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THE TRANSFER TABLEThe Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official NewsletterInternet Edition

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MARCH 17, 2005 MEETING NOTES

    The meeting was called to order at 7 PM and the minutes approved as read by Secretary Dan Frederick as was the treasurer's Report by Ralph Stevens. National Director Tom Posatko reported that they are working on a major revision of the by-laws and that Steve Barry has been advertising our Chapter's September Trip and it is about half sold out. President Phil Snyder said the April 23 Chapter Picnic would be on the NJT River Line. Paul Fortin reported that Bill Bartosh is now running the Carolina & Western Railroad.

    After a short break we were treated to another fine show by Frank Ferguson. We saw the Morristown & Erie's Alco #4231 in Avondale, PA, the 853 foot long, 6o foot high, 24 steel span Elkview Trestle, and Strasburg's #89 repainted as Canadian National. There was the Three Rivers going through Gap, PA and the Philadelphia Chapter's Trolley Trip as well as Delmarva 2004, Harrington, and Feltonville. We saw some more grain elevators in western Canada including #2816 steaming by on the Canadian Pacific and the Rocky Mountaineer, both in multiple locations. There was a brand new Alaska Railroad SD-70MAC enroute to Prince Ruppert and great views around the Mount McDonnald Tunnel. We got to see trains in Banff and Lake Louise, an SW-1 on the Turtle Creek, and the B&LE from Butler, PA to Conneaught, OH. There was a B23-7 high hood in Crab Orchard, VA, a West Tennessee unit in Trenton, a T-6 Alco, the Dakota & Iowa, a remote control GP-7 in Iowa, and many other rare and interesting sights.

    Thursday, April 21, 2005 7PM, Chapter Meeting with program by Special Guest author Larry Goolsby on the Atlanta, Birmingham, & Coast (AB&C) RR who was the original owner of W&W's #58, before it became AB&A. He will have some of his books available for sale at the meeting - come see!!

FROM THE EDITOR

        The Bad News was this issue was a little delayed due to some personal commitments. The good news is that work has already begun on the next BIG+BIG issue.

NEWS BITS

• THE RAILSERVE WEBSITE [http://www.railserve.com/] lists Tourist Railroads & Museums - North America by region. The number of postings for each region is in parentheses.    Central Region (85)    Eastern & Atlantic Region (215)     Mountain Region (52)     Pacific Region (85)

• STEAMTOWN CELEBRATES ITS 1OTH ANNIVERSARY with special events throughout 2005. On the 4th of July Weekend starting Friday July 1st through Monday, July 4, 2005, Steamtown National Historic Site marks its 10th anniversary. Rolling into the future after Ten Years of Steam, Stories, Partnerships and Pride, the park's year-long celebration includes special commemorative events, presentations by guest speakers and lecturers, special interpretive programs, rotating exhibits and demonstrations, entertainment, movie and documentary film screenings, and special weekend activities. Witness the giants of the industrial era every day at Steamtown in the Roundhouse, the railroad yard and the Locomotive Shop. [ http://www.nps.gov/stea/ ]
  • Displays. Numerous steam locomotives and rolling stock are displayed or in use.
  • Tours. Walking tours of the locomotive shop/roundhouse are offered daily.
  • Short Train Rides. Short steam train rides in the Scranton yard are offered April 17, November, 2005. The short train rides may be aboard a caboose or aboard a "commuter" passenger coach.
  • The Pullman Experience. This extra-fare short ride in luxurious comfort is offered on many weekends during the operating season.
  • Mainline Excursions begin Memorial Day weekend and run through October.

