upcoming wb&a events 08.07.15.pdf · 7/15/2008 ·...

August7,2015DearAll:Thebelowcalendarisshortonupcomingevents,pleaseremembertosendmedates/flyerstoinclude.IfyouhavenotyetseentheTCANationalHeadquartersemailofAugust4,Iencourageyoutotakealookatit,CarolMcGinnisdidaverynicewrite‐upoftheWB&A’srecentinvolvementwiththeFireUp611project.Seehttp://tcaetrain.org/Remember,toalsoposttoyoursocialmediathelinktotheNTTMandencourageyourfriendsandfamilytovisititwhileintheareaandtoseekthemoutasaplacetoholdanevent!Theefforttodosoisminimal,butthereturncanbegreat!ItisnottoolatetoplanonattendingLynchburgRailDay2015takingplacetomorrow(August8).It’spromisingtobeanexcitingandfun‐filledtraineventandmanyofourfriendswillbethere,theyhopeyouwillbetoo!www.blueridgenrhs.org(seeattachedflyers)andgivethemahand,posttheinformationtoyoursocialmediatogetthewordout.

UPCOMINGWB&AEVENTS

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SeptemberTBD,2015‐Asareminderournext“HowTo”Sessionfrom10‐noonwillbeforthcomingandwillbeheldatToyTrains&CollectiblesinManassas,[email protected]’dlikemoreinformationorwouldliketopresent(pleasenoteweareplanningtotapethisHowToSessionandmakeitavailableonourwebsite).October31,2015–WB&AViennaVFDTrainShow,[email protected]@verizon.netNovember7,2015‐WB&AMembersOnlySemi‐AnnualGeneralMembership/SwapMeetfrom9‐1p.m.atSaintJamesEvangelicalLutheranChurch,8WestOverleaAvenue,Baltimore,MD21206,[email protected](swapmeettableswillbeavailableonafirstcomefirstservebasis).TWOyesTWO2015WB&ADrawingItemsDrawingstobeheldJanuary2016Ifinterestedineitherorboth,theticketswillbeattheMay9thVTC/WB&ATrainShow,theJune7andNovember7GeneralMembershipMeeting,andtheOctober31ViennaTrainShow.YoucanalsosendyourchecktoGlennMacKinnonandhewillsendyoubackyourticket(s).Pleasesendyourrequestto:6908TrilliumLane,Springfield,VA22152

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1. PremierSet20‐3574‐14‐8‐4JClassNorfolk&WesternPassengerSet:MSRP$1,349.95.(1Ticketfor$5or6for$25).2. StandardGaugeSet‐NOBOXES#38Locomotive,#112Gondola,#113CattleCar;#116BallastCarand#117Caboose;AllLionelwithTCAStickersfortheRestorationWork;APPROX.VALUE$300.(1Ticketfor$5or6for$20).WB&AMEMBERSHIPPleaseclickonthelinkandforwardyourduestoDaveEadie.It’snevertooearlytopayandifyoupayyour2016dues(yup2016),you’llbeeligiblefortheendoftheyeargiftcertificatefor$100!(http://www.wbachapter.org/wbna%20stuff/wba_application_2014.pdf)PASSINGOFSHIRLEYREILLY‐WB&A#2004ManyofyouknowBrianReilly(akaBoxcar)fromhisyearsofvolunteeringfortheClubonalllevels.WhatI’vecometoknowBrianbestforwashiscommitmentandloveofhiswifeShirley.IhavefoundthatingettingtoknowsomanywonderfulfolksinthishobbythatwhatItakefromitisnotonlytheloveyousharewithmeofthehobby,butalsotheloveofyourfamily.Brianinmymindisonethatsharedbothofhisloveswithmeovertheyears.It’swithaheavyheartthatI

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sharewithyouthepassingofShirleyReillyhttp://www.fredericksburg.com/obituaries/shirley‐a‐reilly/article_b5e2d607‐d04f‐5cdc‐9c41‐c847ad7eecf3.htmlonFriday,July31.Iknow,however,thatwhenBrianisoutandaboutamongsthisfamilyofthetrainworld,thathewillnotbealonefortherewillbeanangelwatchingoverhim.Also,ourfriendsattheNationalCapitalTrackersaremourningthepassingofTonyDuncansonwhowasafriendofmanyofourWB&Amembers.LOOKINGFORANEWHOMEIfyouhaveaninterestinafewpastissuesofClassicToyTrainsandOGaugeRailroading(approx.15ofthepublishers’bindersfulland2xtraboxesoflooseissues),pleaseletmeknowandIcanconnectyouwiththeTomwhoislookingforanewhomeforthem.FirstCome/FirstServedCROSS‐HOBBYING!http://sugarloafmountain.aaca.com/calendar/(scrolldownabitonthepage)WEBSITES/LINKSOFINTEREST/THINGSTODONorrisDeyerleoftheBRC,NRHSshareswithustheAugustissueofRailwayAge

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http://issuu.com/railwayage/docs/august_2015_railway_age,Trainmaster,andHighGreen.EdPostsharestheattachedGreenBlockwithus.Whenyouareoutandaboutandtravelling,makesureyoucheckoutTCA’smeetlistforthingstodohttp://tcamembers.org/newsandevents/meets.pdfCheckoutthelatestgadgetforpicture/videotakingandifyouareinterestednotethatpricingwillbegoingupafterAugust15!https://www.youtube.com/embed/4vGcH0Bk3hg?rel=0IfyouareaPennsysteamloverthis"Kickstarter"T1projectmayinterestyou!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/t1trust/lets‐get‐rollingEXTRAEXTRAREADABOUTITANDLETUSKNOWDaveEadiewouldliketoknow,wouldyoubeinterestedinaClubtriponthefamousN&W#611?Ifso,Davewouldliketohearfromyou,[email protected].

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UPCOMINGCALENDAREVENTS(pleasesendmeitemstoincludeonthecalendar)–ifyouliketoseesomeotherdatesfromaroundthecountry,checkout:1. Checkout:TCA’smeetlist:

http://tcamembers.org/newsandevents/meets.pdf

2. Checkout:http://modelshopsusa.com/(oneoftheplaceswe’repromotingtheAnnapolisandVTC/WB&ATrainshows).ContactAdrianHallwithanyquestionsthatyoumayhaveat:[email protected]

3. Checkouttrains.comcalendarofeventsat:http://trc.trains.com/events.aspx?page=list&type=1&cat=

4. 2015ScheduleforTrackerscanbefoundat:www.nattrackers.org

5. AtlanticCoast"S"Gaugers‐keepupwithwhatishappeningwithalloftheclubsathttp://www.trainweb.org/acsg/

6. 2015ScheduleforWorld’sGreatestHobbycanbefoundat:http://www.wghshow.com/index.html

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7. 2015ScheduleforGreenberg’sTrain&ToyShowcanbefoundat:http://www.greenbergshows.com/schedule.html

8. Linkforvarioustrainshowscanbefoundat:http://www.greattrainexpo.com/andhttp://trainshowinc.comandalsohttp://www.modeltrainshows.com/http://www.railserve.com/events/railfan_excursions.htmlhttp://www.nctrans.org/Events.aspx

9. August8,2015–LynchburgRailDay2015contact:BarryMoorefield,[email protected],[email protected],websitewww.blueridgenrhs.org.

10. September7,2015–16thAnnualCliftonLaborDayCarShowhttp://www.labordaycarshow.org/

11. September12,2015–NorthernVirginiaModelRailroadersOpenHouseinVienna,VAfrom1‐5p.m.www.nvmr.org

12. September12,2015HagerstownModelRRMuseum,Inc.TrainfestSummer2015ModelTrainsalere:railroadingandmodelrailroadingatWashingtonCountyAGCenter7313SharpesburgPike9‐2p.m.contactinfo:[email protected];Frank301‐824‐2239www.antietamstation.com

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13. September12,2015‐Venice,FL,SouthernDivisionTCAMeetHostTimEvertEmail‐[email protected]

14. September13,2015–9‐1p.m.SummerHamburgDutchTrainMeetattheHamburgFireCo,FileHouse–PineStreet,Hamburg,PA

15. September18‐20,2015–ATRRMFallConferenceinUnion,ILvisitwww.atrrm.org

16. September20,2015‐GilbertsvilleTrainShowattheGilbertsvilleFireHall,1454E.PhiladelphiaAvenue,Gilbertsville,PA19525

17. September27,2015‐ArbutusShowsfrom9‐118. October2‐4,2015–TheRaceofGentlemen:

http://www.theraceofgentlemen.com/index.html19. October4,2015‐NewHope–SoleburyTownship

TrainShowandSaleNewHope‐EagleFireCompany46NorthSuganRoadNewHope,PA18938$5.00ppAdmission,Childrenunder12free

20. October17,2015–NorthernVirginiaModelRailroadersOpenHouseinVienna,VAfrom1‐5p.m.www.nvmr.org

21. October24‐25,2015–TheGreatScaleModelTrainShowMakin’Tracks!CowPalace–TimesSat.9‐5/Sun.10‐4attheMarylandStateFairgrounds,2200YorkRoad,Timonium,MD21093http://gsmts.com/

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22. October31,2015–WB&AViennaVFDTrainShow,[email protected]@verizon.net

23. November7,2015‐WB&AMembersOnlySemi‐AnnualGeneralMembership/SwapMeetfrom9‐1p.m.atSaintJamesEvangelicalLutheranChurch,8WestOverleaAvenue,Baltimore,MD21206,[email protected](swapmeettableswillbeavailableonafirstcomefirstservebasis).

24. November14,2015–WinchesterModelRRClubFallTrainandHobbyShowandSales9‐4attheWinchesterMooseLodge1283,215E.CorkSt.,Winchester,VAhttp://www.lastnamesoftware.net/wmrrc/next_show.phpContactLarry540‐662‐2728between6p.m.–10p.m.

25. November14,2015–NorthernVirginiaModelRailroadersOpenHouseinVienna,VAfrom1‐5p.m.www.nvmr.org

26. November21,2015‐JacksonvilleFL,SouthernDivisionTCAMeetHostChuckBrynerEmailbryner@comcast.netwww.tcasoutherndivision.org

27. November28,2015‐HagerstownModelRRMuseum,Inc.TrainfestWinter2015ModelTrain

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salere:railroadingandmodelrailroadingatWashingtonCountyAGCenter7313SharpesburgPike9‐2p.m.contactinfo:Email:[email protected];Phone:301‐800‐9829;WebSite:www.antietamstation.com

28. November30,2015–NorthernVirginiaModelRailroadersOpenHouseinVienna,VAfrom1‐5p.m.www.nvmr.org

29. November30,2015‐ArcadiaPublishingofTonyPuzzilla’sbookofImagesofRailseriesbookentitled:TheWesternMarylandRailway.

30. December12,2015–NorthernVirginiaModelRailroadersOpenHouseinVienna,VAfrom1‐5p.m.www.nvmr.org

31. December13,2015–EarleighHeightsShows9‐232. December19,2015‐ ArbutusShowsfrom9‐1Asareminder,theeblastsandattachmentswillbeplacedontheWB&Awebsiteunderthe“About”tabforyourviewing/sharingpleasurehttp://www.wbachapter.org/2015%20eblasts.htmalongwiththeWB&AFacebookpagehttps://www.facebook.com/wba.chaptertca.TheattachmentsarecontainedintheonePDFattachedtothisemailinanefforttostreamlinethesendingofthisemailandtoensuretheattachmentsareabletobereceived. ClickontheRibbonontheLeftandyouwillseean“index”ofthedocumentsandyoucanclickonthemtogotothem.APDFviewertoreadthedocumentcanbedownloadedfreeathttp://www.adobe.com/products/acrviewer/acrvdnld.html.Toretainacopyyoumaywanttosavethefiletoafolderdifferentfromyourtemporaryfiles(downloadinganduseisinyourdiscretion).

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Asalways,ifyouprefernottoreceivetheseemails,pleaseletmeknow.Allmybest,ColleenAsaremindertoall,Igathermyinformationfromallsources,lotsofitcomesfromthemembershipwhoincludesmeontheiremails.Irespecteveryone’sintellectualpropertyrightsanddomyupmostbestnottoinfringeonanyone’sandtogivecreditwhenIamawareofwhomtogivethecreditto.Thiseblastisaninformationalnewsletterandmyintentistosharewithyouinformationyoumayfindofuseorinterest.

Blue Ridge Chapter, National Railway Historical Society 37th Annual

LYNCHBURG RAIL DAY 2015 Saturday, August 8, 2015

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

BOONSBORO RURITAN CLUB

1065 Coffee Road Lynchburg, Va. 24503 Admission: $6/person, Family admission: $10. Children 12/under free w/paying adult

Your ticket purchase helps towards paying for area railroad preservation projects!

OPERATING MODEL TRAIN LAYOUTS ON DISPLAY

DOOR PRIZES AND FRESHLY PREPARED FOOD/BEVERAGES AVAILABLE

* * * * * * * *BARGAIN MART * * * * * * * * Model Train Items and Railroad Memorabilia “For Sale” from vendors from around our area.

Sales tables available to the general public, advance registration/payment required.

8 foot tables: $33.00 each, 6 foot tables: $25.00 each, Table Size Subject To Availability

* * * * * * “WHITE ELEPHANT” TABLE * * * * * * “MAKE MONEY WHILE YOU BROWSE THE TRAIN SHOW!”

Available to train show attendees, the Blue Ridge Chapter N.R.H.S. will sell your model trains and Railroad Memorabilia for a 20% commission, If your consignment items don’t sell then it

costs you nothing! “White Elephant Table Guidelines” forms available on our website.

For additional LRD 2015 train show information and to rent Vendor Tables contact:

LRD 2015 Chairman: Barry Moorefield [email protected], LRD 2015 Vendor Table Registrar: John Tanner (434-525-1318) [email protected], LRD 2015 Train Show

Coordinator: Norris Deyerle (434-237-4912) [email protected]

Blue Ridge Chapter, N.R.H.S., P.O. Box 11731, Lynchburg, Va. 24506-1731

Website: www.blueridgenrhs.org

Release date: August 4, 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please include in your “Community Calendar” if you are a radio or TV station. If you are a railroad historical society or museum please send this urgent media release to those on your email or Facebook contacts list today. Thanks for helping us get the word out about our upcoming train show! Approximately two thirds of the profits we make are donated back to railroad preservation projects our area. Hope to see many of you and your friends at our model train show!

Urgent Media Release: Lynchburg Rail Day 2015 – Saturday August 8, 2015

The Blue Ridge Chapter, National Railway Historical Society is holding its 37th annual model train show and sale this Saturday, August 8, 2015. The train show will be held in the air conditioned Boonsboro Ruritan Club at 1065 Coffee Road Lynchburg, Va. 24503. Plenty of free parking on site and the building is handicapped accessible. Operating model train layouts on display and model trains for sale. If you want to sell your old model trains we offer a service for you to consign your items on our “White Elephant Table”. Family friendly atmosphere. Admission $6.00 per person, Family admission $10.00, Children 12 and under free with a paying adult. For more info call Norris at 434-237-4912 or visit our website www.blueridgenrhs.org .

Regards,

Norris Deyerle

BRC, NRHS Chairman of Virginia’s Rail Heritage Region Partners

LRD 2015 Train Show Coordinator

Lynchburg, Va.

Phone: {434} 237-4912

Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS Presents The 37th Annual Lynchburg Rail Day 2015

9 am – 3 pm, Saturday August 8, 2015 Boonsboro Ruritan Club 1065 Coffee Road Lynchburg, Virginia 24503 Lynchburg Rail Day 2015 White Elephant Table Guidelines Information And Release Form Thank you for your interest in allowing the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS to sell your

railroad related items on a consignment basis. There is no limit on how many items you can consign as long as these guidelines are followed. The “White Elephant Table” is open to everyone! You do not need to be a Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS member to consign your items. We don’t collect a consignment fee if we don’t sell your item{s}. Listing is free! What do you have to lose? Make money while you browse our show and we do the selling! Our chapter will be accepting railroad related items for consignment at our designated White Elephant Table “check-in” area at the Boonsboro Ruritan Club on 1065 Coffee Road, Route 644, off US 501 North, Lynchburg, Va. 24503. Go to www.blueridgenrhs.org for detailed directions to this location. Do not rely solely on GPS maps to get to the Boonsboro Ruritan Club! The GPS maps may be incorrect! “Check in” times are Friday, August 7, 2015 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturday, August 8, 2015 from 8:00 am to 10:30 am. These are the only times that there will be White Elephant Table workers available to help you check in your items. Please note that there will be no items checked in unless you have your items clearly priced and marked as described in the following guidelines.

Guidelines

1. All items must be railroad related. Examples include, but not limited to, model railroad locomotives, rolling stock, track, transformers, structures, railroad memorabilia, lanterns, locks, keys, china, timetables, etc.

NO MAGAZINES will be accepted unless they are securely bundled and priced by the BUNDLE. Collectible hard and soft cover books are encouraged and gladly accepted.

2. All items must be clearly identified with the seller’s three initials and an item number written on a price sticker secured to the item for sale.

3. A master list to be left with the White Elephant Table staff must include what your

three initials are, item description, item number, and the selling price. You must price your items. This is not an auction. There are no exceptions. No master list, no consignment. Please have your name, address, phone numbers and email address clearly printed on your master list so you can be contacted about any future shows.

4. Consignment fees: 20% of the seller’s “marked” price. There will be a minimum

commission payable to the Blue Ridge Chapter of $1.00 per item or group of items.

