Last call for fall foliage...

(Train sightings on 10-28-07.)

as Saturday's wind and rain washed out what autumn leaves were left along the Lehigh Line in Manville on Sunday morning. There were enough trains passing by my location though to not ponder the question of what happened with this year's colorful foliage. In time sequence, those trains were as follows:

8:25 NS 212- had NS 2581 (SD70M) and two C40-9Ws, NS 9310 and NS 9330, as power.

9:05 NS 64J- had PRR 8438 (C40-8W, ex-CR 6262) as its leader followed by NS 9277 (C40-9W). I noticed that on this train there were the shorter COFCs mixed in with the waste containers. This was something I haven't noticed in the past. Previous 64J were solid trains of the blue waste containers.



9:28 CSX K706- more garbage as FURX 3049 (SD40-2, ex-SOU 3245) was sole power on this trash train.

9:41 NS 18G- this mixed freight would have NS 9662 (C40-9W) and NS 9419 (C40-9W) for power.

9:45 MA2- with PRR 3048 (GP40-2) heads east on the main. It would return at 10:45 with seven tank cars. A roster shot of one of those tank cars for the modelers has been included.


11:03 CSX Q300- with CSX 5228 (ES44DC), CSX 597 and CSX ???? for its power. Coming off the Trenton Line, because of all the orange cars near the front, my first thought was this was the juice train. Imagine my disappointment when I saw they were the orange municipal waste containers. My 'ol eyes are just not as sharp as they once were.

Just as a reminder that daylight savings time will end next Sunday (November 4th) at 2 AM. That is another sign that this fall is fading fast...

Lionel, MTH Near Deal

One of our customers sent us a link to a newspaper article about the current (10-26-07) status of the MTH vs. Lionel lawsuits. This prompted me to check the OGR Forum (O Guage Railroading Forum) for postings by "locolawyer," who has been the primary source for our previous postings on this topic. "locolawyer" is a lawyer and an O guage railroder who actually goes to the court hearings, reads the documents that have been filed, and summarizes the information in layman's language on the OGR Forum. FYI links to his most recent postings are given below, followed by the newspaper article.

Note: This is about the MTH vs Lionel lawsuits, not any Lionel vs MTH lawsuits. It is also about Lionel coming out of bankrupcy, which they cannot do until the lawsuits are settled.

• 10-12-07 Lionel and MTH Making Progress in the Trade Secrets Case, But Its Not Done Yet
  http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/57660482/m/1291055054?r=1291055054#1291055054
• 10-25-07 Current Status of the MTH Lionel Lawsuits Settlement
  http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/57660482/m/5591084154?r=5591084154#5591084154

The following is a newspaper article from the Houston Chronicle dated 10-26-07.

Lionel, MTH Near Deal in Toy-Train Rift

Houston Chronicle
Oct. 26, 2007

© 2007 The Associated Press


WASHINGTON — Lionel LLC has reached a tentative deal with rival MTH Electric Trains to settle a long-running trade-secrets battle and to put the 107-year-old model train maker on track to exit bankruptcy by early next year, the companies said Friday.

The proposed deal, whose terms were not released, comes nearly three years after MTH's $38.6 million judgment against Lionel in a trade-secrets lawsuit forced its bigger rival into bankruptcy.

Pending approval, the deal would resolve "all MTH claims" against Lionel, Lionel said.

MTH has said Lionel owes it about $88 million, including $38.6 million awarded in 2004 after Lionel was found to have appropriated its rival's trade secrets. MTH also sued Lionel for $17.5 million for allegedly using its patented smoke-puffing technology and using it in its own Smart Smoke system for model steam engines.

"We're happy its over, it's been large drain on everyone involved," said Lionel Chief Executive Jerry Calabrese.

But Mike Wolf, founder of Columbia, Md.-based MTH cautioned that the settlement, which is contingent on Lionel raising new financing to fund its reorganization plan, among other requirements, could still be derailed.

"It's not a done deal, even though the monetary part has been finalized," said Wolf. "It could still blow apart."

Neither Wolf nor Calabrese would disclose the terms of the settlement. But in court papers, MTH has said the only thing holding up a settlement was a spat over the future use of certain model-train technology. Although MTH doesn't enjoy Lionel's brand recognition, the smaller company believes it has superior technology.

MTH previously proposed a $25 million settlement of its claims against Lionel. But last week, MTH's bankruptcy lawyer backed off that figure.

