Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Polar Express On Sale Tomorrow!

Received via email



POLAR EXPRESS TICKETS GO ON SALE JUNE 1ST AT MIDNIGHT
( MAY 31ST @ 11:59 PM)
 On June 1st at Midnight ( 11:59 PM May 31st) tickets will go on sale for The Polar Express in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. This trip is run entirely by volunteers and is so popular,it sells out very fast. People come from all over the world to welcome in the Holiday Season with this unique and festive train ride.
https://877trainride.com/polarexpress.htm for tickets.
When buying Polar Express tickets you will have the opportunity to purchase A Day Out With Thomas tickets for $2.00 off!
Do not miss this one and only discount on our other great family event!

Day Out With Thomas is a family event that offers children and their grownups the opportunity to ride with classic storybook friend Thomas the Tank Engine . Parents, grandparents and siblings join their aspiring engineers in the fun. The Day Out With Thomas experience will engineer miles of smiles for the whole family and introduce a new generation to the timeless excitement of railroading. The train pulled by Thomas leaves every hour on the hour, 10 am to 5 pm. You may also ride the River Train along the scenic Delaware River to Pinchers Point, New Jersey (an hour long  round trip). For an added adventure take the River Train to the Ol' Susquehanna Mine , enjoy the animated Mine Shaft Explosion, History and learn how to pan for Gem Stones that you can take home!.The trips pulled by Thomas take you along the beautiful Delaware River to North Carpentersville New Jersey, a 25 minute ride. The River Train pulled by our STEAM locomotive #142 follows the same route journeying further along the river to Edingers with a brief stop at the "Old Susquehanna" gem stone mine. At the mine you may get off , visit the mine and learn how to pan for gems. Each passenger receives a bag of mine tiling's , a brief history of the mine and use of the sluice to prospect for their very own gem stones they can bring home!
You may also purchase tickets the day of the event for all trains although we advise that you purchase your tickets in advance. Trains to and from the mine depart every hour. Stay at the mine as little as an hour or as long as you like!
Experience the exploding mine shaft tour-- its a hoot!


Tuesday, May 30, 2017

4-H Trainmasters Annual Spring Show


The Latest NER News and Events

Received via email


Sign-up Today for the next NER Convention in Newport Rhode Island.  Also, now on-line is the latest edition of the Coupler.
Registration is Now Open for the next NER Convention in Newport, Rhode Island
The team in the Little Rhody is pleased to invite you to the next NER Convention this coming November 9-12 in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island.  Check out all the latest planning on the convention website.

Also in this edition of the NER News:
  • The latest Coupler is posted on the NER website
  • NER Annual Report
Registration is Now Open!

The next NER Convention will be held in Newport, Rhode Island from November 9-12, 2017.  This promises to be a convention to remember with everything you expect from an NER Convention plus all the excitement of Newport.  Whether you are interested in the history of the Mansions, the Naval War College Museum, or everything Newport has to offer, this convention is for you.  Sign up today!

Visit the Convention Website
The Latest Coupler is On-Line

Checkout the latest edition of the Coupler now on the NER Website.  In this edition you will find:
  • What's in a Convention?
  • Scenes that Add 'Life'
  • Forced Perspective Tricks
  • NER's Newest Division
  • Riding the 'Rails to the Gilded Age'
Download Your Copy Here
NER Annual Report
President John Doehring recently submitted the NER Annual Report to the NMRA Regional Advisory Committee for inclusion and review at the next NMRA National BOD meeting.  

Read the full report here
NER NMRA |  Email@nernmra.org | www.nernmra.org

NER, NMRA, 36 Bruce Hill Road, Cumberland, ME 04021

Emmert International Schnabel Railcar and caboose

Received via email

Was up in Scranton on Friday to drop off a 1934 photograph I had to the Lackawanna Historical Society for their archives.Driving to their office near the University of Scranton, I noticed this high and wide load on Emmert International's Schnabel railcar BBCX 1000. Wanting to learn more about this car I googled their website and came up with this information about that car.
 
    " Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is specifically designed to carry heavy (up to 1 million pounds) and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to a pivot above an assembly of pivots and frames that carry the weight of the load and the lifting arm.
For loads not designed to be part of the car Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with a deck designed to carry the loads in standard configuration up to 836,000 pounds. Customized decks can be manufactured to increase the overall payload weight. Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with hydraulic equipment that will either lift the load vertically or horizontally shift the load while in transit to clear obstructions along the car’s route.
With 20 axles (ten for each half) containing four trucks connected by a complex system of span bolsters its tare (unloaded) weight without deck is 424,000 lbs. The BBCX1000’s empty car length is 115’ 10” with a maximum length with the loading deck at 168’ 9”. Maximum vertical load shifting ability is 14” and the maximum horizontal load shifting ability is 22”. The heavy duty AAR railcar mechanical designation is “LS”.
Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is accompanied by the BBCX 1002 Caboose and BBCX1003 flat car that carries the deck when not in service. The BBCX1000 is pulled by special train service and requires 2 operators. When in transport not carrying loads the BBCX is limited to 40 mph. When loaded or empty with deck in place the BBCX1000 is limited to 25 mph."
 
Also included is an image of the caboose that accompanies BBCX 1000. Its heritage is unknown.


Friday, May 26, 2017

Mainline Restored Between Sharonville, OH and Muncie, IN

Received via email


Mainline Restored Between Sharonville, OH and Muncie, IN

Norfolk Southern mainline has been restored and train operations have resumed between Sharonville, OH and Muncie, IN.  A washout on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 impacted service through the area. Customers with shipments normally moving over this route should expect delays of 24 to 48 hours due to speed restrictions and track inspections.

The latest ETA and routing information is always available through Pacesetter and AccessNS.

Customers with questions regarding local service should contact their Operations and Service Support representative.

Operations and Service Support at 800-898-4296
Automotive Operations at 888-649-9273
Intermodal Operations at 800-497-2919
Unit Train Services at 404-979-5241


 

MCL Announcement

Received via email

Thursday, May 25th, 2017
CONTRACT DOES NOT ALLOW STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN RAIL CARS 
Morris County government sealThe Morris County Board of Freeholders has awarded a five-year railroad operations management contract to the Dover & Rockaway River Railroad to run Morris County’s three rail lines.
Dover & Rockaway (D&R) was one of two bidders for the county contract to operate the Dover & Rockaway, High Bridge Branch, and the Chester Branch freight lines. It will replace the Morristown & Erie Railway, which has been the sole operator of the county’s rail system since the county took ownership of the lines some 30 years ago.
Morris County’s five-year contract with M & E Railway to operate rail services along its county-owned rail lines expires on June 30.
Proposals from both companies were submitted to the county in April, and were reviewed by an evaluation committee, which determined unanimously in favor of Dover & Rockaway.
Factors considered by the committee included: operation, marketing, maintenance, and accident notification plans; an ability to provide rail services; project management and professional qualifications; and past experience and resources, among others.
In its proposal, D&R pledged to have its marketing team visit every rail-adjacent business on the county’s rail lines, even those without a rail siding, to market the potential benefits of freight rail service.
Rail Crossing SignD&R, which runs the Black River Railroad and the Belvidere& Delaware River Railway, has grown business on those lines over the past 15 years, and has marketing relationships with Norfolk Southern, CSX, and Union Pacific, according to its proposal.
As part of its agreement with Morris County, D&R will not store hazardous materials on the county’s rail lines.
Morris County is the owner of three county owned freight railroads totaling more than 17 miles of track. The county leases the day-to-day operations of these lines to a private rail operator through a Request for Proposal process.
The county maintains ownership of these lines for two primary purposes:
  • Economic Development Benefits: Numerous businesses accept raw materials and ship finished products utilizing thee lines.
  • Quality of Life Benefits: As the owner of these rail lines, the county can manage the use and general purpose of these lines to ensure minimal disruption to the affected municipalities.


https://morriscountynj.gov/2017/05/freeholders-award-county-rail-contract-to-dover-rockaway-river-railroad/

Thank you,
 
K.Burenga
President
Chesapeake & Delaware, LLC
Ph: 908-782-1611
Fx: 908-782-0134
It has steel wheels and it moves. It's a railroad. We are railroaders. This is what we do safely.
There is no job so important, no service so urgent, that it needs to be done, except safely.
Please consider the environment before printing this email.

