RailCamp 1999 A Success!

RailCamp 1999 is now history, and 47 young adults who participated came away with an experience they won't soon forget, thanks to the energetic efforts of the National Park Service personnel at Steamtown in Scranton, PA, as well as the employees of the Delaware & Hudson Railway unit of Canadian Pacific Railway.

Because of anticipated demand, your Society's directors approved two basic sessions of RailCamp for this year, each limited to 24 individuals. Demand almost exactly matched capacity, and back-to-back sessions were scheduled from July 18-24 and July 25-31 in Scranton, where counselors and RailCampers were once again housed in Gavigan Hall dormitory on the University of Scranton campus.

RailCamp Director Larry Eastwood and Assistant Director Bruce Hodges, assisted by Counselors Charles J. Benz, Lynn Burshtin, Frank Eichenlaub III, Samuel L. James, Martin F. O'Rourke, Douglas W. Watts and Ervin White oversaw the administration and logistics, seeing to RailCampers' needs, while Steamtown National Historic Site people outdid their superb 1998 efforts in providing an educational and entertaining experience this year.

Some adjustments and improvements were made to last year's program, all designed to maintain a high level of interest among the RailCampers. The popular hands-on experiences in roundhouse operations, restoration shop processes and railroad operations were repeated from last year. Modifications were made to the interpretive day, with Park Service rangers alternating between classroom and field exercises to maintain a higher level of interest and participation.

Too, the Wednesday "Career Day" session took on a whole new look, with the participation of the Delaware & Hudson Railway, a unit of Canadian Pacific, hosting RailCampers at their East Binghamton, New York facility, with orientation on career possibilities in the transportation industry, overview and inspection of locomotive servicing, yard operations and other areas of interest at this location, which has seen markedly increased traffic because of the Conrail split-up which occurred on June 1. The Delaware & Hudson outing was coordinated by D&H Police Superintendent Joseph F. Bender, who also traveled to Scranton each week of RailCamp to provide Operation Lifesaver training to each young adult.

As part of the chartered bus field trip to Binghamton, stops were made at Starrucca and Nicholson viaducts, both legendary railroad engineering landmarks in northeastern Pennsylvania, so RailCampers could see these familiar structures in person. The D&H graciously provided lunch on both Wednesdays for the groups.

While Steamtown's woodworking shop was not active this year, RailCampers were provided a hands-on souvenir as they worked under supervision of Wayne Dobson and his crew on Thursday. So that each could gain experience in plasma cutting, welding, painting, etc., the RailCampers made a sheet metal steam locomotive silhouette on a stand which they all took home as a permanent reminder of the week-long experience.

On Friday, following a day-long railroad operations course and a graduation ceremony, Steamtown employees once again outdid themselves preparing and serving a sumptuous barbeque feast for the RailCampers, their parents and Steamtown employees.

With the departure of Ray Sauvey, Director of the Steamtown Institute, to become Executive Director of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, gearing up for RailCamp 2000 will be a bit more challenging. Larry Eastwood and Bruce Hodges will sit down with University of Scranton and Steamtown personnel after Labor Day to plan for what direction RailCamp will take next year.

RailCamp 1999 came off as a safe, successful event, and the enthusiastic participation of all parties bodes well for the continuation and possible expansion of this event next year. A more detailed write-up will appear in various rail media sources in the coming months, including our National Railway Bulletin.

About This Newsletter

Many of you probably noticed that Bulletin #3 arrived recently without the planned Membership Newsletter. What happened?

Well several things, actually. The period right after the NRHS convention in Sacramento was a busy one. In addition to RailCamp and other Society operations, some of our staff people had other demands on their time, ranging from vacations to serious family emergencies. All of our staff people do have lives outside the Society, and we have to take that into account.

When it became apparent that Bulletin #4 would follow very closely on the distribution of Bulletin #3 this year, we changed our plans to combine the material from both newsletters into a single issue. We apologize for the short delay in getting it out.

Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Dedicated on July 10

Fifteen years of dreams, planning and hard work came to fruition on Saturday, July 10, as Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society held the grand opening of the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railway, operating over several miles of line from Milford to Cooperstown, New York.

Leatherstocking Chapter President (and National Secretary) Bruce J. Hodges took the podium on a cool Saturday morning at the restored Milford depot, and introduced a whole host of honored guests and speakers all of whom played a part in the restoration of the line, which was first opened for service in 1869.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Boardman, State Senator Jim Seward and State Assemblyman Clifford Crouch all paid tribute to the Leatherstocking volunteers who had expended many months (years) of energy in bringing this rail line back to life. Following these gentlemen was DelawareOtsego Corp. President and CEO Walter Rich, whose corporation had operated the line during the 1970's, who told of the line's new purpose in hopefully alleviating some of the traffic congestion in Cooperstown, site of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, by attracting riders to leave their cars at Milford and ride the train.

