THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

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MEETING NOTES - Part 1 -

At the January 21, 1999 Chapter meeting, Chapter Historian read the minutes from the last version of The Transfer Table in the absence of Secretary Walt Robbins.  Treasurer Ralph Stevens reported that the Chapter made $268 on the recent trolley trip.  National Director Ed Thornton reported that the Year 2000 National Convention is now scheduled for Western Connecticut.  Many members donated to the Chapter in lieu of flowers in honor of Ralph Steven's mother who passed away recently.  Our sympathies went out to Ralph in this difficult time.

President Phil Snyder reported on the recent Chapter Officer's meeting. Tentative plans are for a trip to Croton/Harmon NY in the spring and to move our annual (August) picnic to coincide with NRHS Days at the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in September.  The special category for our annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest this year will be a shot of a flanged vehicle on rails taken from above the vehicle.  As a head's-up, the special category for next year's contest will be the new American Flyer trains due on the Northeast Corridor later this year.  We will also be publishing a list of what is currently in the Chapter Archives so that members can borrow items for viewing.  You must pick up the item at the Chapter meeting and return it at the next Chapter meeting.  Details will follow.

Dan Frederick read from the Wall Street Journal that the Conrail breakup has been delayed until June 1 due to computer system incompatibilities and that Amtrak will be contracting out food service and expanding its express and mail service.  Greg Ajamian reported that the giant PRR depressed center flat car the "Queen Mary" had been saved and is now in Altoona.  Marshall Guthrie said that a group from Cokesbury toured the Amtrak Operations Center for 1.5 hours.

After a break, Frank Ferguson's slides showed us #614 in 1980 out of Baltimore for Martinsburg and #614T in Feb. 1985 from Huntington to Hinton as part of the ACE 3000 project.  We saw the (CN/CP) #2839 on the Wilmington & Western in Feb. 1979 when ice in the coal prevented the stoker from working.  We also saw #2839 as a "Southern" engine in Virginia in 1980, #1238 as the Allegheny Central from Alexandria to Front Royal.  There was x-C&O #2716 showing what a 2-8-4 would look like if the Southern ever had one.  There was the #611 and #1218 in 1982; the #587, #1218, and #765 in 1987, and #972 in Jim Thorpe in 1983.  We saw the #1361 in Tyrone, #2102 on the Blue Mountain & Reading, and #475 with and without a CF-7.  There was the #2317 on opening day of Steamtown in September 1984, #1225, #819 Cotton Belt, x-Frisco #1522.  The UP #8444 at Green River in 1988 and then as #844 in North Platte in 1989, the #3985 with freight and the #4449 Daylight. We also got to Canada for the #3716 in BC, CP #1201, and the #6060.  Everyone enjoyed the vintage shots of trips they remembered and engines they had seen.

A LOOK BACK:   February 1990
by Historian Ron Cleaves

The Chapter meeting was attended by 18 members and 2 guests at the Claymont High School.  In the works was a planned May 12 "circle trip" over Philadelphia rail routes, the May photo contest, a July 7 trip to Atlantic City via New Jersey Transit, and an August 25 picnic at Strasburg.

In local railnews, the U.S. military was opposing Conrail's abandonment of the Columbia Low Grade Line.  Although it was reported that the New York Susquehanna & Western was preparing for a complete shut down of the Delaware and Hudson at midnight February 15.  (Note: same night as Chapter meeting that evening).   Reports were that the D&H may be liquidated.

MEETING NOTES - Part 2 -

After the February 18, 1999 meeting was called to order, the minutes and Treasurer's report were approved as read.  National Director Ed Thornton reminded us that Heritage Grants are available from National for worthy projects.   President Phil Snyder passed along messages from Dave Watterson who was unable to attend due to work schedules.  Dave said that CSX train #375 has been eliminated and its cars added to train #405 which is now due through Elsmere around 11 PM (instead of 6 PM).  On Monday, Feb. 15, train #405 had 160 cars indicating a "return to long trains".  Dave also wanted us to know that all 25 of CSX's SD-70MAC's are currently in the shop.  Robert O'Connor reported that his daughter is now working for Amtrak as a dispatcher in the Wilmington office.  Ed Thornton reported that Amtrak was leasing some Boise
Locomotives for trials.  Dan Frederick told us that around 3 PM there is a Conrail train that comes north past the Newark, DE station on The Northeast Corridor before turning south to go down the peninsula.  John Iwasyk reported on his visit with former Chapter Member Hugh Gibb in St. Petersburg, FL. Bruce Barry & Ed Thornton both reported that Bethlehem Steel, who owns Lukens Steel and the Brandywine Valley Railroad wants to buy the Delaware Valley Railroad.  Our National Director answered the question of why the National Bulletin, which lists Chapters alphabetically by Chapter name, did not run the list by state like it did the year before, saying that they ran out of pages and would have gone up to the next price point for printing.  There was also a lively discussion about clearance (or lack of it) with the newly upgraded Amtrak NYC to Boston track and the new Talgo cars.  It seems that the extra four inch width of the cars and the tilt in high speed curves might violate safety clearances if speeds were too high.  Amtrak later reported that there was "no problem".

