Newsletter of the Rochester NY Chapter, NRHS P.o. Box 23326, Rochester, NY 14692-3326; Published Monthly December 2000 Volume 43, NO.4 hare eS T • Ira Cohen at work in E-L # 3589 in Pittsburgh . • • program for December 21; Modern Rail Transit byDeWain Feller Chapter member, DeWain Feller will present a program on Modem Rail Trane sit, o.k.o. Light-rail systems .. DeWain is a member of the Rochester Rail Transit Committee and is a strong promoter of light-rail for Rochester. At the Park Avenue Festival. this Committee: had a five-panel display of light-rail systems around the country. He keeps abreast of the various proposals as well as operations of light-trail in the US. Also at the Festival, RRTC had a diagram of a proposed system for Roche~ ter. He will probably discuss it. Program Committee Tom Forsyth (Chairman) 442-0125 Bill Limburg 586-9470 Dan Cosgrove 352-6931 Dave Luca (Board liaison) 288-0318 The Committee welcomes suggestions and ideas for future programs. Contact any of the Committee members. Library Hours 7:30 to 9:30 PM Monday, December 18 Library Phone: 872-4641 A Reminder The Chapte~s address has been changed. The old PO Box was closed several months ago. Mail still keeps coming there and forwarding 10 our new box will soon expire! It is now: P.O. Box 23326 Rochester, NY 14692.3326 Notice to Exchange Newsletters Sending your Chapter/Club newsletters to: The Semaphore, Gale Smith, 299 Seneca Park Ave., Rochester, NY U617- 2433 will facilitate the exchange of news or ideas. by Jeremy Tuke Several members made a successful trip to Pittsburgh over the weekend of December 1.3 to salvage parts from an Erie Lack- awanna MU car that is slated to be scrapped. Rand Warner and Tom Webster went down on Thursday night, November 30th, and were already hard at work when Jeremy Tuke arrived on Friday morning to help out The MU car, Erie Lackawanna #3589 is owned by the Pittsburgh Historical Society, and deemed to be surplus. Rand Warner arranged, with the help of Scon Becker of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, for the Chap- ter to obtain salvage rights to anything we could remove from lhe car. Ira Cohen arrived Friday night, and Steve Huges and lim Moore go there on Saturday and picked up a rental truck to transport the parts to our Museum. Rand, Steve, Ira, Tom and lim loaded the U.Haul with booty on Sunday and returned to our Museum complex to unload the materials . While the car is very rough shape, the team was able to remove all of the seats and related components. overhead luggage racks., light fixtures and other miscellaneous hard. ware. These components may be used at a Jeremy Tuke photo later date for the Erie Stilwell coach, the RL&B #206 or other equipmenl The car is located just East of the Station Square complex on the Monongahela River, and was yards from a heavily trafficked CSX (ex- P&LE) mainline. Passing directly overhead of the car is one of the Pittsburgh light rail lines, so the crew enjoyed working amidst the almost constant sound of steel wheel on rail (obviously more enjoyable for one of the members then the constant sound of snoring emanating from his roommate on Friday night). There may be another trip planned 10 retrieve additional parts from this car before it is scrapped. December Anniversary Dates December 7 1941' The inaugural run of the streamlined "Empire State Express". Overshadowed by the news of Pearl Harbor bombing. Our Excursion cars are from this train. pecember 2 1967. The last run of the "Empire State Express .•.• pecember 3 1967' The last run of the famous "20th Century Limited".* (. Dales from NYC Historical Society Calendar)
Transcript
Newsletter of the Rochester NY Chapter, NRHSP.o. Box 23326, Rochester, NY 14692-3326; Published Monthly
December 2000Volume 43, NO.4
hareeST•
Ira Cohen at work in E-L # 3589 in Pittsburgh .•
•
program for December 21;
Modern RailTransit
byDeWain FellerChapter member, DeWain Feller will
present a program on Modem Rail Tranesit, o.k.o. Light-rail systems ..
DeWain is a member of the RochesterRail Transit Committee and is a strongpromoter of light-rail for Rochester. Atthe Park Avenue Festival. this Committee:had a five-panel display of light-railsystems around the country. He keepsabreast of the various proposals as well asoperations of light-trail in the US.
Also at the Festival, RRTC had adiagram of a proposed system for Roche~ter. He will probably discuss it.
The Committee welcomes suggestionsand ideas for future programs. Contact anyof the Committee members.
Library Hours7:30 to 9:30 PM
Monday, December 18Library Phone: 872-4641
A ReminderThe Chapte~s address has been changed.