NRHS President Gregory P. Molloy then spoke, telling the audience that a "couple of kids" (Bruce Hodges and Mike Bettiol) came to the 1983 NRHS Convention at Richmond, VA, applying for a chapter charter, with a dream of someday providing train rides. The dream has come true. Attending the ceremony in addition to Greg were NRHS Senior Vice President Larry Eastwood and Northeast Region Vice President Geoff Gerstung.

Following speeches by Hodges and C&CV General Manager Jim Loudon, the invited guests climbed aboard the inaugural train, powered by former New York, Ontario & Western NW2 switcher #116, leased to C&CV by Walter Rich. Three ex Erie Lackawanna MU trailers, purchased from the defunct Brandywine Scenic Railway in Pennsylvania, filled out the consist.

After making a roundtrip from Milford to Cooperstown, guests were served a sumptuous barbecue lunch prepared by Brooks Caterers, a local Oneonta institution. Guests also were able to ride the Milford Park miniature railway around the grounds of the Milford complex.

Actual excursion operations commenced earlier in June, with the railroad operating four roundtrips TuesdaySunday through September 6, and weekend and holiday operation through November 7. Trains leave Milford at 9:30 and 11:30 AM, 1:30 and 3:30 PM. Roundtrip fare is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12. NRHS members are invited to enjoy the autumn beauty of the upper Susquehanna River Valley and support the new Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad.

1999 Railway Heritage Grants Awards

Seven grants totaling $20,000

A total of 28 grant applications were received requesting over $108,000. Applications were evaluated by the six-member Grants Review Board, and the seven awards were announced during the recent NRHS national convention in Sacramento, Calif:

LEHIGH VALLEY CHAPTER, NRHS $1,000 - Install new seats in the chapter's 1922 gas-powered Mack-Brill Railbus. The chassis and motor were built in January, 1922 by a relatively new Mack Truck Co. of Allentown, PA. The body was constructed by Brill of Philadelphia and was the second to last of this model. It has the original 4-cylinder Mack engine and continues in working condition.

MIDWEST OLD THRESHERS $5,000 - For the completion phase of a seven-year program to restore to operating condition Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban car No. 320. This grant will be used to defray the cost of a professional restoration craftsperson to complete the final steps of the project. The CA&E No. 320 should be fully operational in the year 2000 and will become the "flagship" of Midwest Threshers' eight trolley fleet.

In 1962, the late V. Allan Vaughn, Past-President and Chairman of the Board for the NRHS National, but then President of the Iowa Chapter NRHS, along with Dick Billings, current NRHS National Treasurer, and others, purchased this 1914-era car. The Iowa Chapter sold No. 320 to the Midwest Old Threshers in 1968.

RAILROADING HERITAGE OF MIDWEST AMERICA (d.b.a. Friends of the 261) $4,000 - For replacement of cracked and leaking glass in the ex-Milwaukee Road "Skytop" Parlor Car "Cedar Rapids", which will halt further water damage to the interior of the car. RHMA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that purchased the car in March, and plans a $30,000 restoration over a three-year period. The project carries the strong endorsement of the Northstar Chapter NRHS, and will be completed in the Minneapolis Shops of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.

BEAVER VALLEY JUNCTION CHAPTER, NRHS $1,000 - Re-erection and restoration of the B&O "UN" tower purchased by the chapter in 1998. The tower was originally located in West Pittsburgh, PA, and has been loaded onto a flat car and transported to its new location in New Castle, PA, along an active rail line and within sight of the former B&O mainline.

TOWN OF HARTFORD, VERMONT $3,500 - Removal of asbestos from Boston & Maine locomotive No. 494, an 1892 4-4-0 steam engine. The goal is to restore No. 494 to the same condition as when displayed at the 1939 New York World's Fair. The White River Junction Chapter NRHS, which actively endorses this grant, was formed "for the explicit purpose of promoting WRJ as a premier railroad museum". The chapter's members have already contributed over 1,000 effort-hours toward the No. 494, its tender and caboose.

ROCHESTER CHAPTER, NRHS $3,000 - For repairs and improvements to the exterior of the chapter's railroad research library. The building was donated in the Fall of 1997 by the Ontario & Midland Railroad and is located next to the O&M yards. The building was created over a decade ago by combining a former New York Central 1918 steel frame wood caboose and a former Central of Vermont caboose of the same construction. The two were placed side by side. This unique building houses over 1,000 books, several thousand magazines, photographs and negatives and related railroad paperwork.

