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THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

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June 19, 2008 MEETING NOTES

Vice President Ron Cleaves called the meeting to order at 7 PM because our President was attending the National Convention. The minutes of the April and May meetings were read by Vice President Ron Cleaves in the absence of our Secretary. There was no Treasurer's report since he was attending the National Convention, too. Ron reported that Chapter Member Richard Hall was one of the speakers on the Octararo Railroad at a recent meeting in Kennett.

From The Editor

I had to step out of the June meeting for a business telephone conference with colleagues in Japan, so I missed 95% of our guest speaker's presentation. Thanks to "cub" report Richard Hall, a complete and detailed account of our guest's remarks appears later in this issue. The handout that Chef Hannah provided is also included. This jumbo issue is another milestone for this Editor - this issue is my 125th newsletter for the Chapter bringing my total to over 2100 pages of newsletters (plus 33 postcards). Last month's issue cleared out a lot of electronically collected news items and didn't leave much room for other feature items. So this month, I decided to use up some of the items in the feature file and transfer a large portion of Chapter funds to the US Postal Service. Hope you enjoy.

NEWS BITS 

• Norfolk Southern Service Alerts - Landslide between Enola, PA and Perryville, MD - At approximately 6:00am, June 4, 2008, a rock slide occurred on the Port Road Branch between Enola, PA and Perryville, MD. Both main lines were blocked. Norfolk Southern invoked Force Majeure effective 6:00am, June 4, 2008. # # # Norfolk Southern trains resumed using the route between Enola, PA and Perryville, MD disrupted by the rock slide after both main lines had been repaired. Normal operations resumed and Norfolk Southern removed the Force Majeure effective 8:00am, June 12, 2008.
   
• Transit ridership is at its highest level in 50 years, as reported last night on NBC Nightly News. There have been many other news reports about growing Amtrak and transit ridership. Most stories also have highlighted the historical underinvestment that prevents Amtrak and transit authorities from dealing with much more growth in the near term, and the budgetary problems that are forcing transit service reductions even as more people want to climb on board.

  Today's GM announcement about the closure of four more plants should send a clear message to Washington: we need a rapid and long-overdue ramping up of investment in Amtrak and transit to give people jobs when other parts of the transportation industry are retrenching and to let Americans leave their cars at home when they want to-Ñwhich they increasingly do. The time to invest in trains is now.

  Nationwide, Amtrak ridership is up 11% for October-April, the first seven months of FY 2008, compared with the same period a year earlier. American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports that transit trips rose 3.3% in the January-March quarter, compared with a year earlier, with light rail up 10.3% and commuter railroad trips up 5.7%. Preliminary data indicate an even bigger increase in April.

  Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) says March vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on the nation's highways fell 4.3% from a year earlier, "the sharpest yearly drop for any month in FHWA history...The estimated data show that VMT on all U.S. public roads have dropped since 2006." In addition, some small airlines have shut down, many small cities are losing air service, and major airlines plan big service reductions.Last year, NARP released its Grow Trains Campaign to bring intercity passenger rail service to over 300 cities nationwide. In our June 25, 2007 news release, we correctly predicted the current days' events when we said that "the average price of gas [is] expected to top $4 per gallon in the near future." The Grow Trains Campaign is needed now more than ever. Congress and the Administration need to make it happen. [Statement of Ross B. Capon, Executive Director, National Association of Railroad Passengers, Washington D.C., June 3, 2008 - http://www.narprail.org via Ralph Stevens]
   

• Canadian Pacific Railway plans to clean the exterior end sills of 3,000 grain hopper cars to remove grain left by shippers during the loading process. Grain left along tracks can attract animals and impact the environment in cities and parks, CPR said. On July 7, the railroad will introduce tariffs to shippers as part of the end sill cleaning program to encourage their participation and compliance. Customers who identify and clean debris-covered end sills will benefit from an incentive-based tariff while those that leave grain spills will face punitive charges, CPR said. So far, the Class I had cleaned more than 2000 cars, with the remainder to be cleaned by September. The program will cost $125,000 to complete. [from Progressive Railroading via Tom Smith]
   