The old PO Box was closed several monthsago. Mail still keeps coming there andforwarding 10 our new box will soon expire!It is now:
P.O. Box 23326Rochester, NY 14692.3326
Notice to Exchange NewslettersSending your Chapter/Club newsletters
to: The Semaphore, Gale Smith, 299Seneca Park Ave., Rochester, NY U617-2433 will facilitate the exchange of newsor ideas.
by Jeremy Tuke
Several members made a successful tripto Pittsburgh over the weekend of December1.3 to salvage parts from an Erie Lack-awanna MU car that is slated to be scrapped.Rand Warner and Tom Webster went downon Thursday night, November 30th, and werealready hard at work when Jeremy Tukearrived on Friday morning to help out
The MU car, Erie Lackawanna #3589 isowned by the Pittsburgh Historical Society,and deemed to be surplus. Rand Warnerarranged, with the help of Scon Becker of thePennsylvania Trolley Museum, for the Chap-ter to obtain salvage rights to anything wecould remove from lhe car. Ira Cohen arrivedFriday night, and Steve Huges and limMoore go there on Saturday and picked up arental truck to transport the parts to ourMuseum. Rand, Steve, Ira, Tom and limloaded the U.Haul with booty on Sunday andreturned to our Museum complex to unloadthe materials .
While the car is very rough shape, theteam was able to remove all of the seats andrelated components. overhead luggage racks.,light fixtures and other miscellaneous hard.ware. These components may be used at a
Jeremy Tuke photo
later date for the Erie Stilwell coach, theRL&B #206 or other equipmenl The car islocated just East of the Station Squarecomplex on the Monongahela River, and wasyards from a heavily trafficked CSX (ex-P&LE) mainline. Passing directly overheadof the car is one of the Pittsburgh light raillines, so the crew enjoyed working amidst thealmost constant sound of steel wheel on rail(obviously more enjoyable for one of themembers then the constant sound of snoringemanating from his roommate on Fridaynight).
There may be another trip planned 10retrieve additional parts from this car beforeit is scrapped.
December Anniversary DatesDecember 7 1941' The inaugural run of
the streamlined "Empire State Express".Overshadowed by the news of Pearl Harborbombing. Our Excursion cars are from thistrain.
pecember 2 1967. The last run of the"Empire State Express .•.•
pecember 3 1967' The last run of thefamous "20th Century Limited".* (. Dalesfrom NYC Historical Society Calendar)
Page 2
Planned GivingThe Development Committee
Jeremy Tuke, ChainnanAs year end approaches, we hope you
will include the Chapter's Museum inyour tax and charitable giving delibera-tions.We have many worthy projects deserv-
ing of your consideration efforts forpresent and future generations to enjoy,appreciate, reminisce about and be edu-cated by.Your gift can be publicized, anony-
mous. or recognized by a plaque, or in thename of a loved one.Gifts can be now. a promise for the
future, part of your will or estate plans, orsome combination.Trusts can be very flexibly designed to
support the needs of you, your family andheirs., and charities of your choice. Thereare many types of trusts, such as Chari-table Lead, Charitable Remainder, Uni-trust. and others. You can also set up aFoundation. Consult your attorney onthese choices.You can also donate appreciated stock,
mutual funds, or other types of securities- to be transferred by gift to the Chapter'sname and designated for a specific use orproject or program.Gifts of no. longer-needed autos. trucks.
boats, RV's etc. (and possibly lands orreal estate) can be donated through vari.ous local charity auction organizations.Please sec the "'Planned Giving" fonn
included in this The Semaphore to indi.cate or attach )'our gi~ or to requestfurther infonnation.'1IUlnk YO(t
'1IlR 'De."lopment Committee
Gerstung Education Fund EstablishedAt the Dallas NRHS Board Meeting in
October, the Board established the GeoffreyW. Gerstung Railroad Education Fund. ""Thefund is intended to support educationalactivities concerning railroads and railroadhistol)' preservation." [Leaky Valley, Nov.2000]
Flinn named Northeast Region VPDavid Flinn of the Cornell Chapter is the
new Northeast Region Vice.President, whowill oversee our area. fEmpire Stale Express,Dec.. 20(0).
December 2000
O.r S!"'EalhtBill Napier
Our Sympathy is extended to thefamily of long time Chapter member BillNapier. Bill was active in a number ofChapter official capacities over the years;including National Director, Trustee,Secretary, Treasurer, etc.
We will miss Bill and his quiet,steady, dependable, and supportive man-ner.
The Next MillenniumIn the last millennium. we acquired the
Depot and the Northeast Quadrant, built ouryards and connecting line to NYMT,amassed a fleet of diesel locos, trackmobiles,passenger and freight cars. maintenance of'way equipment, signals. and communicationsystems, track cars, construction equipment,trolleys and steam locos, and developed abroad offering of exhibits, programs andoperations to our ever increasing publicvisitors.
