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The Timetable
Copyright © 2014 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
November
2014
Vermont Rails, June 2015
Reservations are open for the trip to the 2015 NRHS
Convention in Rutland, VT, on board our historic 1930’s
Pullman Dover Harbor. In addition to full round trips to
the convention from Washington, D. C., there are a
variety of other shorter travel options available that are
described in the enclosed flier or on the Chapter website.
Please check www.NRHS.com for convention updates
or see www.facebook.com/RailPreservation.
In addition, if you are interested in riding the Dover
Harbor on any of next year’s convention trains, we
recommend that you make your reservations soon with
the NRHS as sales are open and the car is filling quickly.
Nov. Monthly Program
Friday, November 21, 8 pm: Location: George
Washington National Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan
Drive, Alexandria, VA. (free and open to the public)
Topic: “A Comeback Sixty Years in the Making”. Scott
McGill, Chief Mechanical Officer of the T1 Trust, will
bring us up to date on the Trust’s progress in
constructing a PRR T1 Steam Locomotive. The T1 Trust
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created for the
express purpose of constructing PRR T1 5550, the 53rd
locomotive of its class. The goal is to provide mainline
excursion service and to set the World Speed Record for
a steam locomotive.
2014 Chef’s Table
The 2014 Chef’s Table was held on board DCNRHS’
historic Pullman Dover Harbor on Saturday, November
1, at Washington Union Station. Twenty-eight diners in
two sold out seatings were treated to a delightful eight
course tasting menu created by Chefs Fran Phillips and
Hans Plugge. Five different libations accompanied the
menu selections. White linen table clothes covered the
tables which were set with replica Pullman china, wine
and champagne glasses, a fancy fold napkin and a
beautiful custom designed menu. The historic Pullman
décor of the lounge and the subdued lighting provided
the perfect setting for the event. The meal was ably
served in first class Pullman style by white jacketed
stewards Lawrence Biemiller, Bill Phillips, and Terence
Mulligan. Tuxedo clad John Zabrosky acted as
mechanical officer and greeter for the evening.
Tables are set for the elegant 2014 Chef’s Table on board
the Dover Harbor. Menu cover is a ca. 1890 image for the
B&O’s Royal Blue Line between New York and
Washington, D. C., from the collection of Terence
Mulligan. Photo by Gail Anderson
Stewards Bill Phillips (left) and Terence Mulligan (right)
serve the Amuse Bouche that started off the 2014 Chef’s
Table menu. Photo by Gail Anderson.
November 2014 The Timetable Page 2
Copyright © 2014 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
The Timetable Volume LX, Issue No. 11.
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,
Hans Plugge, and Wally Stack
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.
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
New Members DCNRHS welcomes the following
new members!
Chuck Almquist - Arlington, VA
Richard Stein - Woodbridge, VA
Harold Thomson, Jr. – Fredericksburg,
VA
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]
Officers President: Scarlett Wirt
712 Main Street
Laurel, MD 20707
Phone: 301-490-2024
e-mail: [email protected]
Vice President: Hans Plugge
6008 Jamina Downs
Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 410-446-7986
e-mail: [email protected]
Secretary: Andy Van Scyoc
11609 Galt Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902
301-943-6255
e-mail: [email protected]
Treasurer: Bruce G. Bauer
408 Stately Drive
Pasadena, MD 21122
Phone: 410-437-6272
e-mail: [email protected]
Comptroller: Peter G. Claymore
1141 Dixon Circle
Gainesville, GA 30501-2801
Phone: 703-591-4862
e-mail: [email protected]
Directors
Hank Anderson 301-948-2434
Jon H. Baake 301-994-1706
Bernard Gallagher 301-937-6096
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
2. Circus and carnival trains will carry
90 pounds brake pipe pressure and
130 pounds main reservoir pressure.
Excerpted from “Instructions
Governing the operation of air brakes,
train air signal equipment, and electric
lighting of locomotives and passenger
cars - General Instructions to
Enginemen”
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co.,
the Alton Railroad Co., effective April
1, 1941.
