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THE TRANSFER TABLE
The
Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition
| VOLUME 34 NUMBER 02 | JUNE 2011 |
Back To Wilmington Chapter Web Site
FEBRUARY 17, 2011 MEETING NOTES
Vice President Dave Watterson called the meeting to order at 7 PM in the absence of the President. The minutes were approved as read by Secretary Dan Frederick. The Treasurer's Report was approved as read by Treasurer Dave Warner. There were no reports from the National/Trip Director. There were 16 members present. Dave Watterson reported on progress for the NRHS National Directors "Fall Conference meeting. For the evening's Do-It-Yourself presentations, we saw slides of South Dakota from Phil Snyder. Dan Frederick brought slides of Medina in 1986, the Port Road, and a 1983 trip to Norfolk.
Frank Ferguson shared slides of AMTRAK. Ed Thornton surprised us with slides from the mid-1980s of Strasburg, the Broadway in West Virginia, and the N&W in Kelly's Creek. Dave Warner brought 1971 views of Pittsburgh trolleys. Red Stees had views of the Red Arrow line in snow in 1978 and Sharron Hill in the 1960s. Finally, Carlton Walker came all of the way up from Camden, DE to share a story of "operations" on the Lake Shore Limited in 1976. All great contributions to a Do-It-Yourself'er!
MARCH 17, 2011 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 approved as read by Treasurer Dave Warner. Mike & Dave reported on plans for the NRHS Director's Conference in October. They are finalizing trips, buses, etc. Registration information will be available at the Spring Director's meeting. Tom Posatko reported on the reopening of the Wilmington Train Station.
Phil Snyder presented his famous "25 Years Ago" program. This installment included a night photo session at the Wilmington & Western, the Bear Shops, and the Wilmington Shops. We saw AMTRAK #900, an AEM-7, before the crash in Maryland. We also got to see Cheyenne, WY in June 2010, the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, and even Ottumwa, Iowa. A wonderful presentation for all present.
APRIL 21, 2011 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 approved as read by Treasurer Dave Warner. Mike Burkhart gave an update on plans for the NRHS Director's Conference in October. They have paid the hotel deposit and will put a deposit on the buses soon (straining the treasury a bit). Flyers are ready to be distributed at the Director's meeting in the Mid-West.
Mike Burkhart gave a presentation of slides mostly from 2003 (with some from 2004). We saw CP in South Philadelphia, as well as AMTRAK, NS, and Conrail. We also got to Sacramento, San Francisco, Toronto, and Dallas. We saw our very own 2004 Super Saturday Trip and even "Baldwin Day" at the SMS. An excellent assortment enjoyed by the 12 members present.
MAY 19, 2011 MEETING NOTES
President Mike Burkhart called the meeting to order at 7 PM - but in the Naamans Room (because the Darley Room is under construction). The minutes were approved as read by Secretary Dan Frederick. The Treasurer's Report was approved as read by Treasurer Dave Warner. National Director Steve Barry reported that the upcoming member's meeting is critical as they will decide upon the proposed revisions to the by-laws for running the organization. Mike Burkhart indicated that we have signed the contract for the buses. John Iwasyk spoke about the first new office building at the Wilmington & Western in 29 years which is planned to have a Museum Room and an Archives Room. Jay Herring spoke to us about the Friends of the Furness Railroad District's new "History Wall" in the Wilmington Train Station. He also mentioned that the Wilmington & Western had 29,000 riders last year.
After we all had a chance to view some of the wonderful photos that various members brought to the evening's Do-It-Yourself program, the lights went out for the 17 members to view some slides. Frank Ferguson presented views of SEPTA & AMTRAK in Newark, DE as well as shots from Lititz, PA and Perryville, MD. Dave Warner's contributions included a June 1975 trip from Harrisburg to shoot trolleys in Pittsburgh including Train #70 in McKeesport. Mike Burkhart brought images of Puerto Rice and the Dominican Republic as well as slides of AMTRAK, the Autotrain, and VRE plus Stone Mountain, GA and the rededication of the Wilmington Railroad Station. Bruce Barry shared computer images of NJ, VA, New Orleans, Memphis, Florida, Chicago, and St. Louis. Finally, Steve Barry projected his own computer images of Strasburg engine #475 made up to look like Norfolk & Western #382 at dawn with a side trip to the East Broad Top for dust and night shots. Another excellent "showing" by many members on a Do-It-Yourself night!
! ! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ! !
How about contributing a little time and effort to your Chapter to help out? With all of your local knowledge, you could contribute to a positive experience for our out-of-town visitors! You could help with the many behind-the-scenes preparations that are necessary or the up-front activities of greeting and hosting.
We need Chapter Members to step up and help out with preparations before and to provide assistance during the National Director's meeting that we be hosting October 27-30, 2011 Please contact Dave Warner to sign up to help out at: 302-762-2389 ordavid.warner@comcast.net
Volunteers Needed
to Support NRHS Fall 2011 Conference
Happy Halloween!
Yes, you read that right. Happy Halloween.
That is the feeling we hope all chapter members will be feeling on Oct. 31, 2011 as we bask in the satisfaction of successfully hosting the NRHS Fall 2011 Conference.
The Fall 2011 Conference will be held at the Wilmington Downtown DoubleTree Hotel from Friday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Oct. 30. We anticipate approximately 80 directors will attend the event.
The primary reason for the conference is the fall Board of Directors' meeting, which will take place on Sunday morning, Oct. 30. However, the weekend is full of events. Two rail trips are planned. On Friday afternoon we hope to operate a charter on the West Chester Railroad, and on Saturday morning a trip between Richland and Tuckahoe on the Cape May Seashore Lines is in the works.
All three days of the conference include meetings. On Friday afternoon an NRHS staff meeting will be held in the Doubletree Hotel, and in the evening the Regional Vice Presidents will meet. On Saturday, after the charter trip returns, a working session with the directors is held. The main hotel event, a banquet with keynote speaker, occurs on Saturday evening.
As you can see, it is going to be a busy weekend, and we will need "all hands on deck" to make the weekend a success. While it is a bit soon for exact requirements to be listed, please consider holding open the final weekend of October to help your chapter support our visitors.
