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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

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SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 MEETING NOTES

The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by President Phil Snyder and the minutes approved as read by Secretary Dan Frederick. The Treasurer's report was also approved as read by Dave Warner. National Director Dave Watterson is still recovering, so information about the National Convention was provided by Phil Snyder and Tom Posatko. Tom also reported on a proposal to establish commuter rail service between Wilmington and Middletown. Phil reported that the Chapter donated $50 in memory of Richard Hall to Canine Partners per the family's wishes.

Phil indicated that the Chapter's Annual Holiday Dinner would be $18 per person this year and without a cake. Also, you MUST make reservations by calling our VP [ Ron Cleaves 302-798-2328 between 5-8 PM] and must be made so that we can give the venue a FINAL count by Nov.29. Also, if your plans must change, you MUST cancel reservations by Nov.29 or you will be billed (instead of the Chapter paying as it has in the past for "no shows").

The program for the evening was presented by Phil Snyder entitled "30 Years Ago." We saw some great vintage scenes of the Wilmington Shops, Edgemoor, and Akron. We got to see the aftermath of the 1970 wreck on the B&O at Marsh Road and the Reading T-1 in North Wilmington. We saw a nice variety of Bicentennial locomotives in all of their varied red-white-&-blue paint schemes. We even got to see the Freedom Train at Delaware Park. As Mr. Hope would say, "thanks for the memories!"

 IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER

If our normal "THIRD THURSDAY" NRHS meeting is canceled due to inclement weather, it will be postponed and held on the FOURTH THURSDAY.If it must again be canceled, it will NOT be rescheduled. We will simply wait for the next month's normal "third Thursday" meeting. If the weather looks bad or is predicted to be bad, you may telephone the Claymont Community Center to see if it will be open that evening for our meeting.

Dues Are Due

National dues bills have been mailed directly to members and you should have received yours by now. Chapter-only members will be contacted soon by the Chapter

In Fond Memory of Chapter Member Richard E. Hall

Obituary from Wilmington News Journal - - Richard E. Hall Age 83, of Wilmington, DE. passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2009 in Christiana Hospital after a brief illness. Richard was born in Port Deposit, MD, graduated from Rising Sun High School in 1943 and attended the University of Maryland where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and ROTC. He retired from G.M. in 1984 after 37 years service. He was a volunteer for the Wilmington & Western Railroad and a member of the Historic Red Clay Valley Association for 50 years. Dick was also a member of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society, Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, PA and a lifetime member of the National Railway Historical Society. Dick was a railway historian, author and technical advisor. He was a member of the Richardson Park UM Church and the Masonic Harmony Lodge #53 A.M. & F.M. of Port Deposit, MD for 60 years. Richard is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary (Winant), three sons, C. Curtis Hall (Onie Passmore), Theodore E. (Patricia) and John W. (Jacki) his two brothers H. Howard Hall and John C. Hall and his grandchildren, Bradley, Sierra, Laura, Leslie and Heather Hall. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday September 15, 2009 at the MCCRERY MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 3710 Kirkwood Hwy., at Duncan Rd. at 11:00 AM where friends may call after 9:30. A Masonic service will be held at 10:45 AM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Canine Partners for Life, P.O. Box 170, Cochranville, PA 19330.

He "was a giant among railroad historians. He strived for accuracy in his writings and had little tolerance for those that published without thorough research. He worked hand in hand with Greg Ajamian to publish works that benefited the Wilmington Chapter, NRHS and the entire railfan community. History articles that he wrote for our "Transfer Table" newsletter were informative and, at times, humorous. Most of all, they were dependably factual. Many of these articles have been picked up by other newsletters and periodicals. The railroad and railfan community will long mourn the passing of Richard Hall. We have lost a great historian and, more importantly, a true friend." [e-mail from Ed Thornton as read at the funeral]

I think John Darling said it well when he said that Richard, with his cigar and pork pie hat was one of the best and most loyal workers the W&W ever had. I'll miss his quick wit and sarcasm, and of course his expert knowledge of railroading, particularly in our area. Richard, like the Trolley Man, was one of the mainstays of both the W&W and the Wilmington Chapter. Neither is replaceable. [e-mail from Woody Massara]

Dick Hall was one of my oldest friends--a span that goes back over 50 years. He was the first railfan I ever met from the Wilmington area, and as a young teenage railfan I was excited to find a fellow traveler. I found Dick to be a fountain of knowledge especially about the Pennsylvania Railroad. He had very specific interests centered around maintenance of way equipment and railroads around the Susquehanna River near Havre de Grace where he was born and grew up. He also had a deep interest in railroad rolling stock, freight cars especially. It was shortly after we first became acquainted that Tom Marshall bought a Canadian National 2-6-0 and launched what would become the Wilmington & Western Railroad, and Dick took an active part in the Historic Red Clay Valley organization. But before there was a Wilmington & Western there was the Auburn Valley Railroad, a live steam railroad around Tom Marshall's Yorklyn estate, which was open on weekends, the proceeds from which were used to fund restoration of the W&W locomotives and cars. Dick was an active worker at the AV, and later at Marshallton when we were laying track to build the enginehouse that would bring all the equipment together. Dick was among the first trainmen aboard the inaugural run of the W&W behind engine 92, and stayed active in train service for many years. Later he became interested in the Greeenbank Mill and took an active role in preserving and interpreting its history.

Dick Hall was one of those people you could call a "character" whether toting five cameras, driving his little red car or being the resident curmudgeon. Those who knew him knew he was nothing like that. Dick had an abiding interest in historical research, and had an obsession about historical accuracy. He spent much time at Hagley and research sources in Pennsylvania. I have a pile of letters from Dick where he has unearthed some obscure subject or needed some more information on passenger cars. Not known to many who knew him, Dick was an accomplished model builder as well, first in HO and later in O scale where he could indulge in more detail.

The loss of people like Henry Dickinson, Bill Russell and now Dick Hall leaves a void that cannot be replaced. They were eyewitnesses to history, things that we can only read about. Fortunately, Dick shared many of his experiences in the Transfer Table, and we are the richer for it. [e-mail from Tom Smith]

Dick Hall was a founding father of the Wilmington Chapter of NRHS. He served as Chapter President and Chapter Historian. He volunteered at the Wilmington & Western Railroad, the mill behind Greenbank Station, and at many other organizations. Our Chapter published two of Dick's books with Greg's help as well as numerous articles in The Transfer Table.

Dick was very knowledgeable about the general history of the area - his forte being railroad history. He was THE man to go to if you had a question re: track locations, bridges, railroad work equipment, and things of that ilk. Should he not know the answer, he would be driven to find it.

Most of the time he was serious but once he started to laugh he was unstoppable. Dick would, immediately but courteously, correct anyone who misspoke. He was quite opinionated about recent articles in the paper regarding railroad proposals for the area.

Thankfully he was able to attend most of our meetings during the last couple of years with Greg. We were fortunate to have him show some of his early slides at the July meeting. His health was failing but his memory remained excellent.