Example 1: A single item has the selling price of $10.00. If sold, the seller received $8.00 and the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS receives $2.00 Example 2: A single item has the selling price of $4.00. 20% of $4.00 is $.80. Since the minimum handling charge is $1.00, if this item is sold, the seller will receive $3.00. It is recommended to bag groups of small loose or inexpensive items together to sell them as a single item. This may save you money by avoiding multiple minimum handling charges. No charge to you if we don’t sell your item{s}. Please mark all of your prices using whole dollar amounts.

5. Any unsold items not picked from the White Elephant Table by the end of the show will become the property of the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS.

6. Instructions for receiving payment: The White Elephant Table closes at 2:30 pm the day of the show. Sellers may collect the money due to them after the White Elephant Table workers finish calculating the money due to you from the sales of your items. This will take place as close to 3:00 pm as possible depending on when the White Elephant Table workers get the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS commissions calculated. NO EXCEPTIONS. The White Elephant Table workers don’t have time to calculate your portion during the day. You can pick up your items at any time providing that there is someone available to help you check your sold items off of your master list. If you are unable to pick up your money, a check will be mailed to you if you supply a SASE.

7. Disclosure Statement:

Every precaution will be taken to assure the safe handling of your items. Brass locomotives and other expensive items will be shown only with the assistance of a White Elephant Table staff member. If an item needs to be test run, it will only be done with a White Elephant Table staff member or seller present. No exceptions will be made. The Boonsboro Ruritan Club, the National Railway Historical Society, the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS or any member of these organizations assume no responsibility for incorrectly priced, damaged, or stolen items. The risk rests entirely upon the seller/consignor.

Thank you for allowing the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS to consign your railroad items. Lynchburg Rail Day 2015 Train Show Chairman: Barry Moorefield, Questions? Email Barry at [email protected]. Phone: 434-821-2174 daily before 9:00 pm. I have read and understand the guidelines and regulations written above and agree with them as written. Signed: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

August 2015 Pacific Northwest Chapter National Railway Historical Society The Trainmaster

The Trainmaster August 2015

Page 1

The Official Publication of the

Pacific Northwest Chapter of the

National Railway Historical Society

Portland, Oregon

www.pnwc-nrhs.org

Keeping Your Distance From Your Loads– Always Use a Rooster!

oISSUE N 637

Skagit Crew Speeder No. 30 before the move (Martin E. Hansen Collection)

Material provided By Martin E. Hansen

In the days of early logging in the Pacific Northwest, the trees were huge and the rolling stock was still small in size. This would change over the years but not for a while.

This is a rare view of the J. C. Trulinger logging operation in Centerville, Oregon. There are several items of interest in this fine photo.

First we see the early 0-6-0T Porter logging lokie that is the pride of the small roster of J. C. Trulinger. Her small size is demonstrated by the slant cylinders she sports. The crew wants to protect the little engine and thus has employed “roosters” to keep space between the lokie and the log loads. This was a common practice in the early days of logging railroads. The disconnect cars also have roosters tying them together at specified lengths for the large logs being carried.


The long neck of roosters is where the term for these spacers was derived from for the loggers. Since these wood or steel beams were also called goosenecks by some loggers.

The Porter 0-6-0T, C/N 812, was built February 1887 for T.C. Trellingerat Astoria, Oregon, and later went to Saldern Logging as their No. 1 at Grays River, Washington.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this fine photo is the trestle itself. Notice that besides the heavy construction of the trestle, they have cut a fine old growth fir tree at the trestle height and used that tree as the center support of the whole span. I can guarantee the center span of this trestle will never fail!

Again, there is a lot to see in fine old cabinet photos like this one. From the Oregon Maritime Museum, some information about J. C. Trullinger: Minnehaha 92664: Sternwheeler,

built 1867 at Sucker Lake (Lake Oswego), Ore. by J.C. Trullinger, 45 ton, 104 x 16.0 x 3.0, 12X12 engine from the Skedaddle. He ran her from landing above the Willamette River to a portage railroad that ran from Colfax landing on the Tualatin River to the Lake under Capt. Robert Copely.

From Oregon Geographic Names, Seventh Edition: Centerville, Washington County, was the name of a small community on Diary Creek at the road crossing about two miles north of Cornelius, Oregon. The principal activity of the place revolved around the Trullinger mills, but today there is little to show for it. The locality was probably named because it was about the center of the Tualatin Plains, although it may have been named because it was supposed to be near the center of the county. Centerville post office was established October 11, 1866; it closed March 30, 1874.

And from http://www.old300.org that contains a lot of Astoria history: The Trullinger Family operated in 1885 the first electric plant in Astoria.

Photo from the Martin E. Hansen collection; article put together by Arlen L. Sheldrake.

Keeping Your Distance From Your Loads – Always Use a Rooster!

Hermiston's Well Kept Secret, The Maxwell Siding Railroad MuseumBy Arlen L. Sheldrake

One of the many benefits of doing the monthly PNW Short Lines article for The Trainmaster is that you run across interesting tidbits of news about some rather obscure rail facilities around the Pacific Northwest. The Maxwell Siding Railroad Museum is a prime example.

A May 22, 2015 article in the Hermiston Herald newspaper talked about a plan to improve Hermiston's appeal and in reading the report developed by the Hermiston's Community Enhancement Committee painted a pretty grim picture for the future of this Museum. The report talked about the tall weeds and how unattractive the facility was to the public. This tied to the East Oregonian's May 23, 2015 article talking about how the Museum was down to two (2) aging volunteers…..the picture was bleak.

One of the rules one learns in this rail history business is that if a steam trip or rail artifact viewing is available, you better do it or it just might not be available again. Hence, a road trip to Hermiston.

When looking up the Maxwell Siding Railroad Museum, one does not find a web site as it has none. You do find some mentions in travel guide sites and a couple mention that the Museum is open on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm. My email message to the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce asking about the Museum's opening hours/days went unanswered as did a letter to the Museum's physical address; with nothing else to do, we planned a road trip and hoped for the best.

thWith the proper warnings about what we might find, Rita and I headed for Hermiston on July 17 . Not a real fan of “death marches”, we decided to make it a two day trip with Friday night in the Oxford Suites Hotel in Hermiston. The Oxford did not disappoint although the best beer I could find at the hospitality room was Blue Moon….

On the way into town we took some exterior pictures of the Museum and looked for any sign that might indicate when it would open, finding none we headed for the hotel and dinner and hopes for Saturday.

The Maxwell Siding Railroad Museum is easy to find at 200 W Highland, it is very close to downtown and adjacent to a branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. The Museum was originally founded in 1985 by former municipal judge John Bennett when he rallied about a dozen citizens to create the Museum around a handful of


donated railroad cars. That original group is now down to two (2), John Spinden (76) and Connie Maret (81); two nicer guys you will never meet.

Both John and Connie were there right at the stroke of 10 am opening the gates and welcoming us to their Museum. And for the next hour and a half they both gave Rita and I the deluxe tour. Each and every item has a story and if given the time, John and Connie will tell you them. Both are very long time Union Pacific retired employees. John began his UP career in 1957 as a machinist apprentice at Portland's Albina Rail Yard. John said he got the job before graduating from high school but UP told him to come back with his degree before starting work.

The Museum's premier exhibits are the two rotary snowplows, the steam plow was built in 1910 and the other in 1949. They have rigged the newer one to turn the rotary with an electric motor…..very impressive to see and hear that big wheel turn. The UP 900075 was built in 1949 by Lima-Hamilton, builder number 9388, delivered January 1950, retired June 1985 and given to the City of Hermiston. UP 900083 was built in 1910 as a steam-powered rotary plow for the Milwaukee Road as their X900212; rebuilt to all-electric by Milwaukee Road in 1950; retired by UP in 1988 and donated to the City of Hermiston. While the snowplows are impressive so are the many, many other items on display….it just goes on and on. From historic station signs, a large aerial picture of the Eugene roundhouse, first switchboard at Hinkle, to a two-man horizontal manual drill for drilling holes in rail…to name just a couple.

This Museum is open each and every Saturday except those in January. The hours are 10 am to 3 pm. and it is very much worth your visit.

While the newspaper article and community enhancement plan painted a pretty grim picture for the Museum's future, John says that since both have been published members of the city council have visited the facility and now understand and agree that the Museum has strong potential for attracting visitors to Hermiston.

Just off Interstates 84 or 82, put a Saturday stop at this Museum on your bucket list travel plans.

(I will show some pictures of the Museum thfrom this trip at the October 16 membership

meeting.)Sources: East Oregonian 5/23/2015; Hermiston

Herald 5/22/2015; Enhance Hermiston, A Plan to Improve Aesthetic Value and Livability In Hermiston, 2015 City of Hermiston; John Spinden & Connie Maret; and http://UtahRails.net/up/snowplows-rotary.php.

John Spinden and Connie Maret

UP 900083 Rotary Plow was built in 1910

UP900075 Rotary Plow built in 1949 and UP 900083


Scott Hurd Retires from Amtrak after 37 Years

Scott Hurd’s family has been working on the railroad all the live-long day since 1900.

Hurd, the station agent at Portland’s Union Station, is retiring on July 30 after 36 years of working for Amtrak. After he retires, his son, Sheridan Hurd, will carry on the family tradition by working as an Amtrak conductor, a job he started two years ago.

But the family’s history of railroad work actually began with Scott’s maternal grandfather, Claude Rooks, who worked for the Great Northern Railway in Montana for 50 years. His son-in-law, Scott’s father Jim Hurd, pursued the same career by working 36 years for Southern Pacific Railroad.

“It’s hard to describe the feeling of having your son carry on the work your family has been doing,” Scott Hurd says.

Scott worked his way up through the ranks starting in 1979, during the next 11 years, moving into management jobs that required his family to move to San Francisco and Indianapolis. With his next position set for Washington D.C., Scott decided he preferred Portland and returned to town in 1990 as a relief station agent at Union Station. Three years later, he was promoted to station agent in charge of the ticketing and passenger boarding process, the job he is now leaving after 23 years.

During his 36-year career with Amtrak, Scott saw rail passenger service stabilize and begin growing again. In the 2014 fiscal year, Amtrak operated more than 300 trains each day on 21,300 miles of track. It connected 30.9 million passengers to more than 500 destination in 46 states and three Canadian provinces — approximately double the passengers it served in 1972, its first full year of operations.

Text Excerpt and Photo Courtesy of Portland TribuneStory written by Jim Redden

See the full article at: http://www.pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/267765-140903-family-works-on-railroad-for-four-generations

The Shay trips were a big success! 101 degrees in Prineville was hard on us in the cab but the people

loved it. 1,257 people rode our 8 trips over 7 hours of operation. That is 20% more people than rode last

year.

Each year the City of Prineville Railway in cooperation with the Oregon Historical Society, provides

to community members free trips pulled by the Oregon Historical Society owned Mount Emily Shay

locomotive.

Crew on the engine was Scotty Hutton and yours truly. We loaded up the passengers at a spot just

west of the engine house on Lamonta Road in Prineville and took them out approximately 5 miles to the

top of the Pine Products hill where they could get a great view of the Crooked

River Valley and the Cascade Mountains. Near where we stopped was an active

Osprey nest with 2 adults keeping a careful watch on us at all times. stThis marks the 21 year that the big 90-ton Shay has been in service on the

City of Prineville Ry. We keep here in top operating shape and use her on special

events and charters

The following is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: The Mount Emily Lumber

Company operated in La Grande, Oregon from 1925 until 1956. After becoming a

subsidiary of the Valsetz Lumber Company in 1955, the name was changed to Templeton

Lumber Company. In 1960, the company was again sold and the name changed to Boise

Cascade, La Grande. Since the beginning of the Mount Emily Lumber Company, logs

were transported down the mountain behind a Shay steam locomotive on a short line railroad. This practice was common in the logging industry

until the development of more powerful log trucks and better logging roads. Mount Emily owned four Shays, and after Valsetz bought the

company and began hauling with trucks, one engine was donated to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 1955. From there it was

donated to the Oregon Historical Society, and through a lease agreement the Shay is operated by the City of Prineville Railroad.

And from www.shaylocomotives.com: Shop number 3233, built 09/28/1923, class C 80-3, three trucks.

thMount Emily Helps Celebrate the 4Text and Photographs By Martin E. Hansen

Mount Emily Shay

Riders boarding the train

Amtrak employees Frank Lohr (left) and Scott Hurd (right) wave their goodbye from the Union Station clock tower.

Photo courtesy of Gerald Holcombe, Portland Station Accountant and Scott's

coworker since 1979.

TRIBUNE PHOTO: JAIME VALDEZ SheridanHurd, left, will continue working for Amtrak after his

father Scott retires as Station Agent for Union Station this month.

SMART Transportation Division-represented trainmen at Tacoma Rail recently ratified a six-and-a-half-year agreement

by an overwhelming majority. The pact provided “true parity” for all trainmen by eliminating entry

rates and consolidating rates into a single rate of pay for conductor positions, resulting in an hourly

pay increase effective July 1, 2017, union officials said in a press release. The agreement also

establishes a standard crew consisting of two trainmen on all assignments and provides double time

for holiday duty and triple time for more than eight hours of work on holidays. In addition, the

contract provides a 3 percent deferred compensation match and a ratification incentive. Progressive

Railroading 6/23/2015. th The Portland Streetcar Central Loop service is temporarily closed starting June 26 for six to ten weeks.

The closure is due to electricity shut-offs associated with Multnomah County's painting of the Broadway

Bridge. www.portlandstreetcar.org

“Throw a Party at the Train Station. How about booking your next special event at the historic Centralia train station

across the street? This 1912 station (still served by Amtrak) is the ideal location for a party. Events held at

the train station include our McMenamins catering and ales, wines and spirits – and can accommodate up to

80 guests, what a hoot! Give us a call for more information and date availability; 360-736-5164” Taken

from the McMenamins Olympic Club advertising rack card.

The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes bike path follows the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way from

Mullan, a mountain mining town near the Montana border, to Plummer, a town on the prairie near the

Washington border. More than 71 miles of paved path takes you from high mountain splendor, through

the historic Silver Valley, into the chain lakes region, along the shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene, over the

Chatcolet Bridge to Heyburn State Park, and finally climbs to the Palouse prairie: an adventure for the

entire family! http://friendsofcdtrails.org

Featuring eleven 1950s era luxury passenger cars, the 2015 BNSF Employee Appreciation Special provided employee, thfriends and family two-hour trips the weekend of June 27 . The trips departed from

the BNSF station in Auburn over the Stampede Pass Route to Easton and back.

BNSF uses the train to honor its employees once a year in a different part of the

country. This is the first time in a decade the special has visited the Northwest. The

marketing team also used the cars to entertain clients during the U.S. Open as the train was parked on a side track near the

Chambers Bay tournament site in University Place, Washington. Tacoma News Tribune 6/28/2015.

Employees of BNSF Railway in the Spokane region are getting a close-up look this week at the history of their

company. The railroad has brought a passenger train with 15 vintage cars to Spokane for a series of two-hour excursions

as part of an employee appreciation special. The 12-stop tour began last month in Everett and will end in Glasgow,

Montana. About 200 employees, family members and friends boarded the train Wednesday for an out-and-back ride on

the former Northern Pacific Railroad line to the countryside southwest of Cheney. The employee special was last in the

Spokane area a decade ago. The Spokesman-Review July 9, 2015.

In addition to the 2015 Union Pacific Oregon work noted in last month's Short Lines, the following bridge work is

scheduled for the Willamette Valley this summer/fall:

- Davis Slough, Harrisburg

- Murder Creek, Albany

- South approach structure to the Santiam River, Jefferson

- Abernethy Creek, Oregon City

Replacement structures will be pre-stressed concrete spans on steel pilings replacing the existing wooden

structures. Bob Melbo, ODOT Rail Division email 6/30/2015.

Trains to roll on Vancouver's Arbutus Corridor for the first time since 2001. The City of Vancouver (B.C.) and CPR

have been fighting over the future of the corridor, which runs through pricey residential neighborhoods for more than a

decade. Vancouver has offered to buy the land off CP Rail, which has owned it for nearly 130 years, but the two sides

failed to come to an agreement on the price last year. After negotiations broke down, CP Rail warned residents last year it

PNW SHORT LINESby Arlen L. Sheldrake

Page 5August 2015 Pacific Northwest Chapter National Railway Historical Society The Trainmaster

intended to use the vacant tracks for train traffic again and began ripping out community gardens along the right of way.

CP Rail asserts that the nine-kilometre-long Arbutus corridor's potential value as a development

could top $400 million, and in the past has offered to sell to the city for $100 million. The city

countered at $20 million. A recent letter to adjacent property owners from CP stated “we will

commence transporting and storing rail cars on the tracks in the coming weeks.” Vancouver Sun

6/30/2015.st Sound Transit leaders and regional transit supporters gathered July 1 to announce the agency will move forward with

sending a Sound Transit 3 ballot measure to regional voters in November 2016. The measure can move forward

following the adoption by the Legislature of a transportation package with the full ST3 revenue authority requested by the

Sound Transit Board and supported by Governor Jay Islee. With the adoption of SB 5987 Sound Transit's additional

funding authority includes:

- Property tax of up to 25 cents for each $1,000 of assessed valuation ($75 annually for a $300,000 house). A property

tax was identified as a way to establish a more progressive revenue source for regional transit investments that

reduces reliance on the sales tax.

- Sales tax of up to an additional 0.5 percent ($.50 on a $100 purchase).

- Motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) of up to 0.8 percent of vehicle value ($80 annually on a $10,000 vehicle).

The Sound Transit Board is currently seeking input on which projects should be studied as final

candidates for the ST3 measure. Community members can follow the process and take part at

soundtransit3.org. Sound Transit news release 7/1/2015.

