THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

VOLUME 24 NO. 5 JUNE  2002

Back To Wilmington Chapter Web Site

APRIL 18, 2002 MEETING NOTES

    President Phil Snyder called the meeting to order, Secretary Dan Frederick read the minutes which were approved as read as was the Treasurer's report as read by Ralph Stevens. National Director Tom Posatko reported that there was a roundhouse survey on the NRHS National website. He told everyone to ask for the NRHS discount at railroad locations that give one because they need to know that NRHS members really ARE visiting them! He also reported that RailCamp® is now a registered trademark of the NRHS. Phil Snyder reported on the derailment in Florida and the Chapter Picnic to be held at the B&O Museum on May 18. Ed Thornton reported on efforts to save the PRR X-23 box car (outside braced, wooden) now (decaying) stored at Principio, MD.  David Haring showed slides from March 23, 2002 of a loco he hopes to save - the centercab has 2 six-cylinder diesels, one Detroit, one Cummins. The 21 members and guests were treated to Part 1 of Frank Ferguson's Cuban Adventure slides from February 2002. It started with FEC (x-UP) diesels in Florida before the sugar mill tour in Cuba. They use concrete ties and telephone poles because of a shortage of wood. We saw Cal Sandino, 2-6-0's, GE steplecabs, and Brill Trolley cars. There were also 1950's cars = Chevy, Desoto, Dodge, Olds, Cadillac, and Chrysler. There were Russian-built locomotives = 71000 series TEM-2TK in 1974, 54000 series from 1964, and 38000 series TGM-4 from 1978. Steam locos included a Vulcan built in Wilkes Barre in 1920 and a Baldwin built in Philadelphia in 1925. We saw 30 inch gauge running and shots from the two taxi car chase of #1517!


MAY 16, 2002 MEETING NOTES

    After President Phil Snyder called the meeting to order, the minutes were approved as read by Secretary Dan Frederick and the Treasurer's report as read by Ralph Stevens. There was a short report from National Director Tom Posatko followed by a report by Robert O'Connor on Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselors. Robert also indicated that his daughter, Carey, is now "Locomotive Distributor" (a.k.a. Engine Dispatcher) for Amtrak. Phil Snyder suggested meeting at 9:30 AM outside the B&O Museum office for the Chapter Picnic (part 1). Dan Frederick reported that BC Rail is now up for sale and that UP will close its facilities in Pine Bluff, AK. It was agreed that the Chapter Picnic (part 2) will be held beginning at 9 AM at the point park under the Amtrak bridge in Perryville, MD on June 15.


The National Railway Historical Society's Wilmington Chapter's Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest

The winners in this year's contest are:
 

CATEGORY PRINTS SLIDES
STEAM Al Patterson
W&W #58 in Wilmington Station
Mike Burkhart
Strasburg
DIESEL Ron Cleaves
Rock, MD
Mike Burkhart
Snow at Rupert, PA
HEAVY ELECTRIC Ron Cleaves
Acela at Fox Point, DE
Phil Snyder
Bell Tower
TRACTION Ron Cleaves
Hudson-Bergen, NJ
** Best Print For 2002 **
Mike Burkhart
Queens, NY
 
GENERAL Greg Ajamian
Nicholson Viaduct, PA
Tom Posatko
Sioux St. Marie
** Best Slide For 2002 **
VINTAGE
15 or more years ago
Greg Ajamian
#614 Martinsburg, WV
Phil Snyder
Wilmington Station
2002 SPECIAL CATEGORY
"RR Personnel Working"
Joe Reed
Cass Railroad, WV
Mike Burkhart
Fort Worth & Western, TX

WILMINGTON CHAPTER NRHS STREETCAR TRIPS

August 4, 2002  -  Red Arrow D-39 Work Car Trip
Join us as we ride over both the Media and Sharon Hill lines of SEPTA's Red Arrow Division. Our car will be Kawasaki No.100 (the first Kawasaki delivered for Red Arrow service). We will be joined by Tower Car D-39, the oldest electric car on SEPTA's roster. Numerous photo stops will be held to photograph both cars along the way. Trip departs Upper Darby at 1:00 p.m. Fare $35.00

November 2, 2002  -  Night Photo PCC Trip
We will take one of SEPTA's historic PCC's for a night tour of the southwest Philadelphia streetcar routes, stopping for open flash photography along the way. You bring atripod and cable release (along with your camera) and we'll provide the flash. Trip departs Elmwood Car Barn (near I-95) at 5:00 p.m. Fare $35.00