Since our scheduled speaker could not make it, Phil Snyder showed a few slides of our recent Chapter Trolley Trip.  It was so popular, there were two cars this time!  They started out fine, but after about 10 blocks, they lost power.  A SEPTA crew rigged a jumper and they were once again on their way. At another point, a parked car blocked their progress and a SEPTA crew had to push it clear (which left it with four flat tires and a note from SEPTA). Later, the power cable mounted on 2x12's under the Wayne Jct. Bridge came down and when the power came back on, it shorted out against the front of the car with a blinding white light.  Meanwhile, the other trolley car was run into by a station wagon rushing for a parking space.

Ernie Barry, as replacement speaker, then showed the edited, edited, edited version of his video highlights.  We saw the Nov. 1990 Wilmington & Western Freight Special, the farewell to the CTA cars, Aug. 1990 Chapter Picnic at Strasburg, and Moffet Tunnel.  We saw W&W steam on the Northeast Corridor, MARC on the Thomas Viaduct, and Cass in May 1990.  There were also views of Gettsyburg, Red Bank NJ for the Farewell to the E's, and Allaire State Park. We also saw FL-9's at Peekskill, the East Broad Top in Oct. 1987, the cab view of the W&W backing into its engine house, and the June 1989 Farewell to the Blueliners at Philadelphia's 30th St. Station.  It was a truly excellent show!

A LOOK BACK:   March 1971
by Historian Ron Cleaves

On March 20 (a Saturday) the Wilmington Chapter conducted a fantrip over the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad.  The trip covered all operational trackage of the NH&I.  Power for the train was supplied by the road's recently acquired Alco RS-1.  Upon completion of the ride, members (no record of how many) journeyed to Ringoes, New Jersey to inspect progress on the restoration of Black River & Western's ex-Florida East Coast Pacific #148.

In local railnews, Penn Central Metroliners in 4 and 6 car train sets have increased on the Corridor line, although GG-1 pulled regular passenger trains still dominate.  Seen occasionally, too, former New Haven & New York Central Geeps and U-boats crudely painted with Penn Central's "worms" logo but still showing evidence of their former owners.

If you ever worked on or for a railroad or trolley line, please drop a post card, letter, or E-mail to your Editor and include the name of the line and any other information you care to share:   SD40GMA@aol.com
Greg Ajamian
P.O. Box 1136
Hockessin, DE 19707-5136

The editor of a new website called the Railway Preservation News sent us the following request:  Last spring, we rode down to D.C., and I noticed the PRR roundhouse at Wilmington was still standing at that time.  Can anyone tell me if it still is, or if not, when was the razing completed?

One of our main focuses is extant or recently-razed steam-era engine facilities, and we'd like to do an article (with historic and recent   photos, plus a history) of this facility if someone could help us with it.    Thanks.
Please contact:
Bob Yarger, Editor
Railway Preservation News,
www.rypn.org       ryarger@rypn.org

We also received the following notice:
I am an antiquarian map dealer specializing in pre-20th century maps, especially the southeastern USA. I have quite a large number of late 19th century railroad atlas maps (Cram, Grant, Walker). We have a website with browsing and secured ordering, and specific inquiries are welcome, the site is easily searched (click on "Search Entire Inventory", then type "railroads,...--specific state or region--" in the anywhere/subject box.
Please contact: Joel Kovarsky for THE PRIME MERIDIAN: ANTIQUE MAPS & BOOKS
385 Thistle Trail, Danville, VA 24540 USA
Phone: 804/724-1106     FAX: 804/799-0218
Website: www.bibliocity.com/home/PM
Email: jsk@gamewood.net

The National Railway Historical Society's Wilmington Chaper's
* Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest *
will be held at the regular Chapter meeting on Thursday, May 20th.

