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JUNE- 2013 Vol. 20 Issue 06
THE SUPERS REPORT
WWW.div11-mcr-nmra.info
Redbank Railroad
Transportation for: Oil, Fuel, Coal, and Lumber through the forests of Elk, Forest, Jefferson,
McKean, and Warren Counties. Northwest PA. Since 1947 DCC
Rolly Miller Owner/Operator Offices at: 110 Hamilton St. New Bethlehem, PA 16242
Email: [email protected]
This Super’s Report is one that will be short and
maybe sweet. Short being that it won't be
long and sweet being that you won't have too much to
read from me. The weather is warming up
and most of us are now outside doing work in the
yard? Good weather for G scale outside layouts.
The rest of us are probably working on our layouts off
and on.
Our Jamboree I think went well. We had a number
of members there to put the layout up and ready to run
on Friday evening. Things just on Saturday, the day of
the show. It moved along well. I believe the members
also did a great job.
The next meeting is at Paul's and we’ll run his lay-
out of the Pennsylvania Railroad during the 1950's.
Come and run on the layout and have some good fel-
lowship. See you there, ROLLY
Bob Ginter's mom died; "Roland Miller"
I was not as lucky as a few of you guys that you got to
know one really special lady. The lady I talk about is Bob
Ginter's mother, Frances. I learned that she was what us
guys might say a lucky girl, because her Dad worked for
the PRR and got to see a lot of places that PRR went. So
she must have had to drag young Bob kicking and scream-
ing (LOL) to the train and railroad hobby. All I can say is
Thank you Frances for dragging poor Bobby into this
hobby. There are probably many stories that many of our
members can tell? Thanks for dragging him into the
hobby so we get to pick on each other. Bob, all I can say
is THANK YOU for letting us be a part of your mom’s
life.
Rolly and the Div 11 members-
MAP for 9 JUNE MEET IN RENOVO AREA
FUN TIMES ON AMTRAK By Bob Ginter In 1982 I was riding the Texas Eagle to San Antonio.
We stopped in Fort Worth for fuel and a crew change.
(Trains magazine reported the Eagle switched to KCS for
a few miles then to SP for the rest. The KCS job was
the shortest trip in America, a full day pay for a few
miles.) We stopped near Tower 55 and there outside
was a GP7R and a slug. Spotless. No way a picture.
Here comes the Conductor. “Can I get off and get a pic-
ture of them?” “Sure, here is my radio, I’ll call you.”
How about that!?!? Off I go, a few prints, a few slides
and run back on. The other passengers just stared.
In the mid 90’s AAA offered a free Amtrak ticket
with purchase of one using your card. BINGO
Little Rodney and I are going to Pittsburgh. We ride
down on the Pennsylvanian, and take the Broadway Lim-
ited back (or Vice Versa). On the return Rodney is
hungry. I give him a few dollars and send him back to
the diner. After I relate this to his mother, My sister, she
is appalled. “You let him go alone???. “Yea, it’s going
70 MPH. How’s he going to get off ??
I bet your MOM was proud of you that time. ED
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The Chicago New York Electric Air Line Railroad
By Bob Netzlof (Sweet Old Bob)
The closing years of the 19th Century were a heady time.
“We can make it bigger, better, faster, more powerful. We have
the technology!” As the old century closed and the new one
began, dreamers and schemers alike looked eagerly to the fu-
ture. What marvels where yet to be achieved? In the next few
years, many were achieved. The Wright boys from Dayton got a
heavier than air contraption to actually fly. That Ford fellow
was setting up a factory where they made automobiles one after
another, like peas in a pod.
Others were hatching grand schemes in transportation. Iron-
hulled, steam-powered ocean-going ships were getting bigger
and faster. The continuing success of the Suez Canal had people
looking again at that failed Isthmian Canal project down in
Central America, and a party of Army Engineers was in Nicara-
gua surveying route for a canal there, in case the Isthmian route
didn't pan out. Folks in Europe were drumming up interest in a
tunnel under the English Channel, some blue-sky thinkers were
pushing for a tunnel under the Bering Strait to connect Alaska
with Siberia, and another party of Army Engineers was survey-
ing a route for a railroad to connect North and South America.