January 25, 2003  -  Super Saturday Streetcar Special X
A Wilmington Chapter tradition! Join us for our 10th pre-Super Bowl trip on Saturday, January 25th. Details aren't finalized yet, but we are planning to either cover the north end of Route 23 (departing from Germantown) with a PCC or doing a PCC/Peter Witt two-car trip in southwest Philadelphia (if the Peter Witt is available). Fare $35.00

Order tickets on-line here: http://www.daylightimages.com/streetcar/
Option 1: Red Arrow D-39 Work Car Trip only -- $35
Option 2: Night Photo PCC Trip only -- $35
Option 3: Super Saturday Streetcar Special only -- $35
Option 4: Red Arrow Trip and Night Trip Combo -- $60 (save $10)
Option 5: Red Arrow Trip and Super Saturday Trip Combo -- $60 (save $10)
Option 6: Night Trip and Super Saturday Trip Combo -- $60 (save $10)
Option 7: All three trips -- $85 (save $20)

Rather pay by check? Make checks payable to Wilmington Chapter NRHS and mail your order to:
Wilmington Chapter NRHS
c/o Steve Barry
117 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860


NEWS BITS

    The MDDE has made some interesting freight car purchases. To begin with, they have taken ownership of 85 ex-CR ballast cars. The 50 cars that have been delivered thus far are numbered in the range of 5300-5500, and are currently (April 2002) stored at Norfolk Southern's Jello Yard in Dover, Delaware. Numbering is being done according to each car's year of build, with the first two digits matching up with the years '53, '54, and '55. After that, the cars are numbered numerically in their year class. For instance, the fourth car in the group of 1954 cars would carry the number 5403 (Accounting for numbering starting at zero). The cars wear the reporting marks 'MOWX'. The ballast cars will reportedly be used in the much anticipated rebuild of the MDDE's Seaford Line. It is thought that the shortline may be trying to get the branch up to Class 2 standards, and the rebuild is expected to last from May-September '02. Further, the MDDE has purchased what should amount to approximately ten ex-CR 60 ft. boxcars. These will be the first cars in the company's 25+ year history to carry MDDE reporting marks. The cars currently floating around are numbered 706001, 706002, 706003, and 706005. It is presumed that the cars will eventually number 706001-706010 if in fact ten are purchased.

    The PRR K4s #1361 at Steamtown in Scranton, PA may be back in operation in mid-2003. All of the replacement iron for the boiler is in place, undergoing riveting, welding, and bolting. Flue installation will be next. The repair has been described as "jack up the whistle and replace everything else." Photos can be found at http://64.176.230.6/news.shtml and http://www.steamcentral.com/tut_1361.shtml [from The Keystone via Baltimore Chapter's Interchange]

    NORFOLK, VA - Norfolk Southern Corporation's Exhibit Car will visit 15 communities on the company's rail system this year. The Exhibit Car features interactive displays, including a locomotive simulator and a train dispatching center, depicting the history and modern operation of the Norfolk Southern transportation system. Some 1.5 million people in more than 325 cities have viewed the traveling showcase since 1971. The car begins its 32nd year of service April 26-28 with an appearance at Windsor, Va., in celebration of the town's centennial.

Other stops on the 2002 tour are:
* May 10-12, Lake City, Tenn.
* May 18-19, Muscle Shoals, Ala.
* June 1, Manassas, Va.
* June 7-16, Strasburg Railroad, Strasburg, Pa.
* July 1-21, Southeastern Railway Museum, Duluth, Ga.
* July 24-27, Atlanta Fireman's Muster, Atlanta
* Aug. 8-18, Tennessee Valley Railway Museum, Chattanooga, Tenn.
* Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Hendersonville, N.C.
* Sept. 13-22, Strasburg Railroad, Strasburg, Pa.
* Oct. 6-12, on the TRANSCAER Whistle Stop train for community emergency responders, with stops in Washington, D.C.; Linwood and Asheville, N.C.; Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn., and Decatur, Ala.
* Nov. 30, McKeesport, Pa.
* Dec. 5-8, Strasburg Railroad, Strasburg, Pa.

Norfolk Southern provides the Exhibit Car at no cost for community events throughout its 22-state rail transportation network. Requests for the car for 2003 can be made through the Norfolk Southern Web site at www.nscorp.com. Click on "about Norfolk Southern," then "Exhibit Car" under the "Miscellaneous" column.

