THE TRANSFER TABLE
The Wilmington Chapter NRHS Official Newsletter
Internet Edition

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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. 

OCTOBER MEETING NOTES 
    The October 21, 1999 Chapter Meeting hosted 19 members.  Ron Cleaves read the minutes for absent Walt Robbins using the notes from The Transfer Table.  President Phil Snyder gave the Treasurer's report for absent Ralph Stevens.  National Director Ed Thornton indicated that this would be his last term in that post and nominated John Iwasyk and Tom Posatko to run for the office.  Ed also reported that Russ Fox wants to collect local photos (prints or slides) from Chapter Members to be placed on a CD  as a possible fund-raiser for the Chapter.  [We also want to congratulate Russ Fox on his 25th anniversary and hope to present his pin at the annual holiday dinner.]     Jack Rathburn shared some information on Robert Todd Lincoln (the son of Abraham Lincoln)

    John Iwasyk reported that the Wilmington and Western Railroad has applied to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for help to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd.  With the help of local politicians, and the fact that the W&W is "historic and non-profit", it seems likely that the Federal Government will fund 75% of the rebuilding costs currently estimated to be $2.5 million.  Two trestles are completely gone and two more were seriously damaged.  John said that it seems as if the bridge itself was lifted up on the rising waters and the supports washed out from underneath.  It was estimated that 150 20-ton dump truck loads of rip-rap and ballast would be needed.  Just east of Faulkland Road, the washout took out some of the original 1867 roadbed right down to bedrock. 

    After refreshments, the evening's entertainment was Fabulous Frank Ferguson's Fantastic 500 Favorites of Fallen Flags and Far-Flung Fan Trips. Grouped by railroad, we saw: CNW, SP including Donner Pass, Rio Grande, MP, MKT, BN including white nosed SD-9, LMX, Oakways, Raillink, CN including box cabs, Ontario's "Northlander", D&H, GATX, MPI, PLM, VIA, LRC, GO, MTCUM, BC Rail, Wabash Lake, Quebec North Shore & Labrador, Cartier, KCS, SOO, DM&IR, The Apache, Cooper Basin, P&LE, CV, NW including high nosed SD-45s, Southern including GP-59's, Lehigh Valley, Maine Central, Boston & Maine, Susquehanna, B&O, and the RF&P. 

A LOOK BACK:  November 1985 by Historian Ron Cleaves
    Attendance at the November 1985 meeting was 31 members and 2 guests. Chapter program this evening was annual Hobby night. There was a wide range of models from HO to O scale including tinplate.  A variety of locomotives, including some scratch built models were displayed along with various rolling stock models, railroadianna including pictures, postcards, and passes were on display too, this evening.    In local railnews that month, on November 15, 1985, the Wilmington and Western locomotive No. 98 with a combine and coach made a historic run to Hockessin in just 50 minutes.  This was a mail train recreating the movement of mail by steam up the Red Clay Valley.  Richard Nye, manager of the Wilmington Post Office, helped with the arranging of the express mail to the Hockessin Post Office.  Combine 410 doubled as an RPO car with Postmasters Gene Merriman of Wilmington and Bill Dale of Hockessin canceling mail as the train was enroute to Hockessin.

From The Editor
   CORRECTION TIME:
Roy Soukup provided the following correction to an item in the October issue of The Transfer Table:  "We saw some slides from Roy Soukup on Austria including the first cousin of the AEM-7, meter gauge trolleys in Innsbruck, Ziller Valley 760mm trains, and an 1889 saddle tank engine on the Achenseebahn.  Back in the US, we saw the transplanted Tweetsie RR which was wiped out by Hurricane Hazel: Penn Laird, VA one-mile Shenandoah Central". I hope this clears up any misunderstandings.    It looks like work will keep me quite busy for the rest of the year, so this will be the last issue of The Transfer Table for the 1900's.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year     

IMPORTANT "ROUNDUP" NOTICE ! ! !
   Please consider a donation to the Wilmington & Western to help them rebuild (see their flyer in this issue).  If you would like to donate $100 on your own, feel free to do so on your own.   BUT, if you would like to donate $10 or more, you can make your check out to the "Historic Red Clay Valley" and give or send it to any of our Chapter Offices and our Chapter will collect all of those checks and donate enough to "round up to the next hundred" as a donation from the Chapter.  (Perhaps we can even convince other Chapters to provide the same service!)

