Atchison, KS Statue Dedication & Railroad Heritage Celebration set for May 10th
Sponsored by the Santa Fe Depot Trustees & Kansas City Southern

Dedication of bronze railroad worker statue & dedication of plaza to the many railroad workers through Atchison’s history

Atchison will pay tribute to the working men who built the railroads across Kansas with a larger than life-size bronze statue and a day of activities and events for railroad fans of all ages on Saturday, May 10, 2008, including tours and an evening reception on the Southern Belle, the restored corporate train of the Kansas City Southern.

The bronze statue of a gandy dancer, or working man on the railroad, is dedicated to the great-grandfather of Kansas City Southern Chairman & CEO Michael Haverty, who began the family’s railroad heritage as a laborer on the railroad. The statue by Kwan Wu, internationally known sculptor from Overland Park, Kansas, depicts a gandy dancer ready to resume driving spikes in the building of the railroad.

The statue embodies the Haverty family. The gandy dancer theme is based on Thomas W. Haverty, an immigrant from Galway Ireland who helped build the railroads across Kansas. The face of the statue is based on a photograph of Michael Haverty’s grandfather, Thomas W. Haverty, Jr.

The The Haverty family has a deep involvement in Kansas railroads. Michael Haverty said that his great-grandfather was a railroad laborer who came to Atchison in 1865, his grandfather and father also worked as trainmen. Michael Haverty began his railroading days working one summer on a Missouri Pacific section gang. His real career began as a Mo-Pac brakeman/switchman in 1963 to become the fourth generation to work for the Missouri Pacific. Haverty moved to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe in 1970 eventually becoming President and COO in 1989. While at the Santa Fe Haverty arranged for the Depot to be donated to the City of Atchison.

Michael Haverty became involved in the railroad working man statue project last year when he was visiting Benedictine College in Atchison and a conversation came up about the idea for a statue to honor the thousands of railroad workers who helped lay the tracks that connected East to West and the many who spent their working lives in Atchison, which was the early leader in railroads in early Kansas.

The statue will be located in front of the 1880 Atchison Santa Fe Depot, a freight depot used by the AT&SF until 1985, when it was donated to the City of Atchison and converted to use for the museum and chamber in 1989. The Depot today is home to the Atchison County Historical Society Museum, the Atchison Visitors Information Center and the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the last remaining building in Atchison of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.

Events during the day to pay tribute to Atchison’s railroad heritage are free or by donation. The evening reception on the Southern Belle with food, entertainment by the Irish folk band “The Lucky Charms” and a chance to meet the artist and Mr. Haverty is by ticket in a fund raiser for the long-term upkeep and endowment of the Santa Fe Depot building. Tickets are available through the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce for $75 per person at 913-367-2427 or online at www.atchisonkansas.net and follow the links.

For more information – contact Jacque Pregont, President Atchison Area Chamber or Commerce at 913-367-2427 or email president@atchisonkansas.net

Event Schedule:
May 10, 2008
11 a.m. Dedication of Bronze Statue “Working Men of the Railroads”& Dedication of Plaza – Atchison Railroaders Plaza at the Atchison Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. 10th Street
9-5 Railroad activities for children and adults, mini steam engine rides, museum exhibits, safety programs, static display of the Kansas City Southern’s corporate train “The Southern Belle”- free for public tour
6-9 p.m. Evening Reception in honor of Michael Haverty – Chairman & CEO of the Kansas City Southern. Food, drink, entertainment and music. Fund Raiser for upkeep and endowment of the Atchison Santa Fe Depot building (built in 1880 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places). $75 per person – tickets available through the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce 913-367-2427 or online at www.atchisonkansas.net & follow the link from the homepage

Notes of Interest:
•  Statue depicts “gandy dancer” based on the job of after Thomas W. Haverty of Galway, Ireland the great-grandfather of Michael Haverty, Chairman & CEO of KCS.
The face of the statue is based on a photograph of Thomas W. Haverty, Jr. photos of statue and clay model of statue with Michael Haverty & artist Kwan Wu
The four generations of the Haverty family that have been railroad men.
Thomas W. Haverty – gandy dancer for Missouri Pacific Railroad
Thomas W. Haverty, Jr. – trainman for Missouri Pacific Railroad
Harold J. Haverty – trainman for Missouri Pacific Railroad
Michael Haverty – began with Missouri Pacific now Chairman & CEO KCSouthern

•  Statue sculptor – Kwan Wu of Overland Park Kansas completed the larger-then-life size figure to salute the rich railroad heritage of Atchison, Kansas. Kwan Wu has done a number of realistic bronze sculptures in the region including the George Brett sculpture at Kaufmann Stadium and the statues in the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

•  The Statue Dedication & the May 10th events are to honor and bring to the public’s attention the rich railroad heritage of Atchison, Kansas. 2009 will be the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Atchison & Topeka Railroad (later to become the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe – today’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway) in Atchison Kansas.

•  The “Southern Belle” the Kansas City Southern’s corporate train will be on display for the public from 9-5 during the day to tour – free to the public. The “Belle” will be the site of an evening reception event with entertainment as a fundraiser for the Atchison Santa Fe Depot building ($75 per person). The “Belle” is lavishly appointed and true treat for public to get this rare chance to see inside and out. Full details attached.