Some never worked out, of course. The Bering Strait Tunnel
tripped over the fact that once you get to Siberia, there is an
awful lot of Siberia between you and the eastern end of the
Trans-Siberian Railway. For that matter, getting to Alaska is no
treat. Some railroads were built in Mexico and Central America
on the route proposed for the Panamericano, but nothing close
to a continuous line. The Channel Tunnel did eventually get
done, but some 80 years later.
While this was going on, some folks organized a company to
build and operate the Chicago New York Electric Air Line Rail-
road. (In those days “air line” meant what we today mean by
“bee line” or “as the crow flies”.) They envisioned a railroad
which started in downtown Chicago, more or less followed the
shore of Lake Michigan until it was south of the lake, then a
straight shot from there to New York (actually, to Weehawken
or Hoboken or some such).
Rather than dirty, smelly, smoke belching steam locomotives,
trains would be drawn by electric locomotives of unprecedented
power, traveling the entire distance at an average rate of 75
miles in each hour! Ten hours or less for a trip which the steam
railroads, following their old-fashioned, curvy, hilly, round-
about routes strained to do in 18 hours. Truly a Marvel of Mod-
ern Technology!
It is not clear whether the promoters of this grand plan were
charlatans, or merely naïve. The company did actually construct
a line from Gary to Portage, then blew their construction funds
on massive embankments across valleys east of Portage
(remember, “uniform grade”). The company floundered on,
operating conventional street cars between Gary and Portage,
then finally gave up the ghost.
It piques my interest because, as nearly as I can deter-
mine, the proposed route would have passed through
southern Elk or northern Jefferson county (The data are
fuzzy, and every time I run the numbers I get a different
answer.) Calculating based on two points on the grade out
in Indiana, the line would have passed just south of the
Ridgway reservoir and continued on through downtown
Ridgway. Doing the same based on the eastern end of the
grade and a point in downtown Weehawken says the line
would have crossed US 119 about half-way between Eri-
ton and Sykesville.
No doubt about it, the Chicago New York Electric Air
Line qualifies as a ghost railroad, particularly ghostly in
this case. It never had a chance. Imagine what it would
take in terms of cuts, fills, tunnels, viaducts to maintain
“uniform grade” and “straight line” across the Allegheny
Plateau Division. But it's nice to dream. Think of the rail-
fanning possibilities. Arise bright and early, drive a few
miles, spend a morning watching and photographing the
75+ mph trains as they whiz by, then an easy trip back
home for lunch.
The modeling possibilities are more exciting. No need
worry to about whether one's minimum radius is too tight,
there are no curves. No need to fuss with adjusting trucks
to swivel freely, they don't need to swivel. No need for a
helix. No need for a room, even. You can build a proto-
typically correct layout on a 6 inch wide shelf in a hall-
way. With the prototype's continuous 75+ mph speed no
need for DCC, OnBoard, nor a rheostat, just a ON/OFF
switch. With constant speed on dead straight track on a
barely perceptible grade, both Proto Operation Purists and
KODTRAK enthusiasts could be satisfied all at the same
time. All you would need would be an electric locomotive,
half a dozen coaches, and probably a diner.
Solution to last month's puzzle:
EAST BROAD TOP COAL AND RAILROAD COMPANY
This month's puzzle started in life as a narrow gauge railroad,
became the property of a well-known coal company which
lengthened and widened it. Then it was absorbed into
The Standard Railroad of The World.
6 words
AAAAAA C DD EEE H II LL M NNNNNNN OOO
PP RRRR SS TT V W YY
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Pennsylvania RR Co. Susquehanna Division - Eastern Region
Construction & Transportation Office at
1267 Treasure Lake
Dubois, PA 15801
Division Super: Bob McKay [email protected]
N Scale/Digitrax DCC
The McKays stormed into Strasburg Thursday morning and discovered
they were to be on a shop tour that
very hour. With some negotiating,
we spent the first several hours of
our vacation at the PRRT&HS
convention learning about Belpaire
fire boxes, stay
bolts threaded
and either
peened or with a
huge nut, and top
sheet thickness
with formulas. I
must say it was
riveting, because
there was some
of that too.
