NOTE: The Lite Version is our electronic version which is available for free from this web site. It has limited content but gives you a taste of what is offered in our Full Version.
The Full Version is our printed newsletter which is mailed to you. It contains everything in the Lite Version along with many other reprinted pages from other NRHS newsletters, railroad publications, and flyers that contain photographs, drawings, and maps. The full version is just another benefit of joining our chapter.
THE TRANSFER TABLE
The
Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition
| VOLUME 30 NO. 1 | JANUARY 2007 |
Back To Wilmington Chapter Web Site
OCTOBER 19, 2006 MEETING NOTES
The meeting was called to order by President Phil Snyder. The minutes were approved as read by Vice President Ron Cleaves. The Treasurer's report was approved as read by Treasurer Ralph Stevens.
Phil reported that the videotapes that Bill Folger had given to the Chapter were available for sale. Mike Burkhart "volunteered" to head the election committee Chris Kovacs reported that despite a promise of double heading, only Wilmington & Western #98 (no #58) was used on Puffer Belly Day.
After the break, the 15 members and guests were treated to a presentation by Chris Kovacs who thanked the Chapter for sponsoring him to NRHS Railcamp 2006 and projected a computer movie that he wrote and produced about his experience. He reported that since 1997, 22 boys and two girls have participated in Railcamp. He also shared images of Wilmington & Western #58 and #98 steam locomotives.
NOVEMBER 16, 2006 MEETING NOTES
The meeting was called to order by President Phil Snyder. The minutes were approved as read by Secretary Dan Frederick. The Treasurer's report was approved as read by Treasurer Ralph Stevens.
Election Committee chairman Mike Burkhart reported that we have the exact same list of officers running as are currently in office. Richard Hall asked if anyone had any information on a blue diesel and two blue cars he recently saw in Elsmere - but no information was forthcoming. John Iwasyk noted that January 2007 would be the Centennial for the Wilmington Train Station and asked if any of the members would like to be interviewed its early decades.
After the break, 16 members and guests were treated to a presentation by Frank Ferguson that started with images of June 2005 in Mifflin, PA. We also got to see action at Cresson and Galitzen. We saw the North Shore at Milton, E-8s, Mount Union, and East Broad Top #14 in double-headed service before it was taken out of service for repairs. We saw the WK&S, winter scenes of Topton, and many, many "undecorated" motive power. We saw the Lancaster & Chester (a redecorated New Hope & Ivyland). There was also Pottstown, Emmaus, and even a Santa Fe unit passing Aberdeen, MD.
DECEMBER 10, 2006 MEETING NOTES
President Phil Snyder dispensed with the normal meeting formalities in favor of our usual holiday banquet format of conversation and drinks, dinner, "new" officers, and door prizes.
Steve Barry then treated us to another great multi-media presentation of his past year of railfanning highlights.
FROM THE EDITOR
A variety of forces conspired to delay what would have been the November and December issues of the newsletter. Therefore, I decided to "catch up" with a mega-issue to start the new year - with the assumption that everyone will be renewing their membership and will be sending Ralph a check soon, if you have not already done so.
Special thanks to those who have not only paid their dues and renewed their memberships, but have also made an ADDITIONAL cash donation to help the Chapter. So far, they include, in alphabetical order: DOUG ANDREWS, MICHAEL DICKEY, PETER EDWARDS, DAVID FRAZER, WOODY MASSARA, JOHN REGAN, JOSEPH REED, THOMAS & KAREN SMITH, and WILLIAM STEES.
During a telephone conversation with Richard Hall, he reminded me that this year is the 40th anniversary of the founding of our Chapter! There is an excellent piece on the history of our Chapter, written by our first Editor and founding member Tom Smith, that our web master Russ Fox had posted years ago on our Chapter website. "The Wilmington Chapter Is Born" by Tom Smith appeared in the November 1992 issue (8 pages long with 2 photographs.) can be found at the end of the Newsletters Section. When I checked he stated that, "We rushed all the paperwork to completion in time for the NRHS Board to vote on our application during the 1967 Convention in Albany, NY. I was there to proudly receive our charter, the Wilmington Chapter was born September 2, 1967!" So, sometime between now and September I plan to print that narrative in The Transfer Table (for the official record and the computationally challenged). If ANYONE, ESPECIALLY OUR EARLY AND FOUNDING MEMBERS would write a few words about "the early days," your Editor could assemble a gala anniversary issue of The Transfer Table - HINT ! HINT ! Come on contribute to your Chapter !!!
A special thanks to Ed Thornton, Pete Edwards, and Mitchell's for their generous donation of gifts for the Chapter's annual Holiday Banquet, to Steve Barry for another great presentation, and to all those who worked so hard to make the dinner a pleasure for everyone.
One of our members, Joe Reed, is thinning out his railroad library and is offering his 'extras' to Chapter members at a great discount. To avoid shipping, he will 'deliver' your selections at an upcoming meeting. See the list included in the following pages.
