THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

VOLUME 24 NO. 8 NOVEMBER  2002

Back To Wilmington Chapter Web Site

SEPTEMBER 19, 2002 MEETING NOTES

This reporter was unable to attend the September Chapter Meeting but I understand that David Haring provided an excellent "Report from RailCamp® 2002" based upon his experience this summer.

OCTOBER 17, 2002 MEETING NOTES   

The 22 people present for this meeting included our newest member, Jeff Harris; a local guest, Don Richard; a member of the Philadelphia Chapter, and one from the Baltimore Chapter. The minutes by Dan Frederick & Treasurer's Report were approved as read. National Director, Tom Posatko, said he would be unable to attend the fall meeting in Iowa.  We got an update from Trip Director, Bruce Barry.  President Phil Snyder thanked members Bill Russell, Richard Hall, Jack Rathburn, Ed Thornton, and Joe Reed for taking over booth duties to allow him & Ron Cleaves to see the rest of Transportation Day. Phil announced that we have a NEW VENUE for the Holiday Dinner this year on Dec. 8. Greg Ajamian reported on Private Varnish convention soon to be at B&O Museum, Dan Frederick provided news from the Internet on Bombardier's JetTrain, Wisconsin Central, Bangor & Aroostock, and the possible cancellation of many long distance Amtrak trains. He also reported on RR Station Historical Society Convention & the last active tower in Texas.  Robert O'Connor saw a tractor trailer successfully "beat the train to the crossing" to avoid the long wait for the ONE car! Ralph Stevens reported on his Amtrak trip to St. Louis. The "ten slides" for this evening were Bruce Barry's Canadian stainless steel passenger cars. We were then treated to Frank Ferguson's "Cuban Adventure - Part Deux". There were lots of old steam locomotives including Baldwins, Alcos, and Vulcans (many in operation!).  In addition to Russian and Czech diesels, we also saw an x-Santa Fe GE C30-7 that got to Cuba via Mexico, an EMD GP-8 (that's an 8, not a typo!) that were built for export in the 1950's, RDC's, and a Montreal Locomotive Works Alco MX624. Action shots, old cars (well, at least the bodies), and nice scenery made for another excellent show.


LOOKING FOR PHOTOS

Chapter Member Ron Cleaves is looking for photos or slides of the Octorara Railway's freight operations on the Wilmington & Western Railroad in the early 1980's.  Call Ron at 302-798-2328


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.


Wilmington Chapter NRHS Streetcar Trips

November 2, 2002  -  Night Photo PCC Trip
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 a tripod 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. 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 2: Night Photo PCC Trip only -- $35
Option 3: Super Saturday Streetcar Special only -- $35
Option 6: Night Trip and Super Saturday Trip Combo -- $60 (save $10)

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

Our Trolley Conductor, Bill Monaghan, has some photos from the D-39 trip on his web page: http://users.snip.net/~trolleydriver/D-39/d.htm

On October 18, 2002, the Wall Street Journal had an article on Cuba changing their policy on sugar. Since June 2002, Cuba has closed 71 of the country's 156 sugar mills, laying off 100,000 mill and cane workers. The government is ordering that the land previously used for raising sugar cane be used for growing rice or raising cattle, for example. The result of this is likely be the massive reduction in the use of steam engines, maybe the complete elimination of steam power in Cuba. This was interesting given that we just saw Frank Ferguson's program. [from Dan Frederick]

TOP 15 REASONS RAILFANNING IS BETTER THAN DEER HUNTING
15. Kids don't cry BAMBI when you bring a "trophy" home.
14. Wife wouldn't object too much to have "trophy shot" over dining room table.
13. No taxidermist fee for "mounting" your best trophy shot.
12. Trains can be shot all year long.
11. A warm car beats a tree stand any day.
10. Train lovers don't get mad at you for shooting "Thomas The Tank Engine".
9. You can't use a scanner to tell when deer are getting close.
8. No arguments when two people shoot the same train at the same time.
7. No boring Deer Hunting stories.
6. Nobody cares if you use a railroad crossing sign to "sight in" your camera.
5. Three words: "Hunting License Fee".
4. SD90MAC's don't need to be field dressed.
3. Working models of deer? Yeah, right.
2. There's no limit on how many trains you're allowed to shoot.
1. Unless they're really dumb, your buddies won't mistake you for The Southwest Chief.
[Modified from the Erie Lackawanna Chat Room and http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/top10.html]

The following are excerpts from the COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO DEVELOP THE MODEL STATE BILLS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILLS [from http://www.fra.dot.gov/safety/states/state1.htm]
The Department of Transportation's Rail-Highway Crossing Safety Action Plan included initiatives to work with rail industry police and legal staff to synthesize existing State and Federal statutes regarding trespass and vandalism prevention and to develop model legislation for consideration by State legislatures. Congress affirmed the validity of these initiatives by passing the Safety Act, which requires the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with State and local governments and railroad carriers, to develop and make available to State and local governments model State legislation covering trespassing and vandalism on railroad property.

