I may have asked about this. But if so, it was long ago. Does anyone have information on T&P office telegraph calls? If so, where was "MN" located? I've an old train order copied there. From the info contained, this seems to have been west of Dallas. My guess is Mingus, Texas. Confirmation? Boxcab E50
boxcab that would be my guess, i have looked around in my books and other junk i have from the old mp and the only office i could find with those initials is the mingus telegraph
Greetings to all the "Few and Far Between" Texas Pacific fans. The TP holds some special meaning for me as my grandad first went to work for the TP in the coal town of Thurber, TX in the early 1900's as a runner for the company store. After finishing business school in Ft Worth we went back to work for TP in their oil exploration and production arm. They moved out to Sundown TX (near Lubbock) and finally settled in McCamey TX where TP had a camp about 10 miles out of town on one of their leases. That is where I spent every summer until I was 14. Eventually TP sold that part of their business to Sun Oil and the Seagrams from whom my grandad retired. He had many recollections of the TP trains in Strawn, where my dad was born in '32, Thurber, Mingus and other long gone places in Palo Pinto County. I became a model railroader to relive some of that but eventually modeled the Santa Fe and related roads in the Texas Panhandle. I am slowly, and I mean S L O W L Y, trying to build different TP cars that I can find pictures of. It is a process let me tell you. Although the TP never existed in the the panhandle on my road cars show up here and there with some regularity. The Wheels of Time offering this winter for TP 70' mail/baggage storage cars got the juices flowing to redo on of their round roof 60' into a TP paint scheme. This is truly a great hobby, little things pop up continually that keep the interest high and projects list full, I love it!! And thanks to Trainboard for giving us an avenue to share, compare and enjoy the work of others. Thank you!! Charlie TXPanhandle The Golden Spread & Palo Duro Rail Company
Makes me wonder about the consistency in naming things. Unfortunately I don't have anything on telegraph ID's, but a 1973 listing of stations shows Mineola as TP-138 and Mingus as TP-321. By station lists there is no MN; seems unfortunate that they don't match, but it is what it is.
Being a train order collector, I have bumped into this so many times. Trying to decipher any rhyme or reason is fascinating, but also frustrating. Some companies it's easy, as the initials quickly line up with station names. Other companies seemed to start at point A, and go somewhat alphabetically. But then over the years, stations were abandoned, others added. And add in when towns were re-named, sometimes happening multiple changes. It can become a puzzle. It does keep the hobby interesting. I have and still do learn a lot about places around the country. Boxcab E50