   

• ELECTRIC FENCE PLANNED FOR MONTANA BIRDSEED AND MALASSES SPILL: Electric fences will be installed at the site of a BNSF head-on collision on its former Great Northern "High Line" last November 25 near the mouth of Bad Rock Canyon to keep bears away from loads of spilled birdseed and molasses, according to a story in the Hungry Horse News published in Columbia Falls. Seven locomotives and four freight cars derailed in the incident, with two of the cars ? one with birdseed and the other with molasses ? falling down an embankment. Bad Rock Canyon is 20 miles northeast of Kalispell. "What better mixture to attract bears than bird seed and molasses?" said Dan Vincent, director of the Great Northern Environmental Stewardship Area. GNESA coordinates private and government interests in the railroad corridor between West Glacier and East Glacier, Mont. Randy Wolff, at the BNSF office in Whitefish, Mont. ,said cleanup work on the steep slope above the Flathead River halted last fall when winter weather set in.  "The slope was too steep and too slick to complete the work," said Lane Ross, BNSF's Whitefish trainmaster. "Vacuum lines kept freezing up. It was a very expensive operation." Ross said Critter Gitters, an electronic device that senses movement and emits an annoying high-pitched noise, will also be installed at the site to frighten away bears. Vacuum trucks will return to the site in a second try at removing the spilled cargo. In the meantime, mesh barriers have been installed to prevent further movement of the cargo down the steep embankment to the river's edge. The November 25 collision, estimated by railway officials to be at about 10 mph, involved a 68-car westbound train bound from Minneapolis to Pasco, Wash., and an 88-car eastbound train bound from Portland, Ore., to Chicago. (Trains News Wire via American Rail Link for March 30, 2005 - George Read via Ed Mayover)

• NEW ALL-RESERVED REGIONAL SERVICE IN THE NORTHEAST ENSURES EVERY PASSENGER A SEAT: Beginning April 25, 2005, Amtrak will expand all-reserved service to every Regional train on the Northeast Corridor seven-days-a-week between Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Newport News, Va. The new all-reserved service ensures every passenger a seat every time they board a Regional train. While reservations are required, customers will still be able to purchase tickets for same day travel, as long as the train has not sold out beforehand. With all-reserved service, Amtrak is better able to monitor passenger demand and adjust train capacity accordingly. Since November 2004, weekend Regional trains have operated as all-reserved trains. Customers will still be able to purchase tickets for same day travel, as long as the train has not sold out beforehand. (Amtrak via American Rail Link for March 30, 2005 - George Read via Ed Mayover)

• THIS WEEK IN RAILROAD HISTORY: 04/01/1976 - Congress stepped in to create Consolidated Rail Corporation - Conrail - out of the remains of six railroads. One by one, they had fallen into bankruptcy. First it was Central Railroad of New Jersey, followed by Penn Central, Lehigh Valley, Reading, Erie Lackawanna and, finally, Lehigh & Hudson River. At its formation, Conrail was the nation's largest railroad with 34,000 miles of track in 16 states, 96,000 employees, 4,600 locomotives and 152,000 freight cars (courtesy of Phil Houle via American Rail Link for March 30, 2005 - George Read via Ed Mayover)

• NEW YORK MTA PHOTO BAN UPDATE: New York's Newsday reports "Ten months after the MTA first warned photographers to prepare to keep their lenses covered when descending into the subway, the agency board has not passed its controversial ban on unauthorized photography. Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said the hold-up is the result of an outpouring of criticism about the move, which would offer exemptions to credentialed photojournalists but give police wide latitude in limiting even the most innocent souvenir-taker from clicking away. (Newsday via American Rail Link for March 16, 2005 - George Read via Ed Mayover)

• THE ECONOMIC FORECASTING FIRM FTR Associates said that North American railroads will need to begin acquiring approximately 70,000 rail cars annually to meet demand. The report noted that the number of rail cars currently in service is at its highest level since 1998 and that half of the cars currently in service are more than 20 years old. (from Progressive Railroading via Weekly Rail Review - Week Ending 2APR2005 - Dave Mears Read via Ed Mayover)

• THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ANNOUNCED that it had approved a $499 million contract with Kawasaki for 340 new cars for its PATH rail transit line, which operates between Newark, Hoboken and Manhattan. A Port Authority spokesman said that the cars will replace PATH's existing car fleet, which now averages 33 years old. The spokesman added that the cars will be built at a Kawasaki facility in Yonkers, NY., that the first batch will be put in service by late 2008 and that the entire fleet will be replaced by 2011. (from New York Post via Weekly Rail Review - Week Ending 2APR2005 - Dave Mears Read via Ed Mayover)

• THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, said that it would post up to 150 works of railroad art on eBay. A spokesman for the museum said that the items to be auctioned online included framed paintings, photographs and prints that were recently donated to the museum by Union Pacific and that were mainly duplicates of items already in the museum's collection. The spokesman added that the items would be posted on eBay starting April 1. (from Council Bluffs Daily and Trains via Weekly Rail Review - Week Ending 2APR2005 - Dave Mears Read via Ed Mayover)

• DUE TO CONTINUING INCREASES IN TRAFFIC LEVELS, NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION SAID it will acquire 50 more new locomotives than initially planned in 2005. The six-axle, 4,000-horsepower high-adhesion locomotives, built by General Electric Transportation-Rail, meet all new reduced air-emission standards. Delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. The 50 new locomotives will be in addition to the purchase of 52 Electro Motive six-axle, 4,000 horsepower high-adhesion locomotives announced in the 2005 capital spending budget. With a total of 102 new locomotives, Norfolk Southern's fleet will increase to nearly 4,000 units. (from Norfolk Southern Corporation http://www.nscorp.com)

• THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED plans to sell its fleet of 12,400 freight cars to a consortium of Canadian farm organizations. A government spokesman said that fleet, which is used to transport Canadian grain to market, would be sold to the Farmer Rail Car Coalition under terms to be negotiated by the end of April. The spokesman reminded that the government announced in 1996 its intention to helpfully dispose of the fleet. (from AAR and Trains via Weekly Rail Review - Week Ending 12MAR2005 - Dave Mears Read via Ed Mayover)

• WASHINGTON, DC'S METRO SUBWAY SYSTEM ANNOUNCED that it would spend $800,000 to purchase an additional 250 to 300 bomb-resistant trash receptacles for use in subway stations. A Metro spokesman said that the new receptacles would add to the 400 bomb-resistant receptacles installed in stations since 2002. For security reasons, Metro removed ordinary trash cans from subway stations following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. (from Progressive Railroading via Weekly Rail Review - Week Ending 19MAR2005 - Dave Mears Read via Ed Mayover)

• APPALACHIAN & OHIO BECOMES LATEST WATCO SHORT LINE. Watco Companies of Pittsburg, Kans., says it will begin operating 117 miles of leased CSX track between Grafton and Cowen, W. Va., plus five short branch lines, as the Appalachian & Ohio (. More than 80 percent of the line's traffic is coal. The lease agreement of the former Baltimore & Ohio coal lines was announced in January. CSX has abandoned, sold, or leased more than 13,000 miles of redundant rail routes since 1982 to concentrate on its most profitable routes. The startup of the Appalachian & Ohio brings to 12 the number of short lines in Watco's stable. from the Associated Press published in the Kansas City Star)

• ON MARCH 28, 2005, CN AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN ANNOUNCED Routing Protocol to Streamline Interchange Traffic. Under their latest agreement -- the product of a comprehensive examination of all inter-line traffic and service schedules -- CN and Norfolk Southern will direct rail traffic through the most efficient interchange locations. The objective is to improve network capacity, transit times and asset utilization for through rail car movements. The agreement will be implemented over the next three months. The major interchange points for traffic moving between CN and NSR are Rouses Point and Buffalo, N.Y., Detroit, Toledo, Ohio, Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala. The routing protocol will result in a number of changes: (From: "NSINFO" <owner-nsinfo@nscorp.com>) - Traffic between the Louisiana gulf and the Northeast United States will be interchanged directly at New Orleans or Memphis, benefiting from a more direct route and fewer intermediate handlings; - Western Canada traffic to and from the south-central U.S. will be interchanged at Memphis, avoiding the congestion and additional handling in Chicago. - The parties will expand the use of the new Rouses Point gateway agreement announced in November 2004 to further handle traffic between Eastern Canada and the southeastern U.S.

