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THE TRANSFER TABLEThe
Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official NewsletterInternet Edition
VOLUME 33 NUMBER 5 |
JUNE-JULY 2010 |
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To Wilmington Chapter Web Site
May 20, 2010 MEETING NOTES
President Mike Burkhart called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM. The minutes
were approved as corrected by Secretary Dan Frederick after a discrepancy with
the treasury balance. The Treasurer's report was approved as corrected as soon
as Dave Warner identified the whereabouts of the errant penny. Top Posatko
provided an update on his efforts to get the Chapter's Incorporation status
reinstated. Mike Burkhart indicated that our annual Holiday Dinner is now set
for 5-December and some comments about the fall NRHS Director's meeting in 2011.
Alternative Income Manager Greg Ajamian brought some of the latest donation
of four boxes of video tapes from Jim Maloney to sell at the meeting and
presented to the Chapter a check for $80 for video tape sales and another check
from the sale of Chapter Member Richard Hall's books for another $150. Over the
years, Richard's books have contributed almost $900 in revenue for the
newsletter and other activities.
After the break, our guest speaker John Meise [whom Chapter Member Ed
Thornton persuaded to drive up from the Baltimore area just for our meeting],
presented a program on railroading on the Delmarva Peninsula over many years. He
began with a computer projected video of Steam on the Queen Ann's RR, the
Maryland Midland RR in 1992 and the Maryland & Delaware in 1994 that even showed
their Alco RS3M. He then shifted to three trays of slides that took us to Queen
Anne, Queenstown, Love Point, Wyoming, Dover, Clayton, Harrington, Greenwood,
Laurel, Seaford, Cambridge, Berlin, Cape Charles, Parksley, and Crisfield among
other sites. Some of the equipment we saw included Penn Central GP30's, GP9B's,
and GP38's. We saw evidence of "Beach Ballast" and the wreck in Millsboro. Then
it was on to a broader view of AMTRAK in the 1970's including GG1's, Rohr
Turboliners, the Turbo Train, E60's, and E44's. We saw the Southern Cresent
power in Washington, DC, and even the M&W 611, the 2716. We even saw Conrail
with B&A and LV power on Horseshoe Curve. Only the closing of the building
prevented us from seeing even more great images. Our thanks to John for trekking
up to share a terrific program with us.
President Mike Burkhart announced there will be NO REGULAR CHAPTER MEETING on
JULY 15 and INSTEAD we will have a special CHAPTER OUTING the following week.
The Tour of Juniata Terminal & Night Photo Session on JULY 22 has been arranged
for us by our National & Trip Director, Steve Barry. See instructions inside
last page.
June 17, 2010 MEETING NOTES
President Mike Burkhart called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM. The minutes
were read by Vice President Ron Cleaves in the absence of Secretary Dan
Frederick. The Treasurer's report was approved as read by Dave Warner. National
Director Steve Barry reported on changes to the national governance structure
expected for ~2012. Mike Burkhart reported that a donation had been made in
honor of Pete Cramer.
After a short break (to allow time for the sun to set and to cover the
windows with every bit of cloth from Steve Barry's car) we were treated to a
slide program by founding member and visiting celebrity and long time Chapter
Member Tom Smith entitled "Off the Main Line" that covered the short lines,
industrials, and tourist roads in the Northwest. We saw 18" gauge in Washington,
36" gauge in Idaho, and even a logging road, Simpson Timber, hauling logs INTO
the woods. We even saw #4449 in its black paint scheme. We saw three different
Heislers and a Climax. Among the many roads that we were treated to were the
Lewis & Clark and the Portland & Western. It was a great show and we can't wait
until Tom can return with another show.
Very sadly, this newsletter has three obituaries, including two founding
members of the Wilmington Chapter ands one member's wife.
Obituaries
From the News Journal On-Line Obituaries - Franklin B. "Pete" Cramer, age 86,
of Wilmington, DE, passed away on May 31, 2010. Pete served his country in the
Army Air Corps in France and Germany during WWII. He was employed for 30 years
with the DuPont Company with before retiring. Mr. Cramer was an avid collector
of model trains and enjoyed the times riding the railroad out West, especially
throughout Colorado and Nevada. He is survived by his niece Caroline Coopersmith
and her husband Jeffery and their daughter, Sarah, all of Wilmington. A
committal service was held on Friday, June 4, at 11 am in the Delaware Veterans
Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd. Bear DE 19701. In lieu of flowers,
contributions may be made to the Milton & Hattie Kutz Home, 704 River Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19809. [published 06/02/2010
http://miva.delawareonline.comin/
]
It is because of Pete Cramer that your current Editor first became aware of
the NHRS. Pete was a technician in my group at DuPont when I got to Delaware in
1976. In those days I had to travel a great deal because of work and would often
take a little extra time to see the sights near my various work destinations. I
would sometimes show the slides from my trips during lunch at the office. One of
he shows included a few slides of railroad trains and a few of the just the
tracks in the Canadian Rockies. Pete said I should bring them to the NRHS
meeting and share them. I replied that there were only a few "train shots" but
he insisted. The slides were well received, but more importantly, I heard about
some steam charter trips and other upcoming railroad events. Pete talked me into
attending some more meetings and I saw slides of lots of great places and got to
know some friendly and knowledgeable people. That was 30-some years ago and I'm
still involved - - thanx to Pete.
One year, Pete read about a Union Pacific steam trip with the 3985 and asked
me if I wanted to go. I told him that I definitely would and he wrote for
tickets right away. But, the organizers returned the check as the trip was
already sold out. Pete wrote back to them to tell them how unfair it seemed that
we ordered as soon as we found out, but the trip was already sold out. They
wrote back saying that if we still wanted to go, they would save us a couple
seats on the next year's train. When the next year rolled around, we sent off
another check.
I was traveling for business again, so I flew to Denver from Seattle (I
think) to meet Pete almost a week before the 3985 trip to check out the many
railroad sights in the area. It was the middle of the week when we went to the
Colorado Railroad Museum, so there was just Pete and I and maybe 4 or 5 other
visitors at the time. Pete was wearing a vest with a few dozen railroad patches
and I was carrying a couple cameras when a gentleman approached us and asked if
we were railfans. After a little conversation, he said that he worked at the
museum and he needed to get up into the cab of the Grand Trunk loco to measure a
broken window. He further indicated that if we happened to follow him up the
ladder, he might not notice our presence until he turned around in the cab. We
could take a hint! So we climbed into the surprisingly spacious all-weather cab,
looked around, took some photos, and had a nice conversation until it was time
to climb down. We waited for our host to climb down to thank him again when he
said he was going over to the private business car and that after he opened it,
he might not notice if someone went in to look around while he was working on
the roof. Like I said, we could take a hint.
Pete and I also checked out the Fourney Transportation Museum on that trip.