Among the needs identified for people is the registration table that will be open nearly all day on Friday and Saturday, as well as much of Thursday afternoon to support early arrivals. Tour buses - likely two - will be used to transport attendees to the rail trips, and each bus will need a host. During the meetings someone will be needed to stand by and assist with whatever requirements may come up. Similar assistance will be needed at the banquet.
There is a lot do be done before the conference, too. From finding items to be given out in the welcome package to helping arrange the trips and transportation. Even though the meeting is eight months away, we have to have the main details finalized no later than the end of May so we can publicize the conference at the 2011 NRHS Annual Convention being held in Tacoma, Wash. Ideally, we will have everything set up by April so we can have brochures available at the Spring 2011 Conference.
If you are interested in helping out, please contact David Warner at david.warner@comcast.net or Mike Burkhart at m.t.burkhart@rcn.com. We will be discussing the conference at all Chapter Meetings until the "big event."
From The Editor
There was a special exhibit at the Delaware state archives called " All Aboard! The Delaware Public Archives Celebrates the History of the Railroad." This four day free event celebrated the posting of the entire Jackson and Sharp Photograph and Drawings Collection to the Delaware Public Archives website. Jackson and Sharp was a company in Wilmington Delaware that built railroad cars and ships from 1863 to 1950. The collection includes more than 4,000 images. To see the images go to http://www.archives.delaware.gov/and on left side - select "Digital Archives," then select "photographs," and look under "Jackson And Sharp Collection."Then go back to "Digital Archives" and select "100 Stories" and select "Image Gallery." Then under "Air, Land, Sea" click on the one that says "hours" and the one before it and click on the first item in the second row under "Other Stories.".
NEWS BITS
Prior to its May 1 anniversary, Amtrak will paint six locomotives in four older schemes. The first "heritage unit," P42 No. 145, was painted in Amtrak's Phase III, red, white, and blue block striping, and released into general service on Jan. 30.
P42 No. 156's first revenue trip in its retro scheme occurred yesterday, when it brought the Hoosier State from Indianapolis to Chicago.
The paint scheme revival is a collaborative effort between Amtrak's industrial design team in Delaware and the Beech Grove shop. The design team drafted prints for how each P42 locomotive would look in the revived paint schemes, while the painters and stencilers at Beech Grove brought the old schemes to life and solved tricky details to adapt schemes designed for older locomotive shapes to the chiseled carbodies of today's GE-built P42s. The locomotive received three coats of DuPont Imron paint (and four coats of black), about 50 gallons of paint in all. The Amtrak arrow is a stencil, with clear coating over it. (Trains Magazine will have a story about how Amtrak adapted its older schemes to new locomotives in the May 2011 issue.)All of the retro-styled locomotives will be completed in time for National Train Day on May 7, 2011. Among the events Amtrak has planned for National Train Day will be the launch of a special 40th anniversary exhibit train that will tour the country, pulled by P40 No. 822 and F40PH No. 406, both of which will wear the tricolor "Phase III" striping.
Other locomotives slated for repainting include:
+ P42 No. 66, which will wear the Phase II scheme introduced in 1975 on GE-built P30CH diesels and E60 electrics, featuring large red and blue stripes flanking a small white stripe.
+ P42 No. 184, which will wear the Phase IV paint scheme that debuted on Superliner II cars in 1993, featuring a large blue stripe beneath red and white pinstripes.
+ P42 No. 163 will represent today's Phase V scheme introduced in 2000-2001 with the launch of Amtrak's Acela trainsets.
As each locomotive becomes available for service, Amtrak will issue a Twitter message at twitter.com/Amtrak and post a photo in the Photos tab on its Facebook page at facebook.com/Amtrak. Amtrak will launch a special 40th anniversary website this spring, and announce additional information about other anniversary activities as the events approach. [AMTRAK News Release via Ed Thornton]
State Rail Plan Goals - Using this vision as a foundation, six broad goals for Delaware's rail transportation system were identified and used to shape the SRP and lead to development of objectives and strategies.
1. Provide mechanisms for continuous safety and security on all rail modes.
2. Preserve the existing network and provide additional capacity to maintain and improve Delaware's important link in regional and national rail networks.
3. Seamlessly integrate passenger and freight rail with other modes, including transit, ports and aviation.
4. Work with other states and stakeholders to advance improvements in rail transportation through partnerships and innovative funding opportunities.
5. Promote the energy efficiency of rail transportation and educate the public, elected officials, and others on the environmental benefits of rail as well as the economic development opportunities it creates.
6. Contribute to the decision-making process with local governments and landowners to preserve rail corridors and potential station areas for future investment.
Delaware's Shortline Railroads - In addition to NS and CSX there are four shortline carriers that serve Delaware providing feeder service for customers not served directly by NS or CSX.
These include:
Wilmington & Western Railroad - The Wilmington & Western Railroad (WWRC) is a freight and heritage railroad in northern Delaware, operating over a CSX predecessor railroad, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), branch between Wilmington and Hockessin. The WWRC serves northern New Castle County from the CSX mainline.
East Penn Railroad - The East Penn Railroad (ESPN) is a short-line railroad that operates a number of lines in Pennsylvania and Delaware. The ESPN owns and operates 10 miles of track in northern New Castle County. The ESPN railroad intersects with the CSX mainline at Elsmere Junction in Delaware.
Maryland & Delaware Railroad - The Maryland & Delaware Railroad (MDDE) is a shortline railroad operating on the Delmarva Peninsula with connections to the NS network. Headquartered in Federalsburg, Maryland, the MDDE operates over 120 miles of track in Delaware and Maryland with 16 of these miles in Delaware. The MDDE lines connect with the NS Network at Townsend, Seaford and Frankford.
Delaware Coastline Railroad - The Delaware Coastline Railroad (DCLR) is another short line railroad operating on the Delmarva Peninsula with 23 miles of track in Sussex County. The DCLR intersect with NS in Georgetown and Ellendale, Delaware. The track is owned by the State of Delaware and managed by the Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC).