ANNUAL DOUG WEAVER MEMORIAL 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 19th, 2005.

Here are the guidelines for entering images in this year's contest:

• As usual, there will be two separate contests; one for prints and one for slides. Each contest will have the same SEVEN categories. Prizes will be awarded for winners in each category (that is fourteen winners in all), plus additional awards for the best print and the best slide in the show.

• Each member can have up to three entries per category (that's 42 total photos if you are really ambitious: up to 21 total slides and 21 total prints!).

• Photos for the five normal, standard, REGULAR CATEGORIES #1-#5, as always in the past, must have been taken within the LAST FIVE (5) YEARS (anywhere on this planet).

• For the VINTAGE CATEGORY #6 ONLY, the photos can be of any railroad related subject but must have been taken 15 OR MORE YEARS AGO, that is before May 1, 1990. As voted on at the January 1998 meeting, the time frame was changed from "more than 25 years old" to "more than 15 years old".

• For SPECIAL CATEGORY #7 ONLY, designed to get people out to take new pictures; photos must have been taken in the LAST TWO (2) YEARS; that is, between May 1, 2003 and May 19, 2005 and must be a photo of "Trackwork," [ the PRIMARY subject matter in the photo should be the trackwork; including but not limited to multiple tracks, turnouts, diamonds, etc. ]

• CATEGORIES [note timeframes]

1) STEAM - Photos with a steam locomotive as the primary subject within the last 5 years.

2) DIESEL - Photos with a diesel locomotive as the primary subject within the last 5 years.This category also includes gas-electrics, Doodlebugs, RDCs, and FL9s north of Harmon, and the like.

3) HEAVY ELECTRIC - Electric power on big railroads within the last 5 years.

4) TRACTION - Trolleys & light rail including streetcars, all subways, etc. within the last 5 years

5) GENERAL - Any photo that does NOT include one of the above as the primary subject within the last 5 years. 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 2004 = TRACKWORK and taken within the last two (2) years.

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.

NOW THROUGH FALL 2005 - THE WEST CHESTER RAILROAD Flea Market, Antiques, and Collectibles at West Chester Station on the Last Sunday of each month during the scheduled runs May , June, July, August, September, October call 610-430-2233 or www.westchesterrr.net

Sat., May 7, 2005 thru Mon., April 10, 2006 EXHIBIT -- CATASTROPHE ON THE RAILS: TRAIN WRECKS OF THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES. Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg, PA, Regular Museum hours = 9 - 5 Mon. thru Sat; 12 - 5 Sundays

East Pennsboro Township celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the railroad yards in Enola. Throughout the year, the Historical Society of East Pennsboro Township will be staging many events to celebrate this milestone with activities for all ages. Information about those events will be listed on their website, as well as the Historical Society's website. If you're interested in knowing more about these events, contact Herb Kruger at the Historical Society 717-732-5801 [ from: http://www.eastpennsboro.net/Parks_Recreation/100th/100th.htm

Walking Tour on April 16, 2005 Visit Historic Sites throughout Enola take tour of Enola Cemetery April 17th.

Train Ride April 30 Departure times: 9am, 12 noon, and 3pm. The train will depart from the historic Harrisburg Railroad Station, cross the Rockville Bridge through the Enola Yard and then back to Harrisburg. Purchase tickets in advance ($35? coach, $70? First Class) no credit cards, call 717-732-5801

Enola Yard Centennial Festival May 14, 2005 Held at Adams-Ricci Park. Enjoy live entertainment, Railroad memorabilia and train displays, Food, and Fun for all ages. Also at this event will be the formal dedication of the Caboose recently installed in the park. End the day with a great Fireworks display.