    On January 8, 2002, the Brandywine Valley Railroad filed to acquire from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation approximately 18 miles of line between Modena, PA and the PA-DE state line [from Surface Transportation Board via Chesapeake Railway Association's High Green]


    May 29, 2002 - Delaware, Norfolk Southern Reach Unique Agreement on Rail Bridge Rehabilitation DOVER, DEL. - To enhance the competitiveness of the Port of Wilmington and improve rail freight service to the Delmarva Peninsula, the state of Delaware and Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today announced that they have reached a unique agreement for the rehabilitation of the Shellpot Bridge, which crosses the Christiana River in Wilmington.

Under the terms of the agreement, Delaware will fund the cost of restoring the bridge for train service, and Norfolk Southern will compensate the state over a 20-year period based on its use of the bridge.

"Through the leadership of Governor Minner, Secretary Nathan Hayward III and the state legislature, the state of Delaware is demonstrating its commitment to improving the way freight flows through Delaware," said David R. Goode, Norfolk Southern's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Norfolk Southern looks forward to satisfying the rail freight transportation needs of the Port of Wilmington and Delaware for many years to come."

"Norfolk Southern brought us a major challenge a year ago," said Secretary Hayward. "Together we think we've written a little piece of railroad history and solved a major problem for Delaware's economy. Both parties benefit; that's the way to get things done."

Although the use of public funds to support private transportation infrastructure improvements is common in the trucking, airline and maritime industries, this partnership is unique in the freight railroad industry in that Norfolk Southern will reimburse the state through a fee for each rail car that crosses the Shellpot Bridge.

The Shellpot Bridge is a swing-style railroad drawbridge originally constructed in 1888 on timber piers. The timber framework was replaced by a concrete foundation in 1951. The moveable portion of the bridge is 242 feet in length, and the total length of the bridge is 725 feet. Conrail discontinued service over the bridge in December 1994 when the bridge foundation could no longer support heavy freight trains. Since that time, freight trains operating in Wilmington have had to run on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor through the Wilmington Transit Center.

Upon completion of the project, the Port will have greater flexibility to schedule inbound and outbound train service. Norfolk Southern serves the Port and the Delmarva by way of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, which limits freight train operations to periods when passenger trains are not scheduled. With the Shellpot Bridge back in service, the Port and Delmarva shippers will have better access to Norfolk Southern, and both passenger and freight rail operations in Wilmington will be improved. The total cost of the rehabilitation project is approximately $13 million, and completion is expected by 2003.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is a Virginia-based holding company with headquarters in Norfolk. It owns a major freight railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway Company, which operates approximately 21,500 route miles in 22 states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario.

Delaware Department of Transportation Web Site: http://www.state.de.us/deldot
Norfolk Southern Corporation: http://www.nscorp.com

    Appeals court rules that NS can close former Pennsy car shop - A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that Norfolk Southern can close the Hollidaysburg (Pa.) Car Shop despite the opposition of rail labor and politicians who claim the railroad reneged on promises to keep the shop open once it acquired its portion of Conrail.

The former Pennsylvania Railroad shop complex near Altoona - once the largest car shop in the world - still employs about 180 workers. NS had planned on closing the shops last fall, but the facility has been kept open while organized labor and elected officials filed suit.

The suit claimed that NS promised to maintain or increase business at the shops in exchange for state and labor backing for NS's purchase of Conrail. After the bungled Conrail split and economic slowdown, work at the shops was reduced to a trickle, and NS decided to close the facility, citing business conditions not anticipated
when it was pursuing the Conrail acquisition.

"Although officials of the commonwealth, the local communities, the employees and influential public figures may have been led to understand otherwise, we can find no representation by (Norfolk Southern) that it intended to operate (the car shop) indefinitely, without regard to business conditions," the court ruled. The court said the Surface Transportation Board correctly ruled that NS could close the shops. NS spokesman Rudy Husband says the railroad plans to close the shop complex on or around July 21.
 


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.

June 7-16, 2002 Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car at Strasburg Railroad, Strasburg, Pa.

Saturday & Sunday, June 22-23, 2002 Great Scale Model Train Show - Timonium
9-4 Saturday, 10-4 Sunday, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.

