stands on astrip of track at Travel Town, and visitorsmay enter the engine’s cab, examine the con-trols, and tug the cord which clangs its bigbrass bell.

News about Travel town spread like wild-fire, and almost immediately the display wasreceiving new vehicles and other exhibits inrapid, one after the other sequence. By thefirst of December, Travel Town had on ex-hibit a 44-passenger street car given by theLos Angeles Transit Lines; an historic 76-year old dray, presented by Paul J. Smith,president of the republic Van and StorageCompany, a 50-year-old kerosene tankwagon, donated by Standard Oil Company

In our ongoing effort to restore and preserve the many historic trains at Travel Town, we are constantly searching for old photographs andother research information concerning the Museum’s various artifacts. One such search, on eBay, recently turned up an early “pressrelease kit” issued by the Recreation & Parks Department just after Travel Town’s founding in 1952. We’d like to share some excerptsfrom that release, which gives a wonderful picture of how Travel Town got its start…. way back in 1947!

continued on page 6

1909 letter of commendation to SouthernPacific engineer Charles Willey,recognizing his fine work in drivinglocomotive 3025 on President Taft’sspecial train. Subsequent to thatassignment, the big 3025 was displayedat the 1915 Panama-Pacific InternationalExposition in San Francisco!

L.A.P.D. officers and newspaperphotographers stay out of the way as asmall army of workmen from BelyeaTrucking, Recreation & Parks, andSouthern Pacific rolled the “big chugger”into its new home in Griffith Park.

3025 had a “flat tire” on the way over toTravel Town!

“Travel Town”

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On Sale at the Gift Shop now!The Movie, the Music, the Books

The ultimate in magical trains andChristmas stories:

The Polar Express!Sweatshirts, Brio toys, books,

and other memoribilia available.

Don’t miss the PolarPolarPolarPolarPolarExpress Pajama PartyExpress Pajama PartyExpress Pajama PartyExpress Pajama PartyExpress Pajama Party

on December 5!RSVP at www.traveltown.orgbefore December 1, as space

is limited.

On the Platform this issue we want tocongratulate John Vertrees and his newwife, Felicia. John and Felicia weremarried on July 20, 2008, and, as manyof you know, have relocated to the Pa-cific Northwest city of Portland, Or-egon.

John is a charter member who was in-strumental in the founding of the Asso-ciation and Foundation and has contrib-uted to the group’s success for over 25years. Felicia is a new member and vol-unteered at Depot Day 2006 as well asattending the recent 25th Annual meet-ing held in Santa Barbara.

Their next big adventure is remodelingtheir home! Good luck and congratula-tions to John and Felicia!

On the Platform . . . John & Felicia Vertrees

Depot Day 2008

4 5

We’ve Been Working on the Railroad!

Caltrans

City of Los AngelesDepartment of Recreation and Parks

The Conductors T Girl Scout Troop 7351

Jackie Hadnot T The Hollow Trees

Hoover High School Jazz Ensemble

Los Angeles Live Steamers T Operation Lifesaver

LA County MetropolitanTransportation Authority

Providence High School Key Club

Jim Starr - The Singing Cop

Travel Town Staff and Volunteers

Women In Railroading

Tear-down work on the S.P. 219 steam locomotiveis nearing completion. Here, volunteer Greg Ramseyinspects the multi-part steam seal from inside oneof the locomotive’s pistons.

Volunteer Bryan Reese welded up a myriad ofholes and other anomalies on the REA Truck body.

The historic Railway Express Agency deliverytruck made its public display “debut” at Depot Dayin October, showing off its new (vintage-style) tiresdonated by the Coker Tire Company. TTMFvolunteers have the 1945 International HarvesterK-5 back in running condition and nearly ready fora much-needed paint job!

Volunteer Docents, like Perla Melger, offer guidedtours through the 1920s Union Pacific Dining Car.

Boy Scout Eagle candidate Adam Goldman (left)has begun a tie- replacement and track-surfacingproject on Track 4. The project addresses some tracklevel issues remaining from the construction of theadjacent Locomotive Pavilion. Adam should finish uphis leadership project later in November. We’re soproud to have Boy & Girl Scouts involved in projectsat the Museum!

A BIG THANKS to our Event Partners!

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Charley Atkins (far left) and BillFrederickson (holding the booklet) andUnion Pacific Railroad officials welcome“The Little Nugget” car at Glendale depot.The historic club car is already loaded ontothe Belyea Co. truck for the short road tripto the Park in 1956.

of California; a colorful old circus wagon, given bythe Beverly Amusement Company; Caboose No 2117,a veteran “home on wheels” for nomadic trainmen,given by the Union Pacific Railroad Company; anda one-horse shay, the gift of Knott’s Berry Farm.

