Nation's Tallest Derrick Erected for Route 66 Transportation Village

Chris Howell NewsOn6.com

TULSA---If you haven't driven down Southwest Boulevard lately, you're in for a treat. Today workers finished construction of a 154-foot oil derrick for the Route 66 Station Transportation Village.

‘This is a project that has been ongoing for about five years,' said Roy Heim with the Southwest Tulsa Chamber's Advisory Committee for the Transportation Village, ‘it started with the Frisco 4500 steam engine that was getting ready to be sold by the city of Tulsa for scrap.'

The steam engine was refurbished by the TownWest Sertoma Club and with other vintage rail cars will become a focal point for the transportation village.

‘That inspired us to work on a transportation theme park which would include to oil history of Tulsa, the transportation, the railroads and other things we have that really made Tulsa famous,' said Roy.

Mike Massey with TownWest Sertoma has spent several years restoring the locomotive and rail cars that will be moved to the transportation village when it is finished for permanent display.

‘We're all doing it because we like to and because we want to see it preserved,' said Mike, ‘and educate people on what railroads are all about and how they helped make our nation and state and city grow.'

The transportation village is located at 3818 Southwest Boulevard in Tulsa.