DECATUR -- The Decatur Historical Committee will host its monthly forum at 5 p.m. today, Feb. 1, in the committee room (old police station) at Decatur City Hall.
Because of new information received by the committee chairman, Mike Eckels, the topic was changed from Decatur schools to the Decatur Depot, Kansas City Southern (KCS) locomotive and caboose. Guest speaker for this meeting will be Janelle Simpson, office clerk and researcher for the city of Decatur.
Simpson recently uncovered historical information on the locomotive, caboose and the depot. She will present her findings during the forum.
Also on the program is a video copy of an old 16 mm news reel of the inaugural run of KCS Southern Belle passenger service from Kansas City, Mo., to New Orleans, La., in 1940.
KCS #57D has been a symbol of Decatur since Lloyd Peterson acquired it from the Kansas City Southern Railroad on Sept. 15, 1991. It, along with the rare bay-window caboose, was on Peterson's property just outside of Decatur for two years.
Both the locomotive and the caboose were hoisted onto a specially-built rail head next to the depot in 1993 where it remains today.
Anyone wishing to share information on this topic can bring it to the forum or contact Mike Eckels at 479-422-0208.
General News on 02/01/2017