August 2010 - New River Train

A UGUST
2 01 0
Collis P.
Huntington
Railroad
Historical
Society,
Inc.
Gondola Gazette
Endless Mountain Rails 2010
2010 NRHS Convention
Scranton, PA
June 21 - 26, 2010
www.NRHS.com
(Continued from the July 2010 Gondola Gazette!
Day 5 - June 25, 2010
- Seminars A series of free educational seminars were offered to convention attendees on Friday morning at the
Steamtown theater. The topics included:
 NRHS Newsletters - a review of NRHS newsletters and how they can support Chapter development.
 The Steamtown Story - Given by the official Steamtown Photographer, gave a history of
the facility from its early days through present day.
 Steamtown's Future - Park Superintendent Kip Haken gave a glimpse into the future plans
for the Park.
 Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Lebanon County - a review of historical activities and
efforts of this local museum.
- Board of Directors Meeting The summer Board of Directors meeting of the NRHS was held at the Hilton Hotel from 8:30 AM to
1:45 PM. Notable among society business were talks of plans for the future. The Railway Heritage
Grants Committee also announced the 2010 Grants Winners.
- Annual Membership Meeting The annual National Membership Meeting of the NRHS was held at the Hilton Hotel from 2:30 PM to
4:00 PM. President Greg Molloy outlined the status of the society and our activities in 2009. In addition a new Board of Directors was elected.
GONDOLA GAZETTE
(Continued on page 9)
AUGUST 2010
Meeting Notices
AUG 2010
AUG 01
AUG 07
AUG 08
AUG 10
AUG 15
AUG 20
AUG 22
AUG 24
AUG 29
1 - 4 P.M.
11 A.M.
1 - 4 P.M.
7:30 P.M.
1 - 4 P.M.
FRIDAY
1 - 4 P.M.
7:30 P.M.
1 - 4 P.M.
SEP 2010
SEP 04
11 A.M.
SEP 05
1 - 4 P.M.
SEP 11
11 A.M.
SEP 11
02 P.M.
SEP 11 & 12
SEP 14
7:30 P.M.
SEP 26
SUNDAY
SEP 28
7:30 P.M.
OUTDOOR MUSEUM OPEN
CPH MODEL RR CLUB
OUTDOOR MUSEUM OPEN
BOARD MEETING
OUTDOOR MUSEUM OPEN
GREENBRIER TRIP
OUTDOOR MUSEUM OPEN
CPH CHAPTER MEETING
OUTDOOR MUSEUM OPEN
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CPH 2ND FLOOR
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CPH MAIN OFFICE
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CPH MAIN OFFICE
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
(SEE PAGE 11)
CPH MODEL RR CLUB
CPH 2ND FLOOR
OUTDOOR MUSEUM OPEN - LAST DAY OF THE SEASON
CPR / AED TRAINING
CPH MAIN OFFICE
ANNUAL CPH PICNIC
CSX
BARDSTOWN TRIP
BOARD MEETING
CPH MAIN OFFICE
GREENBRIER TRIP
CPH CHAPTER MEETING
CPH MAIN OFFICE
President
Walter Cavender 304-776-3469
Volunteer Advocate
Membership Chairperson
Linda Bush
304-545-6940
Condolence Flowers for
Charleston
Chris Cavender 304-776-3469
Gondola Gazette Editor
Alesea Smith 740-532-6102
Email: [email protected]
304-206-5415
Museum Curator
Greenbo Show Coordinator
Dale Smith
740-532-6102
Email: [email protected]
Secretary
Karol Cavender
304-776-3469
Museum Supervisor
Roger Young 304-743-7253
Treasurer
Ramona Webb
606-324-8005
Directors
Brian Cavender
Bill Conley
Bill Gillespie
Duane Legg
Dale Smith
304-727-5133
740-867-5615
304-755-5072
304-545-0802
740-532-6102
Immediate Past President
Steve Ferrell
304-429-1548
Vice President
Gene Bush
Executive Director, Trip Director, NRHS Director
Don Maxwell
606-325-8035
AUGUST 2010
South Yard Superintendent
of Equipment
Bill Conley
740-867-5615
Amtrak Naration Program
Larry Kidd
304-776-7482
CPH Chaplain
Bob Withers
304-522-2046
Buiding Supervior
Don Weaver
305-529-4470
Greetings Correspondence,
Condolence Flowers,
Huntington (West)
Alesea Smith 740-532-6102
or call the CPH Office
2
CONTACTS
2010
GONDOLA GAZETTE
Obituary: Dr. Logan Hovis
Logan William Hovis, Jr., M.D., 92, of Vienna passed away early Thursday morning, July 8, 2010, at
Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital. Dr. Hovis was born in McKees Rocks, Pa., and lived in Parkersburg since 1918. In his retirement, Dr. Hovis continued to participate in his many hobbies including
golf, railroad and Civil War memorabilia, photography, travel, Veterans' organizations, the arts, music, and literature. Dr. Hovis was a member of Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society since
1966.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alice Ray Hovis Chapel Foundation in care of the
Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1762, Parkersburg, WV, 26102-1762.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.LeavittFuneralHome.com.