The automobiles in the warehouse building were jammed in cheek-by-jowl and
covered in a quarter inch of rusty dust. As I recall, we spent quite some time
checking out a UP Big Boy and a crane out in the rear yard. And, I think that
was the trip when we went out to the Georgetown Loop. The rental car didn't have
much "pep" as I recall. I had it floored going up the pass and was still getting
passed by tractor trailers on the uphill side!
When Saturday morning finally rolled around, we were off to Union Station
just after dawn. Things were still very quiet at that hour when we got to the
station so we strolled out onto the platform to watch whatever trains might
happen to roll by and to check out anything else that we could see. Eventually,
they brought the coaches into the station and we were just hanging around, out
of the way. A gentleman approached us and asked what we were doing to which we
replied just taking pictures and waiting for the train. He said that we needed
to get off the platform and go back into the station lobby to wait. I looked
through the door to see there were now a few hundred people in line and said
that after being here since dawn that we really didn't want to have now get at
the end of that long line. He paused a moment and then asked out of the blue,
"Wait a minute, are you the two guys from Delaware?" When we said yes, he said,
"wait right here." Once again, thanks to Pete's letters.
In the conversation that followed, we said we would really like to get a shot
of the 3985 when it pulled in. That's when he said, "it's not coming." Imagine
our shock and disappointment - which must have been obvious. That's when he told
us that it caused too much commotion when they bring it into town and that a
diesel would pull us out to meet it. He also said not to worry because it
wouldn't be just any old diesel. We had to settle for shots of a Centennial
(DD-40AX) in passenger service! We had a fantastic trip with lots of photo
run-bys, both steam and diesel; so many in fact that it was the first time that
I ever didn't de-train for one! And I owe it all to Pete asking if I wanted to
join him. I think that the resulting slide program for the NRHS was at least
three trays.
I had many other enjoyable trips with the Chapter and/or just Pete. He told
me about sights that I would not have otherwise known about and he was an
excellent traveling companion and extremely easy going. We worked together until
he retired, but I would still see him at Chapter meetings and other railroad
events and train meets. Occasionally, I would even see him at Howard Johnson's
(later Crossroads) at breakfast where he evidently was one of the regulars and
knew everyone. It was a shame that a number of strokes and other health problems
slowed him down, but I was very happy that he was able to recover so well so
many times.
At the funeral service at the Veterans Cemetery, I was reminded of his
military service during World War II. Family and friends almost filled the small
room to honor his memory but it was still difficult knowing he was gone. I will
miss him.
Gentlemen: It is with deep regret that I pass on this information from John's
daughter, Kate. Her father, John A. Darling, passed away in hospice care in
Illinois on June 27th. after a prolonged battle with cancer. John was, I
believe, a charter member of the Wilmington and Western RR, where he was a
qualified engineer, and was a charter member of the Wilmington Chapter, NRHS.
Additionally, he was a founding member of Red Clay Valley Railway Equipment and
Leasing Co. who purchased one of the two B&O cabooses in use by the W&W, and at
one time owned the CP1286 and 1238. John and I were off campus room mates at the
University of Delaware in the late 60's, prior to John's going to work for the
B&O, then the ATSF, and forming a company that bought the South Shore Line,
where he was President. John was always a railroader at heart. I for one, will
miss him. (from Woody Massara)
Chapter Member Len Arcus's wife Joann T. Arcus, 64, of Pennrock Development
in North Wilmington, Del., a retired secretary, died July 6 at Christiana Care
Hospital in Christiana, Del.__Born in Chester, she was raised in Upper
Chichester and graduated from Chichester High School in 1964. She had lived in
North Wilmington for the past 34 years.__Mrs. Arcus was a secretary for The
Stamp Center in Talleyville, Del., for 25 years, retiring in December 2008.__She
was a member of Immaculate Conception of Lourdes Catholic Church.__She enjoyed
her home, family gatherings, the beach and gardening.__Her father, Dominic
DiMarino, died in 2008. Her sister, Margaret DiMarino, died in 2009, and her
brother, Anthony DiMarino, died in 2007.__Survivors: Husband of 34 years,
Leonard J. Arcus; daughter, Kristine Moses of Wilmington, Del.; mother, Edith
DiMarco DiMarino of Upper Chichester; sisters, twin Maryann Saporosa of
Claymont, Del., Patricia Okolowski of Upper Chichester; one grandson; one
stepgrandson.__ Contributions: Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, 4701 Ogletown-Stanton
Road, Newark, DE 19713 or Immaculate Conception of Lourdes Catholic Church, 21
W. Eighth St., Marcus Hook, PA 19061 from Delco Daily Times at
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/07/08/obituaries
From The Editor
Your Editor battled the Wilmington Bicycle Races to check out the new exhibit
at the Delaware Historical Society in downtown Wilmington. Yes, it will cost you
$6 to get in (less for Seniors) but you can park for free on a nearby side
street - especially if you go on a Saturday. There have been some railroad
references, photos, and displays in the "permanent" exhibit for a few years now.
But, there is now a special exhibit focused on the impacts of railroads and
railroad related businesses in the First State. From the write-up on their
website: "The history of the railroad industry in Delaware is one of the most
significant stories in the understanding of the development of our state. Both
the rail car building industry and the influence of the railroad on the
development of downstate and the growth of agriculture represent major impacts
on the state's economy, culture, and personality. Simply put, the story of the
railroad in Delaware is the backbone that connects Delaware's industrial north
to her agricultural south. The exhibition was created in conjunction with the
reconstruction of Jackson & Sharp Rail Car #102. It includes documents,
photographs, artifacts and stories representing Delaware's railroad past and
present. In addition, a special traveling version of the exhibition will be
available throughout state at schools, libraries and seniors centers." You will
recognize some of the down-state station photos from The Transfer Table years
ago, but there are lots of other graphics and artifacts to tickle your fancy.
When you go - and you should go - watch the electronic video displays. Chapter
Member Tom Posatko gets face time in about _ of one video and if you look
closely, I'm pretty certain I saw Phil Snyder and at least the back of Richard
Hall in the W&W video. Check it out, support the museum and tell them you want
more RR exhibits and help the restoration of #102.
