Vol V, No. 4IWinter 1995

THE STUDIOUS LENS OF

ROBERT M. HANFT

others' collections. Hanf~ however, was not content to exclUSively shoot posed portraits of static locomotives. While many such images were desirable for record and trading purposes, Hanft created refresh­ing angles and action pictures in natural surroundings.

Bob Hanft's interest in the charm of shortlines resulted in three books on west­ern railroads. The firs~ published in 1971, Pille Across the lvlollll/tllil, covered the story of the once-prosperous McCloud River Railroad. Then followed RedRiveT, featuring the operations of a unique Cali,­fornia lumber carrier which used an assortment of steam, electric and early diesel -electrics in hauling timber to its mill in Westwood. Hanfl's most recent book, Sail Diego &- Arizolla: l7te ImpossIble Ratlroad, published in 1984, chronicled the

Over the last 60 years, as Dr. Hanfl's camera skills advanced, so too did his friendships with other ardent railroad photographers. Guy Dunscomb, Wilbur Whittaker, Harold Van Horn (a Chicago & Northwestern locomotive engineer), Doug Richter and the late Gerald M. Best were all colleagues of the donor. The group traded negatives back and forth, rounding out each

Dr. Robert M. Hanft, professor emeritus of transportation, Califor­nia State University, Chico has

recently given the California State Rail­road Museum Library his fully indexed collection of black and white negatives. The 17,OOO-plus piece collection was largely photographed by the donor but includes select examples of work from other notable railroad photographers. The age of steam since the 1930s was the primary focus of Dr. Hanft's camera, yet electric traction equipment and first generation diesel-electrics did not escape being captured on film. The breadth of the collection encompasses subjects and com­panies throughout North, Central and South America.

'" was a gangling kid when I shot my first picture of a train back in 1929," said Hanf~ referring to the scene he caught of a Soo Line local passenger train on its way through his Minnesota boyhood home of Moose Lake to Duluth.

important development of the railroads which brieny allowed San Diego to rival Los Angeles as a world-class merchant port

Bob Hanft remains a long-time member of prominent railroad societies and museum associations throughout the nation. He has spent much of his retirement years cata­loguing his photo collection and globe­trotting with Annabelle, his best-friend and wife of 51 years. Through it all. Dr. Hanft still finds the greatest pleasure in seeking and photographing the rare, surviving steam trains he finds along the way.

ll1e California State Rail­road Museum Library is pleased to be the repository for the lifetime photo­graphic collection of Dr. Robert Hanft. _

Governor Holds Inaugural Event at Museum On the heels of his annual holiday party held at the Museum in December, Gover­nor and Mrs. Wilson kicked orf a weekend full of inaugural events at the Railroad Museum in early January. In his Inaugural

speech from the vestibule of the business car, Wilson spoke often and highly of the California State Railroad Mu­seum and he took the time to discuss plans for the soon-to­be-built Museum of Railroad Technology. Among the at­

tendees at the event were 3,000 supporters, including state ornaals, guests and the Governor's relatives. _

1995 CaJUomia Railroad Festival Set Mark your calendar for the 1995 Califor­nia Railroad Festival on Father's Day weekend, June 16, 17 and 18. This year's festival will celebrate the "Fabulous For­ties" when steam liners gave way to

-streamliners and everyone climbed aboard the Boogie Woogie Express.