CSX Annual Coal Route Maintenance
Work Complete
Released: Jul 07, 2010 www.csx.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - July 7, 2010 - Nearly 1,000 CSX Transportation Engineering employees
completed the annual coal route maintenance project this week. Track maintenance teams worked
their way across the Appalachian coal route which includes Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee,
New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Demand for coal remains strong, and on a typical
day as many as 50 trains make their way across this important corridor.
During this intense maintenance operation, workers installed new rail, and more than 133,000 ties.
Ties cover nearly 113 miles of main line track, plus several auxiliary tracks. Crews also re-surfaced
an additional 150 miles of track, and performed maintenance on the seven tunnels and four bridges
along the path - all compressed into the span of 10 days.
This $20 million project is one example of CSX continuing to significantly invest in its rail network to
meet current and future transportation needs of its customers.
"This was a huge undertaking of maintenance work for our employees," said Ricky Johnson, Assistant Chief Engineering of System Production Teams. "Our focus first and foremost was getting this
enormous amount of critical work done safely. And in doing so, we ensure that our customers can
count on continued safe and efficient rail service."
This planned maintenance work keeps train reliability, safety and service high. The project is scheduled annually when many coal mines traditionally close for summer break. If the work were scheduled during normal curfew conditions, it could take up to 27 weeks to complete with significant service disruptions.
GONDOLA GAZETTE
3
AUGUST 2010
Day Out With Thomas Submitted by Alesea Smith
Article & Pictures go here
AUGUST 2010
4
GONDOLA GAZETTE
Plans call for steam to ride the Norfolk
Southern rails again, through display and
excursion program with TVRM
NORFOLK, VA., and CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – Norfolk Southern Corporation is in negotiations with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with regard to the operation of a limited schedule of steam locomotive event appearances and passenger excursions beginning later this year.
“21st Century Steam” would highlight milestones in rail history and provide
an opportunity for audiences to learn about today’s safe and serviceoriented freight railroads. The program would feature three venerable coalpowered steam locomotives:
Southern Railway 4501
 Southern Railway 4501: Built in 1911 by Baldwin Locomotive Works,
4501 served Southern Railway in freight service in Tennessee, Virginia,
Kentucky, and Indiana, before being sold to a short line railroad. No. 4501
was retired from revenue service in 1963 and enjoyed a second career in
the excursion program operated by Southern Railway and Norfolk Southern
from 1966 until 1994. This Ms (Mikado superheated) Class locomotive has
63-inch driving wheels.
 Southern Railway 630: Built in 1904 at the Richmond, Va., works of
American Locomotive Company, this Consolidation-type locomotive has
traveled throughout the Southeast, often in the company of 4501 and sister
locomotive 722. An extensive six-year rehabilitation to Federal Railroad Ad- Southern Railway 630
ministration standards is being completed at TVRM’s Soule Shops complex
in Chattanooga.