NEWS BITS
- After decades of hard work pulling work trains, hauling rocks, cleaning
rails and lugging passenger cars through heavy snowstorms, the Staten Island
Railway's two retired 1940s-vintage locomotives have been sold -- and one of
them will keep chugging, along the scenic Catskill Mountain Railroad. The
old-timers were replaced by four brand-new diesel locomotives that arrived at
the SIR last year. Known by their numbers, 407 and 821, and built in 1946 and
1942, respectively, the locomotives were sold for just over $24,000 to American
Railway Technologies Inc., a preservationist group that in turn sells the old
trains to other organizations. Other bidders offered as little as $200 to haul
away the engines, according to Barry Greenblatt, acting chief officer of the
Railway. But instead of the scrap heap, 407, which worked on the Long Island
Rail Road before it was brought to Staten Island back in the early 1970s, will
go on to a new life in Ulster County, where it will pull cars filled with
photo-snapping tourists along scenic Esopus Creek. Taken off its wheels to be
lifted by crane onto a flatbed truck for the journey to the Kingston area, the
bright blue 407 arrived late last week, and was reassembled. Despite 407's
advanced age, "this one is above-average because it was well cared-for and is in
fantastic condition," said Bill Hayes of American Railway Technologies. The
azure train nearly matches the shade of the CMR's original blue, maroon and gold
logo, so for this season, at least, it simply will be polished up and given a
maroon accent to match the train's coaches. Eventually, it will be repainted to
match the rest of the railroad's color scheme, likely in all black with a maroon
stripe. The Catskills railroad had been looking for years for a beefier engine
to replace its two smaller locomotives, to help pull heavier trains along the
approximately 14-mile round trip, as tours grow in popularity. The line carries
about 10,000 passengers each season. The Railroad's summer season is set to kick
off on Memorial Day weekend, with 407's 660 horsepower pulling the train. Tours
roll all summer long through the heart of the Catskills, and during fall foliage
season. And because the new engine has more oomph than the smaller locomotives
it replaces, the railroad can again tack a red caboose on the end of the train
tours, for the full railroading experience.
Meanwhile, Number 821 is still without a permanent home, and is expected to
leave the yard at the Clifton Maintenance Shop in early June. Built in 1942, it
was purchased by the Railway from the Department of Defense in the mid-1980s,
Greenblatt said. The old locomotives, both made in Schenectady , N.Y. , by the
American Locomotive Company, or ALCO, are completely functional but had become
temperamental in their old age at the Railway. Of course the Railway staff is
quite happy with the reliability and creature comforts of the new locomotives,
which offer 2,000 horsepower and can handle their tasks with ease, Greenblatt
said. The locomotives are used to pull work trains for maintenance, including
cars that carry the rocks that line the right-of-way. For more pictures and
information about 407's new home, visit http://catskillmtrailroad.com/cmrr_407.php.
(From SILive.com via AMERICAN RAIL LINK via Ed Mayover)
- A hundred years ago on April 1910, the Western Maryland Railway began
construction on the 86-mile long extension between Cumberland MD and
Connellsville PA. This rail line through the rugged Allegheny Mountains would
require the boring of four tunnels and the building of thirteen bridges, each
more than a hundred feet in length. It would be the last major railroad
construction in the eastern United States. Construction was to be undertaken in
two parts - one part in Maryland and the other in Pennsylvania. To build the
western part of the rail line, consisting 6S miles of single track with a
maximum gradient of 0.80 percent, the Connellsville & State Line Railway Company
was formed on 26 April 1910. The steep eastern portion would consist of 18 miles
of double track laid with a maximum gradient of 1.75 percent. This portion would
be undertaken by the Georges Creek & Cumberland Railroad Company, a wholly owned
subsidiary of the WM Railway since 10 June 1910. The GC&C Railroad already had
in its original 1876 charter provisions to build a rail line to the
Maryland-Pennsylvania state line.
Actual construction of the eastern end of this rail line began at a place
known as Georges Creek Junction, located at the western end of the Narrows,
about two miles northwest of downtown Cumberland. Near this point is the first
large structure to be built on the Western Maryland's "New Line" - a 310-foot
long double-span thru-truss steel bridge wide enough for two tracks to cross
over the old National Road with the Cumberland Electric Railway trolley cars
operating on its shoulder, the Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad's branch line
to Eckhart, and Braddock Run near its confluence with Wills Creek. According to
the cast iron plaque affixed to the slant beams above the central concrete pier,
the bridge was "BUILT BY McCLINTIC-MARSHALL CONST. CO. [of] PITTSBURG &
POTTSTOWN, PA. [in] 1910." The plaque on the northern side of the bridge is
broken, with the lower half missing; the one on the southern side is entirely
gone. The Western Maryland Railway designated this structure as WM Bridge 1679.
This number refers to the distance along the WM Railway tracks from Hillen
Station in Baltimore as measured in tenths of a mile.
For a century, this
railroad bridge has continued in service, allowing freight and passenger trains
to cross over the road, railroad, and stream below. As the years went by, the
locomotives pulling the trains became more powerful and heavier. Between 1940
and 1954, the 300 ton 4-6-6-4 Challenger-class M2 steam locomotives operated on
the tracks between Cumberland and Connellsville. It is said that heavy
east-bound and west-bound Challenger locomotives could have passed over WM
Bridge 1679 simultaneously. Although WM Bridge 1679 in the Narrows was built at
the same time as the RMS Titanic, and used the same technique of fastening steel
plates together with steel rivets, it still remains as a fully functioning
structure. Today, the northern track on the thru-truss bridge is used by the
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for running its tourist trains pulled by the
242-ton 2-8-0 Consolidation class steam locomotive, WMSR 734. The track on the
southern side of this bridge has been replaced by the Great Allegany Passage
(GAP) hiking-biking trail for recreational use between Cumberland and
Pittsburgh. With proper care, there is no reason why this steel truss bridge
cannot continue to serve for another hundred years. (from Western Maryland
Chapter's THE AUTOMATIC BLOCK, May 2010.)
- The Thatcher Perkins has come a long way since President's Day weekend in
2003 when it lay under tons of snow, slate, wood, cast iron and other debris,
after half of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum's roof gave way in a record
snowstorm. The roof collapse caused $15 million in damage to the Museum's
collection of historic locomotives, rolling stock and other rail artifacts - and
the Perkins was a woeful sight. It sustained major cab damage, with its boiler
dented and pierced. Its bell and yoke were broken and gouged. Its whistle
snapped off at its base, and the engine's smokestack was smashed. In early April
2010, the Thatcher Perkins, Number 147, has come full-circle and made its way
back to its rightful place in the B&O Museum Roundhouse after a two-year
restoration led by Rich Timberman, Superintendent of Rail Operations; George
Harwood, Master Metalworker; and Master Carpenter Zell Olson. The locomotive was
designed by Thatcher Perkins, the B&O's Master of Machinery, The 147 was one of
11 "Perkins Ten-Wheelers" built in 1863. Some Museum hands refer to the Perkins
as a "war baby" because of its construction during the Civil War. Weighing 47
tons, the Perkins was among the B&O's heaviest and most powerful locomotives at
the time. It was designed to haul freight and coal cars over tortuous mountain
grades, and during wartime it saw service powering Union troop trains. After 30
years of traversing the B&O, the Perkins was retired in 1893.
According to Museum Curator Dave Shackelford, the restoration effort gave
them a chance to do a more accurate, thorough and detailed restoration. He noted
that for years the locomotive bore the number 117, however, "We found its actual
number, 147, on its saddle." Over the years, the colorful paint patterns of its
early days gave way to a dull black. Lettering styles changed with the times and
other parts were exchanged. The restoration crew did a lot of extensive
detective work. The work on the Perkins took place in the Museum's new
27,500-square-foot restoration facility, which has a 54-foot-high ceiling and
sits several blocks West of the roundhouse in the B&O Museum's back lot between
the Museum's main site and its interchange with CSX. The facility contains a
maintenance track, long-term restoration tracks, a wood shop, and paint booth.