• House of Representatives approved the more than $14 billion, five-year spending plan by a veto-proof majority (which followed similar bipartisan action by the Senate last fall). Congress has not only taken a major step toward ensuring the survival of Amtrak but has also opened up opportunities for improved and expanded service across the nation and in Maryland. But, it's not enough. U.S. passenger rail service has been so long neglected and its infrastructure needs are so great that a pledge of $14 billion seems almost laughable if Congress wants to offer intercity travelers a real alternative to fuel-guzzling planes and automobiles. Take Baltimore's 19th-century train tunnels. The House bill calls for $60 million to study the environment impact of replacing them. But to rebuild or bypass them would likely cost $1 billion or more. And that's just one of the many choke points on the system. Passenger rail is energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe, and can be cost-effective, but it is not free. A nation that has willingly poured so many billions of tax dollars into highways and airports can't expect to acquire European-style train service without a commensurate investment. [from Baltimore Sun http://www.baltimoresun.com via Ed Thornton]
   
• A CP Rail train heading through the tunnel from Detroit suffered significant damage when the tops of containers on 24 cars slammed into the tunnel's roof. The incident happened shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday when the train entered the tunnel, said a CP spokesman. Asked why officials didn't realize the containers were too high, the official replied: "That's what's being investigated." He said the crew were unaware of what was happening until they emerged on the Windsor side. "The locomotive engineer, he wouldn't necessarily have seen or heard anything," he said. The tunnel is tall enough to accommodate double-stack rail cars, he said. (CanWest News Service via American Rail Link for June 18, 2008 via Ed Mayover)
   
• The postponed replacement of the moveable span of Amtrak's Thames River Bridge in New London, Conn., has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 24 through Friday, June 27. During that four-day period, regularly scheduled Amtrak service will be suspended and limited alternate train and bus service will be provided in the New York-Boston region. Because of the bridge outage, Amtrak has scheduled three Boston-New Haven-New York Inland Route trains and is contacting bus operators to provide connecting bus service to bypass the bridge outage during the four-day period from June 24 through June 27. Work on the 90-year-old drawbridge, which connects Groton and New London, Conn., was postponed due to unexpected complications encountered by Amtrak's contractors in dismantling the old draw span's massive concrete counterweight. After more than two years of preparation and construction, Amtrak will install a new vertical lift span to replace the movable bascule portion of the bridge, marking the final stage of a multi-year, $83 million project designed to improve the reliability of the bridge, reduce the chance of operational failures, and minimize train delays. [AMTRAK News Release]
   
• Summer Safety Notice from CSX Transportation (CSXT) provides the following facts about the dangers of trespassing on railroad property: Train tracks are private property. Walking or riding on any railroad right of way or other railroad property without the permission of the railroad is trespassing and illegal. Trains do not operate on a predictable schedule, and they can move in either direction at any time. Always expect a train! Trestles are not built to be sidewalks or pedestrian bridges. Bridges and tunnels only have room for trains to pass. Trespassing on railroad bridges and in tunnels increases the chances of serious injury or death. Locomotives weigh approximately 200 tons. Trains with 100 railcars can weigh more than 6,000 tons. An automobile being hit by a train is proportional to a soda can being hit by a car. Trains cannot stop quickly! A freight train traveling at 55 miles per hour needs more than a mile to stop. That's equal to 18 football fields. Trains can overhang the tracks by three feet on each side. Straps or other tie downs may extend even farther. Standing next to the tracks is dangerous.

COMPANY SERVICE CARS - OF THE - PW&B, PB&W, AND PRR
By Richard E. Hall

Presents a wealth of information on car numbers and history with many drawings representing the work train, wreck train, cabin, and other company service equipment of the PW&B, PB&W, and PRR which were maintained at the Wilmington Shops and / or saw service in our general area, primarily on the PW&B, PB&W main line, Media Division (the old P&BC which later became the Octoraro Branch), Delaware Division, and the former Norfolk Division (NYP&N).