Trivia Test By Andy Van Scyoc
In Roger Miller’s song “King of the
Road” he was riding the third boxcar
on the midnight train to where? (See
page 7 for answers)
A. Boston
B. Bangor
C. Portland
D. Wheeling
November 2014 The Timetable Page 3
Copyright © 2014 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
From the Office Car By Scarlett Wirt
Fall is traditionally a very busy season for DCNRHS,
and this year has been exceptionally so. Our volunteer
team spent the summer at Dover Park preparing the
Dover Harbor and Franklin Inn for a full slate of fall
trips, including a rare-mileage excursion to Portland,
ME, for the AAPRCO convention and a charter that took
both railcars to Montreal. In October, the Dover Harbor
became the first private car to travel the new Amtrak
Norfolk route, hosting 24 passengers on the maiden
Naval Norfolk trip. Many, many thanks to the all-
volunteer Dover Park gang and the on-board crew
members who made these trips possible. A special
thanks to Caryl McNeilly for revitalizing our volunteer
tracking and accounting efforts.
This season has also been intense from a mechanical
perspective. Both the Franklin Inn and the Dover
Harbor completed the Amtrak-required wheel and axle
testing, a new requirement introduced in 2013. With one
bill outstanding, the total cost of this testing and
associated wheelset replacement was approximately
$20,000. This includes replacement of two Dover
Harbor wheelsets for routine wear, and one on the
Franklin Inn due to an axle test failure. Our own skilled
mechanical personnel performed emergency coupler
repairs on the Dover Harbor, having new parts
fabricated and reinstalling the coupler. It was vital to
complete this work and pass the Amtrak inspection in
time for the fall trip season.
Preparations are continuing for Dover Harbor repainting
and bodywork this winter, with multiple bids being
evaluated for the work. Due to the uncertainty involved
in finding/fixing rust-related bodywork damage (a
typical problem area for steel-bodied railcars), we need
approximately $100,000 in hand to handle any
contingencies. While much of the funding to carry out
this critical maintenance has been raised to date, we still
need about $20,000 to ensure completion of the work
before next spring. In addition, restoration work
continues in Cumberland, MD, on the Collinsville Inn.
This work was kicked off with a grant from Trains
Magazine in 2012, and with the additional generous
support of our members, we are nearing the completion
of the mechanical portion of the job.
In the September Timetable, we announced a new
approach to expanding the membership of DCNRHS. By
eliminating the set annual dues requirement, anyone can
join DCNRHS by simply demonstrating their support for
the DCNRHS mission and making a tax-deductible
donation to DCNRHS. The response to this shift in focus
from dues to donations has been overwhelmingly
positive, and the first DCNRHS Annual Membership
Fund solicitation will be in your mailbox soon. We value
your membership and thank you for your generous
support, which makes our programs and activities
possible.
Member News
A profile of Vice President Hans Plugge appeared in the
November/December 2014 issue of Her Mind magazine.
The article focused primarily on Hans’s interest in
cooking but it also covered his involvement with
DCNRHS, the Dover Harbor, and his interest in serving
as a cook on Dover Harbor trips. The article included a
very nice photo of Hans as well.
AAPRCO Trip Observations By Carroll Hanson
I signed up for the trip to the AAPRCO Convention in
Portland, ME, as an overnight passenger on the Dover
Harbor. From the time I boarded at Washington Union
Station until I got off in Portland, it was a non-stop
series of first-time one-of-a-kind experiences for me.
Spending the night in the Amtrak Chicago yard and the
freight-only yards in Binghamton, NY, and East
Deerfield, MA, was a unique opportunity for a behind-
the-scenes look at railroading. I even enjoyed just
hearing the sound of idling freight motive power during
the night. Hearing other rail fans talk so passionately
about everything from the significance of mile markers
to variations of diesel engines drew me into a whole new
world I wasn't used to. Several of them knew unique
historical details about things such as the number and
types of motive power, and other uncommon facts.
The 26 varied and diverse private cars in the consist of
the special train made for a colorful and unique photo
and visual experience for rail fans all along the route.
Sometimes more than 30 fans would be trackside taking
pictures and videos of our attention-getting train. Their
excitement showed in the manner they waved to us and
we AAPRCO riders were able to enjoy the videos and
pictures they posted on various websites.
