SCOTT CITY CELEBRATES ITS FIRST RAILROAD DAY

SCOTT CITY -- Volunteers are being credited with the successful completion of Scott City's newest community event.

The first Railroad Day attracted more than 400 people who witnessed the dedication of a historical marker and pageants, all set in front of the city's newest tourist attraction. They turned out for the celebration, which commemorated Scott City's heritage as a railroad hub.

On July 23, 1996, volunteers using heavy equipment from the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority moved a 1978 Southern Pacific Railroad caboose off the main tracks near Main Street and settled it on stand tracks near a parking lot.

The caboose was rusted, dull and pitted. Two weeks before the start of Railroad Day, a half-dozen volunteers spent a Saturday painting and cleaning the caboose. Workers finished its exterior with period colors and painted the Cotton Belt logo on its side.

Earlier, a covered deck was constructed facing the railroad tracks. Benches were just recently placed there.

Brenda Moyers, one of the project's organizers, said nearly everything from the paint to the benches and the work was donated. "As we were working people were coming by. Just being down here and being visible made people excited," she said.

Moyers said the first Railroad Day exceeded their expectations. "We didn't really know what to hope for because it was the first one, but no disappointments at all," she said.

Organizers will be meeting to compare notes and see how the event can be improved for next year.

Another volunteer took time out of a busy schedule to put on one of the Railroad Day's last event, the Miss Railroad Day Pageant. Christina Shaw, 17, a frequent beauty pageant contestant, directed her first pageant for Railroad Day. The contest attracted 11 participants and more than 100 spectators.

"It wasn't as confusing as I thought it would be," Shaw said.

She said she already has ideas for next year's pageant. "We're going to have the girls in an air conditioned place while they're waiting to go back on stage," Shaw said.

Shaw also said she hopes to change the date of next year's pageant so that it doesn't conflict with Miss Teen Missouri.

Winners of the first Railroad Day competitions were:

-- Meredith McDowell, 16, of Sikeston was crowned the first Miss Railroad Day queen. Lindi Prindle, 17, of Oran took first runner-up.

-- Oldest railroader was Brad Spencer, 91, who was born Aug. 24, 1906.

-- Most years of service on the railroad, Cleo Bain, 45 years.

-- Best railroad story, Bill Dickey.

-- The names of Tiny Miss Railroad and Tiny Mister Railroad were not immediately available and will be listed at a later date.