THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

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VOLUME 22 NO. 4 MAY  2000

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    APRIL MEETING NOTES -

    The 16 members at the April 20, 2000 meeting heard Vice President Ron Cleaves read the minutes from The Transfer Table due to the late arrival of Secretary Walt Robins.  Treasurer Ralph Stevens reported that we eased the pressure on our Chapter dues since we cleared a total of $225 on our last trolley trip.  There was no National Director's report.  Trip Director Bruce Barry handed out details for the upcoming do-it-yourself trip to Gladstone, NJ.  President Phil Snyder gave details for the May 27th van trip to Steamtown in Scranton, PA. 

    Member Bruce Holberg reported on his recent trip from Montreal to Toronto with service reminiscent of 10 years ago (like drinks in real glasses).  Departing at 11:30 PM and arriving at a civilized 8:30 AM meant some extra time for the 330 mile journey so they park the train for two hours to provide more restful sleep.  He noted that the lower berth is even wider than the bed in the roomette due to the layout of the car.

    The "recent fast 10" slides for the evening were provided by Phil Snyder of the LORAM rail grinder in Wilmington, DE and Aberdeen, MD and the Acela. 

    Frank Ferguson's "Last of Big Blue" four tray slide program covered 1979 to 1992 and 1999-2000.  We saw many exquisite views of the Port Road with all manner of equipment, the K-4 #1361 while still at Horseshoe Curve, the ex-Pomeroy & Delaware City Branch, Rockville Bridge, the New Holland Brach in Lancaster, Quarryvile (before tracks were removed), Allentown, Perryville (before the restoration), Reading, Mount Union, Parkesburg, Pottstown, Summit (DE), and Mifflin, PA.  We got to see Conrail power on the B&O, C&O, and CSX plus the NS repaints to basic black.  Everyone enjoyed another of Frank's great shows! 


"Official Web Site of the 2000 Convention" http://www.nhrails2000.com/


Get your prints and slides ready for the Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest on MAY 18, and in honor of the new century, go get a shot of something railroad related that is over 100 years old !!


Donations Sought For Rail Camp Scholarship Fund

    Last summer, the Wilmington Chapter sponsored a student for the NRHS Rail Camp Program.  Ryan Robinson, 16 years old, successfully completed the week long camp and continues to volunteer at the Wilmington & Western Railroad.

    It is time, once again, to identify a candidate for Rail Camp 2000.  At this time, Tom Posatko, John Iwasyk, and Ed Thornton are developing criteria to identify a student candidate.  Letters will go out to school counselors in the surrounding community alerting them of this NRHS program.

    We now wish to solicit donations from our members and friends to create a "Rail Camp Scholarship Fund".  Approximately $500 will be needed to send one student to camp.  This amount covers tuition, room and board.  Transportation cost is usually borne by the student.

    We feel that this is a worthy project.  Make checks payable to "Wilmington Chapter, NRHS" and let Ralph know that the donation is for the "Rail Camp Scholarship Fund"..  Please send donations to Ralph Stevens, 8 Colony Blvd., Apartment #315   Wilmington, DE 19802-1459 

    Make your gift count twice!  You may be able to double the value of your gift if you or your spouse are employed by one of the many area businesses that generously match employee contributions.  Please check with your employer to see if they have such a program.

    We hope that you will want to support this project and we much appreciate your kindness!


PHOTO CONTEST
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:

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.
  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 2000 = any rail-related vehicle, structure, or equipment built 1899 or BEFORE    (Special Category photos must have been taken within the last 2 years.)

A LOOK BACK:  June 1974 by Historian Ron Cleaves
   The June meeting, as in 1973, we again held aboard the West Chester local, but this time a little out of the ordinary.  The following story I have copied verbatim from an article by Tom Smith in the July '74 newsletter: 

   About 12 members showed up for the 7:05 PM train which was on time. Thanks to the crew, we had another up-front ride from Media to West Chester. The track is not improved, the three red cars - MP 54's, grunted and groaned their way through the Pennsylvania countryside. 

   At West Chester, our train coupled on to 7 more old red cars  for the return trip home.  We left West Chester after the crew had supper.  About a half mile out of West Chester the power failed on the train.  We coasted for a while and the power gradually came back.  We kept moving most of the time by the grace of Isaac Newton (gravity).  We did get some power every once in a while and were able to make it over the phase breaks at Lenni.

   By judiciously nursing our power we were able to make it to the Glen Riddle station.  The conductor hiked down the railroad to the phone and returned with the information that there was nothing wrong with the power.  The Power Director suggested it must be the train.  He suggested that the engineman try running the train form the second car and nothing happened.  He then went to the third car and sure enough, the train operated to perfection.  So, with the conductor in the first car as pilot and engineer in the third car at the controls, we were once again able to get under way to Media. 