An overhead crane can lift loads weighing from 15 tons to 30 tons. Giant
machines can turn wheel sets while other machines stamp out metal pieces. It was
up to Timberman, Harwood and Olson to do the painstaking work of casting missing
pieces, fashioning accurate replacement pieces when needed and harvesting what
could be saved and reused. They tried to save as much of the original wood from
the Perkins as was possible.
The restoration shop crew carefully rebuilt the smashed Perkins cab,
recrafted the Victorian metalwork and repaired the damaged boiler. The 147 now
sports a new smokestack looking as jaunty as the day it first steamed down the
rails in 1863. The Thatcher Perkins has been returned to its original colors.
The engine was carefully painted in cobalt blue, Russian iron and vermilion. Its
cab is painted a deep and lush cherry-red. The spokes of the locomotive's black
tires were carefully pinstriped in a rich yellow-gold. Its tender carries B&O
lettering in a style from the Civil War years. One of the craftsmen carefully
wove a rope into a vintage knotted whistle cord. The Perkins will be a major
component of a coming exhibition highlighting the B&O's role during the Civil
War. (from the Baltimore Sun via Potomac Chapter's Potomac Rail News)
- A new non-profit organization on March 17, 2010 was granted a 15-year lease
to use rail lines along a portion of the Heritage Rail Train County Park to
operate a replica Civil War-era steam train. York County Commissioners agreed to
lease the Northern Central Rail Corridor at no cost to Steam into History, Inc.
Operation is scheduled to begin in 2013, the 150th anniversary of the Battle of
Gettysburg and Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address. The lease approval will
allow the non-profit to commission the construction of the replica 1863 steam
engine and five cars. Steam into History plans to use at least five cars which
would carry about 200 passengers. (York Dispatch via Harrisburg Rail Review via
Baltimore Chapter's INTERCHANGE)
- The Western New York Railway Historical Society plans to consolidate its
equipment and railroad memorabilia into six buildings on 35 acres of the old
Buffalo Color Corp. site in South Buffalo. The most prominent feature will be
conversion of the former four-story Schoellkopf Power House into a
25,000-square-foot exhibition hall to house rail cars. These include a
110-foot-Iong Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive once used to haul coal and
iron ore into Lackawanna; and an old fashioned dining car and the car President
Eisenhower used to crisscross the country. This equipment and more is currently
scattered in Hamburg, Orchard Park, North Collins, Lackawanna and Buffalo's East
Side. (United Transportation Union, 3-30-10, from Buffalo News report via Bill
Nixon and The Bull Sheet via Baltimore Chapter's INTERCHANGE)
- Monticello Railway Museum has taken delivery of the prototype SD40
locomotive, Illinois Central No. 6071, previously Gulf, Mobile & Ohio No. 950.
The locomotive will be restored to GM&O red and white paint. Locomotive owner
Canadian National donated the unit, which it retired in 2009. Though the unit
will initially be put on static display, longer-term plans call for it to be
restored to operation. EMD's SD40 and successor SD40-2 lines were among the most
popular diesel freight locomotives in North American history. The builder
constructed more than 5,000 of the models and their variants. No. 6071 rolled
out on an SD35 frame, so it appears shorter than most SD40s, but internally,
it's virtually the same. GM&O purchased it from EMD after the unit demonstrated
on railroads across North America in EMD paint. (Trains News Wire via The Green
Block via Baltimore Chapter's INTERCHANGE)
- Dave Watterson called to report a piece of history that didn't make it into
last month's newsletter. He reported that on April 29, 1958, the B&O stopped all
passenger service between Baltimore and Jersey City.
- Governor Edward G. Rendell announced
that $5 million in state capital funds
have been released to the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and the
Department of General Services for new exhibits and the design of a roundhouse
at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
The Governor's Office of the Budget has designated $500,000 for the design of
a 16,000-square-foot roundhouse in the outdoor yard, to be located at the
Museum's existing turntable. A significant number of the Museum's collection of
historic locomotives and rolling stock, many of which are listed on the National
Register of Historic Places and are the last of their kind in the world,
currently reside outdoors and are deteriorating from exposure to the elements.
The addition of a roundhouse at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will
provide permanent, climate-controlled storage for these historic artifacts. Bid
proposals have been released by the Department of General Services for the
architectural design of the roundhouse. The Governor's Office of the Budget
anticipates releasing an additional $6.1 million for the actual construction of
the roundhouse in the next fiscal year.The Governor's Office of the Budget also
has released $4.5 million for the design, fabrication and installation of new
permanent exhibits to be located throughout the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
The Hilferty Design firm of Athens, Ohio has been selected to work with Museum
and Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission staff on the exhibit design.
Planning is already underway. [news release Friends of the Railroad Museum]
- Amtrak expects to award a contract next month to knock down two former
stations north of the current rail station in Rensselaer, an Amtrak spokesman
confirmed this week. Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said a contract would be
awarded sometime in July. While Amtrak initially estimated the demolition would
cost about $300,000, Cole said Amtrak this summer will have a better idea of
what the final cost would be.The demolition will clear the way to construct a
fourth track at the station. A platform designed for two tracks now has just
one, because the former stations -- one dating from 1968 and another from 1980
-- lie in the path of that track. Installing the fourth track would ease one
bottleneck that Amtrak trains face. It happens more than one would expect that
the three existing tracks are blocked and arriving trains must wait within site
of the station for one to clear. But how quickly that fourth track would be
built, once the stations are demolished, isn't clear. The current rail passenger
station is operated by the Capital District Transportation Authority and is much
larger than the two earlier stations, the first of which was built before Amtrak
even existed. That station replaced Union Station in Albany and was built by
Penn Central at a time when it and other railroads were trying to get out of the
passenger business. (from Albany Times-Union via AMERICAN RAIL LINK - JUNE 9,
2010 - ISSUE 457 via Ed Mayover)
- Amtrak will continue to operate Virginia Railway Express trains until July
12 at a cost of $335,000. Keolis, the French firm that won the operation
contract last fall, has had problems getting its conductor and engineering crews
approved to operate the trains. Initially, Keolis had hoped to hire the line's
exiting Amtrak employees. That plan failed and delayed additional hiring. The
two companies have not signed an agreement, but both sides confirm the
arrangement to run the commuter trains from Northern Virginia into downtown
Washington. According to a report in the Washington Examiner, VRE asked Amtrak
to extend service on one of the two commuter lines, letting Keolis take over the
third, but Amtrak agreed to all or nothing citing potential issues with union
and nonunion crews interacting at Union Station. VRE is asking Keolis to pay
Amtrak's extended service costs. [from Ed Thornton]
- SEPTA is working on a Priority Bridge Repair Program for 2010, which will
address the replacement or upgrading of numerous bridges on the Regional Rail
and Suburban Transit systems. SEPTA rosters a total of 408 bridges on the lines
it maintains 345 on Regional Rail and 63 on Suburban Transit - of which 56
percent are 75 years or older and 23 percent are 100 years or older. Twenty
bridges are more than 125 years old! Five spans on the Mainline to Lansdale were
replaced or rehabilitated in 2009. Among the top-priority bridges for rebuilding
are the Norristown High Speed Line viaduct over the Schuylkill River at
Norristown, the NHSL bridge just west of 69th Street Terminal and the R8
Chestnut Hill West bridge 0.35 near North Philadelphia. The 925-foot-long Crum
Creek viaduct on the R3 Media-Elwyn line at Swarthmore will be replaced. It was
erected by the Pennsylvania Railroad around 1895. [Philadelphia Chapter's
Cinders]
- "There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains,"
President Obama declared in his State of the Union address to Congress and the
nation on January 27. "We can put Americans to work today building the
infrastructure of tomorrow." It was the first time. in memory, according to NARP,.