Full report at: http://deldot.gov/information/pubs_forms/srp/srp_final_draft_executive_summary.pdf [DelDOT Press Release via Ed Thornton]
For example, last year Amtrak awarded two major equipment contracts. One is for 130 single-level cars to replace the oldest cars in the fleet and provide increased capacity for long- distance trains. The other is for 70 electric locomotives to replace all those now in use on the Northeast and Keystone Corridors to improve reliability and support future service expansion.
The updated plan also provides more detail on the recent Amtrak announcement that the railroad intends to begin procurement in fiscal year 2012 of 40 additional Acela Express cars to increase capacity on all 20 existing high-speed trainsets, if funding is identified. New to the plan is discussion about development work now underway to support more frequent Acela service with the acquisition of a new fleet of high-speed trainsets to expand Amtrak's premium service.
There is also an extensive update on the work of the Next Generation Equipment Committee, a partnership between Amtrak, states, the Federal Railroad Administration and industry participants. The group has generated specifications for new corridor equipment including a bi-level car, a single-level car and a high-speed diesel locomotive. Amtrak will use these specifications in coming rounds of equipment procurement.The plan provides Amtrak with a flexible and adaptable strategy to fleet development to meet demand for service now and in the future, and support the growth of a domestic manufacturing base vital for the success of intercity passenger rail in America.It will be posted on Amtrak.com under the Comprehensive Business Plan section. [AMTRAK Press Release dated April 1, 2011 via Ed Thornton]
The $3.1 million project will take approximately six months to complete. When completed, there will be nearly two miles of continuous fencing from Martin Boulevard to Stemmers Run Road. Individuals may use the pedestrian underpass at Martin Boulevard, which will also be improved as part of the project, to safely cross to the other side of the tracks. The Middle River community is located about 11 miles north of Baltimore and is within the busy Northeast Corridor home to frequent and daily Amtrak train service. The section of track where the fence is being installed includes Acela Express and Northeast Regional service which operate at speeds up to 125 mph as well as some freight train traffic. [AMTRAK news release via Ed Mayover]
The SRP identifies the Delaware goals for freight and passenger rail as elements of the overall transportation system. Much of the SRP text comprises an inventory of railroads operating in the state, their tracks and facilities, commodities and customers, and passenger services and stations. The SRP identifies opportunities for expanded service as well as potential chokepoints and other obstacles. The Plan summarizes projects currently underway and those recently completed, some of which may serve as models for future public-private partnerships. The state plan discusses DelDOT's organization for managing rail-related activities and cooperation with private rail companies, neighboring states, and regional partnerships. The SRP concludes with a listing of all identified potential rail improvements and areas for further study.
The SRP can be viewed on DartFirstState.com in the DART Programs menu, and under Transportation Programs. Public comment can also be made via the DART website or by mail. Comments may also be made by telephone by calling 800-652-DART. After the public comment period concludes on May 16th, and approved by the Acting Secretary of DelDOT, the final plan will be filed with the Federal Railroad Administration, and placed on the DART website.
DART First State is the bus, train, and intermodal transportation provider for all of Delaware. The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. DART First State services include contracted SEPTA commuter trains, intercounty bus, fixed route bus, Paratransit, seasonal resort bus, commuter assistance, Operation Lifesaver rail crossing safety and trespasser awareness programs, and the RideShare Delaware ridematching program. For public information for all fixed route services statewide, please call 1-800-652-DART. More information is available on the web at www.DartFirstState.com. For media inquiries, please call DelDOT Public Relations at 302-760-2080 or visit www.deldot.gov. [State of Delaware - DART First State Press Release -- April 29, 2011 via Ed Mayover]
GE anticipates launching its formal hiring process for both salaried employees and production workers for the Texas facility later this year. Production workers include welders, assemblers, painters and related skilled labor. GE Transportation will create more than 500 new high-tech manufacturing jobs in Texas by 2012 with the potential of up to 275 additional jobs in subsequent years.
The proposed location in Fort Worth will become final upon conclusion of pending local approval. The State of Texas will commit up to $4.2 million in incentives toward the project through the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF). GE Transportation's new manufacturing site in the U.S. will complement its existing manufacturing operations in North America. With market conditions improving, GE Transportation has recalled approximately 800 production workers at its Erie manufacturing facility since late 2010 and announced 450 new jobs since April (including those announced today). In total, more than 4,500 employees work at the Erie facility, including approximately 3,000 production workers. GE Transportation operates at more than 50 GE and customer facilities in the United States.GE employs approximately 9,000 individuals in the state of Texas. GE companies contribute more than $800 million in form of payroll and benefits to the state's economy annually.GE Transportation recently reported $903 million in first-quarter revenues, up 18% year-over-year. Segment profits for the same period were $157 million, up 37% year-over-year. GE Transportation received $938 million of orders in the first quarter demonstrating both technology leadership and product innovation.
GE Transportation is the maker of the Evolution¨ Series locomotive. It reduces fuel use by 5 percent or approximately 640,000 gallons over the lifetime of the locomotive, while reducing emissions by approximately 40 percent. The Evolution Series locomotive is one of GE's most prominent ecomagination products. Ecomagination is a GE-wide business strategy that is helping to meet customer demand for more energy-efficient products, while generating profitable growth for the company. Currently, approximately 17,000 GE locomotives are in use in more than 50 countries around the world, including more than 4,100 Evolution Series locomotives. [GE Press Release]
NJ TRANSIT uses diesel locomotives to operate rail service in non-electrified territories, which includes the Pascack Valley, Main/Bergen County and Raritan Valley lines, as well the North Jersey Coast Line between Long Branch and Bay Head and Montclair-Boonton and Morris & Essex lines west of Dover. Nearly 40 percent of the state's commuter rail system is non-electrified. Delivery of the dual-powered locomotives is expected to be completed by late 2012.