    AMTRAK has partnered with the Grand Canyon Railway to offer service to the canyon.  Amtrak's Southwest Chief now stops at Williams Junction, AZ. Eastbound passengers transfer directly to the vintage steam and diesel trains.  Westbound passengers, arriving at 9:24 PM, get a motor coach to the Grand Canyon Railway's Marcos Hotel to wait for the next morning's train to the canyon.  [from Philadelphia Chapter's Cinders] 

    AMTRAK and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) offers a map of all AMTRAK California routes as well as connecting buses, commuter railways, and local rail transit lines.  They may hate me for spreading the word this far east, but you can request a copy by calling (510)-238-4360 or mail your request to: Amtrak West Employee Communications, 530 Water St. - 5th floor, Oakland, CA 94607.

    West Virginia Northern Railroad: On the 20 & 21 of November, they are hosting a railfan event (photo runbys and banquet) featuring a small freight train consisting of a flat, pulpwood/open tourist car, gondola, and our caboose.  All freight and passenger cars have been repainted into new colors.  our caboose now matches our engines.  Engine 50 was in poor paint, and it too has been repainted.  We are trying to raise enough money to pay a loan payment due in January so we are calling on all railfans to help us out.  This is our first event, do not know if we will get everything right, but will give 110% to ensure everyone has a great day! Track speeder cars will be available too, including an original WVN car, Kalamazoo 1930's.  We are very excited and looking forward to meeting many folks.  Saturday night, we are offering a banquet including "enterTRAINment".  The full fare, includes lunch, dinner and Saturdays nights banquet for $70.00 person.  The Heldreth hotel here in town is offering a special rate...ask for the Railfan special in November.   If you  are interested, do not hesitate to call - 800.253.1065.  Evenings are the best (8-10)    [from John Garner, VP-Operations, West Virginia Northern Railroad]  

     Your Editor received the following communique:  "I am researching the Octoraro Railway in hopes of writing a history of this line.  I noticed in your newsletters that your chapter embarked on several doodlebug trips, and chartered passenger trains, over the OCTR in the mid-eighties.  I was wondering if you know of anyone who has photos of these outings that would be willing to sell copies (slides, prints or negatives) to me.  I am also looking for general shots of the OCTR, especially of their > RS3's, GP7's and U30B's."  [ From: Jack Hill <hilljd@mnsfld.edu> ] 

Report on the November 22, 1998 "Turkey Trot" Trolley Trip by Ron Cleaves
    Because a truck took down some trolley wire on Girard Avenue the previous week, effectively cutting off access to most of route 15 and all of route 23, we spent most of our trip that day on routes with regular trolley service.

     Among highlights of this trip, which originated at the Elmwood Car Barn, was a run through the Center City Tunnel, Yeadon Loop, 40th & Market Loop, Girard Avenue trackage with a Schuylkill River bridge photo stop (complete with passing AMTRAK and SEPTA trains on the adjacent AMTRAK line), and a quick run down Island Avenue. 

     As with most of Steve Barry's Trolley Trips, sunny blue skies and cool fall temperatures prevailed that day.  Note: I don't know if Steve somehow pays off the weatherman to keep weather as cooperative as it usually is for these trips.  The trip was uneventful and smoothly run - Silver P.C.C. #2728 our car that day, performed rather well, too, that day.  The trip was also a sell-out with the Chapter taking in $200 on the trip. 

     Special thanks go to Ed Springer, Bill Monaghan - trolley operator that day, and Steve Barry for another fine trolley trip. 

In the printed edition,  Ron's photos of that day shows the Silver PCC during a photo stop at the Yeardon Loop and PCC #2728 at an Island Avenue photo stop.   

SCHEDULED 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.

