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The Timetable
Copyright © 2016 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
January
2016
Happy New Year from DCNRHS!
A SNOWY DAY AT POINT OF ROCKS – A west bound MARC train slows for the stop at the much-photographed station at
Point of Rocks, MD, on January 13, 1996, following the “Blizzard of 1996”. The massive storm dumped over two feet of snow
on the Mid-Atlantic region, bringing travel to a standstill. For more information on the 1873 station that E. Francis Baldwin
designed for the B&O Railroad, see the “Railfan Hotspots” area of the Chapter website under “Learn”. Photo by Alex Mayes.
A Tribute to the Dover Harbor
As 2016 begins, the 30th
year that DCNRHS has
operated the Dover Harbor, let’s take a moment to pay
tribute to our legendary Pullman. Built in 1923 and
extensively renovated in 1934, the Dover Harbor is the
only classic, heavyweight, revenue Pullman in its
original configuration still operating on the main lines of
America. Fortunately, previous owners did not modify
the car before it was acquired by DCNRHS. From the
green and gold exterior to the lounge, buffet kitchen, and
six double berths with ladders and washstand/toilets, all
with the original fixtures, the car is a symbol of the
golden age of railroading and the ascendancy of the
Pullman Company. One young Amtrak employee who
toured the car remarked, “It’s just like a movie!” Since
our goal is to operate the car as well as to preserve it,
mechanical improvements have been made to comply
with current standards. You can read the complete
history of the Dover Harbor at www.doverharbor.com.
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January 2016 The Timetable Page 2
Copyright © 2016 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
The Timetable Volume LXII, Issue No. 1.
The Timetable is the official monthly
publication of the National Railway
Historical Society, Washington, D.C.,
Chapter, Inc. (DCNRHS). Unless
otherwise noted, the opinions
expressed are those of the contributor
or of the Editor and not the Society.
Editor: Hank Anderson,
email: [email protected]
Proofreaders: Jerry Hott, Jim Lilly,
Kevin Tankersley, and Scarlett Wirt.
Submission Procedures: Materials
are due to the Editor by the tenth of
the month for consideration for
inclusion in the following month’s
edition. MS-Word or plain text and
.jpg for pictures are preferred.
Membership Info Membership in DCNRHS is open to
all those interested in the objectives
and mission of this Society. You
become a member by making a tax
deductible donation to DCNRHS in an
amount you feel is appropriate.
Joining or renewing your membership
is easier than ever you can complete
the process on the Chapter web site.
Membership Director: Russ Rudolph
1521 Elcadore Circle Unit 31
Anchorage, AK 99507-4510
Phone: 907-929-5640;
e-mail: [email protected]
Join or renew on-line at
dcnrhs.shuttlepod.org
Volunteers The DCNRHS Chapter has many
interesting volunteer opportunities and
maintains a volunteer recognition
program. Our volunteer opportunities
cover a wide range of skills, so
whatever your interests, the Chapter
has a place for you. Please email us at
[email protected] to find out
more about available opportunities.
.
Contact Info
DCNRHS
P. O. Box 230
Savage, MD 20763
phone: 703-273-8440
email: [email protected]
Chapter
Leadership President: Scarlett Wirt
712 Main Street
Laurel, MD 20707
Phone: 301-490-2024
e-mail: [email protected]
Vice President: Brandon Brown
309 Yoakum Parkway, Unit 1111
Alexandria, VA 22304
Phone: 571-228-6556
e-mail: [email protected]
Secretary: Andy Van Scyoc
11609 Galt Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902
Phone: 301-943-6255
e-mail: [email protected]
Treasurer: Bill Barnhart
13557 Den Hollow Court
Manassas, VA 20112
Phone: 703-472-3338
e-mail: [email protected]
Comptroller: Peter G. Claymore
1141 Dixon Circle
Gainesville, GA 30501-2801
Phone: 703-591-4862
e-mail: [email protected]
Chief Mechanical Officer Emeritus:
Bernard Gallagher
Directors
Hank Anderson 301-948-2434
Jon H. Baake 301-994-1706
Jim Lilly 443-253-2956
Dave Splitt 202-362-3355
Kevin Tankersley 703-836-0165
Carol Zabrosky 703-754-0693
John Zabrosky 703-754-0693
About DCNRHS The National Railway Historical
Society, Washington, D.C., Chapter,
Inc., (DCNRHS) was chartered in
1944. The Chapter is governed by a
Board of Directors elected by the
membership and is an all-volunteer
organization with no paid employees.
As a 501(c)(3) IRS designated tax-
exempt charitable organization,
Chapter donations are tax-deductible
to the maximum extent allowed by the
Internal Revenue Code.