Sound Transit has partnered with Oldcastle Precast and Stacy & Witbeck to engineer and manufacture a 450-foot-long

prototype section of precast concrete “floating” rail for the University Link light-rail line. The new rail will be utilized

along a two-mile stretch that will pass under the University of Washington's Physics Department. In order to receive

funding, the project needed to maintain pre-construction vibration levels. The prototype is composed of heavyweight

concrete slabs that will rest on 7.5-inch thick elastomeric isolation bearing pads, which will allow the rail system to

“float”. That in turn will significantly reduce the system's harmonic effect on its surroundings. Progressive Railroading

6/25/2015.

The transit agencies participating in the Puget Sound region's ORCA smart card system have teamed up to launch a

Regional Day Pass program. There are two new pass products that can be added to an ORCA card:

- An $8 Regional Day Pass for adult riders valid for unlimited rides on services with fares up to $3.50.

- A $4 Regional Day Pass for ORCA Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) cardholders (seniors and riders with

disabilities) valid for unlimited rides on services with fares up to $1.75. (At this time there is no youth or low

income day pass product.)

Regional Day Passes are accepted on bus, light rail, commuter rail, streetcar and foot ferry services

operated by Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit

and Sound Transit. Those who don't already have ORCA cards can purchase them at $5 for an

adult card or $3 for seniors (65+) or riders with disabilities. As with the current ORCA PugetPass,

the ORCA Regional Day Pass is not valid for fare payment on Washington State Ferries service.

Sound Transit news release 7/1/2015.

The Port of Seattle celebrated the completion of the East Marginal Way Grade Separation

(EWWGS) Phase II. The project includes surface street improvements at the south end of the

EMWGS overpass structure and eliminates the last remaining conflict between rail traffic and

northbound traffic accessing the structure. Port of Seattle news release 6/18/2015.

The Pacific Railroad Preservation Association is proud to celebrate 25 years in steam with the SP&S 700. The first

steam-up after restoration occurred on May 15, 1990, and the “Lady” made her first

test run to Longview, Washington about a month later, on June 13. This logo was

created by Jeremy Klitzke and graces the SP&S 700 website as well as the PRPA

Facebook page, to commemorate the longevity of the Pacific Railroad Preservation

Association, and its dedication to the continued support of our favorite steam

locomotive. PRPA Summer 2015 Newsletter.

Page 6 August 2015 Pacific Northwest Chapter National Railway Historical Society The Trainmaster

Some interesting reading on the USGS web site, http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/b614,

Guidebook of the Western United States: Part D – The Shasta Route and Coast Line. This 142

page document was published in 1915 and is one of a series of six. “These books are

educational in purpose, but the method adopted is to entertain the traveler by making more

interesting what he sees from the rail car window.” Among the other titles are: The Northern Pacific Route and The

Overland Route. Altamont Press 7/2/2015 posting.

An order of sleek-looking Bombardier Innovia Metro 300 train cars for Metro Vancouver's [British Columbia]

SkyTrain system will begin to arrive later this year. A total of 28 cars of Bombardier's

newest model were ordered in 2012 at a cost of $90.7 million. The order adds seven

trains to the system just in time for the surge in ridership anticipated from the opening

of the Evergreen Line in 2016. These cars will operate in a four-car long articulated

train configuration, meaning passengers can walk from one end of the four-car train to the other. This will be a first for

the SkyTrain system. The original 114 SkyTrains, the Mark I cars, are currently being refurbished at a cost of $37.9

million to extend their operational life by 15 years. The cars have already exceeded their operational lifespan of 25 years.

Van City Buzz 6/22/2015.

The Fort Bragg end of the Skunk Train line has been closed until further notice after the railroad

decided to let go the contractor who has been working to stabilize a hillside over the westernmost

tunnel on the line. The hillside project, which has run months past its scheduled completion, emerged

as a major obstacle to the Skunk's Fort Bragg operations last winter, after heavy rains in January

caused a large amount of earth around the tunnel's western side to collapse onto the tracks. Deadlines

to finish the work by May and then by July 1, have passed without the project's completion. Daily

service from Willits to Northspur continues. Willits News 6/26/2015.

Last month's Trainmaster article on the 4449's auxiliary tender prompted Gordon Zimmerman to remember that the

4449 auxiliary tender was his first experience volunteering with the 4449 in January-February 1984. Gordon related that

his first job was banging rust and scale off the interior baffles with a small sledge hammer inside the tender. No hearing

protection and no dust mask but on the second day he borrowed some cloth from his sister to tie around his nose and

mouth. They removed the rust/scale in five gallon buckets pulled out of the tender with ropes; the buckets were about half

full due to the weight. Gordon noted that the baffles were in good shape and were required to stabilize the water during

sudden stops. Gordon Zimmerman phone call 7/7/2015.

Metro Vancouverites [British Columbia] have voted No in a plebiscite on a $7.5-billion regional transportation plan,

making it uncertain how improvements to transit and transportation will be funded over the next

decade. Voters were asked whether they were for or against a new 0.5 per cent sales tax to help fund

major infrastructure projects. The vote was 61.7 per cent No and 38.4 per cent Yes overall for the

region with 759,696 ballots cast. CBC News 7/2/2015

As one of the final actions of their 2015 session, Oregon lawmakers approved $45 million from

bonds backed by the Oregon Lottery proceeds to fund the sixth round of ConnectOregon VI [HB

2274] projects for transportation projects other than highways and bridges. The Portland

Tribune 7/8/2015. Grants and loans may be provided only for projects that involve one or more

of the following modes of transportation: air, marine, rail, public transit, and bicycle and pedestrian.

Suenn Ho, Principal, Resolve Architecture + Planning reports that she will be presenting to the Tigard thCity Council the concept design of the Tigard Street Heritage Trail at their meeting August 18 . Ron McCoy,

representing PNWC, provided a great deal of input about Tigard's rail history that Suenn incorporated into the

proposal.th Sign on the BNSF Railway near Otis Orchards, Washington: April 6 , 1989. On this date the world record for

concrete ties inserted in a twelve hour period was established by Pacific Division Forces: 7,709. Altamont Press posting.

Sound Transit's second tunnel boring machine for the Northgate Link light rail extension reached the wall of the future thRoosevelt light rail station on July 13 , completing the second 1.5 mile segment of a 3.4-mile tunnel that will serve light

rail trains from Northgate Mall to the University of Washington starting in 2021. “Pamela,” the tunnel boring machine or thTBM, that reached the Roosevelt site July 13 was launched last November from the Maple Leaf Portal just east of

Interstate 5 and south of Northgate Mall. When the machine finishes boring through the station wall at Roosevelt, it will

Page 7August 2015 Pacific Northwest Chapter National Railway Historical Society The Trainmaster

be refurbished before continuing to the U District Station site and later connecting with the completed University of

Washington Station. Sound Transit press release 7/13/2015.

A section of the Palouse River and Coulee City (PCC) Railroad will be operated by

Frontier Railroad Services. The section of the line runs from Dayton to Walla Walla and is

not currently open due to needed bridge repairs. Repairs are expected to be completed

over the next six to nine months with the line reopening shortly after. Watco Companies

Rail Services will continue to operate the other two PCC lines. Walla Walla Union-

Bulletin 7/13/2015.

The Portland Development Commission (PDC) is developing a Broadway Corridor Framework Plan for the 24 acre tharea that includes Union Station and the current 14-acre USPS site. Public comments were due by July 19 . PNWC

thPresident Fleschner submitted a letter on July 13 with the following points:

- Plan for expanded passenger rail service between Portland and Seattle.

- Enhance the appearance of Portland's rail gateway.

- Fix Union Station's seismic deficiencies.

Restoration is underway on the former Union Pacific 1942 CA-3 class caboose at the

Nampa Train Depot. The restoration cost is estimated at $20,000. The Idaho Heritage Trust has

awarded a $3,000 matching grant to the project. The depot and museum, 1200 Front Street in

Nampa, is open 10 am to 3 pm Thursday through Saturdays with caboose tours every Saturday.

Union Pacific donated the caboose to the Canyon County Historical Society in 1988. The Nampa

Depotfest is August 1-2, 2015. Idaho Statesman 7/13/2015.

The Washington State Legislature has approved a new 2015-17 budget that includes transportation funding for key

freight-rail infrastructure projects at Northern Columbia Basin, the Port of Warden and the Connell rail interchange.

- Northern Columbia Basin Railroad project received $20.9 million in funding to enhance and

improve rail access to industries in the Northern Columbia Basin near Moses Lake.

- Port of Warden received $2 million in funding to construct a mile of new rail storage siding track

along a Columbia Basin line.

- The Connell Rail Interchange project received $10 million in funding to upgrade and improve the

key interchange in Eastern Washington where a Columbia Basin Railroad line intersects with BNSF Railway

Co.'s Lakeside Subdivision line that runs between Spokane and Pasco.

Progressive Railroading 7/14/2015.

The levee that failed during the Vanport Flood of 1948 was reinforced over the years, but the soil is believed to cover

an old wooden railroad trestle, which is not considered safe for withholding future floods.

However, the city of Portland and other local governments continue to work on the problem

under the auspices of an Oregon Solutions project. The Army Corps is requiring re-

certification of the Columbia River levee system in light of the new tighter standards. But

Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads say it is against their national

policies to sign the required operation and maintenance agreements so their railroad

embankment could be improved to receive federal certification as a levee. The railroad companies also declined to allow

engineers to fully analyze the embankment during the first phase of the Oregon Solutions project. Portland Tribune

7/14/2015.th On July 7 , PNWC member Steve Coons wrote: “A small correction RE: Jim Gertz's 6-60 speeder in last month's

Trainmaster, it is not a Skagit, other than Skagit Steel & Iron being the parent company. It was made by the Motor

Appliance Company (MAC), a semi-independent branch of Skagit Steel & Iron. MAC made a lot of different things, I

believe they even made a small set of donkey drums that would mate to a Fordson tractor with the rear wheels removed.”

Thanks for the information Steve!

Kamloops Heritage Railway in Kamloops, British Columbia may have their steam locomotive again operational thbeginning July 24 after two years of being out of service. The “Spirit of Kamloops”, KHR 2141 was built in 1912 in

Kingston, Ontario by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Canadian Northern Railway. The 2141 is classified as a

“light consolidated” with a 2-8-0 wheel configuration. It was given to the city in 1961. http://www.kamrail.com.



Orange Line Preview Ride

A new exhibit opens at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center on August 27th. The exhibit was co-funded by the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation and TriMet.

TriMet's MAX Light Rail, Connecting Our Region celebrates the opening of the 2015 MAX Orange Line with a look back at the historic roots and evolution of the Portland region's light rail system.

Beginning in the early 1900s, the Portland region had established a thriving urban rail presence including streetcars, cable cars, and interurbans. Over time, these forms of transit began to lose their footing to more 'modern' transportation technologies. As automobiles grew in popularity and eventually dominated the transportation scene, neighborhoods were cleared for new freeways to accommodate transportation demand.

Local residents banded together to terminate one of these planned projects—the Mt. Hood Freeway. During a pivotal moment in Portland's history, the freeway was voted down and the funds were re-allocated to alternative transportation projects. Soon after, the community lobbied to bring urban rail back to the region and TriMet's MAX light rail was born.

From our region's first light rail line in 1986, through 2015 with the addition of the newest light rail line and Willamette River bridge— the Tilikum Crossing, TriMet has built a total of six MAX alignments and a system that includes nearly 60 miles of track, 85 stations, and more than 145 light rail vehicles.

TriMet's MAX light rail system is a reflection of the city's historic rail heritage, the community's commitment to preserving the region's scenic beauty and livability, and the region's continued growth.

by Erin Riddle and T. Trent Stetz

A few members and volunteers of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation were treated a MAX preview ride. The ride started at the OMSI / SE Water station (see photo), of the new MAX Orange Line, across the new Tilikum Bridge and then down to the new end-of-line at SE Park Avenue Station. The preview ride event was hosted by TriMet. Before the event, the members and volunteers were treated to a picnic dinner aboard the Travellers Rest prepared by David Cautley and Mark Kramer.

Preview Ride of the Orange Line arriving at the OMSI / SE Water Station near the Oregon Rail Heritage Center

Photos by T. Trent Stetz

Folks enjoying their meal aboard the Travellers Rest

Laurel Lyon checking in the guests before the event

David Cautley serving the Guests

Dave and Joey Douglas enjoying the ride

TriMet's MAX Light Rail, Connecting Our Region

Held on July 17, 2015

July Membership Meeting MinutesPacific Northwest Chapter - National Railway Historical Society

The July 2015 membership meeting was called to order at 7:33pm by President Keith Fleschner.

The June meeting minutes were called. Trent Stetz made a motion to approve the minutes and Mark

Reynolds seconded. The membership voted to approve the minutes.

George Hickok gave the monthly Treasurers report and said that

all accounts balance. He reported that the

Brix Logging book and the Steel Bridge

book have both made a profit. He then

reported that the ridership is down for the

Albany & Eastern Railroad (AERC) dinner

trains, so our cars have not been used as

much as planned. He said cost of the

foam to repair the seats in the Chapter’s

6800 car likely will not be covered by the

car rental proceeds with AERC and

requested the membership approve a budget amendment not to exceed eight

thousand dollars to cover the cost. Doug Auburg made the motion for the

budget amendment and Don Klopfenstein seconded. The membership voted to

approve the motion. Doug Auburg made a motion to accept the Treasurers

report and Ron McCoy seconded. The membership voted to accept the report.

Ron McCoy then announced that the UNSUNG HERO award for the

month is awarded to Scott Hurd, the retiring Stationmaster of Union Station

who has been a great friend and helper to the chapter.

Ron McCoy then reported that the Activity and Excursion Committee is

considering an excursion to Train Mountain near Klamath Falls. No final

plans have been made. The cost would be around five hundred dollars.

Trent Stetz reported that Jean Hickok has made up new Oregon Pony

pamphlets to be given out at the NMRA convention. He also announced that

August 9, 2015 is the Portland Bridgewalk over the new bridge for bicycles

and pedestrians.

Al Baker requested ideas for

meeting programs.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25pm.

Bryan Ackler provided snack time for the members.

The video program was narrated by Mark Reynolds and Ken

Vannice on the SP&S 700 trip to

Montana. The second half of the

video program will be presented at

an upcoming meeting.

Photos by Jim Hokinson and T. Trent Stetz

Respectfully submitted

by Jim Hokinson, Secretary.


Mark Reynolds and Ken Vannice providecommentary to the evening’s video

Ron McCoy (right) with Iris Walling and husband, Mike Bliziotes look over prints of photos from the Chapter Archives being researched by Bruce Strange (at left).

Secretary Jim Hokinson records the Chapter meeting minutes

Al Baker (left) received this tool as a donation to ORHC. The donor’s father was given this tool (chrome plated) as a retirement gift. He worked on the Southern Pacific RR between 1955 and 1972 in Eugene. He was a car inspector, and he used this tool supposedly for inspecting journal boxes. It is 30 inches long, made of steel, chrome plated. Al and Keith Fleschner (right) demonstrate its use.

Chapter OfficersPresident Keith Fleschner 503.516.9272

503.638.7411Vice President Mark Reynolds

503.638.7411

Treasurer George Hickok 503.649.5762Secretary Jim Hokinson 503.635.4826National Rep. Al Baker 503.645.9079

Chapter Directors-at-LargePhil Barney 2013-2015

Ken Vannice 2013-2015 503.244.8732503.706.0498

Bryan Ackler 2015-2017 503.246.2165David Cautley 2015-2017 503.631.7516Jean Hickok 2014-2016 503.649.5762Trent Stetz 2014-2016 503.643.1494

Committee ChairsActivities Ron McCoy 503.310.4811 Archives William Hyde 503.666.5530Auditor Bob McCoy 360.459.3251Car Host Mark ReynoldsConcessions VacantChapter Rep., Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation

Keith Fleschner 503.516.9272

Chapter Home George Hickok 503.649.5762

Elections Jim Loomis 503.253.3926

Excursions Jim Long 503.313.7382

Flanger Restoration Phil Barney 503.706.0498

Library Ken Vannice

Meeting Programs Al Baker 503.645.9079

Membership Diana Mack 503.723.3345

Rolling Stock George Hickok 503.649.5762Keith Fleschner 503.516.9272

Chief Mech. Officer Peter Rodabaugh 503.701.7040Car Rental Agt. Bob Jackson 503.231.4808Safety Officer Keith Fleschner 503.516.9272

S-2 Restoration Mark Reynolds 503.638.7411

Webmasters Jim Long 503.313.7382Mark Whitson 503.533.7005

The Trainmaster is the official newsletter of the Pacific North-west Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. It is published monthly for the benefit of its members. Articles which appear in T he Trainmaster do not express the official position of the organization on any subject unless specifically noted as such. Material from The Trainmaster may be reprinted in other publications provided credit is given as to the source, except in cases where the article originated in a third party publication and special permission was given to The Trainmas-ter to print the article here. Please address contributions and correspondence to:

Attn: The Trainmaster EditorthPNWC-NRHS, Union Station, 800 NW 6 Ave Rm 1

Portland OR 97209-3794Voice: 503.226.6747 Fax: 503.230.0572Chapter email: [email protected] Trainmaster email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.pnwc-nrhs.orgISSN: 0041-0926Editor Trent Stetz 503.643.1494Circulation George Hickok 503.649.5762Mailing/Distribution Jean Hickok 503.649.5762

George Hickok 503.649.5762TM Liaison/Reporter Arlen Sheldrake 503.351.9881

Bill of LadingDistance from Your Loads...........................................Page 1

Distance from Your Loads (Cont).........................Page 2

Scott Hurd Retiremen.t............................................Page 4

Mount Emily Shay Celebrates the 4th.....................Page 4

Chapter Meeting Minutes. ......................................................Page 10

Mt Bachelor Trainset................................................................Page 11

Lending Library.........................................................................Page 11

PNW Shortlines.........................................................Page 5

Orange Line Preview Ride......................................Page 9

TriMet Light Rail Exhibit........................................Page 9

The Maxwell Siding Museum...................................Page 2

Officers, Committees & Contacts...........................................Page 11

Mission Statement....................................................................Page 12

Calendar ...................................................................................Page 12

Page 11

Printed in the USA

503.244.8732

Running as Amtrak Cascades 507, Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor trainset barrels through Ridgefield, Washington on July 23, 2015. Photo by David Astle.