THE ARRAY OF MA-
CHINERY FROM AN-
CIENT TO FULLY COM-
PUTERIZED WAS SUR-
PRISING IN THEIR MOD-
EST BUT QUITE COM-
PLETE SHOP. THEY DO
STEAM, DIESEL AND
COACH WORK, PLUS
BOILER WORK FOR
SMALL GAUGE EQUIP-
MENT.
I WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE
SHOP TOUR ACROSS THE
STREET, BUT ONE GRAND
TOUR PER VACATION
SEEMED TO BE A LIMIT. I
ATTENDED A COUPLE OF
LECTURES AND DISPLAYS
OF RARE BACK ROOM
ITEMS AT THE MUSEUM,
AND TOOK SCADS OF HORRIBLE PICTURES OF THE E44 IN
HOPES OF FINISHING MY SHAPEWAYS PROJECT BACK
HOME.
The convention attendance was over 500, a new re-
cord, and there were at least twice as many models
displayed, now that this organization has done away
with model contests. The lectures were, as always,
truly befitting of the Standard Railroad of the World.
The banquet was at the museum, on one of the large
platforms. All of the layout tours were much to the
east on Sunday afternoon, a real pity for someone
from the Allegheny Plateau!
Above, Strasburg Model Railroad Club module of the
museum, with correct equipment in place! Large HO.
Can you believe this is N scale, the fruit of a published
article by Doug Nelson. Has tender drive.
HO module of Lane below
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SERVICE
PRR NORTHERN DIVI-
SION Mainline from Drury Tower to Riblet Yard
Paul Kurutz
MERCHANDISE
HO/Lenz DCC
The Regional at Dayton With Paul Kurutz and Galon Tonell
Wednesday I picked Galon up about 9am and seven
hours later got to the Convention Center . Wed night we
signed up for the Dalmatian Switching District. The little
layout was quite challenge We spent an hour switching
industries. Saturday morning we ran into Alan Keller of
Great Model Railroad Videos. He invited us to sit with him
and Jim Heidger of MR to have breakfast. Eight o'clock we
were on the road to our ops session at Bob Bartizkin
in Lebanon. This is a fantastic o-scale layout in a 70 X 30
basement. All steam Pennsy; Friar eat your heart out.
Everything ran like a Swiss watch. At noon, we were on
our way to the Cincinnati Model Railroad Club. This also
was an 0-scale layout. Their club is in the basement of a
church. This is the W.Va & Harmony Creek RR. Galon
was working the yard, I had a couple of road jobs and a
local switch job. Everything ran great. This was another
great layout. We managed one clinic Thurs. night.
Friday we had another morning ops session at Curt
LaRue’s In West Chester. Curt does the PRR Panhandle
Division from Steubenville to Burgettstown. Trains run
from Steubenville out and back. This is a very nice layout.
Curt uses Lenz DCC and all of his motive power runs
flawlessly. In the Afternoon we went to Entertainment
Junction. On Friday back from the Cincinnati Club we
stopped there but they were closing and we were invited
back the next day . This is an amazing place, it starts in
the early 1800’s transitioning up to modern day 2013. His
latest addition will be Coney Island. As we were finishing
up our tour, he led us behind the scene where they do all
the building of the layout. Friday night we were going to
the BOD but got hung up, doing some more of the switch-
ing layout.
Saturday morning we went to Jim Rollange’s lay-
out, The Denver & Pacific in dc. Jim operates with a dis-
patcher and switch list. Trains are ten car length. Lots of
local & long passenger trains; Steam and diesel, Big boys,
Challengers, twelve wheelers, Passengers trains are Steam
and Diesel. Saturday afternoon Galon checking how much
booty he had won. I got pulled over in a speed trap at a
school zone and —yes—I was above the speed limit. I got
off with only a warning. PAUL
Track work on the Northern Division Track work between Drury and Driftwood is coming
along. At Westport a coal tipple and siding is in-
stalled. The siding was completed and DG Wertz coal
company out of Greensburg will soon be building
their coal tipple there to load for Berwind. The re-
alignment of track from Keating to Driftwood is com-
pleted. There were a few minor adjustments in grades
that needed to be reworked. At Driftwood, switches
and a crossover waere installed for the Low Grade
connection. A third rail was installed at Keating for
the interchange with the NYC line to Clearfield and to
keep a set of pushers when needed for trains going
West.