What helped to make it happen was:Persistence, perseverance, persua-
For the next millennium. we hope to seeour Vision of the Four Quadrants becomereality, along with shops., expanded steamand trolley operations. line-side mini-indus-tries and dioramas, all our critical andweather sensitive equipment stored undercover. substantial community awareness andsupport, active media support and publicity,expanded outreach to and within our commu-nity, increased private and public funding,expanded exhibits. interaction and activitiesofferings and intensified networking withother museums. railroads and industry.
NRHS National Convention Schedule200 I Convention will be held in 51. Louis
June 19-23. Three mainline excursions areplanned, possibly two with steam
2002 Convention wil be held in Williams.Arizona where the Grand Canyon RR will beat least one of the several planned trips.[Leaky Valley, Nov. 2000J
The Semaphore
Membership ReportBeth Krueger, Chair.
Janet Dittmer, Assistant
Wekome to this new memberJeffrey R, Mundt19Buckwheat Dr.Fairport, NY [email protected]; Interests: Museum tour
guide.
You should have received your 2001Dues noticeAll membership renewals were mailed out
on December I, 2000. See the letterencJosed with the rene"'lal for Retiree andStudent discounted dues.
Please remember that the RochesterChapter is a non.profit organization. Feelfree to add a contribution to your duesrenewal, either to the general fund or to aspecific project.
Thank you in advance for your generos-ity. New cards will be sent out after theholidays Janet
T-shirt and Sweatshirt ordersOrders for either of the above for JanUaI)j.
delivery should be made now. Both front anback are printed as described in the flyer sentlast month. Sizes are Adult: small, medium,large, X-large and XX-large. T-shirts areSIS; SI6 for XXL; Sweatshirts are 525; S28for XXL. Add NYS sales tax (8% forMonroe County and $4 per order for ship-ping.
Make checks payable to Rochester Chap-ter, NRHS. Payment by Mastercard, Visa orDiscover Card also available.
Send order, payment, address informationand your phone number to:
Rochester Chapter, NRHSP.O. Box 23326,Rochester, NY 14692-3326
Santa Claus Train - Dec 16The Ontario-Walworth Rotary Club will
be running their annual Santa Claus Train onDec. 16. This train uses our Excursion carsand is operated on Ontario Midland RR.
Basic Rai/Camp 2001 DeadlineThe deadline for reserving a space fe
either the July 22-28 or August 12-18 campsis February 1. The tuition cost is 5550.00[Leaky Valley, Nov. 20001
One of the MCIl trucks that recentlyarrived for projected use under RL&B Car#206. (Chris Haul photo)
Several, additional operating and trainingsessions using Trolley #168 have been heldto gather operational data on the electricaland mechanical characteristics of Trolley# 168. Ilob Miner, Charles Robinson, RandWarner and Jim Johnson have supportedthese tests. Charles Robinson is providingdetailed writeups on test results.
Plans: Prep and/or relocate the dieselgenerator substation for winter storage.
Continue investigation of options forenclosing substation.
Prepare more overhead wiring subassem-blies over the winter SO we can resume lineconstruction in the Spring to extend opera-tions at least to the loop switch.
Interpret and disseminate dala from Trol~ley # 168 electrical and air brake test pro-gram.
Continue rehab and extension of railbonds using our newly acquired kit.
Communications, Signals,Power & Line
Supl.: Neil BellengerProgress: The Power Utility Trailer to
support our Restoration Facility has beenVERY CAREFULLY relocated into its finallocation, using the International tow truck;once the site had been properly graded andstoned. A large crew of Joe Scanlon, CharlesHarshbarger, Art Mummery, Scott Gleason,Neil Ilellenger, Dan Waterstrnal, Ilob Mader,Dick Holbert, Jim Johnson and others wereinvolved in this demanding task.
Scott Gleason and Rand Warner havecontacted Niagara Mohawk and Underwritersinspectors regarding requirements on poleline coming in from Route 251 to supply240v, 200A single phase temporary service toRestoration Iluilding, alneady appro,ed byTown of Rush.
Bucket truck and auger truck have beenrelocated for winter storage.
Plans: Finalize cribbing to support PowerTrailer in its permanent location.
Install concrete vault for electrical con.nections to conduit going into RestorationFacility from both the Power Trailer forthree-phase and the utility pole line forsingle-phase.
Run power lines from three-phase genera~tor tin trailer through junction in concretevault, and on through conduit to reachRestoration Facility.
Follow up on details of pole line. meterpole, connections, and fan-out; for service toDepot, Restoration Building and a temporarysingle-phase service to west side of LA&LRR area.
:.Trolley CarbarnRL&B Interurban #206
Foreman: Bernie Cubit!Prototype MCIl trucks with proper 6'-6"
wheel base arrived CromPittsburgh last month.