Tennessee Valley Railroad 610: Built in 1952 by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton for
the U.S. Army, 610 has been the mainstay of TVRM steam operations since
1990. It also appeared on several Norfolk Southern steam excursions from
1990 to 1993. No. 610, also a Consolidation type, was one of the last steam
locomotives built in the U.S.
“This is the right time for steam to ride the Norfolk Southern rails,” said CEO
Wick Moorman. “We have a fascinating history, and we have a compelling
message about how today’s railroads support jobs, competition, and the
economy. It is a forward-looking message that resonates with people every- Tennessee Valley Railroad 610
where.”
“21st Century Steam can help introduce historic and modern railroading to a broad new audience
of supporters,” said TVRM President Tim Andrews. “We are pleased to be developing this relationship with Norfolk Southern for the purpose of preserving and interpreting the steam age, and
of bringing today’s railroad closer to people young and old, in communities large and small.”
The launch of 21st Century Steam would coincide with key dates. 2011 will be 4501’s 100th birthday and TVRM’s 50th. The year 2012 will mark Norfolk Southern’s 30th anniversary.
21st Century Steam’s initial appearances and runs tentatively could take place in the Chattanooga area this fall, with locomotives 610 and 630. No. 4501 could join the program sometime in
(Continued on page 6)
GONDOLA GAZETTE
5
AUGUST 2010
Plans call for steam
(Continued)
2011, after rehabilitation. Exhibit dates, ticketing, and other details will be announced later.
“The sights and sounds of a steam train are powerful enough to catch the public’s attention in this
busy and complex age,” said Jim Wrinn, author of Steam’s Camelot: Southern and NS Excursions in
Color, and editor of Trains Magazine. “A steam train is a living piece of American history that
teaches volumes about this exciting industry that has much to offer our country today. Once the door
is open with the steam locomotive, you’ve got an opportunity to teach a new generation how railroading is the right transportation solution to so many challenges facing us.”
Later this year, Norfolk Southern and TVRM plan to launch a web site in support of the program.
Correspondence can be addressed to [email protected].
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was founded in 1961 in Chattanooga to create an interpretive
operating museum of historic equipment and artifacts in an authentic setting. Today it operates an
extensive schedule of historic and scenic trains in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia,
supported by its East Chattanooga locomotive and car shop complex. TVRM is the largest operating
historical excursion railroad in the Southeast.
www.nscorp.com
Annual Chapter Picnic
The Chapter Picnic will be held at CSX on Saturday,
September 11th at 2 p.m. Bring what you like to eat at
a picnic! CPH will furnish the meat, buns and soft
drinks.
Activity before the picnic: AED/CPR training will be conducted by Fred Tillis at CPH Office on 8th Ave, Huntington, WV from 11 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m.
AUGUST 2010
6
GONDOLA GAZETTE
Bardstown Flyer goes here
GONDOLA GAZETTE
7
AUGUST 2010
AUGUST 2010
8

SPONSORED BY
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway
and
Rocky Outdoor Gear

Depot open Saturday and Sunday ~ 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Message only call 1-800-967-9531 and someone
will return your call.
To order tickets go to www.hockingvalleytrain.org
or call the Depot at 740-753-9531
RAFFLE TICKETS
for several fun prizes will be available
the day of the ride and drawings will take place at the
end of the ride. Do not need to be present to win.
20 Mile round trip ~ Approximately 1 Hour 45 Minutes
All proceeds from the ride and raffle benefit the
American Cancer Society
sit

$12.00 per ticket
(Under 3 years old ride free but must
on parents lap)

Saturday, October 2, 2010
6 p.m.
