THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

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MEETING NOTES
At the November meeting, National Director Ed Thornton reported that in honor of their     anniversary, the Wilmington & western was planning to replace a record 125 ties in one day on November 22nd. He also provided news from the Dearborn Director's meeting. It was announced that we had the current slate of offices running unopposed for 1998. President Phil Snyder reported that the Trolley Trip is sold out and that Steve Barry has replaced Mr. Boyd as editor of Railpace magazine. Attendance was 21 members and 1 guest, Dennis Smith, Jr., an locomotive engineer at City Steel (formerly Phoenix Steel) in Claymont. Member Bruce Barry and his wife are now proud parents with their first child's arrival. Dan Frederick reported on his recent trip to Cape Charles with the discovery of a renovated station in Marion, MD. Jack Rathburn's slide presentation began with engine #2124 on a 1962 Reading Rail Ramble. We also saw Valley Forge Scenic Railroad #425, the Royal Blue and #2102 Chessie Steam Special at Silverside Road, #1286 from Cape May to Winslow Jct., and Silverton, CO in 1975. We saw 1913 PRR #90 the "Delaware" in French Creek State Park, Southern #722 derailed at Grannouge, Burlington engines in LaGrange IL, #2101 in the Reading Shops being readied for the Bi-Centennial, and Mecton Shops (where Delaware Car is now). There was also Wilmington & Western #92 on her first day in 1965, NJ live steam in Madison NJ, the "Talbot Bullet" Chapter trip in 1982 with MD & DE #23, the 6/6/81 "Farewell to the GG-1", a high nose VA & MD C-420 at Federalsburg MD in 1980, our 11/1/80 doodlebug trip to Oxford PA, the 1978 Royal Hudson #2839 to Charlottesville, our April 1983 "Brandywine Ltd." to Coatsville, #2317 at the Scranton Hilton, #250 Wannamaker Kempton & Southern, and #90 in Strasburg before the smokebox was shortened.

The Annual Holiday dinner was held at the Coach House Restaurant on Sunday, December 14. We dispensed with the formalities of a normal meeting in lieu of holiday cheer! After dinner while the slide program was being set up, master of ceremonies Ed Thornton conducted the door-prize drawing with an unusually large selection of "goodies" this year including Empire Builder wine, railroad notecards, toiletries kits, travel mugs, the ever-popular poinsettias, and a special "dinner for two on any train trip! (just add water)". Steve Barry provided a 2-part slide program with part one on the railroad "mules" at the Panama Canal locks. Part two was the Susquehanna (NYS&W) with some great photo locations at Sparta Mountain, Lake Grinnell, and Jorgenson's Restaurant in Stockholm. Steve indicated that he has to check these sites out, as part of his "job", on his way to work...

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.

REMINDER: 1998 Dues are due!
See or send to: Ralph E. Stevens, Jr.
18 Colony Blvd., Wilmington, DE 19802-1402

From The Editor

As you think about renewing your membership for 1998, a recap shows there were over 100 pages of newsletters from your own Chapter in 1997 with excerpts from other Chapters, articles from members, photo contest winners, local news items, special event dates, and special extras from prototype rail equipment manufacturers.

A LOOK BACK
by Historian Ron Cleaves

December 1987: The annual Chapter dinner was held on December 6, 1987 at the Coach House Restaurant with an all-time record for attendance (56). This affair marked the end of Tom Smith's tenure as National Director, a position he held for 20 years. Tom was recognized for all of the work he has done over that time and was acknowledged by the membership that the Chapter is better for his efforts. (In addition to being director for 20 years, Tom also received, and earned, his silver pin for 25 years of continuous membership in the NRHS). Tom was presented his 25 year pin that evening by Eastern Region Vice President Larry Eastwood. Entertainment this evening was a slide show presentation on the Far East by member Bruce Holberg. [P.S. Tom is STILL providing photos and articles for our Chapter's newsletter from far-off Camas, Washington and after seeing Ron's piece, I thought I was a perfect time to run his latest contribution! - ed.]