The Chapter’s Lending Library will be open

ndSaturday, August 22 afternoon at Room 1 at Portland Union Station. It is also open every Monday morning from 10:00 AM to Noon. A wealth of interesting material is available for PNWC member review or check-out.

o. PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHAPTER TIMETABLE N 637

(Open to all Chapter Members. Note address for Board meetings; Follow instructions posted on the door for entry.)

Membership Meetings: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5415 SE Powell Blvd. 7:30 pm(Guests Most Welcome!)

Forward program ideas to Al Baker, 503.645.9079 or [email protected]

NOTABLE NON-CHAPTER EVENTS:

September 10, Thursday, 9320 SW Barbur Blvd, Suite 200, 7:30pmAugust 13, Thursday, 9320 SW Barbur Blvd, Suite 200, 7:30pmBoard of Director’s Meetings:

August 21: .

Sept. 18: Update on the SP&S 700 by Steve Sedaker, Vice President, Pacific Railroad Preservation Association.

700 Trip to Montana, Part II by Ken Vannice & Mark Reynolds.

thOctober 16: Maxwell Siding Railroad Museum, a July 18 visit by Arlen L. Sheldrake. A pictorial view and update about this very unique and not well known asset residing/hiding in Hermiston, Oregon.

November 20: S2 #36 Update, Keith Fleschner

Jan. – Nov. Portland Train Rides, every Sat., Oregon Rail Heritage Center, www.portlandtrainrides.comMay 1 – October 15 Northern Pacific Railway Museum open, Toppenish WA, www.nprymuseum.org

July 3 to Sept. 7, Willamette Shore Trolley on Fri, Sat & Sun, 10 am, 12, 2 & 4pm, oerhs.org/wst/schedule.htm

Aug. 1-2 Nampa Depot Fest, Nampa ID, www.canyoncountyhistory.com

Aug. 1-2 Great Oregon Steam-Up, Antique Powerland, Brooks, OR, www.antiquepowerland.com

Aug. 9 Brooklyn Rail Yard exhibit closes, Oregon Rail Heritage Center, www.orhf.org

Aug. 9 The People's Preview of Tilikum Crossing, 1:30–4:30 p.m., catchtheorange.com/#/events/

Aug. 2-9 NRHS RailCamp West, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, www.nrhs.com

Aug. 14 MAX History exhibit opens, Oregon Rail Heritage Center, www.orhf.org

Aug 14-16 Snoqualmie Railroad Days, Northwest Railway Museum, www.railroaddays.com

Aug. 23-30 Portland Daylight Express, The NMRA annual convention in Portland, www.nmra2015portland.orgthAug. 28-30 25 Annual National Train Show, Portland Expo Center, www.nmra2015portland.org

Sept. 5-6 An Affair on Main Street, Pend Oreille Valley RR Metaline Falls WA, www.lionstrainrides.com

Sept. 5-6-7 Pacific Northwest Live Steamers Founders Birthday, Molalla Train Park, www.pnls.org

Sept. 5-6-7 Labor Day Weekend Trains, Santiam Excursion Train, Lebanon OR, www.santiamexcursionstrains.com

Sept. 12 Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail MAX Orange Line Grand Opening, with OMSI/ORHC station, www.trimet.org

Sept. 19 3rd Annual Northwest Railroad Heritage Forum, Tacoma WA, www.railheritage.org

Oct. 3-4 First Autumn Colors, Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, Ione WA, www.lionstrainrides.comOct. 7-11 SP Historical & Technical Society 2015 Convention, Sacramento CA, www.sphts.orgOct. 10-11 Second Autumn Colors, Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, Ione WA, www.lionstrainrides.comOct. 17-18 Third Autumn Colors, Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, Ione WA, www.lionstrainrides.comOct. 24-25 Great Pumpkin Rides, Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, Ione WA, www.lionstrainrides.comDec. 5, 6, 12 & 13 Candy Cane Express, Oregon Coast Scenic RR, Garibaldi OR, oregoncoastscenic.org

Page 12

PNWC – NRHS MISSION To preserve and interpret Pacific Northwest railroad history and historical

artifacts for the education and enjoyment of current and future generations.


Nickel Plate Road No. 765, a 2-8-4 Berkshire Type Locomotive, is speeding through Addison, New York onSaturday, August 1, 2015 pulling the Buffalo to Corning excursion train that included nineteen passenger cars. Thelocomotive, built in 1944 by Lima Locomotive Works for the Nickel Plate Road, is owned, maintained, and operatedby the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. No. 765 has 69 inch diameter driver wheels, 245 psi boiler pressure,25 x 34 inch cylinders, delivers 64,000 lbf of tractive effort, weighs 404 tons, and has a top speed of 70 mph. Theexcursion trip was repeated on Sunday, August 2. Chapter member Dick Palmer rode the train on Saturday. On theSunday trip, chapter members Al Kallfelz, Charlie Abbott, and the Edwards Family, Phil, Tom, Al and Joan, werepassengers. Photo by Ed Post.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR STATE FAIR TRAIN EXHIBITSThursday, August 27 to Monday, September 7 (Labor Day)

Two Exhibits: Historic & Model Train - NY State FairgroundsIf Available: Contact Al Kallfelz 488-8208 or [email protected]

Green Block Milestone - See Page 4

THE GREEN BLOCKAUGUST 2015Volume 56 • Number 8

Official Publication of theCentral New York Chapter,

National Railway Historical Society, Inc.

www.cnynrhs.org

THE GREEN BLOCK AUGUST 2015

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING REPORTSubmitted by Jeff Paston, VP/Recording Secretary

THE GREEN BLOCK is published monthly by the Central New York Chapter, National RailwayHistorical Society, Inc., Box 229, Marcellus, NY 13108-0229. Statements and opinions expressedin THE GREEN BLOCK articles and editorials do not necessarily represent the policies or opinionsof the Central New York Chapter or the NRHS. Subscriptions are free with membership, and are$12.00 per year for non-members. Articles, photos, and announcements from chapter membersand from other NRHS Chapters are welcomed and appreciated. No paid advertising is accepted.

CNY CHAPTER OFFICERSPRESIDENT

Al Kallfelz (488-8208)[email protected] VICE PRESIDENTPhil Edwards (451-6551)

[email protected] PRESIDENT & RECORDING SEC’Y

Jeff Paston (682-8144)[email protected]

TREASURERJosie LeMay (289-3346)[email protected]

CORRESPONDING SECRETARYHerb Meinking (699-5198)

[email protected] REPRESENTATIVE

Open Position2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Phil Edwards Gus Nordone Tom Edwards Dick Palmer Al Kallfelz Jeff Paston Josie LeMay Tom Pierson Bob McNamara Bob Townsend Gerrit Vanderwerff

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONSELECTRONIC MEDIA COORDINATOR

Jeff Paston (682-8144)[email protected]

MEETING PROGRAM COORDINATORDick Palmer (475-8748)[email protected]

LIBRARIAN & ARCHIVISTDick Palmer (475-8748)[email protected]

RAILROADIANA STORE MANAGERBob McNamara (458-1631)[email protected]

STATE FAIR DISPLAY COORDINATORAl Kallfelz (488-8208)

MARTISCO STATION MUSEUM CURATOROpen Position

[email protected] SQUARE MUSEUM CURATORS

Bob Townsend (668-6727)Harvey Harke (676-3501)

[email protected] CHAIRPERSON

Tom [email protected]

EDITOR & HISTORIANEd Post (635-9552)

[email protected] ADVISORPaul Shinal (568-5286)

[email protected] COORDINATOR

Jeff Hagan([email protected])

EXCURSION COORDINATORRick Faigle (446-1423)

MODEL RR EXHIBIT COORDINATORPhil Edwards (451-6551)

[email protected] TRAIN FAIR COORDINATORS

Phil Edwards (451-6551)Jeff Paston (682-8144)

[email protected]

August 5, 2015Meeting called to order at 7:15 PM.Present: Directors Philip Edwards, TomEdwards, Al Kallfelz, Bob McNamara,Gus Nordone, Jeff Paston, Tom Pierson,Bob Townsend, and Gerrit Vanderwerff.Not present: Directors Josie LeMay andRichard Palmer. Guests: Jeff Hagan,Tom Leo, and Judy Townsend.Minutes of the July 1, 2015, meetingwere approved.TRESURER'S REPORT: JosieLeMay submitted July report, which wasapproved by the Board.PROGRAM: The next regular meetingwill be Sept. 16 with Danny Armitage ofDryden presenting a program on theLehigh Valley.NEW BUSINESS: Rick Faiglesuggested Chapter charge $1.00 per adult(under 16 free) to tour train this year toraise money for repairs andimprovements. A motion was made toallow discussion, but the proposal wasdefeated because Chapter cannot chargea fee at the Fair. Instead, Board agreedto place donation box with signageasking for a suggested donation of $1.00.It was reported member and railroadauthor Keith Maloney passed away.CORRESPONDENCE: Al Kallfelzasked whether Chapter members arereceiving NRHS News through emails.Many board members said they did notreceive NRHS emails.DONATIONS: 1) Michael O’Connellof Chittenango donated scenery suppliesand O gauge Thomas the Tank Engine toModel Railroad Group. 2) Gus Nordonedonated Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer trainset to use as a raffle prize.RAILROADIANA: The Chapter storewas at the Syracuse Nationals at theFairgrounds July 17-19. Al Kallfelzthanked Rick Faigle, Gerrit and MariaVanderwerff, and Andy Rogers for

staffing it with him. Chapter plans onhaving a sales table and the Train Trailerat Clayton show Sept. 12 & 13.STATE FAIR: Al Kallfelz reported ateenage film group plans to shoot somevideo around the train exhibit on August14th.Al asked for volunteers to staff venues atState Fair.MODEL TRAIN FAIR: Phil Edwardsreported 32 applications have come in sofar. Gerrit Vanderwerff passed aroundthe 2015 souvenir Model Train Fairbutton.MARTISCO: Eagle Scout John Clancycompleted his project building a split railfence. Phil Edwards said he will write athank you letter. The Board thankedJoseph Weinberger for watching stationon Sunday Aug. 2.CENTRAL SQUARE: Bob Townsendreported water line is completed. Bobsaid village built pillars for new stationmuseum sign. He said the sign should becompleted in about a week and a half.The Mayor is contacting state to build asidewalk to the museum from MainStreet. Bob said the village also wants tohave a railroad-themed mural painted ona building on Main Street.EXCURSIONS: Al Kallfelz reportedRick Faigle has several trips scheduledthis fall on the Adirondack ScenicRailroad: Friday, Oct. 2 Beer and WineTrain; Sat. Oct. 3 Fall Foliage; Sun. Oct.24 Dinner Train to Big Moose; Sat. Nov.28 Old Forge Christmas; Sun. Dec. 6Polar Express; Sun. Dec. 13 PolarExpress; and Sun. Dec. 20 Polar ExpressCocoa Class. He is investigating a trip toNicholson viaduct for 100th anniversaryobservance on Sept. 13.Meeting adjourned at 8:54 PM.Next meeting at Art and Home Center onSept. 9 at 7:00 PM.Respectfully submitted,JEFF PASTON

AUGUST 2015 THE GREEN BLOCK PAGE 3

CALENDAR OF EVENTSSaturday, August 8, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Garden Railway Tour, Bob & Marie Loran, 102Mohawk Ave, Central Square, NY (668-9582)

Saturday, August 15, 10:00 am to 4:00 pmGarden Railway Tour, Burdick’s Driver’s Village,Circle Drive, Cicero, NY

Friday, August 21 to Sunday, August 23Amtrek to Baltimore, Utica & Mohawk ValleyChapter, NRHS

Saturday, August 22, 11:00 am to 4:00 pmGarden Railway Tour, Kieth & Tammy Kostoroski,209 Syracuse Ave., Oswego, NY (342-3490)

Thursday, August 27 to Monday, September 7New York State Fair Train Exhibit MonitoringNew York State Fairgrounds

Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6Steamtown Railfest 2015 including NKP #765Excursion to Delaware Water Gap on Sept 5

Saturday, September 5NKP #765 Excursion Scranton to Delaware WaterGap & return, Depart 10:30 am, Return 6:30 pm

Monday, September 7 (Labor Day)NKP #765 Excursion Scranton to EastStroudsburg & return, Depart 9 am, Return 5 pm

Wednesday, September 9, 7:00 PMCNY Chapter Board of Directors MeetingArt & Home Building, NY State Fairgrounds

Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13NKP #765 Excursion Scranton to Nicholson (Oneexcursion each day)

Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13One Hundredth Anniversary Celebration ofTunkhannock Viaduct, Nicholson, PA

Saturday, Sept 12 (10 - 5) and Sunday, Sept 13 (10 - 4)Thousand Island Train Fair, Clayton Arena,Clayton, NY

WE EACH HAVE A DECISION TO MAKEBy W. E. (Bill) Willits

VP - Editor, Gulf Coast RailroadingGulf Coast Chapter, NRHS

The National Railway Historical Society, NRHS, is verymuch alive. The latest figures show that the Society lost a lot ofmembers over the past few years, claiming about 15,000members as recently as 2011-2012, with the present rollsbetween 5,000 and 6,000. Despite this seemingly precipitousdecline, there is cause for optimism about the future of NRHS.

We have to be realistic. While we talk about bringing inyounger people to our organization, the truth is that railroadingas an interest area (hobby) does not have the appeal to thepresent generation(s) that it had to those of us who embraced it“way back when…” Oh, yes, there are some younger peoplearound toting cameras and going trackside today as there havealways been, but the concept of belonging to a seriouspreservation group does not sell readily. In other words, we willnever again have the membership numbers we once had. So?

That other (and older) nationally known rail preservationorganization, R&LHS, under the leadership of RobertHolzweiss, has been slowly rebuilding its membership, and isspreading its message.

NRHS is doing the same thing; but just got a later start.New NRHS president Al Weber has put together a cadre ofloyal NRHS members to pull together the records and work totrim the excess costs of operation that have damaged our societyin the immediate past.

Some individuals and chapters have left NRHS, feelingthey will be better off outside the Society. We are sorry to seethem go, but understand the sentiment. On the other hand, manyof us have decided to stay.

The problems of NRHS can and will be resolved. While itwill never be as large an organization as it once was, that is notthe critical issue. Keeping NRHS going with smaller numbersthan before is inevitable; please join us by staying. You’ll beglad you did.

CHAPTER PROGRAMSNY State Fairgrounds

Art and Home BuildingWed. Sep 16, 2015 - 7:30 PM

“Lehigh Valley”By Danny Armitage

No ProgramsJuly & August

Thank You!Gerrit and Maria Vanderwerff

Al Kallfelz Rick FaigleAndy Rogers

for Staffing the Train Exhibitduring the Syracuse Nationals

Keith F. MaloneyKeith F. Maloney, 76, a GreenBlock Subscriber, died on July29, 2015. He was born inForestport, NY and graduatedfrom Syracuse University in 1960.Keith was employed as a reporterand editor for newspapers inWatertown and Syracuse beforeworking in public relations andmarket research. He coauthoreda railroad history anthology,“Rails in the North Woods,”focusing on the history of theLowville & Beaver River RR, andwas known to friends and familyas a longtime rail hobbyist.

September Green BlockDeadline

AUGUST 31E-mail inputs to:Ed Post, Editor

[email protected]: 7611 Merritt Drive

Baldwinsville, NY 13027315-635-9552


GENEVA, CORNING AND SOUTHERNRAILROAD STOCK CERTIFICATEChapter Member Bernie Duerr recently gave the chapter

several paper items. One was this stock certificate. In 1899, theFall Brook Railway Company, which owned the Fall BrookRailroad and leased the Pine Creek Railway as well as theSyracuse, Geneva and Corning, were leased to the New YorkCentral and Hudson River for 999 years. The Fall BrookRailway Co. effectively went out of the rail business, other thanto collect the lease fees.

In 1909, this whole package of roads were bought byNYC&HR interests, and consolidated to form a new company,the Geneva, Corning and Southern Railroad Company,which was immediately leased by the New York Central.

Stock would have been issued in that name at that time. In1914, the GC&S was officially absorbed into the massivelyreorganized New York Central System, and became its“Pennsylvania Division” - the New York portion being dubbed“The Fall Brook Division,” a name that remained informallyinto the 1940s. Submitted by Dick Palmer

GREEN BLOCK MILESTONEBy Ed Post, Editor

This August 2015 issue of the Green Block is a milestonefor me.

In August 2005, I began my tenure as Editor for the CentralNew York Chapter, NRHS taking over for George Read whohad been Editor for nine years and for several years as AssistantEditor before that.

In September 2005 I published my first Green Block. Thatmakes this current August 2015 Green Block my one hundredtwentieth Green Block. My tenure as Editor is now ten years.That is more years than I expected when I first started.