I was able to attend the Monday morning (September
22) convention sessions. Because of the modest size of
the group (less than 150), the Amtrak officials were able
to speak on a personal and informal level. One long-term
Amtrak official was on a first-name basis with several of
the convention attendees. Several things I took away
from the "Ask Amtrak" portion of the meeting were:
November 2014 The Timetable Page 4
Copyright © 2014 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
(1) Amtrak will continue to support and work with the
Private Rail Car Owners for a number of reasons,
including the fact that the operation of private cars
provides a source of revenue for Amtrak. (2) The Private
Rail Car Owners will continue to work with Amtrak to
maintain Amtrak safety and car standards. (3) There are
450 private rail cars that meet Amtrak standards. Most
are corporate owned but not all are regularly operated.
I was also able to enjoy attending the first night of car
party open houses that involved about half of the cars,
which varied from The Federal (built in 1911 and the
oldest car) to the fancier rebuilt cars like the Sierra Hotel
and Caritas. The idea of living for extended periods of
time on some of these luxury cars was definitely
alluring. I had an interesting talk with one young lady,
barely in her 20s, who spends much of her free time
working with her parents on one of the LA Rails cars.
Her knowledge and enthusiasm were impressive!
Participating in the AAPRCO trip as a passenger made
for an interesting contrast to working as a volunteer. It
was a little like "second nature" to want to "pitch in" and
assist our volunteer porter, Jim Lilly. Knowing about the
history and inner workings of the Dover Harbor helped
me engage other passengers in conversations and answer
questions they had about our Chapter’s unique one-of-
kind beauty, the Dover Harbor.
Pullman Mockup from 1930 The winter 2014 issue of Classic Trains has a very
interesting picture (p. 8) of a mockup of the double
bedroom that Pullman introduced in 1930. What is
striking about the picture is how many of the
components in the mockup are like those in the Dover
Harbor bedrooms. This includes items like the light
fixtures, the brass shelves and brackets, the cup holder,
the silver ice water carafe, the in-room sink and toilet,
the window shade and handles, and the upper berth. A
picture like this certainly establishes some provenance
for the historical authenticity of the Dover Harbor!
Montreal Charter By Hank Anderson
One of the unique and interesting things about serving as
a crew member on a Chapter trip is the opportunity for a
behind-the-scenes look at railroading that is not
available to the average passenger. This was certainly
true on this fall’s charter trip to Montreal.
The trip began with a dead head move of the Dover
Harbor and Franklin Inn to New York where we were to
pick up the first charter group the next day. As we
approached New York after a dash up the Northeast
Corridor at the rear of the Crescent with an ACS-64
Cities Sprinter on the point, we got a firsthand view of
the inside of the Hudson River tunnels from the rear of
the train, one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure
in the world. Soon, we were viewing the maze of tracks
that fan out into Penn Station and pulled up to our
assigned platform. It was a thrill to see our two private
cars stopped at the platform in Penn Station - quite an
achievement for a volunteer-run organization!
Dover Harbor returns to Penn Station, New York, a
familiar destination in days past. Photo by Tom Shevock.
Franklin Inn has just arrived on Track 8 at Penn Station,
New York. Photo by Tom Shevock.
As we departed Penn Station, the track complex
narrowed back down to two tracks and we proceeded
through the East River Tunnels to Sunnyside Yard in
Queens where we were to spend two different nights, the
first the night before the charter and the second after
November 2014 The Timetable Page 5
Copyright © 2014 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
returning from Montreal. After passing through the car
wash, we slowly traveled around the loop that leads to
the service area where we parked for the night. It was a
unique opportunity to see the place where the Pullman
facilities had once been located as well as this former
PRR facility. We were able to watch the steady stream of
Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains that were
constantly coming and going. It was amazing to
contemplate that all of the New York City infrastructure
built by the PRR in the early 1900’s is still in use today
and vital to the city. Like the Romans, the PRR truly
built to last!
Sunnyside Yard in Queens where Amtrak and New Jersey
Transit trains are serviced. Note the ACS-64 Cities
Sprinter on the far right train. Photo by Carroll Hanson.
At Sunnyside Yard, Dover Harbor and Franklin Inn are
still coupled to the rear of the Crescent as crew members
Tom Shevock, Laurene McKillop, and Hank Anderson
(hidden) prepare to load more ice. Photo by Carroll
Hanson.
