THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

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MEETING NOTES
At the September meeting, National Director Ed Thornton introduced visitor Bill Mathews, historian for the Pottstown & Reading Chapter, who is running for Eastern Division Vice President to the 23 members and 5 guests at the meeting.

President Phil Snyder reviewed the list of upcoming Chapter events and meetings ( see back page "Chapter Events" for summary and latest date changes).

Bill Russell reported that Strasburg had received their latest addition; an ex-Conrail 250 ton wrecker last stored at Conway Yard, it was built in 1955 for the Erie.

Dan Frederick proposed a motion to henceforth officially refer to our Chapter's annual photo contest as the "Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest". Dan stated, to support the motion, that other Chapters had similarly named their contests. With no need for further discussion, the motion quickly passed unanimously as a fitting memorial for Doug.

Next were refreshments and a perusal of a large pile of free newsletters and literature which your Editor brought to the meeting. Then Frank Ferguson gave another excellent slide presentation, this time on his travels in British Columbia along the Pacific Great Eastern which became British Columbia Railway which became BC Rail. We saw the Vancouver wharves, RS-18 slugs, RDCs, the Government of Alberta's CN 4-8-2 #6060 in May 1988, the 50,000 volt Tumbler Ridge units and the load-out operations. We also saw the special railfan RDC excursion in fall 1989 reaching literally the very absolute end-of-track at Fort Nelson.

From The Editor
The time was right (in this, my 35th issue of The Transfer Table) to unveil the new letterhead. My thanks to Hal Barker who provided me with a slide (dated May 1988) of the actual transfer table located in the Wilmington Shops. I traced, scanned, and modified the image. Now, once again, our newsletter depicts its namesake! I hope you like it!

Also, watch out for "Super Saturday Streetcar Special V", which will be held the Saturday before the Super Bowl in January. We plan to take the Peter Witt car into the Center City Tunnel. The trip will depart from Elmwood. Watch for details.

The Wilmington Chapter NRHS will present "Turkey Trot Trolley Trip" on Sunday, November 23, 1997. The trip will use green-and-cream PCC 2732, departing from Germantown car barn at 10:00 a.m. Tentative route will be to cover as much of Route 23, the longest streetcar route in North America, as possible. Additional trackage may be added as conditions warrant. Return to Germantown will be at 3:00 p.m. Pack your own lunch to eat on board. There will be numerous photo opportunities. Tickets are $28 ($22 for Chapter members). Tickets can be ordered from the Chapter at P.O. Box 1261, Wilmington, DE 19899. Information can be obtained from Steve Barry at 973/383-3355 between 9am-5pm.

Email Addresses
National Director Ed Thornton is compiling email addresses of all members that are "on-line". Whenever a late-breaking news flash or last minute event becomes known, Ed will send notice of same to all members on the email list. Send your email address to: edthorn@bellatlantic.net

A LOOK BACK
by Historian Ron Cleaves

October 1990: Highlight of the October '90 meeting, attended by 20 members and 6 guests, was Steve Barry's report of the upcoming November 17 (1990) Wilmington & Western 'Photo Freight'. Despite needing more ticket sales to break even for the trip, Steve announced that enough tickets had been sold to make the trip a 'go'.

In local rail news, the CSX Philly line continues to feature a variety of foreign road names. Among them were Norfolk Southern (including units still painted/lettered Southern and Norfolk and Western), Susquehanna, Canadian Pacific, Delaware and Hudson, former Reading units, and units with variations of CSX's paint schemes. Most freights were caboose-less then and had been for a while.

and A LOOK (even further) BACK
On October 18, 1988 (a Tuesday), in celebration of the 50th anniversary of its Seaford, Delaware plant, the DuPont Company rented ex-Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive #1223 (a 4-4-0) for this event to pull a special train which was dubbed "The Nylon Express". The train had three wooden Strasburg Railroad passenger cars, one of which was the parlor car "Marion".

The trip operated from Dover, DE to Seaford, DE; an extremely significant event due to the fact that #1223, many years before, had actually run in regular service on Delmarva lines. The photo below shows "The Nylon Express" arriving in Harrington, DE. What it does not show is the tanker truck and coal truck which followed the train the entire day. [photo by Ron Cleaves]

NEWS BITS
Above: A print from the winning slide in this year's annual photo contest in the "Traction" category. This underground image, taken in Philadelphia, PA, was taken by Dan Frederick.

The S500X2 (T239-U) locomotive is manufactured in the Czech Republic by CKD Locomotivka a.s. which has made over 13,000 locomotives (steam & diesel) in their 95 years. They are being introduced in the US by Electric Transport of America, 1104 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 [310-318-9350]. My thanks to Gary Beck of ETA for permission to reproduce the literature he was kind enough to send to me .