A month later in October 2005, our Chapter began usingTaylor Printing in Syracuse to print the Green Block. Taylorshave also been along for the past ten years doing an excellentprinting job and being responsive to our schedule needs.

In October 2008, I did the first color Green Block forsending as an email attachment and for electronic exchange withother editors. That is almost seven years of doing both a black& white and color version.

2015 NRHS CONVENTION REPORTThis report is not the official meeting minutes. It is taken

from R. L. Eastwood’s report that was in Cinders, the newsletterof the Philadelphia Chapter, NRHS. It is based on notes takenby two attendees to the Convention.

There were some 500 people registered for the Convention.Virtually everyone had positive comments about the railexcursion operations and seminars.

The Convention was managed nationally by Walter E.Zullig, Jr., of Ossining, New York. He worked with NRHS raremileage guru Bart Jennings to produce a convention which wasworth attending. Jennings' wife, Sarah, put together a reallyoutstanding convention guide, with much detail regarding thetrips and the routes to be covered.

The trip on the Saratoga & North Creek Railroad, and themeans to get from Rutland to Saratoga Springs was unique inthat it did not include the usual chartered buses found at manyconventions. Amtrak's Ethan Allen was used to go fromRutland to Saratoga Springs. According to Amtrak, their train'spassenger count was swelled by some 225 passengers on thatday. The only catch was that the Amtrak return trip was aboutan hour late, so the conventioneers had to hang out at theSaratoga Springs station and got back to Rutland a little late.

The Vermont Rail System ran a whole week of virtuallyflawless trips, which provided members a rare opportunity toride around the Green Mountain State on the train. TheVermont Rail System has an excellent reputation for the trips itruns in addition to its rather robust freight business, and, indeed,the former Rutland Railroad system is a valuable asset today.

NRHS is getting back on a reasonably stable financialfooting, but much remains to be done to recover from theFernley & Fernley disaster. Top priority is being given tobasically reconstructing the membership database, and thiswork is being accomplished by volunteers, and that importantfact needs to be understood. Membership cards for 2015 havebeen mailed to paid-up members. There were threePhiladelphia members who did not receive cards and they arebeing handled.

The successful NRHS Grants Program saw some $140,000in requests from 43 parties. Funding did permit the awarding of$13,000 in grants to worthy requesters. The RailCamp programis back on track, and both programs were filled for 2015.Funding for RailCamp is needed to support and sustain thisprogram, now in its 18th year.

As for Membership Services, NRHS has been producingNRHS News every other month, but at present it can only bedistributed by electronic mail. To that end, PhiladelphiaChapter is reviewing its records and providing E-mail addressesto NRHS as a means to make our members more connected, sothey may be aware of National events. That will be taking placeduring the month of August.

Another subject with much discussion was that of “affiliatemembership”, where people may belong to a chapter withoutbelonging to NRHS, an issue of contention and conflict with theNRHS By-Laws. This promises to generate considerablediscussion going forward.


By Ed PostWestern US railroads, such as BNSF

Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, havehundreds of miles of rail lines in remote,mountainous territories, along gorges andthrough canyons that are vulnerable tofrequent rock slides. Standing guard andalerting the train crews to a rock slide onthe tracks ahead in these areas are amultitude of electrical slide fencesinstalled along the rail lines in thetreacherous rock slide locations.

Last November 29th, at about 12:30PM, a large rock slide 14 miles east ofBonners Ferry, Idaho covered BNSFmainline tracks with a rock pile that was20 feet deep, 50 feet wide and 200 feetlong. BNSF freight traffic wastemporarily suspended as well as Amtrakservice between Chicago andSeattle/Portland. A 20 man railway workcrew, using heavy equipment, dozers andloaders, cleaned up the debris andrepaired the tracks in 12 hours so that by12:30 AM on November 30th, freightservice was resumed. Amtrak service washalted for 48 hours until complete safetycould be ensured.

More recently, on January 26th, a rockslide on BNSF tracks was detected shortlyafter 11 p.m. near Katka, Idaho, not farfrom the Montana Border. The slidecovered both the main line and sidingtrack with nearly seven feet of rock anddebris. BNSF parked freight trains on

SLIDE FENCES – SILENT SENTINELS TO KEEP TRAINS SAFE

either side of the slide and Amtrak had toturn the eastbound Empire Builder atSpokane and the westbound one at Libby,Montana. Passengers were then busedbetween the two stations. Crews workedall night and into the morning to clear themainline track in 10 hours. The mainlinewas reopened at 10:30 AM and the sidinga few hours later.

Electric slide fences had providedwarning to the train crews enabling themto stop the trains before crashing into therock slide. While the cost of the slide,traffic stoppage, and cleanup was

Electric Slide Detector Fence of the wire type on Union Pacific’s Moffat Subdivisionthrough Byers Canyon in Colorado..

Continued on Next Page

substantial in time and money, it wasmuch less of a costly disaster than if trainshad smashed into the rock slide.

Consider the train derailment thatoccurred about 1:00 PM, May 10, 2010on the BNSF Casper Sub near the mouthof the Wind River Canyon just south ofThermopolis, Wyoming. Without slidefences to provide warning, a 62 car BNSFfreight train hauling barley and bentonite(clay) hit a big boulder on the tracks.There were two head end locomotivesand one in the rear of the train. As a resultof the collision, the lead locomotive,BNSF #4702, a GE Dash 9 weighting 200tons, slid down the 60 foot river bank onits side into the Bighorn River. Thesecond unit, BNSF #4580, another Dash9, broke into two pieces and lay on its sideon the river bank. See photo on the left.

Fortunately, the two crew members,although injured, were able to get out ofthe cab onto safe ground and were takento the Thermopolis Medical Center. Thecost in time and money to BNSF, and tothe environment (fuel oil spill), and to thetrain crew (injuries) was substantial as aresult of this accident. Most likely aninstalled electric slide fence would haveprevented the accident.

Electrical slide fences look like anyother type of fence installed along thetracks to keep animals and trespassers offWithout Slide Fence Protection on BNSF’s Casper Sub, the locomotives on this 62

car BNSF manifest freight struck a large boulder that had rolled downhill onto thetracks causing this serious derailment, May 10, 2010.


Canopy style slide detector fence on CSX’s New River Subdivision in West Virginia.

SECTIONAL SLIDE FENCE

Continued on Next Page

the tracks. The fence consists of six oreight wires (eight-gauge copper-clad wirewith a nickel core) horizontally strungunder tension about 8 inches apartvertically along the entire length of thefence and fastened to upright fence postslocated 10 to 20 feet apart. The totallength of a slide fence typically rangesfrom 100 feet to several miles.

A low voltage is maintained over theelectric wire circuit and it energizes arelay. The low-voltage power source ishoused in a nearby line side box and theelectric current is routed underground tothe slide fence. If a rock slide occurs, ora big boulder tumbles down onto thetracks, at least one of the wires will besevered so that the circuit is broken andthe relay drops out. This actuates signallights located a safe distance away onboth ends of the fence to turn red, therebysignaling all train traffic in both directionsto stop. It also sends a signal to the traindispatcher.

If the rail line is alongside a verticalcliff where the rock threat is directlyabove the track, a canopy slide fence isinstalled over the tracks.

Slide fences are low maintenance aslong as they remain intact. Performancewise, the false alarm rate is essentiallyzero and the rock slide detectionprobability is close to one. Typicallyevery three months an electrical test onthe circuit is performed. Once a year, thecircuit is intentionally broken to verifythat the signals turn red. However, whena rock slide wipes out a portion of thefence, it usually takes a fair amount oftime consuming work to reinstall thedamaged portion of the fence. This isparticularly true for repairing the canopyslide fences.

Another type of electric slide fencewhich is easier to repair, but moreexpensive and time consuming to install,consists of a series of fence sections.Each fence section is held in place bystrong springs and at the end of each fencesection is an electro-mechanical plug.The plugs are inserted into socketsconnected by underground wires to forman electric circuit that energizes a relay.When a rock slide occurs, the fence isforced to move laterally, causing the plugto be removed and breaking the electriccircuit. The relay is de-energized which

causes the signals to turn red. Restoringnormal operation is achieved byreinstalling the fence sections, or ifdamaged, replacing the fence sections,and re-inserting the plugs. In the early1940’s, the Erie Railroad had an electricslide fence of this type at Jimmerson’sslide, five miles west of Salamanca.

Electrical slide fences are usedextensively in the western states. Toname just a few locations, Union Pacific’sMoffat Subdivision has slide fences inByers Canyon, Gore Canyon, andGlenwood Canyon. And BNSF’s Hi-Lineis equipped with slide fences on thewestern approach to Marias Pass andthrough the Bad Rock Canyon east ofColumbia Falls, Montana. There areabout 5,000 feet of slide detector fences inthree segments along BNSF’s double-track Transcon Route from Topock, Ariz.,to Double A siding.

It is uncertain when electric slide

fences first came into use. An article onsectional slide fences on the GreatNorthern Railway appeared in a PopularMechanics Magazine in April 1933.There also are early references indicatingthe Norfolk & Western, Pennsylvania,and Clinchfield Railroads employedelectric slide fences in the 1940s and 50son their routes through the AlleghenyMountains.

The New York Central had beguninstalling electric slide fences in 1950 atlocations between Germantown andCastleton on the Hudson Division. Anobservant Amtrak passenger recentlyreported that he saw electric slide fencesbetween Rhinecliff and Albany. Electricslide detector fences were also installedon the West Shore River Division at anumber of locations. By the end of the1950’s, the New York Central had slidefences at 42 locations. These fences wereof the sectional type.


This is the waterfall image display for a falling rock as seen by the train dispatcher.The rock hit the ground and rolled onto the track shown in the top photo. Thevertical axis is time with current time at the top. The horizontal axis gives thechannel number, which is the distance along the fiber and relates to track location.The first event -- the rock hitting the ground near the track – is shown as the largermark, while the three succeeding signatures show the rock rolling across the track.

On April 2, 1955, the New YorkCentral’s Chicago-bound #1 PacemakerAdvance Commodore Vanderbilt combotrain racing along at 70 mph hit a rockslide near Schodack Landing, 15 milessouth of Albany. The Engineer, W. T.Kelly, 62, of Tarrytown, appliedemergency braking but couldn't stop intime. The lead locomotive, an E unit, hitthe obstruction, broke loose from thetrain, flipped end over end along thetracks for almost 300 yards, ripping uprails until it plunged down a 10 footembankment into the water. Ten of thefourteen cars derailed and 25 passengerswere injured enough to be taken tohospitals. Mr. Kelly was killed. The NewYork Central already had electric slidefences at other locations, but not here.This accident prompted the installation ofan electric slide fence at this location.

A former New York Central trainengineer relates that after Penn Centraltook over, the electric slide fences wereremoved as part of a plan to reducemaintenance costs. By 1982, they wereall gone. Conrail put them back after abad accident when a train hit a rock slideand derailed.

Several advanced technologies havebeen investigated to solve the rock slidedetection problem including acoustic,electromagnetic, seismic, and opticsensors. OptaSense, Inc has developed apromising acoustic/optic sensing systemthat is based on Rayleigh back scatteringto form an image similar to a sonardisplayed waterfall image. A jointBNSF/OptaSense report abstract reads asfollows.

“BNSF Railway has installed anOptaSense® distributed acoustic sensing(DAS) system in the Wind River Canyonon its Casper Subdivision to sense rockfalls which could impact train operations.The OptaSense DAS uses laser pulseswhich are scattered back by naturalimperfections in the cable. If the cable isdisturbed by vibrations received throughthe ground, the back-scattered signal ischanged and can be used to construct anacoustic image of the disturbance. Asingle OptaSense Interrogator Unit can‘listen’ to 24 miles of standard telecomsfiber optic cable near the track with aresolution of 32.8 feet, creating 4,000virtual microphones which can sense and

locate rocks falling on or near the track.BNSF installed 21.6 miles of fiber in thecanyon at a distance of seven to ten feetfrom track centerline. The BNSF-OptaSense team conducted a test programof rock drops and rolls down the steepslopes of the canyon. The systemachieved greater than 95% accuracydetecting target rocks while reducingnuisance alarm rates to an acceptablelevel for the dispatchers, maintenanceforces, and train crews to address. Theinitial goal was no more than fivenuisance alarms per day. The teamachieved this by developing filters toexclude unwanted events such as non-threat rocks, animals, and thermal trackmovement. The OptaSense system wasput into operation in November 2012 andis connected to a radio system forautomatically communicating alerts tocrews. OptaSense and BNSF continue toanalyze the data to develop methods tofurther reduce the nuisance alarm rate.”

The conclusion of this report, [“FiberOptic Sensing for Detecting Rock Falls onRail Rights of Way” by JeffreyAkkerman, Detector Engineer, BNSFRailway and Frederick Prahl, Manager,Advanced Programs OptaSense, Inc.]reads as follows:

“OptaSense went live to thedispatchers on November 15, 2012. Thesystem is performing very well, with ahigh P(d) and a NAR which is improvingover time. The average NAR is nowapproximately one per day, except during

change of seasons. At these times theNAR tends to spike for a few weeks aswide temperature swings cause increasedthermal movement of the track. Becausethermal issues cause 80 % of the nuisancealarms, BNSF and OptaSense are movingahead to develop a new thermal filter,which we expect will eliminate most ofthese alarms. A NAR of less than five perday–the original goal of the project - isfeasible because the traffic in the WindRiver Canyon is low (five to eight trainsper day) and travels at relatively slowspeed. The ultimate goal is to reduce theNAR to less than one per day. When thisis accomplished, OptaSense might bedeployed on lines with heavier traffic.”

References for this article includedarticles, documents, and websites of thefollowing information sources: TrainsNews Wire, KTVQ News-Billings,Billings Gazette, Thermopolis Reporter,Sandpoint Train Depot, TrainsMagazine (Feb 2010), BNSF Railway,Wikipedia, Erie Magazine, Railroad.net,Schenectady Gazette, New York StateSupreme Court Trial Testimony,OptaSense, Inc and Popular Mechanics.


STAGGERS ACT WASTHE CATALYST THAT

REVITALIZED RAILThe Staggers Act of 1980 was the

catalyst that revitalized railroads, whileensuring they have the resourcesnecessary to continue investing in theeconomy, Association of AmericanRailroads (AAR) President and CEOEdward Hamberger told a congressionalpanel.

During a hearing of the HouseTransportation and InfrastructureSubcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines andHazardous Materials, Hamberger said theStaggers Act partially deregulated freightrailroads, and served as an "economiccatapult" that revived an industry on thebrink of financial collapse.

That partial deregulation helped sparkrailroads' profits, which resulted in theirspending on infrastructure and equipment.Since then, the industry has invested $575billion to enhance the freight-rail networkacross the nation, according to an AARpress release. The money has beenearmarked for improvements such asupgraded track, and new locomotives andfreight cars needed for new capacity andto meet growing demand.

The committee held the hearing torecognize the 35th anniversary of theStaggers Act.

"Railroads are preparing fortomorrow today, all over the country.They're expanding intermodal terminals innorthwest Ohio and outside Atlanta;double-tracking track between NorthDakota and Montana; installing thousandsof new rail ties in southeastern Arizona;upgrading signaling systems in Chicago;and building a major new rail yardbetween Dallas and Houston," Hambergersaid in a prepared statement.

Hamberger and the AAR haveexpressed concerns that some in theshipper community have called onCongress to consider changing laws tofurther regulate railroads' rate setting.

"Private railroad investment intransportation infrastructure should beencouraged, and regulations andlegislation should not adversely affectrailroads' ability or willingness to makethose investments," Hamberger said.

Progressive Railroading

FROM THE CHAPTER ARCHIVES

Occasionally the New York Central brought the DeWitt Clinton replica to the NewYork State Fair in Syracuse. This photo was taken in 1921. Submitted by Dick Palmer.

Empire State Express No. 999 is shown on display at the New York State Fair-grounds in the 1950s. Submitted by Dick Palmer.

Empire State Express No. 999 is pictured on West Washington Street, Syracuse in1893. The RW&O depot is in the background on the left. Submitted by Dick Palmer.


Text by Ed PostPhoto by Al Gorney

On Tuesday, July 21st, in the lateafternoon, a 265,000-pound coveredhopper rail car, parked peacefully andstationary along with other hopper cars ona private enterprise rail siding in Utica,began rolling downgrade. On its over onemile journey hurtling downhill, it reachedspeeds of 40 mph, smashed into a vintagecamaro crossing the tracks at a gradecrossing, injuring the driver, and thenfinally ended its wild ride at Utica’sUnion Station.

The runaway rail car rammed into aStationary Historic Locomotive ondisplay and pushed the locomotive backinto the wall of an extension to Utica’sUnion Station causing extensive damage.Fortunately, the historic main stationbuilding was not damaged and no one atthe station was killed or injured. AlGorney, who took the photo, reports thatthe locomotive and tender werecompressed at both ends, but will survive.

The portion of the station damagedforms the supporting base for an enclosedpedestrian walkway over the mainlinetracks to the boarding platform for theAdirondack Scenic Railroad. Thestairway to the pedestrian walkway iscontained in this extension and it receivedthe brunt of the damaging blow. It isestimated that it will take over a milliondollars to repair.

The stationary historic locomotive ondisplay is a one hundred year old former

New York Central #6721 0-6-0 switcherlocomotive that is owned and wellmaintained by the Utica & MohawkValley Chapter, NRHS.

The locomotive blunted the impact ofthe runaway car to some extent by actingas a buffer to soften the blow to thestation. If the locomotive had not beenthere, a considerable larger portion of thestation would have been damaged andsome passengers waiting for the Amtraktrain to arrive may have been killed orinjured.