Here are the guidelines for entering images in this year's contest:
•  As usual, there will be two separate contests; one for prints and one for slides.  Each contest will have the same SEVEN categories.  Prizes will be awarded for winners in each category (that is fourteen winners in all), plus additional awards for the best print and the best slide in the show.

•  Each member can have up to three entries per category  (that's 42 total photos if you are really ambitious:  up to 21 total slides and  21 total prints!).

•  Photos for the five normal, standard, REGULAR CATEGORIES #1-#5, as always in the past, must have been taken within the LAST FIVE (5) YEARS (anywhere on this planet).

•  For the VINTAGE CATEGORY #6 ONLY, the photos can be of any railroad related subject but must have been taken 15 OR MORE YEARS AGO, that is before May 1, 1983.  This category was added last year, and by desire of the membership, as voted on at the January 1998 meeting, the timeframe was changed from "more than 25 years old" to "more than 15 years old".

•  For SPECIAL CATEGORY #7 ONLY, designed to get people out there to take new pictures, photos must have been taken in the LAST TWO (2) YEARS; that is, between May 1, 1997 and May 20, 1999 and must include A FLANGED-WHEEL ENTITY SHOT FROM ABOVE THE UNIT in the image.

•  CATEGORIES  •
1)  STEAM - Photos with a steam locomotive as the primary subject.
2)  DIESEL - Photos with a diesel locomotive as the primary subject. This category also includes gas-electrics, Doodlebugs, RDCs,  and FL9s north of Harmon, and the like.
3)  HEAVY ELECTRIC - Electric power on big railroads. This category includes AEM7s, X2000, Silverliners, FL9s south of Harmon, and the like.
4)  TRACTION - Trolleys and light rail including streetcars, PATCO, Metro, all subways, etc.
5)  GENERAL - Any photo that does NOT include one of the above as the primary subject.  Passenger and freight cars, stations, signals, railfans, and the like go here.
6)  VINTAGE - Any railroad-related subject photographed 15 or more years ago.
7)  SPECIAL CATEGORY for 1999 = OVERHEAD VIEW OF FLANGED-WHEEL VEHICLE Photos must have been taken within the last 2 years.

DOVER HARBOR SPRING 1999 PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC CHAPTER - NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ENJOY SPRINGTIME RAIL TRAVEL IN POSH PULLMAN STYLE

Washington, DC:  Travel in elegant 1930's comfort aboard the Washington DC Chapter, National Railway Historical Society's restored Pullman sleeper-buffet-lounge railroad car, Dover Harbor to a variety of destinations this Spring.   The Chapter is pleased to announce it's upcoming series of private car rail trips which range from one day trips to New York and Williamsburg, to weekend packages to Savannah and Boston, to a seventeen day coast-to-coast trip to California.

Dover Harbor will welcome the arrival of spring blossoms with a four day, three night visit to Savannah, Georgia from Thursday, March 25 to Sunday, March 29, 1999.  This weekend tour is timed to coincide with Savannah's annual Tour of Homes and Gardens.  Round trip fares including accommodations in Savannah start at $669 per person, double occupancy.

April brings two one day springtime adventures aboard Dover Harbor. On Saturday, April 24, another southward journey is in store to the colonial charms of Williamsburg, Virginia.  The following day, Sunday, April 25, 1999, Dover Harbor will sprint north to cosmopolitan New York on Amtrak's high speed Northeast Corridor.  Both of these trips are ideally scheduled and priced for an affordable taste of private car rail travel; the one day trip allows five to six hours to explore the destination at a fare of only $149.00 per person. The April 25th Sunday trip also allows the option of traveling to historic Philadelphia, or between Philadelphia and New York for $99.00 per person.        Celebrate the beginning of summer with the Boston Pops by traveling through the picturesque towns and across the scenic rivers of southern New England on Dover Harbor to Boston over Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-31, 1999. This three day, two night Boston Pops Weekend package includes a front orchestra seat at Symphony Hall, plus time to take in the city's famed historic sights.   Fares for the Boston Pops Weekend start from $529 per person, double occupancy; tickets purchase prior to April 15, 1999 are twenty-five dollars less.