2nd Annual Ride For A Cure
Oak Hill Railroad Days Flyer will go here
GONDOLA GAZETTE
NRHS Convention 2010 (Continued)
a presentation on RailCamp, the
NRHS' summer camp to edu- Meeting of the NRHS
cate senior high school students
Members At-Large about railroading, past, present,
Did you know that you don't
and future; in response over
have to belong to a local Chap- $1,700 dollars as raised spontater of the NRHS to be a member neously from the audience to
of the Society. For those mem- fund future RailCamp Scholarbers not geographically tied to
ships.
one location or interested in the
particular activities of one Chap- The keynote speaker of the eveter, At-Large membership gives ning was Jim Wrinn, Editor of
the opportunity to be a fullmem- Trains Magazine. Jim, a lifelong
ber of the NRHS. At-Large
railfan, spoke of growing up with
members have representation
a love of trains and getting his
on the Board of Directors. At
first ride behind the Southern
4:00 PM a meeting was held just Steam Program at an early age.
for At-Large members of the
It was there he developed his
NRHS to discuss matters of in- lifelong passion for railroading.
terest pertaining specifically to
Jim's program also included a
members in this category. The
talk on ho Trains Magazine is
meeting lasted about 60 minproduced, and a reminisce on
utes.
the railroading and hobby we
have known, and of course how
- Convention Gala Banquet - things are changing.
Over 600 people attended the
gala event of Convention Week Door prizes were also given
away.
2010, the banquet, at the ball
room at the Radisson Hotel
(former DL&W station) in Scran- The banquet concluded about
10:00 PM.
ton. The evening began with a
Social Hour at 6:00 (social hour
Day 6 - June 26, 2010
was held in the ornate lobby/
- The Lehigh Rambler former waiting room of the buildThe finale trip of the convention
ing/station).
was the Lehigh Rambler, a trip
behind Steam on the Blue
Dinner, buffet style, began at
Mountain, Reading & Northern
7:00 PM and included fish,
chicken, beef, salads, desserts, Railroad (RBMN). The trip was a
return tot the glory days of
vegetables, rolls, coffee, and
mainline steam, open window
tea.
coaches, open air coaches,
Several guest speakers, includ- steam locomotives, four photo
runbys, soot, cinders, and whising the convention chairman,
Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley tles.
President Vee Pauli, NRHS
It was an early departure (6:30
President Greg Molloy, gave
am) for a chartered motor coach
brief remarks. NRHS Senior
Vice President Barry Smith gave ride to Duryea, PA where our
(Continued from page 1)
GONDOLA GAZETTE
9
Photo of Jim Wrinn giving keynote
presentation by J. Lilly
steed, RBMN No. 425 was waiting for us for our 8:00 am departure on the former Bloomsburg
Branch of the DL&W.
No. 425 is a light Pacific class
engineer, 4-6-2, built in 1928 for
the Gulf Mobile & Northern and
now owned by the RBMN. The
rest of the consist included:
 RBMN Diesel (Lehigh Gorge
Scenic) No. 426
 Open Air Car No. 3
 RBMN (former Lackawanna)
heavyweight commuter
coaches No. 306, 309, 303,
301, 304, 302, and 305
 RBMN Office Car No. 1 The Black Diamond RBMN
Office Car No. 5 - The
Schuylkill River
After a short trip down the
Bloomsburg Branch (a backup
move) and turning on a wye, the
train cut onto the former Lehigh
Valley's (LV) Mountain Cutoff at
(Continued on page 10)
AUGUST 2010
NRHS Convention 2010 (Continued)
(Continued from page 9)
Pittston. Entering Centralized
Traffic Controlled (CTC) territory, our locomotive worked upgrade. The Mountain cutoff was
built in 1888 to expedite freight
traffic around the congestion of
the Wyoming Valley. A separate
line as used to route trains
through Wilkes-Barre. As we
climbed the former LV main, we
passed under for former Erie
Railroad and parlayed the former D&H before passing under
it at Dupont Junction.