On the Internet DCNRHS – www.dcnrhs.org
Dover Harbor – www.doverharbor.com Library – www.railroadlibrary.org
Members Only – dcnrhs.shuttlepod.org
Washington Terminal Project – www.washingtonterminal.org
Safety Rule
of the Month By Jim Lilly
140. The emergency application of the
brakes should not be used except in
emergency cases, and when used the
brake should not be released until 20
seconds after the train stops. Engine
brake must not be partially or wholly
released unless drivers slide.
Excerpted from “Instructions
Governing the operation of air brakes,
train air signal equipment, and electric
lighting of locomotives and passenger
cars – Passenger Service”
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co.,
the Alton Railroad Co., effective April
1, 1941.
Trivia Test By Andy Van Scyoc
How many miles did the Dover
Harbor travel in 2015?
A. 9,834
B. 10,921
C. 12,881
D. 13,799
(See page 7 for the answer.)
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Copyright © 2016 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
From the Office Car By Scarlett Wirt
Happy New Year everyone! DCNRHS had one of its
best years in 2015 and we’re looking forward to another
exciting year in 2016. I’d like to introduce two new
officers whose terms began on January 1, 2016. Brandon
Brown has assumed the Vice President’s position and
Bill Barnhart has taken over as Treasurer. Welcome to
both! We’re glad to have you on the leadership team and
look forward to working with you.
Membership Renewal
We want to remind everyone to renew your membership
for 2016. All it takes to renew (or for new members to
join) is to make a tax deductible donation to the Chapter
in an amount of your choosing. (We no longer have
fixed dues.) (Chapter membership is separate and
distinct from membership in the national NRHS.) Please
give as generously as you can to help the Chapter
continue its mission to expand public appreciation of
railroads and their history through preservation and
education. You can download the membership form
from our website, or you can renew online on our secure
website. Please direct any membership questions to our
Membership Director, Russ Rudolph, at
[email protected] , or to one of the officers or
directors listed on page 2.
Annual Gala Keynote
Address to Feature NKP 765
Annual Gala, Sunday, March 6, 2016: Join us for the
DCNRHS yearly gala banquet for a delicious buffet
dinner and the rare opportunity to hear a presentation by
our keynote speaker, Wayne York of the Fort Wayne
Railroad Historical Society (FWRHS). The FWRHS is
the owner and operator of Nickel Plate Road Berkshire
steam locomotive 2-8-4 No. 765. Celebrated for pulling
passenger excursions through 17 states as a goodwill
ambassador, No. 765 is one of only a handful of steam
locomotives that still operate on the mainlines of the
United States. Mr. York has been involved with the
FWRHS since its beginnings in 1972 and is currently the
Excursion Manager. His talk will range from No. 765’s
days on the Nickel Plate Road, to the formation of
FWRHS, all the way to today’s programs, with a couple
of interesting side trips along the way with James Earl
Jones and Harrison Ford.
No. 765 featured prominently in DCNRHS’ 2015
operations, as the Dover Harbor joined the Franklin Inn
and Collinsville Inn in the consist for this past summer’s
excursions behind the historic locomotive. The venue
this year will again be Normandie Farm in Potomac,
MD. Make your reservation today at www.dcnrhs.org or
return the flier enclosed with this newsletter!
NKP No. 765 at Altoona, PA, on May 25, 2013. Photo by
Gail Anderson.
On Christmas Eve this year, we received this e-postcard
from Mr. York:
To Our Dover Harbor Friends,
It is the night of December 2, 1979, on the interchange track between the former PRR and NYC in Sandusky, OH. It is a clear and cold night in the single-digits. The next day, NKP No. 765 will move east on the Water Level Route on its own power and then head onto industrial trackage and into a heated warehouse for the winter. The deadhead trip the day before from New Haven, IN, to Bellevue, OH, demonstrated to all that No. 765 could indeed return to the mainline twenty years after being retired. Her Second Career had begun (1979-1993) and, of course, No. 765 is on her Third Career now for the FWRHS. Little could I have imagined in 1979 where all our travels with No. 765 would take us. We've been to places like Horseshoe Curve, the New River Gorge, and crossed the Mississippi, Tug Fork and Susquehanna Rivers. We've touched seventeen states including Missouri, Wisconsin, Alabama, and New Jersey and covered well over 50,000 miles since that night in 1979.
Thank you to DCNRHS and the crews of the Dover Harbor, Franklin Inn and Collinsville Inn for your
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part in bringing joy and discovery to thousands of people this year and looking forward to new adventures in 2016!
