IT IS HARD to BELIEVE ANOTHER year has passed. It seems that time cannot be restrained and thus, our hopes and dreams of future health and prosperity loom high on our list of priorities. It is always true that family commitments weigh heavily on our ability to create free time. With this fact in mind, it is truly amazing what our dedicated group of volunteers at PRRH have created with our hands, feet, minds, and our hard earned dollars. This group has demonstrated that volunteerism, no matter what moniker has been dealt to that name, is alive and well at Phillipsburg. We have taken time from our busy schedules to forge and fabricate a museum ground that has made our guests take this group seriously. Just a casual stroll along the grounds will afford the visitor the feeling that this group of people are here to stay. The pride in our work is demonstrated by the marked improvement to the various assets on our grounds. The restoration committee is finally tackling the arduous task of bringing the old forgotten hulks of the past back to life. This project will be no easy one. It will take huge amounts of time and talent and money. We will bring them back from the dead piece by piece. Our CNJ caboose is the first candidate. We have completed the first phase of rebuilding the Centerville & Southwestern. The east end of the mainline has been renewed with new ties and ballast and the track has been resurfaced. Switches have been cut in to allow a passing siding for future passenger service, and the eventual installation of the turntable for all to view. We reached a watermark this year when we realized the completion of a 100 foot enginehouse. This essential building will become the tool to base our growing collection of spare parts relating to full scale restoration, full scale trackwork and the home to maintenance for our restoration endeavors and the Centerville and Southwestern. The grounds have been made tidy and groomed during the course of the year. Spotlights guard our museum grounds against the constant threat of vandals and vagrants. Full-scale equipment has been staged as to provide the visitor with a good view of our collection. The interior of the museum has been spruced up and electrical improvements make it safer. Outlets have been added outside to allow power tools to be used during maintenance. We aided in the transportation of the CNJ X-29 boxcar, acquired by Anthracite, and currently residing at the west end of track. The North Jersey Electric Railroaders have done much trackwork this year along with our people in preparing the site for the enginehouse. We have various railroad related accessories on the grounds along with the recent acquisition of an authentic concrete telephone booth. This work has been accomplished by a dedicated band of PRRH volunteers who have given of their time so unselfishly so that everyone else could benefit. It put pride in all our hearts when, on September 30, we had our first open house on the grounds for curious visitors to view. They most certainly walked away impressed by the progress made by the bunch of little guys from P-burg making their mark on the map. Where else around here could you ride a little train and then watch a huge Norfolk Southern train bathe you in diesel exhaust. Where else could you look at photos and take a step back in time, then walk outside and see cars that ran on those very tracks forty years earlier. And where else could you find a friendly volunteer smile at you and politely answer a question you might have. We took some time out from our self-imposed work schedule to enjoy two things we hadn't done in a long time. We went off to Baltimore in a chartered coach in May to visit the B&O museum, the Baltimore Light Rail system, and the Streetcar Museum. We had a nice picnic in September along the NS main and enjoyed fun, food, friendship, games, and trains. There will be more of this, I assure you. Be proud of what you all have created from ashes to mountains. You PRRH members have talents that go a long way to what this club has become. I look across at all of you at the meetings and am truly thankful for the support you have given your entire fellow members and me. We have much to look forward to. And if you think we have accomplished a lot you ain't seen nothing yet.

The next ten years will be even more challenging and exciting. We will be the premier railroad town on the map, and we heartily thank the Town of Phillipsburg and the Administration for all the cooperation that has made it all possible. It is also very important to acknowledge the many outside sources that have truly been friends to us and have pledged support of equipment, human resources, and material donations. We could not have done it without you. As I begin my third year as your president, I once again ask for your trust and support and remember that I am always available when you need to talk to me.

The monthly meeting of PRRH will be held on Wednesday night January 24, 2001 at 7:30pm at the Alpha United Presbyterian Church. Refreshments will be served and Ed Beers will provide entertainment.

Matt Winter is coordinating a project to create a promotional video centered on our operations here at P-burg. There are currently four videographers hard at work to make this possible. If any member has something to contribute, please let us know soon as we will have our annual table setup at Mother Seton High School train show the first Sunday in March and we would like to have it ready by then.

We have established a hotline for PRRH information,908-859-1277. Actually, our main reason for establishing this contact is for information in the event inclement weather should interfere with a membership meeting night. You may call Steve Winter to see if the meeting will be held or cancelled.

The firehouse cleaning has begun and room is being made to bring in the C&S switch for rehabilitation this winter.

We would like to acknowledge member Davis Palmer for a 200.00 gift toward the restoration fund.

Please get your dues for 2001 paid up as soon as possible.