that a President has even mentioned passenger rail in a State of the Union
address. The next day he visited Tampa, FL, to announce the recipients of $8
billion in Federal stimulus funds to be spent on high-speed rail projects (see
January Cinders). California ($2.3 billion), Florida ($1.25 billion) and
Illinois ($1.1 billion) were the big winners, with Pennsylvania receiving just
$25.6 million to be used for eliminating the last three highway grade crossings
on the Keystone Corridor to Harrisburg and to make further track and signal
improvements. There also is another $750,000 to help fund a feasibility study
for higher speeds on NORFOLK SOUTHERN's Harrisburg-Pittsburgh mainline, route of
the Pennsylvanian, which is referred to as the "Keystone Corridor West." In
addition to state grants, AMTRAK will directly receive $112 million for
improvements to its Northeast Corridor, supplementing about $700 million in
Amtrak's own funds. Amtrak President Boardman and Federal Railroad Administrator
Joseph Szabo held a press conference at 30th Street Station to tout the
high-speed program. Amtrak said that of the $8 billion in awards, $4.5 billion
will go to support present or future Amtrak routes. [Philadelphia Chapter's
Cinders]
- AMTRAK set a ridership record in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2010
(October-December, 2009), carrying nearly 7.2 million passengers. In the
Northeast Corridor, Acela Express ridership was up slightly over the year-ago
period to 806,000, Regional service increased to 1.9 million, Keystone trains to
329,000 and the Pennsylvanian to 55,500. Long-distance trains also boosted their
ridership to 1.1 million passengers, in spite of the ongoing recession.
[Philadelphia Chapter's Cinders]
- The B&O Railroad Museum and the Friends of Patapsco Valley and Heritage
Greenway will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Thomas Viaduct with an
exhibit featuring historic and contemporary artworks of this historic bridge.
The exhibit will showcase local artists and will be held in the Museum's
Education Station. It opens to the public on Friday, July 30 - Sunday, August 1,
2010 and will be on display through early 2011.
The Thomas Viaduct is one of the most significant of the early stone viaducts
built by the B&O Railroad during the early days of railroading. Situated over
the Patapsco River between Elkridge and Relay, in present day Howard County,
Maryland, the bridge has attracted artists and photographers since it opened in
1835. Today, the Thomas Viaduct is the oldest major railroad viaduct in North
America. It is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a Maryland Historic
Civil Engineering Landmark, and continues to inspire a new generation of artists.Designed by noted Baltimore architect Benjamin Latrobe, Jr. and built of
local granite, it was the largest bridge in America when it was completed on
July 4, 1835. The viaduct was named for the B&O's first president, Phillip
Thomas; however, some called the bridge "Latrobe's folly" because many thought
it would collapse under its own weight. Not only does the bridge still stand,
today it supports CSX freight trains that are hundreds of times heavier than the
early B&O trains. {B&O Museum News Release]
- On June 6, 1833, President Andrew Jackson became the first President of the
United States to ride on a railroad train. He rode on the B&O Railroad from
Ellicott's Mills to Baltimore. [from Western Maryland Chapter's The Automatic
Block]
- The Lobato Trestle, second highest bridge on the 64-mile Cumbres and Toltec
Scenic Railroad, was damaged by a fire of undetermined origin. It was initially
unclear whether the main structure had suffered damage or whether the fire was
confined to the wooden ties and framing of the roadbed over the steel-framed
structure. The fire was reported to the Chama Fire Department shortly after 11
p.m. Wednesday night. Fire crews and railroad workers rushed to the scene and
worked through the night to extinguish the blaze. "This is the most significant
mishap to the track and right-of-way in all the 40 years the Cumbres and Toltec
has been in operation," said Marvin Casias, C&TSRR general manager. The Lobato
Trestle, one of the scenic high points, is on the New Mexico side of the line,
about 4 miles up the grade outside Chama. It carries the track over East Fork of
Wolf Creek, flowing about 100 feet below. The C&TSRR is celebrating its 40th
year this summer. This setback comes as the C&TSRR management company continues
its multi-year program to replace ties and ballast on the track to restore it to
optimum operating capability. A total of 40,378 new ties have been installed
over the duration of this project, with 64 miles of track resurfaced and lined.
Bringing the track, locomotives and rolling stock up to top-notch condition has
been a priority project of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission and
the operating company, and has moved forward with generous funding from the
states of New Mexico and Colorado, owners of the line. The rail line is a living
history experience in steam-powered mountain narrow-gauge railroading, owned and
preserved by the two states. [Press Release]
- Local officials including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are
scheduled to take part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Metro Gold Line
Foothills Extension on June 26, in Newcastle Park in Arcadia, Calif. The
proposed extension will continue the Metro Gold Line from its current terminus
in East Pasadena through the cities of Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale,
Azusa, Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair. There
will be six stations in five cities. A trip from Montclair to downtown Pasadena
would take a little over 40 minutes and further to Los Angeles would take
approximately 75 minutes. The Metro Gold Line Construction Authority is an
independent transportation planning and construction agency created in 1998 by
the California State Legislature. Its sole purpose was to immediately resume
design, contracting and construction of the Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Gold
Line (formerly the Pasadena Blue Line), which had been suspended by the Los
Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in the same year. The
newly formed construction authority completed its charge in just under three
years with the 13.7-mile line opened in 2003 on time and under budget. For this
leg of the project, state and local funding were already in place to fund the
project. The same legislation that created the Construction Authority also
dictated its role to plan and construct "any fixed mass transit guide way
eastward to Claremont." This was later extended to Montclair to include the
city's regional transit hub, the "Transcenter," and gain the support and
participation of the San Bernardino Council of Governments. [from Ed Thornton]
- The Association of American Railroads has added to its website an
interactive map that allows any user to take a "snap-shot" of information about
railroads in a given location. AAR says the map is active for all states
(including Hawaii, which has "no freight rail activity," the map duly notes).
http://www.aar.org/incongress/railroadsstates.aspxA state-by-state breakdown
includes pie charts, divided by commodity category, for both traffic originating
in a given state and ending up in that state. Other data within a given state,
including freight railroad miles, number of freight railroads in operation, and
number for rail employees, also is listed. (from Ed Thornton)
For Delaware it says:
Number of freight railroads 5
Freight railroad mileage 218
- Nearly 1,000 CSX Transportation Engineering employees completed the annual
coal route maintenance project this week. Track maintenance teams worked their
way across the Appalachian coal route which includes Kentucky, West Virginia,
Tennessee, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Demand for coal remains
strong, and on a typical day as many as 50 trains make their way across this
important corridor. During this intense maintenance operation, workers installed
new rail, and more than 133,000 ties. Ties cover nearly 113 miles of main line
track, plus several auxiliary tracks. Crews also re-surfaced an additional 150
miles of track, and performed maintenance on the seven tunnels and four bridges
along the path - all compressed into the span of 10 days. This planned
maintenance work keeps train reliability, safety and service high. The project
is scheduled annually when many coal mines traditionally close for summer break.