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 895,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia. [NJT Press Release via Ed Mayover]
As a result, Amtrak top speeds will increase from 135 mph to 160 mph along a 24-mile section of track. Combined with new equipment acquisition currently in the planning stages, the project supports plans to add six more Acela Express high-speed roundtrips between New York and Washington by 2018 and a total of 15 additional roundtrips by 2022 - doubling high-speed service from current levels. In addition to the $450 million received by Amtrak, several states were awarded a total of $345 million for other NEC-specific projects each of which are vital for the reliability and capacity of the current NEC network. Amtrak worked closely with its state partners along the NEC during the application process to coordinate projects in order to maximize the expected regional improvements. Amtrak also is encouraged that the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding funding to states for other projects in the Northeast, the Midwest and in California that will benefit current Amtrak services and are critical building blocks for expanded and higher speed intercity passenger rail service across the nation.Celebrating 40 years of dedicated service as America's Railroad, Amtrak is the nation's intercity passenger rail provider and its only high-speed rail operator. A record 28.7 million passengers traveled on Amtrak in FY 2010 on more than 300 daily trains - at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph) - that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak operates trains in partnership with 15 states and four commuter rail agencies. Amtrak also is a strong financial performer achieving an 85 percent cost-recovery ratio in FY 2010. [AMTRAK Press Release via Ed Mayover]
Frequency Converter Station Expansion: Metuchen, NJThe project will provide an approximate 25% increase in the capacity of electrical power available from the Metuchen converter station. The project is needed to improve reliability of existing operations and to support the increased power loads that result from the larger number of trains envisioned by 2022.New Substations: Newark, NJ and Trenton, NJSubstations step-down voltage from high-capacity transmission lines to power railroad systems. Two new substations are required in New Jersey to support the higher speeds and levels of service envisioned for this section of the Corridor.
Catenary Upgrades: Newark, NJ to Philadelphia, PAThis project includes modifications to the overhead power supply, or "catenary" system, to support higher operating speeds and levels of service. Intermediate support structures for overhead wires will be installed between New Brunswick and Trenton to shorten the spans between supporting poles. The shorter spans are less sensitive to weather extremes, facilitate speeds of up to 160 mph, and will improve operating reliability for both intercity and commuter trains.
Signal Upgrades: New Brunswick, NJ and Trenton, NJ The project will upgrade the power supply to the signal system and install other signaling equipment to allow higher speeds and improved capacity utilization.
"A" Interlocking: Penn Station New York
"A" Interlocking, at the western entrance of the Penn Station, is a critical junction where trains merge or diverge as they approach the station (or Hudson River Tunnels from the opposite direction). This project will upgrade crossover locations to permit 30 mph moves, doubling speeds compared to the current 15 mph restriction, and creating additional throughput capability at one of the most congested points on the corridor.
Midway Interlocking Reconstruction: New Brunswick - Princeton Junction, NJ
The project will install a high-speed universal crossover at Midway Interlocking north of Princeton Junction to provide operating flexibility, improved capacity utilization and faster clearing times for NJ Transit and Amtrak trains operating on this segment of the Corridor.
Track Upgrades and Curve Improvements: New Brunswick, NJ - Morrisville, PA
The project will upgrade track and straighten curves, in some cases replacing wooden ties with concrete, in support of higher speeds, improved capacity utilization and helping to minimize to minimize track outages and maintenance requirements on this heavily trafficked section of the corridor. [AMTRAK Press Release via Ed Mayover]
Furthermore, Amtrak is a partner in the 8th World Congress on High-Speed Rail that will be held in the United States in July 2012. As a partner with the International Union of Railways, the American Public Transportation Association and the Association of American Railroads, Amtrak will host the world congress in Philadelphia. The event is expected to attract some 2,000 attendees worldwide to exchange views on the development and achievements of high-speed rail. [AMTRAK Press Release via Ed Mayover]
Train 48 Effective Dates Train 49 Effective DatesMay 21 through May 26 May 22 through May 27May 28 through June 2 May 29 through June 3June 4 through June 9 June 5 through June 9June 11 through June 16 June 12 through June 16Boston Back Bay Service Suspended On these dates, service will not be provided to or from Boston Back Bay.
Passengers may contact MBTA for travel to and from Boston Back Bay. For reservations and information, visit Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245). [via Ed Mayover]
Since its initial publication last year, the plan is updated throughout to reflect the current state of the fleet, programs that are underway and changes in the larger business environment.
For example, last year Amtrak awarded two major equipment contracts. One is for 130 single-level cars to replace the oldest cars in the fleet and provide increased capacity for long- distance trains. The other is for 70 electric locomotives to replace all those now in use on the Northeast and Keystone Corridors to improve reliability and support future service expansion.
The updated plan also provides more detail on the recent Amtrak announcement that the railroad intends to begin procurement in fiscal year 2012 of 40 additional Acela Express cars to increase capacity on all 20 existing high-speed trainsets, if funding is identified. New to the plan is discussion about development work now underway to support more frequent Acela service with the acquisition of a new fleet of high-speed trainsets to expand Amtrak's premium service.
There is also an extensive update on the work of the Next Generation Equipment Committee, a partnership between Amtrak, states, the Federal Railroad Administration and industry participants. The group has generated specifications for new corridor equipment including a bi-level car, a single-level car and a high-speed diesel locomotive. Amtrak will use these specifications in coming rounds of equipment procurement.
