The slideshow page, has pictorial slide shows of the different Fort Worth Chapter activities, parties, dance events, etc. Click here to see these slideshows.
by Beki Crider

Texas Hoe-Down

Don Stearns and Betty Cherry both competed in the 11th Annual Texas Hoe-Down in March. They did very well. Don dances Pro-Am with Paula Atherton and won 1st Place in his division. He danced, Waltz, Two-step, Cha-Cha, and West Coast Swing. Betty Cherry dances Pro-Am with Jayson Booth and also danced four dances. She received a gold in Waltz, Cha-Cha, and East Coast Swing and a Silver in Two-step. The FW Chapter was there to support our friends and cheer them on. We want to congratulate them on their accomplishments.
Louisville Kentucky Contest

In April Don Stearns ventured onto the competition floor again and this time it was a UCWDC Contest. I would have loved to have been there to see him dance with Paula and see his new routines. He won 1st Place again with four dances (the waltz only two weeks old) and also by winning 1st Place, he won a Competition. 1st Place Jacket. I'm sure we will be seeing this jacket, so if we get cold weather again, you know who prayed for it! Just kidding, Ron and I and others would love to have won a 1st Place Jacket. Great dancing Don and congratulations.
FW Chapter New Members Party

Its Party Time!!! We are having a party for all our new members and old members on June 11th. The party will be at Don Stearns new house. Please put this on your calendars and plan on coming. I have met most all of our new members, but there are a few I don't know and that simply won't do! We have lots to talk about and we need your ideas and impute. It will be a fun time and we get to initiate Don's neighbors with his first party. This will be a party weekend as on June 10th is my son's wedding and the chapter is invited. Mark these dates on your calendar. We will print up flyers for times of the party and address and pass out at The Horseman or call me @ 817-292-5452.
FW Tornado

The angels were definitely looking out for our very own Zanelle McClure. She works on the 2nd from the top floor of the Cash America Building. It just so happened that several chapter members met for lunch that day at the Mexican Inn on Jacksboro Highway near downtown. We discussed doing something that night but since the weather had predicted storms, we decided not to venture out. Her daughter was late picking her up at work and she finally left 15 minutes before it hit her building. I was frantic trying to get in touch with her as my phones (both cell and house) went dead. The crazy thing was I could receive incoming calls, so when John Lester called I had him try to get in touch with Z. She had no electricity therefore she had no T.V. and didn't know her building had been hit for several hours. We were very blessed that she was safe and unhurt.
Tarantula Train Ride

Several of us joined the Lockheed Martin Fort Worth Management Association Tarantula Train Ride. It turned out to be quite an afternoon and evening.
Boarding was scheduled for 5:30 P.M. with departure at 6:00 P.M. from the Stockyards Station with arrival at Grapevine's Cotton Belt Station at 7:15 P.M.
To say the train was late would be an under statement. Apparently the Fort Worth & Western Railroad has been taking lessons from airline operators at DFW Airport.
When we, TCWDA got to Stockyards Station, we learned that Tarantula's locomotive was broken down between the Stockyards and Grapevine and a rescue locomotive was on the way to get the Tarantula. The rescue was only supposed to take thirty minutes and departure would be 6:30 P.M. Departure turned out to be closer to 8:00 P.M.
Alas, the age of steam may be over at the Fort Worth & Western Railroad. Locomotive Number 2248, the steam locomotive, apparently has been retired and the FW&WRR has gone diesel electric. Perhaps FW&WRR should bring Number 2248 out of retirement since it has a proven record of reliability, it's been around since the century before the last century.
The rescue locomotive turned out to be a Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe locomotive, similar to the ones shown here. Many thanks to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe for providing the AT&SF rescue locomotive.
The destination turned out to be AMSCO Steel on McCart in South Fort Worth instead of Grapevine's Cotton Belt Station. The train was turned around using the wye at AMSCO Steel. We then returned to Stockyards Station, arriving quite late, somewhat after 10:00 P.M.
A good time was had by all. Much visiting was accomplished, it was a dinner train, so the visiting stopped during dinner. On the trip South to AMSCO Steel we had an excellent view of the tornado damage in downtown Ft. Worth, especially the Cash America Building. We also saw where John Lester works, his lab, his back door, and his file cabinets where he keeps his fluids.
Some female members were apparently a little apprehensive about the trip. Every time the train was about to cross an intersection the engineer would blow the whistle (horn). Every time the engineer blew the horn these ladies would jump. Since there were a lot of intersections and horn blowing there was a lot of jumping. Also, the horn interrupted visiting. Don't know which was worse, the jumping or the interrupted visiting.
There were warning signs on the windows of the passenger cars that indicated the windows could fall at anytime without warning. Consequently, we didn't hang out in the cars, but between the cars in the open air areas where they hook together. We waived to all the businesses and cars on the road and dodged the bushes as some protruded more than others.
Flying bugs and open mouths can be a problem also. You know those little buggers get so far back in your throat that no amount of hacking will get them out. Just swallow and hope you keep it down. I won't mention who this happened to, but as you've probably guessed, she's a short redhead that never shuts her mouth!
The return trip from AMSCO Steel to Stockyards Station was interesting and fun, too. Excursion trains usually move at a slow rate of speed so all the passengers will have plenty of time to view the sights. By the time it was time to return to Stockyards Station it was dark and few sights to see.
Because of the darkness and restricted viewing the engineer opened the throttle a little farther than usual and the train moved at a much higher rate of speed. There could have been another reason for the speedy return. The train crew had a long tough day and just possibly they wanted to get home. What do you think, darkness and lack of scenery or the train crew wanted to get home caused the additional speed? Or could it have been that the engineer had an AT&SF locomotive to drive.
Some very interesting pictures of our members were taken during the trip. Look for these pictures in the future on the Slideshow page of the Fort Worth Chapters Web Site.
Guess what, we are going to ride theTarantula again, maybe we will get to Grapevine's Cotton Belt Station this time.
I want to thank Bob Ough for the Tarantula Train segment of our newsletter. He writes better than I do for starters and he really knows his trains (one of his hobbies other than dance). Thx, Bob for your article and keeping up our WEB Site.
"Lets Dance"

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See you at The Horseman Club

Beki