NEWS BITS
An Austrian Railways train broke the world speed record for electric locomotives on a new stretch of track in southern Germany . The locomotive, a Siemens-built Eurosprinter ES64U4, first set a record of 213.75 mph on a new stretch of track built between Kinding and Allersberg, and then went on to set a new record of 221.82 mph less than an hour later. The new record eclipsed the earlier one of 205.67mph set over 50 years ago, May 28-29, 1955, by two French Railways electric locomotives operating between Bordeaux and Dax , France. (from Deutsche Presse Agentur via Weekly Rail Review for Week Ending Sept. 9, 2006)
The Long Island RailRoad noted that its $300 million renovation of Jamaica Station in Queens is just about complete. A LIRR spokesman said that the renovation of the station has been underway for nearly six years and has included replacement of wooden beams, waiting rooms and mezzanines. The station is used by about 98,000 LIRR riders daily. (from New York Times via Weekly Rail Review for Week Ending Sept. 9, 2006)
Harrisburg , PA area officials announced that they had now secured half the funding necessary to construct the long-delayed Harrisburg International Airport rail station. A spokesman said that the state has now earmarked $8.7 million for the station, with $2.2 million coming from the federal government and $4.6 million from local agencies. Approximately $33 million will be required to construct the station, which will locate along Amtrak's Philadelphia-Harrisburg line. (from Harrisburg Patriot-News, NARP via Weekly Rail Review for the Week Ending 23SEP2006)
A Transrapid magnetic levitation train crashed into a maintenance vehicle on an elevated test track near Lathen , Germany . Authorities said that at least 23 persons aboard the train and participating in testing were killed, with an additional 10 persons injured. The train was reportedly traveling at nearly 125 mph at the time of the accident. (from Railway Age, wire services via Weekly Rail Review for the Week Ending 23SEP2006)
AMTRAK Keystone Service Improvements Starting October 30, enjoy faster travel times and a more comfortable ride on our Keystone Service, now offering 14 weekday departures. The new, all-electric Keystone Service, with stops between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, features trains traveling at speeds of up to 110 mph, reducing your previously two-hour trip by 15 to 30 minutes. Weekday roundtrips are increasing in number from 9 to 14, with 10 traveling through to New York City, making the service faster than driving and more convenient than ever. The 104-mile route has also experienced other improvements, including smoother rails, new ties, upgraded signals and rebuilt cab cars.
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is planning to restore the historic Pennsylvania Railroad ND Cabin Car No. 478396. Built in the Altoona Shops in 1913, No. 478396 was used on the Pennsylvania Railroad Middle Division-Harrisburg to Altoona-and was one of the last four-wheeled "bobber" style cabin cars in use. "The ND class, introduced in 1903, represented a major advance in cabin car design due to the introduction of a steel frame, which was both stronger and larger than the previous classes of NA, NB and NC cabin cars. The pedestals were bolted to the steel underframe instead of to a visible pedestal timber, typical of earlier wooden frame cars. No. 478396 was sold by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) to the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain Railroad (H&BTM) in 1940 and was the newest of the three cabin cars the H&BTM purchased from the PRR. The car was later sold to the Everett Railroad and finally to Larry H. Williams of Saxton, Pennsylvania. Williams donated the car, along with a variety of H&BTM archival materials and artifacts, to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in 1998. It is estimated that the project should be completed in less than 12 months for a cost of no more than $25,000. Railroad Museum staff and volunteers will provide the labor for this restoration. Following its restoration, Pennsylvania Railroad ND Cabin Car No. 478396 will be on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. [from their website via Ed Thornton]
The Railroaders Memorial Museum has replaced Bill Frederickson as the supervisor of the historic K-4 locomotive restoration project because he refused to speed up work or to provide an estimated completion date. He is replaced by second-in-command Mike Tilger, who officials say can finish the job by this summer - which would be 11 years after the (expected 3-year) project began. Frederickson, who took over about four years ago, said that work by a previous crew had to be redone. Tilger expects to run a coldwater pressure test of the boiler by the end of February followed by a full-scale steam test for the Federal Railroad. Despite the years and the millions of dollars, it is not sitting on its drivers yet. [from http://www.altoonamirror.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=7839]
The Railroaders Memorial Museum recently received former Broadway Limited streamlined observation car Mountain View, built in 1949 by Pullman Standard, as a gift from Bennett Levin, who purchased the car from its South Carolina owners. Levin, who owns two refurbished PRR E8s, learned the car was available and didn't want to see it deteriorate after careful private ownership had preserved it since its retirement, the Altoona Mirror reported. State Rep. Rick Geist, R-Altoona, aided Levin with the deal by helping to obtain a grant, the amount of which was not made public. An appraisal set the car's value at $600,000. The car ran on PRR's all-Pullman New York-Chicago Broadway from 1949 to Dec. 13, 1967, when the Broadway was discontinued and the name transferred to trains 48 and 49, formerly the General, which carried coaches and sleepers but no observation car. As built, the car contained two master bedrooms, one bedroom, and an observation buffet-lounge. Today it contains a small lounge, a buffet kitchen, two master bedrooms with private showers, a double bedroom, a small kitchen, a rear lounge, and two passenger-operated spotlights, museum Chief Executive Officer Scott Cessna told the Mirror. The museum could make money with the Mountain View, charging $4,000 to $6,000 for charter runs on Amtrak, Cessna said. The museum might also be able to rent the car for a bed and breakfast in its yard, he said. The Mountain View's sister car Tower View is at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg awaiting restoration. The museum has obtained about $5.7 million in grants for a turntable, a quarter-roundhouse, trackwork, and other improvements planned for the yard, plus the restoration of PRR K4s 4-6-2 No. 1361. The Pacific was built in 1918 at Altoona. The museum initially received a $500,000 grant for the K4s, $1.6 million in federal funding for the roundhouse, a $1.6 million Redevelopment Capital Assistance Grant for the yardwork, and a $2 million federal transportation enhancement grant obtained in May by Geist, the Mirror reported. The museum will go to bid on the roundhouse project soon, which will help determine how the money will be divided between the K4s and yard projects. [from Trains News Wire, 12/26 via American Rail Link for January 3, 2007 via Ed Mayover]