The settlement comes as Lionel moves closer to emerging from Chapter 11 protection.

On Thursday, Judge Burton R. Lifland of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan approved the outline of Lionel's reorganization plan, paving the way for the company to send its proposal to creditors for voting.

Lifland scheduled a confirmation hearing for Jan. 31 on the plan.

Calabrese said he's confident in the model-train maker's ability to obtain financing for its Chapter 11 plan.

"The only reason the company has been in bankruptcy for the past two years is this lawsuit," said Calabrese. "I think the business itself is the healthiest part of this deal, and we won't have any trouble raising the financing."

In 2000, MTH, then known as Mike's Train House, sued Lionel after its South Korean supplier reportedly stole some of MTH's train designs. In 2004, a Michigan jury awarded MTH $38.6 million, forcing Lionel to file for bankruptcy later that year.

But in late 2006, a panel of judges from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the verdict and ordered a new trial.

Lionel's proposal to emerge from Chapter 11 would pay creditors in full and pay MTH's claim in cash, as long as Lionel receives bankruptcy-exit financing, and the plan is confirmed and a final resolution of the disputed claims is reached.

Lionel recently pegged its value upon exiting Chapter 11 at about $100 million.

The privately held Lionel, based in Chesterfield, Mich., is owned by the estate of former Paramount Communications Inc. chairman Martin Davis and rock musician Neil Young. Ex-Lionel owner Richard P. Kughn owns a 5 percent stake in the company.

After Friday's rains ceased...

Saturday morning's weather made it a good day to be trackside along the Lehigh Line in Manville, NJ. Three NS and one CSX would be the only four trains that passed by my vantage point during the ninety minutes I was there. In time sequence, those trains were:

NS 212 @ 8:36- would have NS 8815 (C40-9) and NS 2611 (SD70M) for power. It would take the passing siding at CP Bound Brook to hold for 21M and 11J.


NS 21M @ 8:50- had a interesting lash up of NS 9452 (C40-9W), BNSF 7515 (ES44DC) and "Operation Lifesaver" NS 9255 (C40-9W) as this train's power.


NS 11J @ 9:15- had PRR 8203 (C39-8, ex-CR 6006) and NS 9975 (C40-9W) bringing the autoracks west.

CSX Q300 @ 10:05- finished working Manville yard and headed east. Motive power was CSX 12 (AC44CW, ex-CSX 9111) and CSX 4566.

This certainly was a good way to take advantage of this nice weather.

Lionel Trains - Harry Potter Hogwarts Express

Lionel will be releasing a new trainset sometime in November - Harry Potter Hogwarts Express. See pictures below. We will have it in the store as soon as it is released, but you could come in and order it now.

We are an authorized Lionel dealer, and we carry Lionel products year round, not just at Christmas time. Currently, we have the following sets in the store:

• The Polar Express


• North Pole Central Christmas Train


• Thomas and Friends (Thomas the Tank Engine)

Plus several other passenger and freight sets. Each set contains an engine, cars, track, and a power pack. Everything you need to set-up and run a train.

We also have several Expansion Packs which include cars, track, and some scenic accessories. And we have additional track and switches in stock.

Come in and check us out. See our web site for location information. http://www.biglittle.com/

LV Tugboat Cornell

On Saturday, 10/6/07, the Camden & Amboy Railroad Historical Group sponsered a trip to Greenport, Long Island to see and ride on the restored tugboat Cornell. This tug was formerly owned by the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The group rode the Long Island Railroad to get to the tug. During this trip they also rode the PCMRR 16 in. guage miniature railroad and visited the Railroad Museum of Long Island, both in the Greenport area. Some of our regular customers were on this trip, and they shared some of their photos and comments with us.

About 40 members of the group took the 1.5 hour ride on the Cornell. We tooled around the water between Greenport and Shelter Island. The tach on the 16 cylinder, 2 cycle supercharged 1600 HP Cleveland(Div. GM) Marine Diesel rarely got above 400 RPM. The drive is diesel-electric. The engine looks very much like the WWII sub diesel (see photo).

"Captain" Kilbride did a great job shepherding the group around the various sights, and keeping us on time.

