No. 4141 to head funeral train transporting Bush to final resting place at presidential museum

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Dec 4th, 2018

George H.W. Bush, the nation’s 41st president, will be transported to his final resting place in a funeral train headed by the very locomotive he drove 13 years ago.

Union Pacific No. 4141, an SD70ACe known as the “George Bush 41” locomotive, heads a 13-car funeral train that will transport Bush’s body from Spring, TX, to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station for burial Thursday.

Union Pacific’s No. 4141, “George Bush 41”, will head the funeral train for George H.W. Bush from Spring to College Station, TX, on Thursday. – Courtesy Union Pacific

Bush will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol through Wednesday, then be flown to Houston to lie in repose at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church before burial at his family plot at the museum. A 13-car funeral train headed by No. 4141 leaves UP’s Westfield Auto Facility on Thursday at 1 p.m. and is expected to arrive College Station across from Texas A&M’s Kyle Field at 3:25 p.m. The Westfield Auto Facility is not open to the public.

No. 4141 rolled out in College Station in 2005 in honor of the man who served as president from 1989-93. At the unveiling, Bush took the controls for about two miles.

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Texas museums to recognize model railroading and salute Lone Star State’s rail history at fall shows

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Oct 23rd, 2018

A pair of top Texas museums that recognize railroading’s past for much of the year will offer a glimpse into present day model railroading at train shows over the Oct. 27 weekend. For much of nearly two decades, shows at the New Braunfels Railroad Museum and Texas City Museum have been a rite of passage each fall in the Lone Star State.

The timing couldn’t be better. After weeks of rain – including record rainfall in some parts of the state – the weather is supposed to be warm and sunny.

The New Braunfels Railroad Museum is housed in the 1907 International and Great Northern depot. – Cowcatcher Magazine

The New Braunfels Railroad Museum’s 10th Annual Fall Train Show Oct. 27-28 at the New Braunfels Civic Center will feature more than 60 vendors from Texas and beyond, displaying over 300 tables filled with new and vintage model railroad equipment.

The show will feature hourly drawings for prizes donated by vendors and local sponsors, as well as a silent action.

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Kansas City Southern’s 18th Annual Holiday Express to stop in 22 communities, eight states

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Oct 17th, 2018

Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express will stop in 22 communities and eight states on 27 dates, starting with its departure from Shreveport Yard in Shreveport, LA, after an employee function on Nov. 21.

Kansas City Southern (KCS) (NYSE: KSU) recently announced the schedule for the 18th annual Holiday Express, a charitable fund-raiser for the railroad. At each stop, visitors can board the train, visit with Santa and his elves and tour the inside of three cars of the festive six-car train. Each event is free and open to the public.

Over the past 17 years, the project has raised well over $2 million to purchase gift cards, which are donated to The Salvation Army at each scheduled stop. The gift cards are used to purchase warm clothing and other necessities for children in need in the local community.

“KCS is proud to continue this long-standing tradition of bringing joy to communities throughout our network with the Holiday Express train,” said KCS president and chief executive officer Patrick J. Ottensmeyer. “This project brings people together, helps build relationships in the community and supports our corporate vision and values.”

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MRID inducts new members into Hall of Fame, recognizes leadership change at Walthers

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Aug 31st, 2018

Stacey Walthers Naffah and Phil Walthers share a fist bump at August’s Model Railroad Industry Division/Hobby Manufacturers Association breakfast at the NMRA National Convention in Kansas City. Walthers Naffah is assuming direction of the company in early September.

KANSAS CITY, MO – The Model Railroad Industry Division of the Hobby Manufacturers Association took time at the August NMRA convention to honor three who have made an impact on model railroading and recognize the retirement of an industry leader.

Two HMA members were inducted into the Model Railroad Hall of Fame, another was bestowed the Bobbye Hall Distinguished Service award, and new officers were inducted into the MRID. And next week’s transfer of leadership at the most recognized family-run business in model railroading earned a fist bump.

Phil Walthers and Stacey Walthers Naffah shared a few light moments leading up to next Tuesday’s transition at Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., which has served model railroaders since 1932. Walthers Naffah will succeed Walthers, who is retiring after 34 years as president of one of the industry’s largest distributors and direct sellers of model trains, accessories and related items.

The father-daughter team marked the company’s fourth change of leadership with a knock of the fists.

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