A mudslide knocked out Sounder's Everett-to-Seattle commuter rail service for what is believed to be the 10th time this year. Amtrak's Cascades service north of Seattle also was routed to buses until Thursday night and its east-west Empire Builder route had its last stop shifted to Everett rather than Seattle, Amtrak's Web site said. "This is the 15th day this year that service has been interrupted by mudslides and tomorrow will be the 16th," Bruce Gray, a Sound Transit spokesman, said on Wednesday. "We hope that it will be the last." That's a safe bet because Friday is the last day of 2006 that Sound Transit plans to run its Sounder trains. The service isn't offered weekends and holidays. Sounder service can't be restored until at least Friday morning because passenger trains aren't allowed to run until 48 hours after a mudslide is cleaned up, Gray said. The tracks must be closed that long so they can be tested to make sure they're safe. The rule does not apply to freight trains. While it may seem like Sounder service is often down, most of the shutdowns occurred nearly a year ago, in January. Mudslides didn't stop trains in November, when the region experienced the wettest month on record. Mudslides occur above the tracks after soil heavily saturated with rain gives way. That sends waves of mud and trees over the BNSF Railway Company Fe tracks that hug the shore of Puget Sound. One mudslide washed three feet of mud over both tracks early Wednesday morning in north Seattle, and several other slides knocked trees and mud onto the tracks at several locations between Everett and Seattle, said Gus Melonas, a spokesman for BNSF. The number of Sounder train trips lost to mudslides should decrease when the railroad finishes adding a second track along much of the Everett-to-Seattle route. Sound Transit is paying for the improvements in exchange for access to the tracks. Sound Transit already runs two round-trip trains per day along the route and is scheduled to add two more trains by the end of 2007. The railroad is fortifying and expanding retaining walls, improving drainage systems and adding electronic monitoring fences along the route. Typically about 365 people each day use Sound Transit's trains to travel between Everett and Seattle. Sounder service was also interrupted for at least one day in November after a freight train derailed along the Everett waterfront. [from The Everett Herald, 12/18 via American Rail Link for January 3, 2007 via Ed Mayover]
Tropicana Products Inc. plans to build approximately 1,150 feet of railroad track known as a spur and an 8,600-square-foot covered off-loading dock, according to the Manatee County Planning Department. The company ships huge quantities of fresh juice to the rest of the nation and, rather than allowing its railcars to return empty, it operates a backhaul service to ship goods from other companies on the return trips. Tropicana's refrigerated railcars carry goods like ketchup, carrots and other food products destined for restaurant chains. The company currently uses the same docks for both outbound and inbound services. Because the company wants to remove trees, it has proposed planting 18 oak trees when its construction is finished on the 3.13 acres located at 1511 Ninth St. E. and hopes to finish construction within three years. Tropicana's partner in the project is CSX Corp., a transportation company with whom the juice giant works closely in moving its products by railroad. Other changes in the works at the company's campus on the edge of Bradenton include the demolition of parts of an old glass factory, designed to make room for construction of the company's new high-speed production line, May said. The additional production line is designed to increase the company's ability to support the roll-out of Tropicana Pure, a new line of 100 percent fruit juice blends the company launched in August. [from The Bradenton Herald, 12/31 via American Rail Link for January 3, 2007 via Ed Mayover]
I have NOT seen this book, but a friend of mine stumbled across an Internet listing this item of possible interest: Pictorial Sketch-Book of Pennsylvania, SKU: PA034 on a WORD searchable CD Publisher: Willis P Hazard, 459 pages. This CD contains exact digital reprints of the pages in the book "Pictorial Sketchbook of Pennsylvania" 1852 by Eli Bowen. Takes the reader on a guided tour of the various railroads of the middle 1800s in Pennsylvania. The following sections are included: Philadelphia to Pottsville, Wyoming, Philadelphia to Pittsburg. Illustrated with over two hundred engaging woodcut engravings. Philadelphia "Scenery, Internal Improvements, Resources, and Agriculture Popularly Described." PRICE: $9.95 [http://www.genealogycd.com/servlet/Detail?no=34 ]
NY GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $60 MILLION IN STATEWIDE RAIL FUNDING - $8 Million Will Improve and Expand Rail Infrastructure in Adirondack Park: Governor George E. Pataki today announced $60 million in State rail funding, including $3 million for rail improvements between Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, and North Creek, Warren County, and $5 million to extend the Adirondack Scenic Railway between Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, Franklin County. The improvements will modernize New York's rail system, increase capacity, and advance tourism opportunities throughout the State."Today's $60 million in rail infrastructure investments will extend rail services, update facilities, improve tourism, reduce congestion and harmful emissions from heavy truck traffic across New York State, and provide significant economic and environmental benefits in the Adirondack Park," Governor Pataki said. "Rehabilitating rail tracks in the Adirondacks will help draw visitors and boost economic opportunities throughout the region, tying into the planned expansion of Gore Mountain."The funding announced today includes the final three years of the five-year, $100 million Rail Freight and Passenger Rail Assistance Program financed by the State Dedicated Fund. The initiative