From a recent issue of the Daily Oklahoman (printed in Oklahoma City, OK) comes the sad news that the Hugo Heritage RR excursion train may not run this year, or ever again. The train, which consists of three ex-Norfolk & Western chair cars and a 50-foot boxcar converted to a homebuilt HEP unit, was operated by Kiamichi RR since 1990. The train was backed financially by Kiamichi's former owner, Jack Hadley, but when Statesrail bought the line in 1997, the endorsements stopped. With no financial backing, it;'s getting much harder each year to operate the popular excursion train, which operates from the former Frisco depot in Hugo, OK, and the Historical Society can no longer afford the expense alone. I've ridden this train a couple of times- heck, I got to walk through the coaches when thay first came on the property. They were last used in Chicago-Orland Park commuter service on the N&W, and were extensively rebuilt by Kiamichi shop crews.
It's always sad to lose an excursion operation, but, unfortunately, people tire of such things and unless they are located in an area with a large amount of tourist traffic there for other reasons, patronage declines after the first couple of years. Most of the local population will ride at least once, but most will also only ride once. I have been told this by a number of operators and consultants in the tourist train business as I was told to investiagte the possibilities by a new Chairman, who had worked for Disney.
A very sad thing, indeed, FriscoBob. I, too, have ridden this train twice, but Hugo is in a very depressed area, anyway, since the circus also pulled their winter quaters out, and other considerations, and it's a long way to Texoma or Beaver's Bend Resorts. It looked good when they went in and had a benefactor, but a lot has changed since then. We have tossed the thought around in this part of the country (western Oklahoma), but the same thing occurred- what would be the draw for tourism after the initial fallout?
To my knowledge, both Carson & Barnes (operators of a five-ring tent circus, done the RIGHT way ) and Kelly-Miller Brothers are STILL headquartered there. My wife is a Hugo native, and she reads the online version of the Hugo News. They've also started their touring season, with Carson & Barnes kicking off in Paris, TX. BTW, Emmitt Kelly's grandson is now clowning with Carson & Barnes. Overall, though, you're right- southeastern Oklahoma has never been an economic garden spot, and can see unemployment in the double digits easily. Incindentally, folks, according to Noel Pence, head of the Choctaw County Historical Society, even if every seat was full, the train would still run at a loss. After Jack Hadley sold Kiamichi to Statesrail, the shortline conglomerate ceased its financial backing, and Little Dixie Community Action Agency put money in for several years. Sadly, Little Dixie can no longer afford to do so, and even with the occasional charter, the train is done. Reportedly, the cars are for sale.
