Second Anniversary – will there be a reprint?

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This week marks the second anniversary of the release of Rails Around Missouri, and looking back, the title was available with 2 different covers. I am asked a lot about printing more as well as a sequel. A reprint is still being considered, and your feedback is critical in that decision. If you want a reprint so you can obtain a copy, please like the book’s Facebook page and share it on your timeline. Right now the ‘like’ count is above 400, and it needs to be north of 700 to warrant a reprint. The reprint would feature the Frisco (red) cover seen above. If you have a KCS (yellow), congrats!

Also, a true sequel is being considered, and would either cover the pre-1971 era, or cover the 1990s. If you are interested in contributing to that, let me know: author@michaelckelly.net

possible Rails Around Missouri reprint!

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Over the last year, I’ve received a lot of inquiries about the availability of the original, hard cover Rails Around Missouri, where one can find a copy, will it be reprinted, claims that a lot of folks still want a copy. After the most recent round of these calls, I’ve decided to explore a reprint of the original hard cover book. It would be $45 retail, and would be the Frisco cover only. (If you have a KCS cover, keep it under guard!) If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this popular book in hard cover, please visit the Rails Around Missouri Facebook page, then Like and Share it. This will give me a good gauge of how many copies to print. Minimum is 1000 copies.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rails-Around-Missouri/253699431313277?pnref=story

If the hard cover book is reprinted, the 2-volume soft cover currently available on amazon.com will be discontinued. Check back for updates!

Returning to the 90s – Warbonnet Wednesday

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This week the new office was set up @ Harbor View, and doing so gave me the opportunity to dig through old photos for an image I could blow up and frame for the wall. The result was a trip back into 1996-97, with images collected from print negatives of several trips to the former (sigh) Santa Fe Transcon when Warbonnets still looked good and could still be found in solid sets.

First up, one of my favorites from the Transcon: Warbonnet GP60M #161 rushes east over US36, leading an assortment of 4-axle power between Marceline and Buckin, Mo, in northern Missouri. If only the geeps weren’t sublettered for BNSF….

ATSF161 Marceline 1997

Next, B40-8W #539, a GP60B and an unidentifiable Warbonnet lead a westbound vehicle train through Marceline.

ATSF539 MArceline 1999 ATSF539a Marceline 1997

 

A triplet of 6-axle Warbonnets rush an eastbound stack train through Marceline. This was and still is one of my favorite spots on the former Santa Fe in Missouri.

 

ATSF 851 Marceline 1997

Next, a pair of Warbonnets lead an eastbound manifest freight through Marceline.

ATSF 943 Marceline 1997

A pair of C40-8Ws lead an eastbound stack train through Bucklin in the winter of 1996.

ATSF 946 Bucklin 1997

 

Not ATSF, but still a neat shot of CN SD75Is passing eastbound through Carrollton @ sunset in 1997.

CN Carrollton 1997

Finally, the ATSF signal bridge in Carrollton @ dusk, same day. These signals are now gone, replaced by “Vader” hoods.

ATSF signals Carrollton MO 1997

 

 

New “KGP” office digs

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As some know, we moved this fall to a new home in Harbor View (Fenton). The basement was a blank canvas, and phase 1 included a bedroom, bathroom, office, and main room. Below are a couple of shots of the office. Yes, that’s a Nathan 3-chime, and it’s LOUD when hooked up. BTW, can you guess my favorite RR?

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