Leaving Sunnyside Yard the next morning on the rear of
the Adirondack (The winter 2014 issue of Classic Trains
contains some photos of the pre-Amtrak Adirondack.),
we waited our turn to join the stream of trains passing
through the heavily trafficked East River Tunnels and
returned to Penn Station to pick up our first charter
group. Traveling north, we followed the route of the 20th
Century Limited and other famous New York Central
trains along the Hudson River. As we crossed the
Hudson at Albany, it was fun to imagine the sight of
New York Central Hudsons and Niagaras pulling the
many crack New York Central passenger trains along the
same route. Traveling the route to Schenectady where
the former Delaware and Hudson line to Montreal
diverges from the former New York Central brought to
mind things I had read about the early speed records set
by the Empire State Express and the track pans from
which water could be scooped up into the tenders at high
speed and eliminate delays due to stops for water.
At the Saratoga Springs stop, the tracks are still in place
where the racing specials once parked at the station. This
is also the transfer point for the Saratoga and North
Creek Railway. (www.sncrr.com)
Former Bangor and Aroostook EMD BL2 No. 52 on the
point of a Saratoga and North Creek Railway train at
Saratoga Springs, NY. BL stands for “Branch Line”. This
locomotive was the precursor of the highly successful GP
series of EMD locomotives. Photo by Carroll Hanson.
Although the crew was kept busy attending to the
passengers, there was still time to enjoy the scenery as
the train traveled alongside Lake Champlain for a long
distance, and the birch and hardwood forests were full of
autumn color. We passed several large apple orchards
where crates were full of the red bounty of the fall
harvest.
Our stay in Montreal was brief as we were to return to
New York the next morning with another group. We
spent the night in the Montreal Maintenance Center
(MMC) of Via Rail Canada and got to see the inside of
the Service and Inspection building when our train was
brought in for its inspection in the middle of the night.
This is a very modern and clean facility. The inspection
tracks are high up above deep inspection pits and we
were careful not to discharge any water during this time
in case inspectors were below. We also were able to
view some of the equipment used by Via Rail including
the park car Tweedsmuir Park that brings up the rear on
Via Rail’s Ocean that runs between Montreal and
Halifax.
November 2014 The Timetable Page 6
Copyright © 2014 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
The next morning we backed from the MMC to
Montreal Central Station where we were to pick up our
second group that was heading back to New York. They
had just completed a week-long cruise from New York
to Montreal via the St. Lawrence River. It was a
challenge for the crew to get four large carts of luggage
Early morning view of Via Rail heritage park car
Tweedsmuir Park at the rear of the Ocean in the Montreal
Maintenance Center. This car has four bedrooms, a dome,
and a panoramic rear lounge. Photo by Hank Anderson.
From l. to r., crew members Hank Anderson, Carroll
Hanson, chef Greg White, and Bill Phillips pose with the
Franklin Inn at Montreal Central Station prior to our
morning departure for New York. Photo by Tom Shevock.
on board but everyone pitched in and got the job done.
This was my first trip on the Franklin Inn and I found it
to be an excellent car. Our passengers seemed to be very
comfortable and to enjoy the view from the large
windows. Embroidered headrest covers had been
acquired and they really dressed up the car. The serving
counter built by Tom Shevock, the refrigerator, and a
small airline-style serving cart greatly expedited the
service. In the end, I think what the passengers most
remembered about the trip was the excellent Pullman-
style service provided by our crew on both cars,
something we strive to do on all our Chapter trips.
Several of our passengers shared their memories of their
Pullman experiences and one or two even worked for the
Pullman Company!
Crew Chief Jim Lilly carries two trays of hors d’oeuvres
prepared by Chef Greg White through the Franklin Inn.
Note the head rest covers. Photo by Carroll Hanson.
Close up view of the attractive headrest covers for the
Franklin Inn seats. Photo by Hank Anderson.
After once more spending the night in Sunnyside Yard,
it was another deadhead move back to Washington, this
time at the rear of the Silver Star to Florida. Fortunately,
we had been coupled to the Silver Star immediately after
our arrival from Montreal the night before, so the crew
was able to get a restful sleep with no switching moves
in the middle of the night to disturb us.
It was a beautiful day to take in the view from the rear of
the train as we sped down the Northeast Corridor. We
had lots of company as trains constantly passed us
heading north. Highlights were the sight of the columns
of catenary poles receding rapidly into infinity behind us
as we raced along at 110 mph, the colored position lights
November 2014 The Timetable Page 7
Copyright © 2014 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
on the signal bridges, and the manicured roadbed. This
was truly high speed railroading at its best!