The Chapter has lost an old friend and font of wisdom on local history. Those who attended meetings will always remember Dick gaining everyone's attention by banging his cane on the table. He will be dearly missed. [from Phil Snyder]

I always found Richard a fountain of information and enjoyed talking with him at meetings and learning something new. When I realized he was not coming to Chapter meetings because of transportation issues, I volunteered to pick him up for the meetings after I left work on my way to Claymont. The best I can recall, that started sometime in 2001.

Although he had a tough time making it up the stairs in Claymont, it was easier than the long walk to the elevator and back. But despite any difficulties, he truly enjoyed attending the meetings. He especially liked seeing an old railway crane in the background or corner of a slide during the presentations. Some people gradually became aware of this, and made certain to get a crane into their shot, or even to take an extra photo of one, and to include it in their presentations - just for Dick! He really appreciated it. When I first joined the Chapter, I was "the youngster" and Dick was clearly one of the elders. I would kid him about being older than most of the members. During one of the Chapter meetings, the presenter showed a slide of an old trestle located not too far away. Dick, always able to supply some additional historical details to help to educate the rest of the membership, pointed out that the trestle was actually the second one at the site, having been rebuilt in the 1880's - at which point, I asked if he had taken any photos of the rebuild. A second later, when the impact of my comment struck him, he had a few choice words and almost struck me with his cane. But it was all in fun and I think he enjoyed our little exchanges.

A few times when I was headed for a nearby railroad museum, I asked if he would like to join me. He always worried about the "extra trouble" but he REALLY wanted to go. So I would have to talk him into it, and then off we went. On one trip to the B&O Museum, we practically had the place to ourselves, and even with a borrowed wheel chair, we saw it all! We got into a conversation with one of the docents about an 'inaccuracy' on one of the placards explaining a piece of equipment. It was Dick's first hand knowledge of the area and the equipment versus an oft-quoted published work (with erroneous information). He may not have "won" that one, but the conversation continues, and the docent pointed out a few things about the loco and tender that I had never noticed despite many trips to the museum. When I picked Dick up for the next meeting, he showed a postcard to me confirming exactly what the docent had said.

On another trip to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, he "let" me talk him into going and when we got there, he said he wanted to see one new case out in the train shed. We went up one aisle and down the next, and covered the entire museum, and of course (Murphy's Law) it was down the very last aisle we went down. I noticed the case had a nice O-Scale model of a Burro crane and some other items that Dick would really like, and then I saw the placard in the case, "On Loan from the Collection of Richard Hall." He was delighted to see the restoration job that they had done on the Brake Inspection Car. He also took great pride in the fact that they had corrected the placard that now read "milk car" instead of "baggage car" as a result of his pointing out the fittings and his explaining, with first hand knowledge, the workings of the car.

It took a lot of prodding to get him to complete his work on the two books he authored for the good of the Chapter. We agreed to foot the production costs so the Chapter would not lose any money if they didn't sell. If they sold, we would give the Chapter everything about the cost of production. Well, the books certainly sold, press run after press run, and over time generated almost $500 for the Chapter - not to mention educating scores of readers on the details of all manner of equipment, procedures, and history. He always worried "it was getting too long" and I always told him it was "not a problem."

He would always ask me if I thought the members would be interested in an article on such-and-such or if an article would be too long for the newsletter. My answer was always the same - any article of any length was greatly appreciated. Many members told me how much they appreciated ANY article by Richard as they always learned something new and interesting. One member even asked me to please start his articles on an odd-numbered in the newsletter because it was easier to file them with the title on the face of the stack. I was happy to oblige and did so ever since.

When I stopped by his house, I would share photos, articles, maps, and other items that I picked up in my travels, found on the Internet, received in e-mails, or from other sources. I would also have a few items of interest for Mary. Dick would usually have a few items for me and maybe another article, or five, for The Transfer Table. When Richard noticed that we had some blank space in the newsletter at the bottom of a page from time to time, he gave me a bunch of "one liners" and short paragraphs to use as fillers. I'm sure that you have seen them and have read them and have learned some little bit of information that you never knew before. I still have some of those and maybe even an article or two that were "on hold" under orders awaiting updates from Richard. So there will be a few more enlightening contributions from Richard to appear in these pages. I will sorely miss our conversations, our trips, his stories, and his jabs, but most of all I will miss a very good friend and mentor. [Greg Ajamian]

From The Editor

I will miss stopping by Richard's house to pick up an article for the newsletter, to drop off various rail-related clippings, or discussing his next book. Since he had almost completed a massive, 200-page manuscript, there is a possibility we may still get to read another great volume from Richard if the material can be located and reproduced. I will try. Although I told him many times that I would use ANY length article, even if it took more than one issue, he always worried that his articles were too long. In response, Richard was kind enough to put together some shorter pieces (with photos!) for me to use as "fillers" when I had some space left over in the newsletter. I still have about 30 one-pagers, so we will still be able to read some more gems of railroad information for a while.

NEWS BITS

• MONTANA RAIL LINK RESUMES SERVICE THROUGH MULLAN TUNNEL: A BNSF Railway empty haulage rights grain train was the first revenue movement through Montana Rail Link's newly reopened Mullan Pass early this morning. A pair of collapses during an $18-million renovation project of the 1880s-era bore had shut down MRL's mainline since July 20 until crews could shore up the loose rock that brought operations to a standstill and forced detours across BNSF and UP. Ironically, not long after the Glendive, Mont. , grain shuttle passed through the tunnel, MRL had to stop traffic near Bozeman for three hours starting at noon because President Barack Obama was speaking at Gallatin Field Airport . MRL spokeswoman Lynda Frost said the request was not hampering operations, as the railroad had not yet reached full operational capacity. Renovation of the 3,986-foot-long tunnel, used by 13 MRL and BNSF trains daily, was expected to be completed by Nov. 30, but Frost said that date is likely be pushed to early 2010. (Trains News Wire)
   
• MM&A PROPOSES MASSIVE ABANDONMENT: Montreal , Maine & Atlantic Railway has proposed to abandon 241 miles of its track, more than a quarter of its total mileage, the Bangor Daily News has reported. The bid would leave the northern third of Maine without rail service, but MM&A officials say they prefer selling the lines to the state and operating them under contract to abandoning them. (Trains News Wire)
   
• STEAM TO DISAPPEAR: Next year there may be no more steam operating regularly on the Mount Washington Cog Railroad in New Hampshire , the last hold out for steam in the United States . The steam engines, some more than a century old, are being replaced by diesels built on the premises. Costs and maintenance are cited as the sudden shift of motive power. However, this move may prove more costly in the way of lack of attendance as it was steam that has always been the drawing card. Whether the diesels will have a negative effect on the ancient track structure is another matter. Currently, only the morning run is steampowered. The public is being told that in the future, after this season, steam will only be used for occasional special events. Story and photo by Richard Palmer of Syracuse , NY . [American Rail Link for August 19, 2009 via Ed Mayover]
   
• The last Amtrak train to operate with post-WWII steam-heated equipment, this northbound Miami/Tampa Bay-New York Silver Star nears the Richmond station in 1980 behind an SDP40F locomotive 648. The head-end cars were acquired from the U.S. Army, having previously served as hospital and transport haulers. [AMTRAK INK]
   
• Norfolk Southern has launched a new Web site focusing on the benefits of its corridor and public-private partnership projects. The Web site, TheFutureNeedsUs.com, describes projects to increase rail freight transportation capacity and improve mobility and the environment. Information is provided for projects in Alabama, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, where governors Riley, Barbour, Rendell, Bredesen, Kaine, and Manchin are leaders in supporting transportation solutions. The site outlines how upgrading the Crescent Corridor - the existing 2,500-mile rail route from the Southeast to the Northeast - will support a stronger economy, less highway congestion, cleaner air, and fuel savings.

