NOTE: The Lite Version
is our electronic
version which is available for free from this web site. It has
limited content but gives you a taste of what is offered in our Full
Version.
The Full Version
is our printed newsletter which is mailed to you. It contains
everything in the Lite Version along with many other reprinted
pages from other NRHS newsletters, railroad publications, and flyers
that contain photographs, drawings, and maps. The full version is
just another benefit of joining our chapter.
THE TRANSFER TABLEThe
Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official NewsletterInternet Edition
VOLUME 33 NUMBER 4 |
MAY 2010 |
Back
To Wilmington Chapter Web Site
April 15, 2010 MEETING NOTES
President Mike Burkhart called the meeting to order at 7 PM. The minutes were
approved as read by Secretary Dan Frederick. The Treasurer's report was
delivered by President Mike Burkhart and approved as read. It was reported that
our Toronto Trolley Trip was a success and contributed positively after
expenses. The National Director's report was also given by President Mike
Burkhart who also reported that Chapter member Dave Frazer has hurt his back and
is unable to get to the meetings. We wish Dave a speedy recovery to pain-free
health. Tom Posatko gave us an update on our corporate status.
After a short break, Mike Burkhart presented a great slide program that
included the B&LE, the Monongahela, the Allegheny, PC&Y and the Ma & Pa. We got
to see some rare equipment like an ex-Great Northern NW-5 and saw many great
locations from Pittsburgh to Gettysburg to Toronto.
This month's program will be by special guest John Meise, a member of the
Chesapeake Railway Association, who will present a program about "Railroading on
the DelMarVa Peninsula" thanks to the efforts of Ed Thornton
From The Treasurer
2010 MEMBERSHIP DUES - The good news for the chapter is that everyone has
paid their dues for 2010. Thank you for your continued support of our chapter.
The confusing news for the few of you who paid your dues in February or later is
that you may have received a "Final Notice" from National implying that you have
not paid your dues. Please ignore that notice. National had the notices printed
based on information they had through the middle of February, and didn't check
to see who had paid in March before sending out the notices. Hopefully next year
procedures can be improved to avoid this confusion.-- David Warner, Membership
Chairman and Treasurer.
From The Editor
Alternate Income Manager Greg Ajamian received yet another large donation of
four boxes of video tapes from Jim Maloney. Our Chapter owes him a huge "Thank
You" for providing us with a great fund-raiser in pursuit of our new projector.
ONE LAST ALCO SAFARI
By Tom Smith
It has been over 40 years since an Alco builders plate was attached to a new
locomotive at Schenectady. Natural attrition alone would account for the
scarcity of remaining Alcos, and their minority status even when Alco was still
building locomotives should have rendered them extinct by now. But there are
still a few strongholds that keep the faith, and so Alco fans have made
pilgrimages to Arizona, Arkansas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and a few other
smaller operations to hear that familiar Alco burble and watch plumes of smoke
erupt when the throttle is opened.
I was now down to my last objective. The Detroit & Mackinac Railroad in
eastern Michigan had an all Alco roster from the time they claimed to be the
first Class I railroad to completely dieselize with Alco RS2's in 1946, until
the present. The D&M, now known as the Lake States Railway Co., has been loyal
to Alco, even to replacing their RS2's with secondhand units from Alco and
Montreal. But that was now changing; the LSRC was acquiring a small fleet of
second hand EMD GP40's that would banish this last Alco bastion to oblivion.
There was no time to lose.
It was perfect opportunity that Trainfest 2009 in Owosso, Mich. was only a
couple hour's drive from Bay City, the southern end of the LSRC, so I planned to
spend a couple of days on this line. There are many nice photo locations in the
beautiful vacation country along the shores of Lake Huron. But there aren't any
trains. There is just one train each way on the original D&M main between Alpena
and Bay City and it runs at night on weekdays only. The LSRC also operates the
exNYC line to Grayling in northwest Michigan.
