THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
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MEETING NOTES
by Greg Ajamian

The August 21st meeting was replaced by a Chapter (return) Trip to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK's) C.E.T.C. facility above Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. I took the advice given at the last Chapter meeting and decided to ride the SEPTA train from Marcus Hook, PA. We could have boarded in Wilmington for the ride up, however, the late night return trains do not venture south of Marcus Hook, so it was better to have a car waiting there! Coming up Route 13, I spotted a few Chapter members outside the local diner and therefore knew I was in the right neighborhood. Treasurer Ralph Stevens even spotted me as I stopped for the traffic light and told me where to turn next. Having picked up a sandwich earlier, I was prepared for a little train spotting at "the Hook" and didn't have to wait long for a nice parade. If you're wondering what you might see, it started while driving up I495 in Edgemore, DE at 5:02 PM when Amtrak loco #925 passed southbound with its train. Then at the station in Marcus Hook:
5:20 SEPTA #53 southbound
5:22 AMTRAK #20+49 southbound
with 2 box+1 baggage+9 cars+1 box+1 baggage
5:27 AMTRAK #931 + 7 cars southbound
5:32 AMTRAK #932 + 7 cars northbound
5:35 SEPTA with 3 units southbound
5:42 SEPTA with 3 units northbound
5:45 SEPTA with 4 units southbound
5:50 AMTRAK #938? north with 6 cars+2 box
6:05 SEPTA with 3 units northbound
6:08 AMTRAK #930 southbound with 8 cars
6:32 AMTRAK #941 southbound with 6 cars
6:34 AMTRAK #928 northbound with 6 cars

At that moment, we were boarding the 3 unit SEPTA train to Philadelphia.  Fred Eichelberger had purchased ten extra tickets which he provided to other members at no extra charge since he knew that the ticket office at Marcus Hook would be closed. And, by purchasing them in Wilmington, we contributed to the Delaware ridership statistics!

Arriving at 7:05 PM, we had time to walk around 30th Street Station until meeting "under the winged angel" at the east end of the main lobby at 7:35. It then took multiple elevator loads to get the 27 members and guests up to the 5th floor to change elevators for the 8th floor.

We all eventually assembled in the conference room where Glen R. Richards, Chief Train Dispatcher for the Mid Atlantic Division explained what we were about to see. He turned off the room lights and opened the curtains to reveal the control room next door. Here sit the Power Directors, Assistant Chiefs, and Dispatchers for the Northeast Corridor from DC to Trenton. The division is divided into six sections as follows:
1 = Washington (DC) Terminal to Fulton
2 = Baltimore to Gunpow (Gunpowder Falls)
3 = Gunpow to Ragen (at the Susquehanna River)
4 = Ragen to Penn Tower
5 = 30th Street Station area only
6 = Philadelphia to a point just east of Morris Interlocking near Trenton, NJ Mr. Richards noted that they still have blocks at Zoo and North Philadelphia and that the Philadelphia-to-Harrisburg line did NOT appear on the board as this section is still controlled by dispatchers in an adjacent room with good, old-fashioned, hand-written train sheets [instead of the Graphic Display Units (GDUs) so abundant in the three-tiered main room].

We were able to watch "trains" (actually red lights) on the control board travel along "The Corridor" and to get all of our questions answered. Most of the tour members caught the 8:37 PM R-2 SEPTA train south back to Marcus Hook. Our sincere thanks to National Director Ed Thornton for setting up the visit, and especially to Glen R. Richards, Chief Train Dispatcher, for his wonderful hospitality and patience, his explanation and tour of the facility and its operation, and for allowing us to get in to watch "the board" and the dispatchers in action. A great time was had by all!

From The Editor
My thanks and apologies to Tom Posatko who sent me a note about the reduced SEPTA fares through Labor Day. The members who made the trip to Philadelphia on the R-2 from Marcus Hook did take advantage of the "Home Free" after 7:30 PM, but I didn't get the notice into the newsletter in time to notify others. Hopefully, that wasn't the deciding factor to attend the trip or not.