The annual California Railroad Festival is California's offiaal public celebration of railroad history and technology. Its pur­pose is to further the California State Rail­road Museum's mission

through a cohesive festival theme and programs offering amusemen~ entertain­ment and a festive educational experience by promoting the Museum in its mission to collect, preserve, study, exhibit and in­terpret selected aspects of railroads and railroading, raising funds to support Mu­

sections are offered seum programs, and

for each class: in­increasing our public

terpretive handcarvisibility.

demonstrations, The Museum needs motorcar operation your help to staff the and railroad turn­many exhibits and table operation. _ activity areas. If you are available to work during this event and would like to volun­teer, please fill out and return the form enclosed with this issue of 011 Track/as soon as possible. We would like to add your name to those who help make the annual Festival happen. _

Interpretive Handcar Program Gears Up for Spring Program Museum staff and docents at the Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station are gearing up for the 1995 Interpretive Handcar program which gets under way on March 28 and runs through May 14. Ranger

Darrell Geroy indicates that schools have fully booked visits for the one-hour classes which are offered three times per day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The classes are open to fourth, fifth and sixth grade students throughout California

and Nevada. Three

LIVING HISTORY ENDED THE YEAR ON A SUSY

NOTE . DOCENT SLIM OSBORNE IS SHOWN

HERE (FOREGROUND) SHOWING VISITORS HIS

LATEST GOLD FI/'jD. DOCENT ED DUNK LOOKS

ON . SEVERAL LIVING HISTORY EVENTS ARE

PLANNED THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR .

HANFT SHOT LOCOMOTIVES IN

THEIR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS

WITH REFRESHING ANGLES

AND ACTION.

Museum Store Construction Progressing The Museum Store construction project is progressing on schedule with opening weekend set for April 7-9, 1995.The project includes 1,400 square-feet of store space, and a major face-lift for the Mu­seum lobby and front exterior. Merchan­dise for sale will include an extensive in­ventory of railroad books, magazines, cal­endars, videos, children's books and toys, unique gift items, collectibles and repro­ductions, railroad posters and ar~ railroad china, hats, T-shirts and clothing, watches, pins and railroad jewelry. Aspecial promotion sponsored by Pentrex is running for the month of April: buy one video, get one free! Members receive a 10% dis­count-one of the many benefits of membership in the California State Railroad Museum. (See the advertisement enclosed in this issue of On Track.' _

Recent Acquisitions The most intriguing donations often come to the Museum without prior notification. Perhaps one of the more unusual gifts received at the Museum Library recently is a supply of Southern Pacific Dining Car Service wax paper. The now bonded sheets were used to wrap delectable minced ham sandwiches for sale at 15 cents each. The donor's father, Mr. Freeland E. jensen, was a Southern Pacific signalman from the 1920s until his retirement in the 1960s.

From an anonymous donor comes an 1894 Atchison, Topeka &Santa Fe Rail­

road TELEGRAPHIC CIPHER

book issued by the line's Sec­retary and Treasurer's Ornce. Detailed within this slim 11­page volume are one-word codes to indicate moneta'ry amounts as well as transaction instructions to assure confidentiality in over-the-wire financial dealings. Apaper label on the cover identifies San Francisco &San Joaquin Valley Railway treasurer, Godfrey Holterhoff, jr., as the owner. His entry in the Museum Library's 1906 edition of The BiograpltiC/l/Direclory 0/ the Railway Officials 0/Amenea reveals that Mr. Holterhoff was SF&SjV treasurer from August 21, 1899 to April 1, 190 I •. thereby establishing a more precise prov­enance. Organized in 1895, this Valley line operated as a separate corporate entity until sold to the Santa Fe in 1901.

The Museum Foundation's Opportunity Acquisition Fund has once again provided monies for the purchase of a number of pieces of china, silverware and glassware to enhance the splendid table settings in the Dinner ill tlte Dilterexhibit on board the Museum's Santa Fe diner Cochtli _

On Trocld is a publication of the California State Railroad Museum and funded by the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. Address comments to Editor, On Track! CSRM­111 "r Stree~ Sacramento, California 95814. (91 6) 445-7387 Call (916) 552­5252 (extension "RAIL"') for recorded "Beeline" information.

