VOLUME I June, 1986 NUMBER 1

MUSEUM OFFICIALLY OPENS

"All Aboard" was the call officially opening the Frisco Railroad Museum Inc. on June
1, 1986. After ten years of dreaming, collecting, and planning, and over 1,000 man-hours
of construction and renovation the first and only exclusively Frisco museum opened its
doors to over 200 visitors. Many in attendance heard a passing freight train blow its
horn at approximately the same time the ribbon was cut, as though the modern giant of the
rails was adding its confirmation to the historic proceedings.
It was truly a memorable day of catching a glimpse of railroading history, and there
was an abundance of story telling and reminiscing about the "good ole days" on the Frisco.
It was interesting to note that few, if any, of the Frisco veterans in attendance had less
than thirty years service, thus reaffirming the strong family atmosphere that was so
characteristic of the Frisco Railway.
Following are excerpts from the dedication remarks given by Alan Schmitt, President
of the Museum. "We have gathered here today to dedicate a dream... It is appropriate that
the dedication of a railroad museum should be called the dedication of a dream because
dreaming and railroading have always had a unique partnership... Think of all the young
boys in early America who dreamed of being the next Casey Jones as they watched with
intrigue those steam puffing monsters called locomotives rumble down the track... In 1876
the dream of another chapter in America's railroading history became a reality when the
St. Louis - San Francisco Railway Co, better known as the Frisco, was born... Over a
century later, when the Frisco fell victim to the necessity of corporate merger, many
folks believed that the memory and heritage of the familiar coonskin railroad would be
lost... I am pleased to declare that as of today, they are mistaken! Those memories, that
heritage, that coonskin railroad will live on, and why? Because of a dream... We are
also here to dedicate a memorial... A living memorial to all those dedicated men and women
who through the years have proudly been a part of that special family known as the Frisco
folks!"
Souvenir programs of the grand opening celebration are still available and individual
laundry tags from the ribbon will be given to those becoming members of the Frisco Folks
on a while-they-last basis. To all those who participated in the opening celebration,
thank you for making the dream of a Frisco museum become a reality!

All About the All Aboard

For many years the primary means of keeping the Frisco family informed about the
people and progress of the railroad were the various company publications beginning first
with the printing of The Frisco Man magazine in 1906. It was followed by The Frisco
Employe's Magazine which first appeared in late 1922. In November 1935, the Frisco First
newspaper appeared and remained in various formats as the primary system-wide publication
until 1947 when the familiar All Aboard publication went into service. The All Aboard was
published in a newspaper format until the middle 1950's, when it was redesigned as a
colorful magazine. In February 1963, it returned to a newspaper and remained in that form
until January 1967, when it returned to a magazine. In the October 1969 issue, it was
reported that the publication had been judged "The Outstanding 1969 Railroad Publication"
by receiving the Association of Railroad Editors Distinguished Achievement Award. The
last All Aboard publication was one of a series of four "BN Springfield Region All Aboard"
magazines published in August, 1981.
The Frisco Railroad Museum Inc. is continuing in the longstanding tradition of the
All Aboard by publishing, for its Frisco Folks, a monthly newsletter with information and
articles about the museum and the folks who support it. The masthead for the museum
publication is taken from the May 1952 All Aboard newspaper.
The museum is attempting to compile a complete collection of Frisco company
publications. If you have any you would like to donate, please write or call the museum
office.
As a regular monthly feature, the All Aboard will publish a brief history of the
predecessor railroads of the Frisco Family. The information is taken from "The Interstate
Commerce Commission Valuation Docket No. 400, November 1, 1924.

PACIFIC RAILROAD

The Pacific Railroad was created by an act of the Legislature of Missouri on March
12, 1849. It was authorized to locate, construct, manage, and use a railroad from St.
Louis, Mo., to some point on the western boundary of Van Buren County, Mo. Under the
provisions of an act of the Legislature of Missouri on December 25, 1852, the Pacific
Railroad was authorized to construct a branch line in Missouri from any point on its main
line east of the Osage River to any point on the western boundary of the state south of
the Osage River. The Pacific Railroad constructed a standard gauge branch line railroad
in Missouri from Franklin (now Pacific), to Rolla, about 77 miles, and graded a roadbed
from Rolla to Arlington, about 12 miles. That property was known as the Southwest Branch
of the Pacific Railroad. On March 1, 1866, the State of Missouri seized the Southwest
Branch for failure to pay interest on certain bonds. After advertising such property for
sale, the state accepted a bid submitted by John C. Fremont, of New York, and conveyed the
Southwest Branch to him on June 14, 1866. Fremont organized the Southwest Pacific
Railroad on September 12, 1866. The Pacific Railroad is now the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Company and the Southwest Branch is now property of the Frisco.

Next month...The Southwest Pacific Railroad Company

PACIFIC RAILROAD

The Museum is pleased to welcome the

following new members of the FRISCO
FOLKS:

Mary Gregg Switchman

The most Direct and Reliable Route from St. Louie through to
Lana Grantham Switchman
James O. Elliott Switchman
Ed & Lillian Heiss Switchman
Kansas City, Leavenworth & Atchison,
Please tell your Frisco friends about
WITHOUT CHANGE OF CARS. the museum and the Frisco Folks.
Close connections at Kansas City with MISSOURI VALLEY, MISSOURI Please remember that the museum is
RIVER, FT. SCOTT & GULF AND KANSAS PACIFIC R'YS, dependent upon your support!
FOR WESTON, ST. JOSEPH, JUNCTION CITY, FORT
SCOTT, LAWRENCE, TOPEKA, SHERIDAN, DENVER,,
FORT UNION, SANTA FE, AND

The All Aboard newsletter is published HOURS OF OPERATION

monthly for members of the Frisco
Folks, a support organization of The June 1 to August 31
Frisco Railroad Museum Inc., a not for
profit corporation organized for the 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
purpose of establishing The Frisco Wednesday through Saturday
Railroad Museum in order to preserve,
display, and educate citizens about, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday
the history and memorabilia of the
Frisco Railway. The museum facility The museum is closed Monday & Tuesday
is located at 500 Walker St. in Ash
Grove, MO . Any correspondence should September 1 to May 31
be mailed to P.O. Box 276, Ash Grove,
MO 65604. The museum phone number is 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday
417-672-3110. All material contained 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday
in the newsletter is copyrighted by
the Frisco Railroad Museum Inc. and Other times available by appointment
may not be reproduced in any manner
without the expressed written consent ADMISSION
of the museum President.
"Admission FREE-Donations APPRECIATED"