If the work were scheduled during normal curfew conditions, it could take up to
27 weeks to complete with significant service disruptions. CSX Transportation is
a principal operating company of CSX Corporation. CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX),
based in Jacksonville, Fla., is a leading transportation company providing rail,
intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation
network spans approximately 21,000 miles with service to 23 eastern states and
the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river and lake
ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available
at www.csx.com. [news release]
- House subcommittee cuts passenger-rail spending Last week, the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
made changes to a fiscal-year 2011 spending bill. The subcommittee opted to
increase highway spending by $4.1 billion above the Obama Administration's
request, cut Amtrak funding $833 million below the railroad's own request, and
reduce state grants for high-speed and intercity passenger rail $1.1 billion
below current funding, according to a press release issued by the National
Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP). Intercity passenger trains would
receive a total of $3.2 billion, according to the approved revisions, with $1.4
billion for high-speed rail and $1.77 billion for Amtrak. Both funding amounts
are higher than the Obama Administration's requests, according to NARP. [from
Progressive Railroading Daily News email via Ed Thornton]
- Norfolk Southern and GE Transportation today announced the success of a
technology that could change the rail industry by increasing the average network
speed of trains by 10-20 percent or two-to-four miles-per-hour. One mile per
hour in velocity improvement has the potential to save approximately $200
million in capital and expense annually. GE's RailEdgeš Movement Planner is
breakthrough software that improves railroad capacity and reliability while
reducing transportation costs. By integrating railroad logistics with traffic
control systems, the technology projects expected track usage, based on train
schedules, and then produces an optimized plan to get trains moving faster and
more efficiently. By maximizing existing railroad resources, RailEdge also
improves railroad crew management availability. Having pioneered the
implementation of RailEdge Movement Planner on a 200-mile section of its
railroad in Georgia, Norfolk Southern is expanding the technology's use to its
entire 22-state rail network through 2012. In the Georgia application, Movement
Planner will help Norfolk Southern increase the average network speed train
velocity of its trains by 10-20 percent, representing a significant opportunity
for cost savings and train delay reductions. [NS news release]
- Norfolk Southern Corporation is in negotiations with the Tennessee Valley
Railroad Museum with regard to the operation of a limited schedule of steam
locomotive event appearances and passenger excursions beginning later this year.
"21st Century Steam" would highlight milestones in rail history and provide an
opportunity for audiences to learn about today's safe and service-oriented
freight railroads. The program would feature three venerable coal-powered steam locomotives:Southern Railway 4501: Built in 1911 by Baldwin Locomotive Works,
4501 served Southern Railway in freight service in Tennessee, Virginia,
Kentucky, and Indiana, before being sold to a short line railroad. No. 4501 was
retired from revenue service in 1963 and enjoyed a second career in the
excursion program operated by Southern Railway and Norfolk Southern from 1966
until 1994. This Ms (Mikado superheated) Class locomotive has 63-inch driving
wheels.
Southern Railway 630: Built in 1904 at the Richmond, Va., works of American
Locomotive Company, this Consolidation-type locomotive has traveled throughout
the Southeast, often in the company of 4501 and sister locomotive 722. An
extensive six-year rehabilitation to Federal Railroad Administration standards
is being completed at TVRM's Soule Shops complex in Chattanooga.
Tennessee Valley Railroad 610: Built in 1952 by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton for the
U.S. Army, 610 has been the mainstay of TVRM steam operations since 1990. It
also appeared on several Norfolk Southern steam excursions from 1990 to 1993.
No. 610, also a Consolidation type, was one of the last steam locomotives built
in the U.S.
"This is the right time for steam to ride the Norfolk Southern rails," said
CEO Wick Moorman. "We have a fascinating history, and we have a compelling
message about how today's railroads support jobs, competition, and the economy.
It is a forward-looking message that resonates with people everywhere." The
launch of 21st Century Steam would coincide with key dates. 2011 will be 4501's
100th birthday and TVRM's 50th. The year 2012 will mark Norfolk Southern's 30th
anniversary. 21st Century Steam's initial appearances and runs tentatively could
take place in the Chattanooga area this fall, with locomotives 610 and 630. No.
4501 could join the program sometime in 2011, after rehabilitation. Exhibit
dates, ticketing, and other details will be announced later. Later this year,
Norfolk Southern and TVRM plan to launch a web site in support of the program.
[NS news release]
- The two year processing project of the Ernest Dichter papers was finished
and the long awaited eleven volume Pennsylvania Railroad archive finding aid was
completed in December. Asst Curator Chris Baer wrote capsule histories for more
than 700 companies composed of the "Lines West of Pittsburg" and non-railroad
predecessor and subsidiary companies, cross referenced to permit corporate
succession. He also prepared an introductory volume of general historical notes,
notes of the NHPRC appraisal project, corporate structure and corporate filing
systems, the location of related archival materials and shortcuts to frequently
requested record types and frequently asked reference questions. (from Page 10
of the Hagley Museum Annual Report)
- The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that nearly $80
million in grants have been delivered to states as part of President Obama's
historic high-speed and intercity passenger rail program. These grants will go
toward the development of a brand new Recovery Act funded high-speed rail system
in Florida as well as critical upgrades to existing passenger rail service
throughout the country. The $80 million in funding will benefit projects in many
regions of the country, including:
- $66,600,000 for program management and preliminary engineering on the
planned 168mph high-speed rail service between Tampa and Orlando, Florida. This
project will create jobs and generate economic activity as 84 miles of track are
constructed, stations are built or enhanced, and equipment is purchased. Along
with California, Florida was the only state to submit plans to the Department of
Transportation to create a brand new, high-speed rail line.
- $6,200,000 for track relocation work in California on the Capitol Corridor
which will help bring about fewer delays and faster travel times along a route
that connects San Francisco and Sacramento, the state capital.
- $5,700,000 for environmental assessments of planned new stations on the
route between Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin that will host passenger rail
service operating at speeds up to 110mph.
- $1,000,000 for planning projects to improve service on the Empire Corridor
in New York state. The 468-mile Empire Corridor connects all of New York's
largest cities. The near-term vision for the corridor is to increase passenger
train speeds to 110mph.