Not Quite the Blue Comet

The following is an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer on 10-15-07. The story is about new express trains between New York and Atlantic City, and it mentions historic trains the "Nellie Bly," the "Flying Spray," and the "Blue Comet." The first two were PRR trains that ran from Penn Station in New York City to Philidelphia and then to Atlantic City, which is the route the new trains will take. The Blue Comet was a CNJ train that actually left from Jersey City (one could depart from a New York City terminal by ferry to Jersey City), and ran to Atlantic City entirely within New Jersey. The Blue Comet ran on the New York & Long Branch to Red Bank, then roughly down the center of New Jersey on the old New Jersey Southern to Winslow Junction where it turned east on the Reading line from Philidelphia to Atlantic City. So, the new express service described below is not quite the Blue Comet.

N.Y. to A.C. express returns
The new train service will echo the popular pre-WWII traffic.

By Paul Nussbaum
Inquirer Staff Writer

ATLANTIC CITY - Following in the storied path of the "Nellie Bly," the "Blue Comet" and the "Flying Spray," express trains soon will run again between New York and Atlantic City, carrying passengers lured more by slots and cards than sea breezes and saltwater taffy.

The Atlantic City Express Service, aimed at affluent young New Yorkers who don't want to ride a bus or fight traffic, is expected to start late this year or early in 2008.

The new rail service comes as more visitors are rediscovering Atlantic City trains, a faint echo of the pre-World War II era, when the Shore resort drew dozens of trains daily from New York and Philadelphia.

"The attraction is comfort, convenience, and the time to get here," said Agostino Cipollini, senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, one of the casinos paying for the new service. "You don't have to spend time in traffic, you don't have to worry about anything involved with driving."

The new trains from Manhattan's Penn Station will offer modern amenities, food and drink, and 300 leather seats in double-level cars.

But they won't be significantly faster than the trains of 1938.

Bankrolled by three casinos and operated by NJ Transit, the service is scheduled to run nine round-trips on weekends, making the 143-mile run in two hours and 40 minutes, with one station stop in Newark, N.J.

That's about the same time it took in the halcyon days of steam locomotives.

Seventy years ago, the Pennsylvania Railroad's daily "Nellie Bly" made the trip in two hours and 45 minutes, and that train stopped at three stations. The Jersey Central's daily "Blue Comet" made the trip in three hours, with four stops.

The leisurely pace of the modern service (average speed, 54 m.p.h.) is due to several factors. Atlantic City Express Service trains will have to share the tracks with Amtrak and NJ Transit trains. And the express-service train will stop briefly in Northeast Philadelphia to allow the engineer to walk from an electric locomotive (used on the main Northeast Corridor) on one end of the train, to a diesel locomotive (used on the Atlantic City line) on the other end.

(Trains on the Atlantic City line are now slowed briefly by a 10-mile-per-hour speed restriction for repairs on part of the Delair bridge across the Delaware River, but NJ Transit spokeswoman Penny Bassett-Hackett said repairs would be completed before the express service began.)

Fares have not been set, but casino officials say they expect prices to be competitive with Amtrak's service through Philadelphia, which ranges from $53 to $87 each way.

"It's still a moving number," Cipollini said. "It will be competitive, not necessarily comparable, but it will be a good value for the customers coming into this market.

"Currently, the only way to take the train from New York to Atlantic City is through Philadelphia. NJ Transit operates 14 trains daily from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, charging $8 for the 11/2-hour trip.

Ridership on that Atlantic City line is up 27 percent in the last four years, rising to 1.27 million passengers in fiscal 2007.

The new express service is a joint venture among the Borgata, Harrah's Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. The casinos are buying and refurbishing eight double-level cars for $15 million, and the development authority will lease four locomotives for $4.5 million for three years.

The joint venture will pay NJ Transit $3.8 million a year to operate the trains.

"The train doesn't have to be wildly profitable for this to work," Cipollini said, noting that passengers are likely to also spend money shopping, going to casino shows, and, of course, gambling.

To promote the new service to the 25- to 35-year-old New Yorkers who are the prime target market, the casinos have hired Tierney Communications of Philadelphia to handle public relations, and One Trick Pony of Hammonton for marketing.

"There certainly is a strong demand from New York . . . in some aspects, it's an underserved market," Cipollini said. Friday nights and weekends, he said, can be especially challenging for New Yorkers trying to get to Atlantic City by highway, when the normal 21/4-hour drive can turn into a 31/2-hour slog.

Casino marketers were also encouraged by New York's rising population and declining auto-registration numbers.

"It's just too expensive to have a car in New York City," Cipollini said.

