THE
TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official
Newsletter
Internet Edition
| VOLUME 24 NO. 3 | MARCH 2002 |
Back To Wilmington Chapter Web Site
JANUARY 17, 2002 MEETING NOTES
Secretary Dan Frederick
read the minutes of the last meeting which were approved as read as was the
Treasurer's Report by Ralph Stevens. After a brief report from National Director
Tom Posatko, Education Chairman Ed Thornton announced that the Chapter will be
funding our newest member, David Haring, when he attends Rail Camp this summer.
President Phil Snyder introduced a motion (which was quickly
passed) to donate $25 to the Historic Red Clay Valley in honor and memory of
long time Chapter member Ernie Barry. News items were reported by Dan Frederick
and Greg Ajamian and Bob O'Connor reported on his recent rail trip to Chicago.
Trip Director Bruce Barry announced that there will be "some kind of NYC
trip" once he can work out the details.
After the usual (but recently shortened) refreshment break,
Bruce presented a slide program of "2001 Activities" (the year, not
the number of slides). He included views of Darby, PA, the Trolley Trip, and
Paulsboro, NJ. There were night views of the Middletown & Hummelstown and
daytime views of the Cape May Seashore line, the reopening of the Wilmington
& Western, and the 30th anniversary of Amtrak. We saw the demolished tower
at Elsmere, the AutoTrain to Florida, and the Port Jersey Railroad. The program
then switched to his 1994 trip which included Denver, Cheyenne, Archer, Green
River, Salt Lake City, Soldier Summit, and most of the important rail sites in
between.
NOTICE: IN CASE OF BAD
WEATHER
If our normal "THIRD THURSDAY" NRHS meeting is canceled due to
inclement weather, it will be postponed and held on the FOURTH THURSDAY.
If it must again be canceled, it will NOT be rescheduled. We will simply
wait for the next month's normal "third Thursday" meeting. If
the weather looks bad or is predicted to be bad, you may telephone the Claymont
Community Center to see if it will be open that evening for our meeting.
NOTICE: MEMBERSHIP
DUES
Reminder: If you have not yet done so, please send your membership
dues check to Treasurer Ralph Stevens or this could be the last issue of the
newsletter that you receive.
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, March 23, 2002 EastRAIL 2002
10 AM - 6 PM, Warren Hills Regional High School, Jackson Valley Rd., Washington,
NJ, $10 advance, $15 at door, tickets www.urhs.org,
info call 7 PM- 9 PM only 732-671-9644 , E-Mail RPnews@worldnet.att.net
Saturday & Sunday, May 11-12, 2002 Cass Spring Photo Special
8 AM Sat Cass > Spruce, Big Cut, & Beaver Creek, Sun. Cass > Bald
Knob, Fare $195 for adults,
Call Carl Franz for info evenings and weekends only at 301-942-6197
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
NEWS BITS
No News Bits this time, so stop reading and go dig out some slides and/or photos for this year's contest. You should to try to get a new photo of a railroad worker actually working. As an added challenge, you could try to get photographic proof that one of our Chapter Members who allegedly works for a RR actually does !!!
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 16th,
2002.
Here are the guidelines for entering images in this year's contest:
CATEGORIES [note timeframes]
THE ROCKVILLE LIMITED
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2002
A Special Train Sponsored by the Harrisburg Chapter,
National Railway Historical Society, to Celebrate the Centennial of the
Rockville Bridge
The Harrisburg Chapter, National Railway Historical Society is sponsoring a
chartered train excursion to recognize the 100th anniversary of the completion
of the world-famous Rockville Bridge. The trip will leave the Harrisburg
Transportation Center (Amtrak station) at 7:30 am on April 13, 2002 and return
at approximately 3:00 pm. The train's route goes east from Harrisburg through
scenic Lancaster County farmland and continues to downtown Philadelphia, where
the train will enter Amtrak's high speed Northeast Corridor toward Wilmington,
DE. After a swift run down the Corridor to Perryville, MD, we will turn north
onto Norfolk Southern freight-only trackage and travel along the banks of the
Susquehanna River through several tunnels and the Borough of Columbia. North of
there, the train will cross the Susquehanna for the first time on Shocks Mill
Bridge, entering York County. We will proceed on the west bank of the river and
pass through Enola Yard, where we can observe the recently-reconstructed hump
yard. The highlight of the trip will come near the end as the chartered train
crosses the Susquehanna River a second time, this crossing on the renowned
Rockville Bridge, before a quick return to the station in Harrisburg.
Other special features of this excursion include the use of a pair of
beautifully-restored E8 locomotives owned by the Juniata Terminal Company and
wearing new paint in their original Pennsylvania Railroad scheme. Numbers 5711
and 5809 were built in the 1950's for the Pennsylvania Railroad and also were
used to power Conrail's executive train. There will be coach seating available
for $85 per seat, which includes a box lunch and beverage. In addition, there
will be 48 first-class seats offered on two privately-owned, restored business
cars at $250 per seat. First class service will include a meal served in grand
railroad tradition on linens and china. As an added attraction, it is planned to
sell commemorative T-shirts and other souvenir items noting this memorable
occasion on the train.
Parking is available near the Harrisburg Station on nearby streets (no meters on
weekend) or in the Walnut Street Parking Garage, Court and Walnut Sts. (about
three blocks from the station). Tickets for the train may be ordered from:
Harrisburg Chapter NRHS, Ticket Agent, 637 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA
17101-1924
Checks must accompany an order and are to be made payable to "Harrisburg
Chapter NRHS." Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for
mailing of your tickets. There are no refunds given on purchased tickets. The
trip will run regardless of weather. The answering machine for the chapter may
be called at 717-232-6221. Information requests made to that number will be
answered as soon as possible. There is no smoking permitted anywhere on the
train, and no alcoholic beverages are permitted.
[cut here and mail along with check; keep information above]
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Ticket Order Form
______ Coach Tickets @ $85.00 each = $ _______________
______ First Class Tickets @ $250 each = $ ____________
Make checks payable to "Harrisburg Chapter NRHS" and mail to: 637
Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101-1924.
No credit card orders accepted. All tickets include round trip train
transportation and lunch. In coaches, lunch consists of a boxed lunch and
beverage. The lunch in First Class is a served meal. Ticket orders must be
received by April 6, 2002.
Name (print) ___________________________________________
Street ___________________________________________
Town, State, Zip ___________________________________________
Area Code and Phone _______________________________
E/mail _________________________________________
CHAPTER EVENTS
Thursday March 21, 2002 7 PM - Chapter Meeting program by Dan Frederick - program not known at this time.
Fri-Sun April 12-14, 2002 National Director's Meeting - Harrisburg, PA
Friday April 12 Middletown & Hummelstown Excursion
Saturday April 13 7:30 AM THE ROCKVILLE LIMITED = Port Road + Rockville Bridge
Thursday April 18, 2002 7 PM - Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson & Kermit Geary - program not known at this time.
Thursday May 16, 2002 7 PM - Chapter Meeting Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest - 2002 special category: Railroad Personnel While They Are Working.
Saturday ? , 2002 11 AM - Chapter Picnic probably at Perryville, MD.
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 Dan Frederick
National Director Tom Posatko
Editor Greg Ajamian
Public Relations Frank Ferguson, Jr.
Event Photographer Bruce Barry