I didn't see any sign of activity in the Bay City yard, and driving toward
Alpena, all I saw was very rusty rails that could have just been idle over the
weekend, but looked like they hadn't seen a train in weeks. But when I got to
Alpena, I found an exCN M420 in the yard and a stone train with a GP40 and C424.
The dispatcher told me the stone train was called for 4:30 PM, and the crew
would add the M420 to the consist and head south.
It takes patience, a high ASA setting on your camera or film, and lonnnng
summer days in the north woods to get action photos of this road. It is no
problem to get ahead of the train with its 10mph speed limit, but by the time
the train leaves the yard, it takes a long time to get to a good accessible
photo location. One, maybe two shots and it's time to try nighttime action
photography!
I stayed at a little motel on the Lake in Alpena, close enough to the tracks
that I could hear a northbound train, if they had run one Sunday night. But next
morning I heard a train horn, and jumped in my car to catch the incoming train
on the Thunder River bridge. It was led by an M420 with a GP40 and C424
trailing. It appears to be a normal routine to cut off one of the road engines
from the incoming train and use it for yard switching during the day, then pick
it up again in the afternoon for the southbound road train.
The summer of 2009 could well be the last for the LSRC's Alcos. This was not
a spectacular operation as some were, but of the seven LSRC locomotives I saw,
five were Alcos or MLW's. Regardless, Alpena turned out to be a pleasant place
to visit and had a nicely done maritime museum dedicated to shipping on the
Great Lakes. It is unexpected little bonuses like this that add to the fun of
railfanning.
NEWS BITS
- STUDIES FIND MOST AMERICANS DON'T RECOGNIZE 'CROSSBUCK' SIGN: At the urging
of North America 's rail industry, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is
taking an important step toward improving safety at highway-rail grade
crossings, encouraging state officials to install a stop or yield sign at grade
crossings. Numerous studies have shown that the large majority of drivers do not
understand the meaning of the crossbuck sign currently posted at most grade
crossings, while yield and stop signs are universally understood. Some 60
percent of highway-rail grade crossings in the country are passive crossings,
meaning they are protected only by signs instead of flashing lights or gates. "
North America 's freight railroads commend the FHWA for issuing this
common-sense guidance," says Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the
Association of American Railroads. "Drivers need to know they should yield or
stop to look for oncoming trains. Only one in five motorists today understands
that the crossbuck is a warning sign. This will provide drivers clear direction
to stop or yield at railroad grade crossings, which we hope will save many
lives." The U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General found that
driver error or poor judgment was responsible for 94 percent of public grade
crossing accidents and 87 percent of fatalities. Look, Listen and Live! [from
AMERICAN RAIL LINK via Ed Mayover]
- BEACH GROVE TO GET 108 AMTRAK JOBS: Federal stimulus money is helping
Amtrak workers in Indiana. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood toured the Amtrak
maintenance facility in Beech Grove Friday. Amtrak used $32 million from the
Recovery Act to create 108 jobs in Beech Grove. LaHood says the United States is
getting ready to expand high-speed inner-city passenger rail. [from AMERICAN
RAIL LINK via Ed Mayover]
- AMTRAK PLANS TO IMPLEMENT PTC BY 2012: Amtrak is planning to implement
positive train control technology on the lines it owns by the end of 2012, three
years ahead of a federally mandated deadline. The railroad owns the
Boston-Washington Northeast Corridor, the Philadelphia-Harrisburg Keystone
Corridor, plus the portion of the Wolverine Service route between Kalamazoo ,
Mich. , and Porter, Ind. In late 2008, Congress ordered railroads to implement PTC on most rail lines by the end of 2015. All lines that host passenger trains
are included. The technology is designed to detect conditions that could lead to
a collision between two trains, and stop trains before an accident can occur.