EditOfs Catherine A Taylor Jeff Aberbach Nand Kramer

Contributors Kevin Bunker, Stephen Drew, Will Gamble, Darrell Geroy. Walter Gray, clir Hagle, Ellen Halteman. Cheryl Meyer. Marianne Sommer. Nancy Sullivan

Pltotogroplts CSRM Collection, Robert Hanft

Design ond Produdio" Coyne Design

Printer Colourpress

WEAVING TOGETHER STRANDS OF SUPPORT

AMessage from the Museum Director Walter P. Gray III

Two and a half years ago in this column we introduced the idea that all successful

government-sponsored museums depend on non­

BEHIND profit support organizations

THE to raise and administer non­governmental resources on

SCENES their behalf. The California State Railroad Museum is no exception. Since then

we have written about the process of streamlining and strengthening the Museum's base of non-state support. Great progress has been made, and we will look back on 1995 as the year that the various strands of support finally were woven into

a sturdy lifeline upon which the Museum can depend.

Although the Museum is a subdivision of a governmental agency there are limitations and risks inherent in complete reliance on public funds. We are subject to the ups-and­downs of the State budge~ have been un­able to fill key staff positions because of hiring freezes, and must compete with other State Park facilities for resources. To not only survive, but also to succeed, the Museum must develop new sources of revenue and do a better job administering the revenues we currently receive. To achieve this goal the Museum supported the creation in 1987 of its own non-profit arm, the California State Railroad Museum

CtJIl /illued on back page

3

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MARCH 11

Docent training begins. For information call Wayne Breece in the Museum's Education Of­fice. (916) 323-9278.

MARCH 31 THROUGH APRIL 1

Seventh Annual "National Railway Preserva­tion Symposium:' (916) 445-7387.

APRIL 1

Sacramento Southern Railroad. Trains depart weekends hourly 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the CPRR Freight DepoL Adults $5, Youths 6-12 $2, Ages 5 and under Free. Beeline: (916) 552-5252 ext. 7245.

APRIL 7-9

Museum Store Grand Opening weekend' Members (with membership card) receive a 10% discount on purchases. Special video pro­motion offered by Pentrex: buy one, get one free during the month of April. (916) 324·4950 or (800) 417-7245.

MAY 1

"State Parks Month" kickoff celebration on the west steps of the State Capitol from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Handcar rides and other activities. 916) 445-1705.

MAY 6

Sierra Railway Historical Society first annual gathering at Jamestown Community Center. Program features a color slide presentation of the Sierra Railroad in the 1940s, presented by historian AI Rose. Special tours of Railtown 1897 SHP included. (408) 777-8133.

MAY 6-7

"Oakdale Railroad Festival:' Sierra Railway No. 3 and historic wooden coaches will travel to Oakdale to participate in the Oakdale Railroad Festival. Displays of railroad equipment and other activities. Located in downtown Oakdale. Rides from Jamestown to Oakdale, or a short ride from Warnerville to Oakdale. (408) 777-8133.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR cOlllillued from Page 3

Foundation. As envisioned, the purpose of the Foundation would be to support the Museum's educational and interpretive activities and eventually administer all of the Museum's non-state revenues.

BEHIND

THE

SCENES

CONT.

Two major aspects of this plan have finally come to­gether in 1995.

The concept of a new Museum Store in the lobby dates back many years. Milepost One has been oper­ated as a concession since 1981 by the Pacific Coast

Chapter, Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, but why not build a larger store inside the Museum and apply the in­creased revenue to Museum needs? After a few years of sometimes difficult negotia­tions, an agreement was reached in April 1994 for the Foundation to develop and operate a new, larger store inside the Mu­seum. The Chapter will continue to benefit finanCially from the new venture, but the majority of proceeds will now support Museum programs. The store is finally under construction and will open in April.

Another important development also has its origins in the mid-1980s. I n April 1985 it was formally proposed that all Museum non-profit support be combined within a single non-profit corporation. Organiza­tional adjustments were accomplished at that time, but stopped short of consolidat­ing all non-profit operations. The idea of integrating the Railroad Museum compo­nent of the docent association with the Foundation was raised by Museum man­agement in 1991. After extensive discus­sion the issue was recently brought to a vote, and the members of the Sacramento State Parks Docent Association decided by a margin of six to one in favor of a reorga­nization. Effective February 1, 1995 the functions of the Railroad Museum Council of the docent association were assumed by the CSRM Foundation: the ten-year dream of creating a single Museum support orga­nization has been achieved.