The Crescent Corridor will be among the largest additions of new freight transportation capacity since the Interstate Highway System. That means creating or benefiting some 47,000 green jobs and producing these estimated annual benefits:

• $326 million in tax revenues to states and communities
• 1.3 million long-haul trucks diverted from interstates
• $146 million in accident avoidance savings
• 1.9 million tons in CO2 reduction
• $575 million in congestion savings
• $92 million in highway maintenance savings
• 169 million gallons in fuel savings

Crescent Corridor components include new intermodal facilities at Memphis, Birmingham, and Franklin County, Pa., and the expansion of terminals in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Other projects include straightening curves; adding passing tracks, double tracks, and signals; and running more efficient trains.

TheFutureNeedsUs.com provides detailed information about other Norfolk Southern corridor projects, as well. This includes the Heartland Corridor to open a new gateway for double-stacked container traffic from the East Coast to the Midwest; the MidAmerica Corridor to create shorter and faster routes for merchandise moving between the Midwest and Southeast; and the Pan Am Southern Corridor to create an improved rail route between Albany, N.Y., and the greater Boston area. The site includes photos, videos, maps, fact sheets, links, contacts, and a convenient form for contacting Norfolk Southern. [NS News Release]

• The Norfolk Southern Foundation has given $100,000 to Penn State Altoona to assist in the development of a four-year Rail and Transit Engineering (RTE) degree program. This innovative Bachelor of Science program will include existing Penn State civil engineering courses, coupled with new customized courses in rail business, mechanical systems, track, operations, communications, and regulation. The program is designed to produce graduates who will quickly acclimate to the rail industry and its suppliers. Pending approval by Penn State University's faculty senate and administration, it is anticipated that classes in the RTE program will begin at Penn State Altoona in the fall of 2010. Norfolk Southern will provide the program with technical support and assistance. Norfolk Southern and Penn State have also engaged in joint research to improve the energy efficiency of locomotives and reduce railroad emissions. Funded by NS and the U.S. Department of Energy, this effort will encourage students to get involved in developing new and innovative technologies for the railroad. Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America's largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products. [NS Press Release]
   
• Norfolk Southern unveiled experimental electric locomotive on September 28, 200. ALTOONA, PA. - With U.S. Dept. of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Congressman Bill Shuster in attendance, Norfolk Southern today unveiled the latest in alternative energy locomotive technology at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa. NS 999 is a prototype 1,500-horsepower switching locomotive that relies solely on rechargeable batteries for power."Today, the transportation sector currently accounts for just under a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, more than half of nitrogen oxide emissions, and almost three-quarters of our petroleum consumption. We need to change that," said Secretary LaHood. "By working together to develop alternative energy sources and innovative technologies like this electric locomotive, we will make transportation more sustainable and energy-efficient."

"Historically, Pennsylvania has had a tremendous history in railroading, and it remains my belief that our state can still have a bright future in rail if we take advantage of dynamic partnerships between the private and public sectors like the one that produced this locomotive," said Congressman Bill Shuster, the Ranking Republican on the Railroads Subcommittee. "What Norfolk Southern and Penn State are doing with Congress and Secretary LaHood's support is truly significant and will help usher in a new generation of green locomotives fueled by American ingenuity. Let's not forget about the great work done by the Juniata Locomotive Shop employees who did a superior job producing this engine. I am proud to have worked to secure funding for this project, and I look forward to seeing it working the rail lines soon." Congressman Shuster secured $1.3 million in federal funding for the NS 999 project.

NS 999 is an entirely electric locomotive that uses a lead-acid energy storage system comprised of 1,080 12-volt batteries to operate in railroad switching applications without the use of a diesel engine and with zero exhaust emissions. The plug-in locomotive also can regenerate dynamic braking energy through a system provided by Brookville Equipment Company. The recovered dynamic braking energy continually replenishes the energy storage system, and uses this recovered energy for tractive effort in rail operations. The batteries are carefully monitored and controlled through an elaborate battery management system to assure safety and maximum battery life, and when fully charged NS 999 is able to operate three shifts before recharging is required.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is a leading North American transportation provider. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products. {NS News Release]

• A number of elected officials and Amtrak employees joined together in Lancaster, Pa., recently to ceremonially break ground on a $12 million improvement project to upgrade and enhance the Lancaster Amtrak Train Station. The project includes a complete rehabilitation of the station's interior and exterior; a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; new restrooms; improved landscaping; and increased parking capacity, from 175 spaces to 237. A new taxi loading and unloading area will be provided as well as a new waiting and ticketing area for the Trailways Bus Co., and retail space and meeting rooms. Funding for the project was secured from county, state and federal sources:$9.6 million in federal funds, $2 million in state funds, and $400,000 in county funds. Pictured above are (L.-R.) Pennsylvania State Sen. Lloyd Smucker; City of Lancaster Mayor J. Richard Gray; Amtrak Vice President, Government Affairs and Corporate Communications Joe McHugh; Lancaster County Transportation Planner Chris Newman; Lancaster County Commissioner Craig Lehman; Chairman, Lancaster County Board of Commissioners Dennis P. Stuckey; and Deputy Secretary for Local and Area Transportation, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Toby Fauver. [AMTRAK INK]
   
• The Pennsylvania Railroad K4s is the state steam locomotive, as enacted by the General Assembly on Dec, 18, 1987.  The Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 Locomotive Number 4859 is the state electric locomotive, as enacted by the General Assembly on Dec 18, 1987. [AMTRAK INK]
   
• This Month In Amtrak History S E P T E M B E R from Amtrak Ink - - September 29, 1972 Amtrak launches the Montrealer/ Washingtonian, the first new route established by the newly formed rail- road. Operated on Boston and Maine Railroad and Canadian National Railway track that was last used for passenger service in 1966, today that service is the St. Albans, Vt.-Washington Vermonter. September 28, 1977 The first batch (eight units) of AEM-7 electric locomotives is ordered; one year to the day later, the second batch (15 units) was ordered. Currently there are 49 AEM-7s on the roster, numbers 901 through 953. September 29, 1988 After a $160 million restoration, the revitalized Washington Union Station is unveiled, complete with shopping mall, restaurants and a movie theatre. Today, Union Station is the most visited destination in the nation's capital with more than 32 million visitors a year.
   