A LOOK BACK
Historian Ron Cleaves

September 1978: At the September meeting a contest was held to pick the name for the Chapter Newsletter. The winner was to get his 1979 membership paid for by the Chapter. Winner of the contest was Tim Cronin who suggested the name "The Transfer Table". Bill Stees was responsible for the artwork on the masthead of Volume 1 Number 1 of The Transfer Table.

Apologies to Mitch Dakelman: the highlights of his June 19,1997 presentation at the June Chapter meeting were not written up since there was no newsletter in July. Hopefully, those who were present will fondly recall his slides of the GG-1 in all of its glory AND in all of its paint schemes! We saw GG-1 electrics painted in the original design, with 1-stripe, with 5-stripes, in silver, in PC black, in red-blue-&-grey, in Conrail Blue, in Tuscan, in 3 different PC versions, in Bicentennial livery, and for U.S. Savings Bonds. We also saw the PRSL line with 3rd rail pick-up, the LIRR, and P-5 4-6-4 at Lancaster. And, if that wasn't enough, then we all donned 3-D glasses for a half hour of special slides including E-8, FT-103, GP-30 and trolleys. We all thanked Mitch for bringing us a truly outstanding program.

NEWS BITS
The cover photo on the Official Publication of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society's The Keystone, Volume 30 Number 1, for Spring 1997 was taken by Chapter Member Bill Russell. The beautiful Kodachrome of GG-1 #4800 "Old Rivets" was taken in Wilmington, DE on July 4, 1960.

The recent United Parcel Service strike resulted in Conrail annulling five trains (TV-5, TV-9, TV-13, TV-79, & TV-80) as the result of the decline in traffic. [from Jersey Central News]

According to the American Railway Car Institute, twelve month, year-end new freight car statistics were:
Year     Orders     Deliveries
1994     65,799    53,210
1995     48,869    60,853
1996     42,711    57,877

Can you name all the fallen flags? As a result of the recent, and not-so-recent mergers and take-overs by the Union Pacific Railroad, their reporting marks now include the following: ARMN, BKTY, CEI, CGW, CHTT, CMO, CNW, DKS, DRGW, FDDM, LM, MI, MKT, MKTT, MP, MSTL, OKKT, SI, SP, SPFE, SSW, SSWN, TNM, UP, UPFE, WP, WPMW. [from NRHS News]

Conrail had two 6000 horsepower CSXT AC6000CW locomotives (#600 & 602) in test service during August 1997. [from Conrail Historical Society via Jersey Central News]

Conrail originally turned down new business, due to the pending sale to CSX & NS, but has now decided to accept at least 6400 new carloads of dirt. The Belvidere & Delaware River Railway (B&DR) shortline will load dirt at a quarry in Carpentersville, NJ. for interchange at Conrail's Hudson Yard (in Phillipsburg, NJ) for a Conrail move across NJ to Clark. Tainted dirt must be removed while fresh fill and stone must be brought in. There was much local opposition to increased an increased volume of trucks. Local government officials persuaded Conrail to move the traffic. Word is that tainted soil will be moved from Clark by rail. No word on where this dirt is headed. The dirt is for the 10-inch base of fresh soil to cover the area after the GM Hyatt Bearing complex site in Clark is cleaned and the pollutants removed to make way for a golf course. The first dirt train is scheduled to depart on August 20. The B&DR will assign to locomotives to the dirt train. As of now these units are BR&W GP9 752 and B&DR GP9 1842. Tentative schedule will feature the dirt train on duty six days per week at 6:45 A.M. [from Carl Perelman via the Ed Thornton and the Internet and the Jersey Central News]

West Chester Rail Road is back in service. The 7.5 mile tourist line from West Chester to Glen Mills, PA saw its first trainload of passengers since the last SEPTA service in 1986. Operating a 1940's GE center cab diesel switcher and renovated caboose through the Chester Creek valley for special events only (not every weekend), the adult fare is $8. For info, call Four States Railway Service at 610-430-2233 [from the June 6, 1997 Philadelphia Inquirer]

For those non-Net-Surfers out there, Steamtown National Historic Site has announced the first public excursion to cover the former DL&W mainline between Scranton and Analomink since the mid-70's. The excursion is scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 1997. Tickets are available from the Scranton and Analomink ends of the trip. The train will depart Steamtown eastbound pulled by diesels and proceed to Analomink. NPS locomotives CN 3254 (2-8-2) and CPR 2317 (4-6-2) will pull the train from Analomink to Scranton. At Scranton the two engines will be turned on the turntable and pull the train back east to Analomink. Diesel power will be used on the westbound departure from Analomink the second time. Tickets are $89 for the all day event (two round trips Scranton to Analomink) or $49 for one round-trip from Analomink. Tickets can be ordered by contacting the Steamtown National Historic Site at 1-888-693-9391 or (717) 340-5200.