ULSTER & DELAWARE RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. (a.k.a. Ulster & Delaware Chapter, NRHS) $2,500 - Completion of cosmetic and operational restoration of a 4-wheel wooden "bobber" caboose, ex-NYO&W 8206, ex-Unadilla Valley 51. This car was built in 1906 and is the last in existence of over 100 such cabooses constructed in NYO&W's Middletown Shops. This grant will be used to weld the broken underframe, install new wheelsets and restore the "K" brake. When completed, the car will carry passengers on the Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride, a popular tourist railroad operating over 20 miles of restored ex-Ulster & Delaware track in the Catskill region of New York State.

1999 Convention Report

The 1999 joint NRHS/R&LHS annual convention held in Sacramento from June 21 to 26 was a great success in spite of operational problems and congestion delays for three of the mainline excursions. An exception was the West Coast trip to Oakland which arrived back in Sacramento a half hour early following a high speed non stop run from Richmond to Sacramento over recently rebuilt trackage.

Those who rode the City of Tehama excursion behind UP 844 were very lucky, as the next day the locomotive was put out of service following a boiler tube failure on the Railfair grounds. A big disappointment for many was the decision by the Union Pacific to substitute diesel power for Challenger 3985 on the Feather River trip following the boiler tube failure on the 844, but most agreed that the UP did the right thing in not taking a chance since the 3985's tubes came from the same batch from the same manufacturer.

An estimated 2,000 persons participated in the 6-day event, which was held in conjunction with the California State Railroad Museum's Railfair 99. Besides the mainline trips, the McCloud Railway and Yolo Shortline both provided steam excursions and the traction fans enjoyed visits to the Western Railway Museum and riding chartered trolleys in San Francisco. The seminars were very popular, with standing room only at most sessions. Former Amtrak official Jim Larson entertained over 600 guests at the annual banquet recalling his experiences in the railroad industry over the past 40 years.

Thanks go to the joint convention committee made up of members of the Central Coast Chapter NRHS and Pacific Coast Chapter R&LHS for putting on an outstanding convention.

Submitted by: Edward Graham - Central Coast Chapter

Special Offer for NRHS Members from the Indiana University Press

We are pleased to announce that our special arrangement with the Indiana University Press has been extended and expanded to include several new titles. By ordering these publications through the Society, our Members will receive a substantial discount from list prices. In addition, the Society receives a commission on every book sold to help offset our operating costs.

A description of the books available along with an order form can be found under the NRHS Store Section as Railroad Book Store.

We wish to welcome aboard two new Chapters

Welcome aboard to our two new Chapters:

Texas Eagle Chapter, located in Bryan-College Station, Texas. For information, contact the President, Jock D Peters, 3601 Oak Ridge Drive, Bryan, TX 77802, jdpeters@mail.tca.net.

Western Colorado Chapter, located in Glenwood Springs, CO. For information, contact the President, Jan Girardot, 830 Lincoln Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601, girardot@glenwood.net

Society Receives Donation of Vintage Railroad Films

The Society gratefully acknowledges the contribution of a l6mm RCA sound movie projector and some vintage railroad films to the NRHS Film Library by Philadelphia Chapter Member David E. McWherter. Two railroad films, Big Trains Rolling and Railroad Special Agent, will be reviewed by the staff.

McWherter is a retired Conrail, and former Erie Lackawanna employee, and has been a member of NRHS since 1977. We thank Dave for his generosity in thinking of our Library.

Financial Notes

Operations

The cost of the Society's operations continues to track well, thanks to the continuing efforts of our staff to manage our money effectively. Work is starting on the fiscal year 2000 budget to be approved by the Board of Directors in November.

Major Bequest

The NRHS recently received a major bequest from the estate of one of our late members. This is the largest single gift in the Society's history. The majority of the funds are already on hand, with the balance expected in the next few months. A more complete announcement will follow shortly when arrangements and amounts are firm.

Donations

Even without the major bequest, the Society is on its way to a record year for membership donations. Your continued support has enabled us to maintain and expand the Railway Heritage Grants program, the research libraries, and other important programs well beyond what could be funded through dues alone.

The NRHS is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, and donations are tax-deductible. As we enter the last quarter of the 1999 tax year, we hope that many of you will continue or increase your generous support. In addition to the annual appeal included with the dues renewal process, we are happy to accept donations at any time through the national office (PO Box 58547, Philadelphia, PA 19102-8547).

Stock Donations

As the values of many stock issues have increased over the last several years, some people have found significant tax advantages to donating highly-appreciated stock shares rather than cash to tax-exempt organizations. The NRHS has the capability to receive donations of stocks and other financial instruments directly into our account with Merrill Lynch.

Anyone considering making such a donation is urged to contact our National Treasurer, Richard M. Billings, at 1412 Twelfth Street, Moline, IL 61265 in advance of the donation.