THE
TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official
Newsletter
Internet Edition
| VOLUME 22 NO. 8 | NOVEMBER 2000 |
Back To Wilmington Chapter Web Site
OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Unfortunately, business travel kept me from attending the meeting, thus severely limiting the report for last month.
This E-mail received from Michael Wiesenfelder,
Research Assistant for the Brookings Institution: I am
currently doing research on the Bonus March of 1932 which was a World War I
Veterans March on Washington D.C. during the summer of 1932. These veterans came
from every state in the Union in the hopes of petitioning Congress so that they
could secure a bonus that was originally due in 1945 but they needed it to be
payable immediately because of the onset of the Depression. In many cases,
these veterans commandeered trains and caused problems at Railroad yards all
over the country and I am hoping you may have some information which may pertain
to this. I am specifically interested in primary sources i.e. diaries,
documents, letters, oral histories etc. and I was hoping that your collection
might hold some of these materials or that you may know where I could find
them. Any help that you could give to me would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you,
Michael J. Wiesenfelder
Research Assistant
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC. 20036-2188
mwiesenfelder@brook.edu
202-797-6082
= = > > WANTED < <
= =
Chapter Member Dick Hall is looking for
any & all PRINTS AND SLIDES OF THE WILMINGTON & WESTERN both BEFORE
& AFTER THE FLOOD DAMAGE by hurricane Floyd. Please contact him
directly: Richard E. Hall, 500 W. Summit Ave., Wilmington, DE
19804-1814
From
The Editor
...Last Call: I plan to publish an
updated Chapter Directory in the near future. I plan to include NAME,
ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER (if I have it, unless you say otherwise), and E-MAIL
ADDRESS (if I have it) for each current member. If you want me to include
your phone number, please send it to me. IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR TELEPHONE
NUMBER SHOWN, YOU MUST LET ME KNOW. If you want your E-mail address
included, please send me a short E-mail note ASAP to: sd40gma@aol.com.
NEWS BITS
o Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia have joined together to form a four-state coalition to plan, develop and implement the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor (SEHSR).
What is high speed
rail?
High speed rail in the U.S. is service that is time-competitive with travel by
automobile or airplane for door to door trips. Speeds vary from region to
region. High speed rail service in the Southeast Corridor will mean a top
speed of 110 mph.
Project Description
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia have joined together to
form a four-state coalition to plan, develop and implement the Southeast High
Speed Rail corridor (SEHSR). The federally-designated SEHSR is a rail
corridor of national significance which will extend the high speed rail service
on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor southward to Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte,
Greenville, Spartanburg, Atlanta and Macon, as well as to Columbia, Savannah and
Jacksonville. Amtrak currently provides conventional passenger rail
service to these cities.
Why do we need the
Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor?
The Southeast is experiencing tremendous economic and population growth and each
of the states in the region is working hard to address the challenges and
opportunities this growth presents. The Southeastern states are committed
to solving the challenges of highway and airport congestion and preserving the
quality of life for citizens by making better use of their transportation
systems. Improving passenger rail services that run through these states is one
piece of this puzzle. The SEHSR will serve as a vital link between the Northeast
and Southeast, generating benefits for both regions such as travel convenience
and reliability, reduced congestion and enhanced air quality, as well as
increased economic activity.
Project History
In 1992, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) designated five high
speed rail corridors nationwide including the portion of the SEHSR from
Washington, DC through Richmond, VA and Raleigh, NC to Charlotte, NC. A
1997 USDOT report on high speed rail identified this corridor as the most
economically viable proposed high speed rail corridor in the country.
Preliminary studies prepared on the SEHSR from Washington to Charlotte support
USDOT's positive findings and are summarized in the Southeast High Speed
Corridor Feasibility Summary Report. In 1998, USDOT extended the SEHSR south
from Charlotte through Greenville and Spartanburg, SC to Atlanta and Macon, GA
and south from Raleigh through Columbia, SC and Savannah, GA to Jacksonville,
FL.
Where are we on the
Project?
The NCDOT Rail Division has begun an environmental study on the SEHSR from
Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC. As part of this study, 26 public workshops were
conducted in both North Carolina and Virginia during April - June 2000. This
study is examining the need for the project and focusing on regional effects of
the project, including natural and human environmental impacts. Once the initial
broad environmental study is completed, subsequent detailed environmental
studies required to build portions of the SEHSR between Washington and Charlotte
may take anywhere from a few months to several years to complete. Feasibility
and environmental studies on the extensions to South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida will follow during the next several years. The SEHSR
from Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC should be implemented by 2010.
Implementation of the remainder of the SEHSR into South Carolina, Georgia and
Florida will follow by several years.
What if I still have
questions?
A report on this web site prepared on behalf of the four-state Southeastern
coalition includes a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on SEHSR. Further
information on the environmental study on the SEHSR from Washington to
Charlotte, along with contact information for that study, can be found on this
web site. Contact information for the Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina
and Georgia Departments of Transportation can be found on this web site as
well. [from http://www.sehsr.org/]
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, December 16: Night Photo Trolley Special over SEPTA's streetcar lines using a PCC car sponsored by the Wilmington Chapter NRHS. Several stops for open flash and ambient light night photography. Trip departs Elmwood car barn (near I-95) at 5 PM; returns approx. 10 PM. Capacity limited to 30 people. Fare: $35: Tickets: SSAE and check payable to Wilmington Chapter NRHS, c/o Steve Barry, 117 High St, Newton NJ 07860. Info: phone (973) 383-3355 (9am-5pm ET) or e-mail steve@daylightimages.com.
Sat. -Sun., November 11-12
Allentown First Frost Train Meet Sat 9 AM - 4 PM, Sun 9 AM -3 PM, Allentown
Fair Grounds
March 29-April 1, 2001
NMRA Mid-East Region Convention Sheraton Great Valley, US Route 30, Frazer (West
Chester/Exton), PA, info at www.kj2001.com
or write to P.O. Box 378, Devon, PA 19333
June 18-23, 2001
NRHS National Convention to be hosted by St. Louis Chapter
CHAPTER EVENTS
CHAPTER EVENTS NOTE: Elections will be held at the November meeting and we will need a new Secretary for next year! Thursday Nov. 16, 2000 7 PM
Thursday Nov. 16, 2000 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Phil Snyder B&O Line - Philadelphia Division
Saturday Dec. 16, 2000 5 PM Chapter Trip Christmas Lights Trolley Trip somewhere in Philadelphia.
Sunday Dec. 17, 2000 5 PM Holiday Dinner in lieu of normal monthly meeting. 5PM cocktails, 6PM dinner, $12 per person, program by Steve Barry
Thursday Jan. 2001 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Ernie Barry - program not known at this time.
Thursday Feb. 2001 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Bruce Barry - program not known at this time.
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 >>NEW Website <<<, thanks to Russ Fox at: http://www.WilmingtonNRHS.com
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 Snyder
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
>>> check out our NEW website >>> http://www.WilmingtonNRHS.com