November is Model Railroad Open House Month    Delaware, Eastern PA, Eastern MD, & Southern NJ     stop by your local hobby store to pick up an open house schedule

Saturday, November 6, 1999     Flemington Branch Special depart Black River & Western, Ringoes, NJ 1 PM, return 9 PM, dinner stop, pay your own, night photo, $25, sponsored by Jersey Central Railway Hist Soc, for info: 908-233-3603 or e-mail RPnews@worldnet.att.com 

Saturday, November 20, 1999     Our Own Annual Turkey Trot Moonlight Trolley Trip sponsored by the Wilmington Chapter NRHS, using PCC car on Philadelphia streetcar routes, numerous photo stops for night photography (bring tripod), departs Elmwood Car Barn at 5 PM, returns approximately 10 PM, Limited Capacity,  [ please do NOT send requests to the Chapter mailbox ] contact Steve Barry directly at 973-383-3355 (9 AM- 5 PM) or e-mail steve@daylightimages.com 

Saturday-Sunday, November 20-21, 1999     West Virginia Northern Railfan Event for info call 800.253.1065 

Sunday, November 21, 1999   Prime-Mover Train Show 9 AM - 2 PM, Aetna Fire Hall Rts. 273 & Rt. 2, Newark, DE for info call Tom @ 610-255-4785 

Saturday-Sunday, November 27-28, 1999   GATSME Lines HO & HOn3 Open House Noon - 4 PM, basement New Horizons Montessori School, Prospect & Madison, Ft. Washington, PA admission by donation, for info call 215-646-2033 (Thursday Evenings) 

Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5, 1999   GATSME Lines HO & HOn3 Open House Noon - 4 PM, basement New Horizons Montessori School, Prospect & Madison, Ft. Washington, PA admission by donation, for info call 215-646-2033 (Thursday Evenings) 

Sunday, December 5, 1999   York-Hanover Train Meet 9 AM - 1 PM, Porters PA Fire Hall, Rt. 116, 4 miles east of Hanover/4 miles west of Spring Grove 

Saturday, December 11, 1999   Home for Holidays at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania 1 - 4 PM, 100 years of holiday rail travel 1850's to 1950's, info 717-687-8628 

Sunday, December 12, 1999   NORDEL's X-MAS Train Show 10 AM - 3 PM, Cranston Heights Fire Co., Prices Corner, Wilmington, DE, $4, info 302-234-6901 

Sunday, January 9, 2000   Prime-Mover Train Show 9 AM - 2 PM, Hockessin Fire Hall , Rt. 41, Hockessin, DE for info call Tom @ 610-255-4785 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2000 - Super Saturday Streetcar Special VII over Philadelphia streetcar routes. Limited Capacity.  [ please do NOT send requests to the Chapter mailbox ] contact Steve Barry directly at 973-383-3355 (9 AM- 5 PM) or e-mail steve@daylightimages.com 

Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000       EASTRAIL 2000 - Warren Hills Regional High School in Washington, NJ $10 in advance, $12 at door, send SSAE and check to United Railroad Historical Society, P.O.Box 711, Clark, NJ 07066; for info 732-671-9644 (evenings) 

March 3-5, 2000       Texas State Railroad Railfan Weekend - including their first Steam Doubleheader, motorcar trips, night photo session, shop tour;  for info:  www.neosoft.com/gulfcoast 

Sunday, March 19, 2000   NORDEL's Spring Train Show 10 AM - 3 PM, Cranston Heights Fire Co., Prices Corner, Wilmington, DE, $4, info 302-234-6901 

July 12-16, 2000       NRHS National Convention to be hosted by Western Connecticut Chapter 

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

CHAPTER EVENTS      

Thursday  Nov. 18, 1999  7 PM  Chapter Meeting  program "provided" (caused?) by Floyd "bring-your-own" program:  "Wilmington & Western: Before & After The Hurricane Hit"  

Saturday  Nov. 20, 1999  5 PM  Chapter Trip Turkey Trot Moonlight Trolley Trip   

Sunday  Dec. 12, 1999  5 PM  Holiday Dinner  in lieu of normal monthly meeting Program by Steve Barry  

Thursday  Jan. , 2000  7 PM  Chapter Meeting  program by Greg Ajamian entitled "Hamlet Heat & the Horseshoe Hundred"  

Saturday  Jan. 29, 2000  10 AM   Chapter Trip Super Saturday Streetcar Special VII  

Thursday  Feb. 17, 2000  7 PM  Chapter Meeting program not known at this time  

Thursday  March 16, 2000  7 PM Chapter Meeting program by Bruce Barry  

Thursday  April 20, 2000  7 PM  Chapter Meeting program by Frank Ferguson, Jr. program postponed from October 1999 entitled "The Last of Big Blue: Memories of Conrail"  

Thursday  May18, 2000  7 PM  Chapter Meeting Annual Doug Weaver Memorial Photo Contest  

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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