"Whistle Post" Highlights-Spring 2017

Received via email

Electronic Newsletter of the NMRA Garden State Division

Greetings! The latest issue of the Whistle Post is available on-line.  And, we have provided a few highlights of the issue, below.

GSD/NJD Spring Joint Event in  Bridgewater, May 13

This year, it is the Garden State Division's turn to host the annual joint meet with the New Jersey Division. The meet will be held on May 13 at the Ted Blum 4-H Center in Bridgewater, NJ, starting at 9 AM. A pair of clinics are planned for the morning and a pair of layout tours are planned for the afternoon.  A map to the layouts and local eateries will be provided at the meet. The two clinics presented in the morning are on the subject of scenery. Chris Conway will present a clinic on using static grass and Bill Frankenfield will present a clinic on constructing lightweight and removable scenery. In the afternoon, Dick Genthner will open his 7th version of the Arpee & Western for the first time. Joe Garsick will also have his layout open, featuring many craftsman structures constructed by Bill Rose.  Come join us on May 13! Click on the Google logo for directions to the meet:

Windows on a Roll

Model railroaders are always looking for new ideas and techniques for their modeling. Jim Walsh explains how to use fiberglass drywall tape to produce industrial windows. Jim takes you through several methods of painting and creating the window glazing.

Last Train on the Ramapo Valley

The Ramapo Valley Railroad Club held its final operating session, earlier this year.  The club is in the process of dismantling the layout and is currently looking for a new location.  In a pair of articles, Rene Mack and Tom Wortmann provide their perspectives on the club, history, and their experiences.

Gulliver's Gate is Hiring!

Just after the Whistle Post was published, we received word that a new attraction in New York City, Gulliver's Gate, is looking to hire an "HO Train Specialist".  To learn more about this new attraction, click here. Located near Times Square and a full city block wide, Gulliver's Gate is a "technologically advanced, interactive and immersive world of miniatures."  To learn more about the HO Train Specialist position, click on the job description.

These are only the highlights of the new, just published issue of the Whistle Post shown here. This issue contains more information about the upcoming GSD/NJD event in Bridgewater.  And, it also contains articles on the last GSD event in Union, the Achievement Program, and much more.

To get the full issue

LNE 611 day on 6-11-2017

Received via email

As the NS 38Q heads west into the sunset from Allentown, PA on 4-15-2017

Received via email

As the NS 38Q heads west into the sunset from Allentown, PA on 4-15-2017, I
would like to wish one and all a Happy Easter 2017


Kermit Geary, JR

Reminder: Eastern District Spring Meeting - April 23rd, 2017

Received via email

received via email

Easter Bunny Express Tickets Available! PRR #9206 operates on April 14-15! This Friday and Saturday, former PRR locomotive #9206 will make a rare public appearance at BR&W! This beautifully restored locomotive will pull all BR&W Easter Bunny Express trains on April 14-15! BR&W's annual Easter Bunny Express event features a relaxing round-trip train ride from Flemington to Ringoes and return. On board the train kids will briefly meet Peter Cottontail and receive a treat! The Bunny will pose for photos upon request. For complete details, times, and tickets click here to visit our website. Share Share LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EASTER BUNNY EXPRESS Caboose Trains are Back! For one day only, Sunday, May 14, steam locomotive #60 will power caboose trains between Ringoes and Flemington! Tickets are now available and going fast, since seating is limited. These trains depart from RINGOES Station. Tickets $12 per guest. Departures from Ringoes are at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM. Share Share LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CABOOSE TRAINS! We're Hiring! We're now accepting applications from enthusiastic individuals interested in joining the BR&W team as Ticket Agents! Our Ticket Agents work flexible weekend hours - this is a great position for students, railfans, or anyone interested in getting a start at BR&W - no prior railroad experience required! For more information, contact Nicole Talucci, Ticket Office Manager, at nicole@blackriverrailroad.com.

The Big Little Railroad Shop issues of Rail Pace

The Big Little Railroad Shop

· April 8 at 11:50am ·

We're doing some Spring Cleaning and have found some older issues of Rail Pace that we are selling for $ 4.00 each. The volumes that we have are:
2012- February, April, May, & June
2014- January, February, May, October, & November
2015 - February, May, June
2016- February, March, July, September, & November....

