February 2004 Newsletter

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Phillipsburg Railroad Historians, Inc.
PO Box 5104, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
www.prrh.org

FEBRUARY 2004 NEWSLETTER VOLUME XIV NUMBER 2

Entertainment this month features:
To Be Announced

A very big hello is sent to all of you thoroughly encamped in your igloos this lovely arctic season. Everybody walks around looking like upright walking sleeping bags unaware of their surroundings or the time of day. Fellow member Rick Glosser keeps sending me winter weather warnings on the computer, further plunging me into the depths of the abyss. I bought a CD with only the sounds of spring and summer birds, and I play it only when I'm alone so no one thinks I've lost it. Just think of the beautiful green grass that's waiting to emerge once the weather breaks.

The February membership meeting of PRRH will be held on Wednesday night February 25 at 7:30pm at the Alpha United Presbyterian Church. Refreshments were funded through the kindness of Tom Marzuoli and Earle Brotzman. After the business portion of the meeting, quality entertainment will follow.

December work hours report by john ward In the cold, cold ho-ho-ho month of December 2003, on-site hours were recorded for the moving of donated book shelving and building maintenance. Off-site administrative, paperwork, and attendance at related activities tallied 32 more hours for a monthly total of member work hours of 44. This brings our final 2003 work hours to 1988.25.

We have selected two early spring weekends to accomplish applying a stone floor base to the engine house. We will require a large effort by our volunteer staff to get this major project underway. Please consider helping in this effort on two consecutive Saturday / Sunday weekends. Dates are March 27 & 28, and April 3 & 4. Bring a shovel with you if you have one. Some prep work will have to be done prior to this event, and we anticipate starting up our Tuesday work sessions in early March.

I am pleased to announce that the Warren County Department of Land Preservation Municipal & Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund has awarded PRRH with our requested $12,500.00 grant for the stabilization and rehabilitation of our museum building. This means we will finally be able to replace our roof and sidewalls, a priority which has concerned the board of directors for several years. This past winter, some emergency stopgap repairs had to be made to secure the roof and several overhanging items. We had received an estimate to repair the building, and we are moving now to re-establish this work order. Also, we will be making plans to enhance the interior of the structure, a dream to be made possible by a number of generous donations by members. This work will be done by PRRH volunteers.

Mayor Wyant has advised me that the coal pocket repair will be undertaken by the Town this spring. This will insure the stability of the roadbed upon which the Centerville & Southwestern operates. We are considering fencing in that area also to prevent further incursions on our right of way.

I have received a letter of apology from one of the youths responsible for the fire last May to our CNJ caboose. To date, we have not received any court awarded restitution. I will contact the Warren County courts to enforce this order.

We have begun a dialogue with the Town and with Friends regarding the expansion of the Centerville & Southwestern right of way in a westerly direction. The Mayors plan calls for a C&S platform stop behind the O'Donnell high-rise apartments with a staircase up to South Main Street to access the Union Station Visitors Center. Insurance issues and access permission to the properties are major issues to be resolved before this can become reality. News reports sent to me hint at the possibility of an upscale version of the Delaware Turtle train ride as arrangements have been made to bring in NYS&W 2-8-2 Mikado 142 and a passenger trainset as prime power for the passenger service to be provided to tourists from May 1 to Labor Day. The smaller Brill car will operate on Thursdays and Fridays, with steam on weekends. Four trips per day are planned. As you can surmise, this could be a watermark year for Phillipsburg. A grant application is being prepared by the Town for stabilization work on PU tower, leading to its renovation as a replication of what it once was when in service. The grant also addresses cosmetic and beautification work to continue the rebirth of Phillipsburg. A walking tour is envisioned as the perspective tourist can begin his tour of Phillipsburg with a train ride, followed by a tour of Union Station, PU tower, and a train ride on the Centerville & Southwestern to the PRRH Museum. One can already see the results of the improvement project as they drive off the Free Bridge, inspecting the restored facades and dining by candlelight in a train car. We have much to look forward to in the coming years.

Thank you's are long overdue to Ron Phillipp and George Lehr for their generous donations attached to their dues renewals. To all of you who have not yet renewed, please make a point to get renewed.

Our annual banquet is set for Saturday April 17 at Ryan's Parkside Restaurant. The food selections are similar to what was offered last year. We will include a flyer with this month's newsletter. Please consider attending this enjoyable event. Also planned this summer is our member's picnic at Hugh Moore Canal Park on Sunday August 29. We are also working on our annual field trip to be planned for Sunday June 13. Details will be released once it all comes together.

I would like to encourage you to attend the Mother Seton train show in Clark, NJ, off the Garden State Parkway, on Sunday March 7 from 9am to 4pm. PRRH will have a table at this event. Most show goers consider this to be the best train show in the area, with the variety of rail-related items available, food on premises, and it's easy accessibility. Also, please set aside Sunday May 2, as our first Open House of the season will take place. We are planning some big surprises and events for the occasion. PRRH volunteers are needed for this event.

Hope to see all of you at the meeting. Drive carefully.

~ Paul Carpenito ~

In the event of inclement weather, call 908-859-1277 or 610-826-2580.

PHILLIPSBURG RAILROAD HISTORIANS CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
Wednesday February 25 ............ Membership meeting 7:30pm
Saturday March 6 ........................ EASTRAIL at Warren Hills Regional High School, Washington, NJ
Sunday March 7 ........................... Mother Seton Train Show, Clark 9am to 4pm.
Wednesday March 24 ................. Membership meeting 7:30pm.
Saturday March 27 ...................... Friends 14th Annual Symposium Drew University, Madison, NJ.
Saturday-Sunday March 27/28 .. engine house work session
Saturday-Sunday April 3 / 4 ....... engine house work session
Saturday April 17 ........................ PRRH banquet at Ryan's Parkside Restaurant 6:30pm.

PC/sdw