FAULKNER FILMERS AMONG TRAIN BOOSTERS

While the future of the struggling St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway is still uncertain, help is beginning to come from many directions.

Jackson Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ken Parrett addressed the railway's stockholders last week and advised them to seek non-profit status. The railway is pursuing this move, which would allow it to compete for various grants and for donations to be written off for tax purposes.

Other support has come from unexpected sources. Communications consultant Richard Withers, a Cape Girardeau man with Hollywood connections, brought in a small crew last week to film a short video segment aboard the historic train.

The video, "Do Unto Others" is a short piece on the Hollywood years of novelist William Faulkner. The video will be peddled around Hollywood, with the hopes of selling the screen play to a major documentary maker.

The train could well be "sold" as well, as a legitimate filming location.

"While Faulkner was still living in Oxford, Miss., and working in Hollywood, he rode a train just like this one back and forth," Withers said. "We're hoping someone will jump on it and do a full hour PBS special. This is a perfect backdrop."

He later noted that "Trying to do this in LA would cost you $100,000."

The filming included Richard Kent playing Faulkner and Hollywood veteran Olivia Laurenn as "Meta," Faulkner's secretary/personal assistant.

Laurenn, who now lives in Cape Girardeau, has worked for several years in Hollywood, having a small part as a teacher in The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and an appearance in a crowd scene on a Seinfeld episode. She has also been in national Popeye's Chicken commercials.

"The ability to work with local talent and tie in with the chamber ad the RCGA (Regional Commerce & Growth Association) should make a big difference," Withers said.

While help is starting to come in, train supporters would like to see more arriving. The city, local businesses and the R-2 School District, they claim, could be more supportive.

"The city needs to get more involved said Trisha Wischmann, owner of Trisha's Bed and Breakfast. "I think the schools can get more involved, too. I've been told repeatedly that they don't have funds to get students on busses to come down here."

Yet, Wischmann said, schools from Arkansas and all over Missouri frequently send classes. Among these was a junior high accelerated class from Arkansas that took part in one of the train's murder mysteries.

Local organizations could also help, Wischmann said, by helping maintain the train station grounds, volunteering time, or in other ways.

"We're entirely volunteer, except for our maintenance man," she said, "and he'll be gone any time now. He's applied for other positions and will leave as soon as he gets one. I can't blame him."

The uncertainty over the train's future is the cause of the maintenance man's departure. That same uncertainty led to the Whistle Stop Cafe's closing this year. The attractively-decorated restaurant now sits empty, awaiting a new use.

Train supporters and other business leaders in town warn that the loss of the train could be calamitous. Missouri tourists spend an average of $125 to $200 per day per person when they stay overnight. They estimate at least $200,00 being pumped into the local economy by train riders while they are here.

"Cultural tourists spend more," Wischmann said. "That's been documented."

Wischmann said she opened her bed and breakfast in 1988 because of the train. She said she would lose 50 percent of her business if the train closes.

The train also has great educational value, its supporters note.

"The train teaches history, science, economics, and math," said Cheryl Huffman. "Patsy Johnson, one of our volunteers, really works the students."

The train also keeps motorists on their toes and aware of the often-overlooked concept of railroad crossing safety and provides a training ground for future railroad workers. A full 10 former volunteer train hands have gone on to actual railroad careers.

Effort has always been taken to have a friendly operation. In fact, one Australian train enthusiast told Wischmann that the Iron Mountain operation was the "friendliest operation" he had seen.

"We get up close and personal with our train," Wischmann said. "Other operations don't let kids visit the cab. We encourage it. It really helps as an education tool."

"That train is why we came to Jackson," Huffman said. "We need to save it."