Steamtown will host RailExpo '97 over the Labor Day weekend. The highlight of the weekend will be the formal dedication of the new Amtrak "Genesis" series locomotives. Amtrak will also have the flexiliner on display. Norfolk Southern is providing a display of various intermodal equipment. A railroad photo/art show will also be happening this same weekend. A special MDA train will operate out of Steamtown on Monday at 9am. This is the second annual Jerry Lewis telethon train with all proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy association.

Friday, September 26 will see a special excursion to Pocono Summit to tour the new Francosio Brewery. For more information call the Steamtown National Historic Site. [from the Internet via Ed Thornton, Carl Perelman, and S Botts:]

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.

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. 

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.

June 5 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

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

Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 6-7, 1997 Civil War Weekend - skirmishes & encampments N & S 12:30 & 3:15 PM, depart the encampments at Greenbank Station, DE, reservations call 302-998-1930

Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 13-14, 1997 All Aboard Days: Diesel Weekend 10 AM - 5 PM, B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, MD., 410-752-2490

Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 13-14, 1997 Pennsy Days Sat. 9-7, Sun 11-6 , at Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, this year featuring maritime operations of the PRR with paintings, displays, and discussions; plus original art, presentations, vintage video, loaned items from private collections, demonstrations, and guided tours, for more info 717-687-8628

Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997 3rd Annual New Jersey Midland Railroadiana Show & Sale 9 AM - 4 PM, NJ's only all railroadiana show, Wayne PAL Hall, Mountain View section of Wayne, NJ of Rt. 23

Saturday, Sept. 27, 1996 Hillendale Train Meet 9-2 Saturday, Hillendale Rd. (1.5 miles north of Mendenhall Inn) Elementary School, Chadds Ford, PA

Sunday, Sept. 28, 1997 3rd Annual B&O Employee Reunion (includes B&O, C&O, WM, Chessie, CSX) 5 PM - 8 PM, B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, MD., tickets $15 , for info 410-752-2393

Thursday-Monday, Oct. 2-6, 1997 6th (and last!) Annual Maryland RailFest Western Maryland Station Center, Cumberland, MD, for info 1-800-TRAIN-50

Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997 Hudson River Railfan Cruise 9 AM - 5 PM, depart Hoboken, NJ for Poughkeepsie, NY, $50, info 610-767-3782 evenings only 

Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997 Cumberland, MD to Terra Alta, WV 9:30 AM depart Cumberland AMTRAK Station , return 5:30 PM, for info 1-800-TRAIN-50

Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997 Harrisburg-Marysville, PA Train Meet 9 AM - 3 PM at the Marysville Lions Club Park Building I-81 exit #21, then Rts. 11&15 north

Sunday, Oct. 5, 1997 Cumberland, MD to Brunswick, MD 9:30 AM depart Cumberland AMTRAK Station , return 6:15 PM, for info 1-800-TRAIN-50

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

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, admission $4, tables $15, 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

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

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

Nov. 6, 7, & 8, 1997 '97 N-Scale East Convention, West Chester, PA 19382

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

CHAPTER EVENTS
Thursday Sept. 18, 1997 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Frank Ferguson, Jr. Slide presentation on British Colombia Rail

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? please contact Phil Snyder & Greg Ajamian if you are scheduled for this one!

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

Sunday Dec. @14?, 1997 ? PM Holiday Dinner Program by Steve Barry

Thursday Dec. 18, 1997 NO normal third Thursday Chapter Meeting, replaced by Holiday Dinner

Thursday Jan. 15, 1998 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program unknown

Thursday Feb. 19, 1998 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program unknown

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