provided $100 million for rail improvements, $20 million per year, through 2010. During the first round of funding in 2005, 19 railroads were awarded $40 million.In Saratoga County, $1 million in funding will be provided to the Town of Corinth to repair approximately 200 feet of track that was damaged following a beaver dam break that caused the track and surrounding terrain to wash out. These improvements, in addition to upgrades along the 16.5-mile rail spur between Saratoga Springs and Corinth, will allow rail passenger and freight excursion services to resume operation. Another $2 million will be provided to Warren County for ongoing track rehabilitation to a 40-mile stretch of the same track that extends from Corinth to North Creek.Track improvements to the rail corridor between Saratoga Springs and North Creek will provide a direct rail link between Manhattan and North Creek, allowing easier access to Main Street businesses, as well as to the newly enhanced facilities at the North Creek Ski Bowl and Gore Mountain. It will also provide added economic opportunities and jobs in the area by attracting businesses that depend on rail to ship freight. The work will preserve the rail line and will include installation of new ties, ballast work, track surfacing, joint maintenance and signal improvements at grade crossings.The other Adirondack region project being funded calls for $5 million to be provided to the Adirondack Scenic Railway during State Fiscal Years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 to upgrade 28 miles of existing track between Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake for passenger use. The Adirondack Scenic Railway runs along a 118-mile rail corridor from Remsen, Oneida County, to Lake Placid, Essex County. Currently, 45 miles of the corridor is used for tourist passenger service, including track between Remsen and Thendara, Herkimer County, and track between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. New York has led the nation in railroad investment, providing approximately $359 million for rail capital projects since 1995. Investments have been focused on increasing rail access to New York City and Long Island, as well as expanding the capacity of New York's Upstate railroads to ensure that future increases in rail freight can be absorbed by the industry, helping to reduce commercial vehicle traffic on State roadways. Additional projects funded as part of the $60 million program include:
YEAR 2007 - 08 PROJECTS
YEAR 2008 - 09 PROJECTS
YEAR 2009 - 10 PROJECTS
[State of New York, Press Release, Dec. 15, 2006]
NEW KEYSTONE CORRIDOR SERVICE - HARRISBURG, LANCASTER AND PHILADELPHIA
The Keystone Corridor Improvement Project is a joint initiative funded by Amtrak and the State of Pennsylvania. More about Keystone Corridor enhancements http://amtrak.bfi0.com/WART024F7E8DD660F5B2D3357EDF30
A TRAIN TRIP TO REMEMBER - Have you thought about a train trip, but couldn't determine what would be the best route? AMTRAK suggests the California Zephyr. Experienced travelers say this is one of the most beautiful train trips in all of North America. With daily service between Chicago and Emeryville/San Francisco, the California Zephyr crosses the plains of Nebraska and through Omaha, the birthplace of a U.S. President and home of Boys Town. This 2,422 mile journey will have you traveling through Glenwood Springs, Colorado where the infamous gunslinger Doc Holliday is buried and to the heart of the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas. All the history and the breathtaking vistas are yours to enjoy in a relaxing environment while you see this great country in a way that can't be matched. Review our Route Guide and you will be convinced that this is a trip worth booking and one you will long remember. Learn more about the California Zephyr route http://amtrak.bfi0.com/WART024F7E6DF660F5B2D3357EDF30
Ralph Stevens sent an e-mail about The Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys announcing their most recent grant of $4000.00 to Baltimore Streetcar Museum to cover the estimated cost of the body repair work for PCC #2168. THE STREAMLINER is published four times a year by the Friends of Philadelphia Trolleys, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation. FPT Founding Members: Harry Donahue, Dave Horwitz, Bill Monaghan, Matt Nawn. FPT Web address: has been updated! http://mywebpages.comcast.net/trolleydriver/FPT.htm E-Mail: FPT2799@Comcast.net and Mailing Address: P.O. Box 33397, Philadelphia, PA 19142-0397
The inaugural run of the UP / CSX PRODUCE TRAIN from Washington state apparently occurred without a hitch over the weekend. The first train, due in Rotterdam today, arrived Sunday, a full two days ahead of schedule. Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation jointly operate the train for Railex LLC, a unit of Ampco Distribution Services LLC of Riverhead, Long Island. Officials of Railex have been mum as their new service began operating. They want to ensure there aren't any problems in the system, which will connect produce distribution centers in Wallula, Washington, and Rotterdam with once-a-week, 55-car trains that stop only for crew changes and maintenance, and are tracked and monitored by satellite throughout their 3,000-mile trip. Railex spokesman Paul Esposito confirmed Monday the train arrived early. The company, which expected to hire 150 people for its $18 million Rotterdam distribution center, will handle one train a week to start, with each train carrying the equivalent of 200 truckloads of produce. A second train could be added sometime next year, Esposito has said previously. The trains will move perishables from coast to coast, with rail cars that are individually climate-controlled to suit the type of produce being carried. Temperature and humidity are monitored constantly, with the data transmitted by satellite. The cars aren't separated or switched to other trains, so handling is minimized. They're loaded and unloaded inside the West Coast and East Coast warehouses, which are also climate-controlled. The first train carried potatoes, apples and onions, as well as a few cases of pears. The produce trains will use less fuel than the 200 trucks needed to move the same amount of produce, Railex officials have said. And with a shortage of long-haul truck drivers, the rail service also is expected to be more reliable. That could translate into savings at the supermarket, grocery officials have said. Produce will be distributed throughout the Northeast. [from Albany Times Union, 10/25 via American Rail Link for November 1, 2006 via Ed Mayover]
