Mike Condren Memoir

One of the many hats that I wear is that of a Railroad Historian. I host an extensive collection of historical railroad pages.

I wrote the "Fallen Flag Remembered" feature for Spring 2001 Classic Trains concerning the Frisco Railroad. The March 2001 issue of Trains editor Dave Ingles described me as "Mike Condren bows to others on matters Frisco, ....". I have also contributed the historical research for the Bird's Eye features for Summer 2005 Classic Trains concerning Memphis Central Station and Springfield West Shops. I host an extensive collection of material concerning the Frisco Railroad including scans of many of my photos. My photos were used by Walthers to produce an authentic paint scheme for their N-scale RS-2s in black & yellow paint. Walthers also used my photos in the production of their FM H1044s in Frisco's black & yellow and mandarin orange and white paint schemes. On August 28, 2010, I spoke to the Indian Nations Chapter of the National Model Railroaders Assoication on the last 20 years of the Frisco, Frisco: The Last 20 Years.

My web site hosts the Muskogee Roads Historical & Technical Society, described as the first "virtual historical society" in Trains magazine.

My web site also hosts the Memphis Historical Railroad Pages and Ft. Smith/Van Buren Historical Railroad Pages.

My first photos were published in the August 1979 issue of Trains helping to illustrate "The Kansas City Southern Railroad - 1 -The railroad that unraveled - Super Trains vs. superannated track". My color slides were reporduced in black and white in the magazine. The November 1987 issue of Trains contained 13 of my photos reproduced in color covering the news story of the filming of the movie "Beloxi Blues" and the feature "Alcos in Arkansas" covering the Arkansas and Missouri and its predicesor the Frisco Central Division.

During the late 1980s and the early 1990s, I served as the editor for the Arkansas & Missouri Railway for CTC Board. I documented the rebuilding in-house of the A&M's C420 #60 during my University of Arkansas sabbatical during the Fall 1988 semester. I photographed the official party at the christening.

During the late 1980s I partnered with Frank Bryan to convert his Apple II Engine diesel locomotive simulator to run on the Commodore 64. Engine 64 was marketed through the "Computer Software" of Kalmbach's Railroad Book Mart in Trains magazine. Engine 64 had sound effects which the Apple versions did not have. Copies of this software were shipped to all continents except Antartica.

I contributed the Kansas Street of Memphis and the Hoxie, AR "Hot Spots" book published by Kalmbach Publishing. contributed the Kansas Street of Memphis and Tulsa Cherokee Yard "Hot Spots" to the second edition of the "Hot Spots" book, including the photo for the Wagoner, OK "Hot Spot".

Several of my photos have been published in Trains magazine since 1979 including the following:

Since moving to Tahlequah, OK, I have begun researching the rail lines planned or constructed through here. The Ozark & Cherokee Central was constructed beginning in 1901. It became a branch of the Frisco system shortly after reaching Okmulgee, OK. The portion from Fayetteville, AR through Tahlequah to Ft. Gibson, OK was dismantled in 1942 and the line from Muskogee to Okmulgee, OK was removed in 1973. The local track in Muskogee became part of the Burlington Northern when the Frisco merged into that system.

My research will be presented to the Boston Mountain Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society on March 17, 2011 in Springdale, AR and to Railroad Days at the Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee, OK on May 14, 2011.

My research into the West Shops of the Frisco in Springfield, MO was presented to the Frisco Convention in Springfield, MO Sept. 17, 2011.

My research into the Muskogee Roads was presented to the Missouri Pacific Historical Society at their annual convention in Texarkana, AR Oct. 8, 2011 the Indian Nations Division NMRA Tulsa, OK Nov. 19, 2011, and the Boston Mtn Chapter of the NRHS on April 19, 2012.