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.

Saturday, May 6 -   Chapter Trip to Gladstone, NJ 7 AM meet at statue in lobby of 30th Street Station, depart 7:15, return around ~7 PM do-it-yourself trip, 30th St. Philadelphia to Gladstone, NJ

Sunday, May 21 - AUBURN VALLEY RAILROAD DAYS 1 - 4:30 PM, at Tom Marshall's estate on Rt. 82 in Yorklyn, DE

Friday-Sunday, May 19-21   Annual Cass Scenic RR Railfan Weekend

Saturday, May 27 -  Memorial Day at Steamtown leave 6 AM, return ~4 PM, re-enactments, WW II equipment , new M-1 tank and more, call Phil Snyder.

Saturday, May 27   GOOD SPRINGS RAMBLE - RARE MILEAGE EXCURSION DEPART PORT CLINTON, PA. 9:00 A.M.; Train will operate over the Reading & Northern's former Reading Company trackage to Good Springs, Pa.  View the countryside from the comfort of  the recently refurbished ex Reading RR RDCs.  FARE: $35  tickets: send stamped, self addressed envelope and check payable to  Jersey Central Railway  Historical Society,   Post Office Box 700, Clark, N.J. 07066,  Info: (908) 233-3603, or http://www.rrhistorical-2com/jcrhs

Saturday, June 3 -  Reading FP7 50th Anniversary Trip former Reading FP7 Nos. 902 & 903 owned by Lancaster & Philadelphia Chapters respectively) over several Reading lines now operated by SEPTA.  details soon. 

Saturday, June 3 - 9 AM to 5 PM   Pennsy Days, RR Museum of PA, Strasburg 

Sunday, June 4 - Noon to 5 PM   Noted railroad artists and authors sell their works. Special lectures, demonstrations, memorabilia and tours of equipment are featured. 

Sunday, June 25 - AUBURN VALLEY RAILROAD DAYS 1 - 4:30 PM, at Tom Marshall's estate on Rt. 82 in Yorklyn, DE

Friday-Saturday, June 30- July 1 - 9 AM to 6 PM  Reading Railroad Days, RR Museum of PA

Sunday, July 2 - 11 AM to 5 PM   Famous Reading Company trains of eastern Pennsylvania history through special tours of Reading Company equipment, a huge, operating model railroad and oral history presentations.

July 12-16, 2000       NRHS National Convention to be hosted by Western Connecticut Chapter

Sunday, July 30 - AUBURN VALLEY RAILROAD DAYS 1 - 4:30 PM, at Tom Marshall's estate on Rt. 82 in Yorklyn, DE

Thursday, August 17 - 9 AM to 5 PM   RR Circus Days, RR Museum of PA, Strasburg

Friday-Saturday, August 18-19 - 9 AM to 6 PM  & Sunday, August 20 - 11 AM to 5 PM Scale models of circus trains, equipment & performances, displayed by Circus Model Builders International.

Sunday, August 27 - AUBURN VALLEY RAILROAD DAYS 1 - 4:30 PM, at Tom Marshall's estate on Rt. 82 in Yorklyn, DE

June 18-23, 2001       NRHS National Convention to be hosted by St. Louis Chapter   

CHAPTER EVENTS  
Saturday    May 6, 2000 8 AM    Chapter Trip  to Gladstone, NJ !! date changed, exciting details to be available soon!

Thursday    May 18, 2000    7 PM    Chapter Meeting Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest Y2K special category: photo of any rail-related vehicle, structure or equipment built 1899 or BEFORE

Saturday    May 27, 2000    6 AM    Chapter Trip    Phil Snyder's van to Steamtown 

Saturday    June 10, 2000   10 AM   Chapter Picnic  Perryville / Havre de Grace, MD our annual do-it-yourself transport, bring your own food & chair, summer extravaganza!

Thursday    June 15, 2000   7 PM    Chapter Meeting Do - It - Yourself Program

Thursday    July 20, 2000   7 PM    Chapter Meeting Do - It - Yourself Program

Thursday    Aug. ??, 2000   ? ? Chapter Outing ?    program not known at this time

Thursday    Sept. 21, 2000  7 PM    Chapter Meeting program by Roy Soukup, Jr.


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.

The Transfer Table
   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   Phil Snider
    Vice President & Historian  Ron Cleaves
    Treasurer   Ralph Stevens, Jr.
    Secretary   Walt Robbins
    National Director   Tom Posatko
    Editor  Greg Ajamian
    Public Relations    Frank Ferguson, Jr.
    Event Photographer  Bruce Barry

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