Please contact us at Jan@biglittle.com if you are interested in any of these magazines.
Thanks.

Model Train Show this Saturday!!

received via email

New York Society of Model Engineers Event First EVER Spring MeetHosted by NYSME and METCA DATE: April 8, 2017 TIME: 9 am to 2 pm LOCATION: St. Joseph's School Auditorium 120 Hoboken Road East Rutherford NJ 07073 ADMISSION: $5 dollars a person, kids under 12 and wives free! DEALER TABLES: $20 per table, buy 3 get one free   Due to the great response we had in October, we are going to host a swap meet for the first time ever in the Spring! In a joint effort between METCA and NYSME, the meet will cover everything TRAINS. All types of trains. From the finest in scale to finest in historic tin plate, pre-war Lionel, post-war Lionel, American-Flyer, all will be represented. This new meet will offer everything: G, High Rail, O, HO, and N scales, both new and used. There will also be scenery materials and buildings for your layout. And, there will be tools, books, building materials, paints, detail parts, repair parts, White Elephant Table, and food. Yes, there will be a Snack Bar.  Please note that you do not have to be a dealer to buy tables, you can be a hobbyist looking to thin your collection.  For more information see: http://modelengineers.org/swapmeet.html Also visit our friends at http://www.metca.org/ to learn more about the Train Collectors Association  Join Our Mailing List! New York Society of Model Engineers 341 Hoboken Road Carlstadt, New Jersey 07072 (201) 939-9212 www.modelengineers.org

New York Society of Model Engineers, 341 Hoboken Road, Carlstadt, NJ 07072

Norfolk Southern’s 2016 Annual Report highlights commitments met to lower costs, increase profitability, improve service, and enhance shareholder value

Received via email

Norfolk Southern’s 2016 Annual Report highlights commitments met to lower costs, increase profitability, improve service, and enhance shareholder value

NORFOLK, Va., March 22, 2017 – Norfolk Southern today posted its 2016 Annual Report online, highlighting success at achieving first-year goals in the railroad’s five-year strategic plan to streamline operations, drive profitability and growth, and enhance shareholder value.

In the report, titled “Delivering On Our Commitments,” CEO Jim Squires tells shareholders that the company finished the year “a stronger, faster, lower-cost, and more profitable railroad.” Through the continued successful execution of its strategic plan, Norfolk Southern met or exceeded the company’s targets to lower operating costs and increase profitability while improving customer service, “putting us well on our way to achieving our 2020 goals,” Squires said.

For the year, the company:

·        Achieved an all-time best operating ratio of 68.9 percent;

·        Reduced expenses in all areas of operations to generate savings of $250 million, surpassing a targeted $130 million;

·        Increased income from railway operations and net income by 7 percent each, driven by an 11 percent decrease in operating costs;

·        Produced year-over-year earnings per share growth of 10 percent; and

·        Rationalized 1,000 miles of secondary rail lines.

While exercising disciplined cost control, the company invested in strategic capital projects “to ensure safe and efficient operations and promote growth,” Squires noted. In addition, efforts to improve locomotive fuel-efficiency, reliability, and emissions reduction continued as a cornerstone of the company’s sustainability and business strategy, he said.

Amid shifting markets and industry dynamics, Squires said, the company is “more focused than ever on services that will help convert freight from highway to rail.” To drive growth, the company is working on customer-service initiatives that range from modernizing its e-commerce platforms to developing shared performance indicators to measure service.

Squires notes that the railroad’s management team began a structured dialogue with key customers and is using their input to improve operating efficiencies and deliver a superior service product.

“We are changing the way we do business in order to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations and to drive superior value creation for shareholders,” Squires said.

The report, in PDF format, can be downloaded from the corporate website.

About Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 19,500 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.

Media Inquiries:

Rick Harris, 404-529-2310 (rick.harris@nscorp.com)

Investor Inquiries:

Katie Cook, 757-629-2861 (katie.cook@nscorp.com)

http://www.norfolksouthern.com