More parts applicable to this car will besalvaged on a road trip this month.
Other needed parts to make this fine carcomplete are being solicited from othermuseums and suppliers/vendors.
Drawings for fabrication of bolsters andother under~floor items are being made:.
Quotations are being solicited from localvendors for fabricated items.
Car interior restoration effort continues.
Sweeper/Line Car #147Foreman: Neil Bellenger
Completed roof work includes newlyreplace boards, plywood sheathing, and feltoverlay. Now we are ready to apply final roofcovering.
Rehab of interior structural wood framinghas started. We need replacement wood forrehab of interior and exterior sheathing.
Rochester Subway Car 1100Foremen: Rand Warner, Dave Luca
Diagrams for electrical conduits and airbrake piping are in preparation.
Quotes are in receipt for roof metal andbolsters.
Estimates have been prepared for theoverall restoration.
Quotes have been received for newinterior/exterior end panels and side panels.
We are getting in to electrical and airbrake schematics with resource people.
Funding sponsors are being identified.
DL&W MU Car #2628Foreman: Shaddick, Tischer
With the construction of our 175kwdiesel powered Utility Trailer. and the finallocation of that trailer on the intennediatelevel above the Depot, we are one step closerto running our EL MU car on 250v dc shoptap power. This type of power was used formoving the cars on the first two points of thecontroller, in the shop areas of the car houseterritory of New 1<rsey.
ElectrificationRand Warner, Facilitator
Progress: Scott Gleason has arrangeddonations of a second, different type buckettruck by RG&E. This one has a 40-foottelescopic boom, and will give us greatflexibility and capacity for overhead linework and erection of poles in conjunctionwith your existing bucket truck and augertruck.
RnCHESTER \,.GE~Jrrt[U VALtEY. 11::0i
. -""
Blitz ProgramOut of discussions at our monthly Opera-
tionsN oluntecr meetings has grown the con-cept of a Blitz ProgramThis concept. fostered by John Redden,
Dan Waterslr3al, Dale Hartnett, John Stewartand others, has much merit.We have identified a candidate listing of
potential Blitz Projects; to get heavy volun-teer support - one project for one Saturdaymorning once a month.The idea would be to make some substan-
tial progress with a high intensity, focussed
•
ffort on a high-priority/deserving project.The payoffs would include actually FIN-
ISHING some efforts, leap-frogging otherefforts, jump starting morale on some of ourmore overwhelming projects. making a betterappearance to our visiting public, arrestingdeterioration of cenain artifacts. conservationof space. better utilization of equipment andmaterials, and creating new displays andattractions - just to name a few.By focussing our efforts on a Blitz Project
for just one Saturday morning a mon~ wewon't seriously distract any individualproject that much, and will actually advancesome efforts much farther than they olher-wi~ would have.Let's all pitch in on this worthy concept,
starting in January 200 I !
Tom Tucker applies another coat of yellow paint on the D&MMtrack car. (Chris Haul photos. this page.)
Page 4
Maintenance-oF-wayEquipment
Supts: Dick Bean, Bob MaderProgress: Dick Bean and Hiram Colwell
have installed the radiator. made braces fori~ and rearranged the fuel system on theBurro crane. They an: now hooking up theradiator hoses.
Rick Israelson has completed painting ofthe Fainnont tie extractor and the unit hasbeen started up and ehecked oul by Rick andJohn Redden.
This Fairmont tie extractor was recondi.tioned and repainted under the supervision ofRick Israelson. It should see lots of use inthe ncar future.
Track ~ and tamper have had theiranti-freeze checked for winter by NonnShaddick.
Bob Mader, Tom Webster and JohnRedden have been checking and readjustingtrack car brakes.
Larry Baker and John Redden have hadDansville & Ml. Morris (D&MM) speedercar running. and Tom Tucker has a coat ofpaint in yellow applied over the primer.
Plans: Complete work on Burro cranecooling. fue~ electrical and mechanicalsubsystems. Paint and mount boom. Checkout all subsystems for operational use.
Rehab all track cars over the winterseason.
Mount snow plow on Blue TrackMobile# I for winter use.
Final prep D&MM inspection car for
Have you paid your 200 IDues
--- and maybe added a little donationfor one or more projects?
December 2000
Track & Right-oF-wayActing Sup/.: Rand Warner
Progress: Track #6 along west side ofour Restoration Building is being extendedan additional 300 feet This will pennit ourtwo steam locos to be located side.by.sidefor boiler lagging removal.
Arrangements arc being made for acquisi.tion and delivery of six more bundles of ties- good for six more panels of track.
Switch timbers to go into rehab ofNYMT switches are being marked and
readiedfor relo-cation toNYMTw 0 r ksites.