Amtrak will submit its PTC implementation plan to the Federal Railroad
Administration by April 16, as Congress required. It's planning for
interoperability with other railroads, key on most Amtrak routes, where freight
and passenger trains share the same routes. (Trains News Wire via AMERICAN RAIL
LINK via Ed Mayover)
- The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will soon begin accepting grant
applications for the deployment of positive train control (PTC) collision
avoidance systems and complementary advanced technologies under a new $50
million Rail Safety Technology Program, FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo said
today. Eligible applicants include passenger and freight rail carriers, railroad
suppliers and state and local governments. The program requires that the funded
PTC projects or related systems be ready for deployment within 24 months of the
grant award. FRA will give preference to collaborative projects sponsored by
multiple railroads and public authorities that satisfy one or more specific
objectives, particularly interoperability. PTC systems are comprised of several
components that control train movements and speed to prevent collisions or
derailments. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA) mandates the
deployment of interoperable PTC systems by December 31, 2015 on mainline tracks
that carry passenger trains or Poison Inhalation Hazard /Toxic Inhalation Hazard
materials. The new grant program was authorized under RSIA and has an 80/20
cost-sharing requirement. Applications will be reviewed immediately following
the July 1, 2010 filing deadline. Selection announcements will be made on or
around September 3, 2010. [US DOT via Ed Mayover]
- During the first six months of the FY '10 fiscal year, Amtrak carried a
record high of 13,619,770 passengers - a 4.3 percent increase over last year and
roughly 100,000 more than the same period in FY '08, when the company set its
all-time record for annual ridership. A slowly improving economy and continued
high fuel prices are contributing factors in ridership growth. Comparing March
2010 to March 2009, ridership increased by 13.5 percent to a record 2.47 million
passengers for the month. In addition, every single Amtrak route carried more
passengers, with several experiencing double-digit growth. [from Amtrak This
Week via Ed Thornton]
- The K-4 Locomotive # 1361 has attracted a lot of attention in Altoona over
the years. Despite a long an expensive effort to fully restore the steam
locomotive, it will be coming back as a non-working museum exhibit.
Built in Juniata shops back in 1918, this particular K-4 Locomotive long
served as a symbol of Altoona and the Altoona Railroader's Memorial Museum. The
Locomotive was on display for decades at the Horseshoe Curve before a
comprehensive effort to refurbish and restore it was mounted. But after years of
work, and a couple of million dollars devoted to the project, the K-4 remains
and pieces and that restoration effort has come to an end. It was back around
1996 that the historic locomotive was shipped off to the Steamtown repair shop
outside of Scranton.
Despite a lot of work done on the K-4 at that location, it's clear now the
K-4 Locomotive will never be back in full working condition. The board of the
Railroader's Museum decided at their last meeting that the K-4 restoration
effort was being put on hold. While the change will be disappointment to steam
train fans who wanted to see it return to the rails, museum officials say the
K-4 will still be a great exhibit. Museum officials are confident the K-4 will
add to their collection and attract a lot of attention. Still because the
locomotive will never be able to meet current Federal Rail safety standards and
return to service of any sort, there is disappointment for those who have long
been involved in the restoration effort.
