Two Trees Times- Week of 26 Sept 2005

[Anonymous]

Hurricane Rita Comes and Goes
N&MRR President Scorned for Actions
By Richard "Scoop" Carails- Two Trees Times


N&MRR track crews applying ballast and preparing the line in the cut

Two Trees, Texas- N&MRR track crews headed out to the Cut Wednesday and Thursday to make prepartations for the proposed onslaught of Hurricane Rita which for a while had registered as the 3rd most powerful storm in the recorded history of the Texas Gulf Coast.

In all Locomotive #12, the City of Two Trees, made six trips from Two Trees, Texas to the Cut with ballast and train crews.

"We were expecting extremely destructive forces," said N&MRR President Carrales, "thus we took steps to prepare the line for high waters and slides."

Two recently acquired ballast cars from the Sow's Ear Locomotive and Car Works took a great amount of ballast that had been ear marked for Poor Vic's Curve. This action has drawn critial remarks from Carrales' detractors.

"Yet another outrageous show of stupidity by Capt Carrales," fumed Sampson Betts of the prestigous Two Trees' Betts family, "this action has been way out of line. Using materials earmarked for the repairs and upgrade of the curve is mismanagement plain and simple."

But not everyone is so hostile to Carrales actions. Victor Creer Betts, of the lesser prestigous Two Trees' Betts family had this to say...

"The quick repairs to the Cut will insure that that area will be a viable section of the line for years to come. The track had been shifting a bit but now is quite solid."

Carrales and Treasurer E.N Velopes announced that construction on Poor Vic's Curve would go ahead as planned.

[Anonymous]

Local Railroad Conductor Celebrates 30 years in Railroading
By Richard "Scoop" Carails- Two Trees Times


Sam Rodriguez Waves to his son Juan from the Depot at Two Trees, Texas

Two Trees, Texas- Sam Rodriguez, long time railroad conductor and current head conductor of The Garden Flyer celebrated 30 years in railroading last week.

A party was held at the Norma, Texas train depot honoring Sam's accomplishments last Wednesday at which time he was presented with a special watch made in Blackpool, England.

"Conductor Rodriguez as been an excellent part of our railroad," said N&MRR President Carrales, "from doing double duty as our chief freight conductor and on our passenger service. Let us all drink a toast to a long life and continued career."

Sam had been hospitialized at the begining of last year for breaking his wrist after a fall from a caboose in the N&MRR shops. Since his recovery he has served as the railroad's senior conductor.

"We will not find a finer conductor anywhere," said long time friend Russell "Rusty" Hammer, "he was instrumental in getting me on this line and I hope to serve with him a long time."

"I am honored," said Sam, "that people tolerate me around here. I started my family life a bit late but I could not make it without the support of my wife and the love of my son.

Rodriguez is a graduate of Two Trees High School and attended the National Academy of Garden Railroad Sciences before working ten years on the Rosebud Flats Railroad. This second ten years was spent in California working on the Borracho Springs Railroad. In 1995 he took a job with the Union Pacific and left them only after the chance to return to his hometown and serve on the N&MRR.

Rodriguez's wife of 20 years is Rosalinda Rodriguez and they have one child, Juan Samuel Rodriguez.

[Anonymous]

Locomotive #12 The City of Two Trees Honored
By Richard "Scoop" Carails- Two Trees Times


The City of Two Trees leaved Ian's Curve for the Cut

Two Trees, Texas- The City of Two Trees was fired up Wednesday and dispatched to the Cut to make prepartations for the coming of Hurricane Rita, but more than that it has been honored.

Company treasurer E.N. Velopes announced that he began research into the origins of this locomotive last July. He was able to verify a conjecture he had harbored on the matter for a long time.

"I looked through about seventy boxes of records at the Sow's Ear Locomotive and Car Works, " began Velopes, "and I discovered that this locomotive is the sister locomotive of the one that over turned on Poor Vic's Curve. It seems, and its is a stroy we all heard as kids, that in 1901 Viktor Schmitt jumped a locomotive on the Two Trees Tramline. The City of Two Trees originally rolled out on the same day!"

Velopes made several historial points on the matter and outlined the the history of this alternate train. While original Two Tree Tramline #17 was destroyed at what would be called Poor Vic's Curve, its sister locomotive was purchased by the J.P. Moreno Ironworks in San Diego, Texas. It severed there until it was retired in 1945. From there is was dormant until 1956, when it was repaired and modernized for use on a tourist railroad in East Texas. That came to an end in 1970 where it was scrapped.

The locomotive was salvaged from the scrapheap, and possibly from the furnace, by Milhaus Bern, of Norma, Texas. He intended to use it as a static display on a section of the Two Trees Tramline in 1990.