In June, Dover Harbor will provide a scenery lover's delight-- a coast- to-coast tour through North America's spectacular mountains and cities to Sacramento, California.  This tour departs on its westward journey from Washington on June 15, 1999, making stops at Glacier National Park and Portland, Oregon before arriving in Sacramento on June 21st.  Dover Harbor departs Sacramento eastbound on June 27th across the Sierra Nevada, Utah deserts, and Rocky Mountains to Denver-- along a route described as 'the most beautiful train trip in North America.'  After a one day stop in Chicago, this wonderful tour returns to Washington, DC on July 1, 1999.  The round trip fare for this trip is $4,299.00 per person, double occupancy; one way and segment fares are also available.

All trips aboard Dover Harbor include round trip rail travel; meals, snacks, beverages, wines and spirits while aboard the car en route; overnight hotel accommodations and transfers between train and hotel for the weekend packages; and other components as described.  Please see the trip brochures for full details.  To request a brochure, request more information, or make a reservation, please write to the Washington DC Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, c/o Henry Bielstein, Dover Harbor Reservations Agent, 13425 Reid Circle, Ft. Washington, Maryland 20744-6522, call 301-292-9592, e-mail to <dcnrhs@us.net>, or visit the Chapter's web site at http://www.dcnrhs.org/.

Today, Dover Harbor is the last of the Pullman Company's fleet of heavyweight cars still in unrestricted main line railroad service.  The car was constructed in Chicago in 1923, and rebuilt to the current configuration in 1934.   It served in first class Pullman service on regularly scheduled passenger trains until 1966, ending its career operating from Washington on the Montrealer.  The Washington D.C. Chapter, National Railway Historical Society purchased the car in 1979, and since then, Chapter members have worked to restore the car to its 1934 appearance.   In addition, the car's mechanical systems have been modernized;  Dover Harbor is currently certified for travel on Amtrak trains for speeds up to 110 MPH.

Dover Harbor has sleeping accommodations for ten persons, or can accommodate up to twenty three passengers in the lounge on day trips.  The car is also available for private charter to destinations across the United States including New York, the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Florida, Glacier National Park, and the West Coast.

The Washington DC Chapter, National Railway Historical Society has over five hundred members in the greater Washington DC metropolitan region and throughout the United States. Founded in 1944, it is one of over 170 Chapters of the National Railway Historical Society, dedicated to the preservation of railroad history.

NEWS BITS

•   The Sussex County director of Economic Development said that the acquisition of Conrail by Norfolk Southern could mean economic development projects for the area.  The article also noted that over the last two years the Delaware Department of Agriculture records showed that Conrail trains were responsible for 26 woods and fields fires burning 215 acres of land throughout the state.      [from Sussex Countian via John Dunn]

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.

National touring exhibit of O. Winston Link prints (70-75 B&W and 10 color) April 13 - June 13, 1999   Cincinnati Ohio Art Museum - CALL TO CONFIRM DATES !!

Sunday, March 7, 1999    Harrisburg Chapter Railroad Show & Collectors Market 9 AM - 3 PM, Zembo Temple, 3rd & Division Sts., Harrisburg, PA

Sunday, March 7, 1999    Jersey Central Train Show & Sale 9 AM - 3:30 PM, Mother Seton Region High, Clark, NJ (Garden State Exit 135)

Saturday, March 13, 1999    Hillendale Train Meet 9 AM - 2 PM Saturday, Hillendale Rd. (0.5 mi. north of Mendenhall Inn) Elementary School, Chadds Ford, PA

MARCH 20, 1999 - West Chester Railroad Photographers' Train. Ride the entire West Chester Railroad with photo stops at all the stations, plus some non-station stops as well. Train will feature an Alco S2 on one end, and CPR 1803 (RS18) on the other. This may be 1803's final trip in CPR paint as it will be repainted in the spring. Trip departs West Chester 12:30 PM, returns approximately 4:00 PM for dinner break, then a night photo session will be held in the West Chester RR yard.  Like all of Steve Barry's trips, this one features numerous quality photo stops. Ticket prices are $25 (per trip) for Wilmington Chapter members and guests, $30 for general public. Seating is limited, although if demand warrants we may add a second coach to the West Chester trip.  Tickets can be ordered from Wilmington Chapter NRHS, c/o Steve Barry, 117 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860. Information call 973/383-3355 between 9 AM and 6 PM.