At Soloman's Gap the our train
operated on former Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) trackage for several miles, which we
had been paralleling the abandoned trackage of since shortly
after entering the LV. At Mountaintop we reached the top of
the grade, 1650 ft, and then
rolled through RBMN's Penobscot Yard here a restored operating tower still stands guard
over the freight traffic.
pathway looked on in amazement at "all these people with
cameras taking pictures of that
old train."
began at 2:15 PM. We headed
south for 16.5 miles on the Nesquehoning Branch" of the CNJ
toward Haucks, after passing
PQ tower and diverging from our
Shortly afterward we crossed
inbound route along the river.
the river again (Lehigh) and en- Near that location there were
tered the former right of way of two more photo runbys. The first
the CNJ. We arrived at our lay- was special, an opportunity our
over destination, Jim Thorpe,
train crossing the Lehigh River
PA, once a major waypoint on
trestle we had crossed on the
the CNJ about 11:15. The CNJ inbound to Jim Thorpe leg,
depot, restored and beautiful, is about a quarter mile away. The
our interim station. It also serves second was a full bore runby at
as a visitors center and a depar- track speed at our location.
ture point for the Lehigh Gorge Continuing along the NesqueTourist train, also operated by
honing Branch, we passed
the RBMN.
through Nesquehoning, Panther
Creek, Hauto, and Hometown,
Jim Thorpe was originally
where we crossed an almost
named Mauch Chunk, but in
1000 foot long trestle over the
1953 was renamed for the faSchuylkill River (trestle built in
mous Indian athlete who is bur- the 1930s).
ied here. Jim Thorpse is a beautiful town nestled in the Poconos At Haucks we turned south to
along the Lehigh River with
join the former Reading Railmuch culture, art, and history.
road's Shamokin division, which
we would continue on for 27
Asa Packer, once owner of the miles to our final destination,
Lehigh Valley Railroad and one Port Clinton. The journey inof the richest men in America,
cluded passing through Tamalived here and his former manqua tunnel, and the picturesque
sion is now a museum. Our
town of the same name. There
three hour layover gave ample
were then about another 20
opportunity for passengers to
miles of "you can't get there by
explore the town and catch
car" beautiful scenery before we
lunch. During the layover, the
arrived at Port Clinton.
steam engine was turned and
serviced and put on the other
On arrival in Port Clinton, about
end of the train. The diesel, the 5:15 PM, passengers were
open air car, and the Two office given the opportunity to explore
cars were also switched to the
the headquarters of the RBMN,
other end of the train so that the including taking pictures of two
diesel remained directly behind famous steam locomotives now
the locomotive and the open air located there: Reading 2102 and
car behind that.
Chesapeake & Ohio No. 614.
On our downhill trek, we then
raced through Glen Summit and
Crestwood before passing
through our first tunnel. Then,
about 13 miles beyond the tunnel, we passed through the town
of White Haven before crossing
the Lehigh River on a high steel
trestle. We then followed the Lehigh River for the next 25 miles,
along the way passing through
the second Tunnel of the afternoon, Rockport. Our first two
photo runbys of the afternoon
were executed flawlessly in the
Lehigh Gorge, with No. 425
"showing her stuff" as the bikers
on the adjacent rails-to-trails
The second half of our journey
AUGUST 2010
10
(Continued on page 14)
GONDOLA GAZETTE
CPH New Members
Do we have any new members???
CPR/AED Training
There will be CPR/AED Training at CPH on Saturday, September 11 @ 11
a.m. at CPH (before and coordinating with the CPH Annual Picnic).Training
will last approximately 2 hours and Fred Tillis will be the instructor. This is
a free course for CPH Members and is also manditory training for all
New River Train Car Hosts.
If you live out of town and plan to be a car host on New River Train, please contact the
office if you are unable to attend CPR/AED traning in Huntington.
Volunteers Needed for the Outdoor
Museum - Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Roger Young really needs more volunteers for the outdoor museum at
14th Street West. If you could volunteer for just one Sunday this summer
it would be greatly appreciated. Hours are above, please call Susan on
her cell phone (preferred number to call): 304-730-0953 or call the home
phone: 304-743-7253 (let the phone ring, Roger does not always hear it).
Someone will return your call if the answering machine kicks in after several rings.