Saturday, July 13, 2002 150th Anniversary of Western Maryland Railway at B&O Museum, Baltimore
10 AM - 5 PM, ride behind WM F-7A #236, special exhibits of WM artifacts

Sunday, August 4, 2002 Red Arrow D-39 Work Car Trip

Saturday & Sunday, August 17-18, 2002 Great Scale Model Train Show - Gettsyburg
Gettsyburg, PA [NOT Maryland !] check their web-site http://www.GSMTS.com for info

Saturday & Sunday, August 24-25, 2002 Blue Mountain Express
8 AM-6 PM,Hagerstown,MD(to Pen Mar)to New Oxford,PA, Diesel+MARC equip. $15or$38, 301-739-4665

August 18 - 26, 2002 2002 NRHS Convention
Williams, Arizona (near Grand Canyon) with inbound and outbound steam powered trains planned from Los Angeles. Host Chapter(s) - Grand Canyon Chapter   Web Site is www.canyonrails2002.com

Sept. 13-22, 2002 Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car at Strasburg Railroad, Strasburg, Pa.

Saturday & Sunday, October 12-13, 2002 Great Scale Model Train Show - Timonium
9-4 Saturday, 10-4 Sunday, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.

Saturday, November 2, 2002 Night Photo PCC Trip

Dec. 5-8, 2002 Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car at Strasburg Railroad, Strasburg, Pa.

==================================================================

Saturday, January 25, 2003 Super Saturday Streetcar Special X

August 18 - 26, 2003 2003 NRHS Convention - STAR SPANGLED RAILS to be held in Baltimore, MD sponsored by Washington DC Chapt. in conjunction with B&O's 175 Anniversary ANNOUNCING STAR SPANGLED RAILS, A JOINT CONVENTION IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND OF THE NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE RAILWAY AND LOCOMOTIVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY for further details, contact: Walter Weart 703-921-3895 or Kevin Tankersley 703-549-7784

    The National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) and the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Inc. (R&LHS) will hold a joint convention, named Star Spangled Rails, in Baltimore, Maryland July 1 - 6, 2003. Hosted by the Washington, DC Chapter of the NRHS and the R&LHS, the convention will offer exciting mainline excursion trains, other informative, fun rail oriented trips, educational seminars and the annual banquet. There will also be non-rail excursions to see the history and culture of Maryland.

    Star Spangled Rails will coincide with the 175th Anniversary of Railroading in the United States and will occur at the height of the B&O Railroad Museum's America on Track Celebration. The highlight of the Museum's celebration will be a recreation of the 1927 "Fair of the Iron Horse". The fair will include special exhibits at the museum and BaltimoreÕs Carroll Park. Railroad equipment of all kinds and vintages will be on display, something special no one will want to miss. Besides all of the exciting public events of the Fair, special private events for Star Spangled Rails attendees only are being planned in conjunction with the museum. Along with planned convention activities, Baltimore offers many attractions. For example, experience Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the Maryland Science Center, the Baltimore Zoo and the National Aquarium. See historical mansions and monuments. Visit Fort McHenry where the national anthem was written. Baltimore features great sports teams, cool jazz, world class theatres and over 200 specialty shops. To delight the epicureans, Baltimore offers a fantastic variety in dining experiences, everything from Chesapeake Bay cuisine to Italian delights, traditional fares and everything in between. And of course, thereÕs the 4th of July fireworks, courtesy of the City of Baltimore. This convention is definitely something both railfans and non-railfans will not want to miss! For more information, check the official convention website at www.starspangledrails.org.           Pre-egistration will open in August 2002 for members of both NRHS and the R&LHS.
 


CHAPTER EVENTS  

Saturday June 15 , 2002 9 AM Chapter Picnic Picnic Part 2 at Perryville, MD

Thursday June 20, 2002 7 PM Chapter Meeting program is a "Do-It-Yourself" 25 slides per person plus prints

Thursday July 18, 2002 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Richard Hall "Derailments & Other Mishaps"

Thursday August 15, 2002 7 PM Chapter Trip Circle Trip to "Yet-To-Be-Determined" Instead of normal monthly meeting

Thursday Sept. 19, 2002 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by David Haring "Report from RailCamp¨ 2002"

Thursday Oct. 18, 2002 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson "Cuban Adventure - Part 2"

Thursday Nov. 21, 2002 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Phil Snyder "Cross Country Adventure - Part 1"

Sunday Dec. 8?, 2001 5 PM Holiday Dinner program by Steve Barry Instead of normal monthly meeting.

The Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) meets at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month [except August & December] in the Darley Room at the Claymont Community Center on Green Street in Claymont, Delaware.      Visitors are always welcome. Admission to regular meetings is free. Check out our Website, thanks to Russ Fox at:   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   Dan Frederick
    National Director   Tom Posatko
    Editor  Greg Ajamian
    Public Relations    Frank Ferguson, Jr.
    Event Photographer  Bruce Barry

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