The return of the New York express is a back-to-the-future move for Atlantic City.

"Ironically, it was the train that really opened up the Jersey Shore," said Dave Coskey, Borgata's vice president of marketing.

Although trains once ruled Atlantic City (on one August weekend in 1904, 70,000 people arrived on 98 trains from Philadelphia and Camden), the new rail service will be pitched as looking forward, not backward.

With the announcement last week of a massive new $5 billion MGM Grand casino-hotel complex here, Atlantic City is, more than ever, styling itself as a Las Vegas kind of destination.

"Atlantic City has changed from yesteryear," Cipollini said. "We're looking to the future."

Somerville Fall Street Fair

The Somerville Fall Street fair was held on Sunday, October 7th, and we had two tables set up in the street in front of the shop. One table had an operating slot car race set, and the other had an operating Thomas the Tank Engine set. We also had our Radio Controlled (R/C) tank running around in the street. Pictures below are from that day.

Train, dirt bike crash; teen hurt

Following article is from the Express-Times newspaper, Easton, PA.

Train, dirt bike crash; teen hurt

P'burg boy in critical condition
Thursday, October 11, 2007
By JD MALONE
The Express-Times

Express-Times Photo TIMOTHY WYNKOOP

The motorcycle of a Phillipsburg teenager is shown lodged under a train Wednesday night in Phillipsburg.

PHILLIPSBURG A town teenager riding a dirt bike was critically injured Wednesday evening when he was struck by a train under the South Main Street bridge.

John Gibbons, whose exact age is unknown, was listed in critical condition at St. Luke's Hospital late Wednesday night. The train, operated by Norfolk Southern, hit the blue-and-white motorcycle Gibbons was driving at 6:05 p.m., according to Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband.

Phillipsburg police said they were called at about 6:30 p.m. and found Gibbons lying beside the tracks, shirtless and with one of his white sneakers knocked off.

Kelly Snyder said Gibbons was with her and a group of friends Wednesday afternoon at the skate park in Delaware River Park riding dirt bikes, including the Yamaha TT-R 125 that Gibbons was on at the time of the wreck. Snyder said it was Gibbons' first time riding a dirt bike.

Sgt. Shawn Carmody said Gibbons and another boy broke off from the group and took turns riding trails near the tracks. Carmody said judging by the orientation of the bike, its rear wheel was pinned under the front of the train. He said police believe Gibbons was eastbound on the tracks -- the same direction the train was headed. Judging from the injuries, Carmody said he does not believe Gibbons was wearing a helmet.

Carmody said the train is loud but the racket of the motorcycle might have drowned out surrounding noise.

Matthew Famularo said he was walking along Main Street near the bridge, heard a screeching sound and then the train's whistle blow. Famularo said he got to the bridge, looked over the railing and saw a body sprawled on the gravel next to the stopped train.

"I saw the train person walk up the tracks to (Gibbons)," Famularo said, referring to the train's engineer.

Husband said the company would not release the engineer's identity. He said the area where the crash occurred is a "transitional area" meaning that the train picks up speed, accelerating from about 30 mph to 50 mph. No figure on how fast the train was going was available Wednesday night.

Bob Fulper said he followed police vehicles to the site, walked to the bridge, peered over the railing and caught site of Gibbons' prone body.

"His head was bleeding on the left side," Fulper said. "And it looked like bone was sticking out from his arm."

Police said the Warren County Prosecutor's Office was assisting with the investigation. Railroad officials were also reviewing the crash but refused to comment. At 8:40 p.m., after police freed the bike, the train, with more than two dozen loaded cars in tow, crept away. Husband said the train was bound for Secaucus, N.J.

Carmody said people ride dirt bikes along the tracks all the time. He said police chase people away but they can't keep everyone off.

Philip Consentino said he was out on the balcony of his second-floor unit in the John F. O'Donnell Apartments beside the tracks.

"I heard (the engineer) blow the whistle. Nobody can say he didn't blow the whistle," Consentino said. "I heard the train blow the whistle and I heard it dragging the bike."

Consentino agreed that many people ride bikes near the site of the wreck.

"I knew something was going to happen sooner or later," Consentino said.

Reporter JD Malone can be reached at 610-759-4599 or by e-mail at jdmalone@express-times.com.

Are these people train watching?