The Nevada Northern Railway's East Ely Yards have been declared a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. National Park Service, only the seventh such site in the state. "The Nevada Northern Railway complex is the last remaining complete standard gauge railroad in the United States," said Ron James, Nevada's state Historic Preservation Officer. William L. Withuhn, the curator of the history of technology and transportation for the Smithsonian Institution, said the site is "a living American treasure and a stand-out one... Among all railroad historic sites anywhere in North America, the Nevada Northern Railway complex at East Ely is -- no question in my view -- the most complete, most authentic, and best cared-for, bar none." The railway joins six other sites that have received such status in Nevada: the Hoover Dam, Leonard Rockshelter, Fort Churchill, Fort Ruby, Newlands Mansion and the Comstock Historic District in Virginia City. More than 70,000 sites nationally are listed on the National Register of Historic Places but fewer than 3,000 have the Historic Landmark designation, James said. Initial construction on the Nevada Northern Railway began in 1905 to transport ore from the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company mines west of Ely at Ruth, Nevada, to the Central Pacific Railroad line east of Wells.The rail line was officially abandoned in 1987, nearly a decade after most copper mines in White Pine County had closed. The Nevada Northern Railway Museum took over ownership of the complex in 2000 and now offers public tours of the facility as well as train rides. [from AP, 10/16 via American Rail Link for November 1, 2006 via Ed Mayover]
The New York & Greenwood Lake has purchased former Erie E8 #833 (currently painted as Conrail 4022) from Bennett Levin's Juniata Terminal. It will be returning to New Jersey early next year, and upon its return, it will be repainted into its as-delivered Erie two-tone green. They are planning on running some excursions with it next year, but plans have not been finalized. [from Ed Mayover]
A farm tractor driver wearing headphones drove onto railroad tracks and was struck by a freight train. Jose Dorado-Mojarro, 38, was wearing a hood and headphones, preventing him from seeing or hearing the train when he drove the Kuboto tractor onto the tracks. The tractor was traveling about 5 mph on a private dirt road north of San Jon Road and just east of Highway 183, the California Highway Patrol said. The Union Pacific freight train heading to San Luis Obispo from Oakland was approaching the railroad crossing between 45 and 50 mph, the CHP said. The train's engineer blew its horn, but the tractor continued toward the track. [from The San Diego Union-Tribune, 12/06 American Rail Link for December 13, 2006 via Ed Mayover]
A fire truck responding to an emergency collided with a commuter train Friday, slightly injuring nine train passengers and a firefighter, authorities said. The collision occurred shortly after 5 p.m. south of downtown and caused a portion of a commuter train to derail, said Dave Sotero, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The passengers were taken to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries, said fire spokesman Brian Ballton. The firefighter suffered minor injuries. The crash was being investigated. [from Associated Press, 12/26 via American Rail Link for December 27, 2006 via Ed Mayover]
Amtrak's new Keystone Corridor service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa., launched on Oct. 30 with new Amtrak president Alex Kummant and various state officials promising there would be more trains, speeds of up to 110 mph, and track improvements that could shave several minutes off of the time it took to travel the 104 miles from Harrisburg to downtown Philadelphia. But so far the promise of faster and improved service appears to be neither, the Associated Press and other news services reported. Commuters say the trains are habitually late, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which paid half of the $145 million cost of upgrading the Keystone Corridor service, is "gravely disappointed" so far, PennDOT spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick told the Lancaster News. "We have been getting a lot of complaints, and we have been very concerned about them," Kirkpatrick said. "We need this to work as advertised." Commuters who rely on the Amtrak service to get them to jobs in the Philadelphia region are seething. Not only are the trains late but also Amtrak inexplicably eliminated one suburban Philadelphia stop, in Ardmore, Pa., from most morning eastbound trains, except for the earliest run of the day. Many say Amtrak doesn't seem to be taking their complaints seriously. Previously, all eastbound trains but the Pittsburgh-New York Pennsylvanian stopped in Ardmore. Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero said the Ardmore stop was discontinued on most runs because relatively few passengers got on or off there, but figures on the Amtrak Web site show that 40,000 riders boarded or disembarked at Ardmore last year, compared to just 7,000 at the Coatesville stop, which also has limited Amtrak Keystone service. Travel time for express trips between Harrisburg and Philadelphia were supposed to shorten to 90 minutes, from approximately two hours. But during the first week of the new service in early November, 50 percent of trains were late. The delays were caused in part by electrical problems in the cars. Slippery wet leaves also forced trains to slow down, and sanders on the locomotives didn't work. The mechanical problems have been fixed, but there's still track work that hasn't been completed. Nevertheless, said Romero, performance has improved in recent weeks, with more than 80 percent of trains last week operating on time. Several commuters said that on Nov. 30 there were notes on each seat apologizing for the delays and saying that Amtrak is working on improvements. Commuters doubt the optimistic reports. "The train I take in the morning has been leaving pretty promptly" at 5:35 a.m., said Roche. But while it's supposed to arrive in Paoli at 6:19 a.m., he said, it almost never gets there until 6:25 or even 6:30, which doesn't sound like such a big deal until you realize that many commuters need to catch a connecting SEPTA train, "and you wind up standing there for 45 minutes" waiting for the next train if you miss it," he told the Lancaster paper. [from Trains News Wire, 12/06 via American Rail Link for December 13, 2006 via Ed Mayover]
