We met on Thursday evening, April 29^th at a restaurant next to the Norman, OK depot to finalize our itinerary. An appropriate setting! We agreed to drive south to Paulâs valley, go to Shawnee, and then head for Guthrie to explore the DE&G line from Guthrie to Kiowa, KS. We would spend the night in Enid, OK, visit the museum there, and drive east to Pawnee, Skedee, Esau Junction, and Stillwater. We would explore the old Eastern Oklahoma grade from Perkins Station to Guthrie, and stay at the first Oklahoma capitol on Saturday night. From there, we would drive to Cushing to meet with Bob Read, John Kirk and Lawrence Gibbs. From there we drove back to Norman to deliver Evan to his patient wife, Dana. Russell and I would drive through north central Oklahoma Monday, to Kansas City, where I would catch a return flight to Los Angeles. We accomplished all this, and by coming back early, missed the terrible series of tornados that ripped the area, by only a few hours. Thank you, Lord.

The area folks could not have treated us better. We were able to get permission to explore everywhere we went, with only one exception. Once we explained our purpose and Russell showed his track charts, we were given total cooperation. We visited five museums: Paulâs Valley, Enid, Shawnee, Kaw City, and Yale. All the folks there were wonderful. We were given tours, allowed to take all the pictures we wanted and were promised any help available. The old EO has left its mark both physically and spiritually!

Many station sites we visited are barren. Some depots remain standing, such as Guthrie, Coyle, Shawnee, Pawnee, Enid, Epperson, Stillwater, Cushing, Yale and Kaw City. Vacant spots are at Rambo, Camp, Burbank, Newkirk, Yost, Glencoe, Skedee, Esau Junction, Byars, Tribbey, Quay, Ripley and other small stations. There are many signs of trestles, bridges and grades along the main line route between Paulâs Valley and Newkirk. Unfortunately, the first line built from Guthrie east to Ripley and Stillwater is almost obliterated, by farming and growth, with only a few places left to denote that a railroad once ran there. One surprise: A working wig-wag signal is still located near Glencoe on the Stillwater to Pawnee line!

All the museums are worth visiting and could use our support. Sentimentally, I was taken by Bob Read and his wonderful Yale depot which he saved and moved just south of Cushing, Oklahoma. Bob has a wonderful collection of memorabilia and some rolling stock, there. He has worked to save the impressive brick depot which still stands so forlornly at Cushing, waiting for trains that will never again arrive. Sic Transit Gloria. Evan Stair, John Kirk, Jr., Bob Read, Don Alcorn, Russell Crump.