YoungRailfansandScoutsh a v eclearedar~
~ rf= klM:s!Jlol q> m te Bit;, In!~ nm: JliIlJ'dJn
Two more truck loads of ballast havebeen delivered to site.
Thanks to aU our Gandy Dancers: JohnRedden, Larry Baker, Rick Israelson, JeremyTuke, Dale Hartnell, Rand Warner, NormShaddick, Tom Webster, Mark Pappalardo,Bill Chapin, Dave Luea, Jesse Mark's Patrolfrom Brockport with Charlie Marks, DougVereecke, David Scare. Mark Wieczack,Man O'Hare, Andy Gardner, Josh Locke,Jason Marks, Jonas Locke, Steve Locke andothers.
Plans: Complete extension of Track #6.
Deliver replacement switch timbers toNYMT for installation.
Add ballast to NYMT loading track.
Repair bad 'railjoints on hill atNYMT.
Acquire an-other 100 relayties.
Developscheme for raisingNYMT loopswitch to take outsag.
The Semaphore
Construction & EquipmentSup/. Joe Scan/o_
Progress: Dick Bean and Hiram Colw~have the Case Terraloader diesel crawlerloader up and running and ready to use.
Tom Webster and Neil Bellenger willcontinue work on the 4x4 International I.toodump to make it an operational plow truckfor this winter season.
Chris Hauf and Tom Tucker are continu-ing their painting spree - this time on theATC bulldozer.
Art Mummery, Bob Polka, NeilBellenger. Bob Mader and others are pitchingin on rehab of our large Army D-7 Catdozer. We hope to get the motor repaired andrunning over the winter.
Scon Gleason has arranged donation of adiesel Trojan loader from RG&E to replaceour fonner Euclid loader that we traded fortrolley parts.
Joe Scanlon has arranged for acquisitionand transportation of six storage trailers fromKBH. following Board authorization offunds.
Construction equipment has been relo-cated and neatly parked for winter storage.
Dan Waterstraat has knocked dOwn"weeds throughout our equipment storageusing his own heavy duty walk behind.
Plans: Continue rehab of Cat 12 dieselroad grader to go into service.
Complete work details on our three Annydiesel dump trucks.
Put Case crawler loader into operationalservice.
Determine detail requirements to returnAnny D.7 dozer to operation.
Work out details of extending accessservice road along tracks to support extend.jng electrification.
•
•
•
Page 6
Outreach & EducationA "sampler" of our wide-ranging activi-
ties:
Young Raiffans:Dale Hartnett is providing a comprehen-
sive program of on-site and off.site railroadand rail. fan experiences to a group ofteenagers. This program is now in its thirdyear.Boy Scouts:
Dale Hartnett has hosted and sponsoredBoy Scout Railroad Merit Badge workingsessions, and a sleep-over activity at theMuseum,.using our cabooses.Operation Lifesaver:
Dave Hulings and his committee areproviding lots of exposure for the OperationLifesaver program at local events and in theschools. They also work with Ontario Mid-land Railroad to host Operation Lifesaversafety awareness trips for area schools, usingthe Chapter"s excursion trainset.
School Systems:Many groups from area schools tour our
R&GVR and NYMT museums weekdaysduring the school year. This provides themwith rail transportation awareness and pro-vides us with a future crop of potentialvolunteers.
Youngsters:Pre-schoolers from many area nursery
schools and day care facilities visit ourR&GVR and NYMT museums throughoutthe school year. These are very popular"'hands-on" field trips with the children.Seniors:
Senior groups from area facilities andchurches visit our R&GVR and NYMTmuseums frequently and always have a greattime riding the cars and looking at andreminiscing about the exhibits.Differently Abled:
Although not all of our areas are handi.capped accessible, we get a considerablenumber of visitors with limitations, and evengroups, who have a great time with whateverpart of our R&GVRM and NYMT facilitiesthey can accommodate. We continue to makeimprovements to better serve all our visitors.
Programs:We take slide show and video programs
out to local history, service and men'$ andwomen"s clubs on request. A number oftopics can be presented. Ron Amberger.Chris Hauf and Don Shilling are active inthis area.
December 2000
Public Service:Lynn Heintz sponsored a program for
high s<:hoolers to work at the Museum insupport of their Public Service requirementsin the curriculum for graduation.Navy Seabees:
We are providing a monthly opportunityfor the local Naval Reserve Seabee Unit todrill; wherein they can actively practice andpolish all of their seven skill codes in supportof our many Museum projects.Eagle Scouts:
We encourage Scouting in all areas. Oneof these is the requirement for Eagle Scoutsto conceive, plan, administer and execute asubstantial project involving direction ofothers. Dale Hartnett has supported theseactivities for R&GVRM.
