Saturday, October 20 - Banquet - Beginning with a social hour at 6:00 PM, the Cumberland Valley Chapter hosted the weekend gala social event, the banquet.

Banquet attendees enjoy conversation before dinner.

After dinner at 7:30 PM, the featured speaker, Mr. R. Cummins McNitt, Executive Director of the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum. The focus of Mr. McNitt's address was the people of Altoona and how they impacted the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), and how the PRR affected them. Mr. McNitt has spent 10 years documenting the history of railroading in Altoona, including taking hundreds of oral histories.

• Railroading is the most pervasive industry the U.S. has ever known. In many families there are generations of railroaders. Railroading was tough job.
• Altoona was built by the PRR for the PRR to serve the PRR. Until 1900 it was a one industry town with no new immigrants. After 1900 European immigrants came into town. The PRR always kept close ties to the city and had strong influence.
• There are folks with great love and great dislike of the PRR, based upon on their experience.
• At the peak of the work at the shops in Altoona, there were 17,000 people. After full dieselization there were about 4,200 jobs.
• Mr. McNitt also encouraged people to talk with family members about their railroad history and interest in railroading. This is critical to helping build the next generation of railroaders and rail history people. It is also CRITICAL that people understand their roots.

Banquet Speaker Cummins talks about the history of the people of Altoona

The banquet featured salad, vegetable, bread, tea or coffee, and a choice of Prime Rib ($26.00), Chicken Breast ($23.50), or a vegetarian option ($23.50).

* Photos by J. Lilly