Centennial Parade May 15, 2005 Come to town & watch parade as it extends from West Fairview to Enola.

May 30, 2005, Grand Reopening Celebration At Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum. Museum will unveil new state of the art restoration facility and open the historic North Passenger Car Shop to the public. Info http://www.borail.org/tickets/grandreopeningcelebration.asp or call (410) 752-2490

Sunday, June 12, C&O and Baltimore Streetcars at the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers Open House, 1-5 PM, Admission is by donation. We suggest donations of $5 per person, 225 W. Saratoga Street, Baltimore.  More info leave a message at 410-837-BSME (2763), visit http://www.modelengineers.com or send e-mail to: bsme1932@yahoo.com

Friday, July 1 through Sunday, July 10, 2005 = RAILROAD HERITAGE DAYS Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg, PA, Regular Museum hours = 9 - 5 Mon. thru Sat; 12 - 5 Sundays The exhibit will showcase historical and contemporary displays and presentations on Pennsylvania's many remarkable railroads, operating model train layouts, railroad art, music, stories, special photo opportunities, interpretive tours and much more. Pennsy Days, Reading RR Days, and Kids Days, which are incorporated into this event for 2005.

Wednesday, August 17 through Saturday, August 20, 2005 = RAILROAD CIRCUS DAYS Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg, PA, Regular Museum hours = 9 - 5 Mon. thru Sat; 12 - 5 SundaysFun of the big top in colorful and exact miniature: scale model replicas of circus trains, equipment and performances, displayed by the Circus Model Builders International.

Saturday, November 5 & Sunday, November 6, 2005 = TRAINS & TROOPS Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg, PA, Regular Museum hours = 9 - 5 Mon. thru Sat; 12 - 5 Sundays Guys & gals in uniform, splendid railroad and military archival displays, enjoy the patriotic spirit. Ride troop trains on Strasburg Rail Road with living history reenactors on both days. Trains & Troops program. Troop train tickets are sold separately by the Strasburg Rail Road on line at www.strasburgrailroad.com.

Saturday, December 10 & Saturday, December 17, 2005 = HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg, PA, Regular Museum hours = 9 - 5 Mon. thru Sat; 12 - 5 Sundays Nostalgic glimpse at holiday rail travel - costumed engineers, conductors, ticket agents and passengers representing the past century and enjoy seasonal music, festive decorations, Jack Frost Station and a Polar Express party for young children among our world-class collection of trains. Included in the regular Museum admission. Ride the Santa trains on the Strasburg Rail Road with the jolly old elf on both days. Home for the Holidays program. Santa train tickets are sold separately by the Strasburg Rail Road on line at www.strasburgrailroad.com

CHAPTER EVENTS  

Thursday April 21, 2005 7 PM, Chapter Meeting, program by Special Guest Larry Goolsby on the Atlanta, Birmingham, & Coast (AB&C) RR (the original owner of W&W's #58)  before it became the AB&A.

Saturday April 23, 2005 ? PM, Chapter Picnic,  probably a ride on the NJT River Line.

Thursday May 19, 2005 7 PM, Chapter Meeting, Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest 2005 special category: Trackwork (primary subject matter = multiple tracks, turnouts, or diamonds, etc.)

Thursday June 16, 2005 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Michael Burkhart

Thursday July 21, 2005 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Dave Warner

Thursday Aug. 18, 2005 7 PM Chapter Trip in lieu of normal meeting

Thursday Sept. 15, 2005 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by ??

Thursday Oct. 20, 2005 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by ??

Thursday Nov. 17, 2005 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson

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    Education Fund:   Ed Thornton    Public Relations:    Frank Ferguson, Jr.    Trip Director & Event Photographer:  Bruce Barry    Web Master:   Russ Fox

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