A CSX freight train carrying cans of mixed vegetables - derailed in Cheektowaga on Sunday morning, sending one boxcar tottering over the edge of a railroad bridge and sending a second onto Union Road, authorities reported. Cheektowaga police and CSX officials said there were no injuries, but the boxcar that fell dropped about 30 feet onto the street below, breaking open and spilling cans of mixed vegetables onto the street. "Fortunately, this occurred on a Sunday when there is little traffic, and no one was hurt," said Cheektowaga police Capt. James Morath. Morath said state Department of Transportation officials responded to the scene and were analyzing the street for damage. The derailment also caused damage to the railroad bridge, he said. Sacks said CSX workers are trying to determine the reason for the derailment by analyzing the tracks, investigating the way the train was being operated, looking at the cars and locomotive and by downloading the train's "black box." Meg Sacks, a spokeswoman for CSX in Jacksonville, Fla., said the 64-car train was heading from Buffalo to Rotterdam, west of Albany. The train was traveling east on the railroad bridge at 8:05 a.m. when four boxcars veered off the tracks. Two remained on the bridge, a third was hanging over the edge, and a fourth left the bridge. "We do not expect Amtrak service to be affected," said Sacks, who noted two of the four sets of tracks in the area remained open. [from Buffalo News, 12/11 via American Rail Link for December 13, 2006 via Ed Mayover]
AMTRAK OFFERS AAA MEMBERS 50% OFF COMPANION FARES ON SEVERAL TRAINS: Beginning January 3, 2007, Amtrak is offering AAA members the chance to bring along a companion for half off the full rail fare on many trains. Tickets are on sale now through February 28 for travel between January 3 and March 15, 2007. With the companion fare, one person may travel for 50 percent off the rail fare with the purchase of a AAA member Adult Amtrak Ticket (maximum of one companion per paid AAA adult.) In addition, when sleeper cars or Business class is available, companions receive 25 percent off the best available accommodation fare. The 50% Off Companion Fare offer is valid on board the following trains: Ann Rutledge, Blue Water, California Zephyr, Capitol Limited, Capitols, Cardinal, Carl Sandburg, Carolinian, Cascades, City of New Orleans, Crescent, Coast Starlight, Illini, Illinois Zephyr, Kansas City/St. Louis Mules, Lake Shore Limited, Lincoln Service, Maple Leaf, Pacific Surfliner, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Pere Marquette, Piedmont, Saluki, San Joaquins, Southwest Chief, State House, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle and Wolverine. Amtrak's everyday 50% discount for children ages 2-15 traveling with a fare paying adult also applies to these trains. To take advantage of 50% Off Companion Fare offer, visit Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL and use the code H644. Some blackout dates apply. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance of travel. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other discounts, including but not limited to: travel agency fares, convention fares, government fares, group escorts, interline fares, military fares, touring passes, multi-ride fares, partnership programs (i.e. Student Advantage); with the exception of the AAA 10 percent discount off the first ticket purchase. Routes and offers subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. (Amtrak News Release)
NJ TRANSIT TO GET OWN ENTRANCE IN MIDTOWN to sidestep the crush of humanity at the main entrance to New York Penn Station. NJ Transit has hired a Yonkers, N.Y., firm to build an entrance all its own -- at 7th Avenue and 31st Street -- that will deliver commuters directly to and from NJ Transit's Concourse. When the project is completed in mid-2008, NJ Transit commuters will be able to leave the busy main entrance on 7th Avenue at 32nd Street to riders heading for Amtrak or Long Island Railroad trains or to the numbers 1, 2 or 3 subways. NJ Transit trains carry 70,000 riders into Penn Station every day, spokesman Dan Stessel said. About 70 percent of them use the station's main entrance. Many Amtrak and LIRR riders use the entrance, too, as do a smaller number of subway riders, Stessel said. [from Newark Star-Ledger, 11/09 via American Rail Link for November 15, 2006 via Ed Mayover]
E-BAY CANCELS RAILROAD SWITCH KEY AUCTIONS: In another example of homeland security affecting the railroad hobby, on-line auction house eBay will no longer allow railroad switch keys to be sold on its site. In a letter last week to one member who regularly sells keys on line, an eBay customer service representative said "Railway switch keys are no longer permitted on eBay. This is a new policy that has recently been instated due to certain security concerns that were brought to our attention. I realize that certain keys may no longer be used currently by railroads but since we are not experts on which ones are or are not, we need to side with caution and end all railroad switch keys. I am sure that you can appreciate our concern in regards to the possible safety threat." Many sellers reacted with outrage, since so many switch keys are antiques and obviously no threat to homeland security. In response to a member who pointed this out, eBay said: "Unfortunately the United States Government has given us rather specific instructions about many different types of items that they do no wish to have listed on the site. These items are generally prohibited regardless of age, as we are not experts on what types of items are currently used by railway companies. With national security in mind, we do not allow railway switch keys of any age and I am sorry for any disappointment that this policy may cause you." eBay still offers auctions on police badges, uniforms, police radios, and radio scanners. As one person pointed out, "railroad switch keys are a 'national security risk' but police badges, uniforms, radios, aren't. I'm confused. [from Trains News Wire, 11/13 via American Rail Link for November 15, 2006 via Ed Mayover]
Union Pacific and M.T.H. Electric Trains Settle Trademark Dispute - Omaha, Neb., November 8, 2006 M.T.H. Electric Trains and Union Pacific Railroad are pleased to announce that they have amicably settled the trademark infringement case that UP filed against M.T.H in Omaha, Nebraska federal court. The settlement benefits both parties, as well the entire model railroad industry. It allows Union Pacific to continue to protect its intellectual property, and authorizes M.T.H.'s use of Union Pacific's trademarks and paint designs on model train products and accessories. Union Pacific has also decided to change its trademark-licensing program so that model railroad manufacturers will no longer have to pay a royalty, an will enjoy a perpetual license to use Union Pacific trademarks and paint designs on model railroad products.