At Emporium major improvement have been taking
place. The sidings to several industries have been re-
lined. A new turntable was installed along with a
roundhouse rebuilt and repositioned. Several new
switches have been installed at Emporium and a team
track on the lower end of Emporium yard. On the
Ridgway branch, scenery continues to make progress
going to Phillipston. No work has been done in Phil-
lipston yard this year.
Signals have been delivered and two are installed in
the area between Westport and Keating, but will be
inoperatable for some time. A signal bridge is in place
at Driftwood but signals have not been built as of yet..
Coal trains seem to be steady along with freight to and
from Erie. Emporium yard is very active.
Hope to see everyone on June 9 We will be starting
about 10am or so.
Paul Kurutz
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OFFICERS& COMMITTEE Heads
SUPERINTENDENT: Rolly Miller [email protected] 814-275-2521
ASST SUPER/Events: Harry Dunworth [email protected] 814-371-2616
TREASURER: Bob McKay [email protected] 814-591-5415
CHIEF CLERK: Steve Waltman [email protected] 814-849-3398
N/L EDITOR: Bill Drummond [email protected] 814-938-6173
N/L PUBLISHER: Bob McKay [email protected] 814-372-2065
ACHIEVEMENT Paul Kurutz [email protected] 330-592-1800
BRING&BRAG Steve Waltman [email protected] 814-849-3398
MODULE PROGRAM: Larry Brown [email protected] 814-335-4714
ACHV’NT PRG: Chris Lasher lasher,[email protected] 814-856-2354
BUILD&BRING Chris Lasher lasher,[email protected] 814-856-2354
WEBMASTER/MEM: Bob Netzlof [email protected]
2013 Station Stops and Host
JAN Brookville Gary Lasher
FEB Punxy Bill Drummond
MAR Chicora Howard Heltman
APR StMarys Larry Brown
MAY Dubois Mall JAMBOREE
JUN Renovo Paul Kurutz
JUL Field Trip KISKI RR
AUG Reynoldsville Galon Tonell
SEP St. Marys Alan Morean
OCT NewBethlehem Rolly Miller
NOV Treasure Lake Bob McKay
DEC Dubois BANQUET
HO Digitrax DCC
GARY & CHRIS LASHER 371 MAPLEVALE ROAD
BROOKVILLE, PA 15825
N. BESSEMER YD OFFICE (814) 849-2573
[email protected]
GREENTREE
STEEL CORP
SUBSIDIARY OF
TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION
BESSEMER WORKS #3
Lewistown & The Shoe Sandy and I rode behind Engine 765 along with two Heri-
tage Units PRR and Conrail on Saturday the 25th starting at
Lewistown Station going West thru Altoona around the curve
thru the loop at Galitzon and back to Altoona for a two hour
layover.
We walked a block or so East and North to Texas Hotdogs
on 12th ave. and had probably the best dogs with sauce I have
had along with fries a coffee and soda all quite reasonably
priced I might add.
We then boarded at Altoona and headed back to Lewis-
town. It was a Great Ride! Feeling that steam engine pulling
the grade at the curve was awesome. We were in NS 28 and the
7th car back from the power so we had good views thru the
window of the 765 working.
I have never seen so many fans lining the right of way as
well as Horseshoe Curve and had my photo taken more times
than I can count.
I will try and send some photos but the camera battery was
dead from the get go so did not get any stellar shots however
photos don't tell the tale as you had to be there to experience it.
NS also was gracious enough to have lots of trains running
including an oil train headed by the Interstate RR unit as well
as a Hertzog Unit stone train which required four pushers to get
it up the hill.
All in all a really cool day. Spoke to Rich McCartey who
was in line with his Mrs to board at Lewistown. Only person I
saw that I knew out of the 600 or so on board.