Library ReportCharles Robinson, Chainnan
Because of a conflict with Christmas Day,it is necessary to move the evening forlibrary general use to an earlier Monday. Forthis month, the library will be open Mondayevening. December 18 bern'eeo 7:30 and9:30 PM. Hope to see you there!
More progress has been made in organiz.iog the never ending piles of materials in ourcollection. Steve Dagley, Jerry Gillette andmyself went through an assortment of railitems that had been stored for many years atNYMT. The photos have been pulled andplaced in sleeves. The paper items have beensorted and placed in various files where theycan be found. Jim Stewart has finished listingthe James Glenn collection and is starting onorganizing OUf collection of Official Guides.Some of these are quite old and rare. BobAchilles is continuing his careful identifica-tion of OUf marvelous collection of CanadianPacific steam locomotive photographs. BobMiner very generously helped Fran Gotesikof the Genesee Valley Green Way project tolocate photographs of the Rochester Branchof the Pennsylvania Railroad that might beused as illustrations along their walking path.Bill Welsh donated 18 like-new books, whichGale Smith has added to our database.
I am certain that other chapter membersare very grateful for these efforts in organiz.ing an preserving our important items of railhistory.
Come January, the library will commencebeing open on the Sunday afternoon thatfollows the usual monthly chapter meetingsfor the Winter months.
The Semaphore
~idvvest ElectricLines
A Videotape from Pentrex
Reviewed by BillHeronThis tape consists of a collection of
vignettes pertaining to electric lines in theMidwest.,excluding those that operated in theChicago area. Lines in states such as Iowa,Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota areincluded. There is no story line as such.
Most of the footage is vintage. Picturequality, therefore, is not the best but for methis is more than made up for by the chanceto see "'live" shots of electric cars inoperation, when and where they existed.Because I am also interested in automobiles,any footage of city scenes gives me almosttoo much to watch-the electric equipmentand the surrounding gasoline powered ve-hicles that unfortunately did so much tocause the demise of the electric lines.
The tape opens with coverage of theIndiana Railroad. This includes car 65 which,fortunately, has been preserved and is nowlocated at the I1Iinois Railroad Museum. Thestory of the Indiana line is well known andthe tape pays due respect to the line's vastterminal at Indianapolis which in the line'sgolden age saw something like 500 trainoperations a day. Indiana's reputation forhigh speed running, upwards of 50 mph, alsoreceives notice.
Shorter segments of the tape pay theirrespects to line such as the Northern IndianaRailVray,which ran south from South Bend,the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, and theWaterloo, Cedar Falls and Northern. Therealso are short segments showing tractionaction in Kansas City and 51. Louis.
A more lengthy segment deals with TwinCity operation in the Minneapolis-51. Paularea This coverage even includes pictures ofthe boats which Twin City once operated onLake Minnetonka The boats connected withelectric lines and they were designed so thatthe superstructure bore a strong resemblanceto an electric ar.
The Illinois teoninal also receives fairlylengthy coverage. Attention is drawn to theclaim that the Illinois Teoninal was thelongest interurban in the US, stretching some400 miles from Peoria to 51. Louis.
If you like electric cars you'll like thistape. It's a bit short. but you'll see everythingfrom four wheel Birney cars to heavy weightinterurbans.
The Semaphore December 2000 Page 5
WantedFormer Cohocton DL&WDepot for Sale, with extrasIn 1881 this depot was fabricated in
sections at the DL&W's Buffalo yard andshipped by rail, of course. to Cohocton. NYwhere it was reassembled as a pa'isenger andfreight station.
In 1980, this building was moved in foursections (two roof. two building sections) toits current location. in Canadice. 22 milesnorth of Cohocton. Since this move thestation has been refurbished and used as aantique store, design and appraisal offices.workshop and has guest quarters - ha\'ing alibrary, living room and two bedrooms.
On the building grounds is a waterfalls.pond. gardens, and a restored 1823 farm-house of 2350 sq. ft. with its own interestinghistory - but alas no railroad tracks! Formore information, contact Ken Dede, 716-244-8200 x39, email: [email protected],com.
o Cantilever passenger car jacks
D Good, safe step laddcrs. any type orsize.
D Brooms and dust pans for all ourproject areas.
D Good running 2000w pomble gas pow-ered generator for road trips.
D Ballast regulator for Track Dept.
o Relay ties and switch timber for TrackDept.
D Heavy hook block ror 3/4" cahle forBay City Model 65 cranc
o 53-foot flat car for line car project.
Rochester Southern train derails near Caledonia, NY.At about 7p.m. on Saturday, November 25, 17 cars of a 92-car coal train bound for Kodak
Park derailed by Route 5 near Caledonia An estimated 300 yards of track was damaged. Noinjuries occurred and the derailment did not block traffic on Route 5.