In reacting to the end of the yearlong legal battle, M.T.H. recognized the commitment of UP to make a change. "UP deserves a lot of the credit here," Wolf stressed. "UP's willingness to reconsider its position with regard to model train manufacturers' use of its trademarks allowed a deal to be struck. UP has long been a friend and a steward of the hobby and this new license reflects that." Wolf added that the case was a big drain on M.T.H.'s resources but worth the effort. "For seventy years, Union Pacific and the other railroads have worked with our industry to develop and nurture the model-railroading hobby. The UP license that had been in effect did not properly reflect that mutually beneficial and rewarding relationship."Bob Turner, Senior Vice President Corporate Relations for Union Pacific, said, "Mike Wolf is to be commended for his commitment to the model railroad industry. His energy and passion helped us find a solution that will better reflect the positive relationship that Union Pacific and the model train industry have enjoyed for many years." To help commemorate the new arrangement between UP and the model train industry, M.T.H. will release a yet-to-be determined Union Pacific-sanctioned commemorative model locomotive.
Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves the fastest-growing U.S. population centers. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad offers competitive long-haul routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America's premier rail franchise.In its 26-year history, M.T.H. Electric Trains has released more new O, Tinplate, One Gauge and HO Scale model trains than any of its competitors combined. Featuring the industry's highest quality ready-to-run starter sets, M.T.H. products come loaded with digital sound and control features in traditional railroad liveries and popular branded themes including the Coors Light Silver Bullet, NFL, Major League Baseball, Harley-Davidson, Caterpillar and more. As an innovative market leader, M.T.H. products have long been lauded for their use of modern technology to expand and nurture the hobby of model railroading. [ http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/heritage_and_steam/2006/1108_mth.shtml ]
Top 10 Passenger Railcar fleets for 2006 (= 82% of total) [from Metro Magazine via CINDERS]New York City Transit Auth. 6687 Mass. Bay Transit Auth. 1023Amtrak 1795 WMATA, Wash., DC 950Metro-North RR 1326 New Jersey Transit 910Chicago Transit Auth. 1190 SEPTA 879Long Island RR 1112 Sde Tde Montreal 759
AMTRAK's Sunset Limited has not operated between New Orleans and Orlando since the before the onset of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and CSX only recently re-opened the 150-mile segment of its mainline between New Orleans, LA and Mobile AL. That is why, according to Trains (via Philadelphia Chapter's CINDERS) that AMTRAK is reportedly considering permanently withdrawing the Sunset Limited.
According to Reuters (via Baltimore Chapter's INTERCHANGE), coal trains are now hauling nearly one million tons of coal out of the Powder River Basin EVERY DAY! [Editor's note, we are now talking about billions (with a "B") tons having been mined and shipped. The UP 100-ton hopper unit trains that I saw many years ago were almost all 115-cars long with two locomotives up front and one at the rear.]
This article was written for the "Transfer Table", newsletter of Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society by Chapter Member Tom Smith
READING T-1 4-8-4 2101 STEAMS AGAIN AT TACOMA, WASHINGTON by Tom Smith
It was deja vu all over again!!! I was standing in Tacoma, Wash. watching Reading T-1 2101 storming into Freighthouse Square over a long wooden trestle. It was almost exactly 46 years and a continent away since I had set up trackside to photograph the same 4-8-4 blasting out of Reading's Outer Station, doubleheaded with sister T-1 2124.
Reading's Iron Horse Rambles were a major fixture of eastern railfans in the 1960's. Reading brought one of their 30 Class T-1 4-8-4's , 2124, out of storage in October 1959 to power what they called an Iron Horse Ramble from Philadelphia to Shamokin. Over 50 Rambles would follow in the next 5 years. A ticket for a full day of sooty steam railroading in open window coaches only cost between $10 and $15, so I was able to ride many trips, and chase others.
In October, 1960, demand by over 1400 passengers for tickets on an autumn leaf excursion to central Pennsylvania resulted in the class engine, 2100, coming out of storage to doublehead with the 2124 on a 22 car train. I'm glad to say I was there.
