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THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

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AUGUST 17, 2006 MEETING NOTES

There was no regular meeting this month. There was instead the Do-It-Yourself Pay-As-You-Go Chapter Trip via SEPTA to Bryn Mawr, PA.

From The Editor

I have accumulated "lot's of goodies" for the next meeting since your Editor had to miss a meeting and there was no regular meeting in August.

NEWS BITS   

The Federal government's Transportation Department recently issued a white paper on reducing traffic congestion in this country. In a letter of response from George Chilson, president of the National Association of Railroad Passengers wrote, "While you are right to target congestion as a serious and growing national problem, we are dumbfounded that you failed even to mention rail in National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network." [from Chesapeake Railway Association's High Green]

Codorus Creek Railway Company Profile - Codorus Creek Railway has a mission to provide safe, efficient, low-cost rail freight service to southern York County. Our service will emphasize safety as its highest priority. We will provide friendly and courteous service. Our goal is to strive to become an asset to the county and thetowns located along our route. The Codorus Creek Railway has been organized to take advantage of a gap in transportation alternatives available to shippers in the area. This gap exists in low cost, high capacity freight service along the Heritage Rail Trail Corridor. The availability of low cost, energy efficient, rail service, coupled with a potential demand for passenger operations along the corridor, indicates that a short line railroad could be expected to capture a portion of current freight traffic, as well as serve as an economic catalyst for commercial development in southern York County. The Codorus Creek Railway will expand the viability of the Heritage Rail Trail to draw even more people to its facilities and the businesses along its route. The Codorus Creek Railway was conceived in August 2005 and its offices will be located along the railroad in Southern York County. The cofounders of the Codorus Creek Railway, Don Kress and John Frantz, have extensive knowledge of the railroad industry. They will use this experience to ensure the prosperity of the railroad and allow the Codorus Valley to reap the economic benefits rail transportation has offer to the businesses and communities along its route. The initial phase of operation will focus on the extensive rebuilding of the physical infrastructure to current mainline standards. The next item to be completed is to replace 38,000 ties on the 18.5 mile main line. The ties cost $75 each, that equates to roughly $3,000,000. If your company is located in Southern York County and is interested in rail service we are willing to accommodate your needs. We offer 6 day a week freight service and 24/7 car spotting. A company does not need to be adjacent to the tracks to be served by rail. [from http://www.codoruscreekrailway.com/ via Ed Thornton ]

Norfolk Southern's Shelocta Secondary Opens For Business - August 3, 2006 the new $44 Million Rail Line in Western Pennsylvania improves Coal Service to Keystone Generating Station. Norfolk Southern Corporation announced that the first train will run on the new Shelocta Secondary on Monday, Aug. 7. This culminates a five-year, $44 million project to establish a direct rail connection between Norfolk Southern's Conemaugh Line in Saltsburg, Pa., to the coal-powered Keystone Generating Station in Shelocta, Pa. The regulatory approval process for construction of the Shelocta Secondary began in December 2001. Construction of the new line began in April 2005 and involved building approximately five miles of new track and right of way between Saltsburg and Clarksburg and rehabilitating 11 miles of existing out-of-service railroad right of way between Clarksburg and Shelocta. To construct the new segment, more than 1.4 million cubic yards of soil were moved to establish efficient grades. The Shelocta Secondary replaces a circuitous, limited-capacity route that is 51 miles longer than the new line. It is estimated that more than 3 million tons of coal will move over the line annually. The Norfolk Southern Railway operates approximately 21,200 route miles in 22 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. NS is North America's largest rail carrier of automotive parts and finished vehicles. [from http://www.nscorp.com ]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that it would contribute up to $2 billion toward the construction of two new rail tunnels under the Hudson River to Manhattan. A PANYNJ spokesman said that $1 billion will be provided right away and another $1 billion would be provided by the end of the year. Construction of the new tunnels, which are expected to cost $7.2 billion and must still be fully funded, will supplement the existing two tunnels built in 1910 that are used by Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. Officials overseeing the project have said that they hope to start construction in 2009 and have them in service by 2016. [from New York Times, RT&S, wire services via Weekly Rail Review - For The Week Ending 29JUL2006 via Ed Mayover]

This article was written for the "Transfer Table", newsletter of Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society by Chapter Member Tom Smith

Buckeye rails 2006
The NRHS 2006 NATIONAL CONVENTION by Tom Smith

The Annual NRHS Convention was held this year at New Philadelphia, Ohio from Monday July 17 through Sunday July 23. Since no NRHS chapter had bid on the 2006 convention, it was totally a product of the NRHS National Convention Committee; and, it was the first not held in a major city. Nevertheless, an abundance of nearby attractions, rail and otherwise, made for a fine convention.

Headquarters was in the Holiday Inn at the New Philadelphia exit on I-77 about 10 miles north of Dennison, where the major rail trips originated. Adjoining was a cluster of motels including Hampton Inn, Motel 6, Super 8 and Knights Inn, along with Denny's, Wal-Mart, fast food and gas stations, the kind of establishments you find at any major freeway interchange. Convention goers thus had a choice of motels in different price ranges, as well as a selection of restaurants.

