THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition
| VOLUME 21 NO. 4 | MAY 1999 |
Back To Wilmington Chapter Web Site
MEETING NOTES
With the absence of the Secretary, the April 15th Chapter meeting opened with Chapter Historian Ron Cleaves reading the "minutes" of the last meeting from the last issue of The Transfer Table. Treasurer Ralph Stevens, Jr. reported that the Chapter made about $500 on the West Chester trip (which will help to keep the dues down and the Newsletter page count up!). President Phil Snyder spoke about the trip which included Amtrak's quarry and the fact that ~30 people attended the night photo session. John Iwasyk and Phil Snyder reported that the Chapter will sponsor the application for a grant from the NRHS (National) in partnership with the Wilmington & Western Railroad to erect a tool shed per Dick Hall's historic drawings. Bill Folger reported that he has written to national headquarters to request listing Chapters by state instead of by Chapter name in future Bulletins. Bob O'Connor, Jr. reported that his daughter is now running MetroLink trains from Wilmington. Phil Snyder reported that the AMTRAK National Training Center is going up in West Yard near Frawley Stadium. John Iwasyk said that the Delaware Valley Railroad was given one day to find a home for engines stored on its property and that the Brandywine Valley only bought the line as far as the state line (the Delaware Valley still takes cars from the PA state line to Elsmere).
Trip Director Bruce Barry reported that he will guide the do-it-yourself trip to New York on May 22 leaving from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia at 7:15 AM (Trenton ~8:15) for Grand Central Station in NYC, then to 125th Station (includes 2 block walk to change trains) and on to Croaton-Harmon. He expects to return to Philadelphia by 7 PM. The cost would be around $20 and he will have further details at the May Chapter meeting.
Bill Russell opened his slide show with vintage views of railroading in Mexico in 1957 and the Buffalo Creek & Galli in 1958. We saw Elkins and Bluefield, WV, and a rare Virginian 2-6-6-6. There was Norfolk and Crew, VA, in 1959, as well as Hagerstown and the CN and CP in Montreal. There were views of the B&O and even Beech Street in Wilmington, DE. Other rarities included Penn Central Baldwin and a Lime Center Cab RT-24. The wonderful slides provided one surprise after another for the 21 members who turned out for an extraordinary presentation of historic significance.
If you ever worked on or for a railroad or trolley line, please drop a post card, letter, or E-mail to your Editor and include the name of the line and any other information you care to share: SD40GMA@aol.com G. Ajamian P.O.Box 1136 Hockessin,DE 19707
The National Railway
Historical Society's Wilmington Chapter's
* Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest *
will be held at the regular Chapter meeting on Thursday, May 20th.
Here are the guidelines for entering images in this
year's contest:
• As usual, there will be two separate contests; one for prints and one for
slides. Each contest will have the same SEVEN categories. Prizes will be
awarded for winners in each category (that is fourteen winners in all), plus additional
awards for the best print and the best slide in the show.
• Each member can have up to three entries per category (that's 42 total photos
if you are really ambitious: up to 21 total slides and 21 total prints!).
• Photos for the five normal, standard, REGULAR CATEGORIES #1-#5, as always in
the past, must have been taken within the LAST FIVE (5) YEARS (anywhere on this planet).
• For the VINTAGE CATEGORY #6 ONLY, the photos can be of any railroad related
subject but must have been taken 15 OR MORE YEARS AGO, that is before May 1, 1983.
This category was added last year, and by desire of the membership, as voted on at
the January 1998 meeting, the timeframe was changed from "more than 25 years
old" to "more than 15 years old".
• For SPECIAL CATEGORY #7 ONLY, designed to get people out there to take new
pictures, photos must have been taken in the LAST TWO (2) YEARS; that is, between May 1,
1997 and May 20, 1999 and must include A FLANGED-WHEEL ENTITY SHOT FROM ABOVE THE UNIT in
the image.