On April 9, 1961, the Reading brought their Iron Horse Rambles to Elsmere down the W&N. I'm sure many members remember the day. Since there were no turning facilities for a T-1 in Wilmington, the 2100 ran light in reverse to Elsmere ahead of the 2124 which pulled the Ramble. When they arrived, the 2100 took the train back, while the 2124 ran light back to Birdsboro in reverse. I rode the train one way and chased it back.
Fast forward 40 years. The Reading is gone, and I am living in Washington. And here is the same Reading T-1 that filled my viewfinder 46 years earlier!!
Fate and the fame of the Rambles has preserved four T-1's. The 2124 was sold to F. Nelson Blount for his Steamtown collection, and is now at Scranton, a city not served by the Reading. The 2101 did a stint on the American Freedom Train, then hauled the "Chessie Steam Specials" in the late 1970's. It is now at the B&O Museum in Baltimore. The 2102 found a home on the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern. The 2100, however, has been on a long journey that has taken it to Canada, and now to Tacoma. Although it now burns oil instead of anthracite coal, it is the only one of the 4 remaining T-1's that is active.
The 2100 is now part of a privately owned excursion operation called the Golden Pacific RR. The company has had some bad publicity, and false starts, a failed test run, and advertising trips that never came off. In early August, however, it became a reality--Golden Pacific's 2100 began public trips from Tacoma's Freighthouse Square to Frederickson on Tacoma Rail's exMILW trackage on Saturdays and Sundays. The season was very short; it ended less than two months later, with the last scheduled trip on October 1. I barely made it to Tacoma to catch the last day.
The train consists of 3 ex-C&NW/METRA gallery coaches, and an ex-Amtrak F40PH to provide HEP to the cars. The 4-8-4 leads the train out of town and up the stiff Tacoma Hill grade, working hard. A luncheon is served to passengers at the Frederickson stop under the Military Rd. bridge, after which there is a runby, and the train returns to Tacoma in push-pull fashion using the control cab on the rear gallery coach.
The trip is short, just 11 miles, and not scenic. The first part of the trip is mostly urban landscape, but becomes more rural as it nears Frederickson. There are few open vistas. Chasing is difficult due to city traffic. If you plan to chase, study a good map carefully, then scope out the line beforehand.
If you were an admirer of Reading's T-1's, you may not be happy with the way the front end has been altered, or the red paint on the running board, or the smell of burning oil instead of coal. Since the engine has no relevance to the Northwest, these alterations do not bother local fans. There isn't any place else you can go to see an active Reading steam locomotive.
You can obtain information on their website, www.goldenpacificrr.com, or call 253-272-2558. Hopefully, they will have a full season in 2007.
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.
January 13-14, 2007 Schuykill Valley Model Railroad Club Open House, for info call 610-935-1126, Phoenixville PA
January 20-21, 2007 GATSME HO Model Railroad Open House, Noon-4 PM, Admission by donation, Prospect & Madison Aves, Fort Washington, PA, for info 215-646-2033 on Thurs. evening
January 20-21, 2007 Schuykill Valley Model Railroad Club Open House, for info call 610-935-1126, Phoenixville PA
February 3, 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/ Join the Wilmington Chapter for our pre-Super Bowl tradition. On the day before the big game we'll run a PCC-II over all of Route 15 (Girard Avenue) plus cover our usual eclectic mix of non-revenue trackage and regular streetcar routes. Plenty of photo stops are the norm for this five-hour tour of the SEPTA system. The trip will depart the Malvern Loop (63rd & Malvern) at 10:15 a.m., returning at approximately 3:00 p.m. Directions will be sent via e-mail if you order on-line or via the mail if you order through the mail. Tickets are $35.00 and can be ordered via the PayPal link below. MasterCard, VISA, AmEx and Discover are accepted. If paying by check, make your check payable to "Wilmington Chapter NRHS" and mail to Wilmington Chapter NRHS, c/o Steve Barry, 117 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860. Confirmations will be sent out about two weeks prior to the trip. Order tickets on-line via the button below. For more info e-mail Steve Barry or phone 973/383-3355 (9a.m.- 5 p.m. ET).
CHAPTER EVENTS
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
Thursday Jan. 18, 2007 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Dan Frederickentitled "Travels in Europe"
Saturday Feb. 3, 2007 10 AM Chapter Trip Super Saturday Streetcar Special XIV
Thursday Feb. 15, 2007 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Mike Burkhartentitled "2006 in Review"
Thursday March 15, 2007 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Greg Ajamian entitled "Many Magnificent iMages of Miscellaneous Machines" (a.k.a. "I'm Not Sure Yet")
Saturday April 14? 2007 ? AM Chapter Trip to Baltimore Light Rail (details to follow) A do-it-yourself, pay-as-you-go, bring-your-own-whatever Chapter outing
Saturday Apr. 19, 2007 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson
Sunday May 17, 2007 7 PM Chapter Meeting Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest2007 special category: Interior of RR Equipment or Structure
Thursday June 21, 2007 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Phil Snyderentitled "25 Years Ago"
Thursday July 19, 2007 7 PM Chapter Meeting A Do-It-Yourself?
Thursday Aug. 16, 2007 6? PM Chapter Trip in lieu of normal meetingprobably Circle Trip to Bryn Mawr/Norristown
Thursday Sept. 20, 2007 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by ??? entitled "???"
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