The schedule for returning the K-4 to Altoona will depend on the progress of
a quarter round house building that slated for construction on the grounds of
the Altoona Railroader's Museum later this year. That building will be needed to
assemble and protect the new K-4 exhibit. (from http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=165025 via Ed Thornton)
- According to an article on progressiverailroading.com, Caltrain is
currently facing a multi-million-dollar deficit in FY2011 and beyond due to a
decline in ridership and reduced contributions from its partners Ñ the city and
county of San Francisco, San Mateo County Transit District and Santa Clara
Valley Transportation Authority. To make up the shortfall, the agency might have
to eliminate mid-day, night and weekend service. Caltrain currently operates
diesel-powered trains between San Francisco and Gilroy, Calif. According to the
agency, a "modern, electric-powered railroad" can provide faster, more frequent
service and, in turn, attract more riders and generate more revenue. They claim
that if Caltrain electrified its system, revenue would increase 49 percent by
2019, while operating costs would remain flat, officials believe. But, it would
cost more than $1.5 billion to electrify the corridor, improve signal systems,
and purchase new rolling stock. (via Tom Smith)
- On March 26 CSX freight train Q370 on the Cumberland-South Philadelphia run
derailed at about 11 a.m. on the B&O Old Main line near the intersection of
River and Gun roads, along the Baltimore-Howard county line in Patapsco Valley
State Park. Cars 13 through 20 derailed on the 60-car train, which was being
pulled by two locomotives. The cause was determined to be a broken rim. A CSX
spokesman said the train was hauling scrap, sheet rock and plastic materials. No
injuries were reported. (WBAL TV, March 26, 2010 via High Green via Tim
Moriarty)
- Metro to Add $8 Million Inspection Car to Fleet:
The Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has selected ENSCO, Inc. to create and build
a new rail car for the organization that would be used specifically to inspect
track conditions and locate potential safety hazards. The vehicle would be
automated and would be able to operate without interrupting rail service. The
rail car, which is projected to cost just under $8 million to construct, is
expected to be completed by 2012. The current Metro system includes a track
inspection already, but the tracks can only be examined while rail cars are
stopped and out of operation. Because the proposed rail inspection car would be
able to function during normal passenger hours, the expectation is that track
inspection would be much more frequent. (Sylvie Porter/E.W. Scripps Co., March
24, 2010 via Alex Mayes via High Green via Tim Moriarty)
- Bus Service May Replace NJT's Dinky: The Princeton Borough and Township
governments are considering a plan to replace the Dinky with a bus rapid transit
system. The Dinky train's whistle could soon fall silent, ending a
transportation tradition stretching back to the mid-19th century. The current
two-car Dinky train runs three miles from the edge of the University's campus to
the Princeton Junction train station, providing an access point to NJ Transit
and Amtrak routes on the Northeast Corridor train line. (Ameena Schelling/The
Princetonian, March 26th, 2010 via High Green via Tim Moriarty)
- Philly Rail Line Could Be Rolling By 2016: A waterfront rail line in
Philadelphia moved closer to reality as the Delaware River Port Authority
approved a $6.5-million contract for environmental studies and preliminary
design, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The work, expected to take about two
years, is to prepare the way for a proposed $500-million light-rail line in the
middle of Columbus Boulevard between Pier 70 and Girard Avenue. The line, which
could be operated by SEPTA or PATCO, would be designed to improve transportation
and spur development on the Philadelphia waterfront. It also would provide
service between two casinos planned for the riverfront, Foxwoods to the south
and SugarHouse to the north. A similar $9-million contract was approved last
year for preliminary design and environmental studies for a proposed
$1.5-billion, 18-mile light-rail extension between Camden and Glassboro. The
Philadelphia trolleys could be running by 2016 if federal funding is available,
port authority officials said. A Market Street light-rail line is proposed to
connect the waterfront line to Center City. The no-bid contract approved March
17 would allow the agency to pay up to $6.5 million to Parsons Brinckerhoff, the
engineering firm that earlier was awarded a $750,000 contract to evaluate route
proposals for the line. (Railway Track & Structures, March 18, 2010 via High
Green via Tim Moriarty)
- From NRHS TELEGRAPH - News For Leadership - VOLUME 40 NUMBER 2 April, 2010
Changes in NRHS Convention Management by Greg Molloy
There are two important points that I want everyone to understand.
The NRHS is not planning to get out of the convention business. As discussed
elsewhere in this issue of the Telegraph, the final details are being worked for
a well- patronized convention in Scranton in June. Planning is well underway for
the 2011 convention in Tacoma, and initial planning has begun for the 2012
convention in Cedar Rapids. NRHS management has reaffirmed our interest in
proposals for 2013 and beyond. In the short term, NRHS management efforts have
been focused on providing the support necessary to keep the 2010 and 2011 events
on track. We expect attention will return to longer-term projects shortly.