• The Federal Transit Administration announced that, since the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February, it had provided grants totaling more than $6.7 billion to about 600 transit providers nationwide for various system improvements. The FTA said that the grants are being used for purposes including purchasing new vehicles, increasing safety and security, and constructing, rehabilitating and maintaining transit systems. (ffd: Progressive Railroading) New Jersey Transit opened a new entrance to its train concourse section of Penn Station in Manhattan. The new entrance, located at the corner of 7th Avenue and 31st Street, includes escalators, an elevator and stairs to the concourse. Its entrance features a barrel-vaulted ceiling and exposed trusses somewhat reminiscent of the original Penn Station. (ffd: Bloomberg, RT&S)
   
• The clock tower in Seattle's King Street rail station resumed operation for the first time in more than 10 years. Work on the clock was completed by a team of individuals that included volunteers from the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. The station, which is used by approximately 2.7 million intercity and commuter rail passengers annually, is currently undergoing a $27 million renovation. (ffd: Seattle Post Intelligencer)
   
• General Electric said that it is bracing for a "very tough and bleak" market for new locomotives through 2010. "North American, from the standpoint of purchasing locomotives, is not moving," said a GE spokesman. The spokesman said that production at its Erie, PA facility would fall by 44 percent this year, to 485 locomotives. (ffd: wire services) [from WEEKLY RAIL REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPT 4, 2009 BY DAVE MEARS via Ed Mayover]
   
• RAILROAD MUSEUM OF PENNSYLVANIA FRIENDS AWARDED NORFOLK SOUTHERN FOUNDATION GRANT Imagine yourself at the throttle of a massive, rushing steam locomotive or relaxing in the plush splendor of a railroad president's car. Soon, you will be able to gain the inside track to a large number of the historic engines and railroad cars in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania via virtual tours. The virtual tours, upgrades to Museum information kiosks and a new digital signage system will be made possible by a $55,778 grant recently awarded to the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania by the Norfolk Southern Foundation. According to Bradley K. Smith, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania chief curator, the Museum has a responsibility to both share its collection with the public and to be an effective caretaker of its historic treasures. Virtual tours of the Museum's rolling stock will help to achieve both objectives. "The dual mission to provide access to artifacts while trying to preserve them is a considerable challenge," says Smith, "especially since the locomotives and railroad cars are difficult to access by virtue of their enormous size and many of them because of the nature of their physical condition." Visitors will be able to take advantage of the virtual tours on the Museum's web site, on ten interactive, touch-screen computer kiosks in the Museum and on five large digital flat screen monitors, also situated in the Museum. The project is expected to be completed within the next twelve months. "We are grateful to the Norfolk Southern Foundation for their support and for recognizing the value of collections accessibility at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania," acknowledges Smith. "This grant will assist us greatly in disseminating information to the public about the importance and nature of American railroading, historically, currently and in the future." ['RR Mus of PA Press Release]
   
• Effective immediately, Athearn to discontinue the production of Blue Box line of kits. There were several factors that contributed to this extremely challenging decision however, the primary issue revolved around affordability and ensuring that our Blue Box kit pricing remain aligned with what the market can bear. Unfortunately, due to increased manufacturing and labor costs it has been determined that we are no longer able to continue offering kits at competitive price points as compared to our already assembled products. For over 50 years the Athearn Blue Box kits have been sold worldwide, bringing happiness, joy and excitement to thousands of model railroad enthusiasts. Your passion for these products has allowed us to thrive and grow into the industry leader you still support today, and for that we are eternally grateful. Moving forward this will allow us to dedicate more resources to new another 50 years, or more. [Athern Release]
   
• November 6 marks the 25th anniversary of the official closing of the historic Reading Terminal in Philadelphia [from Phila. Chapter's Cinders]
   
• On October 30, 2009, NRHS President Greg Molloy announced a change in the 2010 RailCamp program. The 2010 RailCamp events at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum at Ely, Nevada, have been canceled because Nevada Northern has recently withdrawn from the RailCamp program. NRHS is exploring its options, and participants already registered for any of the Nevada programs will be contacted to discuss their alternatives, including receiving refunds. Molloy stated that the 2010 RailCamp program at Steamtown will continue as scheduled. He also stated that the NRHS remains committed to the future of the RailCamp program and will seek additional venues for future programs.
   
• As you probably are aware, on July 9, 2009 the old barn on Helmstetter's Curve west of Cumberland MD burned to the ground. This most scenic red barn provided an attractive "prop" on many chartered excursions on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, which passes through Helmstetter's farm on famous Helmstetter's Curve. Mr. Helmstetter graciously allowed railfans on his property to photograph photo runbys of WM Scenic's 2-8-0 No. 734 on Helmstetter's Curve with the barn as the centerpiece for many years. While in the Cumberland area on July 11th we went to the site of the barn and spoke with Mr. John Helmstetter, the owner of the farm where the barn was located. Mr. Helmstetter was still in a state of shock and very emotional over the loss of his barn, his dog which he described as his best friend, and twelve cows. Mr. Helmstetter was injured trying to save his dog and cows the night of the fire, and was released from the hospital the previous day. He informed us that his grandfather built the barn over 100 years ago, and he had great emotional attachment to the barn. Although the barn was insured, the insured amount will not cover the costs of building a new barn. The most critical need for Mr. Helmstetter now is funds to cover the cost to build a new barn and replace the livestock, tools and equipment which were in the barn. It would be a most appropriate initiative among the railfan community to establish a fund now to help Mr. Helmstetter recover from this devastating loss. [from Alex Mayes via Ed Thornton]
   
• Amtrak received $1.3 billion from the federal stimulus package. In early July 2009, the first of 81 passenger cars to be restored with the help of economic recovery funds rolled out of the shops in Bear, DE. Passenger car no. 25103 was damaged a few years ago in a yard collision. Now completely refurbished at a cost of about $687,000, rejoined the Amtrak fleet for use on long-distance routes stretching from Toronto to Miami. [from Associated Press via Ed Thornton]
   
• The National Transportation Safety Board has developed the following factual information from its investigation of the collision of two trains on the monorail system at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, that occurred early Sunday morning: At about 2 a.m. on July 5th, a Walt Disney World monorail train, designated the Pink train, backed into another monorail train, designated the Purple train, near the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) monorail station. The operator of the Purple train was fatally injured; the six passengers on that train were treated at the scene. The operator of the Pink train, who was transported to the hospital, treated and released, was the only one aboard that train at the time of the collision. Prior to the accident, the Pink train had been instructed to detrain all passengers at the TTC station and then to operate without passengers past the station and a switch to a point where the train could be backed through the track switch from the Epcot loop over to the Magic Kingdom loop. The operator of the Pink train moved the train past the track switch and stopped. The Pink train was then instructed to back through the track switch, towards the Magic Kingdom loop. At about the same time, the Purple train, which was inbound to the TTC station, was instructed to stop at the station to detrain passengers. For undetermined reasons that are currently under investigation, the switch had not changed position needed to allow the Pink train to be routed to the Magic Kingdom loop, which resulted in the Pink train backing down the same track it had just come from, putting it on a collision course with the Purple train. The Pink train passed through the TTC station and struck the Purple train while it was outside the station. There are indications that the operator of the Purple train had brought the train to a stop and had attempted to put the train in reverse prior to the collision. To this point in the investigation, no anomalies or malfunctions have been found with the automatic train stop system or with any mechanical components of the switch or with either of the trains. [from NTSB via AMERICAN RAIL LINK - JULY 15, 2009 via Ed Mayover]
   