Monthly Programs
DCNRHS Monthly Programs are resuming with the
New Year. They are free and open to the public. The
location alternates between Silver Spring, MD, and
Alexandria, VA.
Friday, January 15, 8 pm: Location: George
Washington National Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan
Drive, Alexandria, VA. Program: Our speaker will be
Carl M. Franz. He will present a very comprehensive,
high definition, wide-screen video of Norfolk & Western
Class J locomotives in action. It will cover Class J’s in
regular service, highlights of the Norfolk Southern
Steam Program in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and No. 611’s
return to service in 2015. A small number of DVDs and
Blu-rays will be available for sale at discounted prices.
Friday, February 19, 8 pm: Location: B&O RR
Station, 8100 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD.
Program: “Resources for Railroad Research at the
National Archives” by speaker David Pfeiffer.
Saturday Work Sessions
Work sessions are continuing at Dover Park on most
Saturdays starting at 10 am, and volunteers are needed to
help complete maintenance tasks on Dover Harbor to
prepare the car for the 2016 season, its 30th
year of
operation by DCNRHS. There will be a designated
manager each week to direct the work. Come on out and
lend a hand and learn more about our vintage railcars.
All skill levels are welcome. Please contact Jim Lilly at
443-253-2956 if you need directions to Dover Park.
RailCamp 2016 Scholarship
DCNRHS is sponsoring a scholarship to RailCamp again
this year for one lucky high school student. RailCamp is
an educational experience designed to teach students
about 21st century railroad operations, dispatching, and
maintenance, while simultaneously providing insight
into the early history of U.S. railroads in the
development and settlement of our country. The
scholarship is awarded annually to a high school student,
usually from the Washington, D. C., area, who shows
interest and aptitude in railroads and history. The
scholarship covers tuition, meals, and lodging (but not
travel costs). RailCamp is organized and sponsored by
the National Railway Historical Society, which has
provided more information on their website
http://www.nrhs.com/program/railcamp.
The scholarship winner normally attends RailCamp East,
which will be held in Newark, DE, from June 26 – July
2, 2016. (NRHS also sponsors a RailCamp West, which
will be held in Tacoma, WA, from July 31 – August 7,
2016.) If you know of a high school student with an
interest in railroading, please encourage them to apply.
Applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2015, and
received by March 5, 2015. All applications for the
scholarship will be evaluated by the Washington D.C.
Chapter, NRHS. Information about RailCamp and our
scholarship is available on the RailCamp page of the
Chapter website or by emailing [email protected] with the
subject line RAILCAMP.
Christmas Train Reprise
Our ex-PRR coaches, Franklin Inn and Collinsville Inn,
spent the Christmas holiday serving on “The Train to
Christmas Town” on the Piedmont & Northern Railway
in Belmont, NC. See the Chapter Facebook page for
more photos and a video of our cars in action.
The DCNRHS “Inn” cars bracket the Iowa Pacific dome
car Prairie View on the “Train to Christmas Town” at
North Belmont, NC. Photo by Jim Fetchero, Manager of
Private Car Operations, Iowa Pacific/High Iron Travel.
Trains Magazine 75th
Anniversary Celebration Story and photos by Alex Mayes
In November, 2015, Teresa and I were in Milwaukee to
attend Trains Magazine’s 75th anniversary celebration,
which was held on Saturday, November 14. While there,
we also toured Kalmbach Publishing Company and did a
little railfanning. The Trains Magazine 75th anniversary
celebration was an upscale and well planned event,
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which was to be expected from TRAINS. I spoke with
friends I’ve known for several years and met several
prominent people whom I’ve wanted to meet for years.
The entire event was a real pleasure. I took the photos
mainly for some of my friends who really wanted to
attend, however were unable to due to conflicts, poor
health or other reasons.
The Trains Magazine 75th Anniversary Gala was held at
the Harley-Davidson Museum in downtown Milwaukee.
Sign welcoming anniversary gala attendees at the entrance
to the banquet hall.
The Trains Magazine 75
th Anniversary Gala began with a
social hour.
Attendees of the Trains Magazine 75
th Anniversary Gala
enjoy dinner.
TRAINS Editor Jim Wrinn makes opening comments.
Mike Gresham, General Superintendent of Western
Maryland Scenic Railroad. At the banquet TRAINS
Editor Jim Wrinn announced that the WMSR was the
winner of the $10,000 annual TRAINS Preservation
Award. Mike informed attendees that Scott Lindsay, who
was involved in the restoration of N&W No. 611, evaluated
ex-C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, which is undergoing restoration
at the WMSR, and based on his evaluation the projected
date that No. 1309 will enter service is July 24, 2016.