To add still more charm to the transportation array,the Pacific Electric Company donated its old SierraVista “waiting station,” which had sheltered “bigred car” commuters over a period of several decades.With that impressive slate of exhibits cleaned and pol-ished for the occasion, Travel Town was officiallydedicated on Sunday, December 14. (1952)

Since then, several new vehicles have been added tothe display, including an obsolescent Japanese“zero” fighter plane which was captured on a SouthPacific island during World War II; and an ancientpetroleum field fire truck, which was donated by theShell Oil Company. And still more exhibits are be-ing planned and will take their places of honor atTravel town in the near future, according toFrederickson, whose “pet project” has blossomedinto a popular attraction for Southlanders and tour-ists of all ages. The unique facility is particularly a“Mecca” for transportation hobbyists.

Now here we all are, sixty-two years after Bill Frederickson’s wonderful idea; TravelTown is still open daily at 10:00 AM, free of charge, and kids are still climbing in thecab of the majestic Southern Pacific 3025! I wonder if that unused $700 p.o. is stillavailable?

How it all got started (continued from page 2)

One of Travel Town’s original 1952“engineers” shows off the 3025’s massivedriving wheels to a group of attentive youngmuseum visitors. Designed for fast passengerservice, the wheels on this 115-ton iron horseare 81" in diameter! Many of theseyoungsters probably returned to Travel Townwith their own children decades later.

Termites, Take a Hike!In an extraordinary step aimed at preserving some of Travel Town’soldest artifacts, the Museum was closed to the public for two daysin October so that many of the wooden railroad cars could be ridof termites and other lumber-munching pests.

Wood-destroying pests have been a huge detriment to some of theMuseum’s most precious pieces of rolling stock, including the rareSouthern Pacific narrow-gauge cars and the 1880s Union Pacificcaboose. The voracious little critters have chewed their waythrough the aging wood in these cars at an alarming pace, bringingseveral of the artifactsto the brink of totalloss. This month’s ac-tion, along with futureconservation mea-sures, will help pre-serve these historic rel-ics for the next genera-tions of Travel Townvisitors.

Pacific Electric “Red Car” and Southern Pacific wood-sidedboxcar were among the artifacts that received “the treatment.”

No circus tent here, just the venerable San Francisco CableCar getting de-bugged.

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All Aboard!A warm welcome to the newest members and renewing supporters of the Travel Town Museum Foundation.

RESTORATION PARTNERDon & Peggy Gustavson

Charles Russell

LITTLE NUGGET CLUBTimmy BerryFred Glienna

Francine Oschin

STREAMLINERSHayden CassLarry Thomas

TRACK GANGMaxx AlmarazSusan BeachSteven Blye

Kashka BrysonLuana Giffen

Jack and Sherrie JessupTheresa & Craig King

Eric LiljestrandLinkchorst Family

Don & Rosanne LongtainCat Paulk

Willeen PlattMargot Riemer

Dr. & Mrs. Dave L. Sell

ADULT ENGINEERStevan Dumas

Rennie Hunter-WalzJack & Jill MillerNorman Moline

Dorothy Shepherd

Come join the fun!To join or for further

membership information,call 323-668-0104.

Travel Town RailroadIn cooperation with the Travel Town Museum and the

Los Angeles Department of Recreation and ParksPresents:

Train Ride to Santa!Train Ride to Santa!Train Ride to Santa!Train Ride to Santa!Train Ride to Santa!Board the Santa Express at the Travel Town Station for an ex-citing trip to Santa’s North Pole Village! There, young and oldalike can visit with Santa and tell him their Christmas wishes.

Santa will have a special little gift for each child. Mrs. Claus will bethere to greet you and talk about life at the North Pole. Santa’s Elves will happily take your picture withSanta for purchase as a keepsake of your visit. Upon Leaving Santa’s Village, the Santa Express will takeyou through a wonderland of Holiday lights and scenery before returning to the station.

Beginning Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 5 pmBeginning Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 5 pmBeginning Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 5 pmBeginning Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 5 pmBeginning Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 5 pmNovember 29 & 30 December 5, 6, 7 December 12, 13, 14 December 17 through 23

Train operates from 5 pm until approximately 8 pm each day.On Saturdays & Sundays space may be limited - so arrive early!

Tickets $7 per personTickets $7 per personTickets $7 per personTickets $7 per personTickets $7 per person Includes one round trip – 18 months and under free

Photos with Santa will be available for $5.00 eachWe are operating on fewer days this year and capacity is limited, so please buy your tickets

early! Tickets can be purchased at the Travel Town ticket booth beginning November 1.

For information & directions call 323.662.9678 or 818.881.2586 or visit www.traveltownrailroad.com.

JUNIOR ENGINEERNoah AlmarazBailey EwanErica FischerRobert Fox

Mark, Melanie & Jay GragnaniSammy KellmanMichael MalachSusan Marion

Gladis Marina OrtezLisa Marie Richardson

Janet RichmanGabriel N. Sandoval

Kensuke ShimojoThe Sigala Family

Wesley SoterJude StaceyAnetta Stark

Walter Threlkeld