Judging from a quick glance, an observer might believe these people are watching this NJT train on the Raritan Valley line in Raritan (NJ). Actually, they are all waiting for the 26th John Basilone parade to start to honor a home town boy who enlisted in the Marines and would later come to be described as a "Marine's Marine...". Leading off this year's parade lineup was the USMC band from Quantico, Virginia. A little history about who John Basilone was. He enlisted in the Army in 1934 and would serve four years. In 1940 he re-enlisted with the Marines because, as he told his mother, "The army's not tough enough for me." During the WW II battle of Guadalcanal in September, 1942, he would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in helping to ward off a Japanese regiment. Winning this medal assured John a stateside role in the military, but he had promised his men he would return to fight. Landing on Iwo Jima in the first wave, John would guide a trapped tank away from a mine field. Under heavy fire, he also single-handedly destroyed a Japanese blockhouse. On Febrauary 19, 1945, he would be killed in action. He was 28 years old. John Basilone is the only soldier in history to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, given posthumously, for his actions on Iwo Jima and a Purple Heart.

A Blue Beast at Martins Creek, PA

Pictures below are of a GP-10 locomotive spotted at Martins Creek, PA on 9/17 and 9/18 by Alpha Cement buildings. It is a former Conrail unit now owned by the ConAgra facility in Martins Creek, PA ( note the MC above the number board ). The bank of lights on the side of the cab indicate that the unit has been modified for remote R/C operations. ( Note: the Raritan Center Railway also has a GP10. )

Trainscape: Installation Art for Model Railroads

And now for something completely different. Currently on display at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts is something they call Trainscape. (Lincoln is just west of Boston, outside the I95 loop.) This is not really a model railroad, but a series of installation art works linked together by an operating O-scale train. The train is an integral part of the art, but it is "not an attempt to represent reality at a miniature scale as in traditional model railroading." The link below is for the museum web site page for this exhibit. On that web page is a link for downloading a train-cam video of the exhibit. I personally don't think the train-cam shows the exhibit very well.

http://www.decordova.org/decordova/exhibit/2007/trainscape/trainscape.html

Union Pacific High Bridge Announced ($43 million project)

The following is a news release copied from the Union Pacific RR web site:
www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/capital_investment/2007/0907_boone.shtml

Union Pacific Building $43 Million High Bridge in Boone, Iowa
New facility expected to generate strong economic development for the area

Omaha, Neb., September 07, 2007 – Today, Union Pacific announced that construction is underway on the $43 million double-track high bridge. When the 2,550-foot long and 190-foot high structure is completed, it will be one of the highest double-track railroad bridges in North America. The new bridge will improve operational efficiency in anticipation of expected growth in our customers’ businesses and increased freight volumes.

"The new Boone High Bridge is a modern-day engineering feat that will enhance our long-term ability to improve operational efficiency and customer service," said Bill Wimmer, vice president - Engineering. "This is the type of major investment in replacement infrastructure that railroads must make, but will be able to afford only if they can obtain adequate revenues."

OCCI, Inc. based in Fulton, Missouri, is the contractor that was awarded the project and Omaha-based HDR Engineering Inc., provided the engineering, drawings and obtained the necessary permits for the construction of the bridge.

Construction on the bridge began in March and is scheduled to be completed by November 2008.

This posting is thanks to info in an email from Nathan S. Clark, Jr., who included the following comment and links.

"I do not know what implications this new structure will have for thelong-term future of the historic and famous Kate Shelley bridge, nearby."

http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/railroad/Ames/kateshelley.html

http://faculty.simpson.edu/dick.tinder/www/111001HighBridge/UP7575a.jpeg
http://faculty.simpson.edu/dick.tinder/www/111001HighBridge/wholetrain.jpeg

These links have pictures of the Kate Shelley bridge, and the first one has some description of the bridge. Kate Shelley was a real Iowa railroading heroine, and you can read more about her at any of numerous web sites by doing a search on "Kate Shelley Iowa". I think you will find her story interesting.

Saturday's varied sightings...

(Train sightings on 9-8-07.)

along the Lehigh Line in Manville, NJ. Today's lineup had it all-municipal waste, shipping containers and trailers all carrying a wide array of merchandise and raw materials. I have to say that what passed by my location demonstrated the wide range of cargo America's railroads carry. In time sequence, the trains that carried that freight was as follows:

NS 24Z @ 7:40 Power unknown was holding on the siding at CP Bound Brook. Evidently 24Z was being held for a short time due to track construction.