• CATEGORIES •
1) STEAM - Photos with a steam locomotive as the primary subject.
2) DIESEL - Photos with a diesel locomotive as the primary subject. This
category also includes gas-electrics, Doodlebugs, RDCs, and FL9s north of Harmon,
and the like.
3) HEAVY ELECTRIC - Electric power on big railroads. This category includes AEM7s,
X2000, Silverliners, FL9s south of Harmon, and the like.
4) TRACTION - Trolleys and light rail including streetcars, PATCO, Metro, all
subways, etc.
5) GENERAL - Any photo that does NOT include one of the above as the primary
subject. Passenger and freight cars, stations, signals, railfans, and the like go
here.
6) VINTAGE - Any railroad-related subject photographed 15 or more years ago.
7) SPECIAL CATEGORY for 1999 = OVERHEAD VIEW OF FLANGED-WHEEL VEHICLE
Photos must have been taken within the last 2 years.
A LOOK BACK (twice): May 1976 & June 1980 by Historian Ron Cleaves
The Chapter meeting at the DP&L Sportsman's Club had 15 members that evening of May 20, 1976. Discussion at this meeting which included a selection of slides by Al Siebel and Otto 'Reds' Stees, centered on a tour of the PATCO chops and ride on the PATCO Lindenwold High Speed Line. This would take the place of the regular June meeting. In local rail news, GG-1 4800 was the first piece of equipment to be lettered Conrail and was painted in Bicentennial styling = red, white, and blue with stars. The undercarriage was painted aluminum. It has been seen pulling freight on the corridor line, usually in the company of another GG-1.
On June 28, 1980 (Saturday), seven members "safaried" to northern New Jersey to railfan various commuter rail operations and rail locations. Among the stations visited that day were Bayhead Jct., where a train consisting of former CNJ passenger coaches still lettered for the CNJ, complete with the CNJ's "Miss Liberty" logo, was chased from Bayhead to South Amboy. This NJ Transit train had recently acquired, former Southern E-8's for power. Also visited that day was the activity at South Amboy, where changeover from diesel to GG-1 power was made, Perth Amboy (bridge over the Raritan River), Raritan, where several former CNJ "turtleback" blue and yellow heavyweight coaches still in commuter service were laying over. Recently acquired Southern E-8 units were here, too. Facilities and equipment of shortline Raritan River Railroad were checked out, too. Finishing out the day was a visit to Gladstone, NJ, with its collection of in-use former Lackawanna heavyweight electric commuter trains. This was followed by a tour and visit of the Black River & Western to cap off a full day of railfanning. Navigators for this day were Al Seibel and Tom Smith.
NEWS BITS
• As of February 19, the Federal Railroad administration had received 11 applications for pre-construction planning grants for Magnetic Levitation Transportation. One of those was from the Port Authority of Allegheny County for a 45 mile line linking Pittsburgh Airport with the City of Pittsburgh and its eastern suburbs. Another from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the initial segment of a 250 mile system connecting Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Washington. And the Maryland DOT put in for a 40 mile system linking Baltimore, BWI Airport, and Union Station in DC. [from http://www.fra.dot.gov/s/reg/maglev/updates.htm]
• SAFETY WARNING >>> A woman in Anderson, Indiana was stopped at a railroad crossing when she was rear ended by a pickup truck which pushed her under a middle car of a Conrail freight train. The car was dragged for 3 miles over 7 minutes. She used her cellular telephone to call her mom and then 911. The pickup's driver was cited for having no insurance. [from The News Journal]
• Three former Octoraro Alco RS-3's (#103, 134,4118) long stored on the Delaware Valley were to be shipped to Scranton for new owner Genesee Valley Transportation. Steamtown sought bids for a new crown sheet and smoke box for PRR K-4 #1361 which they hope to complete by September.[from Hawk Mountain Chapter's The Hostler]
