Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma
Formation
The following appeared in Live Steam Magazine, February 1982:
Late in November, Truman Hefner and Jim Murray got their heads together in Oklahoma City and decided to see if there was a possibility of organizing a Live Steam/wide gauge club in Oklahoma City. A quick telephone survey turned up an unsuspected amount of interest. The survey also discovered three people in Oklahoma City with Live Steam units, and no place to run them. As a result, a preliminary meeting was held at Hefner's house and layout on December 12th. Seven people were in attendance, but more important was the fact that another twenty people said they would join the club, but could not attend because of previous holiday season commitments.
Thus it was decided to hold another organizing meeting on January 16th at Jim Murray's acreage. In the meantime, a search will be conducted for a track location, and suggestions for a club name will be developed. After the meeting, the group spent some time inspecting and enjoying Hefner's layout which includes about 400 feet of 7-1/2 inch gauge track, and is quite elaborate. It features a long trestle, a girder plate bridge, and a 40 inch long tunnel which is used to store the rolling stock. A Live Steam Atlantic and a FP-7 battery/diesel provide the motive power, and Truman has a number of riding flats and gondolas. Several operating refrigerator cars are under construction.
Anyone interested in joining this group should contact John Hines, Acting Secretary, 309 Northurp, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.