The plan provides Amtrak with a flexible and adaptable strategy to fleet development to meet demand for service now and in the future, and support the growth of a domestic manufacturing base vital for the success of intercity passenger rail in America.It will be posted on Amtrak.com under the Comprehensive Business Plan section. [AMTRAK Press Release]http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/Page/1241245669222/1237608345018
Alco Rigged for Movement to Fort Eustis: In mid- December an ex-Army Alco RSD1 that hauled freight through Iran to the Soviet Union during World War II was being rigged for movement from the from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania to the Army's Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, VA. Instead of moving on its own trucks, it was loaded atop a XTTX flatcar, with its trucks on a second flatcar. The cars are numbered XTTX 142440 and XTTX 142454. The accompanying photo shows the locomotive, sans trucks, being loaded aboard a flatcar for shipment south. Hutchinson/United was in charge of securing the locomotive. Routing was anticipated to be via Harrisburg, Roanoke, to Petersburg, and then interchange with CSX for delivery to Fort Eustis. Following its arrival, it will be restored to early 1940s Army colors. [from Washington Chapter's High Green January 2011]
Currently, the dramatic changes in temperature in Rolling Stock Hall over the course of a year vary as much as 70 degrees, which can be particularly hard on our wooden trains and fragile artifacts. Now we will be able to keep the collections at a relatively stable temperature and humidity level. This project involves the renovation of portions of the Museum's existing and outdated HVAC system as well as the installation of a new geothermal heating and cooling system for Rolling Stock Hall. Approximately 125 geothermal wells will be drilled on the property to provide the necessary heating and cooling functionality for the structure. The roof of Rolling Stock Hall also will be rebuilt and insulated, and new skylights will be installed to maximize energy efficiency and natural lighting. New energy efficient, insulated doors will replace the current rollup doors at the west end of the hall. [News Release]
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has been working collaboratively with states to move grants from "award to obligation," ensuring high-speed intercity passenger rail projects can get underway and put American people to work. The more than $300 million invested and released to states this week includes:
California Department of Transportation - Four projects totaling more than $22 million. A $13 million grant will refurbish 15 locomotives and upgrade engines to reduce emissions. An $8.2 million investment will go for several coach cars on the San Joaquin Corridor and Capitol Corridor. $950,000 will provide for preliminary engineering and environmental work on the Pacific Surfliner to Ortega. And $200,000 will provide for planning of the Pacific Surfliner route from San Diego to Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo.Connecticut - A $40 million investment to upgrade the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail corridor will provide for 10 miles of double track to be installed on the Amtrak-owned, New Haven-Springfield corridor. This will help to decrease delays and improve travel time and reliability for both freight and passenger service along the corridor.
Maryland/Baltimore Tunnel - For one of the largest choke points in the Northeast Corridor, $60 million will fund a preliminary engineering and environmental analysis to study the replacement and augmentation of the 100-year old B&P Tunnel on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (NEC). This would seek to eliminate a major bottleneck in performance and reliability for the NEC.
Missouri - Three projects totaling $3.8 million. A $500,000 grant to develop Missouri's State Rail Plan, establishing priorities that enhance passenger and freight rail services. A $1.4 million investment will improve 13 highway-rail at-grade crossings between Sedalia and Kansas City. $1.9 million will provide for preliminary engineering and environmental analysis to design and construct a second main track from Lee's Summit to Pleasant Hill delivering faster speeds and increased reliability.
New Jersey/Portal Bridge - This 100-year-old, bridge is one of the most heavily-traveled bridges in the country. $38.5 million will provide for the final design of the new bridge to alleviate delays to Northeast Corridor passenger service, increasing capacity and improving reliability. Washington - A $145 million investment will fund rail corridor improvements and new equipment for the Cascades route from Vancouver to Blain. This will ultimately provide more frequent and efficient passenger rail service between Portland and Vancouver, B.C.
Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority - $600,000 will provide for a study to examine the feasibility of expanding the Downeaster line with increased service frequency, higher speeds, and reduced travel times. The study will also examine expanding the proposed service extension to Brunswick, ME, as well as Auburn, ME. New York - A $3.3 million investment will add track and rail capacity in the congested Upstate New York area for Amtrak's Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express services near the Village of Ballston Spa.
West Virginia -$1 million will create a State rail plan to establish strategies for rail services that benefit the public and businesses, while guiding priorities for the State's investments in rail.
To date, approximately $5.7 billion dollars has been obligated throughout the country for rail projects funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act and annual appropriations. President Obama's vision is to connect 80 percent of Americans to high-speed rail within the next 25 years. This strategic investment is putting America on track towards that goal, providing rail access to new communities and improving the reliability, speed and frequency of existing lines.
A "Buy America" requirement for high-speed rail projects also ensures that U.S. manufacturers and workers will receive the maximum economic benefits from this federal investment. And, in 2009, Secretary LaHood secured a commitment from 30 foreign and domestic rail manufacturers to employ American workers and locate or expand their base of operations in the U.S. if they are selected for high-speed-rail contracts. [US DOT Press Release via Ed Mayover]
National Railway Equipment, which bills itself as being the largest independent rebuilder of locomotives, and which is located here in Mt. Vernon, has been the target of copper thieves on two occasions recently. One burglary zeroed in on locomotives, where wiring was removed. On another occasion, a roll of copper wire was taken. I understand that the IL legislature recently passed a new law making the theft of copper a felony. Not sure if that will stop the problem or not.
The other piece of bad news is that Mt. Vernon's old L & N station will soon come down. It is a very large wooden structure with three imposing brick chimneys poking out from the roof. The roof has been compromised in some places, allowing water to enter the building, It is also infested with a number of undesirable residents, I am told. But the place has an important place in Mt. Vernon's history, being located only a block west of the Appelate Court building, which was built in 1857, and in which Abraham Lincoln presented a case. I have parishioners who can vividly recall Harry Truman's whistle stop campaign visit during the 1958 presidential campaign. But, though passenger service lasted until the Amtrak era, the building is now beyond repair. Attempts to locate businesses in the station some years ago came to nothing. [Gene Tucker via Walkersville Southern RR Newsletter via Ed Thornton
Passengers entering Union Station can once again obtain train departure and arrival information from the Main Hall of the station. The new board is 9'6" tall, 15'5" wide and 8" in depth, and replaces a twenty-year older version which ceased to operate in October of 2009. The train information board and nearly 60 new electronic signs were installed throughout the station. The new signs were carefully developed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and demonstrate a continuing effort towards improved customer service. Many of the features, including the viewing angles and character/ line attributes of the text, addition of train service logos and the height of the signs were all designed to better provide train status information. Additional funding for the installation of the train information board was provided by the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation. [AMTRAK Press Release via Ed Mayover]
Replacement of the Railroad Bridge over the Pattaganset River (Miamicock) - The $20 million Miamicock Bridge Replacement Project is being funded by the American Recovery and Investment Act (ARRA) and is in its final stages with an anticipated completion date by the end of June. This work will result in smoother and more reliable service for passengers after the construction of the new railroad bridge. The project included removal of the existing 100 year old bridge and substructure, and construction of the new bridge on footings supported by piles driven to bedrock. This project was unique in that construction was completed on each track in phases while train service remained active on the adjacent track.