Mainline Washout Between Sharonville, OH and Muncie, IN

Received via email


Mainline Washout Between Sharonville, OH and Muncie, IN

Norfolk Southern is experiencing service interruptions due to a mainline washout that occurred on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 between Sharonville, OH and Muncie, IN. NS is working to restore the line for service as quickly as possible.  Customers with shipments normally moving over this route should expect delays of 48 to 72 hours.

The latest ETA and routing information is always available through Pacesetter and AccessNS.

Customers with questions regarding local service should contact their Operations and Service Support representative.

Operations and Service Support at 800-898-4296
Automotive Operations at 888-649-9273
Intermodal Operations at 800-497-2919
Unit Train Services at 404-979-5241
 

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Tis a sad day indeed..

Received via email

Tis a sad day indeed..


as the last Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus Train rolled west over CSX's Trenton Line in Belle Mead (TL MP 50) around 9:47 on Wednesday. With the CSX power consist being CSX 3159 and CSX 726. The train consisted of cars from both the Red and Blue Units and definitely made for one long train. It seemed strange not to see any passengers standing in the vestibule watching the landscape pass by. At times when they took notice of trackside photographers, such as myself, they would extend a wave and I would wave back. It was a great train for one to be fortunate to see or photograph. Now that it is history those times of my waiting were well worth it!



Received via email

Service Restored at Alabama Derailment Site

Train operations resumed late Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Pell City, AL.  A mainline derailment on Friday, May 19, 2017 impacted service through Pell City, approximately 35 miles east of Birmingham, AL.  All trains have returned to their normal scheduled routes. However, minimal delays are expected through the derailment site over the next 24-48 hours due to speed restrictions and track inspections.

The latest ETA and routing information is always available through Pacesetter and AccessNS.

Customers with questions regarding local service should contact their Operations and Service Support representative.

Operations and Service Support at 800-898-4296
Automotive Operations at 888-649-9273
Intermodal Operations at 800-497-2919
Unit Train Services at 404-979-5241
 

[NSAlert] Service to be Restored Sunday at Alabama Derailment Site

received via email



Service to be Restored Sunday at Alabama Derailment Site

Norfolk Southern is experiencing service interruptions due to a mainline derailment that occurred on Friday, May 19th, 2017 approximately 35 miles east of Birmingham, AL in Pell City, AL.  NS is working to clear and repair the track and the track is estimated to be back in service on Sunday, May 21st, 2017.  Traffic is being rerouted  in order to minimize the impact, however customers with shipments normally moving over this route should expect delays of 24 to 48 hours.

The latest ETA and routing information is always available through Pacesetter and AccessNS.

Customers with questions regarding local service should contact their Operations and Service Support representative.

Operations and Service Support at 800-898-4296
Automotive Operations at 888-649-9273
Intermodal Operations at 800-497-2919
Unit Train Services at 404-979-5241
 

Friday, May 19, 2017

Received via email

Railroad

Reply-To: infoFor @blackriverrailroad.com
To: brrhtmembers@blackriverrailroad.com





Announcing Service to Bowne Station!
BR&W is proud to announce the return of excursion train service between Ringoes and Bowne Station! Thanks to generous donations from our supporters and the hard work of our volunteers, the 2.5 miles of railroad connecting Ringoes and Bowne Station are now officially open for passenger service! (For those of you keeping track, this brings us exactly 2.5 miles closer to bringing the train back to Lambertville!)

Check our website frequently, as we'll be adding several special trains and events over this "new" railroad, beginning with a special preview of our " Bowne Station Local" excursion, departing Ringoes at 1:00 PM this Sunday May 21! Tickets now available.

Also this Sunday, ride the Caboose Train from Ringoes to Flemington and back, departing Ringoes at 11:00 AM! Tickets now available.