Surveillance camera video showspassengers dashing to safety when therunaway rail car struck, sending up acloud of dust and scattering stationconstruction material debris. TheAmtrack train arrived minutes later anddeparted with the passengers aboard.Those folks must have felt relieved to getaway from there and onto the train.

A 13 year old boy playing on the railcar, released a lever and set the car free.The Oneida County Supervisor AnthonyJ. Picente blamed the railroad, New York,Susquehanna & Western, for leaving thecar unattended and for making the car soeasy to be set free.

The Federal Railroad Administrationinspector disagreed and said he found “noindications that the train crew thatdelivered the train car to the privatecompany violated any federal securementregulations and safety procedures in thisincident.” The car had been delivered twoweeks previous to the incident.

RUNAWAY RAIL CAR DAMAGES UNION STATION UP URGES SAFETY FORPHOTOGRAPHERSUnion Pacific Railroad is urging

professional photographers to refrainfrom taking photographs of sports teams,high school seniors, wedding parties andother subjects on or near train tracks ortrestles. Last year, more than 900 peoplewere injured or killed while trespassingon railroad property in the U.S.,according to Federal RailroadAdministration statistics.

Recently a Nebraska high schoolvolleyball team thought it would beunique to have their team photo taken onnearby railroad tracks. The double trackmain line they chose for their photographsees more than 50 trains a day. As theywere beginning to get in position for theirphotograph on the railroad tracks, arailroad employee saw the team andcontacted the train dispatcher in time toavoid disaster – the crew of anapproaching train applied the emergencybrakes to avoid hitting the students.There were no injuries.

In 2012, a teacher who taught art andphotography, was struck and killed by atrain while taking photos on the tracks. Inresponse to tragic and preventableincidents like this, Union Pacific isworking with Professional Photographersof America on rail safety educationoutreach to the professional photographycommunity.

“We want to remind photographersthat walking on or near railroad tracks isextremely dangerous because you neverknow when a train will come along,” saidLawrence Wenko, Union Pacific director– Public Safety. “We urge professionaland amateur photographers alike to set theright example for others by adhering tothe safety guidelines.”

Union Pacific Press Release


By Jeff Stagl, Managing EditorProgressive Railroading

PART ONE OF TWO - OVERALL STRATEGYIntermodal has become a big business driver for CSX Corp.

Merchandise and intermodal volumes now account for more thanthree-quarters of the Class I's total revenue, and intermodalgenerates about 39 percent of total traffic versus 30 percent fiveyears ago.

In the second quarter of 2014, CSX's intermodal revenueincreased 6 percent to nearly $450 million compared with second-quarter 2013's total. In addition, volume rose 7 percent to a newquarterly record 691,000 units.

Domestic volume climbed 8 percent in the quarter, primarilydriven by truck-to-rail conversions, and international volume grew6 percent, mostly propelled by retailers anxious about potential portdisruptions stemming from longshoremen contract negotiations.

CSX’s annual volume in 2014 reached about 2.7 million units,a 50 percent increase from 2009's 1.9 million loads.

To keep the intermodal traffic gains coming, CSX executivesare targeting more markets to tap and more truck conversions toland, especially since the trucking industry is dealing with higherfuel and insurance expenses, a tight driver market, constrainedcapacity, and new hours-of-service and safety regulations thatimpact their operations. The near-term and long-term outlook forbuilding business is promising, CSX execs believe.

But taking on more volume is one thing and accommodatingit, is another. CSX execs are trying to ensure the railroad has thenecessary capacity to handle growing intermodal demand now andin the future.

To that end, the Class I has undertaken expansion projects atintermodal facilities in Atlanta; Boston; Charlotte, Columbus,Detroit; and Louisville. The railroad operates 45 terminals and triesto ensure each is well prepared to take on additional volume.

“We project volume for each terminal five years out,” saidCSX Intermodal Terminals Inc. President Wilby Whitt, adding thatin most cases, the railroad has been "fairly successful" inforecasting demand and prepping facilities for traffic growth.

Preparation is vital to reaching the very-successful stage. Withvolume-boosting opportunities pegged from the Midwest toNortheast to Southeast, CSX leaders are counting a bit moreheavily on three major terminal projects that promise to betterprime the intermodal network for what's to come:

1. 318-acre Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center (ILC)that opened in April 2014 in Winter Haven Fla.;

2. $107 million terminal in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec,near Montreal (dubbed Valleyfield) that opened in late 2014;

3. $40 million expansion of the three-year-old Northwest OhioTerminal near North Baltimore that's scheduled to wrap up inearly 2015.The projects will enable the railroad to perform 1.35 million

more container lifts annually. It takes a lot of capital to completethese types of projects, and the more than $200 million allocatedfor the facilities shows that CSX is willing to commit the necessarydollars.

“We continue to invest in our network to meet shipperdemands in this growing segment,” said Gooden.

One huge investment is the National Gateway, a double-stackcorridor CSX is developing between Mid-Atlantic ports and theMidwest through an $850 million public-private partnership.

The railroad completed the first phase between itsChambersburg, Pa., intermodal facility and the Northwest OhioTerminal a year ago, and now is focused on finishing the secondphase, which calls for completing double-stack clearances betweenChambersburg and ports in Baltimore and Norfolk, Va.

The Northwest Ohio Terminal is the gateway's central hub,and the ILC and Valleyfield facilities feed into or off the corridoras part of CSX's hub-and-spoke strategy. CSX aims to positionintermodal facilities to best attract and amass traffic, then transportthe freight to a number of destinations and in various directions,much like the spokes of a bicycle wheel radiating out from thecenter.

“The hub-and-spoke capability is a great supplement to ourcorridor network. It allows us to efficiently connect lower-densitymarkets and provide intermodal service to and from more places,”said Gooden. "With our Northwest Ohio Terminal, we are able toaggregate sufficient volume to profitably serve smaller markets,very similar to how the major airlines use hubs to create density fortowns that they could not serve profitably point to point."

A hub-based strategy increases the number of origin-destination pairs that can be served, but slows transit times andappeals more to container ship operators and truckers not needingtruck-like service, said Stifel Financial Corp. analyst John Larkin,who follows CSX. Conversely, a corridor-centric strategy isdesigned to divert traffic from the highway.

“It is not clear which strategy is better and which is worse. Itis clear that they are different and that they appeal to a differentstrata of customers,” said Larkin. “While CSX has just the onemajor hub now in North Baltimore, I believe they may next build asimilar facility in the Southeast, and may ultimately finish off theirtriangular system with a final hub facility in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast.”

The Winter Haven and Valleyfield terminals are at the end ofCSX's “network tentacles,” and serve the role of originating andterminating traffic, he said.

“By building collection and distribution terminals at theextreme ends of the company's intermodal network, CSX increasesthe odds that intermodal is economical for its customers,” saidLarkin. “These terminals attract long-haul traffic that can, in effect,amortize the terminal costs associated with each load over moreand efficient line-haul miles.”

Based on other articles, it appears that Norfolk Southern’sapproach to intermodal traffic utilizes the Corridor Methodologymore than the Hub Methodology preferred by CSX. NorfolkSouthern CEO Wick Moorman’s emphasis has been on thedevelopment of multiple well-defined intermodal corridors such asthe Crescent Corridor, Heartland Corridor, and the MeridianSpeedway.

The perception is that NS is more geared towards direct,long-haul intermodal traffic rather than spreading out tentacles topromote new intermodal business. The two different intermodalbusiness approaches might be based on the confirguration of theexisting railroad networks and the opportunities they have toenhance intermodal business in the regions they serve. - ED

CSX PLANS FOR INTERMODAL TRAFFIC GROWTH


P&W Purchases EMD SD70M-2sProvidence & Worcester Railroad has purchased its first six-

motor locomotives, a pair of EMD SD70M-2s. The unitspreviously operated as Florida East Coast Nos. 100 and 102.Although the 500-mile northeastern regional periodically usesleased CEFX SD40-s and GATX SD60s, the nine-year oldSD70M-2s will be the first six-axle units on the roster, which nowis dominated by GE B39-8s and B40-8s.

Both units will eventually receive P&W's orange and browncolors, likely after the close of the railroad's busy aggregate-shipping season. The railroad has an extensive aggregate businessin Connecticut, with line hauls to New York City, and the biglocomotives will be welcome on these long and heavy trains.

Trains News Wire

Iowa Pacific to operate Grenada RailwayThe North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority

announced that it completed its acquisition of the Grenada RailwayLLC and signed a 15-year operating agreement with a subsidiaryof Iowa Pacific Holdings.

The line extends between milepost 403.0 in Southaven, Miss.and milepost 703.8 near Canton, Miss., and the Water Valleybranch located between milepost 604.0 at Water Valley Junctionand milepost 614.42 at Bruce Junction.

The Grenada Branch line serves customers along the NorthCentral Mississippi corridor, providing access to five Class Irailroads, and to the Gulf of Mexico via its connections with CN inMemphis, Tenn., and Canton, Miss. Progressive Railroading

Vermont Rail System Acquires Six-axle PowerVermont Rail System will be acquiring its first six-axle

locomotives, former Florida East Coast SD70M-2s Nos. 101 and103, which will be shipped to Vermont for acceptance. Eventually,the pair will cycle through the Providence & Worcester paint boothfor red paint and Vermont Railway numbers Nos. 431 and 432.Plans for the SD70M-2s include regular use on the Whitehall toBellows Falls trains, Nos. 263 and 264.

Vermont Rail System sold five of its GP40s: VTR No. 301 and312 and GMRC Nos. 302, 304, 305 to GATX Corp and will leasethree MP15s from GMTX,. ex-Canadian Pacific Nos. 1404, 1428,and 1433 which were renumbered to GMTX Nos. 316, 312 and318, respectively. Two of the units were promptly shipped to CADRailway Industries in Lachine, Quebec, for rebuilding.

Once in service, the plan is to free up road power by placingthe MP15s in yard switching service at Rutland, Bellows Falls, andBurlington. Trains News Wire

Tennessee Museum Acquires Southern U23BThe Southern Appalachia Railway Museum in Knoxville has

purchased former Southern Railway/Georgia Central U23B No.3965. The high hood “U Boat” was built by General Electric inFebruary 1977 for the Southern. It was retired in July 1996 and wassold to the Georgia Central Railroad where it has worked until thismonth. Plans are to perform necessary service work and put the unitin service on arrival at the museum. The unit will join themuseum’s former Louisville & Nashville U23B No. 2817 letteredas CSX No. 9553. Trains News Wire

Long Island's Massapequa Station ReopensThe Long Island Rail Road's Massapequa Station has reopened

following a $20.5 million rehabilitation. The Station ImprovementProject got underway in spring 2013. It included the replacementof the 12-car elevated platform, station canopy, platform waitingroom, staircases, elevator, escalator, lighting, public addresssystem, signage and the installation of a station-wide, videosecurity system. It is the most significant investment by the railroadsince the station was raised from street level in 1953.

The station’s finishing flourishes include permanent public artworks showcasing the work of artist Peter Drake, a Long Islandnative. Drake painted station scenes of an earlier time which werethen transformed into a series of 17 laminated glass windows thatenclose the waiting room and above the stairways as well as imagesthat were turned into a series of mosaic tiles. Trains News Wire

Hoosier State Route Agreement ReachedThe Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and

local communities reached long-term agreements with Amtrakand Iowa Pacific Holdings to continue Hoosier State passenger-rail service between Indianapolis and Chicago.

Iowa Pacific will serve as the state’s contractor to providetrain equipment and maintenance, food service, and marketing.

The service got off to a rocky start when the IP train arrivedlate to connect with Amtrak’s Cardinal. Apparently there are anumber of difficulties to overcome such as signaling systemsthat date back to the 1930s, five different dispatchers over one29 mile segment, poor track conditions, inconvenient andinfrequent scheduling. Progressive Railroading

Walker Vetoes Repeal of RR Trespass LawWisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has vetoed a provision in the

new, two-year state budget that would have repealed a law thatprohibited people from trespassing on railroad property.

The railroad industry had raised concerns that repealing thetrespassing law would hurt efforts to prevent railroad trespass-related deaths and injuries. The measure was slipped into the state'sbudget proposal during deliberations last week.

Union Pacific Railroad officials were among those expressingconcern about the proposed repeal, particularly when trespassfatalities have been increasing nationally. Progressive Railroading

Hudson River Rail Tunnel DiscussionsFollowing several days of rail service interruptions along

Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, U.S. Transportation SecretaryAnthony Foxx asked New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and NewYork Gov. Andrew Cuomo to meet to discuss plans to build a newrail tunnel under the Hudson River.

In a letter obtained by The New York Times, Foxx upheldAmtrak's Gateway Project to create two new tubes under the riveras the only “credible concept” to build a new tunnel, and added thathe is willing to explore federal financial assistance for the project.

The project would double the current train capacity under theriver and would enable repair of the existing 105-year-old tunnel,Foxx said.

“Neither Amtrak nor your individual States, acting alone, canreplace these tunnels,” Foxx wrote in the letter. “It will take all ofus working together.” Progressive Railroading

J=======KLRAILROAD NEWS BRIEFS

THE GREEN BLOCK BACK PAGECENTRAL NEW YORK CHAPTER, NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC

• 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS • Phil Edwards • Tom Edwards • Albert Kallfelz • Josie LeMay Bob McNamara • Gus Nordone • Dick Palmer • Jeff Paston

Tom Pierson • Robert Townsend • Gerrit Vanderwerff• OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS •

President ................................................................................ Al KallfelzFirst Vice President ......................................................... Phil EdwardsVice President & Recording Secretary ............................. Jeff PastonTreasurer ........................................................................... Josie LeMayCorresponding Secretary ............................................. Herb MeinkingNational Representative ............................................................... OpenElectronic Media Coordinator ............................................ Jeff PastonProgram Coordinator .........................................................Dick PalmerLibrarian and Archivist ..................................................... Dick PalmerRailroadiana Store Managers ..................................... Bob McNamaraState Fair Display Coordinator ............................................ Al KallfelzMartisco Museum Curator ............................................................ OpenCentral Square Museum Curators ....... Harvey Harke & Bob TownsendMembership Chairperson ...............................................Tom EdwardsEditor & Historian ..................................................................... Ed PostFinancial Advisor ................................................................ Paul ShinalEquipment Coordinator ....................................................... Jeff HaganExcursion Coordinator ....................................................... Rick FaigleModel RR Exhibit Coordinator ....................................... Phil Edwards

CHAPTER MEETINGSChapter meetings are held on the third Wednesday ofeach month and the Board of Directors meet the firstWednesday of each month in the Art and Home Centerat the New York State Fairgrounds.

ANNUAL DUES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015

Regular Members are adults more than 24 years old.· Student Members are ages 13 thru 24. Family Members are family members living in thesame household as a Regular or Student Member.

Youth Members are children ages 5 thru 12. Additional Members have their main NRHSmembership with another NRHS Chapter.

Additional and Youth Members do not have CNYChapter voting privileges.

Green Block Subscriptions (Non-members) are $15.Dues and Subscriptions run from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31

Member CategoryRegularStudentFamilyYouth

Additional

National$50$16$7$5

------

Chapter$15$15$5

$15$15

Total$65$31$12$20$15

Nickel Plate Road #765 taking on coal in Corning, NY, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo by Ed Post.

HIGH GREEN The Official Newsletter of the

Chesapeake Railway Association Volume 41, Number 8 August 2015

www.chessierail.org

Karl Larsen Rides Away

Long-time Chessie member Karl D. Larsen, Jr., of Derwood, Maryland, died on Wednesday, July 8 due to complications from hepatic failure. His obituary, published in the Washington Post, noted that “Karl also participated in the restoration of a steam locomotive for the City of Gaithersburg.” He’s seen here during a visit to the Cass Scenic Railroad. This Month’s Meeting: Wednesday, August 5 at 8 p.m. at the former B&O station in Silver Spring, MD, where John Sery will present a DVD titled Inside Grand Central, exploring the 130-year history of this great station and taking an inside look at daily operations and train dispatching. Following Meeting: Saturday, September 5 at 12:30 p.m. for the Joint Annual CRA/WS Picnic in the Walkersville Community Park in Walkersville, MD, alongside the tracks of the Walkersville Southern Railroad.

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Chesapeake Railway Association Officers and Directors President Tim Moriarty 2781 Prince Harold Court, Herndon, VA 20171-2441 (703) 758-7449 [email protected] Vice President Wayne Kirchhof 16490 A. E. Mullinix Road, Woodbine, MD 21797-8430 (410) 489-5987 [email protected] Treasurer Paul Bergdolt 8832 N. Westland Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-1206 (301) 926-6136 [email protected] Secretary Bill Breazeale 11302 Orleans Way, Kensington, MD 20895-1017 (301) 942-0083 Director Bill Breazeale 11302 Orleans Way, Kensington, MD 20895-1017 (301) 942-0083 Equipment Chief Tim Moriarty 2781 Prince Harold Court, Herndon, VA 20171-2441 (703) 758-7449 [email protected] Programs Tim Moriarty 2781 Prince Harold Court, Herndon, VA 20171-2441 (703) 758-7449 [email protected] Editor Tim Moriarty 2781 Prince Harold Court, Herndon, VA 20171-2441 (703) 758-7449 [email protected] The High Green is published monthly prior to each membership meeting. Contributions for inclusion in the newsletter are welcome. Send news items, articles and photos (via email or hard copy) to the editor at the address above. Originals will be scanned and returned. Be sure to include caption information. Please send address changes to Paul Bergdolt at the snail-mail or email address above.