• In late February, Reading & Northern shipped E-8a #5706 (ex-PRR #5706A) to Transglobal Rail in Des Moines, IA. Transglobal will remove the prime mover and traction motors and put the body up for bids. If bids do not exceed the scrap price it will be cut up. Reading & Northern projects for 1999 include replacing 18,000 ties, 8 miles of new welded rail, 5 miles of surfacing, upgrading 2 mainline switches, repairing 11 grade crossings, upgrading a signal & gate system at 1 crossing. [from Hawk Mountain Chapter's The Hostler]
• Your Editor was "forced" to travel back and forth from Wilmington to Richmond, VA by train and thought you might like to know what the consists are like these days on some longer distance AMTRAK trains:
January 7, 1999 Train #91 = Silver Star
Wilmington, DE to Richmond, VA
1 Amtrak Genesis engine #51
1 box style material handling car
1 baggage car
1 coach
2 sleepers
1 diner
1 lounge / dinette
4 coaches
February 2, 1999 Train #91 = Silver Star
Wilmington, DE to Richmond, VA
3 Amtrak Genesis engines #833, 15, 18 (elephant style)
1 box style material handling car
1 baggage car
1 lounge car
2 sleepers
1 diner
1 cafe lounge
3 coaches
February 23, 1999 Train #80 = Carolinian
Richmond, VA to Wilmington, DE
1 Amtrak Genesis engine #79
6 coaches
1 box style material handling car
February 22, 1999 Train #91 = Silver Star
Wilmington, DE to Richmond, VA
Amtrak Genesis engines #13 and 3 (elephant style)
1 box style material handling car
1 baggage car
1 dormitory / lounge car
3 sleepers
1 diner
1 dinette
4 coaches
February 23, 1999 Train #89 = Silver Palm
Wilmington, DE to Richmond, VA
2 Amtrak Genesis engines (back-to-back)
1 box style material handling car
1 baggage car
2 sleepers
1 diner
1 dinette / lounge
4 coaches
1 express baggage / US Mail #1707
1 box style material handling car #1513
7 road railer style truck trailers
Press Releases from the Internet:
Brandywine Valley Railroad - For Immediate Release - Public Relations Division Public Affairs Department - 1170 Eighth Avenue - Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699 BETHLEHEM, Pa., March 19, 1999 -- The Brandywine Valley Railroad Company (BVRY) has acquired, subject to final approval of the appropriate regulatory agencies, the right to operate on 44 miles of track in southeastern Pennsylvania that will allow the subsidiary railroad of Bethlehem Steel Corporation to expand its operations. "Our subsidiary railroads have played important roles in serving customers within Bethlehem as well as others outside the corporation. The BVRY is a strategic asset for Bethlehem Steel because it is ideally located to serve growing markets and create additional value for Bethlehem Steel and its customers," said Curtis H. Barnette, chairman and chief executive officer.
The Brandywine Valley Railroad Company was formed in 1981 by the former Lukens Inc. and acquired by Bethlehem as part of the merger with Lukens in May 1998. The short-line railroad was created to move goods within the steelmaking and finishing operations in Coatesville and surrounding areas.
The BVRY will operate as a short-line, or Class III, railroad on tracks that run (north and south) from Modena to Elsmere, Del., and (east and west) on SEPTA-owned tracks from Sylmar to Wawa. On the north-south route in Delaware, the BVRY will operate from the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line to Elsmere with the permission of the Reading Company. The BVRY connects with Conrail, soon to become Norfolk Southern, to the north and with CSX to the south.
BVRY will operate the line on an interim basis for about three months while the purchase from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is finalized. PennDOT has owned the line since the establishment of the Consolidated Rail Corporation in the 1970s and has been seeking a new owner.