These developments, although important and necessary, have been threatening to some-change can sometimes be difficult to accept. Our long-time supporters and even some of the staff have had to adjust

MAY 7

Union Pacific No. 4466 "75th Birth­day Celebration:' Entertainment and birthday cake at the CPRR Freight Depot at 12 Noon. (916) 445-1705.

JUNE 16, 17 AND 18

1995 California Railroad Festival. ':1\11 Aboard the Boogie-Woogie Express:' Exhibits, visiting equipment and entertainment daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Volunteers needed to help staff the event. (916) 445-738Z

THROUGH SPRING 1995

"The Race to Promontory-They All Wore Hats" an exhibit celebrating the 125th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in the Empire Gallery. (916) 323-279Z

LECTURE SERIES

Season begins in April in cooperation with the Discovery Museum. Call Wayne Breece in the Museum Education Office for topics and sched­ule. (916) 323-9278.

to new relationships and ways of working together. I want to reassure everyone who has placed their trust in the Museum that these changes are beneficial and essential to the Museum's long-term success, and thank them for giving us their confidence and supporL

Let me conclude by repeating a portion of the Museum's plan which was printed in the Fall 1993 Oft Trackl "Our new ap­proach seeks to combine the best at­tributes of basic support and organiza­tional stability provided by the State with the nexibility of private, non-profit fund development and administration. The rela­tionship between these two components­public and private-will be seamless: both groups working together in the interests of the institution. We will create a new type of composite organization which does not presently exist in the State Park System:' Many small strands of support have been woven into a single strong rope: now we can all pull together. _

4

~ CALIFORNIA STATE For paidalldlIolumeer

RAILROAD slol/0/lite Cali/omiaMUSEUM SI<7te RoilroadMl/Sl!utn.CSRM NEWS

"All-Hands" Meetings The next meeting of Museum paid and volunteer staff is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, 1995. All· Hands meetings occur the last Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. in Theater 1. If you are interested in what is happening in and around the Mu­seum, take the time to participate in the meetings. These meetings are designed to keep everyone who works at the Museum updated on the latest activities. II is also a forum to raise questions and provide input to Museum managemenl Most importan~ it is an opportunity for your voice to be heard. On a quarterly basis, hour bar pre· sentations are also made to docents and volunteers. _

Amtrak Outreach Program Filled The Museum's Amtrak Outreach Program began daily service on the Cali/omia Zephyrbetween Sacramento and Reno/ Sparks in early January, except for a few days when Mother Nature was venting her wrath on the north state. The expansion from five·days·per·week was made pos· sible by the addition of new narrators and spotters, who underwent an extensive training program last fall. We welcome the follOwing new participants:

Narrators: Tom Adams, John Bishop, Phyllis Baldwin, Richard Closs, Rick Dunbar, Lane Fidler, Jim Fryer, Melba Fryer, lrv Goldberg, Adlai Goldschmid~ John Guess, Dick Halen, Mas Hatano, Mike Hill, Jan Himenes, Chip Holmes, Stelle Houx. Karl Jacobson, Joe Mikula, George Papadopoulos. Jim Pynchon, Mike Sands, Edward Strisar. Sylvia Tilley, Rick Tompkins, Charles Weaver. Russ Weaver. Carole Wells, Will Williford III, Glen Wil­son. and Kenneth Wyman.