The Southern Belle – details from the KCS website http://www.kcsouthern.com/en-us/KCS/Pages/SouthernBelle.aspx

Southern Belle
KCS’ Southern Belle is a beautifully restored passenger train used for business meetings, public affairs and charitable events. From 1940 until 1969, three Southern Belle business trains provided luxury passenger service between Kansas City and the Gulf Coast region. In 1995, KCS restored some of the cars from one of the original Southern Belle trains. In 2006, KCS purchased more equipment from the St. Louis Car Company, some of which has been refurbished and put into Southern Belle service.

Locomotives
The three 1,750 HP diesel-electric locomotives that power the Southern Belle were built in 1957 by General Motors’ Electro Motive Division (EMD) for VIA Rail Canada. In 1995, KCS bought three units from the Ohio Central Railroad and Independence Locomotive and began refurbishing them at Mid-America Car in Kansas City.

While braking and control systems also are updated, one sentimental holdover remains for the locomotives of old: a whistle cord. As in years past, a tug on the cord – suspended from the cab’s ceiling just an arm’s length away from the engineer’s control panel – produces the distinctive train whistle. However, in keeping with the locomotives’ other mechanical updates, there is also a button on the control panel for sounding the horn. In addition, a floor-mounted foot control is specially configured to create the whistle sequence used when approaching a signal crossing.

KCS #1, The Shreveport
Type:                        F9A
Length:            55 feet
Weight:             237,400 pounds
Namesake:            Named for the U.S. operating hub, the crossroads of U.S. traffic and main locomotive shop

KCS #2, The Meridian
Type:                        F9A
Length:            55 feet
Weight:            233,000 pounds
Namesake:            Named for the eastern gateway to the “Meridian Speedway”

KCS #3, The Pittsburg
Type:                        F9B or cables unit
Length:            50 feet 6 inches
Weight:            230,500 pounds
Namesake:            Named for a crew-change point on the U.S. north-south line and the location of what was the main locomotive shop until the 1970s

Cars
The Baton Rouge 1970
Built: In 1953 by Pullman Standard, renovated in 2003
Use: Sleeper car
Features: Sleeps 20 in rooms or five suites, two showers, vintage look

The Dallas 97
Built: In 1949 for the U.S. Army
Use: Crew car
Features: Washer/dryer, linen storage, lounge, sleeps six

The Heavener 19
Built: In 1952 by Pullman Standard for the Southern Belle
Use: Equipment storage car
Features: Storage area for compressors, generators, etc.

The Jackson
Built: In 1948 by American Car & Foundry for the Southern Belle, renovated in 1965 and in 1996
Use: Diner and lounge car
Features: Solid cherry wood interior, dining and lounge area, restroom, food service pantry, satellite television and surround sound

The Kansas City 40
Built: In 1949 by American Car & Foundry, renovated in 2002
Use: Dining car
Features: Original dining furniture, small bar, modern kitchen, vintage look

The KC Dome 1940
Built: In 1954
Use: Dome lounge car
Features: Dome and lower-level seating, bar

The Lake Charles 1942
Built: In 1959
Use: Diner/bar car
Features: Full-service kitchen, dining area and 10 foot bar

The Laredo 1969
Built: Originally a postal car, renovated in 1988
Use: Entertainment car
Features: Dance floor, seating, six picture windows, surround sound

The Lazaro Cardenas 2006
Built: In 1950 by Pullman Standard
Use: Sleeper car
Features: Five bedrooms with queen size beds and bathrooms

The Monterrey 2005
Built: In 1950, renovated in 2000
Use: Dome dining car
Features: Dome-level seating, kitchen, service pantry and dining area

The New Orleans
Built: In 1966 by Darby Railway Cars, renovated in 1996
Use: Sleeper and dining car
Features: Two-bedrooms, kitchen, dining and observation room, cherry wood interior

The Port Arthur 1887
Built: In 1950 by Pullman Standard
Use: Parlor observation car
Features: Observation deck, conference room, bar

The Saint Louis 96
Built: In 1951
Use: Power car
Features: Eight commercial freezers/refrigerators, two Cummins diesels

The San Luis Potosi 1942
Built: In 1949
Use: Sleeper car
Features: Five bedrooms with queen size beds and bathrooms

The Stilwell
Built: In 1947 by Budd, renovated in 2005
Use: Observation car
Features: Theatre seating to picture window, dining room, kitchen and restroom

The Tampico 2008
Built: In 1952 by St. Louis Car Company as a hospital car for the U.S. Army
Use: Rebuilt in 1997 as crew dormitory and power car
Features: Six crew bedrooms, storage

The Veracruz 2007
Built: In 1948 by Pullman Standard, renovated in 1989
Use: Executive sleeping car
Features: Seven bedrooms/bathrooms, four roomettes, limited service kitchen

Kwan Wu
Sculptor of Working Men of the Railroad
Kwan Wu ranks among the top sculptors in the world. His reputation was established very early, and it is fair to say that he was being groomed to become the state sculptor of China. A series of events brought him to the United States in 1988 and led to his U.S. citizenship in 1997. Starting with nothing but determination, talent, and a dream, Kwan has established himself among the top sculptors in the West. Kwan's quality is quickly recognized and covers work from heroic and monumental to miniature in a wide range of subjects. He lives in the Kansas City area with his wife and three children and works from his studio in Overland Park, Kansas.

For more information or to contact for interview: http://www.kwanwusculpture.com/
Telephone : (913) 381-0707.
Email: sculptor@kwanwusculpture.com
Address : 7385 W 97th St, Overland Park, KS , 66212

Additional Information
Link to website for the entertainment:
The Lucky Charms http://www.theluckycharms.com/home.cfm