January 1968: In January 1968, the meeting was held at Unity Hall, 1309 Scott Street, Wilmington, Delaware. The 15 members in attendance at this meeting discussed a major event some hoped to witness and participate on, a double-headed steam trip operating from Newark, NJ to Wilkes Barre, PA with Strasburg Railroad's No. 90 and Steamtown's No. 1278 ex-Canadian Pacific 4-6-2. Henry Dickinson, President of the Chapter, discussed briefly with membership the significance of this event to be held February 25, 1968 and sponsored by the High Iron Company. In local railnews in January '68, the countdown to Penn-Central was on, as February 1 approached.

A Psalm of Steam
The steam locomotive is my treasure; I shall not want diesels, It maketh me to lie down in green pastures with my camera; it leadeth me beside the still water towers. It restoreth my soul; it leadeth me along the dirt roads to scrap yards, wretched food, and poverty for its preservation's sake. Yea, though I walk through the terminal of the shadow of the diesel, I will fear no railroad police; for my photo permit is with me; thy side rods and thy stack talk they comfort me. Thou preparest a truntable before me in the presence of the diesel salesman; thou anointest my head with cinders, my tender runneth other. Surely low, three-quarter light and thick smoke will follow me all of the days of my life; and I will dwell in the roundhouse of the steam locomotive forever. [from Blackhawk Chapter's Spike & Tie via other newsletters and finally Roanoke Chapter's Turntable Times]

A traveler informed a Pullman agent that he wanted a Pullman berth. "Upper or lower?" asked the agent. "What's the difference?' he asked. "A difference of fifty cents," replied the agent. "The lower is higher than the upper. The higher price is for the lower. If you want it lower, you'll have to go higher. We sell the upper lower than the lower. In other words, the higher the lower. Most people don't like the upper, although it is lower on account of it being higher. When you occupy an upper, you have to get up to go to bed and get down to get up. You can have the lower if you pay higher. The upper is lower than the lower because it is higher. If you are willing to go higher it will be lower." But the poor man had fainted. [from Old Dominion Chapter's Highball]

Two Past SEPTA Trolley Trips Sponsored by Wilmington Chapter
by Bruce Barry

Our Chapter sponsored two SEPTA trolley trips on November 24,1996 and January 25, 1997 covering different routes of the SEPTA trolley system. The November trip used PCC car 2741 which was wearing the final SEPTA red, white and blue scheme and the January trip used PCC car 2750 in the PTC green scheme.

In November, we covered Route 23 from Germantown to Noble Street and all of Route 56. Over the 6 hour trip, 24 photo stops were made, a record for a Wilmington Chapter sponsored trip. These stops included Reading Terminal, 11th and Market Street with City Hall in the background, Temple University, the Coca-Cola plant at Erie Avenue and G Street, Luzerne car barn, and the Chestnut Hill Loop. On this record-setting trip, so many photo stops were made that passengers were pleading for no more. Still Steve was determined to keep making them as long as the light held out and we could make it back to the car barn on-time. The trip was sold-out with 47 passengers.

The January trip was the annual Super Saturday Streetcar Trip (IV). Leaving the Elmwood car barn, we covered mostly in-service routes of Southwest Philly which are regularly operated with Kawasaki cars. The trip included the Center City Tunnel which was new mileage for a Wilmington Chapter trip since the ban has been lifted on PCC cars in the tunnel. Photo stops included the 22nd Street Station inside the tunnel, the 36th Street tunnel portal, Woodland car barn, Yeadon Loop and the Eastwick Loop. The trip was sold-out with 43 passengers.

Both trips offered passengers the chance to photograph Philadelphia's PCC cars in various parts of the city. And for those who arrived early, they could see and photograph the car barns and PCC and Kawasaki cars out in the yard.