Jeremy Tuke stopped. by on Sunday and took the above picture. lie stated that it lOOked.like the Northbound train split the switch just south of P&L Junction. The cars on the groundwere about mid-train. The Democrat & Chronicle reported that the railroad expected to ha\'ethe tracks repaired on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
,
For 81 &B Interurban #206.
D Trolley pole assemblies;
D Mark lamps & brackets;D Flags & brackets;
o Trolley rope retrievers or catchers;
o Controllers and resistor grids;o Bolsters and truss rods;
o Couplers and mountings;
o Compressor and brake parts.For 1938/39 Ford I-ton REA tOlCk'
o Front fenders.D Front grill,D Front bumper;
D Rcar axles;o Radiator.For Vulcan & Hejsler steam locos'
ONe"." style boiler lagging;D Valvc oil;
o Boiler jacketing:
o Steel sheeting.
Gre2, Norsen and GRS/ALSTOM formore cable and wire donations.
Scott Gleason, Jessica Raines, BobPolka and RG&E for donation of a dieselbucket truck with telescopic boom.
Don Hosenfeld and Dolomite for arrang.iog donation of privately owned 8-61 !\.fack10-wheei dump truck.
Tom ~lcTighe and LA&L RR fordonation of se••'cral kegs of used railroadspikes.
Scott Gleason and RG&E for donationof scrap overhead cable.
Vince Milliken and LA&L RR fordonation of wood pallets.
Don Zenkel and Chamtek Mfg. for offerof air compressors.
Jim Johnson for obtaining special instru-mentation to support trolley tests.
Tom McTighe for info on resources fortrack construction materials.
Stewart Anderson for info on freight cartrucks.
Scott Becker for identifying resourcepeople for e1ettrical and air brake systems forSubway Car #60.
Terry \Varner for Indian backpack firepump and large wagon wrench.
Keith BlackhalJ and RG&E for afTer ofwater tank.
Jim Johnson for offer to underwrite costof storage trailer for CSP&L materials.
Thanks to
»»>
The Semaphore
By Maury KleinReviewed by Bill Heron
One of Maury Klein's other books is TheLife and Legend of Jay Gould, a work whichI found very interesting. well Ylritten andthoroughly infonnative. Now he has done itagain with this study of E.H. Harriman. Ihave a degree of person interest in Jay Gouldsince my late step father-in-law. C.c. Huittserved for many years as the businessmanager for Jay Gould's daughter, Helen. theonly one of Mr. Gould's children whoseemed to have inherited a good supply oftheir sire's business acumen.
There was no personal reason. however,for my picking up Mr. Klein's book onHarriman, just the fact that I knew that heseemed quite capable of turning out a goodproduct I had never known much aboutHarriman except that he was very rich andhad had something to do with railroads,particularly the Union Pacific. In this book Ilearned that Harriman, like Gould, had notgotten into railroading until later in life.
_aving established himself first as an adeptmancier. Another Gould.Harriman connec-tion is that prior to Harriman. Jay Gould hadonce controlled the Union Pacific.
Edward Henry Harriman was born in1848 on Long Island. His father was ratherunsuccessful clergyman in the EpiscopalChurch. As a ehild, young "E. II.", (he didn'tcare for either of the names he had beengiven), experienced a considerable degree ofpovertY and derivation. Often his familysurvived only because of subsidy from othermore successful members of the Harrimanfamily. This rather bleak childhood seems tohave given Harriman the drive to gain asmuch wealth as she possibly could. Neverevery sociable and certainly not a ""gladhander", he did so with an unrelenting.combative inner strength.
The book traces the beginning of Harri-man's career on Wall Street, after he leftschool to go to work. As soon as he could hebought his own seat on the New York StockExchange, and the rest as they say. is history.During the 1880's Harriman became in-volved with his first railroad. the IllinoisCentral. Harriman. however. was not the
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booS; that position was held by a fellowfinancier, Stuyvesant Fish. In general Harri-man served the Illinois Central well and helearned a great deal from Fish. He chafed,however" at being a subordinate rather thanthc top dog.
December 2000
Harriman became involyed with theUnion Pacific in 1897. During 1898 and1899 he consolidated his hold on the UP andwas free to do his work with it in his ownway. Basically Harriman believed in plowingearnings back into the physical plant. He alsobelieved in providing first class service to allshippers as well as in searching out everyopportunity to develop new sources of lad.ings for his road. Dividends to stockholderstended to take a back seat to the needs of therailroad.
One interesting story regarding Harri-man"s early years with the Union Pacificdemonstrated how unusual or difficult prob-lems could motivate him. Roving gangs wereraiding UP trains in Wyoming. Havingrobbed a train the thieves hid out in therugged North Park country. By the time aposse could be organized the trail was quitecold. Harriman's solution was to put a posseaboard his trains, first class horses and thebest men available. When a raid took place,the mobile posse left the train and took offafter the robbers. So well did the mobileposse idea work that robberies stopped on theUP even though other roads, not using themobile posse idea, continued to be plagued.