NS 64J @ 7:58 NS 2633 (SD70M) and NS 2694 (SD70M-2) would be bringing back this train of empty municipal waste containers to Kearny, NJ from Ohio for refills.

CSX Q300 @ 8:28 had CSX 8456 (SD40-2) and CSX 9048 (C44-9W) for motive power. After finishing work in Manville yard, it took the passing siding to wait for NS 21M to pass.

NS 21M @ 8:35 would have NS 7503 (ES40DC), NS 8813 (C40-9) and NS 9951 (C40-9W) in charge of a train whose length "... was just under 7,000 feet."

CSX Q707 (Oak Island, NJ to Philadelphia, PA) @ 9:10 was a relatively short trash train powered by NYC 4448 (GP40-2, ex-CR 3391) and CSX 8072 (SD40-2, ex-L&N 8072).

NS 24V @ 9:50 an intermodal whose power consist would be two C40-9Ws, NS 9393 and NS 9143. For the modelers reading this, two roster shots are included for reference purposes.

NS 213 @ 10:35 after a short delay in the track construction area, 213 was on the move west with NS 9105 (C40-9W) and NS 6642 (SD60) in charge.

CP Rail to acquire DM&E Railroad

(Received the following via email)

"The 'gravitational pull' of Wyoming (Powder River Basin) coal was evidently just too great, and it even reached across the northern border and 'pulled in' another big one. On one hand, this would mean that the DM&E will never expand to become the 'next Class I'. On the other, it will likely result in a new avenue deep into the Northeast for PRB coal via a single rail carrier (if the proposed DM&E coal extension is still built/upgraded). This will also probably bode well for the former D&H routes."---Nathan S. Clark, Jr.

From: CPR Communications
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:30 AM
Subject: Special Edition: Canadian Pacific announces agreement to acquire DM&E Railroad, Tuesday, September 04, 2007

This a very exciting time: CP has just announced an agreement to acquire the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern, the largest regional railroad in the United States for US$1.48 billion.

On many occasions over the past several years, you have heard me comment about our ability and our intent to grow our franchise. Through the implementation of our strategy, we have consistently delivered on our operating and financial commitments. We have become a high performance organization and we are positioned to grow.

Today's announcement and the recently announced Alberta Industrial Heartland strategy both signal the evolution of our company from a high performance organization to a high performance growth-oriented organization. We are growing to expand the reach of our franchise. But we are only able to make these significant moves because of our proven ability to deliver on our financial commitments.

click the link below for the full story

http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/Media/News/General/2007/CP+announces+agreement+to+acquire+DM+and+E+Railroad.htm

Fred Green, President and CEO

Dedication Ceremony to be Held at Former CNJ Terminal

(Received the following via email, original source unknown.)

" Dedication ceremony of a monument to all employees of Central Railroad of New Jersey will be held on Thursday, September 20th at 11:00 am. The ceremony will take place on the main concourse of the former CNJ station in Jersey City, now Liberty State Park. The monument is mounted between tracks# 10 and 11.

Please note that as this event is open to the public, the primary purpose is to offer recognition to all former employees who attend; therefore, preferred seating will be held for these employees."
For a little bit more information, follow this link:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,1465428

What was cooking...

(Train sightings on 9/3/07)

on this Labor day morning along the Lehigh Line in Manville, NJ? I would say quite a variety of activity in a relatively short span of time. In sequence by time, the trains observed were as follows:

8:45 CSX Q300: would have CSX 167 (AC44CW) and CSX 9018 (C44-9W) on this very long train (estimated 143 cars and 550 axles).

8:58 CP 38T: this was the pleasant surprise of my morning! Power would consist of four SD40-2s, CP 5727, CP 6045, CP 5709 and CP 6055. It would hold for Q300 at Port Readingh Jct before proceeding east on the Lehigh Line.


9:15 NS 212: Two C40-9Ws, NS 9965 and NS 9936, provided the motive power for a train consisting of all autoracks and one COFC.

9:24 MA1: would head out of Manville yard with CSX 6071 (GP40-2, ex-B&O 4172) in charge of two boxcars. MA1 would then hold for two eastbound NS intermodals at CP Bound Brook.

9:33 NS 20?: would have NS 2747 (SD70M-2) and NS 7555 (ES40DC) for power.

9:40 NS 24Z: or could it have been 24V since it was tough to decipher over the scanner? Power was NS 7592 (ES40DC) and NS 9897 (C40-9W).

