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Researching the Kalmbach Memorial
Library
by Marty Vaughn, MMR
When did the Indiana and Ohio Railroad remove the
dynamic brakes from the used GP-9 they purchased?
When I found out that I was going to be lucky enough
to attend the NMRA National Convention in Atlanta, I
realized that I would have to pass through Chattanooga
on my way back. I had never been to the NMRA
Headquarters (which we have all helped pay for) and
decided that on my way back that this was too good an
opportunity to pass up.
I got directions from the NMRA staff who were manning
the booth at the convention, and left Atlanta at 6:00
a.m. My friend, who was riding with me, and I arrived
before the staff (speed limits between Atlanta and
Chattanooga are apparently non-existent and to avoid
being run down we got there much sooner than I had
planned!).
The first staff member there (despite being up late
the night before welcoming the arrival of her new niece)
was Connie Rudd. Connie runs the administrative side of
things and if you ever had a problem with your
membership she is probably the one you spoke to. Connie
made us feel very welcome, gave us a tour of the
administrative side of the headquarters, and made a pot
of coffee which was most appreciated. Then she turned us
over to David Lowe and Sarah Gaither, the research
associates at the Kalmbach Memorial Library.
Sarah gave us a tour of the library and a general
outline of operations. It was a unique experience to me.
I have done research before at university libraries and
historical societies and have dealt with some helpful
librarians, but the usual attitude is "don't
touch." This was different, we were invited and
encouraged to look through the materials. It really gave
me the feeling that this was my library and David and
Sarah were really committed to working for us. If you
are interested in Official Railway Guides, they have a
bunch of them including reprints of several from before
1900. If there is a particular railroad and year that
you are interested in, they can make a copy of it for
you. I got a copy from the 1870 guide of the Kansas
Central that I sent to the editor of the Kansas Central
Division's Brass Pounder.
In addition to picking up a new copy of the NMRA
tape/slide/video clinics, Sarah also gave us a copy of
the books that the library has for sale. These are the
over stocked volumes that the library has received
through donations. These extra volumes are offered for
sale to the membership and the funds raised are used to
support the on-going work of the library. This keeps the
books in the NMRA family. I had seen the notice in the
last couple of issues of The Bulletin about the books,
but had not gotten around to sending for the list. I can
tell you that the condition of the surplus books listed
is very accurate, the prices are fair, and I ended up
taking three of them home with me. In addition, if there
is a book that you are looking for to add to your
personal library, they will take your name and address
and contact you if they should ever have an excess copy
in the future.
Of course, aside from preservation, the main purpose
of the library is research on both modeling and
prototype subjects. As part of your membership, you are
entitles to a certain amount of "free"
research each year. According to Sarah, they are sending
out answers to approximately 150 research requests a
month. When you consider that the Kalmbach Memorial
Library staff consists of the director and two research
associates, that is a pretty good work load, especially
since your research is not their only duty. Frankly,
this is not a benefit that I had taken advantage of
because I model my own freelance railroad and I always
thought that this was one of those "benefits"
belonging to the NMRA that I would rarely, if ever, use.
A couple of months before going to the convention, I
was trying to find information on the US Military
Railroad operations at City Point, VA during 1864-65 for
a project. Having eliminated all of the local sources, I
had written the library on the scant hope they might
have something.
When we had finished the tour and David and Sarah had
explained the research process, I asked about the status
of the research project I had submitted. Now either
David checked his records while Sarah gave us the
library tour, or he has an extremely good memory, but he
knew what I had requested without me reminding him. It
turns out that David, who was previously employed by the
Federal Park Service at the Chattanooga Battlefield
site, had some information, but was doing more of the
research at home through his own materials, and promised
an answer, with other possible sources from the National
Archives, shortly. In the meantime, he asked if I wanted
to check the periodical listings for material on the
Civil War. I didn't figure there would be anything that
I didn't already have, but told him to go ahead. In
about five minutes, David had a list of articles
(including one in Trains Magazine, a source I had
never even thought to check). Ten of the articles were
unknown to me, but in ten minutes, for a small copying
fee, I had copies of them all to take home with me. My
friend was so impressed with the speed of the search and
the quantity of materials that David was able to find,
that he asked David the question leading off this
article. David when into the library and in a few
minutes returned with the answer.
The Indiana and Ohio GP-9 was originally built for
the Seaboard Railroad, later the Seaboard Cost Line. the
engine was sold to the J.D.D. Company in Louisville, KY
in 1960. The dynamic brakes were removed at that time.
I was very impressed with my visit to the NMRA
Headquarters. I didn't have a chance to really speak
with either Peter Jehrio or Gregg Ames, we weren't the
only conventioneers stopping by on the way home, but
they were well represented by the three staff members
that I did spend some time with, Connie Rudd, Sarah
Gaither and David Lowe. After my visit, I feel good
about the part of my dues that go to finance the
Kalmbach Memorial Library, and who knows, I may come up
with another strange request that I can try to stump
David and Sarah with.
Both the NMRA Headquarters and the Kalmbach Memorial
Library welcome visitor. If you are ever in Chattanooga,
it is well worth your time to stop in and check out the
facilities for yourself and see what your dues are
accomplishing. If you do, tell Connie, Sarah and David
that I said hello!
The library staff welcomes your research projects and
information requests. You can submit your request either
by letter or by calling the library at the number listed
in The Bulletin.
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