PHILLIPSBURG RAILROAD HISTORIANS NEWSLETTER
MAY 1993

The next meeting will be May 26th at 7:30 P.M. in the Community Room of the Phillipsburg Town Hall. There will be entertainment and refreshments.

IR BOXCAB: Last month we had to make a tough decision, we decided to abandon the project. We had asked Ingersoll-Dresser for assistance and were turned down. They cited poor economic conditions as their reason. We found out that we could get a loan from Phillipsburg National Bank to cover our costs, but because of the logistics and the fact that we would probably never be able to operate the locomotive, we decided to not pursue the matter further.

ROLLING STOCK: Glenn Terminelli reported that he finally has gotten the water pump shafts for the ex-IR GE 45 tonner straighten out and that he hoped to have both engines running soon. Jim Anderson reported that he has gotten back all the parts for the cupola off L&HR flanger #105, they need to be reassembled and placed back on the car. Erie #10, an air brake instruction car has been offered to us. It is at Whippany, New Jersey, It is being considered, we have to get down to look it over. The ex-L&NE Tadmor shop switcher, which Pete Terp had been storing at his farm, was moved to Al Vernon's with hopes that he could get it running.

MERRITT PROPERTY: Sources tell us that a closing is close but NOT YET! Ted Merritt is seeking a four lot subdivision, our five acre lot for the town, SMP will get two, and Merritt will be retaining one lot (the upper twenty acres) for future sale.

MINATURE RR REPORT: A five man crew made a trip to Monmouth County to retrieve additional track, a special thanks to member JIM SMITH who provided the truck and roll-off container. One load of track and the station remain. Keith Muldowney is revising the track plan because of a problem with the foul lines of the football field. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help lay track, GET INVOLVED, this is YOUR organization!

FIREHOUSE REPORT: The other property (mentioned last month) is the Flynn property on Mercer Street. It was offered to us for $75,000.00. Flynn would hold the mortgage or lease it to us with the option to purchase. Lease would be a minimum of three years. We decided against it because of limited funds, limited income, and only a small group of dedicated volunteers! The lease on the firehouse was extended to the fall of '93, we can get at least a three year lease, possibly five, either way, the roof will be fixed!

NOTICE: The BLACK BRIDGE on Main Street is closed for repairs, detours are posted. We have asked the contractor to save the paving stones on the bridge for us, he said he would try to do so. The trolley tracks which are still there probably aren't worth saving.

PD