Bethlehem Steel Corporation - For Immediate Release - Corp. Communications Division Upper Merion and Plymouth Railroad and Brandywine Valley Railroad The recent purchase of Lukens Steel by Bethlehem Steel Corp. has created additional opportunities for BethIntermodal. The two plants that now become Bethlehem/Lukens Plate Division provide access to two additional switching and terminal railroads operating at Coatesville and Conshohocken, PA. The Upper Merion & Plymouth Railroad serves the plant at Conshohocken and the Brandywine Valley Railroad serves the plant at Coatesville. Both locations are ideally suited for rail/truck transloading, and the Brandywine Valley has warehousing space and real estate available for development of distribution centers or bulk storage facilities. We will soon be adding these locations with more specific information to our website. In the meantime, please call or e-mail us for information.
Bethlehem Steel Corporation - For Immediate Release - Corp. Communications Division BETHLEHEM, Pa., January 13, 1999 -- Bethlehem Steel Corporation announced today the creation of an intermodal terminal on 200 acres at the corporation's South Side Bethlehem, Pa., property.
The terminal will allow for the unloading and continued shipment of trailers and containerized freight, which will be distributed throughout the eastern United States. The transfer facility, to be operated by Bethlehem Steel's BethIntermodal, Inc. subsidiary, will be located in the East Lehigh section of the former steel plant.
In its first year of operation, the facility will create more than 100 full-time jobs. As traffic increases, BethIntermodal estimates that 2,000 to 3,000 direct and indirect jobs could be created over the next seven to ten years.
"This facility will establish Bethlehem as a leading rail hub for the Northeast and will lead to the creation of other businesses on the same site within the next two or three years," said Curtis H. Barnette, chairman and chief executive officer, Bethlehem Steel Corporation. "As rail traffic increases, other companies that use these services will locate on the site. This use of this land presents sizeable opportunities to the community to increase its base of jobs in the light industrial sector while making excellent use of land located adjacent to lines serviced by Class 1 rail carriers such as Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific," he said.
Norfolk Southern will be the first customer using this new facility to provide more service options to its customers. "Norfolk Southern is excited about the prospect of extending our reach into the Northeast, and we're particularly pleased to be in the BethIntermodal Terminal," said David R. Goode, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Norfolk Southern. "This facility will promote growth in intermodal transportation and help Pennsylvania's businesses be competitive in their markets. It gives our customers more service options, and we are delighted to be part of that growth."
Bethlehem Steel's chairman credited cooperation by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Bethlehem and Northampton County to help create the facility on Bethlehem Steel property. "Governor Tom Ridge, Secretaries Brad Mallory, Jim Seif and John Oliver, Deputy Transportation Secretary Liz Voras and the entire Ridge Administration have led the Commonwealth to become one of the leading states in the creation of new jobs. This is also another example of the effectiveness of Act 2 legislation, also known as the brownfields law, that enables new jobs to locate on former industrial properties," Mr. Barnette said, and in particular noted the leadership of the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jim Seif.
Citing his appreciation for local government support,
Mr. Barnette said, "The support of Bethlehem Mayor Don Cunningham and Bethlehem City
Council, and Northampton County Executive Glenn Reibman has been critical to the decision
to create this facility." He also noted the significant support of U.S. Senators
Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, and extended his appreciation to U.S. Representative Pat
Toomey for his early commitment to this development. "We are continuing our efforts,
through a public/private partnership, to return jobs to this site. We appreciate the
ongoing support
for the entire development project, which includes 163 acres at the western edge of the
complex known as Bethlehem Works."
The new terminal will provide transfer facilities to handle shipments moving between the northeast corridor and points south and west. The proximity of I-78 to the transfer facility will improve service for intermodal customers.
The terminal will be located on acreage owned by Bethlehem Steel Corporation and formerly used for steelmaking and finishing facilities. For the past three years, Bethlehem Steel has been actively pursuing a wide range of options for development of the 1,800 acres. The 163 acres at the western edge of the property, known as Bethlehem Works, are being developed as a mixed-use tract for entertainment, recreation, retail and cultural activities. The remaining acreage, which is being actively marketed to industrial clients, also contains forging, machining and rollmaking operations now owned by WHEMCO and other industrial tenants.