Gary
Page 6
The KEYSTONE CORRIDOR Is Published
MONTHLY by - DIVISION 11 MCR NMRA Inc.
Articles for contribution may be hand written, E-mail, or
sent in WORD FORMAT To Bill Drummond EDITOR
[email protected]
Notice! Subscription Rates are now $12 a year, due each
Jan. 1 Add $5 additional if you prefer a monthly Pike AD.
Check or M/O payable to : DIV 11 MCR NMRA Inc. Mail
Main Line from Freeport to Brockway, PA - with interchanges at Mosgrove and Brookville -
- Mosgrove [Chessie] - Brookville [Conrail] - Brockway [Chessie] -
Pittsburg & Shawmut RR
Al Crate—Superintendent & CEO
Office Located at: 37 Short Street
Brookville, PA 15825 Phone (814) 849-6227
Digitrax DCC
Control System
HO Point to Point
Operation
Bring & Brag Highlights for MAY 2013
300pm Chif dispr HSB Weather 90 clear calm ,12 mn Sala reports heavy fog. SWTR de-layed 55mns pickup 32 loads 1 mty at Mosgrove. Inc 31 coke. NETR delayed at Fennelton 55mins , meet SWTR, delay due to both NETR and SWTR having to long train to meet at Cowan.
Date: Friday, May 24, 2013 11:03 AM
5/6 amx1343 Green & white engine with G&W
#45,,5/7 1346amx Green&Whute,102,3119. 5/8
3343,3342,452,3301,302 A&R with 82 cars., 5/8
6072,3332,459,3301, 60car coal train out lady jane.
5/9 3341,458,3323,2031,3119 northbound. 5/20
462,3328 OhioCentral,3345,3064 ,95cars
northbound.44 &3119 at FC yard using as switchers.
Truble Report IDispr NX, Punxy Pa Jan 22 - 1964 Weather 12 noon 78 to 96 part coudy calm.
Punxy,Pa. Dec 3 1963 Work extra 8422 Condr Carmody, Engr Bright, Ordered E Sala. 645-am to work between Bradford and Mt Jewett Train rady at 815am at 845am Engr Bribht reported trouble with feed valve Unit 8422 - repairs made and Eng ok at 930am train dep 932am. Delayed 2hr 30mins. OHF OF.
Steve Waltman B&B Chairman As a reminder, all modelers must register their models on the Sign-Up sheet. Fill out a descrip-tion card for your model. One model, each
Bring & Brag Categories for 2012/2013 June ’13 mineral handling car July ’13 open loads - anything August ’13 something kitbashed September - RR related Structure October - RR intermodal related November - Your latest project January ’14 – open loads - mineral February ’14 - Something whimsical - would a RR really own one of these? March ’14 – work train cars/equipment This is the standing schedule for the B& B for 2013/14. Please note any changes from previ-ous schedules and this schedule may be subject to change at any time and also as needed to ac-commodate meeting schedules and locations. Updated 2-19-2013
Bill Drummond 20 Rolly Miller 7
Larry Brown 15 Bob Ginter 6
Harry Dunworth 13 Bob McKay 6
Rich McCarty 10 Chris Lasher 5
Bob Netzlof 10 Bruce Slinger-land 4
Gary Lasher 10 Zack Roush 4
Mike Rabbitt 10 Alan Morean 3
Paul Kurutz 7 Galon Tonell 3
Page 7
The TIMETABLE By Bob Netzlof
Agent: W.R. Drummond [email protected]
HO Digitrax since 99’
BR&P Railway Co. 109 Jackson Run Road
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
Butler to Bradford 1st & 2nd Main Subdivisions
Jun 5-9 National Garden Railway Convention Cincinnati OH
Jun 6 50th Anniversary Celebration Rockhill Furnace PA
Jun 8 Youngstown Steel Muesum Open House Youngstown OH
Jun 8 Work Car Day 2013 Rockhill Furnace PA
