August 2002 Newsletter

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Phillipsburg Railroad Historians, Inc.
PO Box 5104, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

AUGUST 2002 NEWSLETTER VOL. XII #8

Entertainment this month features:
To-Be-Announced

Incredible as it may seem, our summer is slipping by us rather quickly. The weather service says this is only the fourth hottest on record. Tell that to my grass and my July electric bill. I really don't remember another as hot and relentless as summer 2002. Enough of my complaining as PRRH news is good news.

The monthly membership meeting of PRRH will be held on Wednesday evening August 28 at 7:30pm at the Alpha United Presbyterian Church. Entertainment to be announced will follow the business portion of the meeting, and refreshments are through the kindness of Howard Bell and Glenn Terminelli.

Make plans now and mark your calendar for the best OPEN HOUSE we have planned to date to occur on Sunday September 22 from 10am to 4pm. Most significant to this event is the thirtieth anniversary of the closing of the original CENTERVILLE & SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD in Roseland NJ. Long live the C&S as we will again draw crowds young and old to our unique operation. Plans are being made to bring out equipment not yet seen to display on our mainline siding, which we are restoring at present. These cars have been in storage and have not seen the light of day, however the visitor will be able to see and photograph them at this event. We recently received a priceless surprise on Friday night OLDE TOWNE FESTIVAL as a rare C&S artifact surfaced after 20 years of storage. A big thanks goes out to Dan Espy of Caldwell, NJ for donating to us the original C&S timetable board showing departures, an item that once hung on the grounds of the Becker Farm complex. One never knows when something priceless will appear. We have recently been blessed by a score of items coming our way. Member Pete Blaess brought us several standing glass marquees that he noticed were being discarded by a customer and thoughtfully delivered them to the museum for future promotional use. Mr. William Billings Jr. of Columbia, NJ sent us a priceless, rare drawing of an Ingersoll-Rand boxcab diesel, the first of its kind we've seen. Dave and Lynn Beck have done a beautiful and skillful job on our identity sign which the visitor sees first upon arrival. The sign had become weather-beaten and unsightly, however, Dave took the sign home and Lynn did her handiwork to refresh it. Mr. Art Arrants showed up at our July OPEN HOUSE and surprised us with the gift of an authentic galvanized steel oilcan embossed with Pennsylvania RR and a yellow/green switch target. Member Bill Pensyl has donated a weedwacker to be used as a backup to our growing fleet of weed fighting equipment. The Directors have approved the purchase of a heavy-duty weedwacker to be used where the big machine can't go. Let me take an opportunity to thank Rick Glosser for his efforts at groundskeeping especially during this searing heat, and to Ed Beers for taking care of the Firehouse needs.

Our big news for the month was our mid-summer OPEN HOUSE held July 14 which attracted summertime crowds in excess of what we experienced last year. The trolley car was open and member Earle Brotzman displayed a colorful circus wagon along with his fine circus train model layout. The C&S sold 138 tickets and many visitors passed through the building to check out the activities. A big thanks goes out to Frank Eichenlaub and the Military Transport Association for bringing a fleet of spit and polish military vehicles for all to enjoy. Participating in the event were Louie Badolato, Ed Beers, Bob and Evelyn Bennington, John Boner, Charlie Bowlby, Earle Brotzman, Paul and Meg Carpenito, Rick Glosser, Bob and Rob Hooper, Jim Mack, Ed Meyers, Rich Frantz, Glenn Terminelli, Steve, Matt, Sharon and Becky Winter and Tom Sharpfe.

Certainly it would be hard to eclipse the previous event's report; nevertheless, PRRH and the LEHIGH VALLEY CHAPTER NRHS completed the long-planned move of the CHESTNUT RIDGE railbus on July 27 and 28. The 1922 Mack built passenger motor arrived to the gasps of an impromptu crowd that had gathered for this momentous event. Months of track work had culminated in the arrival of this true gem of rail transportation and the vehicle interior has been carefully restored. James Lilly transportation provided the safe move from Topton Pa. that had begun Saturday morning. Mack Railbus 51 will be shown proudly on September 22, a star feature of the Fall OPEN HOUSE. To complement the Mack and the C&S anniversary, antique trucks and buses are being planned for viewing. Plan on attending this great event as the weather will cool down for sure. OLDE TOWNE FESTIVAL also proved to be beneficial to our group as the CENTERVILLE & SOUTHWESTERN attracted over 100 riders, quite an accomplishment when you consider this is a non railfan event. Gift shop sales were influenced by this patronage and we all were thrilled to a pleasant night of train riding into the sunset and several moonlight rides to top off a surprising night. Once again, faithful volunteers were there to meet the challenge. My personal thanks go out to Tom Sharpfe and Frank Satler of LV Chapter, Steve and Becky Winter, Ed Beers, Glenn Terminelli, Rick Glosser, Jim Mack, and the Carpenito's who were celebrating their wedding anniversary night in the best possible place, a C&S boxcar.

Let me take a moment to tell you how thrilled families get when spending a little time at the site. It has become very obvious to me that it is impossible to contain the excitement and enthusiasm on a boy's face when he arrives at the ticket office and prepares for a trip into the unknown. As a matter of fact, I seem to see that in some of the big and older boys too. PRRH volunteers are teachers whether they realize it or not, and our visitors study our functions at events. Perhaps that is the unconscious factor that dictates the dedication and patience I have seen in so many of you.

ANTHRACITE CHAPTER has commenced some work on their X-29 boxcar on the site. They are preparing plans for its cosmetic restoration.

Oral History project is still in the planning stage, but your input will be very instrumental in the success of this concept. We need to speak to retired railroaders. Can you help find them for us?

John Boner and crew are working at the CNJ caboose when the weather permits. The unreal heat this summer has tempered its restoral, but John has persisted in his plans to get it looking good. The other Tuesday work crew has shifted to getting the C&S ready for the 30th anniversary celebration. Switch rehabilitation has begun and the passing track in front of the ticket office will be finished in time.

JUNE 2002 MANHOUR REPORT
by Ed Beers

In June, we had a total of 15 PRRH members and 3 LV Chapter members donating a total of 195 manhours at the site/firehouse. These were for grounds maintenance, building maintenance and cleanup, full-size trackwork, meeting with Mayor Wyant, caboose restoration, and staffing the museum/gift shop on Sundays. Paul and Meg also donated time for the fantrip on calls and creating an itinerary. June non-worksite hours was 39. This is for newsletters, bookkeeping, mailings, etc. There were no PRRH reps at URHS meeting in June. Total June hours 234. Year to date 1069.

Please include in your plans our third annual picnic for Sunday September 8 at Hugh Moore Canal Park from 11 to 6. Food is provided free of charge to you. You only need bring beverages. Please come for a day of relaxation and fun. Sit in the shade, eat and watch trains. Get acquainted with your fellow members.

Hope to see many of you at the meeting and chat.

See you all soon.

~ Paul Carpenito ~

PC/ab/sdw