All management decisions and actions regarding the convention business have
been done for the good of the NRHS. Actions were taken for important business
reasons. These changes were not arbitrary, nor were they the result of personal
feuds or any other motives. All actions have been taken only after appropriate
consultations among NRHS management and legal staff, and all are consistent with
the NRHS Bylaws. We expect to keep the Board of Directors informed of further
developments, and to make additional public announcements as soon as it is
appropriate to do so.
- MARC Adjusts Schedule as Amtrak Track Work Impacts Penn Line: The Maryland
Transit Administration advises the public of an upcoming Amtrak project on the
Northeast Corridor between New Carrollton and Baltimore that will impact MARC
Train Penn line riders. This major track work project, replacing the crossties
on the northbound track, will require Penn Line schedule changes approximately
every 4-5 weeks for the next six months. (Railway Age, March 09, 2010 via High
Green via Tim Moriarty)
- [Maybe news, maybe Internetism, origin unknown, as yet unconfirmed, if true
- it will certainly appear elsewhere] On Sunday, May 2, Union Pacific maintenance
personnel removed from service the single remaining mechanically-operated switch
and its accompanying facing point lock at Ridgely Tower in Springfield,
Illinois. With this retirement, there are no longer any interlocking plants in
the USA which operate switches connected via iron pipe to the tower's strong-arm
levers - referred to as "Armstrong" by some. The principle of centralizing the
operation of switches and signals first originated in Britain in the 1850s, and
the principle of interlocking them to prevent unsafe sequences of operation
followed soon thereafter. The only form of power found practical in the
beginning was provided by the human body; as the towerman operated a lever, the
motion was transferred to in iron pipeline through bell cranks, slides ,
pulleys, etc., running up to several hundred feet to the signal or switch
operated by the lever. The pipeline had to be compensated for thermal expansion
and contraction as the ambient temperature changed, and it had to be regularly
lubricated and adjusted. Derailments could put the pipeline out of service or
knock the pipes out of alignment, making them difficult to operate. Snow along
the pipeline would often thaw and then freeze, causing difficulty. Proper
maintenance worked wonders, but even in the best of condition, the leverman
needed a strong back and strong arms to do his job - hence the nicknames given
to these levers. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to operate a number of
mechanical switches. The best operated with just a modest effort, but I can
attest that the worst were backbreakers. Sometimes it wasn't the sheer force
that mattered, but the right "twist" on the lever as it moved through its
quadrant. After being slightly short of breath after lining a dozen
hard-to-throw switches a few hundred feet away from the tower, it was rewarding
to pull the last lever and watch out the window as the semaphore blade moved
skyward with the motion of my hands. As various state legislatures passed laws
in the late 1880s and 1890s requiring a stop at crossings and junctions that
weren't equipped with interlockings, the number of interlocking plants
proliferated. At the top of the list was Hammond, Indiana 's State Line Tower,
built in 1897 and having 224 levers - the largest mechanical interlocking in
North America . By the start of the 20th century, hydraulic, pneumatic, and
electric power was being harnessed to operate railroad switches and signals. As
late as 1990, several dozen towers using brute mechanical force to throw
switches and clear signals remained in service. One by one they disappeared
Chicago's 75th Street in 1997, State Line in 2000, East Chicago's Grasselli in
2007. With the closing of CSX's towers in Hancock and Keyser, WV in 2008,
Springfield 's Ridgely Tower became the unlikely holder of the title "Last
Mechanically Operated Interlocking in the USA." But now there are none. There
are a few remaining towers that still use the old "strong-arm" levers; Dolton
and Calumet are the last two in the Chicago area, and there are but a couple
more scattered around the country. However, the mechanical pipeline at these
towers was severed long ago, and the old levers at these locations do little
more than open and close electrical circuits that operate the switches and
signals at trackside. Ridgely Tower itself is on borrowed time. The removal of
the last mechanically-operated appliances there Sunday was necessitated by the
work underway there to rearrange the crossing and interchange tracks between UP
(ex-GM&O) and I&M (ex-CI&M), and to eliminate the tower. The tower operators
have been served the formal notice required by their contract, stating that
their jobs will be abolished on or about June 7. When Ridgely closes some time
in June, an era will end for Springfield - a city that had five active
interlocking towers into the late Seventies. And one more vestige of the Chicago
& Alton 's heritage will be gone. But the era of mechanical interlocking plants
has already ended this weekend. That this technology originating around the time
of the Civil War persisted into the second decade of the 21st century is a
testament to the ingenuity of those who sought to ensure the safe operation of
trains long before electricity was harnessed and long before digital computers.