Niantic Bridge Replacement Project - The $125 million Niantic Bridge Replacement Project in East Lyme remains on pace for completion in May, 2013, with significant progress made this winter to replace the existing 103-year old span. The three year project began in April, 2010. It is being funded by $47.1 million from Amtrak's annual capital program and $57.6 million from ARRA. Crews are preparing to begin: construction of a new navigation channel bridge pier fender system;
installation of an electrical submarine cable crossing under the navigation channel and between the river piers; and completion of the concrete river piers, bridge abutments and the pre-cast of a concrete sea wall. All of this work is to be completed by the end of this year.
East and West Harbor Railroad Bridge Project - Construction at this site in Stonington resumed last month after a brief hiatus. Work on the $32 million bridge replacement project is being performed by new contractor Cianbro. The East and West Harbor Bridges each received $16 million in ARRA funding for their removal and replacement with new bridges, steel spans, concrete piers, and headwalls. As a result of the work, the bridges will have increased in its vertical clearance under the bridge which will improve access north of the railroad for local boaters to Lambert's Cove - a goal long sought by the Stonington community. [AMTRAK press release via Ed Mayover]
FALL 2011 NRHS Conference and Board of Directors Meeting
October 27-30, 2011
The Wilmington Chapter will be hosting the fall NRHS Conference and Board of Directors Meeting on October 28-30, 2011. We expect approximately 80 directors to attend of weekend of meetings and interesting rail trips. The weekend events will begin on Friday, Oct. 28. We have chartered a special mixed train on the West Chester Railroad and arranged for a round trip and photo opportunities amid the fall foliage. Friday is also a busy day of business, with an NRHS staff meeting scheduled for the mid-afternoon, and the Regional Vice President's meeting in the evening. Saturday events begin just after breakfast with the departure of chartered motor coaches to Richland, NJ, where we will be met by a special chartered train of the Cape May Seashore Lines. A one-way journey aboard the train to Tuckahoe with many photo stops is scheduled. The directors' working session will be held at the conference hotel in the afternoon. The traditional Saturday-evening banquet will be served buffet-style, and feature three delicious entrees, side dishes, breads and desserts. The keynote speaker will be Mario Bergeron, Amtrak's Chief Mechanical Officer. Sunday is devoted to business; the Board of Directors' meeting will be held that day. The conference hotel and center of events is the DoubleTree Hotel Downtown, 700 N. King Street. Conference attendees will be staying at the hotel, meetings and the banquet will be held there, and the buses to the railroad trips will leave and return to the hotel. We will have a conference registration table on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We will need volunteers to help at the registration, to serve as bus hosts for the rail charters, and provide support to the conference attendees. Please consider reserving some time to help out your chapter. We will have volunteer forms in future newsletters. Photos below by Mike Burkhart:
Railroading in Southern Chester County - Lectures
By Greg Ajamian
Late last year, Ed Thornton informed me of a series of lectures and displays by the Oxford Area Historical Association. I was unable to get to most of the artifact displays that were spread throughout the area including the West Grove Library, Herr Foods, and Oxford Feed & Lumber. But, on the evening of November 16, 2010, he and I attended a presentation at the Oxford Presbyterian Church in Oxford, PA. There was a large turn out that pretty much filled the meeting room. After the business portion of the meeting and Historic Preservation Achievement Award presentations, there followed some excellent presentations, discussions, and displays. The program for that meeting and a brochure on the entire celebration are reprinted with permission in this newsletter.
Ralph Denlinger gave an excellent presentation entitled "150 Years of Railroading in Southern Chester County." He projected some interesting graphics to accompany his talk about the very early days of railroading in the county and some maps of the sparsely populated (but growing) area. He noted that the Baltimore & Philadelphia Railroad merged with the Philadelphia & Baltimore Central (PB&C) Railroad in 1854. By 1859 or 1860, the line linking Oxford to West Chester (and connecting to Philadelphia) was simply referred to as the "Baltimore Central." After the Civil War, the line finally connected to Baltimore via the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore (PW&B) Railroad. In 1881, the PB&C became the Central Division of the PW&B and the West Chester & Philadelphia Railroad merged into the "Baltimore Central." By then, the line through Oxford was controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Ed and I agreed that Richard Hall would have loved to have joined us and we would have loved to have him!
Carole McComas then shared her recollections of her father, Leslie G. "Shiney" Miller, who worked for the Pennsy for 42 years, and his father, Joseph G. Miller, who worked for the railroad for 46 years. She truly personalized the history of the area and the railroad. She talked about daily life in the area, the stores, and even what her father wore to work on the railroad. She even included personal memories and interactions with her father at specific spots along the line. She read a excerpt from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin about the last day of passenger service on the line to Wawa in 1948. I spoke with her briefly as she was leaving the meeting and she was kind enough to mail me a copy of her presentation to be reprinted in the newsletter.
After the presentations, we heard an account of a wreck that occurred north of Nottingham, PA in the year of 1906. In that accident, the long time and very well liked engineer Elwood Lindsay was injured. The surprising thing about the story of the accident and the details about Mr. Lindsay was that they were provided by his great grandson, Dave Lindsay of Roswell, Georgia who was visiting in the area, and Ken Lindsay of New Castle, DE. Their description of their family connection to the Baltimore Central was a wonderful addition to the evening's presentations and provided a personal link to some very distant history about the line. They had brought along and shared a copy of Elwood's obituary from the Oxford Press dated September 17, 1908. I spoke with them after the program and was able to obtain a copy of the newspaper clipping reprinted in this newsletter.
We had also heard about the "Blizzard of 1899." During that storm, a passenger train had become stuck in the snow near Rosedale. With no provisions on board, the stranded passengers and crew were helped by a nearby resident. The Lindsays had heard the story about the stranding because it turns out that Elwood was the engineer on that very train. They had been walking the line one day attempting to identify the location where the train had been halted. Amazingly enough, they were approached by the current resident of a nearby property. When they explained why they were there, the gentleman confirmed that they were probably at the very spot and invited them to his home to see a document that he had. The passengers and crew were so thankful for the help that they had received in those dire circumstances, they drew up and they all signed a resolution of gratitude. Indeed, among the signatures, was that of one "E. Lindsay." They were able to obtain a copy of the document and shared it at the meeting in November. They also shared a reproduction of a restored photograph of the very locomotive and probably their great grandfather. I spoke with them after the meeting and they very generously gave me a copy of the document and the photo for the newsletter.