Railroading has become a very dangerous occupation of late: A runaway tank car traveled a quarter of a mile before striking a parked locomotive which in turn pushed several more tank cars forward pinning a Conrail worker's leg in Delaware City [from The News Journal]. The Federal Railroad Administration criticized Union Pacific's safety performance after several fatal and non-fatal accidents recently. As of mid-September three collisions had resulted in the deaths of five employees and two stowaways in three months. The agency was also investigating CSX Corp. [from The Wall Street Journal]. Five cars of a 82-car coal train plunged into the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, PA when a weakened section of the 95-year-old bridge collapsed. About a month earlier, a railroad inspector reportedly noted that a weakened section of the bridge caused the tracks to shift when rolled over by a train. [from August 21, 1997 Associated Press] And then there was the recent derailment on CSX just below Feltonville, PA, and... and... and...

Even when it is faster and cheaper to take the train, many travelers still prefer to fly. One example in a recent article compared, among other short trips, the 90 minute one-way Amtrak from Chicago to Milwaukee at $38 roundtrip with the two and one half hour it takes (downtown-to-downtown) via United Express at fares from $68 to $372 for the 18 minute flight. [from the August 29, 1997 The Wall Street Journal]

Burlington Northern Santa Fe headquarters in Fort Worth, TX now have some new decorations. On June 20-22, four historic cars were positioned at the entrance to the visitor's center: lounge car "Yellowstone River" (ex- Northern Pacific built 1955 ), dining car "Canadian River" (ex- Great Northern built 1947), and business cars "James J. Hill" (ex- SLSF, a.k.a. "Frisco", built 1912) and "Cyrus K. Holliday" (ex-ATSF built 1918). Both business cars were recently remodeled in 1990. All of these cars appear in the silver with dark green lettering and pin stripes which is the new paint scheme of the BNSF business car fleet. [from the North Texas Chapter's North Texas Zephyr via Gulf Coast Chapter's Gulf Coast Railroading]

The Baltimore Streetcar Museum wants to rent or swap for the 87-year old Baltimore streetcar #5748 (with removable side panels for summer breezes) which was acquired by the Seashore Trolley Museum of Kennebunkport, Maine in 1957.  It is currently gathering dust in storage, but since the last time the museum lent out a car, to the Valentine Museum in Richmond, VA, they haven't gotten it back because they can't afford to ship it back. The trolley museum count is up to 35
nationwide, from just 20 ten years ago. On the other hand, Seashore wants a Peter Witt car like the one Milan (Italy) transit gave to San Francisco. Despite years of pleading, Seashore still doesn't have one, but San Francisco may be getting nine more from Milan. [from the September 16, 1997 The WallStreet Journal]

Former Pennsy K-4 #1361 is being worked on Saturdays in Steamtown. Reading T-1 #2102 is back in the roundhouse without its asbestos and #3713 is in the locomotive shop being prepared for asbestos removal. [from Delaware Valley Chapter's The Observation Car]

On September 14, Canadian Pacific Railway unveiled their new corporate logo in Calgary, Alberta. The new logo, appearing on locomotives in the Ogden Shops facility, includes the beaver emblem atop a shield with maple leaf. [from RPnews@worldnet.att.net]

SCHEDULE NOTES
Notices, announcements, schedules, etc. are provided here as a service to the members. The Chapter has no affiliation with any commercial operation, museum, or tourist line.

Second Sunday April-October, 1997 Chesapeake & Allegheny Steam Preservation Society noon-4 PM, Live Steamers, Leakin Park on Windsor Mill Rd., Baltimore, MD, info = 410-448-0730

thru October 26, 1997 Steamtown, Scranton PA operates excursions over former DLW from Scranton to Moscow at 12 noon and 3 PM Friday, Saturday, Sunday, for info 1-888-856-2345

thru November, 1997 B&O Railroad Museum - celebrating Baltimore's Bicentennial 10 AM - 5 PM daily, new exhibit "Treasures of the B&O: 170 Yrs. of Railroading in MD.", 410-752-2490

Saturday, October 11, 1997 Long Island Sunrise Trail NRHS Excursion 8 AM departs Jamaica Station, NY send LSASE to: LIST-NRHS, PO Box 507, Dept. T, Babylon, NY 11702

Saturday, October 11, 1997 The Autumn Leaf Rambler 9:30 AM & 1:30 PM, departs Dillwyn, VA for 3.5 hour round trip, info call 1-800-451-6318

Saturday & Sunday, October 11-12, 1997 Great Scale Model Train Show, Timonium, MD. 9-4 Saturday, 10-4 Sunday, Maryland State Fairgrounds

Sunday, October 26, 1997 Lancaster/ Strasburg Train and Toy Sale 9 AM - 2 PM, Historic Strasburg Inn, Strasburg, PA for info 717-392-5515

Saturday & Sunday, October 18-19, 1997 New River Train Excursions Saturday & Sunday, October 25-26, 1997 New River Train Excursions leave Huntington, WV through New River Gorge, for information call 304-453-1641

Saturday, Nov. 1, 1997 Model Train Show & Sale 9 AM-2 PM, Townsend Delaware Fire Hall, Rt 25 off Rt 13, info 302-378-4763

Saturday, Nov. 1, 1997 The Autumn Leaf Rambler 9:30 AM & 1:30 PM, $16, departs Dillwyn, VA for 3.5 hour round trip, info call 1-800-451-6318

Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 1-2, 1997 Great Scale Model Train Show, Ft. Washington, PA
9-4 Saturday, 10-4 Sunday, Fort Washington Expo Center

Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 8-9, 1997 '97 N-Scale East Convention 10 AM- 3 PM, West Chester Holiday Inn, West Chester, PA 19382

Saturday, November 15,1997 Model Train & Toy Show & Sale 9 AM - 3 PM, Hartley Fire Hall, Hartley, DE for info call 302-492-3755 evenings

Sunday, November 16,1997 Tri-State Railroadiana Show & Sale 9 AM - 3 PM, 33 Baldwin Rd, off Rt. 46, Parsippany, NJ, info 201-488-5429

November 21,1997 thru February 1, 1998 Model Railroading & The Holidays 10 AM - 5 PM daily, new exhibit B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, MD., 410-752-2490

Sunday, Nov. 23, 1997 Wilmington Chapter's "Turkey Trot Trolley Trip" 10 AM from Germantown Car Barn over Route 23, $28, for info Steve Barry at 973/383-3355 only 9-5

Sunday, November 23, 1997 Prime-Mover Train Show 9 AM - 2 PM, Aetna Hall, Rt. 273, Newark, DE for info call Tom @ 610-255-4785

November 28 & December 1-31, 1997 Holiday Train Tracks (closed 11/27 & 12/25) 10 AM - 5 PM daily, Santa + holiday decorations @B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, MD., 410-752-2490

Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997 Original Gilbertsville Train Show 9 AM - 2 PM, Gilbertsville Fire House, Rt 73 1 mile east of Rt 100, Gilbertsville, PA info 215-657-2477

Saturday, Dec. 13, 1997 Lancaster County Christmas Train Meet 9 AM - 3 PM, E.M. Murry Emporium, 23 North Water St., off Rt 501, Lititz, PA info 717-295-4584

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1997 NORDEL X-MAS Train Show 10 AM - 3 PM Cranston Heights Fire Co., Route 2, $4.00, Wilmington, DE

Sunday, Jan. 11, 1998 Prime-Mover Train Show  9 AM - 2 PM, Memorial Hall, Rt. 41, Hockessin, DE for info call Tom @ 610-255-4785

Saturday, Feb. 7, 1998 Model Train/Toy Show & Sale 9 AM - 4 PM, Newark High School, 750 East Delaware Ave, Newark, DE (snow date Feb. 14)

Sunday, Feb. 22, 1998 Prime-Mover Train "Scale Only" Show  9 AM - 2 PM, Memorial Hall, Rt. 41, Hockessin, DE for info call Tom @ 610-255-4785

Sunday, Feb. 28, 1998 EastRAIL '98 10 AM-6 PM, Bergen County Tech. Inst., Hackensack, NJ, $10 advance, $12 door, 908-671-9644 evenings

Sunday, Macrh 8, 1998 Prime-Mover Train Show 9 AM - 2 PM, Aetna Hall, Rt. 273, Newark, DE for info call Tom @ 610-255-4785

Saturday, March 14, 1998 Hillendale Train Meet 9-2 Saturday, Hillendale Rd. (1.5 miles north of Mendenhall Inn) Elementary School, Chadds Ford, PA

Sunday, April 26, 1998 Lancaster/ Strasburg Train and Toy Sale

CHAPTER EVENTS
Thursday Oct. 16, 1997 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Bruce Barry Slide presentation on the Pacific Northwest & Great Salt Lake

Thursday Nov. 20, 1997 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Jack Rathburn program unknown at this time

Sunday Nov. 23, 1997 10 AM Chapter Event "Turkey Trot Trolley Trip"

Sunday Dec. 14, 1997 5 PM Holiday Dinner Program by Steve Barry cocktails at 5 PM, dinner at 6 PM, $12 per person, program unknown at this time

Thursday Dec. 18, 1997 - - - NO Meeting replaced by Holiday Dinner above

Thursday Jan. 15, 1998 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Pete Cramer program unknown at this time

Thursday Feb. 19, 1998 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Frank Ferguson Slide presentation on "Fallen Flags"

Thursday Mar. 19, 1998 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Ken Berg program unknown at this time

The Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) meets at 7 PM on the third Thursday of each month [except December] at the Claymont Community Center, on Green Street in Claymont, Delaware. Visitors are always welcome, admission to regular meetings is free.

The Transfer Table

The Transfer Table is published six to ten times per year as the newsletter of the Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Items in this publication do not represent the official position of either Officers or Members of the Wilmington Chapter or the Editor of this publication.

Permission to reprint articles and news items appearing herein is granted to NRHS Chapters and other newsletters provided appropriate credit is given.

Contributions are always welcome and should be sent to the editor at 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 Walt Robbins
National Director Ed Thornton
Editor Greg Ajamian
Public Relations Ken Berg
Event Photographer Bruce Barry

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This material may be reprinted without permission as long as it appears as shown above and is not changed in any way. Credit must be given to the Wilmington Chapter NRHS and it's Internet Web Site at: http://foxcity.com/nrhs/wilm/wilm.htm.
Mail: Wilmington Chapter - NRHS, P.O. Box 1261, Wilmington, DE 19899-1261, USA
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