• U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced today that the Federal Railroad Administration has received 278 pre-applications for grant funding totaling $102 billion. The money will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail competitive grant program. Forty states and the District of Columbia filed pre-applications. While not all proposed projects can be funded, the Department will work with states and regions to identify priorities and prepare for ongoing high-speed passenger rail development. Congress passed the Recovery Act, which included an $8 billion competitive grant program as a down payment to develop high-speed and intercity passenger rail networks. The President has proposed a continuing $1 billion annual investment to further this effort. The Department of Transportation issued a strategic plan for high-speed rail in April 2009, followed by guidelines for states and groups of states to apply for the economic recovery money in June 2009. The Department expects to announce the first round of merit-based grants in the fall. [from FRA via Ed Mayover]
   
• Wisconsin has agreed to a $47 million deal with Spanish train manufacturer Talgo for two 14-car passenger trains to run between Milwaukee and Chicago , Gov. Jim Doyle announced Friday. The cars will replace aging cars on the existing Amtrak Hiawatha Service line between the two cities. The deal calls for Talgo to set up an assembly plant in Wisconsin that could serve as a hub as the company expands throughout the Midwest . It also includes an option for the state to buy two more Talgo trains. A Long Island Rail Road engineer has been suspended without pay following accusations that he allowed a passenger to operate a train as it traveled west of Hicksville earlier this month and law enforcement authorities are investigating, officials said Thursday. The engineer, whom MTA sources identified as Ronald Cabrera, allowed the passenger to operate the train during the portion of its run from Hicksville to Hunters Point Avenue , according to a witness' account that led to the suspension. Eric Phillips, spokesman for Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice, confirmed that his office was investigating. MTA Police Chief Michael Coan said his department is now "trying to develop a criminal case" against the engineer and the passenger. "We know somebody was in the cab. We don't know what happened there," Coan said. "We also know that it ran smoothly and nobody was injured." The incident occurred July 2 on a westbound double-decker diesel that left the Port Jefferson station at 6:45 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at the Hunters Point Avenue station in Queens at 8:30 a.m., officials said. After the train arrived at its destination, a passenger called police to report that he witnessed another passenger in the cab without the engineer, according to MTA police. Upon learning of the allegations, LIRR officials called the engineer, who was riding a train back to Port Jefferson, and asked him to report to the LIRR Jamaica headquarters. There, he was questioned and relieved of his duties pending the outcome of an investigation, LIRR officials said. Cabrera could not be reached for comment Thursday. MTA officials said he has hired an attorney. LIRR officials said that the train usually reaches speeds of up to 80 mph during the 25-mile stretch between Hicksville and Hunters Point Avenue . There are usually about 400 passengers on the train during that stretch, Calderone said. There were no stops in between those two points, according to an LIRR schedule. [ from AP and Newsday via AMERICAN RAIL LINK - JULY 22, 2009 via Ed Mayover]
   
• Three historic steam locomotives have been saved from the blowtorch in a deal that sends one of them to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. In a complex arrangement involving the transportation museum, the Railroad Museum of Virginia in Portsmouth and Goshen businessman William Harris, the locomotives will be removed from the former Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Co. in the coming weeks. The VMT will receive the M2c #1151 -- a smallish, steam-powered workhorse that was made in Roanoke in 1911. The old locomotives are referred to by some rail buffs as The Lost Engines of Roanoke. In fact, they have been visible along the railroad tracks behind the scrap yard for decades, and many people have worked to save them. Until recently, however, the cost of moving the badly deteriorated engines from their overgrown siding had been a major stumbling block. Most of the locomotives were given to the transportation museum by the scrap yard in 2008, with the provision that the museum arrange for moving them, said Bev Fitzpatrick, the transportation museum's executive director. The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which acquired the scrap yard last year, has worked with the museum as well, twice extending the deadline to move the engines, Fitzpatrick said. A fourth steam locomotive in the scrap yard -- a Norfolk & Western switch engine -- was acquired by the builder of an Ohio restaurant attraction and moved there last July. Only the 1151 was actually made in Roanoke, however. The transportation museum parlayed its ownership of the other remaining locomotives into a deal that will move the 1151 to the museum without costing it anything. The museum also will get a Baldwin diesel locomotive out of the scrap yard on Jefferson Street and will retain ownership of a second Baldwin diesel, which could be sold for scrap. The two other steam locomotives, which are similar to the 1151 but were not made in Roanoke, will go to Harris in Goshen and to the Railroad Museum of Virginia. The railroad museum is a 10-year-old museum that badly wants a steam locomotive. Harris is a lumberyard owner who said he has had "a passion for trains my whole life." Under terms of the deal, the Portsmouth museum will pay to move all three engines in return for title to one of them. Harris will do the moving and will receive the third steam locomotive. [Chesapeake Railway Association's August High Green via Tim Moriarty]
   
• The last Army railway unit will reportedly be phased out by 2015. The 757th Transportation Battalion (Railway), a reserve unit headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, with four subordinate companies in various locations, is currently closing its 226th Transportation Company (Railway) at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, MA, and it should be gone entirely in 2010. Most members of the company have already been "cross-leveled" into the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 88N (Transportation Management Coordinator - a fancy term for transportation clerk) and moved into other units pending the phase out. A senior NCO is the acting commander until he too is transferred. Although there will still be Army civilian employees and contractors operating railway equipment on Army installations, there will be no more soldier railroaders. Railway MOSs were deleted from the active Army in May 1976 and the last active duty unit, the 1st Railway Detachment, was inactivated on 30 September 1978. The last active duty rail battalion, the 714th, was inactivated in mid-1972 at Fort Eustis, VA. Since the late 1970s, rail MOSs and rail units have only existed in the Army Reserve. The Army has not deployed railway battalions overseas since the Korean War, although the 757th temporarily sent very small numbers of its personnel to the Balkans (to serve as stevedores - other nations' troops actually operated trains) and to the port city of Basra in Iraq following the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation. Soon Army Rail will follow the Coast Artillery and Horse Cavalry into history. [Chesapeake Railway Association's August High Green via Tim Moriarty]
   
• Mount Rainier Scenic has successfully completed the restoration of a Willamette type geared locomotive. Very similar to a shay (built after Lima's patents on the shay ran out) Pictures at http://www.mrsr.com/ [from Tom Smith via Ed Thornton]
   
• Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation (CSXT) are proud to announce the launch of RailChem Connect, a coordinated rail service for expedited transport of chemicals between the Texas Gulf Coast region and the Southeast. The new RailChem Connect service is the result of increased coordination and re-designed interline service by the two railroads for their chemicals market customers. The service allows shipments to bypass smaller rail yards for expedited transit between major hubs. These changes, along with increased operations coordination between the railroads, increase reliability of east- and west-bound service between Union Pacific-served chemical markets such as Houston, southern Texas and Louisiana, and CSXT-served consumption markets in the southeastern states. RailChem Connect offers more consistent transit times, faster equipment turns and a shorter route than previously available for chemical shipments in this corridor. The two railroads have reduced the transit time between major markets by 25 percent in the last three years while improving consistency by 23 percent. The improvements provide more reliable service, enabling chemicals customers to optimize their fleets of privately owned rail cars. [joint press release]
   
• A new short line railroad operator, the New Jersey Seashore Lines, began existence this week as rail right-of-way once owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) was cleared of underbrush in preparation for upgrading. The 13 miles of right-of-way, owned by the Clayton Cos. Inc., will be rehabilitated to allow access to the company's sand mine in Woodmansie, located in the state's Pine Barrens region. Clayton Sand has contracted with New Jersey Seashore Lines to operate service on the route between Woodmansie and Lakehurst, where ex-CNJ right-of-way is owned by New Jersey Transit Corp. [From Railway Age Rail Group News - October 22, 2009 via Ed Mayover]
   
• Amtrak is recommending that another train be added to the sparse service between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, if state and federal legislators decide the additional ridership is worth the expense. In a study mandated by the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, Amtrak officials looked at passenger service in Pennsylvania and decided that the potential riders and revenue were sufficient to consider increasing the Pennsylvanian route between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg from one train per day in each direction to two, adding a midday departure from Pittsburgh and a late-night arrival that could connect to trains heading west to Chicago. Adding the extra trains hinge on state and federal support -- Amtrak estimated the annual operating cost to be $13.7 million, offset by another 144,000 annual riders and $6.7 million in ticket revenue. Buying six new locomotives, 10 coaches and three dining cars -- enough for two new trains, two spare locomotives and a spare dining car -- would cost about $88 million, the study said. The Pennsylvanian leaves Pittsburgh at 7 a.m. and returns at 8 p.m., leaving round-trip travelers with less than two hours in Harrisburg if they want to return the same day. Yet, west of Harrisburg , ridership on the Pennsylvanian increased an average of about 13 percent per year between 2006 and 2008, the study found. In the study released last week, Amtrak recommended adding another train to the line that would depart Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. and return at 11:45 p.m., with the possibility of connecting to the westbound Capitol Limited route to Chicago from Washington , that leaves at 11:55 p.m. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)The Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad repainted Alco C420 No. 405 earlier this month and named it for C.J. "Chuck" Riedmiller. Riedmiller was one of the founding partners and the senior vice-president of marketing and chief financial officer of Genesee Valley Transportation Co., of which the D-L is a subsidiary; he died in early 2004. The unit was originally Lehigh Valley 405 and acquired by the D-L in January 1997. When the railroad learned a D-L employee had an original set of the metal flags (not decals) the LV had applied to many of its units, the company's South Scranton , Pa. , shop forces used them as a pattern to torch-cut a new set to be applied to the 45-year-old unit. The flags are painted with LV on one side and GVT on the other, so they can be reversed for special events. The 405 made its debut on Oct. 13 at the head of train PT-98, a Scranton to Slateford Jct., Pa. , 120-mile round-trip to interchange with Norfolk Southern. A formal dedication ceremony is planned for Riedmiller's family in early November. (Trains News Wire) [from AMERICAN RAIL LINK - OCT. 21, 2009 - ISSUE 427 via Ed Mayover]
   
• Amtrak announced that it had carried nearly 27.2 million passengers in Fiscal Year 2009 ending September 30, off approximately 5 percent from the previous fiscal year, but still the second highest annual total in the railroad's 38-year existence. Also this week, Amtrak announced that it would put its new national timetable into effect on October 26. The new national timetable again includes Empire Service and Keystone Service trains, but again does not include Acela Express and Northeast Regional trains; the latter will be updated in a separate timetable that will change more frequently due to continued trackwork improvement projects.Amtrak announced that it would use approximately $25 million in received federal stimulus funding to replace outdated transformers at 40 electrical substations that provide power to its Northeast Corridor Line between New York and Washington, DC. The transformers, several of which have been in service for more than 75 years, lower voltage from commercially available 138,000AC to the 11,000AC used on the line. Also this week, Amtrak announced that it had engaged Jacobs Engineering to provide program management and construction services for more than 100 infrastructure improvement projects. The projects, which are scheduled or ongoing at more than 360 Amtrak locations, total more than $560 million. (from Amtrak, Railway Age via Weekly Rail Review For The Week Ending Friday, October 16, 2009 By Dave Mears via Ed Mayover)
   
• AMTRAK Engineering Completes Major Empire Line Project - Employees from I&C/Capital Projects Sunnyside Yard and other New York Division Engineering crews work with a specialized construction contractor on the Empire Line Rock Stabilization Project, which resulted in the removal of the 15 mph speed restrictions near the George Washington Bridge, in northern Manhattan. The 10-month, $6 million-plus project enables trains to operate at 50 mph, which is expected to yield improved on-time performance in this heavily congested area. The crews stabilized the slopes by removing 407 tons of loose rock and vegetation, applying fiberglass-reinforced concrete, attaching more than 1,000 bolts, and installing nearly 90,000 square feet of wire mesh retaining walls. [AMTRAK Ink]
   
• The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum began its own "B&O Television Network" of monthly programming. Programs are hosted by Actor Michael Gross, the museum's spokesperson. In additional to being shown on flat screens at the museum, the programs are also available on YouTube. (B&O Railroad Museum via Ed Mayover)
   
• Norfolk Southern unveiled its prototype battery-powered, 1500-horsepower locomotive on September 28 at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, PA. The switcher is designed to use rechargeable batteries to generate power. The locomotive features a lead-acid energy storage system comprising 1,080 12-volt batteries. The plug-in switcher also can regenerate dynamic braking energy through a system provided by Brookville Equipment Co. Batteries are monitored and controlled, and when fully charged, the locomotive can operate through three shifts before recharging is required. (from Progressive Railroading, September 29, 2009)Locomotive Production to Plummet in 2010, GE Says: Next year will be a bleak one for freight locomotive builders, according to GE Transportation. The company expects locomotive production at its Erie, PA, manufacturing plant to drop about 44 percent this year to 485 units, then fall another 50 percent or more in 2010 as the builder primarily works off its order backlog, GE Transportation officials recently told Dow Jones Newswire. "There are no [U.S.] customers who are actively purchasing right now," said GE Transportation President and Chief Executive Officer Lorenzo Simonelli. "North America, from the standpoint of purchasing locomotives, is not moving." Several Class Is have begun to bring stored locomotives back into service. Although that's a positive trend, it won't impact new orders until no locomotives are in storage, said Simonelli. In addition, freight volumes "going from negative 20 percent to negative 16 percent don't do much for a manufacturer," he said. (Progressive Railroading, September 3, 2009)[from Chesapeake Railway Association's High Green via Tim Moriarty]
   
