Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 9

Left: Mike Groves of Fulton pilots his restored Missouri-Pacific railcar down the line. "It's a great way to see parts of the country you would never see by car," says Mike, adding the little cars
top out at around 40 miles per hour. Right: Members of the North American Railcar Operators Association manually reverse their poppers for the trip back down the rail line.
There also was a favorite run in South Fork, Colorado and yet another in
southern Georgia that left a beautiful impression as well.
"We pulled right into the center of downtown and went into this little place
called Mama's Cafe," says Mike. "It was run by the loveliest woman who served
the most wonderful home-style food."
Before letting them leave, "Mama" insisted they try her lemon meringue pie.
"I'll never forget it," he says. "I think it was the best food I've ever eaten."
Mike also recalls it was the Georgia trip where he met a father and his two
daughters standing by the tracks watching the parade of poppers. When he
stopped, he struck up a conversation with the family and explained to the girls
what a railcar was and what their role had been.
"It was pretty neat to share the experience with them," Mike says. "Teaching
them a bit of history."
His wife recalls an excursion where one of the other railcar operators was
a geologist.
"Any time we stopped, I'd find these interesting rocks, and he could tell me
about them," Susan says. "You really get to know the operators in front of you
and behind you because if something happens on the tour, they may be the
ones pulling you back to the rail yard."
As interesting and adventurous as the tours may be, safety is of utmost
importance to the members of NARCOA. Riders must wear colorful vests for
easy spotting along the railway, and they are required to wear boots that cover
the ankle because the steep terrain around the tracks, paired with the uneven
footing of rail ties, can be difficult to maneuver.
Also, all excursions are planned in advance by whichever regional chapter
sponsors a run, and permissions are secured from the rail line. If tracks inter-

sect with a major thoroughfare, plans are made with the railroad to utilize
crossing lights and safety arms. For smaller intersections and country roads,
the cars must slow, and each waves a flag out the door to signal the drivers
behind them as to their intention.
To join NARCOA, an individual must have a mentor who will sponsor him
or her on their first trip, teaching them the way of the rails. Tests for rules and
regulations are mandatory, as is national liability insurance.
"It's a very safe hobby, and NARCOA is a really well-run organization," says
Mike of the touring group.
The couple isn't sure where their 2017 schedule will take them, though they
have a few trips they definitely hope to make.
"One of our favorite trips is still the tour that runs to Fort Leonard Wood
here in Missouri," says Mike. "It's just gorgeous. And when you get into those
Ozark Mountains, you can almost believe you're in the foothills of a Colorado
range."
They would also like to join the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad excursion
in central Iowa, which winds through the beautiful Des Moines River valley
and crosses a 156-foot railroad trestle. Other than that, the Groves are still
planning.
"Our dream run is up in Montana," says Mike Groves. "It's 500-plus miles
with several overnight stays. It's on my bucket list, but that one might still be
a few years away."
For more information about the North American Railcar Operators Association, go to www.narcoa.org.
Bethell is a freelance writer from Fulton.

Below, top: A parade of poppers travels down the tracks. Bottom: Those who operate the poppers must be trained to use the controls that speed them down the tracks. Bottom right:
A group of pop-cars waits at a railroad crossing on the Columbia Branch Railroad, a 21-mile short line between Columbia and Centralia.

w


http://www.narcoa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - June 2017

Contents
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - Intro
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - Contents
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 4
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 5
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 6
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 7
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 8
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 9
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 10
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 11
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 12
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 13
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 14
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 15
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 16
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 17
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 18
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 19
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 20
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 21
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 22
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 23
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 24
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 25
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 26
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 27
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 28
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 29
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 30
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 31
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 32
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 33
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 34
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 35
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 36
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 37
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 38
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 39
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 40
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 41
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 42
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 43
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 44
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 45
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - 46
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - June 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/videotest
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com