            
|
The Alcazar Shrine Train
On January 16, l968 a group of Montgomery railroad men who were also members of Alcazar Shrine Temple charted a new unit. The purpose of the unit was to build an engine and caboose to be used in parades and to call attention to the Shrine crippled children and burn hospitals.
They took a truck body and built an engine over it. The driver sat down in the driver’s seat of the truck and looked through the engine to see the road. Up in the engine a man sat in each window to watch for the driver. The others either rode the caboose or various places on the engine.
The by-laws of the unit reflected some of the rules of the railroad. For instance: a man had to call in and "mark off" if unable to attend a meeting. The parade dress was overalls as were once worn by railroad men.
Most of the original members worked for the WofA and were:
W.F. Murphy
- Trainmaster (WofA) |
Fred Rea
- Road Foreman (WofA) |
Y.F. Bruce
- Sec. Treas (WofA) |
J.D. Burns
- Master Mechanic (WofA) |
H.R. Dendy
- Chaplain (L&N) |
Ben Ellis
- Asst. Traveling Engineer (L&N) |
C E Murphy, Jr.
- Conductor (WofA) |
R.D. Brake
- Engineer (WofA) |
R.E. Swanner
- Brakeman (WofA) |
W.R Brassell
- Flagman (WofA) |
W.G. Moore
- Conductor (L&N) |
|
All are deceased except W.F. Murphy and R.E. Swanner.
Over the years the train participated in many parades and other celebrations and brought pleasure to many.
Nell Murphy
Montgomery, Alabama
Click on any of the images below to view a larger image.
Images open in new window.
 |
"The Alcazar A&WP 290" – L-R: Ben Ellis, Roy Brake, ? Mitchell, Johnny Burns, Herb Dendy, Fred Rea, ??, C.E. Murphy, W.F. Murphy, Ronald Swanner, ??, Y.F. Bruce. Credit: Flynn & Nell Murphy Collection
|
 |
"Montgomery Alcazar Shrine Unit" – Front row, L-R: Ben Ellis, J.D. Burns, H.R. Dendy, Y.F. Bruce, Guest (Paxton, FL), Flynn Murphy, Fred Rea, C.E. Murphy, Jr., R.E. Swanner, ? Mitchell. In cab: unknown. On steps: Gov. George C. Wallace. Credit: Flynn & Nell Murphy Collection |
 |
"The Shrine L&N Caboose" – L-R: C.E. Murphy, Jr., Flynn Murphy. Credit: Flynn & Nell Murphy Collection
|
|
