Phillipsburg Railroad Historians, Inc.
292 Chambers Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

JUNE 2001 NEWSLETTER VOL. XI #6

Greetings to PRRH members and their families. We waited and dreamed so long for June to come and here it is, but now you have to cut the grass every week and wash the windows. I suppose it's better than shoveling snow. Outside this window, the woods have the sweet scent of wildflowers and honeysuckle and mother robin will be giving birth to three babies in our spruce tree. Too bad time passes so fast. Anyway, it's time to inform you that our monthly membership meeting will take place on Wednesday night June 27, at 7:30pm at the Alpha United Presbyterian Church. Refreshments are served and slide entertainment will follow the business portion of the meeting. Paul Carpenito will do a show on the 30th birthday of Amtrak.

The members of PRRH, their families, and some new guests enjoyed one anothers' company on the second annual Spring Fantrip. Our personal tour operator Jim Danner and deluxe motor coach rolled west then south into Pennsylvania Dutch country amid the horse and buggies of well dressed residents heading off to their church meetings. Our route afforded us a visit unplanned to Lititz where we de-boarded to view a genuine northeastern caboose painted Reading by the Reading Technical Society. Also there was a recreation of a gingerbread style train station which serves as a local civic office alongside a former PRR branch. Off we headed to the Red Caboose Motel where one could find a caboose painted in any color or roadname you might like. This attraction was straddled by the Strasburg RR mainline on one side and the Toy Train Museum which was waiting for us. After an educational visit to this site, we motored off to the famous Stra sburg Railroad where we thoroughly enjoyed a steam powered ride into yesteryear, observing farms and animals in a setting taken out of a book from the good ol' days. After an informal do-as-you-please lunch period, the faithful gathered for a walk across the street to the well renowned Pennsylvania State Railroad Museum. After an initial guided tour to become familiar with its many facets, we were turned loose to rush to our favorite rolling stock. Well arranged pieces ranging from the famous GG1 electric to the equally known K4 steam locomotive appeared as behemoths of the rails when one would stand close to observe its intricacies. Other items of rolling stock including passenger and freight cars told the story of our railroad heritage in Pennsylvania. I am certain some of these familiar old friends touched the hearts of those old enough to see them run. One could almost hear the echoes of old bouncing around in this hallowed hall. Bidding goodbye to this fine attraction, we had more business at hand as we set forth to return for a taste of the modern world. Upon arrival at Amtrak's Lancaster station, we were absolutely treated to the appearance of Amtrak train # 43, the Three Rivers, as it made its stop heading for Chicago. All too soon, it was time to board our Keystone Service train behind Amtrak P42 #104, behind which our own reserved car quickly filled up with eager PRRH fans. We zipped along the old Pennsy mainline and arrived at Philadelphia's 30th Street Station where our group had a few minutes to browse. Our faithful driver, Mr. Danner arrived to pick us up in prime parking territory and a bus full of hungry people dined till they burst at a fine buffet restaurant. Upon return to Phillipsburg, we all bid goodnight after a busy and varied day along the rails. I wish to heartily credit Pete Terp for his work in planning the trip, Meg Carpenito for her patience on the phone making final arrangements and counting heads, and Jim Danner for helping us plan and for being the nicest host you could ever want on a railfan bus trip. And I want to thank all of you that supported this event, for without you, it would not be possible. By supporting your group's functions, you raise needed funds for us to operate.

Work sessions at the museum site continue as the caboose is being torn apart and repaired. You can contribute to this cause if you have some extra time to spare on Tuesdays starting at 3:00. John Boner coordinates this work party with reliable assistance from Jack Quinn, Bud Sauselein, and Earle Brotzman. The Centerville & Southwestern continues abuilding with the Tuesday evening boys getting their hands dirty. We have a faithful crew including Louie Badolato, Matt and Steve Winter, Tom Marzuoli, Bill Pensyl, Ed Beers, Paul Carpenito, and Glenn Terminelli. The grounds continue to be nicely manicured by Rick Glosser with assistance from Tom Marzuoli. The Saturday tour includes the North Jersey Electric Railroaders. They are restoring the Public Service 2651 trolley and they provide track work assistance to us. For all of these aforementioned names, we thank you for your continued support.

Recently, the full size equipment was moved east to facilitate regrading of our full size north track. The Millennium tree is alive and well despite an early spring regional drought. Bill Pensyl has taken on that tree as though his own and it has benefited from his attention. The tree has altered the initial appearance of the museum entrance favorably and even provides some shade.

The gift shop is open and stocked with nice new image shirts and hats bearing the PRRH herald. The gift shop is slated to be open every Sunday from 10 to 4 and the C&S will operate on the following selected dates---June 10---July 15---August 12--- and September 30. The July and September dates are our advertised Open House events. We are attempting to arrange alternate attractions to coincide with these events.

We wish to welcome the following new members; Julius Tarsi, who joined as a result of experiencing our Bus trip, and Conrad "Gene" Zurkowski and his wife, Marie, who enjoyed reading our newsletter so much that they joined all the way from sunny Florida. Also joining are Richard and Peggy Bochkay of Blairstown. Welcome aboard to all of you.

The donuts this month are donated courtesy of Ralph Amendt and the meat and cheese tray are due to the generosity of Bob Shandor.

I wish to add a few reflections from our train ride. Upon boarding Amtrak and its subsequent trip east over the old Pennsy main, I was shocked to observe how much things have changed. I hadn't seen this stretch in some twenty years and my old railfanning days under the wires were relived as we passed such places as Parkesburg, Coatesville, and Downingtown. Sadness came over me as I saw the old center freight mains rusty and severed in many spots. In my younger days, I watched numerous freights pound over this tall steel as the Pennsy was always famous for a four track mainline. Why even the old holding yard at Thorndale is a mere track of land void of any railroad meaning. The patterns of the twenty first century have dealt a mortal blow to this once proud property and trains run on alternate routes leaving this basically to passenger only status. My point here is this: Can we afford to let the history disappear or will we take on the task of preserving what remains so future generations can enjoy and learn from us? After all, we are HISTORIANS and we need to be the caretakers to who knocks on our doors tomorrow. If we snooze, we lose. Opportunity may knock only once.

See you at the meeting.

~ Paul Carpenito ~

PC/ab/sdw

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