A deep personal connection

The car in the foreground was made by Billmeyer & Small for the Eureka & Palisade Railroad. It was named the "Palisade". It also happens to be the car that Eureka occasionally pulled in the 19th century, and that I am replicating to go behind Eureka.

I have spent a great deal of time inside, underneath, on top studying the car, and have made extensive drawings. As I have noted previously, I have made enough parts to assemble it, except for things like siding and such that cannot very well be done until the frame is assembled.

Strangely enough, the locomotive and cars have been involved with me and my family since 1946. Back then, my parents met inside the Last Frontier Hotel. The engine and cars were all on display outside at the Last Frontier Village. My mother was singing at the hotel show room and my father was a B17 pilot flying out of Nellis Air Force Base.

After I came on the scene, I used to play as a young child on the locomotive and cars. It is what sparked my interest many years later in saving Eureka, which came from the same railroad. I have a very close attachment therefore that these items be preserved for posterity and am doing everything I can to see that it is done. In fact, I have already overhauled various components for the locomotive and have acquired a set of gauges for her. There is a lot of work yet to do, but one day I hope to see her steam again, along with the cars being restored.

Dan Markoff