It's exterior was restored and it remained there until it was purchased by Sampson Betts of Two Trees, Texas who spent a considerable amount of funds to return it to functioning condition. He then sold it for a considerable profit to the Two Trees Railroad Society which modernized it and donated it to the Norma & Micaela Railroad.


The City of Two Trees pulling ballast cars to SAVE THE LINE

N&MRR President J.E. Carrales honored it as the "SAVIOR OF THE LINE" and authorized the name City of Two Trees to adorn its cab instead of the more traditional "No. 12."

"This is a travesty!" said Sampson Betts of Two Trees, "He turns it into a MOW locomotive and calls it an honor! What a shrewed idiot!"

[Anonymous]

Two Trees Times Classified Section


Announcement: Postmaster needed as current occupant seeks to retire. Inquire at the Two Trees, Texas Post Office. Equal opportunity employer. Call [phone]

Announcement: Sampson Betts announces the marriage of his daughter Arejay Renyolds Betts to Al Luminium of Micaela, Texas. Vows will be exchanged at the Nuestra Senora de Micaela Catholic Church in Micaela, Texas.

Announcement: Russell "Rusty" Hammer, recent engineer of Atlantic Locomotive #248, announces the death of his personality. For more details call C. Jimmy Sanderson at [phone]. Soup to Nuts!!!

Wanted: The Norma & Micaela Railroad is currently looking for persons to fill the following occupations...track crewmen, and Ticket Clerk/ Station manager at Two Trees, Texas. Apply at the N&MRR offices or at the U.S. Post Office at Two Trees, Texas. Call [phone] ext 3. Ask for Mr. C. Sanderson.

Announcement: Vic Betts announces that the complete works of Sherm Alpert & The Reynosa Brass will be played ad infinitum at the N&MRR shops until some one responds to his ad for their sale. Albums include Cool Whip and Other Confections, The Sorriful Bull, Going No Where and Raised! Monday will begin with the 24-hour marathon of This Guy's in Lust for You!

For Sale Complete set of Sherm Alpert & The Reynosa Brass LPS. Only used some 200 times. Best offer. Call Vic Betts [phone]

[cacole]

I hope you were out of harm's way from Hurricane Rita, but as a member of the Civil Air Patrol, that is probably occupying a lot of your time now, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

I hope you were out of harm's way from Hurricane Rita, but as a member of the Civil Air Patrol, that is probably occupying a lot of your time now, isn't it?

Yes, we haven't even got a drop of rain, I can't say I'm dissapointed. My prayers go out to those in the Impact Zone.

We are pretty much sort of "on call." We were to have our Texas Wing Conference (an anual convention) in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Storm has postponed it to November. I'm sure there will be aircrews flying over the damage once the storms have subsided.

There is a need for IOs (information officers) in the Impact Zone, but I think my units main task will be dealing with evacuees still displaced by Katrina and Rita.

[Anonymous]

Tortillas Introduced to Rosebud Flats
Garden Railways Associated Press Enterprises


Round Flat Bread and the Flatbottom Residence?

Rosebud Flats, Colorado- Mrs. Claie Flatbottom held her much awaited and highly anticipated open house yesterday. Everyone from both communities of Rosebud Falls and Rosebud Flats were in attendance at the society gala event of the year. Lamenting the recent foul weather on the Gulf Coast, Mr. Flatbottom apologized for not having the much anticipated fresh Atlantic Seafoods, as all rail traffic of the Round Tuit and Faraway Railway has been diverted to assist in the delivery of much needed supplies and aid personnel to the Gulf Coast area thus precluding the shippment of the seafood.

But of more important concern, a new food item was introduced to the area that has been a staple of Southern and Western Texas from frontier days. The Flour and Corn TORTILLA!

Mrs. Flatbottom introduced those in attendance to a new form of "bread". This round almost paper thin flour and corn "bread" easily folds to form a half round sandwich. Mr. Flatbottom referred to this new bread as a tortilla, and explained that it is a bread staple of the Mexican national N&MRR track crews in Two Trees TX.

Mrs. Flatbottom is believed to have mastered the recipe from Mrs. Rosalinda Rodriguez of Two Trees, Texas who was quoted as saying...

"It was hard at the beginning, Mrs. Flattbottom used to have such a hard time makeing cricles out of the dough with a palote [rolling pin], she had got to the point where she was cutting them out of flat dough using a circular lid for a template pattern. It took a while, but she finally learned how t do it right."

The Flattbottoms recently left the Micaela Valley for Colorado to be closer to the operation of the railline of which Mr. Flattbottom is the President.