Have Room for Short Article Here
GONDOLA GAZETTE
11
AUGUST 2010
CPH Membership Application
$36.00
$57.00
LINDA BUSH, MEMBERSHIP CHAIRPERSON
AUGUST 2010
12
GONDOLA GAZETTE
Heartland Corridor Extends Reach from
Columbus to Cincinnati
Norfolk Southern Gets the Green Signal to Proceed on Double Stack Clearance Project
Columbus (Tuesday, June 22, 2010) – America’s growing economy moves more and more freight on
rails and Ohio is increasingly one of the critical links to keep those goods rolling. Already nearing completion of its Heartland Corridor between Chicago, Columbus and the Port of Norfolk, Virginia, Norfolk
Southern (NS) is extending the corridor’s reach to Cincinnati.
NS has been given the official notice by the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) to proceed
with engineering and construction on their Columbus to Cincinnati line to accommodate double-stack
container trains.
The nearly $6.1 million project will involve increasing clearances at five locations between Columbus
and Sharonville, and adding tracks at the Rickenbacker intermodal facility. The project is funded in part
with $3.6-million from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, along with matching funding from
both Norfolk Southern and the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.
But the project is about much more than making sure bridges and other structures are at the right
height for trains to pass.
“The double stack clearance projects are essential because they remove trucks from the I-71 and I-75
corridors in southwest Ohio,” said OKI Executive Director Mark Policinski.
“These projects reduce air pollution and congestion while, at the same time, improving our ability to
compete in global markets. OKI is proud to have originated the partnership with Norfolk Southern and
ORDC that delivers so many benefits.”
“It’s this kind of public-private investment in our rail network that enhances Ohio’s already strategic position as a distribution and logistics hub for both North America and the world,” echoed ORDC Executive Director Matt Dietrich. “The return on this investment is the economic development and jobs that
grow around these intermodal freight hubs as we have already seen around the NS Rickenbacker Intermodal Yard.”
“Ohio is strategically positioned to satisfy the growing demand for high-quality intermodal freight service throughout the Midwest,” said Mike McClellan, NS vice president intermodal marketing. “The
Heartland Corridor West extension to Cincinnati leverages our Heartland Corridor and the success of
our Rickenbacker intermodal facility in Columbus, creating new opportunities for shippers while at the
same time delivering significant economic and environmental benefits throughout Ohio, northern Kentucky and southern Indiana.”
The Ohio Rail Development Commission is an independent agency operating within the Ohio Department of Transportation. ORDC is responsible for economic development through the improvement and
expansion of passenger and freight rail services and railroad grade crossing safety. For more information about what ORDC does for Ohio, visit our website at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Rail .
GONDOLA GAZETTE
13
AUGUST 2010
NRHS Convention 2010 (Continued)
(Continued from page 10)
Then about 6:30 PM it was
time to take our chartered motor coaches back to Scranton.
A series of photos from the trip
are shown here, from a passenger's perspective.
MORE PHOTOS
CAN BE SEEN AT:
http://
www.nrhs.com/
nrhsconv/2010conv/
saturday/index.html
Photos are all by J. Lilly.
Passengers enjoy the Open Air Car Seating behind the
locomotives... Ahhh, the smell of cinders and the sound
of steam!
No. 426 Leads A Photo Runby in the Lehigh Gorge near
Jim Thorpe, PA
No. 425 crosses the Lehigh River during a
Photo runby
Black Diamond No. 1 "brings up the markers" of The Lehigh Special
AUGUST 2010
14
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Car Host Form Goes Here
GONDOLA GAZETTE
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AUGUST 2010
A U G U S T 2 01 0
We’re on the Web!
www.newrivertrain.com
Non Profit Organization
PAID
Huntington WV
Permit 9
Dated Material
Please do not delay
Gondola Gazette
C OLLIS P .
H UNTINGTON
R AILROAD H ISTORICAL
S OCIETY, INC.
1323 8TH AVENUE
MAIL TO: P. O. BOX 393
HUNTINGTON, WV 25708-0393
PHONE: 304-523-0364
FAX: 304-523-0366
EMAIL: [email protected]
All New River Train Car Hosts
are required to have CPR/AED
training, please see page 11.
Also, don’t forget to send in your
Car Host form on page 15!
AUGUST 2010
16
GONDOLA GAZETTE