Sunday, March 21, 1999   3rd Annual Cumberland Valley Model Railroad & Railroadianna Show 9 AM - 3 PM, Beistle Co., I-81 exit 10, Walnut Bottom Rd. east

Saturday, March 27, 1999   Marlton 1927 Hale Restoration Train Show 10 AM - 3 PM, Evesham Fire Station, 26 East Main St., Marlton, NJ, for info 609-983-9342

Saturday & Sunday, April 10-11, 1999    BR&W trian to Three Bridges Black River & Western Railroad will run trains, hopefully steam to Three Bridges instead of Ringoes

On April 12, 1999  the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Red Unit Circus Train is due to pass through New Jersey enroute to Philadelphia.  On April 26, it will depart Philadelphia for Rhode Island.

Saturday & Sunday, April 17-18, 1999    BR&W trian to Three Bridges Black River & Western Railroad will run trains, hopefully steam to Three Bridges instead of Ringoes

Saturday & Sunday, April 17-18, 1999   Great Scale Model Train Show 9-4  Saturday, 10-4  Sunday, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.

Sunday, April 18, 1999    Nordel's Spring Train Show 10 AM - 3 PM, Cranston Heights Fire Co., Kirkwood Highway, Prices Corner, DE, info 302-234-6901

Saturday & Sunday, April 24-25, 1999   All Aboard Days: Live Steam Weekend at B&O Museum B&O #25 (1856 classic Civil War type) recently used in The Wild Wild West movie, plus The Wanderer, Tom Thumb, and The Lafayette will run under live steam.  Chesapeake & Allegheny Live Steamers will also be offering rides, for info call 410-752-2388

Sunday, May 2, 1999     Great Winslow Junct. Scale Train & Railroadiana Meet 10 AM - 3 PM, Winslow NJ Fire Hall, Hall & Hay Sts.

Friday, May 14, 1998   Cass Photo Special using Western Maryland branch through Spruce (now called the West Virginia Central), Call Carl Franz evenings at 301-942-6197

Sunday, May 16, 1998   Model Train Show 9 AM - 2 PM, Historic Strasburg Inn, Strasburg, PA, $3 admission, info 717-392-5515

June 18-27, 1999 Central Coast Chapter's Railfair '99 w/ California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento

Saturday & Sunday, June 19-20, 1999   Great Scale Model Train Show 9-4  Saturday, 10-4  Sunday, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.

June 21-26, 1999       NRHS National Convention hosted by the Central Coast Chapter and the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society in Sacramento, CA

Wednesday - Sunday, July 21-25, 1999   Day Out With Thomas™ at B&O Museum Thomas the Tank Engine and Sir Topham Hat will be at the Museum for five days

Saturday & Sunday, August 7-8, 1999  Great Scale Model Train Show,Eisenhower Tower,Gettysburg,PA

Sunday, September 12, 1999     Great Winslow Junct. Scale Train & Railroadiana Meet
10 AM - 3 PM, Winslow NJ Fire Hall, Hall & Hay Sts.

Saturday & Sunday, September 25-26, 1999    All Aboard Days: Fall Open House at B&O Museum Museum Hours 10 Am - 5 PM    [ >>> all month of September = Seniors get in for $2.50 !! <<< ]

Saturday & Sunday, October 3-4, 1999   Great Scale Model Train Show 9-4  Saturday, 10-4  Sunday, Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD.

July 12-16, 2000  NRHS National Convention to be hosted by Western Connecticut Chapter [it had been scheduled for Pittsburgh PA hosted by Lancaster Chapter]

June 18-23, 2001       NRHS National Convention to be hosted by St. Louis Chapter

* CHAPTER EVENTS *

Thursday March 18, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Ed Thornton

Thursday April 15, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Program by Bill Russell

Thursday May 20, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest

Thursday June 17, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting program not know at this time

Thursday July 15, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Do- It- Yourself Program

Thursday August 19, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting Do- It- Yourself Program

Thursday Sept. 16, 1999 7 PM Chapter Meeting program not know at this time

Saturday Sept. ?? , 1999 10 AM Chapter Picnic in conjunction with NRHS Days Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, Strasburg, PA

The Wilmington Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) meets at 7:00 PM on the  third Thursday of each month [except 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:http://www.foxcity.com/nrhs/wilm/wilm.htm

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. or send to:         SD40GMA@aol.com

Deadline for entries is the 25th of the month.

Chapter Officers
President Phil Snider
Vice President & Historian Ron Cleaves
Treasurer Ralph Stevens, Jr.
Secretary Walt Robbins
National Director Ed Thornton
Editor Greg Ajamian
Public Relations Dave Watterson
Event Photographer Bruce Barry

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