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

SEPTEMBER 2002 NEWSLETTER VOLUME XII NO. 9

All plans are set to go for the great Fall OPEN HOUSE at the museum grounds on Sunday September 22 from 10 to 4. PRRH volunteers are diligently working on their various projects to make this event a success story. The event is particularly significant in the sense that it represents the 30th anniversary of the closing of the Centerville & Southwestern at the Becker Farm. We have rolled out some equipment from storage that we think you have never seen unless you visited Roseland before 1972. I am slowly finding out that there are a considerable amount of C&S fans out there craving for bits and pieces of any information on where we are and how to see it. An article in a major garden railroad magazine is planned also. Glenn Terminelli and Steve Winter have engineered a new turnout behind the museum connecting the C&S mainline with the number two passing track. This turnout will enable through movement of C&S trains on either track, and meets and runarounds will soon be possible. Many of our men have been involved in the reconstruction of this switch and a new spur will soon become a reality for car storage and display. Also significant to the Open House will be the first public showing in thirty years of the Lehigh Valley Chapter's crown jewel, Chestnut Ridge 1922 Mack Railbus # 51. This restored passenger vehicle now calls Phillipsburg home and will be moved outside for photography along with Public Service trolley #2651, which is in the process of restoration by the North Jersey Electric Railroaders. They would like to show you their progress as they work towards making the unit operational. Earle Brotzman's popular circus display, always a hit with young and old alike, will make an appearance and we have planned some other surprises that we can't tell you about or they won't be surprises. We are expecting some antique vehicles to attend and our restored CNJ caboose #91197 will be prominently displayed as John Boner and crew have faithfully attended to its ongoing restoration. The gift shop will be open and displays cases will be available to show you elements of bygone railroad days. Please make plans to spend some time with us on Sunday the 22nd.

PRRH members and their families enjoyed a beautiful day on Sunday September 8, while attending the annual picnic at Hugh Moore Canal Park in Glendon, PA. The weather was superb, trains were rolling by, and a great feast was consumed until all bellies were full. This fine event was possible by the hard work of preparation by Meg Carpenito and the great cooking of Ed Meyers. Games and chatter followed the meal, a free raffle with prizes was held, and a good time was had by all.

MEMBERS may wish to seek out the September issue of RAILPACE Magazine and see our first ever color ad, which features Bob Bennington at the throttle of the 1503 as he heads east with yet another trainload of passengers.

We have been sprucing up the property on Tuesdays and Charlie Bowlby has been painting and shoveling to make our deadline for the Open House. Our volunteer staff is approaching an all-time high in terms of participation and it is not unusual to see 15 members working on a Tuesday work party. Steve Winter and Jim Mack are working on a computer-fed history program to further enhance the education of our museum visitors. After the season ends, we will begin the discussion of how we wish to rebuild and enhance the museum. We are looking into grants to help us financially, but there is much work ahead to properly fund such change. The building needs to be resided and the roof better secured. The interior needs a complete remodeling while retaining the flavor of its present appointments. We welcome your suggestions, your physical help, and your contributions if you can help in this ambitious project.

PRRH would like to heartily thank Joe Fricke for his generous donation of a 55 inch color projection television. Joe also gave us a brass locomotive bell, a steam whistle, and other assorted hardware suitable for displaying. We have renewed our fire protection in the buildings and we are planning to hold onto the porta-potty until mid November.

The Lehigh Valley Chapter has initiated a periodic donation to our funds in appreciation of our storing the Railbus and PRRH gratefully acknowledges its appreciation for this gesture.

We are participating in the Jersey Central Festival be held on October 27, Sunday, at the Liberty State Park. We will represent the club with a table advertisement.

Dues are now being accepted for 2003 if you care to pay ahead.

JULY VOLUNTEER REPORT by Ed Beers
In July, we had 21 members and 3 LVCNRHS members donatirig 369.5 hours at the site. These were used for C&S vvork, open house preparation and operation, Olde Towne Fest, grounds maintenance, caboose restoration, full-size trackwork, recycling and salvage, and assistance with the Mack Railbus. John Boner attended a Warren County meeting for grant information. The non-site work hours were 45. These were for newsletters, bills, URHS attendance, and grant paperwork. Total July 2002 hours 414.5 Year to date 1483.5

The PRRH monthly membership meeting will be held on Wednesday night September 25th at 7:30pm at the Alpha United Presbyterian Church. Refreshments will be available through the kindness of Ralph Amendt and John Ward. Slide Entertainment will be given by Tom Sharpfe, President of Lehigh Valley Chapter on the history of the Mack Railbus, now stored at the enginehouse. Make plans to attend this informative program.

PRRH moves forward by the determination of its members, a quality to be seen in each and every person I have had the pleasure of working with and speaking to. The road ahead is filled with promise.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

~ Paul Carpenito ~

PC/sdw

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