AUGUST TIMETABLE 1: Virginia Train Collectors Meet at Charlottesville Elk's Lodge 389, 389 Elk Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22991 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, and children 12 and under will be admitted free. For information contact Russell Youens, 2019 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220, ph 804-342-6023 or go to www.vatraincollectors.com 1-2: Greenberg’s Train & Toy Show at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium, MD 21093 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $7 ($2 more if purchased at the door), kids under 12 enter for free. Admission is good for both days. 7: WM Railway Historical Society Membership Meeting at 8 p.m. at the Community Center, 4770 Ladiesburg Road, Union Bridge, MD. 8: Winchester Chapter, NRHS Membership Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Calvary Church of the Brethren, 578 Front Royal Pike (Route 522), Winchester, VA. The church is located south of Route 50 near Winchester Airport Road (southeast of Winchester and east of I-81). 8: Baltimore Chapter NRHS Annual Picnic from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, featuring catered pit beef, pit turkey, and pit ham. Minimum donation: $12 per adult and $6 per child, and (if possible) a donation of salads, cakes, desserts, etc. The picnic will also offer burgers, hot dogs, condiments, sodas and other goodies as well as streetcar rides in the evening. To take part, send your name, the number in your party, phone number, email address, donation amount, whether or not you’re bringing a food donation (and if yes, what kind), and if you’re volunteering to help with the event, to Mark Hummel, 6409 Marietta Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21214 or email him at [email protected] (The picnic takes the place of this month’s membership meeting.) 8: 37th Annual Lynchburg Rail Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boonsboro Ruritan Club, 1065 Coffee Road Lynchburg, VA 24503. Admission: $6/person; family admission: $10. Children 12 and under enter free with a paying adult. For additional information contact Barry Moorefield at [email protected] or go to the Blue Ridge Chapter NRHS website at www.blueridgenrhs.org 9 & 30: Track Car Rides on the Stewartstown Railroad. For information call 717-654-7530 or send email to: [email protected] 11: Action Coalition for Transit Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Center, 8818 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD.

18: Potomac Chapter, NRHS Membership Meeting at 8 p.m. in the main auditorium, Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD. The evening’s presentation will be Memories of The Katy, a commercially-produced film featuring the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad will be shown. The film covers the Katy’s freight operations in Texas and Oklahoma with its colorful EMD diesels in the mid-1980s just prior to being sold to the Union Pacific. Scenes of trains passing Tower 55 in Fort Worth before the massive overhead highway structures were built are included, as well as clips of vintage Burlington Northern and Union Pacific trains. 18: Rivanna Chapter, NRHS Membership Meeting at the Timberwood Grill on Route 29 North across from the Hollymead Town Center, Charlottesville, VA, starting with a social hour and dinner/buffet at 6 p.m. and the meeting and program at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. Web: http://nrhsrivanna.blogspot.com Email: [email protected] 21: Washington DC Chapter, NRHS Membership Meet-ing at 8 p.m. at the former B&O Silver Spring station. Program: TBA. 22-23: Greenberg’s Train & Toy Show at the Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20151 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $7 ($2 more if purchased at the door), kids under 12 enter for free. Admission is good for both days. 22-23: Historic Antietam Station Open House featuring operating model train layouts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free admission, donations accepted. The museum is located at 17230 Shepherdstown Pike (Route 34) just past the pharmacy in Sharpsburg, MD. Web: www.antietamstation.com Email: [email protected] Voicemail: 301-800-9829. 29: RF&P Railroad Historical Society Meeting at the Salem Church Branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library at 2607 Salem Church Road, Spotsylvania County, VA, at 10 a.m. Contact the Society at [email protected] to let them know you’re coming and to ensure they order enough pizza. 29: Annual Potomac Chapter Picnic at the Gaithersburg (MD) City Hall Park Pavilion; details to be announced in the August 2015 issue of the Potomac Rail News.

mailto:[email protected]







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AROUND THE BEND 12 Sep: Antietam Station Model Train Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Washington County Agricultural Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike near Sharpsburg, MD, 6.5 miles south of I-70 Exit 29 on MD Route 65. Admission is $5 donation, under 12 free. For further information call 301-800-9829, send email to [email protected] or go to: www.antietamstation.com/Events.html 25-26 Sep: East Coast Train Show from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Memorial Hall West at the fairgrounds in York, PA. Admission is $10 and free for children 12 and under accompanied by a paying adult. For details go to www.eclsts.com/dates1.html 27 Sep: Arbutus [MD] Train & Toy Show at the Arbutus Fire Hall, half a mile off Baltimore Beltway Exit 12A at 5200 Southwestern Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $4, children under 12 enter free with an adult. For information contact Frank or Sunny at 410-465-3782.

INTERNAL BIDNIZ Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, August 5 at 8 p.m. at the former B&O passenger station, 8100 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. John Sery will present a DVD titled Inside Grand Central exploring the 130-year history of this great station and taking an inside look at daily operations and train dispatching. See you there! Also, mark your calendars for September 5 at 12:30 to attend the CRA/WS Joint Annual Picnic in the Walkersville Community Park next to the tracks of the Walkersville Southern Railroad. As always, the event will feature burgers, hot dogs, chips, soft drinks, and the opportunity to ride on the WSRR. There is no charge, although donations of food, drink and cash are welcome. Details to come in the September HG.

LAST RUN Chessie member Karl D. Larsen, Jr., 75, of Derwood, Maryland died Wednesday July 8, 2015 in Rockville, MD of complications from hepatic failure. His obituary, published in the Washington Post, noted that “Karl also participated in the restoration of a steam locomotive for the City of Gaithersburg.”

Although Karl didn’t attend Chessie membership meetings, his widow, Jane Gascoyne, said he enjoyed reading the High Green each month. Karl and Jane also enjoyed traveling to and riding excursion railroads near and far, particularly the Cass Scenic Railroad seen in this month’s HG cover photo.

So that others could also enjoy Karl’s large collection of rail books, magazines and video tapes, Jane donated them to the CRA. Karl also had a very extensive collection of tools of all types which Jane generously donated to the CRA as well. They will be taken to Walkersville to be used in maintaining our two cabooses and assisting the WS in repairing and restoring rail cars and locomotives. Thanks so much, Jane!

WES VERNON ON THE RAILS Purple Line: Will the Trains Run Before We’re All Dead? The Purple Line light rail project finally has been given a hugely (hoped for) final go ahead, as Governor Larry Hogan green-lighted the ambitious economic engine that would connect Washington’s Maryland suburbs, with stops carefully placed at major business centers and near the residential areas of potential customers and employees, as well as stops at four Metrorail connections; the Red Line at Bethesda and Silver Spring; the Green and Yellow lines at College Park; and the Orange Line at New Carrollton. We did it, and we’re glad

This column is proud to have championed this cause, along with other (more powerful) advocates of growth and prosperity, as well as organized activists promoting better travel options for residents in their daily lives. For thirty years the Purple Line project has been cussed and discussed, and finally Governor Hogan, here and now in 2015 passed (so far) an EARLY major test of his campaign portrayal as a smart businessman who knows what it takes to give these communities within the state a badly-needed economic shot in the arm. Good Guys vs. Bad Guys—and Ahem…er—Dumb Guys (and Gals)?

Oh, but what about Baltimore neighbors? They too were hoping for the go-ahead from the state capitol on a new “Red Line” serving their community. They came up empty-handed. Hmmm -- anyone want to wonder why? Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlins-Blake says she is “disheartened” that Governor Hogan would leave her city out of the 2015 light rail sweepstakes.

Far be it for me to try to read the governor’s mind. He rejected any “investment” in the proposed 14.1-mile Red Line. (Not to be confused with the 29-year-old Wash-ington Red Line Metrorail subway that has one line serving Montgomery with two spokes at either end of the county reaching D.C. That’s a different story.) The yet-to-built (if ever) Red Line

As for Baltimore’s proposed light rail Red Line: Why did the governor block it after okaying the Purple Line?

Let’s imagine a hypothetical for a moment, okay? I can envision a possibility that any governor (not

necessarily this one, but any governor) as he was pondering the Baltimore Red Line, would say to himself, “Now let me see if I have this straight. The city of Baltimore wants me to come up with the scratch for a portion of an estimated $2.9-billion rail line. But at the same time the city’s rowdies are out there doing their Burn, Baby, Burn act, the mayor says right out loud in public that she stood by, told the cops to look the other way because the destructive elements of the city needed to get this anger out of their system, and besides it is ‘only’ private property, so who cares? Now look, as Governor of Maryland, part of my job is to try to have concern for the legitimate needs of all our citizens, but Holy Cow, I’m not in the business of handing out money so thugs can ‘go to it’ and try to burn the city down because they have a bee in their bonnets. How much of the money these guys wanted me to hand them could have helped pay for their share of the Red Line? Tsk! Tsk! I’m very ‘disheartened’ by that.”


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Meanwhile the Purple Line, whose backers possess a better sense of how to count their change, would be justified in requesting Baltimore’s now-denied share of the state money too, but maybe they’d better grab what they’ve got and run while they’re ahead. All-out war with the Burn Baby Burn crowd isn’t worth it. Cold Water, Naysayers, & Yammerers

The governor made it plain; however, that he is not giving away the store. He is expecting the counties benefitting from the Purple Line to kick in more than previously thought.

Montgomery’s county council members indicate this no problem. Nonetheless it is a problem for Mont-gomery’s Congressman Chris Van Hollen, who protests that (gasp!) the counties directly benefitting from the line will (horrors!) be asked to pay more for it. Whoever thought of such an outrageous thing? Expecting people to pay for what they get! The nerve!

So what’s Van Hollen’s problem? Pssst! Have you forgotten? He’s running for the U.S. Senate. That means he wants to add constituents from Prince George’s which does have a problem with such an expectation, to say nothing of those Baltimore folks, including those whose mayor wants to (über alles) soothe the anger of the Burn, Baby, Burn crowd. Trial bar licking its chops

Ah, yes! The Desert Rat lobby is gearing up for its turn at litigating for the greenies and no doubt to advance the green color of money bolstering their bottom lines, including monetary fuel for their next “Global Warming” case.

One Chevy Chase attorney thinks he has found an obscure creature residing in park areas a couple of miles south of the proposed Purple Line rail. (Oh, dear!) (but) Hot dog! Goody! Goody! Think of all those court appearances and billable hours arising from publicity of our well-publicized court appearances! The amateur land-grabbers

Then there are those hiker/bikers who just took over the train tracks almost the day after the trains of the Chessie System (aka CSX) vacated the cross-county freight line in 1985. They didn’t ask the county for it; they grabbed the property and waxed indignant when the tracks were proposed for usage by many more commuters (i.e., for the greater good).

The county did nothing to stop them right from the start. I mean, this is somewhat akin to a homeowner confronting a burglar his house and saying, "Pray tell, what brings you here, my friend. Here, let's settle this like civilized people. Tell you what: You bring your lawyer here and I'll bring mine, and we can sit down here and have a conversation like gentlemen. Here, have a beer with me while we wait.

For the land absconders, let every comment this column has applied to them over the years apply double. (Sigh!) It ain’t over ‘til it’s over

It says here the bidder for the Purple Line design and construction could begin by May 16, and that the bidder is to be named by January 15. The Washington Post attributes that to bid documents.

We should be so lucky. We can only hope. We still have many hurdles to navigate until the Purple Line is built. So we need to stick to this fight and hope we get to ride the Purple Line trains before we’re all dead. Wes Vernon, a longtime member of the CRA, is also a longtime columnist for the High Green.

WHERE THE TRAINS ARE Rob Taylor took this picture of Chambersburg Cold Storage No. 8411, an EMD SW1 located at 1480 Nitterhouse Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17201 on November 15, 2005. Built for the B&O in August 1940 as its No. 211, it was renumbered 8411 in 1957. The locomotive was sold to the Winchester & Western Railroad in 1964 where it retained its number and it was resold to Mount Airy Cold Storage [MACS] in 1985. It was transferred and renamed as Chambersburg Cold Storage 8411 in 1995.

FREIGHT RAIL NEWS On CSXT Rails in Virginia: Dismantling of the single-lane concrete overpass (built circa 1921) along the RF&P Subdivision at milepost CFP 89.24, located about midway between the Woodbridge VRE station and the Occoquan River, began during the last week of July as part of CSXT's effort to raise clearance levels along the route between Richmond and Washington, DC. The bridge carried Rail-road Avenue over the tracks at Jefferson Davis Highway just before the bridges over the Occoquan River. An alternative connection was established for residents living east of the tracks along Railroad Avenue. Speaking of clearance issues, progress continues on CSXT's efforts on the Virginia Avenue Tunnel project. Number 1 track, the former default freight route from L'Enfant to the south tunnel, has been removed as far as CP Virginia in order to further lower the right-of-way under the L'Enfant promenade. Number 2 track is now the through-freight route, shared with passenger trains as far as the new signals at CFP 112.5 (Capitol). In a related move, the signals at CFP 112.7 (Jersey) have been retired. The eventuality of a tunnel for No. 1 and 2 tracks made this control point superfluous. Guest Columnist Slugs: LTEX 466, an EMD SW1, is at Curry Rail Services in Hollidaysburg, PA. The company appears to be acquiring frames to build slugs. The locomotive was previously operated by the Mahoning Valley Railway and was also Union Railroad 466.

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr818.htm

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PRESERVATION NEWS Porter 0-6-0 Tank Engine to be Restored for Operation: The Project 02 team is pleased to announce plans to restore USATC 5002 to eventual operation in southeast Pennsylvania [on the Colebrookdale Railroad. Ed]. This is a long term project, as is any steam locomotive restoration. 5002 was built for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps in 1942 by Porter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a Class S-100. It weighs 45 tons and is an 0-6-0T. After WW II it is believed to have become E.J. Lavino No. 2 (below).

Later it was purchased for use at Tombstone

Junction where it was overhauled and used for a single season as their #2 before being retired. After sitting for a number of years, 5002 was moved to Kentucky by a doctor with hopes of hauling tourist trains at the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven. It transferred ownership again and will return to Pennsylvania for the first time in four decades. After restoration 5002 will haul tourists as a proud symbol of industrial Pennsylvania.

Ex-U.S. Army 5002 today. Both photos via the Project 02 website.

To donate to the restoration of this locomotive, go to www.gofundme.com/project-02 Update on the Lion Gardiner Effort: Please allow me to again thank our donors for their support of our campaign to Save the Lion Gardiner. Their generous donations have given credence to the effort to save an iconic landmark of railroad history many folks had forgotten about, never

knew about, or simply given up on. Positive press in national publications has spread the story of this campaign and the car. Encouraged by our efforts, an angel has stepped up and agreed to bear the full cost of moving the car; however, the car will not be coming to the Colebrookdale Railroad. Rather, it will become part of a fleet of other cars undergoing restoration. While we were excited to restore the car here at the Colebrookdale, the new owner has a long track record of successful restora-tion and the resources to bring about a good outcome.

John Durant took this photo of the Lion Gardiner (ex-D&H 154 exx-NYC 519) in Kingston, NY, on July 15, 2015.

Last week we contacted each of our donors with this news and given then access to contact us directly. We thank them again for their support. Let's celebrate the good that has come from it!

Many good projects are underway here on the Colebrookdale, including the restoration of three heavyweight passenger cars. We hope you will consider supporting that work, too.

Sincerely, Committee to Save the Lion Gardiner (The buyer has not been indentified; however, it’s believed to be Iowa Pacific Holdings which has a large fleet of Pullmans. Ed.) Former Canadian Pacific 4-6-2s to Move from Virginia to Winnipeg: Two former Canadian Pacific G5 class 4-6-2 locomotives will return to Canada after spending more than 40 years in central Virginia. Nos. 1238 and 1286 operated as the showcase of Jack Showalter’s Virginia Central tourist Railroad in Covington, VA, from the 1970s to 1990s.

The locomotives have been stored on the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in Staunton, VA, for more than 15 years and will soon be moved to The Vintage Locomotive Society Inc., the operator of the Prairie Dog Central Railway in Winnipeg. The locomotives have been acquired for use in one or more steam excursion operations, but will remain in storage at Winnipeg while future operating plans and commitments are under review.

The two steamers operated tourist excursions on the ex-Chesapeake & Ohio Hot Springs Branch, a 15-mile line connecting Covington, VA, with the Hot Springs Resort. Under the leadership of Jack Showalter, Nos. 1238 and 1286 would lead occasional trips on former C&O main lines, including a 1983 trip to the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV.

http://www.gofundme.com/project-02

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In addition to the two steam locomotives, five passenger cars will go to the North Carolina Transporta-tion Museum. Those cars include three 1948-built Pullman coaches for the Grand Truck Western, an ex-Baltimore & Ohio diner, and ex-U.S. Army diner. The Spencer, NC-based museum intends to place the B&O diner into service for the museum’s popular 2015 Polar Express excursions later this year. Each of the cars will receive additional renovations as time permits.

The three remaining passenger cars in Showalter’s Virginia Central collection, ex-RF&P heavyweights, will go to Roanoke’s Virginia Museum of Transportation for restoration.

Showalter, an influential tourist railroad operator and steam preservationist died in November 2014. Chase Gunnoe, Trains Newswire, July 23, 2015 via Alex Mayes (The locomotives reportedly departed via flat car on July 17. Ed.) Stewartstown Caboose Project: The Stewartstown Railroad is to receive a gift of a former Union Pacific Railroad caboose from a private donor; however, the caboose is located on panel track in Arbutus (near Baltimore), MD, and must be moved by truck and flatbed trailer to its rail yard in Stewartstown, PA. This move, along with associated loading and unloading costs, is estimated to cost about $14,000. The Friends of the Stewartstown Railroad, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, has raised half of this amount to help the railroad defray these costs. The Friends of the Stewartstown Railroad organization is now trying to raise the balance.