- $100,000 for the creation of the first-ever rail plan for the state of New
Mexico. This plan will help the state create a blueprint for passenger rail
development that will eventually link major cities in the Southwest.
The President's $8 billion down payment for high-speed rail, which was set in
motion through a long-term plan announced in April 2009, is expected to create
or save tens of thousands of jobs over time in areas like track-laying,
manufacturing, planning, engineering, and rail maintenance and operations. The
majority of the President's Recovery Act passenger rail funding will go toward
developing new, large-scale high-speed rail programs. In addition to the $8
billion in Recovery Act funding, the Administration proposes a minimum $1
billion a year for five years in the federal budget to jump-start this
multi-decade effort. Congress funded this program above and beyond the
President's initial request and allocated $2.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2010.
[U.S. Dept of Transportation - May 27, 2010 ]
- For years, when an out- of-town Norfolk Southern Corp. engineer or
conductor finished a long shift at the Enola yard, he went to the on-site
dormitories that railroad crews affectionately called the bunk room -- a
curtained cubicle -- to get the 10 hours mandatory rest before the next shift.
Short stays at nearby motels succeeded that arrangement. On Wednesday, rail
system representatives helped cut the ribbon on a new 70-room hotel in Lower
Allen Twp. that will cater exclusively to Norfolk Southern conductors, engineers
and other employees. The hotel is owned and managed by MSI Hospitality Solutions
of Little Rock, Ark. With queen-size beds, flat-screen TVs, a workout room and
Tracks End, a 24-hour restaurant, the hotel will serve as home away from home
for rail crews, which routinely travel thousands of miles hauling auto parts,
coal, fertilizer and other freight to the midstate and beyond. [from AMERICAN
RAIL LINK - APRIL 28, 2010 via Ed Mayover]
- The company that operates the Channel
Tunnel is working on plans to
introduce high speed freight trains through the sub-sea tunnel, as it pursues a
series of initiatives to boost rail freight and passenger traffic, according to
a story in London 's Financial Times. Jacques Gounon, executive chairman of
Groupe Eurotunnel, revealed the company's involvement with Carex, a consortium
developing high-speed rail freight, as he announced only the company's third
full-year profit since 1986. Carex aims to replace some of the current
short-haul flights by express air freight operators with trips by modified high
speed trains. Eurotunnel had also set up a working party with Deutsche Bahn ,
Germany 's state-owned rail company, on setting up a train service between
Europe's two main financial centres: London and Frankfurt . The working party
was examining how DB's high speed trains might be accommodated within the tunnel
safety rules. [from Trains News Wire via AMERICAN RAIL LINK - March 17, 2010 via
Ed Mayover]
- Amtrak began testing a beef-based fuel in locomotives assigned to its
"Heartland Flyer" passenger train, which operates between Fort Worth, TX and
Oklahoma City, OK. Tallow from Texas cattle, which is fat often used in soap and
animal feed, is supplying 20 percent of the fuel for the locomotives, with the
remainder being standard diesel. The Federal Railroad Administration provided
Amtrak with $274,000 in funding to conduct the tests in partnership with
Oklahoma transportation officials. (from wire services via Weekly Rail Review
April 23, 2010 by Dave Mears via Ed Mayover)
- Amtrak announced that passengers of its "Sunset Limited" train operating
between New Orleans, LA and Los Angeles, CA may now download a podcast which
provides information about the areas they will be traveling through. Amtrak, the
National Park Service, and Texas A&M University partnered on the podcast, which
is free. (ffd: wire services via Weekly Rail Review April 16, 2010 by Dave Mears
via Ed Mayover)
- Amtrak announced that it has targeted having Positive Train Control
installed and operable on its Northeast Corridor and Michigan lines by 2012,
three years ahead of the federal PTC deadline. An Amtrak spokesman noted that
its Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES), which together with cab
signal and automatic train stop replicate essential PTC elements, has already
been installed on several sections of its NEC line. (ffd: Amtrak via Weekly Rail
Review April 9, 2010 by Dave Mears via Ed Mayover)
- Amtrak announced that it would begin operation of Metrolink commuter trains
serving the Greater Los Angeles area starting June 26. Metrolink trains were
most recently operated by Connex, whose operation of them has been criticized,
especially since the 2008 Chatsworth, CA accident. Later in the week, Amtrak and
the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced that it would operate
a third daily train between Raleigh, NC and Charlotte starting June 5. (ffd:
Amtrak, Charlotte Observer via Weekly Rail Review April 2, 2010 by Dave Mears
via Ed Mayover)
- San Francisco, CA commuter rail operator CalTrain,
which only the previous
week announced plans to eventually electrify its line at a projected cost of
$1.23 billion, announced that anticipated losses in funding may force it to
limit service to rush-hour only. "This is not an April Fool's joke," said CalTrain CEO Mike Scanlon. "This is real. We're at a watershed moment where
there's a possibility this railroad could go away." Mr. Scanlon said that,
additional to the funding shortfall, decreases in ridership brought about by job
losses have also contributed to the railroad's financial crisis. (ffd: San
Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo County Times via Weekly Rail Review April 2, 2010
by Dave Mears via Ed Mayover)
- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics
reported that surface trade with Canada and Mexico decreased more in 2009 than
in any other year of the 15-year history of the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA). The bureau reported that trade between the U.S. and its NAFTA
partners utilizing surface transportation fell 23.3 percent in 2009 compared
with 2008. Trade with Canada totaled $386 billion in 2009, a decrease of 28.1
percent, and trade with Mexico totaled $251 billion in 2009, a decrease of 14.4
percent. (ffd: USBTS via Weekly Rail Review April 2, 2010 by Dave Mears via Ed
Mayover)
- Amtrak held what it billed as its "first-ever town hall meeting" in
Chicago, IL. Amtrak Chair Tom Carper and President Joe Boardman were among those
who participated in a day-long dialogue with 250 attendees that Mr. Boardman
called "open and spirited." The event was co-sponsored by Trains Magazine. Also
at the meeting, Amtrak Chief of Police John O'Connor announced said that Amtrak
would soon create a program inviting train spotters to report suspicious
activities, trespassers, and other safety and security-related incidents,
modeled on the program earlier developed and implemented by BNSF. (ffd: Amtrak
via Weekly Rail Review March 12, 2010 by Dave Mears via Ed Mayover)
- Philadelphia, PA's SEPTA announced that, to reduce rider confusion, it
would eliminate the "R" designations for its commuter rail lines that have been
in use since 1984. The agency will instead identify them according to their
final destination; for example, the R8/Chestnut Hill West will become simply the
Chestnut Hill West line and the R8/Fox Chase will become the Fox Chase line. The
change will become effective on July 25. (ffd: Philadelphia Inquirer via Weekly
Rail Review March 12, 2010 by Dave Mears via Ed Mayover)
- Related to its effort to inform its riders about fare increases and service
changes, the Long Island Rail Road announced for the first time how much it
costs to provide commuter rail service versus the revenue it takes in. A LIRR
spokesperson said that, for the entire LIRR system, the actual cost of a ride
averages $14.68, while the average per person fare averages $6.46 - a 44 percent
cost-to-revenue ratio. The LIRR says that its worst cost-to-revenue ratio is on
its Greenport line, where the fare averages $10.38 per passenger but the cost
averages $85.91 per passenger; the LIRR has recently proposed significant
service reductions on that line. (ffd: Times-Ledger News Service via Weekly Rail
Review March 12, 2010 by Dave Mears via Ed Mayover)
- The Chicago Region Environmental And Transportation Efficiency (CREATE)
program said that it would build a flyover in Englewood, IL to grade-separate
the Metra Rock Island District line and Norfolk Southern line that cross there.