The facility will be operated by BethIntermodal, Inc., which continues to market the terminal.
TRAVEL THE ANTHRACITE
REGION BY PULLMAN ON THE KING COAL
WASHINGTON, DC: The Washington DC Chapter, National Railway Historical Society is
pleased to offer a rare opportunity to travel by rail around the Anthracite region of
Northeastern Pennsylvania, and southeastern New York, aboard the Chapter's 1930's Pullman
sleeper-buffet-lounge car, Dover Harbor. Operating as part of an all private car
special train-- The King Coal, on May 7 through 10, 1999, Dover Harbor will travel over
Conrail routes which have rarely seen passenger trains in recent years during the course
of the four day excursion which originates and returns to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On Friday, May 7th, The King Coal heads to Reading
early in the morning on Conrail's Harrisburg line, then travels via the Reading, Blue
Mountain & Northern to Port Clinton for a tour of that railroad's shop facilities.
The special the travels onward to Tamaqua, Packerton Junction, through the Lehigh
River Gorge to White Haven, Mountain Top and then the Wyoming Valley to Steamtown in
Scranton, Pennsylvania by evening. Saturday
brings a steam powered excursion with an all private car train from Steamtown over
ex-Lackawanna rails to Pocono Summit and beyond. On Saturday evening, passengers of
The King Coal will enjoy private, behind the scenes tours of Steamtown's shops where
restoration work is in progress on the former PRR K-4 #1361.
On Sunday morning, The King Coal will head northward to Binghampton, New York via the St. Lawrence & Hudson, then to the northeast through Oneonta and Voorheesville before reaching the day's destination of Albany. Early Monday morning, the special train will cross Castleton Bridge and travel southward on the former New York Central West Hudson Line to Jersey City, then via former Lehigh Valley and Reading lines for an afternoon arrival in Philadelphia.
Two excursion packages are offered aboard Dover Harbor: the full package with classic Pullman double bedroom accommodations during the four day, three night trip at $1,899 per person, double occupancy; and a rail only package for the four days at $1,299 per person. Both packages include round trip transportation on the Dover Harbor along with meals, beverages, snacks and spirits aboard the car, plus all tours included for The King Coal special train passengers. For full details, write to Henry Bielstein, Ticket Agent, Washington DC Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, 13425 Reid Circle, Ft. Washington, Maryland, 20744-6522; call 301-292-9592; e-mail to pullmanhb@erols.com; or visit the Chapter's web site at http://www.dcnrhs.org/.
Today, Dover Harbor is the last of the Pullman
Company's fleet of heavyweight revenue service cars still in unrestricted main line
railroad service. The car was constructed in Chicago in 1923, and rebuilt to the
current configuration in 1934. It served in first class Pullman service on regularly
scheduled passenger trains until 1966, ending its career operating from Washington on the
Montrealer. The Washington D.C. Chapter, National
Railway Historical Society purchased the car in 1979, and since then, Chapter members have
worked to restore the car to its 1934 appearance. In addition, the car's mechanical
systems have been modernized; Dover Harbor is currently certified for travel on
Amtrak trains for speeds up to 110 MPH.
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.
National touring exhibit of O. Winston Link prints (70-75 B&W and 10 color) April 13 - June 13, 1999 Cincinnati Ohio Art Museum - CALL TO CONFIRM DATES !!
Friday, May 7, 1998 Private Varnish Coming to Scranton, PA. A special train is due to depart Philadelphia at 7 AM on May 7th to arrive in Steamtown around 6:30 PM. It is due to depart Sunday, May 9 for Albany, NY.