In response, the Department of Transportation, through a collaborative process with interested parties, has developed model State legislation that, if adopted, should help curb the serious problem of trespassing and vandalism on railroad property. A summary of steps the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) took to develop the model legislation, and highlights of the two model bills. The most pervasive deficiencies in the laws are weak penalties. For example, one State prescribes a fine of not less than $10 but not more than $100 for a first offense of vandalism. Another pervasive weakness in the State laws is categorizing the offenses of trespassing and vandalism as relatively innocuous crimes. For example, in one State, vandalism of any railroad sign or signal is a Class B traffic infraction. The model State bills would remedy these deficiencies.

By listening to people's points of view on the issues of railroad trespassing and vandalism, FRA learned what people wanted, and conversely, what they did not need or find acceptable, in a railroad trespass and vandalism law.

The model State railroad trespass prevention bill accomplishes the following:

The model State railroad vandalism prevention bill accomplishes the following:

RAILROAD TRESPASS PREVENTION BILL SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to prevent accidents and casualties to persons who unlawfully enter upon railroad property, and otherwise to enhance the safety of transportation by railroad.

"§[]. TRESPASSING ON RAILROAD PROPERTY.
"(a) Trespassing on railroad property. Whoever, without lawful authority or the railroad carrier's consent, knowingly enters or remains upon railroad property, by an act including, but not limited to--
"(1) standing, sitting, resting, walking, jogging, running, driving, or operating a recreational or non-recreational vehicle including, but not limited to, a bicycle, motorcycle, snowmobile, car, or truck; or
"(2) engaging in recreational activity, including, but not limited to, bicycling, hiking, fishing, camping, cross-country skiing, or hunting-- except for the purpose of crossing such property at a public highway or other authorized crossing, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction of such act, the person shall be fined not more than $100, imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.
"(b) Stowaways prohibited. Whoever, without lawful authority or the railroad carrier's consent, rides on the outside of a train or inside a passenger car, locomotive, or freight car, including a box car, flatbed, or container, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction of such act, the person shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
"(c) Persons with lawful authority to be on specified railroad property.
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"(4) 'railroad property' means all tangible property owned, leased, or operated by a railroad carrier including a right-of-way, track, bridge, yard, shop, station, tunnel, viaduct, trestle, depot, warehouse, terminal, or any other structure, appurtenance, or equipment owned, leased, or used in the operation of any railroad carrier including a train, locomotive, engine, railroad car, work equipment, rolling stock, or safety device. 'Railroad property' does not include a railroad carrier's administrative building or offices, office equipment, or intangible property such as computer software or other information;

RAILROAD VANDALISM PREVENTION BILL
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to prevent acts of vandalism to railroad property which affect the health, safety, and welfare of the traveling public, the neighboring community, and railroad employees; to protect railroad property and freight in transportation by railroad; and otherwise to enhance the safety of transportation by railroad.
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"§[ ]. VANDALISM OF RAILROAD PROPERTY.
"(a) Reckless disregard for railroad property or the safety of another. Whoever, with reckless disregard for railroad property or the safety of another, commits an act which may cause damage to railroad property or bodily injury to another by an act including, but not limited to--
"(1) placing a small object, such as a coin, token, bottle cap, bottle, or can, on a railroad track or rail or dropping or throwing an object, such as an egg or water balloon, at a locomotive or train;
"(2) taking, removing, defacing, altering, marking with graffiti, or otherwise vandalizing a railroad sign, placard, or marker;
"(3) throwing a rock, baseball, or other dangerous object at a locomotive, railroad car, or train;
"(4) dropping a brick or other dangerous object from a bridge or other overpass onto a railroad right-of-way;
"(5) shooting a firearm or other dangerous weapon at a locomotive, railroad car, or train;
"(6) removing appurtenances from, damaging, or otherwise impairing the operation of any railroad signal system, including a train control system, centralized dispatching system, or highway-railroad grade crossing warning signal on a railroad owned, leased, or operated by any railroad carrier, without consent of the railroad carrier involved;
"(7) interfering or tampering with, or obstructing in any way, any switch, frog, rail, roadbed, sleeper, viaduct, bridge, trestle, culvert, embankment, structure, or appliance pertaining to or connected with any railroad carrier, without consent of the railroad carrier involved; or
"(8) taking, stealing, removing, changing, adding to, altering, or in any manner interfering with any journal bearing, brass, waste, packing, triple valve, pressure cock, brake, air hose, or any other part of the operating mechanism of any locomotive, engine, tender, coach, car, caboose, or motor car used or capable of being used by any railroad carrier in this State without consent of the railroad carrier-- shall be guilty of an offense. If railroad property damage does not exceed $500 and no bodily injury occurs to another as a result of any of the aforesaid acts, the person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction of such act, the person shall be subject to pay the railroad carrier involved the cost to repair any railroad property damaged, and to perform community service for not more than 120 hours, if community service is available in the jurisdiction where the offense was committed. If community service is not available in the jurisdiction where the offense was committed, the person shall be subject to pay the railroad carrier involved the cost to repair any railroad property damaged, and be fined not more than $500, imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. If railroad property damage exceeds $500 or bodily injury occurs to another as a result of any of the aforesaid acts, the person shall be guilty of a felony. Upon conviction of such act, the person may be subject to pay the railroad carrier involved for the cost to repair any railroad property damaged, and shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than ten aforesaid acts, the person shall be guilty of a felony. Upon conviction of such act, the person may be subject to pay the railroad carrier involved the cost to repair any railroad property damaged, and shall be fined not more than $20,000, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both. years, or both. If serious bodily injury or death occurs to another as a result of any of the aforesaid acts, the person shall be guilt of a felony. Upon conviction of such act, the person may be subject to pay the railroad carrier involved the cost to repair any railroad property damaged and shall be fined not more than $20,000, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both.