A CREATE spokesman said that $133 million in federal stimulus funding would be
used for the project. The spokesperson added that the flyover project is
critical due to the number of trains that use the junction; presently each
weekday, 78 Metra trains cross on the Rock Island District line, and 14 Amtrak
trains and 40 NS freight trains cross on the NS line. (ffd: Trains via Weekly
Rail Review Feb 5, 2010 by Dave Mears via Ed Mayover)
- The first stage of work to open part of the Kinzua Viaduct to visitors is
nearing completion, the Bradford Era (Pa.) has reported. Plans for the bridge
call for an observation platform at the end of the portion that remains
standing. A tornado toppled the bridge's center spans in 2003. Knox & Kane had
operated a tourist train over the former Erie Railroad viaduct, and tourists
could walk across it. The bridge and the area around it are part of Kinzua
Bridge State Park. In 2009, work began on rehabilitating the remaining towers
and constructing a new viewing area. It's slated to be complete by fall. Work so
far has focused on constructing concrete jackets around the piers and
stabilizing the structure. Works have been drilling for the pier anchors as
well. (Trains News Wire via Ed Thornton)
SCHEDULE NOTES
Notices, announcements, schedules, etc. are
provided here as a service to the members. The Chapter has no affiliation
with any commercial operation, museum, or tourist line.
July 12 through July 16, 2010, for ages 9 & 10 Barons & Builders Day Camp @
RR Museum of PA
July 26 through July 30, 2010, for ages 11 & 12 Barons & Builders
Day Camp @ RR Museum of PA Kids build, create, learn and play as they explore
railroads and railroad history through a program of unique tours, innovative
hands-on projects, field trips by train and special demonstrations. A limited
number of openings are available for each day camp.
August 11 - 14, 2010 Railroad Family Days @ RR Museum of PA Great events for
the whole family. Hogwarts Express parties August 13 and August 14.
Sept. 26, 2010 Members Day @ RR Museum of PA Special presentations and other
events for members of the Friends of the Railroad Museum.
October 8 - 10, 2010 Model Railroading Days @ RR Museum of PA
October 9-10, 2010 Great Scale Model Train Show, Timonium Fairgrounds,
Timonium, MD State Fairgrounds Sat. 9-4, Sun. 10-4, Admission $9, under 15 free,
family $18, tickets good for both days.
October 10, 2010 Garden Railway Tours @ RR Museum of PA,1 pm to 5 pm Enjoy a
self-guided tour of several private homes which feature beautiful garden
railways, operating layouts and special model train collections. Garden Railways
tour tickets are $10 per person for ages 6 and over. In cooperation with the
National Toy Train Museum.
October 9-10, 2010 Great Scale Model Train
Show, Timonium Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD State Fairgrounds Sat. 9-4,
Sun. 10-4, Admission $9, under 15 free, family $18, tickets good for
both days.
November 6, 2010 Taking The Swing Train '40s
Dance @ RR Museum of PA 7 PM to 10 PM Jump, jive and swing to the
popular Sound of Roses live band among the trains in the Railroad
Museum's awe inspiring Rolling Stock Hall. Come in uniform or '40s
clothing! Special savings combination ticket, per person, for the dance
and both days of Trains & Troops: $35.00; Dance ticket only, per person:
$25.00; Veterans and active duty service personnel and FRM members, per
person: $20.00. Dance tickets should be purchased in advance by phone at
717/687-8628, ext 3008, in person at the Whistle Stop Shop museum store
or on line, using a printable ticket request form. Dance tickets may be
ordered online. 2009 Details and tickets.
November 4 -7, 2010 Fall Board of Directors' Meeting Lancaster, PA Lancaster
Chapter
November 6 & 7, 2010 Trains & Troops @ RR Museum
of PA, Regular Museum hours. Greet our guys and gals in uniform, experience many
splendid railroad and military archival displays, enjoy the patriotic spirit.
Ride the troop trains on the Strasburg Rail Road with living history re-enactors
on both days of the Railroad Museum's Trains & Troops program. Troop train
tickets are sold separately by the Strasburg Rail Road on line at
www.strasburgrailroad.com.
December 11 & 4, 2010 Home For The Holidays @ RR
Museum of PA Regular Museum hours. Take a nostalgic glimpse at holiday
rail travel. Meet costumed engineers, conductors, ticket agents and
passengers representing the past century and enjoy seasonal music,
festive decorations, Jack Frost Station and a Polar Express party for
young children among our world-class collection of trains. Included in
the regular Museum admission
CHAPTER EVENTS
Thursday July 15, 2010 - - - NO Chapter Meeting! cancelled in lieu of outing
the following week
Thursday July 22, 2010 7:30 PM Chapter Outing in lieu of meeting = Juniata
Terminal Tour Special Night Photo Session to follow
Thursday August 19, 2010 ? PM Chapter Trip? in lieu of meeting-River Line
Camden/Trenton?
Thursday Sept. 16, 2010 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Phil Snyder "25 Yrs.
Ago"
Thursday Oct. 21, 2010 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Dan Frederick
Thursday Nov. 18, 2010 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson
Sunday Dec. 5, 2010 5 PM Holiday Dinner in lieu of normal monthly meeting
The Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway
Historical Society (NRHS) meets at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each
month [except August & December] in the Darley Room at the Claymont
Community Center on Green Street in Claymont, Delaware. Visitors are
always welcome. Admission to regular meetings is free. Check out our
Website (thanks to Russ Fox) at:
The Transfer Table is published six to ten times per year as the newsletter
of the Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Items in
this publication do not represent the official position of either Officers or
Members of the Wilmington Chapter or the Editor of this publication.
Permission
to reprint articles and news items appearing herein is granted to NRHS Chapters
and other newsletters provided appropriate credit is given.
Contributions are always welcome and should be sent to the editor at SD40GMA@aol.com
or send to:P.O. Box 1136, Hockessin, DE 19707-5136.Deadline for entries is the
25th of the month.
Chapter OfficersPresident: Mike BurkhartVice President & Historian: Ron CleavesTreasurer: Dave WarnerSecretary: Dan FrederickNational Director & Trip Director: Steve BarryEditor: Greg AjamianEvent Photographer: Ron CleavesWeb Master: Russ Fox
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