Detailed lists include: Car Numbers, Tools For Maintenance Of Way Tool Cars, Supplies For Camp Trains, Materials to Equip a Pay Car, Tools & Supplies for Cabin Cars, & more.

Drawings include: Pay Cars, Business Cars, Maintenance of Way Equipment, Dynamometer Cars, Cranes, Clearance Car, hand cars, & more.

COMPANY SERVICE CARS OF THE PW&B, PB&W, AND PRR @ $26.00 each

Please makes checks payable to:
Greg Ajamian
P.O. Box 1136
Hockessin, DE 19707-5136

Your Name: ______________________________

Street Address: ____________________________

City, State, Zip: ____________________________

BOTH STILL ONLY $26.00 each postage paid [includes shipping & handling]
Proceeds support the Wilmington Chapter of NRHS

LOCOMOTIVES AND EQUIPMENT OF THE WILMINGTON & WESTERN RAILROAD
Motive Power Gems Of The Diamond State By Richard E. Hall

175 pages with over a hundred illustrations, photos, maps, tables, and much more about the ORIGINAL W&W RR (NOTE: this book is NOT about the current tourist line's equipment)

Chapter I Misconceptions, Facts & Figures
Chapter II W&W - DWRR - B&PRR Locos
Chapter III W&W - DWRR - B&PRR Rolling Stock
Chapter IV B&O Locos Used
Chapter V Delaware Western Ran to Pomeroy
Chapter VI Market St. & Car Floats
Chapter VII Misc. Notes & Photos-

LOCOMOTIVES AND EQUIPMENT OF THE WILMINGTON & WESTERN RR @ $26.00 each

Please makes checks payable to: Greg Ajamian
P.O. Box 1136
Hockessin, DE 19707-5136

Your Name: ______________________________

Street Address: ____________________________

City, State, Zip: ____________________________

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 end of the year Wilmington & Western Railroad Special Trains in addition to normal trains, many require reservations, see schedule at http://www.wwrr.com or call 302.998.1930

April 12, 2008 to January 10, 2009: READING RAILROAD EXHIBITION OPEN Celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Reading Company by visiting the exhibit titled "All Aboard." From "mother hubbards" to the Rambles, this exhibit is a comprehensive history of what was once the biggest company in the world. Renowned local historian, Benjamin Bernhart is our guest curator. The exhibit will close January 10, 2009. This exhibit is sponsored by the Norfolk Southern Corp. and Mogel, Speidel, Bobb, & Kershner Law Firm. At the Historical Society of Berks County, 940 Centre Avenue, Reading, Pennsylvania 19601 , Phone 610 375-4375 from http://www.berkshistory.org/histsoc.html via Ed Thornton

Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car to Tour 23 Cities. The Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car, a traveling showcase highlighting the Thoroughbred of Transportation, will tour 23 cities in 2008. The nine-state May-December itinerary for the rebuilt passenger coach will include a five-city whistle-stop train operated by Norfolk Southern to promote safe transportation of hazardous materials, as well as three special trains supporting Operation Lifesaver, the national rail safety education group. The Exhibit Car, which has hosted some 1.5 million people in several hundred communities since 1971, houses interactive displays featuring Norfolk Southern's transportation network. New for the 2008 tour is an updated locomotive simulator that puts guests in the engineer's seat in control of a virtual train. Here is the 2008 Exhibit Car tour schedule:- June 7: Manassas, Va., Manassas Heritage Railway Festival- June 14: Delphi, Ind., Heritage Transportation Festival- June 21: Roanoke, Va., Virginia Museum of Transportation African-American Railroad Celebration- July 2-7: Altoona, Pa., Railroaders Memorial Museum- July 16: Operation Lifesaver train round trip Roanoke - Lynchburg, Va.- July 31-Aug. 4: Jasper, Ind., Strassenfest- Aug. 6: Operation Lifesaver train round trip Delaware-Chillicothe, Ohio- Aug. 13: Operation Lifesaver train round trip Toledo-Bellevue, Ohio- Aug. 30, 31: Scranton, Pa., Lackawanna Railfest 2008 at Steamtown National Historic Site - Sept. 12-19: TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour: Austell, Ga.; Greenville, S.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; Roanoke, Va.- Sept. 26-28: Spencer, N.C., Thomas the Tank Engine at North Carolina Transportation Museum- Oct. 2-5: Toccoa, Ga., Currahee Military Weekend- Oct. 8-20: Chattanooga, Tenn., Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum- Nov. 1: Meridian, Miss., Railfest- Nov. 5-23: Duluth, Ga., Southeastern Railway Museum- Dec. 5-7: Strasburg, Pa., Thomas the Tank Engine at Strasburg Railroad