A good way to start this Labor Day weekend...

(Train sightings on 9/1/07)

was to take advantage of the nice weather and head trackside near Manville (NJ). Didn't know what to expect since Lehigh Line construction in Bound Brook might limit what trains would be seen. In time sequence, the trains observed were as follows:

8:30 NS 21M: would have NS 9341 (C40-9W), NS 8666 (C39-8E) and NS 6780 (SD60M, ex-CR 5530) for motive power.

9:30 NS M8G: would take the passing siding to go around around NS 11J. M8G's power consisted of NS 9849 (C40-9W) and PRR 6777 (SD60M, ex-CR 5526). Once M8G cleared, NS 11J then proceeded west. NS 9366 (C40-9W) and NS 2550 SD70) would be in charge of seventy-three autoracks.

9:45 CSX Q300: with its work complete in Manville yard, CSX 7624 (C40-8) and CSX 8743 (SD60I, ex-CR 5630) would take its train of mixed freight east.


10:00 CSX Q418: would follow shortly behind Q300. CSX 7794 (C40-8W) ande CSX 5395 (ES44DC) would be in charge of this train of mixed freight.


Hope that the start of your holiday weekend was just as enjoyable...

The Camden & Amboy Railroad Symposium

Received the following information via email.

Want to make you aware of the initial announcement concerning the C&A RHG-sponsored symposium on November 10 in Bordentown. Noted rail historians Bill Withuhn (Smithsonian), Chris Baer (Hagley), Kurt Bell (RRMofPa), as well as several well-known local rail historians, will be making presentations. See attached flyer for preliminary details.
(Note: As per flyer, you must contact us to get the registration form, which will be sent to you via "E" mail!)

The Camden & Amboy Railroad Symposium
Saturday, November 10th, 2007
Bordentown, New Jersey

Presented by the Camden & Amboy Railroad Historical Group

PLAN TO ATTEND A DAY-LONG SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD IN
COMMEMORATION OF THE 175th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST
RUN OF THE JOHN BULL LOCOMOTIVE

Presentations will include discussions on the following topics:
! the railroad’s construction and early operations
! the role of the Stevens family in the technological development of
railroads in New Jersey
! the history of the “John Bull”- the world’s oldest operational
railroad locomotive
! the creation of the “Joint Company” and the maintenance of their
monopoly
! the relationship of the railroad to the Delaware & Raritan Canal
and the City of Bordentown
! a commemorative ceremony, linking past to present, is also planned

FARE:
$15.00 C&ARHG MEMBERS/$30.00 NON-MEMBERS*
( Fare includes registration fee and luncheon )
*Includes one year membership in the C&A Railroad Historical Group

For more information or to request a registration form contact Mark Liss,
Symposium Coordinator at (609) 443-4000 ext.210 (daytime) or
(215) 757-6631(evenings) or via e-mail at mbliss2@verizon.net

The C&A Railroad Historical Group is a non-profit educational organization and a chapter of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society (PRRT&HS).

Big Little Railroad Shop at the ball park

Monday evening, 8/27/07, was Thomas the Tank Engine night at the Somerset Patriots game against the Long Island Ducks; and the Big little Railroad Shop had a table there where we were running Thomas the Tank engine in O scale. We also had a large display board from Operation Lifesaver - always eXpect a train.

The Black River and Western Historic Trust was also at the game with a table telling all about their organization and railroad.

The pictures below show the scoreboard at the 7th inning stretch and our table.

By the way, the Patriots lost 3 - 2 in 12 innings.

Fly the Flag on 9/11

Received the following via email. It isn't about trains or model railroading, but we thought it important enough to post. Please feel free to copy it into your own email and pass it along.

Please join us in this FLY THE FLAG campaign and PLEASE forward this email immediately to everyone in your address book asking them to also forward it. We have a little less than two weeks and counting to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in the United States of America. If you forward this email to least 11 people and each of those people do the same...you get the idea.

THE PROGRAM IS THIS:

On Tuesday, September 11th, 2007, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this anniversary of our country's worst tragedy. We do this in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds.

Action Plan: So, here's what we need you to do...

(1) Forward this email to everyone you know (at least 11 people). Please don't be the one to break this chain. Take a moment to think back to how you felt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you.

(2) Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11.

Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.

Thank you for your participation.
God Bless You and God Bless America