As in the past trips, there are three things which made these trips successful. One is the cooperation of SEPTA and their employees. On both trips were Ed Springer, Special Events Management Analyst, and William Monahan, Light Rail Operator. In addition, the November trip was worked by Ed Ballard, Instructor, and the January trip by Barbara Johnson, Instructor. Ed, William and Barbara have worked other Chapter trips in the past. All four worked with any requests made for trackage covered and photo stops. The second is the support of our passengers. New and repeat riders make the trips possible and with each sold-out trip, we can look for more. The third is the planning by Trip Director Steve Barry. Steve has organized many of these trips and, as in the past, planned two exiting and enjoyable trips. Thanks to everyone for making our trips successful.

NEWS BITS

From: Friends of Amtrak Update 12/22/97: The 1998 Amtrak calendars can be ordered from: AMTRAK CALENDAR, PO BOX 7717, ITASCA IL 60143 Cost for the 1998 calendar is $6 for 1, $10 for 2, $14 for 3, $16 for 4, 11 to 25 for $2.50 each, and 26 - 50 for $2.25 each. Calendars from 1980, 81, 83 - 86, 88 - 91, 93 - 97 are also available. 1- 5 are $3 each, 6 - 25 are $2.00 each, and 26 - 50 are $1.50 each. This year's calendar features the historic depot at Manassas, VA as the crew and passengers prepare for the departure of the southbound "CRESCENT on its run from NYC to New Orleans. State of the art Viewliners sleeping cars are a highlight of this popular train. [ via Ed Thornton]

The following is from an article adapted from the Web page on the Palmetto Brick Company's railroad. The company is the largest producer of bricks in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. They use 2 Plymouth 10-ton diesels over 1.5 miles of 3-foot gauge track. One of the engines, #1939, was originally built as a gasoline burner in December 1939 for E.I. DuPont of Barksdale, Wisconsin. Palmetto Brick purchased it in 1955. [from South Carolina Railroad Museum's SCRM News]

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.

thru January 11, 1998 Brandywine Christmas 9:30 AM-4:30 PM, Brandywine River Museum, Route 1, Chadds Ford, PA, info = 610-388-2700

thru February 1, 1998 Model Railroading & The Holidays in conjunction with Baltimore Society of Railroad Model Engineers; includes O, HO, N, Z + Thomas Tank Engine 10 AM - 5 PM daily, new exhibit B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, MD., 410-752-2490

Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 10-11, 1997 Delmarva Model Railroad Club Holiday Open House 11-5 Sat., 1-5 Sun., N,HO,O,LGB Scales 103 E.State St, 2nd floor, Delmar DE, info 410-546-2312

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-Sunday, Jan. 17-18, 1997 GATSME Lines Open House noon - 4 PM, New Horizons Montessori School, Prospect & Madison, Ft Washington, PA info=610-584-6923

Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 17-18, 1997 Delmarva Model Railroad Club Holiday Open House 11-5 Sat., 1-5 Sun., N,HO,O,LGB Scales 103 E.State St, 2nd floor, Delmar DE, info 410-546-2312

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, March 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, March 22, 1998 NORDEL Spring Train Show 10 AM - 3 PM, Cranston Heights Fire Co., Route 2, $4.00, Wilmington, DE info = 302-454-8972 Keith

Sunday, April 26, 1998 Lancaster/ Strasburg Train and Toy Sale Sunday, April 26, 1998 Bethel Township Hose Co. #1 Train Meet 9 AM-3 PM, Rt. 261 (Foulk Rd) near Naamans Rd., Bethel Fire Co, Boothwyn PA info=610-494-0899 Ext. 8

July 8-12, 1998 NRHS National Convention, Syracuse, NY

CHAPTER EVENTS

Thursday Jan. 15, 1998 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Pete Cramer A slide presentation entitled, "Reminiscing Through 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

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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Mail: Wilmington Chapter - NRHS, P.O. Box 1261, Wilmington, DE 19899-1261, USA
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