Saturday, September 20th, 2008 The Stourbridge Railroad First Annual Railfan DayCost $100.00 includes TWO round trips with a mixed-train from Honesdale, PA to Lackawaxen, PA (one in daylight and one at night) and a box lunch. Will include a special freight consist & the regular passenger consist. We will offer a single roundtrip (either AM or PM for $50.00). All trips will feature multiple Photo Stops and Runbys. The PM trips (limited to 50 participants) will feature Night Lighting at various locations. (Camera capable of shooting on a "B" setting without flash, Tripod, Cable Release, and a flashlight required). The Stourbridge Railroad rosters one of only 2 operating EMD Model BL-2 Diesel Locomotive. (Ex BAR 54). Our second unit will be an ex MEC GP-7. There may be some other locos available to us. Tickets are available through the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, 32 Commercial Street, Honesdale, PA 18431 Cash, Check, or Credit Cards are accepted. For Reservations ONLY, call 570-253-1960 or 800-433-9008 For all other inquiries, PLEASE Write to : Central Pennsylvania Rail Corp, 200 Center Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252. All sales final, Reservations Required for the PM (Night Photo train), no alcoholic beverages allowed on the train, all excursions are subject to operating conditions and are subject to change without notice. [via Ed Thornton]

Sat.-Sun., Oct. 11-12, 2008 Great Scale Model Train Show & RR Marketplace @Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium9 am to 4 pm Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm Sunday, ADMISSION $7, kids 12 & under FREE, Family $14 [ http://www.gsmts.com/ ]

Passenger Department Reading & Northern Railroad Autumn Leaf Train Excursions
The trips originate from our Port Clinton headquarters, departing at 9:00am. The train travels north along the Little Schuylkill River, through beautiful mountain scenery. Next we enter the Anthracite region, pass Tamaqua, through a tunnel and over the Hometown High Bridge. We continue to our destination, Jim Thorpe, PA. Passengers have 3 and 1/2 hours to tour the historic town. The train returns to Port Clinton at about 6:30pm. These trips feature many opportunities for photographers, railfans, and sightseers. The trips to Jim Thorpe have traditionally been our best attended, with trains completely sold-out weeks in advance. These trips are sponsored by the railroad. For Pullman availability (see the Passenger Fleet section for a description) or any questions, please contact the Passenger Office at 610-562-2102, Monday-Friday, 9:00AM to 5:00PM.

• June 21, 2008: Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe and return. Motive Power: Steam Engine No. 425 All Tickets: $69.00 Departure Time: 9:00 AM
• August 30, 2008: Jim Thorpe to Pittston and return, non-stop. Motive Power: Steam Engine No. 425 All Tickets: Details to be announced. Departure Time: 9:00 AM
• October 11, 2008: Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe and return. Motive Power: Steam Engine No. 425 All Tickets: $69.00 Departure Time: 9:00 AM
• October 12, 2008: Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe and return. Motive Power: Diesel All Tickets: $39.00 Departure Time: 9:00 AM
• October 18, 2008: Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe and return. Motive Power: Steam Engine No. 425 All Tickets: $69.00 Departure Time: 9:00 AM
• October 19, 2008: Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe and return. Motive Power: Diesel All Tickets: $39.00 Departure Time: 9:00 AM
• December 20, 2008: Winter Photographer's Special Please check back for details.

CHAPTER EVENTS