Star
Spangled Rails
2003
NRHS Convention
Baltimore, MD
July 1 - 6, 2003
The National Railway Historical Society 2003 convention is
being operated jointly concurrently with the Railway and Locomotive
Historical Society 2003 convention in Baltimore. A variety of
exciting events will be held featuring both vintage and current
day equipment in a red, white and blue patriotic celebration
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's 175th Anniversary and our
nation's 227th Independence Day!
Main line excursions will be offered over three routes associated
with Baltimore's railroad history. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
is featured on Wednesday, July 2nd, with Cumberland and Frostburg,
Maryland as the destination of the Potomac Valley which will
travel via Washington to the Western Maryland Station in Cumberland.
There, passengers will make a rare train-to-train connection
with a special steam-powered Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
train to Frostburg. On Sunday, July 6th, the Western Maryland's
"Dutch Line"is the featured route of the Blue Mountain
Limited. This train will travel over a CSX freight-only line
through the bucolic Maryland countryside to the railfan-friendly
town of New Oxford, Pennsylvania. Former Pennsylvania Railroad
rails provide the route for the Harrisburg Circle on Saturday,
July 5th. This train, lead by Juniata Terminal Company's restored
PRR E-8s, will travel Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to Perryville,
then north on the 'Port Road' along the scenic Susquehanna River
to circle Harrisburg area sights including Three Mile Island,
Enola Yard and the Century old Rockville Bridge. Convention-goers
will have the chance to enjoy covered wagons on the Gettysburg
Scenic on a run to Mt. Holly Springs, Pennsylvania; steam and
a doodlebug on the Wilmington and Western in conjunction with
a visit to Amtrak's Wilmington Maintenance Facility; and a
two-day extravaganza of steam, diesel and an Edwards Motor Car
on the Cass Scenic Railroad and the West Virginia Central in
West Virginia. A fun ride on the railfan's favorite local railroad
the Ma and Pa via track speeder, is also an option in combination
with a ride on the Stewartstown Railroad.
Electric traction fans can take in the city's two modern day
operations, the Metro Subway and the MTA Light Rail line, including
a behind the scenes tour of shops on both lines, in combination
with a visit to the Baltimore Street Car Museum to ride some
of the city's historic street cars. A night photo session lead
by Railfan and Railroad's Steve Barry rounds out the convention
rail activities.
The Star Spangled Rails Convention Banquet
will be held on Thursday, July 3rd. Mr. Gilbert Mallery, Vice
President Business Development, Amtrak, will be the keynote
speaker. Earlier in the day, a bevy of fascinating seminars
will be held including a panel discussion on Intercity Passenger
Rail on the Baltimore & Ohio in the years prior to Amtrak;
and, presentations on B&O railroad history, modern and historic
photography, and operating steam locomotives. A new seminar
feature this year will be two "Rolling Seminars" which will
visit in-the-field sites in order to better illustrate the subject.
These seminars will cover railroad historical resources in the
Mid-Atlantic region, and "The First 13 Miles" a look back at
the very beginnings of the B&O. The two-day, B&O 175th
Anniversary Railroadiana show will be open to convention-goers,
free of charge, as well.
 |
|
Western Maryland Curve
photo
by Bill Hakkarinen
|
Sightseeing tours to selected Baltimore area attractions are
also planned, and include visits to Maryland;s historic capital
city, Annapolis; the Ladew Topiary Gardens and Boordy Vineyards
Winery; and, a chance to shop the Mills Arundel and Savage.
The city skyline can be enjoyed as well from a harbor cruise
aboard the Bay Lady. Fantastic fireworks will also light up
Baltimore's Inner Harbor to celebrate the Fourth of July.
And, on the evening of July 4 the City of Baltimore has its
traditional and spectacular Independence Day fireworks display
over the Inner Harbor.
THE
FUN OF GETTING TO THE CONVENTION!
Detailed information
on getting to the convention is available at http://www.starspangledrails.org/gethere.htm
CONVENTION
EVENTS & DAILY ON-LINE COVERAGE
There are numerous
and varied activities to enjoy at this year's convention. The
list of convention events is provided below (A complete description
of events is available at. For the third year in a row the
NRHS will be covering the convention and providing daily reports
on selected events on this web site. The convention line-up
is as follows:
Additional
Baltimore, MD Information
Baltimore
Area Convention & Visitors Association
Origin
of the Name Star Spangled Rails and Logo
Baltimore's
Ft. McHenry is the birthplace of the national Anthem of the
United States, the Star Spangled Banner. It was composed by
Francis Scott Key as he observed the night-time bombardment
of the fort by British ships during the Battle of Baltimore
on September 13 & 14, 1814 during the War of 1812. The American
Flag flying above the fort endured the all night bombardment
and was "still there" flying in the morning. The theme for the
convention was the creative thinking of Washington, D.C. Chapter
NRHS member Jim Lilly. The logo, the creative thinking of Washington,
D.C. Chapter NRHS member Mark Piotrowski, is a cross-section
of rail-head surrounded by 13 stars, each one symbolizing each
of the 13 states the B&O railroad served.
Other
Railroads at the Convention
The
following railroads are providing support for convention activities.
Amtrak
Baltimore
Streetcar Museum
Cass
Scenic Railroad State Park
CSX
DOVER
HARBOR
Gettysburg
Railroad
Norfolk
Southern
MARC
MARYLAND
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
Stewartstown Railroad
Western Maryland
Scenic Railroad
Wilmington and Western