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, November 2, 2002 Night Photo PCC Trip

November 2, 2002 Inner Harbor Train Show B&O Railroad Museum.  Attention model train hobbyists! Come to the B&O Roundhouse to buy or trade a wide variety of gauges and types of model trains and accessories.

November 29 - December 30, 2002 Holiday Traditions at B&O Railroad Museum B&O Railroad Museum

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

Nov. 2, 2002 Inner Harbor Train Show B&O Railroad Museum. Attention model train hobbyists! Come to the B&O Roundhouse to buy or trade a wide variety of gauges and types of model trains and accessories.

Nov. 29 - December 30, 2002 Holiday Traditions at the B&O Railroad Museum B&O Railroad Museum. Festivities include spectacular model train layouts and holiday gardens along with singers and musicians on selected days and a special visit with Santa on November 29th. [closed Dec. 24, 25, 31, and January 1].

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

Saturday, January 25, 2003 Super Saturday Streetcar Special X

January 25-26, 2003 Locomotion B&O Railroad Museum. How things move, lowdown on real horsepower, steam, diesel & electric rail transport. Talks, demonstrations, exhibits.

Feb. 8, 2003 Ambassadors of Service B&O Railroad Museum. Step aboard classic dining & sleeper car, hear retired African-American porters, waiters, chefs recount experiences, stories about working on the railroad. Ask your own questions during the question-and-answer period that follows.

Feb. 27-March 2, 2003 50 Years on Track B&O Railroad Museum. Celebrate 50 years of preserving and presenting the wonders of American Railroading. Learn about B&O firsts & celebrate landmark anniversary of world-class collection - oldest & most comprehensive in the Western Hemisphere.

March 15, 2003 Women at Work on the Railroad B&O Railroad Museum. Discover history and hear what it was like to be a woman working for and riding on the rails yesterday and today. Learn about women's roles as railroad workers and passengers from the early 19th century to present day.

March 19 - 22, 2003 International Railroad Preservation Symposium B&O Railroad Museum. Conference will be open to the public by subscription, in Mt. Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore. Details TBA. Hosted by The B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21223

June 27 - July 6, 2003 The Fair of the Iron Horse 175 years of American Railroad B&O Railroad Museum. 10-day extravaganza, historic locomotives, pavilions of model trains and railroad history and technology. Daily parade of historic locomotives from America and world tells saga of American railroading from the beginning to present day.

July 1-6, 2003 2003 NRHS Convention - STAR SPANGLED RAILS
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 Baltimore's 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. For more information, check the official convention website at www.starspangledrails.org. Pre-registration will open in August 2002 for members of both NRHS and the R&LHS.


CHAPTER EVENTS  

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

Sunday Dec. 8, 2002 5 PM Holiday Dinner program by Steve Barry Instead of normal monthly meeting.

Thursday Jan. , 2003 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Phil Snyder "Cross Country Adventure - Part 2".

Thursday Feb. , 2003 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson, Jr.

Thursday March , 2003 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Greg Ajamian.

Thursday April , 2003 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Mike Burkhart.

Thursday May , 2003 7 PM Chapter Meeting Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest 2003 special category: not available at this time.

Saturday ? ? , 2003 11 AM Chapter Picnic location not available at this time.

Thursday June , 2003 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Richard Hall.

Thursday July , 2003 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Bruce Barry.

Thursday Aug. , 2003 7 PM Chapter Trip Circle Trip to "Yet-To-Be-Determined" 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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