My hat is off in salute to those who designed, maintained, and operated this
fascinating equipment that played a significant role in the history of
railroading.
- Canadian transportation giant Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) says it is already
incorporating into its new railway car designs pending U.S. safety rules meant
to save lives during collisions.The new regulations set to take effect in March
will require manufacturers to make changes so their railway cars are better able
to withstand collisions. The changes announced in January are expected to cost
about $4.1 million over 20 years, mostly for testing and engineering. (from
AMERICAN RAIL LINK - JAN. 13, 2010 via Ed Mayover)
- A new street entrance to the underground corridors serving Grand Central
Terminal in New York City is being built on the south side of 47th Street midway
between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue. The new entrance will include a
reversible escalator connecting the street level to the 47th Street cross
passageway as well as a staircase from the street to the platform between Tracks
11 and 13 and from the platform down into the cross passageway. Currently the
east end of the 47th Street cross passageway has no outlet. The work is part of
MTA Long Island Rail Road's East Side Access project, which will bring LIRR
commuters from Long Island and Eastern Queens to the east side of Manhattan in a
new concourse being built under Grand Central Terminal. The 47th Street cross
passage runs directly below street level from Lexington Avenue to Madison Avenue
and has staircases that lead to every train platform on the upper level of Grand
Central. (From the 47th Street cross passage, people also can use two
north-south walkways to reach the 45th Street cross passage, which connects to
all lower level platforms.) People who work north of Grand Central use the north
end exits to save up to 15 minutes walking time to and from their offices. Work
will also take place at the south end of the platform where Track 13 will be
extended to the south due to the loss of some space at the north end of the
platform for the staircases and escalator. The purpose is to maintain a
10-car-length platform. The work, now under way, will cost $14 million and take
20 months to complete. During construction, this platform will be out of
service. When LIRR's East Side Access project is complete in December 2016,
there also will be a connection between the new LIRR Concourse and the west end
of the 47th Street cross passage to allow LIRR commuters the benefit of a
shortcut in a weather-protected environment. The new entrance comes up inside
the lobby of 245 Park Avenue, which occupies the block between 46th and 47th
streets between Park and Lexington avenues. The entrance, which will open in
September 2011, will be a glass storefront on the south side of 47th Street
mid-block.
- The National Capital Trolley Museum reopened at their new location on
January 16,2010 after being closed for 13 months. The new facility is located a
half mile from the previous location, in a $20 million complex funded by the
state of Maryland. The relocation was required by the construction of the Inter
County Connector expressway, which is being built through the site of the
previous location. The new facility is a significant improvement over the
previous one, with three new large brick buildings which include a visitors'
center, car bam, and trolley maintenance and storage building. The museum's main
trolley line also had to be located, as well as the overhead catenary. The new
3/4 mile trolley line was not in full operation as of late March, however is
expected to be completed by mid-June 2010, Short trolley rides are currently
provided on an oval track in front of the visitors center until the main line is
completed. There are currently 14 streetcars in the museum's collection; six
that operated in Washington D.C., two from other U.S. cities, and six from
foreign countries. The interior of the new visitors' center is filled with
interesting historical displays and murals describing several long-abandoned
trolley systems from the local area, and an operating 0 scale model trolley
layout. Visitors to the museum can take a trolley ride and a guided tour of the
car bam to see and walk through some of their historic streetcars. The museum is
located near Wheaton, MD at 1313 Bonifant Road, Colesville, MD 20905. They are
open on weekends throughout the year from noon until 5:00 PM, and on some
holidays. Their operating days and hours are subject to change, and visitors
should call (301) 384-6088 or visit their website at http://www.dctrolley.org/
to confirm operating days and hours. (Alex Mayes via Baltimore Chapter's
Interchange)
- It's a whole lot quieter in Penn Station these days - no whirring sounds,
no clickety-clack of an old-fashioned, mechanical signboard bringing the news
that your train is 20 minutes late. In place of the iconic board above the main
desk at Baltimore's Amtrak station, there now hangs a large digital board that
works intermittently as it undergoes testing. Like so many other familiar
inventions of the Industrial Age, the flip-flapping signboards are going the way
of the steam engine in rail stations around the world. (Baltimore Sun web sire
via Baltimore Chapter's Interchange)
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.