Spotters: Matt Baczewski. Laura Bishop, Raymond Closs, Joann Cole. Dorie Crooks. Gail Dunbar, Dianne Goldberg. Marcia Goldschmid~ Rich Himenes. Chris Hocket~ Elden Holmes, Barbara Jacobson, Frank T. Lindgren. Steve Mayer, Earl Oliver, Jan Papadopoulos, Ross Strickland, Gerry Wil· son, and Rebeca Wilson. _

Maintenance of Way Team Initiates Safety Program Maintenance of Way volunteers started two new programs during 1994: Safety and Training, and Adopt-A-Machine.

The safety and training program was de­veloped by a committee chaired by Nancy Sullivan. Designing an effective program proved challenging, given that mainte­nance of way workers show up when they are able. as opposed to working a regular train crew schedule as on the Sacramento Southern Railroad. The committee sought to devise a system which would accommo­date a variety of needs_ It was important that formal safety training sessions held on a monthly or quarterly basis not take away from time spent maintaining the tracks, and that the courses be available to everyone who works maintenance of way. Therefore, the committee opted for a "cor­respondence course" approach. Each month, crew members are mailed the safety rule for the month, as well as a les­son on various topics related to mainte­nance of way activities_The current plan includes 18 topics to be covered over the next year and a half, written by crew members or anyone else who is interested and qualified. The lessons are numbered and are designed to be kept in a three-ring binder. Docents not on the maintenance of way crew who want to be on the mailing list for materials can leave their name and number on the maintenance-of-way hotline at 323-3153. Please repeat your message because the machine has been malfunctioning.

Roadmaster Alan Hardy has created an 'l\dopt-A-Machine" program. The volunteer who signs up agrees to be responsible for the equipment's restoration (if necessary) and maintenance an~ agrees to be its chief operator. The follOwing pieces of equipment

. have been adopted by the foUowing individuals:

Backhoe and forklift - Jim Rominger Ballast regulator - Jeremy Levish

Scarifier inserter - Alicia and Cary Ericsson Tamper - Bob Ress

Motorcar A-S - Liz Johnson and Jim RomingerMotorcar MT-19 - Walter Gray

Motorcar A-8 - Nancy Sullivan and Harry Voss Toolcart - Liz Johnson

Tie extractor - Al Utzig

Many machines are waiting to be adopted. Please adopt them! The maintenance of way crew's principal project this winter involves raising the track between Mile­post 1.5 and the Broadway crossing. If you're interested in helping ou~ call the maintenance of way hotline at 323-3153 for schedule information. _

Social Committee Surveying Interest in Field Trips The Social Committee has tentatively sched­uled two summer rail outings. CSRM mem­bers (docents and volunteers) are requested to indicate their interest in the trips. An interest survey has been posted in the Do­cent Lounge seeking the names of those interested in either of the follOwing outings:

'.' Saturday, June 3: Travel by chartered bus to Felton for a ride on the Santa Cruz. Big Trees & Pacific Railway to Santa Cruz. There will be free tiine in Santa Cruz along the Boardwalk before returning to Sacramento.

". Saturday, September 23: Travel by char­tered bus to Jamestown for a visit to Rail­town 1897 SHP. The trip includes a train ride, picnic, tour and review of stationary steam displays. It will likely include a side trip to nearby Columbia State Historic Park.

The interest survey is not a formal sign-up list-it is simply a measure of interest for each of the proposed trips. If there is enough interes~ plans will be formalized, costs will be established and a sign-up flier will be distributed.

The committee also is exploring an as-yet unscheduled trip aboard the Yolo Shortline Railroad, which operates weekend excur­sions from Woodland to West Sacramento and, on occasion, from West Sacramento to Clarksburg. Yolo Shortline expects to oper· ate a former S.P. steam locomotive this year. _

CSRM NEWS - p.1

CSRM NEWS CONT.