Friday, May 14, 1998 Cass Photo Special using Western Maryland branch through Spruce (now called the West Virginia Central), Call Carl Franz evenings at 301-942-6197
Sunday, May 16, 1998 Model Train Show 9 AM - 2 PM, Historic Strasburg Inn, Strasburg, PA, $3 admission, info 717-392-5515
Saturday & Sunday, June 5-6, 1999
Pennsy Days at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania 11 AM - 5 PM, railroad
artists, special lectures, demos, tours, and events,
info 717-687-8628
Saturday, June 12, 1999 Wilmington & Western Photo Freight Special departs 8 AM, limited to 70 passengers, power=0-6-0 #58, adults $55, night $15 info = 410-277-4443
June 18-27, 1999 Central Coast Chapter's Railfair '99 w/ California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento
Saturday & Sunday, June 19-20, 1999 Great Scale Model Train Show 9-4 Saturday, 10-4 Sunday, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.
June 21-26, 1999 NRHS National Convention >>> INFO LINE = 408-278-5100 hosted by the Central Coast Chapter and the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society in Sacramento, CA
Saturday & Sunday, July 3-4, 1999 Reading Railroad Days at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania 11 AM - 5 PM, special tours, model railroad, oral history, and exhibits, info 717-687-8628
Wednesday - Sunday, July 21-25, 1999 Day Out With Thomas™ at B&O Museum Thomas the Tank Engine and Sir Topham Hat will be at the Museum for five days
Saturday & Sunday, August 7-8, 1999 Great Scale Model Train Show,Eisenhower Tower,Gettysburg,PA
Sunday, September 12, 1999
Great Winslow Junct. Scale Train & Railroadiana Meet
10 AM - 3 PM, Winslow NJ Fire Hall, Hall & Hay Sts.
Saturday & Sunday, September 25-26, 1999 All Aboard Days: Fall Open House at B&O Museum Museum Hours 10 Am - 5 PM [ >>> all month of September = Seniors get in for $2.50 !! <<< ]
Saturday & Sunday, October 2-3, 1999 Railfest '99 (Altoona) Altoona Railroader's Memorial Museum, Altoona, PA info = 814-946-0834
Saturday & Sunday, October 2-3, 1999 Great Scale Model Train Show 9-4 Saturday, 10-4 Sunday, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.
Friday - Monday, October 15-18, 1999 Railfest 1999 (Cumberland) 9 AM rail excursions on CSX to festival in Oakland, Western Maryland Station, return 3 PM
Saturday, December 11, 1999 Home for Holidays at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania 1 - 4 PM, 100 years of holiday rail travel 1850's to 1950's, info 717-687-8628
July 12-16, 2000 NRHS National Convention to be hosted by Western Connecticut Chapter [it had been scheduled for Pittsburgh PA hosted by Lancaster Chapter]
June 18-23, 2001 NRHS National Convention to be hosted by St. Louis Chapter
CHAPTER EVENTS *
Thursday May 20, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Annual Doug Weaver Memorial
Photo Contest
Saturday? May 22, 1999 7 AM Chapter Trip Do-It-Yourself Trip: Philadelphia to NYC & Croaton-Harmon
Thursday June 17, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Do- It- Yourself Program
Thursday July 15, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Do- It- Yourself Program
Thursday August 19, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Do- It- Yourself Program
Thursday Sept. 16, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting program not know at this time
Saturday Sept. ?? , 1999 10 AM Chapter Picnic in conjunction with NRHS Days Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, Strasburg, PA
Saturday Sept. 25, 1999 ? AM Chapter Event in conjunction with Transportation Day Wilmington, DE Amtrak Station
The Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) meets at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month [except 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:http://www.foxcity.com/nrhs/wilm/wilm.htm
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 P.O. Box 1136, Hockessin, DE 19707-5136. or send to: SD40GMA@aol.com
Deadline for entries is the 25th of the month.
Chapter Officers
President Phil Snider
Vice President & Historian Ron Cleaves
Treasurer Ralph Stevens, Jr.
Secretary Walt Robbins
National Director Ed Thornton
Editor Greg Ajamian
Public Relations Dave Watterson
Event Photographer Bruce Barry