This is seholarly book, 521 pages withlots of footnotes. BUT this is not a boringbook. Mr. Klein is an engaging storytellerand in his hands the record of E. H.Harriman's life becomes almost what issometimes called a "page turner".
E. Rochester Shops VideoAt the NRHSINYMT pienic, Chris lIauf
showed a video in the Pine Foils of theMerchant Despatch Transportation shopsbuilding reefers. It was a copy of a silentfilm, probably made in the 1920's.
Several interesting scenes. The principaltool appears to be a heavy hammer. or smallsledge, to aid in assembly.
The other was observing how they appliedmany coats of paint. BIG sweeping motionsacross the car surface with LOTS of overspray!
How the EPA would love to investigatethis for I) ergonomics and 2) volatileemissions.
Lyons, NY built Canadian RR bridgeThe contractor Dunn. Holmes & Moore
of Lyons, N.Y. had a contract to build anumber of bridges for the Canada SouthernRailway of southern Ontario. [Tempo. Jr.Oct. 2000; Original source: Canadian I/Ius-tratedNews, Dec. 23, 1871, Pgs 402 & 404)
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NRHS GrantsTwelve organization received $27.000
ranging from S500 to $4,800 from theRailway Heritage Grants Program as an-nounced at the National Convention atStamford. CT. Also announced was chartersfor three new Chapters: Longhorn Chapter"San Antonia. Texas; Southwest FloridaChapter, Fort Myers, Florida; and WillowSprings Chapter, Willow Springs, Missouri[NRHS Nfn¥s, Sept 2000)
Christmas at the StationThe Lake Shore Chapter, Northeast. PA,
held their Annual Christmas at the Stationevent during the first two weekends inDecember. The station was decorated forthe Season and had these extra attractions:Operating model railroad displays, Uniquecrafts and gifts for sale; a Bake sale; andSanta Claus appearing with gifts for thechildren on each of those days. [The LouShore Timetable, Nov. 2000]
Leatherstocking receives grant fromstateThe Leatherstocking Chapter, NRHS has
received a Multi-Modal Program Grant fromthe New York State Department of Transpor-tation for SI6O,Ooo. The monies will be usedto purchase additional right-of.way in C()().persto,,"n, locomotive(s). highway crossingworlc. construction of loading facilities andimprovements to Milford Depot parkingfacilities. [RaiiTimes, Nov. 2000]
Editor'sCorner
As I was putting this issue together,discovered that the previous November andOctober issues carried a "September" headin.g--and there wasn't a "peep" from anyoneout there! Maybe they were too interested inthe contents, I trust.
One of the many things that have beendiscussed. is to video tape interviews withsome of our senior retired railroaders. Itwould be a great piece of history to haveavailable for future generations - providedthe apparatus for viewing the tapes still exist!
We Wish One and AllHappy Holidays and aProsperous and Healthy
•The Semaphore is published monthly by the Rochester, NY Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. It is mailed free to all Chapter
members, Non-membet's subscriptions are S5.00 and run from January I to December 3L Chapter meetings are held the third Thursday and theBoard of Directors meets the first Thursday of each month.
Rochester Chapter NRHS Officers:President: Chris Hauf
-f7ce President: Steve OagleyTreasurer: Dave LucaRecording Secretary: Jeremy TukeCorrespondence Sec,: Tom ForsythNational Director: Bob MinerTru,tees: Charles Harshbarger, DaleHartnett, Art Mummery, Joe Scanlon,John Stewart and John Weber.
The Semaphore Staff:Editor: Gale SmithPrinting: Bob Miner/Gale SmithMailing: Dan Cosgrove
InterNet (World Wide Web) address:hnp:/Iwww.rochnrhs.orgi
Contributions to The Semaphore arc welcomed and encouraged from all readc;rs. Theyshould be mailed to: Gale E. Smith, 299 Seneca Park Avenue, Rochester, NY 14617-2433.
---- Phone;. (716) -544-6221..- Contributors-using-a computer-are- asked-to-send their-submissions on ~-any MS-DOS diskette in ASCII or TXT formal, as well as a printed copy. Deadline: First Dayof Each Month.
PaurinlJ th Restaratian Facility Flaar!The Restoration Building is up and ronning! Now we need to provide it with a concrete
floor. We raised the dust to finish the space. Now we've faced with dust allover the place.One hundred dollars will buy a batch of concrete. The estimate for the lloor is S25,000; we'llneed 250 batches (I). Help "cement" together a great project. Maybe we'll even let you writeyour name and date in a slab! [Don Shilling)