On Tuesday, November 10th, we toured Kalmbach
Publishing Company (KPC) in Waukesha, WI. The tour
was arranged in advance with Classic Trains Editor, Rob
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McGonigal, whom we've known for over 20 years. Rob
graciously took time out of his busy schedule to show us
around and provided a most interesting tour.
Sign outside the Kalmbach Publishing Company building
located at 21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI. This
location is about 14 miles west of the downtown Milwaukee
Amtrak Station and about 21 miles from the Milwaukee
Mitchell Airport Amtrak Station.
The Kalmbach Publishing Company building, which is
home to TRAINS, Classic Trains, Model Railroader, Classic
Toy Trains, Garden Railways, and other hobby magazines,
all leading publications in their field.
TRAINS Editor Jim Wrinn in his office.
Classic Trains Editor Rob McGonigal (left) and TRAINS
Assistant Editor Brian Schmidt (right) at the black and
white photo file storage cabinets. Rob informed us that
there are 180,000 B & W photos in these file cabinets.
KPC art workshop, used mostly by Model Railroader staff.
One of several model railroad layouts located throughout
the KPC facility that we were shown.
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The KPC warehouse. Back issues of their magazines are
stored here and shipped from this facility.
Dover Harbor Brass Model
The beautiful HO scale brass models of the Dover
Harbor have arrived and are being distributed to the
purchasers. The models proved to be very popular and
the entire production run was sold out. Dean Edmonds
coordinated the endeavor with the manufacturer.
HO scale brass model of the Dover Harbor posed on top of
its packing box. Photo by Dean Edmonds.
His and Hers License Plates Board members John and Carol Zabrosky show their
Chapter loyalty and spirit with personalized his and hers
Virginia Railway Heritage license plates.
John’s plate on the left, Carol’s plate on the right.
_____________________________________________
Answer to this month’s Trivia Test located on page 2:
D. 13,799 miles. It was a busy year!
Follow-up to last month’s trivia test about Thomas the
Tank Engine: The “Railway Series” books were first
adapted for television in 1984. Now known as “Thomas
and Friends”, the first four series followed the books, but
since series five, they have significantly deviated from
the books. The show has become quite valuable
commercially now that it is a worldwide hit and the
franchise is currently owned by Mattel. The shows have
become more merchandise-driven with at least the
partial intent to sell toys. Interestingly, the show is
appealing to autistic children because the amount of
movement in the animation is actually quite limited and
the amount of sensory input is therefore reduced.
The first issue of TRAINS was published in November
1940 and consisted of 36 pages. It cost 25 cents; a
yearly subscription was $2.50. The issue was edited by
A. C. Kalmbach (who also contributed an article),
Linn Westcott (who contributed the cover photograph
of a water tank), and Willard Anderson. It contained
an article on railroad photography by Lucius Beebe
and an article on Potomac Yard, complete with track
diagram. (Issue 2 contained an article about
Washington Union Station.) Inside were many photos,
all black and white, including a Southern Pacific cab
forward and a PRR GG-1. In the back were ads for the
National Railway Historical Society (the ad showed a
Chapter in Baltimore but not in Washington), the
Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, and
several other rail enthusiast organizations. It also
included an ad for Walthers kits and listed a number
of books for sale, with the comment that a book by
Lucius Beebe was expensive at $5 but well worth it. In
his editorial comments, which he called “Waybills”,
Mr. Kalmbach described taking his 3-year-old
daughter for her first meal in a dining car. He also
described a train-auto service that he had used on a
trip which sounded like an early form of car rental. He
commented, “And coming back we had dinner on the
diner, which is one thing a person can’t do while
driving.” It is apparent that the first issue established
the TRAINS tradition of interesting but not overly
technical articles, fine photography, and the sale of
interesting books on railroading. The changes in the
railroad industry that TRAINS has chronicled over the
past 75 years have been vast and TRAINS has become
the leading railfan publication. How many magazines
are still publishing and thriving 75 years after their
founding? Source: TRAINS Complete Collection CD.
(Editor).
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Copyright © 2016 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
The Timetable Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS P.O. Box 230, Savage, MD 20763-0230
RETURN ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Photo Finish
PHOTO STOP AT MOSCOW – On February 19, 1996, a group of hardy railfans records the passage of former Milwaukee
Road 4-8-4 No. 261 at the Moscow, PA, station on Steamtown’s former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western main through the
Pocono Mountains. The train is carrying passengers to Tobyhanna, PA, to enjoy the town’s annual Ice Harvesting Festival.
The huge 4-8-4 was built by Alco in 1944 and was used in freight service until being retired in 1954. Today, No. 261 is owned
by Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization “Friends of the 261” and is used in excursion service. Photo by Alex Mayes.