Museum Welcomes a New Class of Docents There are a number of new [aces working at the Museum these days. They are the members of the most recent docent train­ing class. In :he finest railroad tradition a "welcome aboard" to the following: Ke~ Blair, Deuel Born, Mike Brady, Dori Crooks, Richard Deslonde, Bill Fletcher, Bob Gibson, Pete Goodier, Phillip Haley, Niels Harms, Marion Hoye, Robert Johnson, Norbert Koeberlein, David KcKeen, Allen McNelly, Richard Merica, Doug Perry, Jack Paskind, Lorraine Reese, Dick and Joyce Shimmin, Robert Smiley, Richard Steider, George Thomson, Thomas Tully and Roy West. _

Dozens of Docents Honored with Hour Bars More than 40 docents have been awarded new hour bars in recognition of their ser­vice to the California State Railroad Mu­seum. Their cumulative efforts represent 88,000 hours of donated service to the Museum. The hour bars were presented by Museum director Walter Gray during the All-Hands meeting on January 25.

Congratulations to the following docents:

250 hours - Glenn Allen, Gloria Link, Steve Mayer, Ted McNeill, Earl Oliver, Carolyn Storey, Roy West and Vianne Whitall

500 hours - Ray Closs, Dorrie Crooks, Lane Fidler, Chip Holmes, Elden Holmes, Liz Johnson, Walt Kistler, Margaret McKennan, Jim Pynchon, Gerry Reed, Wayne Richardson, Vera Simpson and Dick Steider

1,000 hours - Bob Orr, Dick Phillips, Jack Whitfield , Will Williford and Carl Yeargain

1,500 hours - Jim Spears

2,000 hours - Jeff Aberbach and John O'Brien

3,000 hours - Eric Heuermann, Ron Hubbard and Joe Kouw

3,500 hours - B.J. Harger, Jon Kreiter, Rusty Murchison and Jim Rominger

4,500 hours - Bob Haigh~ Dick Hulbert, Dick Noonan and Lyle Van Airsdale

5,000 hours - Bob Dawson and John Friel

6,000 hours - Alan Hardy

8,000 hours - Mary Shelley

9,000 hours - Bob Ress _

Living History Continues Busy Season Living History players Marie Risley, John Guess, Gary Welch, Ray Cross, Lynne Tolman and Judy Paoli joined CSRM Ranger Joann Helmich to delight hundreds of youngsters and their parents during the annual Sacramento Reads event in Octo­ber.The docents showed children how to make locomotive builders plate rubbings, gave away Operation Lifesaver activity books, displayed books offered at the Mu­seum Store and read [rom children's rail­road adventure books.

Risley, Tolman and Aziza Parker attended a three-day workshop on patterns for re­producing historical clothing, sponsored by the Fort Ross Interpretive Association. During October, Living History members in their 1870s costumes rode in a horse­drawn carriage, provided by Rick and Dianne Newborn of Top Hand Ranch, while participating in the annual Parade of Lights along downtown Sacramento's .oK" Street Mall.

Adozen dedicated Living History docents entertained visitors to the Museum of Rail­road History on the Friday follOwing Thanksgiving (one of the busiest days of the year for Museum visitation) by relating anecdotes, proViding interpretation and posing [or numerous photos.

Capping the 1994 activities [or Living His­tory was the annual Yuletide Market on December 10. A record 27 vendors re­served spaces along the full length of the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot platform. The event featured handcrafted items, homemade roods, stained glass ar~ Victorian dolls, quilts and pillows. A tal­ented duo from Nevada City serenaded the visitors with handmade wooden dulcimers and autoharps. Aspecial thank you to the

70-member Capital City Concert Band who performed at the Market.

Hats off to the Living History players who worked so hard to ensure the success of the Yuletide Market: Marie Risely, Caesar Abate, Robert Prentice, Alice Kennedy and friend, John Guess, Judy Paoli, and Clif Hagle, plus four other docents who were among the partici­pating vendors, Aziza Parker, Lynne Tolman, Dawn Pimentel and Sally Case. In addition, we extend our gratitude to Nanci Kramer of the Museum staff for coordinating publicity and members of the Museum's maintenance staff for their help in setting up the event. _

CSRM NEWS - p.2