• The last Amtrak train to operate with post-WWII steam-heated equipment was the Silver Star in 1980 using an SDP40F locomotive #648. The head-end cars were acquired from the U.S. Army having previously served as hospital and transport haulers. [AMTRAK INK]
   
• Virginia Railway Express announced that it had awarded Keolis Rail Service America the contract to crew its commuter trains operating between Washington, DC and Northern Virginia, starting in mid-2010. Amtrak has crewed VRE trains since the agency's 1992 start. In a related story, MARC announced that it would seek a new operator for its trains running between Brunswick, MD, Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD's Camden Station. A MARC spokesman said that CSX has indicated they no longer want to crew MARC trains, although trains will continue to operate over CSX lines between these cities. (from Baltimore Sun, NARP, Progressive Railroading) [from Weekly Rail Review For The Week Ending Friday, October 23, 2009 By Dave Mears via Ed Mayover]
   
• Amtrak.com has revamped their Web site that makes booking train reservations online and finding information even easier. In addition to upgraded graphics, one of the most notable improvements to the site is a simplified booking process that combines the schedule search, reservation and train status functions into a single dynamic menu. When searching for trains, customers will now see the full day's schedule, along with a pricing matrix that allows them to select a train based on the lowest fare or shortest trip time. The new shopping cart feature shows different legs of a reserved trip and itemizes the entire purchase. Other highlights of the redesign include limited availability alerts when inventory of seats and sleeping accommodations are low, improved station pages that link to the interactive route map and an expanded promotions page. An upgraded mobile version of the site for smart phone users was also launched, with additional functionality to be added over the coming months. [from AMTRAK Ink]
   
• National Capitol Trolley Museum reopens Nov. 28 at its new $5.63 million facility at 1313 Bonifant Road in the Colesville area of Silver Spring. When the museum opens on Thanksgiving weekend, it will be roughly three times larger than the former facility. It will feature an auditorium playing clips of Harold Lloyd silent films with trolley cars in the background and an all-you-can-ride, three-quarter-mile external track with a rotation of classic street cars. It also will showcase the museum's extensive collection, which includes a 1918 green-and-white streetcar built by the G.C. Kuhlman Company and a sunshine yellow 1970s trolley from the Netherlands. New additions include a rare 1934 yellow-and-blue boat-shaped car from an oceanfront resort in England, a 1950s streetcar from Toronto and a clunker from Boston that hasn't been used in decades. Trolley lovers eagerly have awaited the reopening of the popular museum, which closed last December to make way for construction of the Intercounty Connector highway across from its former site. It will reopen next door to its old site, and although the old museum charged for every trolley trip, the new museum features an admission fee of $4 for children and $7 for adults, which will include unlimited rides. The new museum will consist of three buildings: a roomy one-floor visitors center including two auditoriums, a classroom, model trolley cars and historical exhibits; a car barn large enough to house roughly 25 streetcars; and a maintenance and restoration facility that can be used to repair clunkers. The reopening has been delayed twice, largely due to the complexity of constructing old-fashioned overhead trolley wiring, which supplies electricity to the cars. [from an article by Jeanette Der Bedrosian - Staff writer - Maryland Gazette via Ed Thornton ]

PARTIAL listing of Richard E. Hall's contributions to The Transfer Table

The following is just a PARTIAL listing of Richard E. Hall's contributions to The Transfer Table (thanks to Jared Downs for his significant effort to index our 1996-2007 newsletters)

Issue Contribution
 Feb-96 Was the body Under the Tracks?
 June & July 96 The Irish Riot at Charlestown
 Aug-96 The Train Crew Walked Home
 Oct-96 Pardon Me, Who Changed our Language?
 Nov & Dec 97 New Castle & Frenchtown first Locomotive
 Apr-98 New Castle Mfg Co; DE's Pioneer Loco Builder
 May & Jun 98 New Castle Mfg Company Locomotives
 Oct-98 Mileage Memories
 Nov & Dec 98 Honor of Veteran's Day
 Nov & Dec 98 Our Railroads and World War One
 Oct-99 P&BC Bridge 54 1/2 / U.G. Br. 56, 59 Washout
 Jul-00 Dinner in the Diner and Some Railroad
 Mar-01 Coupler Surprise
 May-01 Crossing the Susquehanna
 Nov-01 Enginehouse Fires
 Jan-02 Cranes and Hoist, Slew, OOPS!!
 Feb-02 Update on OOPS! Bridge Article
 Feb-02 History was Repeated
 Jul-02 PW&B Three Susquehanna River Boats; More Questions than answers
 Jan-03 Some Diamond State Diamonds
 Apr-03 Two Old PRR Survivors
 Apr-03 PRR C&T Questions & Comments
 Jul-03 Pitfalls of being an overworked editor or that inaccurate bridge article (again)
 Oct-03 Wilmington Roundhouse Notes
 Oct-03 Local Railroad Draw Bridge Locations
 Dec-03 The PW&B Principio Problems
 Dec-03 M of W Equipment of the P&BC
 Jan-04 Two Train Wrecks at Rising Sun
 May-04 Was there a Pennsy Connection to the W&W
 Jun-04 The Gunpowder River Bridge
 Jul-04 Why Trainmasters have Ulcers
 Dec-04 The Odyssey of A 2-6-0
 Dec-04 Phila. & Balt. Central Opened to Rising Sun
 Dec-05 The Concordville Station Area
 Dec-05 A Confused Market Train
 Dec-05 A bit of Newsletter Trivia
 Dec-05 PRR Snow Fighting Equipment
 Jan-06 W&W-B&O Pass. Stations & other things Gone
 Jan-06 Air Break Instruction Car
 May-06 Amtrak Station Date
 May-06 Happy Birthday Bridge 60.07
 May-06 Horsepower Erratum?
 May-06 Tight Switches
 May-06 Circus Train Sightings and Model
 Oct-06 Editors Gas Car Photo
 Feb-07 PB&W Station By F. Furness,100th Anniversary
 Feb-07 The day the Station moved
 Apr-07 PRR Location & Assignment Abbreviation Symbols
 May-07 Down by the River
 Jul-07 A "Notorious" W&W Box Car
 Jul-07 UTLX 85915 Tank Car on The W&W
 Oct-07 Model Railroading, Railroading & History
 Nov-07 Henry Dickinson Remembered
 Nov-07 Three Phantoms Under PRR Catenary
 Nov-07 Home For Christmas
 Jan-08 W&W #58 Turns 100 Years old
 March & April 08 Column with Chain Hoist
 March & April 08 Wherezit
 May & June 08 Bit of Trivia
 May & June 08 Henry Dickinson photo
 May & June 08 PRR maintenance Truck
 May & June 08 PRR Mack Truck Crane
 May & June 08 Bit of Trivia
 May & June 08 Jaes St, Newport, DE
 May & June 08 GG-1's at Davis
 Jul-08 Meeting Notes
 Jul-08 Bridge News
 Jul-08 PRR Bunk Houses and Rooms
 Jul-08 Wilmington's Busy Roundhouse
 Sep-08 Bit of Trivia
 Sep-08 Bowers Dure Co
 Sep-08 Bit of Trivia - Claymont Station
 Nov-08 Bit of Trivia
 Nov-08 Foreign PRR Company Service & Shop Cars
 Feb-09 AMTRAK's B&O (Biden & Obama) Special
 Feb-09 Letter Responds to Steam Shovel Photo
 Feb-09 PRR engine #1001 at Port Deposit
 Feb-09 Memorable Rides on the Strasburg RR
 Apr-09 Bit of Trivia
 Apr-09 Official Timetable 1875
 Jul-09 PRR Tonnage Ratings
 Jul-09 OATS Octoraro Pipe Dream

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 thru December 31, 2009 Trains in Motion Pictures at Railroad Museum of PA Exhibit on starring rolee of trains and railroads in motion pictures with video clips, photographs, and amazing artifacts.