This convention held a special appeal for me since trips were to be run on the Ohio Central RR with a variety of steam and diesel power. Since the Ohio Central has been reported going out of the excursion business, this might be the last opportunity to see and ride this growing regional carrier. It was great to see so many Wilmington Chapter members--eleven people from the Chapter attended!

Karen and I could not arrive from Portland until late Tuesday night, and so missed the first excursion over the Ohio Central's former PRR main line east from Dennison to near the Ohio River, advertised as a vintage diesel powered special train followed by a steam powered photo freight. I heard there was a photo freight of vintage cars, but it wasn't steam. The Ohio Central has a large fleet of passenger equipment stored at Sugar Creek, but the cars had reportedly been sold, so the convention trains were made up of cars from the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society.

Wednesday saw Convention trips to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic RR and the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Having already ridden the former, we spent the day exploring the beautiful hill country of southeastern Appalachian Ohio, which has a local Amish population larger than Lancaster County, Pa., and local area rail lines and where abandoned rail lines had been. I was surprised to find that southern Ohio was once laced with a network of canals that preceded the railroads. Some evidence of them remain, including several locks.

The 1946 vs. 2006 Ohio rail maps in the August 2006 TRAINS explain how Ohio has lost about a third of its rail mileage in the last 50 years, much of it main lines. Dennison was once PRR's Altoona of the Lines West, site of a shop complex, two roundhouses and a payroll exceeding 3000. Now, everything is gone except for the Dennison depot which has been nicely restored and houses a restaurant, museum and gift shop. The main line in front once hosted PRR's  "Blue Ribbon" fleet of trains to St. Louis, including the Spirit of St. Louis, American, Jeffersonian, Penn Texas, St. Louisan, and more recently Amtrak's National Limited. What was once a double tracked speedway for K-4's, T-1's and E units is now an unsignaled single track which usually sees just one daily train running alternately east and west. The Ohio Central operates the line as far as Columbus, but west of there it is mostly gone. Farther south, the B&O's St. Louis mainline that was the route of B&O's National Limited, and later Amtrak's Shenandoah, has also mostly been removed.

Thursday's trip was billed as a steam powered 134-mile round trip excursion to Newark (about 30 miles east of Columbus), however due to lack of turning facilities in Dennison, it was diesel powered from Dennison to Morgan Run, just east of Coshocton. An optional tour of Ohio Central's Morgan Run shops was offered, and those of us who participated boarded buses at the Holiday Inn that would take us directly to Morgan Run. There, we were allowed the run of the place, photographing equipment and touring the shop area where both diesels and ex-LS&I 2-8-0 number 33 were getting an overhaul. Unfortunately, we did not see many locomotives in Ohio Central's attractive maroon and gray color scheme. Many of their locomotives have been sold and replaced with ex Conrail GE B23-7's and C36-7's still in Conrail paint. On hand were seven steam locomotives, but the only one serviceable was former CP 4-6-2 1293.

When the excursion train arrived from Dennison, the shop tour passengers boarded, ex Erie Mining Alco C420 7220 was cut away, and the 1293 tied on to take the train on to Newark, with a nice photo runby staged at Trinway. Although I had traveled this trackage before, I had never seen it in daylight. Passengers could photograph the train turning on the wye at Newark, before returning eastward. Another runby at Trinway was scrubbed when a violent thunderstorm moved toward our location after everyone was off the train. We scrambled back on board just in time to avoid a good soaking. At Morgan Run the 1293 came off and former Amtrak F40PH 271 led our train back to Dennison. I couldn't escape the thought that this could possibly be the last NRHS Convention to feature a main line steam trip. I hope not.

While the Newark trip was going on, Karen, who was back in New Philadelphia visiting an aunt who lived nearby, and Greg Ajamian, who was riding the train, were busy on their cell phones getting in touch with all the Wilmington Chapter members attending the convention to arrange a dinner that evening in the Dennison depot restaurant. Greg, Karen and I, Ed Thornton and Linda, Phil Snyder, Ralph Stevens, Steve Barry, Bruce Barry, Frank Ferguson, Mike Burkhart, Tom Postako and Tom's guest Lee Seifert sat down to a great meal and time of friendship. Coincidentally, this dinner was held the same night as the monthly Wilmington Chapter meeting, and also coincidentally, across the street was the Claymont Library! When the declining population of the adjoining towns of Dennison and Uhrishville forced a consolidation of some of their municipal services such as libraries and school systems, they named the combined district  "Claymont." There was even a Claymont High School, but unfortunately, no Claymont Sub Shop. It was a great evening, and thanks to Karen and Greg for getting it together.

Friday was a day of seminars, annual Member's and Board meetings and the Convention Banquet. I also chased of the daily freight train, led by a pair of Ohio Central C36-7's in Conrail blue with an Ohio Central SD40-2 on the rear. This arrangement allows easy positioning of the train for coal loading where several reverse movements are required.