May 7-December?, 2010 History of Railroading in Delaware @ Delaware History
Museum504 Market Street - Wilmington, DE 19801, For More Information: deinfo@dehistory.org
or call (302) 655-7161
May 8, 2010 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m National Train Day Washington, DC
Philadelphia, PA,
Washington, D.C. - Meet and Greet with the National Spokesperson
Philadelphia, PA - Baseball Junction: The History of Baseball and the American
Railroad
Both - - Train Equipment Displays, Model Train Displays ,AmtraKids Depot,
Go-Green Express: Eco Exhibit National Park
Service Trails & Rails Exhibit, Snapshot Station, Trains Move our Economy
Exhibit, Amtrak Brand Display - Enjoy the
journey¨ - - for info
http://www.nationaltrainday.com/
May 21, 2010 Opening of New Exhibit - Railroads of Chadds Ford PA, Community
Open House Event 5:30-8:30 PM, Chadds Ford Historical Society
http://www.chaddsfordhistory.org/
May 21 - 23, 2010 Conrail Days @ RR Museum of
PA The Consolidated Rail Corporation arose from a federal bail out
of the railroad industry in the 1970s to become a profitable and
successful private enterprise. The equipment, history and spirit of
Conrail will be highlighted, in partnership with the Conrail Historical
Society.
June 4 - 6, 2010 Pennsylvania Railroad Pennsy
Days @ RR Museum of PA Discover the rich heritage of the famous
Pennsylvania Railroad, the "Standard Railroad of the World." Noted
railroad artists, photographers and authors display and sell their
works. Special presentations, operating layouts, memorabilia and tours
of "Pennsy" equipment are featured. See here for details.
June 6, 2010 Hamburg Dutch Train Meet Hamburg Fire Co. Field House, Pine St.,
Hamburg, PA.
June 12, 2010 MA and PA Day @ RR Museum of PA
View amazing models trains, historic photographs and artifacts on
display today by members of the Maryland & Pennsylvania "MA & PA"
Railroad Historical Society. 2009 Details.
June 22-26, 2010 NRHS National Convention
Scranton, PA (Radisson & Hilton Hotels) "Endless Mountain Rails"
hosted by Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter -
www.endlessmountainrails.com
June 26-27, 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.
June 30 through July 5, 2010 Reading Railroad
Days @ RR Museum of PA Regular Museum hours. Enjoy the remarkable
Reading Railroad trains of eastern Pennsylvania history through tours of
Reading Company equipment, a huge, operating model railroad and special
presentations.
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 May 20, 2010 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by special guest John Meisea member of the Chesapeake Railway Association
will present a program about "Railroading on the DelMarVa Peninsula"
program arranged thanks to the personal efforts of Ed Thornton
Thursday June 17, 2010 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Tom Smith entitled
"Off the Main Line" --shortlines, industrials and tourist roads in the Northwest
Thursday July 15, 2010 7 PM Chapter Outing? in lieu of meeting - Juniata
Terminal?
Thursday August 29, 2010 7 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. TBD , 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
Back
To Wilmington Chapter Web Site