Later that month, on the afternoon of November 28, 2010, I attended a presentation at the Penn Township Municipal Building in West Grove, PA by James Boyd entitled the "Elkview Train Collision." Although there were only a handful of people present, Mr. Boyd used some HO-scale models of locomotives of that era and a recorded soundtrack to enhance his recounting of the accident. The head on crash of two locomotives at the Elkview railroad crossing on Route 896 occurred on June 3,1902, when a damaged freight train bound for repair in Philadelphia collided with a special train carrying dignitaries from New York to the graduation ceremony at nearby Lincoln University on what was then the Baltimore Central Railroad. The wreck miraculously claimed only one life, that of fireman John Hendrickson of Chester, who was shoveling coal on the special train. Boyd delved so thoroughly into the project that he has unearthed numerous artifacts from the crash site such as a coal bucket that he had brought with him.
Leslie G. "Shiney" Miller
By Carole Miller McComas[The script from her presentation on Nov. 16, 2010 at the Oxford Presbyterian Church]
Shiney Miller, my father, was born 1900. He joined the PRR at the age of 23. He retired from the railroad in 1965 with 42 years of service. His father, Joseph G. Miller, born 1866, joined the PRR at the age of 23, retiring in 1935 after 46 years of service.
Things We Remember
(1) Pop wore stiff white collars, laundered by John Mark at the Chinese laundry, located next to the Met Theatre where the Pizza Hut now stands. Every day he wore a white shirt and a stiff white collar. These needed a "collar button" to fasten collar to shirt. We all knew not to mess with those collar buttons.
(2) Bernie Simon carried special black socks in his store for Pop. Bernie was remembering that fact in the 1990s, 30+ years after Pop stopped buying them.
Recollections About the Train
(1) The "Toonerville" made two daily trips to Wawa and return to Oxford, carrying commuters to their jobs, shopping, visiting, etc. A few regulars were Kitty Leeke, Henrietta Cannon, Joe Johnson, and many others.
(2) On the way home in the evenings, some men would push a seat backward and face two men going forward, and play cards on a large piece of cardboard, placed on their knees. (No money involved!
(3) There was a sign on the restroom door, "DO NOT USE TOILET WHEN TRAIN IS NOT MOVING."
(4) Some local crew during this period of time were: John Good - was known as the PRR Tour Guide. He served many years as a guide to OHS seniors on their class trip to Washington, DC. Others included Lew Morris, Dick Winterbottom, and Harry Galbraith. A mail truck driven by Eddie Nocho met the train every mid-day run.
(5) Station Stops along the route: Lincoln University, Elkdale, Kelton, West Grove, Avondale, Toughkennamon, Kennett Square, Chadds Ford, and Wawa.
(6) There was an area along the route called "Hobo's Bend." Pop always let us know to look out the window as we approached the area. We would see several fires built and men sitting around the fires. We now have no idea where this spot was, and there is nobody old enough to tell us!
The Last Trip of the "Toonerville" - April 30, 1948
The following is an excerpt from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin that day:
"Passengers won't be riding the Octoraro today. Nor tomorrow. Nor any day, anymore. For the Octoraro as a passenger line died on Friday. Its passing was sad and nostalgic, a hand-waving good-bye, children standing mournfully by the tracks, a collie racing along and barking, tears and reminiscences, extra toots on the whistle, and a gift or two for "Shiney," the beloved conductor from whom a man could borrow five dollars in a spot.
It was, for 15 communities between Wawa and Oxford, the passing of an era of personal railroading, of leisurely friendship and camaraderie on the one-track line which had been carrying people through the rolling countryside of Chester and Delaware Counties since 1859.
The 60-mile round trip between Oxford and Wawa was discontinued after PRR officials contended that it was being operated at a loss since the advent of bus and automobile transportation."
This afternoon, I was sitting in my livingroom and all of a sudden I heard a train whistle. What a wonderful sound, and it just made my day!
(Family in attendance that evening beside Carole, were two of her sisters, three grandchildren, and three great grandchildren)
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.
January 15, 2011 - October 31, 2011
Philadelphia & Reading Railroad & the Civil War
Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, 500 S. Third St. in Hamburg, PA. New
temporary exhibit Any Saturday (10-4PM) and Sunday (Noon-4PM) for the
regular admission charge of $5 adults and $4 Seniors
Saturday, April 16 thru Saturday, December 31, 2011 Railroad Communications & Signaling @ RR Museum of PA. From solitary signals to centralized traffic control centers, learn about the history of railroad technical operations and try to run a simulated railroad. Photographs, artifacts and video from the Museum's collections will round out the story of rail communication.
October 29-30, 2011 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, 2011 Train Meet - Ramada Inn
Essington, PA
8:00 AM until 1 PM at Ramada Inn on Rt 291 (I-95 Exit 9) Essington, PA
June - September Williams Grove Railroad Complete Train Schedule for 2011
Saturday June 4th: Steam Locomotive Engineer Training noon until 5 PM
Sunday June 5th: Run the steam train for passengers 9 AM until??
Saturday June 18th: Steam Locomotive Engineer Training noon until 5 PM
Sunday June 19th: Run the steam train for passengers 9 AM until??
Saturday July 2nd. Steam Locomotive Engineer Training noon until 5 PM
Sunday July 3rd. Run the steam train for passengers 9 AM until??
Toys and Trains Show, Saturday and Sunday July 16th and 17th Run the steam train for passengers 9 AM until??
Saturday July 30th. Steam Locomotive Engineer Training noon until 5 PM
Sunday July 31st. Run the steam train for passengers 9 AM until??
Saturday August 13th. Steam Locomotive Engineer Training noon until 5 PM
Sunday August 14th. Run the steam train for passengers 9 AM until??
Fall Show August 28th through September 5th.
Sunday August 28th. Run the steam train for passengers 9 AM until??
Wednesday August 31st. Engineer Training noon until 3:30PM then passengers until??
Thursday September 1st. Engineer Training noon until 2:30PM then passengers until??
Friday September 2nd. Engineer Training noon until 2PM then passengers until??
Saturday September 3rd. Run the steam train for passengers 10 AM until??