Northeast Corridor view from the rear of the Franklin
Inn. Photo by Carroll Hanson.
Rail News
The new Cities Sprinter ACS-64 electric locomotive
has begun operations on Amtrak’s Keystone Service
between New York, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg. The
first revenue train to be pulled by the new locomotives
was train No. 605 from Philadelphia to Harrisburg on
October 20. More than a dozen of the 70 ACS-64 units
that have been ordered are now in service with the
remainder to be delivered through the end of 2015. The
locomotives are being built by Siemens and are
assembled at its facility in Sacramento, CA.
Ridership on the Keystone Service has grown to more
than one million riders annually, up 60 percent since
more than $145 million worth of infrastructure
improvements were made to the 104 mile Keystone
Corridor. Recently it was announced that the last grade
crossing on this route is closing and is being replaced
with a new highway overpass on Eby Chiques Road
between Lancaster and Mount Joy. The upgrades have
enabled faster speeds and more frequent departures for
Keystone Service trains and may eventually lead to an
upgrade in speed from 110 mph to 125 mph. (Trains
Magazine Newswire)
A new pub is planned for the Fred Harvey Room in
Los Angeles Union Station. It will be opened by
restaurateurs Eric Needleman and Cedd Moses who are
known in the Los Angeles area for rehabilitating and
restoring architecturally significant downtown properties
such as the Pacific Electric Building for which they won
a preservation award. The new tenants are expected to
invest $1-1.5 million in improvements for the new full
service restaurant. Occupancy is expected within the
next year to 14 months, dependent upon city permitting
and licensing. The owners will work in consultation with
LA Metro’s historic preservation architect to maintain
the historic ambience of the restaurant.
Fred Harvey was famous for operating a series of high
quality restaurants and hotels along the Santa Fe
Railroad in the days before dining cars were included on
passenger trains. The waitresses were known as “Harvey
Girls” and were even featured in the 1946 movie “The
Harvey Girls” starring Judy Garland. When the Santa Fe
introduced dining cars, they were staffed by Harvey
personnel. Several of the hotels built by Harvey still
exist today.
A few years back, your editor had the memorable
opportunity to tour the Fred Harvey restaurant in LA
Union Station as part of an architectural tour of the
station. Although the restaurant had been closed for
many years, it appeared to be intact and in good
condition. (Trains Magazine Newswire)
Rail operations at the Cass Scenic Railroad State
Park will be taken over by the Durbin and
Greenbrier Valley Railroad when the current
excursion season ends on November 4. The Durbin and
Greenbrier Valley is the contractor for the state-owned
West Virginia Central Railroad and operates the Durbin
Rocket, Cheat Mountain Salamander, and Tygart
Flyer excursion train routes and the popular Polar
Express Christmas-themed excursion trains. All
employees now involved with rail operations at
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park are being offered
jobs with the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley.
White River Productions acquired Railroad Model
Craftsman and Railfan & Railroad magazines from
Carstens Publications, Inc., effective September 1.
Carstens ceased all publication on August 22 after more
than 50 years publishing hobby magazines. The
agreement also includes the books division of Carstens.
White River Productions plans to merge its Railroads
Illustrated magazine into Railfan & Railroad. The
December 2014 issue will be the last Railroads
Illustrated issue. Kevin EuDaly founded White River
Productions in 1992. It is currently producing 22 railroad
historical society magazines plus calendars, books, and
other items. The company also publishes Model Railroad
News, Railroads Illustrated, Passenger Train Journal,
and The Railroad Press. (Trains Magazine Newswire)
_____________________________________________
Answers to this month’s Trivia Test located on page 2:
B. Bangor
Copyright © 2014 DCNRHS www.dcnrhs.org
The Timetable Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS P.O. Box 230, Savage, MD 20763-0230
RETURN ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PLEASE DELIVER BY November 12
Photo Finish
It’s Fall in the Rockies and the aspens have turned golden as the eastbound California Zephyr exits the east portal of the 6-mile
long Moffat Tunnel and starts the descent of the Front Range to Denver. Photo by Bill Phillips.