Saturday saw the third and last major excursion, a triangle trip over both the Ohio Central and Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroads. We boarded the train at Dennison in a heavy downpour, and were propelled westward by Ohio Central Montreal built RS18 1800. Upon arrival at Morgan Run, the diesels ran around the train to take us northeast up the original W&LE Zanesville line to Brewster. We were then given a nice surprise-- 4-6-2 1293 was placed ahead of the diesels and would lead us to Sugar Creek. Another nice runby was held with the 1293, and after it was removed, we continued into the former W&LE yard at Brewster, at one time the Altoona of the W&LE. The train was again turned, and we headed southeasterly on the W&LE main line. This was original W&LE trackage which then became part of the Nickel Plate, later the N&W, and now operates as a regional carrier under its original name. After a fast run to Bowerston, we rejoined the Ohio Central, had another runby, and returned to Dennison.

Although the convention was over, on Sunday Karen and I covered a couple of tourist lines, the Byesville Scenic RR, and the Hocking Valley. The former uses a 3-mile segment of the former PRR Cleveland and Marietta branch south from Byesville, while the latter runs on former C&O trackage that was the original Hocking Valley main line between Nelsonville and Logan. I had ridden the Hocking Valley before in 1977 when it was using a now abandoned branch line to New Straitsville and the exLS&I 2-8-0 33 which is now in Ohio Central's Morgan Run shops. Both use former Ohio Central diesels; the Byesville Scenic operates a GE 80Tonner, and the Hocking Valley a GP9.

It was a very nice convention with well run trips that ran on time. It was then Frontier Airlines back to Portland with a lot of rolls of film and great memories. It was great to see so many Chapter members again.

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.

Second Sunday each month from April to Nov. Chesapeake & Allegheny Steam Preservation Society from 11:00am to 3:30pm, Leakin Park, Baltimore, MD, http://calslivesteam.org/ The rides are free and there are picnic tables nearby for those who wish to make a day of it.

September 9 - October 3, 2006 Gardenfest at Longwood Gardens - Includes a garden railway

During October 2006 FALL FOLIAGE TRAINS - Pioneer Lines, Gettsyburg, PAOctober at 1 p.m. (running on most Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays in the month of October)Fare: $16.50 adults, $9.00 children (4-12 yrs), children 3 and under ride for free http://www.gettysburgrail.com

October 14, 2006 Second Annual OcTrolleyFestA Celebration of Transportation Heritage and Community. For nearly 150 years, streetcars and trolleys have connected our communities with the wider world and with each other. We are celebrating this heritage with trolley rides through three hundred years of history in Darby, Yeadon, Colwyn and Southwest Philadelphia and hope you will participate. This year's celebration will be especially exciting because it is taking place on the same day as the dedication of a historic marker to the 1925 World Champion Hilldales of the Negro Baseball Leagues at Yeadon Plaza, the site of Hilldale Park. OcTrolleyFest 2006 is sponsored by the Darby Free Library (believed to be our nation's oldest public library, chartered in 1743), Sharon Bank, the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, Sovereign Bank, the OcTrolleyFest Committee of the Darby Borough Historical Commission, and other individuals and organizations. John Haigis, Coordinator; www.darbyhistory.com, www.PastTimesPresent.com, www.OcTrolleyFest.org

October 14-15, 2006 Great Scale Model Train Show - Timonium9-4 Saturday, 10-4 Sunday, Cow Palace, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.

November 19, 2006 Auburn Heights Hunters Moon Trains, Museum & Grounds Open6:30 - 9:00pm Auburn Heights, Yorklyn, DE, http://www.auburnheights.org

November 24-30, 2006 Holiday Festival of Trains at the B&O Museum Baltimore, MD Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Holiday celebration of toy trains and model railroading layouts beginning with the arrival of Santa by locomotive on Friday, November 24, 2006. The festival features many different layouts including the Museum's "HO" model train layout in the C&O #725 passenger car and the outdoor "G" scale layout. Children can visit with Santa on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the Festival. Museum closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. http://www.borail.org/

December 9, 2006 Christmas Lights Charter Trip Night photo trip = PCC-II through city streets w/ many night photo stops, http://www.daylightimages.com/streetcar/

February 2007 Super Saturday Streetcar Special XIV Trip Our annual pre-Super Bowl trip on the Saturday before the Big Game, http://www.daylightimages.com/streetcar/

CHAPTER EVENTS  

Thursday Sept. 21, 2006 7 PM Chapter Meeting WAS TO HAVE BEEN by Dan Frederick entitled "Touring Europe"
BUT SINCE DAN CAN'T MAKE IT, Phil Snyder will have slides for the meeting

Thursday Oct. 19, 2006 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Chris Kovacs entitled "Rail Camp 2006"

Thursday Nov. 16, 2006 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson entitled "???"

Saturday Dec. 9, 2006 ? PM Chapter Event Trolley Night Photo Session, Malvern, PA

Sunday Dec. 10, 2006 5 PM Holiday Dinner in lieu 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 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: Ralph Stevens, Jr.
Event Photographer:  Ron Cleaves
Web Master: Russ Fox

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