Sunday September 4th. Run the steam train for passengers 10 AM until??
Monday September 5th. Run the steam train for passengers 10 AM until??
We reserve the right to substitute a diesel for the steam locomotive on passenger trains.
June - December Open Houses @ Stewartstown Railroad
Sunday, June 19, 2011, 1-5 p.m.: Open house at the station in Stewartstown.
Sunday, June 26, 2011, 1:30-5 p.m.: Stewartstown Railroad display at the Old Line Museum on Main Street in Delta, PA
(in conjunction with the Old Line Museum's annual "Ma & Pa" exhibit).
Sunday, July 10, 2011, 1-5 p.m.: Open house at the station in Stewartstown.
Sunday, July 31, 2011, 1-5 p.m.: Open house at the station in Stewartstown.
Sunday, August 21, 2011, 1-5 p.m.: Open house at the station in Stewartstown.
Sunday, September 18, 2011, 1-5 p.m.: Open house at the station in Stewartstown.
Sunday, October 23, 2011, 1-5 p.m.: Open house at the station in Stewartstown.
Sunday, December 11, 2011, 1-5 p.m.: Christmas at the station in Stewartstown.
Sunday, December 18, 2011, 1-5 p.m.: Christmas at the station in Stewartstown.
AMTRAK's 40th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT TRAIN Schedule
JUNE
4 - 5 - Perryville MARC Station
11 - 12 - Harrisburg Amtrak Station
18 - 19 - Strasburg Rail Road
25 - 26 - Strasburg Rail Road
JULY
9 - 10 - Springfield Amtrak Station
16 - 17 - New Haven Union Station
23 - 24 - New London Union Station
30 - 31 - Providence Amtrak Station
Friday, June 3 through Sunday, June 5, 2011 Pennsylvania Railroad "Pennsy" Days @ RR Museum of PA. Heritage of the famous Pennsylvania Railroad, the "Standard Railroad of the World." Noted railroad artists, photographers & authors display and sell their works. Special presentations, operating layouts, memorabilia & tours of "Pennsy" equipment are featured.
June 25-26, 2011 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.
July 16-17, 2011 Toy & Model Train Flea Market, Williams Grove, PA Sat. 9-4, Sun 9-1, Rt. 15 to Rt. 74N, Rt. 74N 1.2 miles to Williams Grove Rd. (at Shillito's Oil), 0.8 miles to Williams Grove Steam Engine Show Grounds, entrance on left. info see http://wghsea.org
Wednesday, June 29 through Monday, July 4
Reading Railroad Days @ RR Museum of PA
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 21-24, 2011 Train Festival 2011 America's Largest Celebration of Railroading Comes to Rock Island, IL link: http://www.trainfestival2011.com/
August 7, 2011 Train Meet - Ramada Inn
Essington, PA
8:00 AM until 1 PM at Ramada Inn on Rt 291 (I-95 Exit 9) Essington, PA
September 2-3, 2011 Railfest 2011 Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Steamtown, the 40th anniversary of Amtrak, & the 125th anniversary of Scranton's electric trolley system. Locomotive Shop Demonstrations = Removing wheels from axles using Steamtown's newly restored 300-ton wheel press, Replacing tire on locomotive drive wheel using 'ring of fire', Wheel lathe demonstrations to resurface & profile railroad wheels, vertical boring mill demonstration. Visiting Equipment = Amtrak 40th Anniversary Train, Canadian Pacific, CSX , Norfolk Southern, NYS&W. Excursions & Train Rides = Caboose rides, Live Steamers, Trolley Rides, Scranton Limited Short Train Ride , Moscow Excursions Special Exhibits & Programs = Track demonstration, Big Boy Cab tours, Big Band Music, Special Ranger Guided tours
September 11-12, 2011 The Great Lehigh Valley
Train Meet
Sat. 10 am - 4 pm, Z, N, On3, HO, Brass & all train related items,
Sun. 10 am - 3 pm, S, O-27, O, Standard & G including repair parts, Both
days Railroadiania, pictures, die-cast, scenery, etc. Merchants Square
Mall, 1901 South 12th Street, Allentown PA 18103
Saturday, September 24, 2011 Members Day @ RR
Museum of PA
Museum members enjoy special members-only presentations and other great
railroad and Museum-related activities.
October 13-15, 2011 Train Collectors Association, Fall York Train Meet, York, Pa. Thursday-Saturday, Info: http://www.tcamembers.org/newsandevents/york.htm
October 27-30, 2011 Wilmington Chapter will host the NRHS's Fall National Director's Meeting
October 29-30, 2011 Great Scale Model Train Show, Timonium Fairgrounds, Timonium, MDState Fairgrounds Sat. 9-4, Sun. 10-4, Admission $9, under 15 free, family $18, tickets good for both days.
November 6, 2011 Train Meet - Ramada Inn Essington, PA 8:00 AM until 1 PM at Ramada Inn on Rt 291 (I-95 Exit 9) Essington, PA
CHAPTER EVENTS
Thursday June 16, 2011 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by William Stees entitled "Wilmington to Wilmington via PRR"
Thursday July 21, 2011 7 PM Chapter Trip ? in lieu of normal monthly meeting
Thursday Aug. 18, 2011 7 PM Chapter Trip ? in lieu of normal monthly meeting
Thursday Sept. 15, 2011 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Dave Warner
Thursday Oct. 20, 2011 7 PM Chapter Meeting (short) program by Dan Frederick
October 27-30, 2011 Wilmington Chapter will host NRHS's Fall National Director's Meeting
Thursday Oct. 27, 2011 Director's Meeting Registration
Friday Oct. 28, 2011 Chapter Trip as part of Director's Meeting
Saturday Oct. 29, 2011 Chapter Trip as part of Director's Meeting
Thursday Nov. 17, 2011 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson
Sunday Dec. 4, 2011 5 PM Holiday Dinner in lieu of normal monthly meeting
Thursday Jan. 19, 2012 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Dave Watterson
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 Officers
President: Mike Burkhart
Vice President: Dave Watterson
Treasurer: Dave Warner
Secretary: Dan Frederick
National Director & Trip Director: Steve Barry
Editor: Greg Ajamian
Web Master: Russ Fox