Jun 9 Allegheny Plateau Division Mee ting Shintown PA
Jun 15-16 OC & T RR Train and Hobby Show Titusville PA
Jun 22-23 Great Scale Model Train Show Timonium MD
Jun 26-30 National N Scale Convention Milwaukee WI
Jun 29 Steamtown Excursion - Delaware Water Gap Scranton PA
Jul 4 Buffalo Harbor Tour Buffalo NY
Jul 12 Allegheny Plateau Division Field Trip Schenley PA
Jul 13 Steamtown Excursion - Gouldsboro Scranton PA
Jul 13-14 Greenberg's Great Train Show Monroeville PA
Jul 20-21 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix & Car Show Pittsburgh PA
Jul 14-20 NMRA National Convention Atlanta GA
Jul 20 Buffalo Harbor Tour Buffalo NY
Jul 20-21 Model Train Flea Market Williams Grove PA
Aug 4 Buffalo Harbor Tour Buffalo NY
Aug 8-11 Steel Mill Modeling Seminar & Workshop Kent OH
Aug 10 Summerail at CUT Cincinnati OH
Aug 11 Allegheny Plateau Division Meeting Reynoldsville PA
Aug 17-18 Pennsylvania Elk Expo Benezette PA
Aug 18 Buffalo Harbor Tour Buffalo NY
Aug 18 Northeastern Ohio Train Show Niles OH
Aug 17-18 Lake Shore Rwy Museum Steam Weekend North East PA
Aug 28-31 National Narrow Gauge Convention Pasadena CA
Aug 28-Sep 1 Magarac Society Meet Pittsburgh PA
CONGRATULATIONS!
NEWS FLASH FROM DAYTON
PAUL KURUTZ TAKES
POPULAR VOTE
BEST-IN-SHOW
Now a stub siding,
this will soon be the
PRR lead to John-
sonburg, with im-
portant industry
tracks for the paper
mill.
E44b #4465 at the Railroad Museum of Pennsyl-
vania . If you have never been to Strasburg,
there is equipment from all over the state on
display, not to mention the Strasburg RR across
the street. Those shiny surfaces were obviously
not made by Shapeways.
Page 8
Opinions of the Authors are not necessarily those of Division 11
NMRA MCR Division 11
C/O Bill Drummond Editor
109 Jackson Run Road
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
TO:
NEW WORLD TRAINS
Alan C. Morean 19 Cedar Avenue St. Marys, PA 15857
[email protected] www.frateschi.com.br
Specializing in HO scale FRATESCHI electric trains of Brazil
Rolling Stock that is
NOT on everybody
else’s layout!
Email:
Fischel’s Hobby Center 517 LIBERTY BLVD., DUBOIS, PA 15801
N, HO, LGB, LIONEL TRAINS, RC CARS, RC PLANES
PLASTIC MODELS, ROCKETS,WOOD BOAT MODELS
DIE CAST CARS, DOLL HOUSES, BALSA
GAMES, ARIBRUSHES, X-ACTO & DREMEL
“YOUR BETTER HOBBY SHOP”
(814) 371-1482 GARY FISCHEL
TCA-NMRA-TTCS
Visit our Division at WWW.div11-mcr-nmra.info
BUFFALO & PITTSBURGH RR A Model Representation
Dreaming About Your Business
Since 1993
MIKE ZOLLITSCH, GENERAL MANAGER
General Offices: Phone (570) 398-1022
INSIDE
A is for Amtrak
B is for B&B
C is for Chi-NY
D is for Dayton
H is for da Shoe
S is for Strasburg
W is for Winner
JUNE 9 Host: Paul Kurutz 24 George st. Renovo PA 17764
Tele # 570-923-2001 E [email protected]
B & B: Mineral Handling Car
TRAIN RIDE at KISKI Jct.
Check with Super Rolly Miller.
There will be a Lunch at a restaurant .
A meeting and B & B OPEN LOADS (anythng)
We are going to serve sloppy joe, ham & cheese, roast beef & cheese sandwiches; macaroni salad, and devil eggs! There will be donuts, cook-ies, brownies to snack on. We have pop &water to drink. You can bring chips, pretzels and drinks which will also be appreciated. PAUL