Former UP 25623, Class CA-9, at the corner of Knecht Avenue and Pistorio Road in Arbutus, MD, on the east side of the Northeast Corridor. Photo via the donation website.

Won't you help us preserve an iconic artifact of

American railroad history? Thank you for your help! To donate go to www.gofundme.com/8r6ec6x68 Friends of the Stewartstown Railroad, Inc. P.O. Box 456 Stewartstown, PA 17363-0456 (717) 654-7530 (The former PRR cabin car currently on the STR is privately owned. Its owner has plans to move it elsewhere. Ed.)

Eastern Shore Scenic Railroad Project Moves Forward After Years of Effort: Eastern Shore Scenic Railroad volunteers and state officials started lease negotiations at a meeting last month (June) in Hurlock, for an unused, state-owned stretch of railroad track between Hurlock and Preston.

Eastern Shore Scenic Railroad (ESSR) volunteers have worked for more than nine years to get rights to the 6.4-mile span of unused railroad track. The state’s department of transportation owns the 66-foot right-of-way that includes the track.

The group wants to develop a scenic passenger train ride, which could provide a boom for tourism in the area. If realized, the scenic railroad would become the first of its kind in the region.

“People love trains,” said David Owens, vice president of the ESSR volunteer group. Owens, along with ESSR Board President Ellery Adams; group Secretary Susan Bautz and Dorchester County Councilman Rick Price, met with state officials in June and discussed a possible lease.

Dennis Schrader, newly appointed deputy secretary for the Maryland Department of Transportation, attended the June meeting and said he plans to facilitate success for the proposed project.

“You have lots of opportunities out there,” Schrader said. “We want to be helpful.”

Schrader also indicted the need to work as honest brokers, finding answers quickly while ensuring the state is protected.

“Mr. Schrader has been very helpful,” Adams said. “We also can’t thank enough former state Sen. Richard Colburn, and Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, director of intergovernmental affairs for Maryland.”

Both have been instrumental in moving the project forward, Adams added.

The Eastern Shore Scenic Railroad is a non-profit organization working to establish a 6.4-mile Hurlock to Preston tourist and educational railroad. Founded in 2005, the group is governed by a board of trustees. ESSR conducted a project feasibility study in 2010. DelmarvaNow.com, July 24, 2015 (There is no connection between the Eastern Shore Scenic Railroad and the Eastern Shore Railroad that formerly ran over tracks currently operated by the Bay Coast Railroad. Ed.) It's Back on Track Dedicated group of volunteers brings a caboose to its home and looks to restore it to its former glory Months of planning, careful disassembly and a flatbed ride have brought the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway's original caboose back to its Piney River home at the Nelson and Amherst county border.

Now, a team of volunteers will work to restore the caboose to its original splendor in the coming years.

The caboose, originally built in the mid-1920s, was used by Southern Railway, then sold to and used by the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway.

Ted Hughes, one of the volunteers helping to restore the caboose, said the project began about a year ago when Steve Martin, a lawyer in Amherst, took Hughes to see the caboose in its previous location.

http://trn.trains.com/authors/chase-gunnoe

http://trn.trains.com/authors/chase-gunnoe

http://www.gofundme.com/8r6ec6x68

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Martin had been on the search for a caboose that could sit with the restored station at Piney River.

After looking online, he found not just any caboose, but the original one that once had served the region, and located only a relatively short distance away from its intended home.

Before its trek back to the Piney River station, another railway buff named Lee Aston bought the old caboose around 1970, Hughes said, and took it to Rapidan, a small community just south of Culpeper. There, it sat in front of an old depot for about 45 years.

"[Martin] asked me if I'd ride with him up to Rapidan," Hughes said. "So we rode up there...and he wanted to know the feasibility of bringing [the caboose] back here. The old gentleman up there died, and [Aston's] wife was willing to donate it back."

They visited the caboose a couple more times in Rapidan, and Hughes gathered a group of retirees who were willing to help with the project.

"All the labor on this has been volunteer labor," Hughes said.

The process to start moving the caboose began before Christmas last year with installing the stretch of railroad tracks in Piney River where the car now sits. Then, the group started working through the paperwork necessary to make the move.

Because it has to be brought in on a truck, shipping a caboose is expensive, Martin said. Getting this one from Rapidan back to Piney River cost about $10,000.

The inside of the caboose, which needs to be restored, houses a lavatory, an icebox, three bunks, gas lights and a potbelly stove. One of the caboose's defining features, the cupola, which sits on top of the caboose and serves as a lookout station for the train, also needs restoration.

Hughes said the cupola, measuring about 9 feet by 9 feet, had to be removed during transit because it would be too high once the caboose was sitting on the truck.

Now that the caboose is situated back on the Piney River tracks, the first thing to do will be to put the cupola back on top, Hughes said.

Clay McDonald photo, January 12, 2012, Rapidan, VA

"That'll stabilize it," Hughes said. "You usually

start building at the bottom and build up, [but] we need to stabilize the roof, and then we've got to go back and fix the floor and work up from there."

Before they moved the caboose from Rapidan, Martin said, volunteers took the loose metal from the caboose, stabilized it and wrapped it in a tarp.

The caboose will remain wrapped in the tarp until the cupola is put back on, Hughes said, since the tarp currently is protecting the caboose from the weather and holding it together. Depending on how the timing of everything goes, Hughes said, the tarp could stay on the caboose for six months. Nicole Steenburgh, Amherst New Era-Progress, July 26, 2015

PASSENGER RAIL NEWS Laurel MARC Station Might Move: The owners of Laurel Park have asked the state Department of Transportation to consider moving the MARC station on Main Street to a new location near the racetrack, officials said. A work group met Friday (7/10) to study the transportation needs in the area around the Laurel station and consider the request.

Laurel government officials say moving the MARC station would hurt local businesses.

"It would take a part of economic development plan and put a big hole in it," said City Council President H. Edward Ricks.

The move would also limit transportation options for people moving into new apartments by the current station, said Jack Brock, the Community Planning and Business Services director.

About half of the 310 apartments in the new development are leased, he said. The proximity of the apartments to the train station attracted residents, Ricks said.

The Laurel Park owners made the request to the transportation department about six weeks ago, according to the state agency. There's currently a flag MARC station by Laurel Park with limited service.

The vice president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club, Sal Sinatra, suggested moving Preakness from Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course to Laurel Park last month.

Sinatra said he had no timetable for making a decision.

Erin Henson, a spokeswoman for the department of transportation, said creation of the study group was not motivated by Sinatra's actions.

The study group is reviewing major developments in the area to understand needs of the growing region, Henson said. "We want to make sure the existing station or new station will meet the demand of increased residents and businesses," she said.

The group is made up of representatives from counties and state transportation officials.

Ricks said the city will fight to keep the station on Main Street. Cindy Huang, Capital Gazette, July 10, 2015 via Wayne Gordon PTC Deadline Leaves VRE, MARC Considering Shut-downs: Officials with Virginia Railway Express and MARC said their commuter rail services may have to stop operations in January, unless Congress extends a deadline to install advanced safety technology set by legislation passed in 2008. As WAMU 88.5 detailed in May, the process has faced major technical and funding hurdles.

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The communications technology, known as Positive Train Control (PTC), prevents trains from colliding and breaking speed limits. Amtrak officials have said it would have prevented the derailment in Philadelphia in May that killed eight passengers.

“There's been communication from the industry – both the commuter rail industry as well as the freight railroad industry – that more time is necessary,” said VRE chief executive Doug Allen, in remarks before the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board.

"For VRE, two years would do the trick," Allen said. The 2008 legislation set the Dec. 31 deadline and

did not allow for any waivers. The Federal Railroad Administration is not asking Congress to extend the deadline, either. Instead, an agency spokesman pointed to recent testimony by the FRA’s acting administrator Sarah Feinberg.

“FRA continues our work to finalize an enforcement strategy for those railroads that will miss the deadline. As with any regulatory enforcement posture, our ultimate goal is to bring all railroads into compliance as quickly and as safely as possible,” Feinberg said before a House panel on June 24.

“Starting on January 1, 2016, FRA will impose penalties on railroads that have not fully implemented PTC,” she said.

Both MARC and VRE said their trains have the proper equipment but the freight carriers that own the tracks – and who have spent billions of their own money to upgrade to PTC – need more time.

“CSX and Norfolk Southern are installing the wayside equipment. They will not be done with that by the end of the year," Allen said.

MARC’s Erich Kolig described contingency plans for January. They would include "cross-honoring tickets on the WMATA system and other forms of transportation. We would attempt to install bus bridges; however, we are limited for capacity. Most of our trains carry over a thousand people and that is tough to put on a 60-passenger bus.”

Amtrak had the proper PTC equipment in place but it was not yet operational in May when train No. 188 derailed on its way from DC to New York. Amtrak officials have said testing of its PTC system will be completed by the Dec. 31 deadline. Martin Di Caro, WAMU 88.5, July 23, 2015 via Alex Mayes SEPTA Plans Second Trolley Tunnel Blitz: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) forces will work around the clock during a 16-day Trolley Tunnel outage starting July 31, performing maintenance and construction work.

Crews will replace nearly 7,500 feet of track between 22nd and 30th Street stations; install new railings and stairs at eight stations including 13th and 22nd streets; make general station improvements and repairs with a focus on 19th Street Station; replace 2,880 feet of wire support assemblies and perform graffiti removal, painting and general maintenance at every station along the Trolley Tunnel Loop.

The Trolley Tunnel Blitz is part of Rebuilding for the Future, SEPTA's infrastructure, investment and

revitalization program that tackles a $5 billion backlog of projects, including power, track, communications, signals and bridge and station improvements.

This is the second year SEPTA has taken a blitz approach to its trolley tunnel maintenance. In July 2014, the authority replaced 14,000 feet of rail, two switches, 24,000 feet of overhead contact wire and another track components. SEPTA says this blitz is a continuation of the work performed in 2014. Railway Track & Structures, July 10, 2015

A LOOK BACK DOWN THE TRACKS TO… Government Reneged on World War II Promise to Residents of Lost Community: It’s been 70 years but descendants of families who lost their homes in the Lycoming County village of Alvira [PA] during World War II still accuse the federal government of reneging on a promise. The bitterness of being unable to repurchase their land remains today, said Stephen C. Huddy and Paul C. Metzger. “Quite a few died of broken hearts,” he said of relatives who lived in Alvira. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, marked the beginning of the end for Alvira, established in 1825 as Wisetown. The name was changed in the 1860s. In early 1942, the War Department acquired, mostly by eminent domain, 8,400 acres about seven miles south of Williamsport on the west side of State Route 15. The property included Alvira. Residents in Alvira and surrounding areas were given six weeks to vacate. Within months, the schools, gasoline station, blacksmith shop and small businesses — all but a single church — were gone. Five generations of his family had lived in or near Alvira, said Metzger, who recalls his great-grandmother, Blanche Rothermell Jarrett, was carried off the porch the same day her home was demolished. Approximately 400 people were displaced, some moving as far south as Cumberland County to find farm land on which to start over. They saw their world disappear seemingly overnight, Metzger and Huddy said. Their homes and other structures were demolished or burned to make room for the Pennsylvania Ordnance Works, a TNT manufacturing plant operated by U.S. Rubber Co. for the government. Although upset over losing their land, the displaced residents accepted their fate in the name of patriotism because they claim they were told at a March 7, 1942 meeting in the village they could repurchase their property after the war. There is nothing in writing to confirm this, but “that’s clear from everyone we talked to,” Metzger said. The residents “were manipulated and lied to,” said Huddy, a retired Williamsport Area High School principal, who has done extensive research with Metzger into what happen in Alvira. Only about 500 acres on the east side of Route 15 in northern Union County were sold to former owners, Metzger and Huddy said their research shows.

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The government deeded 4,200 acres to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The three-prison Allenwood Federal Correctional Complex, the former Allenwood Federal Prison Camp and the Lycoming County landfill are on that land today. Another 3,018 acres were given to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and 220 acres were sold to Lycoming County. Two 18-hole golf courses were constructed on the county property. Approximately 400 acres were given to the former Williamsport Area Community College, now the Pennsylvania College of Technology, on which it built its earth sciences campus. Once the village was demolished, it took 11 months and more than 10,000 workers to build the $50 million munitions complex that contained more than 300 buildings, 150 concrete storage igloos, 17 miles of rail-road track and 55 miles of roads. Of the 12 production lines, only six went into operation, Huddy said. The ordnance works ceased operation on April 16, 1944, after only 11 months of production because atomic research in Nevada and New Mexico was progressing so well. Within a week of its closing, the facility was transferred to the Letterkenny Army Depot in Cumberland County and was renamed the Susquehanna Ordnance Depot. Its mission became to store munitions returned from the European Theater and transfer them across the country for use in the Pacific, Metzger said. It accepted an average of 300,000 tons of ammunition daily. Prior to its deactivation in 1950, the depot was used to conduct secret tests of technology at an Army laboratory at Fort Belvoir, VA. There was talk of making the government property an atomic research facility and it was mentioned as the site for the first United Nations headquarters. After the depot was closed, all the outbuildings were destroyed except for the 44-foot-wide igloos whose steel doors were welded shut. The igloos today are deteriorating and mostly overgrown with brush. All that remains of Alvira are a few foundations, cemeteries and the Stone Church (formerly Christ’s Lutheran Church), where at meetings in 1942 residents reportedly were first told the government was looking at their land to relocate Route 15, not as a site for a munitions plant. Metzger and Huddy have written a book Alvira and the Ordnance - An American Dream…Denied that details their research and contains pictures of the former town and of the ordnance works. It can be ordered at www.MuncyHistoricalSociety.org for $20. John Beauge, PennLive, March 13, 2013 Excerpt from Alvira and the Ordnance: Carl Jarrett: “Our family farm, which was just outside where the entrance to [White Deer] golf course is, and outside the Ordnance fence, was taken by the government. I was in the service from 1942-46, and when I got home I went to my congressman and told him that I was the fifth generation of Jarretts to live on that farm, and my family wanted to buy the land back. Well, he looked me in the eye

and said, ‘Young man, you might as well understand right now that the government lies a lot… you’re never gonna get your farmland back.” POW Railroad Lines: Within POW 17 miles of railroad track were laid for incoming and outgoing freight, and for the transfer of acid between production areas. Three scales of track were used. POW had five diesel locomotives, three flatcars, and 14 tank cars for the transport of toluene, TNT mix and nitric acid within POW. A 3,556-square-foot locomotive house and a 32,000-square-foot rail shop were built, too. Overgrown tracks remain in the acid areas, other track having been sold off. Via Alvira and the Ordnance: An American Dream… Denied Below is a roster of the five locomotives, all built in 1942, assigned to POW: Roadnumber Builder POW No. USA 7343 GE 3 USA 7361 Whitcomb 4 USA 7362 Whitcomb 5 USA 7483 Plymouth 1 USA 7484 Plymouth 2

7343 was first locally numbered as POW 3 before becoming US Army 7343. Later it was turned over to the Navy and became USN 65-00535 at Naval Ordnance Depot Indian Head, MD, before leaving the military and serving Keystone Steel & Wire in Peoria, IL. 7361 (POW 4) left the Army after World War II when it was purchased by a dealer. It went to work at the McCarthy Improvement Company in Davenport, IA. 7362 (POW 5) was purchased by the same dealer that also acquired No. 7361 and went to the Perini Corporation as its No. 100, and later became Buffalo Creek & Gauley 20 in Widen, WV. 7483 (POW 1) went to Camp (later Fort) Holabird, Baltimore, MD, in March 1948. Leaving the military, it was acquired by McLouth Steel Corporation of Trenton, MI, and went on to become Autiorad de Terras de Puerto Rico No. E446 in Fajardo, PR, where it was converted to meter gauge. 7484 (POW 2) also went to Camp Holabird and was sold in 1954 to the Cole-Layer-Trimbel Company of Dayton, OH. From there it became US Steel No. 201 in the company’s Wheel & Axle Division in McKeesport, PA. It was sold again in March 1961 to Georgia Pacific Corporation as its No. 20 in Swandale, WV, and transferred in 1969 to GP-owned Carolina & Western as its No. 20 in Russellville, SC. The locomotive was sold to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive, a dealer in Bessemer, AL, and then scrapped on November 2, 1975. The POW rail system was built as a branch off of the Reading Railroad line that ran parallel to Route 15. Today the Reading line is truncated at nearby Allenwood, just short of the former junction into POW. The tracks north of this point have been lifted while those to the south see use by the Central Pennsylvania Chapter NRHS, which restored a washed-out bridge on the line in recent years. An article in Northcentralpa.com on January 4, 2012 announced the return of rail service to Allenwood to serve the Great Stream Commons business park; however, there are not yet any rail customers at the park.

http://www.muncyhistoricalsociety.org/

Locally numbered Pennsylvania Ordnance Works (POW) 3, this GE 65-ton was later renumbered US Army 7343. It was built in October 1942 with serial number 15660. Read about the forgotten Army base it served in this High Green!

Few traces remain of the old Pennsylvania Ordnance Works, but if you know where to look, you can spot some of them. On this topographical map the dotted line reading Old Railroad Grade marks the route into POW just north of Allenwood, PA. Today both the tracks of POW and the Reading Railroad main line are gone. The remaining track, coming from the south, ends on the north side of the grade crossing at the bottom of the map.

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