November 4 - December 30, 2009 Holiday Festival of Trains at the B&O Railroad Museum Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Holiday celebration of toy trains and model railroading layouts. Please note: The Museum is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

November 8 (or 15), 2009 30th Street Station, Philadelphia Unconfirmed Report = On 08 Nov 2009 at 07.30 Hrs (rain date 15 Nov 2009) the large chimney and former steam generating station located next to 30th Street station in Philadelphia is to be imploded. Controlled Demolition will be performing the implosion. Traffic is to be stopped on all rail lines and streets in the area during the implosion.

November 27-28 Veterans Day Weekend at the B&O Railroad Museum Sat., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Salute the military and veterans at the B&O! Special living history presentations by members of the 4th Infantry Division Military Police Unit on our WWII Troop Sleeper. Vintage military vehicles will also be on display.

December 4 - 6, 2009 Day Out with Thomas at Strasburg Rail Road-

December 12 Christmas Lights Charter -- We'll be taking operator Gary Mason's decorated streetcar out for night photography on a Saturday night. This trip will depart from Callowhill. We are limiting the capacity on this trip to 25 people (to keep the night photos manageable). Fare is $40. Join the Wilmington Chapter NRHS as we venture out on SEPTA's streetcar routes for a night photo extravaganza! We'll use a PCC-II car decorated for the holidays (thanks to operator Gary Mason), making numerous stops to photograph the streetcar with houses decorated for Christmas. Bring your tripod and a cable release and take advantage of our powerful flash lighting at photo stops. The trip will depart the Callowhill car barn at 6:00 and will last for four hours. Tickets are $40, and capacity is limited to 25 people. Visit http://www.daylightimages.com/streetcar to order tickets or to get more information. Paying by mail? Make checks payable to "Wilmington Chapter NRHS" and send to: Wilmington Chapter NRHS c/o Steve Barry 117 High Street Newton, NJ 07860

Sunday, December 13, 2009 Wilmington Chapter's Annual Holiday Dinner
$18 per person - Same Location as last year: Maximillian's
Maximillian's Restaurant & Tavern, 3001 Naamans Creek Road, Marcus Hook, PA 19061, (610) 485-7020
>>> Reservations to VP [ call Ron Cleaves 302-798-2328 between 5-8 PM ] must be final by Nov.29 <<<
Reservations must be cancelled by Nov.29 or you will be billed (instead of the Chapter paying)
Cocktails 5 PM, Buffet available 5:30-8 PM followed by Special Program by Steve Barry

Thursday, December 31 annual New Year's Eve trolley FRIENDS OF PHILADELPHIA TROLLEYS will again sponsor. PCC-II will depart from the Rt 10's 63-Malvern loop at 10.00PM, returning around 2.00 AM on Jan 1. Routing TBA, but we hope to cover parts of all 6 city trolley lines. Fare is $40.00, with all proceeds going to FPT's next major project, the repainting of Rockhill Trolley Museum's PCC 2743 into 1959 PTC green & cream. Snacks and drinks will be available on the car. To reserve a seat, please mail check, made out to FPT,Inc., to: Harry Donahue, 103 Mulberry Court, Morgantown, PA 19543 info= Contact: had2709@aol.com

February 6, 2010, Super Saturday Streetcar Special XVII -- This trip will depart from Elmwood with a PCC-II car and wander the southwest Philadelphia routes, as well as diversion trackage. This trip usually sells out, and we will not add a second car. Fare is $40. A Wilmington Chapter tradition! Join us as we venture out on SEPTA's streetcar routes for a day of photography. The featured attraction will be a PCC-II working the southwest Philadelphia streetcar routes, a place where these cars don't venture in regular service. We usually average about 15 photo stops on these trips. The trip will depart the Elmwood Depot (near I-95 at the intersection of Island and Elmwood Avenues) at 10:00 and will last for five hours. Tickets are $40.Visit http://www.daylightimages.com/streetcar to order tickets or to get more information. Paying by mail? Make checks payable to "Wilmington Chapter NRHS" and send to: Wilmington Chapter NRHS c/o Steve Barry 117 High Street Newton, NJ 07860

February 6-7, 2010 Great Scale Model Train Show, Timonium Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD State Fairgrounds Sat. 9-4, Sun. 10-4, Admission $9, under 15 free, family $18, tickets good for both days.

April 10-11, 2010 Great Scale Model Train Show, Timonium Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD State Fairgrounds Sat. 9-4, Sun. 10-4, Admission $9, under 15 free, family $18, tickets good for both days.

June 22-26, 2010 NRHS National Convention Scranton, PA (Radisson & Hilton Hotels) "Endless Mountain Rails" hosted by Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter - www.endlessmountainrails.com

June 26-27, 2010 Great Scale Model Train Show, Timonium Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD State Fairgrounds Sat. 9-4, Sun. 10-4, Admission $9, under 15 free, family $18, tickets good for both days.

October 9-10, 2010 Great Scale Model Train Show, Timonium Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD State Fairgrounds Sat. 9-4, Sun. 10-4, Admission $9, under 15 free, family $18, tickets good for both days.

CHAPTER EVENTS

NOTICE: IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER
If our normal "THIRD THURSDAY" NRHS meeting is canceled due to inclement weather, it will be postponed and held on the FOURTH THURSDAY. If it must again be canceled, it will NOT be rescheduled. We will simply wait for the next month's normal "third Thursday" meeting. If the weather looks bad or is predicted to be bad, you may telephone the Claymont Community Center to see if it will be open that evening for our meeting.

Thursday Nov. 19, 2009 7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson

Sunday Dec. 13 , 2009 5 PM Holiday Dinner in lieu of monthly mtg. program by Steve Barry

Sunday, December 13, 2009 Wilmington Chapter's Annual Holiday Dinner
Maximillian's Restaurant & Tavern, 3001 Naamans Creek Road, Marcus Hook, PA 19061, (610) 485-7020
Reservations to VP Ron Cleaves must be final by Nov.29
Reservations must be cancelled by Nov.29 or you will be billed (instead of the Chapter paying)
Cocktails 5 PM, Buffet available 5:30-8 PM followed by Special Program by Steve Barry

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: