NOVEMBER 23, 2015 ■■■■■■■■■■ VOLUME 35 ■■■■■■■■■ NUMBER 10

Happy Holidays from your editors!

The Semaphore David N. Clinton, Editor-in- CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Southeastern Massachusetts…………………. Paul Cutler, Jr. Paul Cutler III Cape Cod News………………………………….. Skip Burton Boston Globe Reporter………………………. Brendan Sheehan Boston Herald Reporter……………………… Jim South Wall Street Journal Reporter....………………. Paul Bonanno Rhode Island News………………………………. Tony Donatelli Empire State News………………………………. Dick Kozlowski “ News”…………………………….….. . Russell Buck “The Chief’s Corner”…………………………. . Fred Lockhart

PRODUCTION STAFF Publication……………………………………….. Al Taylor Al Munn Web Page and photographer…………………... Joe Dumas Guest Contributors……………………………….

The Semaphore is the monthly (except July) newsletter of the South Shore Model Railway Club & Museum (SSMRC) and any opinions found herein are those of the authors thereof and of the Editors and do not necessarily reflect any policies of this organization. The SSMRC, as a non-profit organization, does not endorse any position. Your comments are welcome! Please address all correspondence regarding this publication to: The Semaphore, 11 Hancock Rd., Hingham, MA 02043. ©2015 E-mail: [email protected] Club phone: 781-740-2000. Web page: www.ssmrc.org

VOLUME 35 ■■■■■ NUMBER 11 ■■■■■ NOVEMBER 2015

CLUB OFFICERS

President………………….Jack Foley BILL OF LADING Vice-President…….. …..Dan Peterson Treasurer………………....Will Baker Chief’s Corner...... ……….3 Secretary……………….....Dave Clinton Contests ...... …. .…..3 Chief Engineer……….. . .Fred Lockhart Directors……………… ...Bill Garvey (’16) Clinic……………..……...5 ……………………….. .Bryan Miller (‘16) ……………………… .Mike Dolan (’17) Editor’s Notes ...... ……….15 ……………………… ….Roger St. Peter (’17) Members ...... ……....15 Memories ...... ………..4 Potpourri ...... ……….6 On the cover: “The Great Daily Race”. Passengers, crew and stewards were caught up in the tense excitement as two of the most famous trains of the era fought for the lead in a daily six-mile race through Chicago’s th Southside. New York Central’s mighty 20 Century Limited and Pennsylvania Railroad’s departed 12:40 p.m. from different stations in downtown Chicago. They came alongside at Englewood

and veered apart six miles later, providing one of the greatest ongoing grudge matches of railroad history. Regardless of your favorite,2 here are cheerful remembrances speeding your way Christmas day. (From Leanin’ Tree card. Original painting by Howard Fogg.) FORM 19 Fred Lockhart

ORDERS Since the last column, we had our Fall Open NOVEMBER B.O.D. MEETING House, which went very well with respect to the Monday, November 30th 8 p.m. railroad’s performance; there were not any major DECODER & LOCO TUNE-UP CLINIC problems and the others were minor, as more Thursday, December 3rd 8 p.m. members have learned how to correct them. Case in point, losing control on a duplex throttle seems to DECEMBER BUSINESS MEETING th always be the battery voltage going below nine Monday, December 7 8 p.m. volts, if someone could only design a higher voltage ANNUAL AUCTION th battery in a nine volt case! The railroad continued Monday, December 7 after BM to run great for our November Operations, also. JUNK FOOD JOLLIES In between, and since those two operations, work Tuesday, December 8th at Editorial Offices has continued on the railroad, mostly in the areas NEWSLETTER DEADLINE of scenery and electrical. The Scenery Committee Saturday, December 26th continues to put the finishing touches on “Corner DECEMBER B.O.D. MEETING City” and is working on the permanent area of West Monday, December 28th 8 p.m. Middleton. Right now, most of the work for that area is being done at the workbench. They have a long slab of pink foam, on which they are building a

residential area of homes with the backyards facing CONTESTS the railroad. Mike Dolan is still working on the cut out area near Larson. The Electrical Committee has Congratulations to Jim Ferris on winning his been wiring the LEDs for the toggle panels, with month’s 50/50 Raffle! three working and a fourth to be completed by the time this newsletter is in your hands. They have FOR DECEMBER: There are two very beautiful and also set up the interface panels so we can connect historic viaducts in northeastern Pennsylvania; both over the toggle panel for the Cedar Hill passenger 100 years old. Name them and the railroads that either terminal turnouts for manual operation. We will ran over them in days past or that presently run over probably put the LED work on hold and wire that them. panel right away, as anyone who has operated the terminal knows it can be difficult to keep track of the FOR JANUARY: Our Annual Train Calendar contest. turnout position when things get hectic. With the

toggles working, one will only have to look at the What is the designation of Amtrak’s latest Electric locomotive, which replaces the “Mighty Mouse”? Also, toggles to see if all turnouts are clear and throw the what manufacturer produced this loco? As per tradition, turnouts listed on the Station master’s sheet to get contributions of RR calendars are being accepted now the correct route--a much appreciated step for and all members with correct answers will go home with better operation. The next piece of the puzzle will a RR calendar…no one loses! be the “model board”, which is in design stage at this point. When that is complete, the LEDs on it Answer forms available on old display case inside door will confirm that the correct routes are set. to train room or any piece of paper will do, or email Bad Order cards: I continue to see rolling stock answers to: [email protected]. Good luck! left around the railroad on the plywood or scenery;

these should have been bad-ordered and placed on

the bad order shelf in the model workshop. Why is this important? If the problem is not evident, then someone else may come along and place the piece back on the railroad, only to cause a problem during our scheduled operations. An example, of such a problem, which has happened, is a truck on

3 a hopper car that has play where it is held on by the Progress Rail, subsidiary of Caterpillar, and screw and as the car rolls down the track it purchaser of EMD, opens new locomotive plant in intermittently causes a short circuit as the metal Muncie, IN, leading to speculation that London, wheels touch the metal weight. We have a supply Ontario plant will close. (which it did.) of B.O. cards in the Cedar Hill pit by the transfer Housatonic RR proposes reviving passenger rail table also in the Model Shop and we will locate between New York and Berkshire County in MA. some in a couple other places to make it Two state governors, John Kasich (OH) and Scott convenient. Make out the card when you find a Walker (WI) turn down rail grants from Federal problem piece, that way if you forget to put it on the government, wanting to use them on highways Bad Order shelf in the shop someone else, who instead. finds the car, will know what the problem is. Your Amtrak experiments with biodiesel fuel blend in help with this problem will be greatly appreciated! the P42 locomotives pulling The . Well, that’s it for this month. Groundbreaking for $13.5 million Yawkey Fred Lockhart Commuter Rail Station on Framingham line. Chief Engineer UP Steam Program boss Steve Lee retires, after 22 years leading the program. NOVEMBER 2005 (10 years ago) David Gunn fired as head of Amtrak, due to SEMAPHORE politics. China completes world’s highest railway, running MEMORIES through Tibet, with 342 miles laid on frozen ground.

Vermont Transit bus discontinues Montreal connection with Amtrak . NOVEMBER 2010 (5 years ago) EMD receives order for 300 locomotives for NECR begins laying continuous welded rail China. program. E. Spencer Miller, famous president of MEC dies. Ground broken for 4.5 mile “Wachusett Metal-framed tent structure encloses Flying Commuter Rail” extension from Fitchburg. Yankee at Hobo RR in Lincoln, NH. Federal Government commits $120 million for New bi-level Auto Rack cars on Amtrak Auto improvements or rail line from New Haven to Train replace aged ex-Canadian National carriers. Springfield, MA. Maine moves to add fifth round-trip of Maine reaches agreement to acquire 233 miles of . track from Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway; Final funding obtained to return ex-CPR “Royal former trackage of the BAR. Eastern Maine Hudson” #2860 to the rails. Railway, owned by Irving Oil, shows interest in Green Line to Lechmere re-opens, after 1-yr. operating part of trackage. Orville Harrold, well-liked president of the P&W, $32.5 million awarded for design phase of South dies. Station expansion project. Leg #2 extensively modified into two smaller legs. Amtrak places order for 70 new electric NOVEMBER 2000 (15 years ago) locomotives, ACS-64, to be called “Amtrak Cities Middleton Yard wiring completed, staging yard in Sprinter”, replacing the 20-30-year-old “Mighty process; scenery committee begins work, with first Mouse” AEM-7s, which average 3.5 million miles area in center of Middleton Yard. on their records! Inaugural run of Amtrak’s Express. Ex-Alco Locomotive complex in Schenectady, Illinois Central RR passes into railroad corporate NY, begins transformation to condominiums, office history, taken over by Canadian National Railways. and retail space and marina. Amtrak orders 100 mail and express boxcars. Railroaders’ Memorial Museum in Altoona, PA, Automated stationary locomotive horns tested at breaks ground for new roundhouse construction. crossings in Illinois. Jon Delli Priscoli puts Edaville up for sale for $10 Amtrak takes delivery of first of 85 P42 “Genesis” million. locos, dressed in “Acela” livery.

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UP unveils plans to build 25-story headquarters Mike Dolan, trackwork chairman, looking for building in Omaha. “gandy dancers” to lay track in the “new room” Kadee announces “scale” #58 coupler. (“South Division” at Central Sq., Weymouth). Springfield, MA, officials say they are close to 16mm movie “The Great Steam Machine” debuts selecting a developer for Union Station area. after Business Meeting. Canadian National “Wet Noodle” logo chosen as 10 members travel to Auburn, ME, with “portable one of top 50 corporate logos of all time. RR” to attend show run by honorary members NOVEMBER 1995 (20 Years Ago) Wally Chase and Al Thurston and “Wally World” is First Business Meeting held in (unheated) started. “Building 51”. Government releases $38 million to fund restoration of Boston-Portland service, expected to DECODER & start in 1996. (actually 2001) ENGINE TUNE-UP Ground broken for Super Steel Schenectady locomotive factory. CLINIC Carloads of rail and ties sent down Plymouth line of Old Colony. Construction of Braintree Pearl Street overpass underway. Second track being installed between Westboro Joe Dumas started off the evening with a very and Worcester, to accommodate increased simple installation: a DZ125PS into the 8pin plug on Commuter Rail service from three trips/day. an undecorated Atlas C424. Joe hasn’t decided NOVEMBER 1990 (25 Years Ago) what he’s going to paint this unit but maybe in the 10th anniversary of newsletter. ECL scheme. 350 visitors to “Open House”; W.E. Table earns $142. ”Western Maryland Scenic RR” rises from ashes Jack Foley brought two locos for decoders. The of “Allegheny Central RR”. first, a Walthers Proto DL109 uniquely-decorated MBTA breaks off and delays Greenbush Line for the one-of-a-scheme loco #722 used on the from other two Old Colony lines, due to pressure “Cranberry”, a train run by the New Haven during and threats of lawsuits from Hingham Historical the summers from 1949-53 between NYC and Commission. Hyannis. Interesting thing about this loco, is that it Defunct Cape Cod & Hyannis RR accused by was repainted back to it’s delivery green and state of misusing $2 million of funding. yellow, obviously from red, after each summer stint Amtrak given six years to stop flushing toilets on on the “Cranberry”. The DH165LO was an easy tracks and equip cars with holding tanks. “plug ‘n play”, being especially made for Proto locos Dwight Smith, one of three founders of the very with 8-pin plugs. Jack will have to compete with successful Conway Scenic RR, retires. Will, though, pulling those summer trains. Maybe NOVEMBER 1985 (30 Years Ago) they can alternate years, as long as they re-paint ”Project Filene’s RR” moved to downtown their locos each May and September! His other Filene’s department store for month-long display. loco was the P1K RDC1, decorated for the Commonwealth of MA spends $25 million to Canadian National. The DH126D is perfect for this upgrade track between Attleboro and Hyannis, with unit, as there is plenty of room under the shell. After Amtrak expected to start service to Hyannis the cutting the foil on the factory board at the three “X” following summer. marks, the decoder colored wires are soldered to Ground broken for SEMASS trash-to-energy the numbered contact holes, according to plant in Rochester, MA. instructions provided at the clinic. The headlights CPR celebrates 100th anniversary of completion are disconnected from the factory board, with the of true transcontinental line from Atlantic to Pacific. decoder white wire going to the front and the yellow Steamtown reveals master plan for development decoder wire going to the rear light. Spicing in a of the museum site in Scranton, PA. 270-ohm resistor in the blue decoder wire (putting NOVEMBER 1981 (35 Years Ago) in series), then running a blue wire from the end of Maiden voyage—1st issue of The Semaphore. the resistor to both the front and back lights and

5 you’re all set for directional lights, using the factory IF YOU WANT TO MOVE your illegal drugs bulbs. Away he went ready for that branchline efficiently, the railroad is the way to do it. That service in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan! seems to be the lesson learned by Mexican drug cartels that dug a 33-foot deep, 2,625-foot tunnel Bob Ferrenkopf brought his BLI Rock Island E7 to under the U.S. border from Tijuana to smuggle repair some loose wiring inside. He was able to re- drugs into San Diego, BBC News reported. solder the offending connection and return the unit Mexican cartels have been smuggling drugs to the to his Rock Island “Rocket” passenger service. U.S. through underground tunnels for years, but this tunnel is unique in that had a rail car system. Paul Agnew brought another gem, in the form of The tunnel is reported to belong to the drug gang of an IHC Consolidation decorated for the BAR. This fugitive drug cartel leader Joaquin Guzman. Police loco, from many years ago, had a decent motor and said they detained 16 suspects and seized 10 tons fairly good detail, so he delved into hard-wiring a of marijuana. Police described a sophisticated DZ125 into this baby. Lighting to be continued at a tunnel, which was lit, ventilated and built with metal future clinic. beams to prevent collapse. Another tunnel was discovered at the start of August also in Tijuana, Paul Cutler III finished the clinic with an Athearn though it was incomplete and came short of R-T-R RS3 in one of the New Haven color crossing the border with the U.S. (RA) schemes, that it wore during it’s lifespan. This ●●●●●●● model has a nice “tray” over the rear truck, where THE WESTERN MARYLAND SCENIC Railroad is the DH126D fits perfectly, after plugging into the 9- seeking volunteers to help restore & pin plug supplied on the factory board. Board Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309. Donations are also needed resistors protect the mini-bulbs supplied, though to complete the project in time for the 2016 season. their lifespan is limited and will probably have to be There are a number of additional projects for which replaced with better Miniatronic 1.5v, 30ma bulbs. volunteer help is essential, the Foundation said. In A good time to replace the stock plastic couplers other cases, specific items and parts are needed to with good, ole Kadee “whiskers”. complete various projects. In addition to the restoration of 1309, the Western Maryland Scenic Thanks to Paul III for setting up the Clinic Railroad Foundation will be constructing the C&O workstations. Our next clinic will be Thursday, caboose bunkhouse to accommodate volunteers December 3rd . Sign-up sheet on Bulletin Board. visiting from outside the area. On weekends at the Everyone is welcome! railroad's yard, there will be the freight car rehab program. This program will include rehabilitating and repainting freight cars. There is also a heritage landscape program, through which signals will be POTPOURRI installed at Helmstetter’s Curve, the Frostburg Depot, and City Junction near The Narrows. (TN) ●●●●●●● THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION Authority went to the dogs for a day as nineteen CANADA’S THREE MAJOR RAILWAYS should canine police officers graduated from MTA Police benefit from the Oct. 19, 2015 sea-to-sea election explosives detection and anti-terrorism training in a sweep by Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party of Canada. ceremony at Grand Central Terminal. Fifteen of the Trudeau’s party even managed to get four graduating dogs will now join their human partners members of parliament elected in Alberta's two metropolises, Calgary and Edmonton—the ideological and financial anchors of the defeated Stephen Harper’s pro-pipeline and anti-rail Conservative government. (RA) ●●●●●●●

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to the other,” he said. Class I railroads are large railroads, such as Canadian Pacific and Norfolk Southern, that carry freight from one end of the continent to the other. Maine is one of only three states in the U.S. that don’t have a Class I railroad within their territory. (PPH) ●●●●●●● services to Canada turned 20

Canine graduate, Artie, gets friendly with MTA Police Chief Michael Coan, last month. The Washington State Department of Lieutenant John Kerwick, and partner Frederick Weeks, during the MTA Transportation and Amtrak celebrated with a Police Department 2015 Canine Explosive Detection Graduation Ceremony. ceremony at in , B.C. The service continues to grow — a in active duty for the MTA Police Department. They transportation department analysis shows that will inspect suspicious packages and patrol the Amtrak Cascades passengers spend $11 million trains, stations, tracks and facilities of the Long annually in alone — and a Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and Staten combined $110 million in all the station cities. The Island Railway, a 5,000-square-mile territory number of passengers has nearly doubled since covering 14 counties in New York and Connecticut. 1995; last year approximately 148,000 people Four of the canines who graduated will join MTA traveled to or from British Columbia on Amtrak police sister agencies, the United States Park Cascades trains. Streamlined passenger train Police and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. service between and Vancouver was begun They are among the regional partners of the MTA by the Great Northern Railway in 1950 when it in law enforcement who send dogs to the MTA for inaugurated three times daily International service. training. The MTA Police Department has one of The trains connected with the and the largest canine explosives detection forces in the Western Star at Everett, Wash., and at Seattle with country, with approximately 50 dogs in service. Last trains to Portland and other points. Each year, the dogs responded to 25,860 requests for International consist had a mail-baggage car, two assistance, and inspected and cleared 2,584 coaches, a cafe-coach and an observation parlor- unattended packages. The MTA’s Canine Unit was lounge car, all built by American Car & Foundry. established in 2002. The canines were named after In May 1960, GN discontinued one round trip, and fallen police officers, firefighters, and members of then in June 1969 a second round trip was the United States Armed Services. (TN) eliminated. This left only a single round trip ●●●●●●● operated by GN-successor Burlington Northern by THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has awarded the time Amtrak arrived on May 1, 1971, when all Maine $20 million to help fund an ambitious $37.3 service ended. Seattle-Vancouver service returned million project that will allow the state’s railroads to on July 17, 1972 with the inauguration of Amtrak’s offer faster and more reliable freight service to Pacific International, complete with a dome car. businesses. The project will rehabilitate 380 miles Offering a single round trip, the Pacific International of track throughout Maine and remove longstanding soldiered on until September 1981, when it was bottlenecks. Four private railroads will supplement discontinued. Vancouver service returned on May the grant with $14.5 million, and the Maine 26, 1995, when the Mount Baker International Department of Transportation will oversee the began running between Vancouver and Seattle in program and provide $400,000. The scale of the cooperation with the state of Washington. In 1998, project and the level of cooperation among the the Cascades brand was introduced for the service state’s railroads are unprecedented, said Nate as new Talgo equipment was put into service. A Moulton, director of rail programs for the Maine second Vancouver train, offering through service DOT. He said the project will allow the short-line between Vancouver and Portland, began in August and regional railroads to work together to provide 2009 as a pilot project to determine whether a train customers with better service. “They will act more permanently operating on the route would be like a single large railroad, like a Class I, to provide feasible. With the Canadian federal government good and smooth service from one end of the state requesting Amtrak to pay for border control costs

7 for the second daily train, it was to be discontinued THE BOEING COMPANY'S unmanned aircraft on Oct. 31, 2010. However, Washington State and subsidiary based in the Columbia River Gorge Canadian officials held discussions in an attempt to passed a milestone last month in commercializing continue the service, which resulted in the drone technology. Insitu is flying a small Canadian government permanently waiving the fee surveillance drone to inspect rail line for BNSF and the train continued to operate. Streamlined Railway. This is happening in rural New Mexico border crossings are the next planned improvement along a 132-mile stretch between the small towns for the Cascades Service. A Preclearance of Tolar and Mountainair using a repurposed Agreement signed by U.S. and Canadian officials in military model called the ScanEagle. Insitu March now awaits approval by the U.S. Congress commercial and civil unmanned systems program and Canadian Parliament. Once fully implemented, manager Charlton Evans said the flights are preclearance will streamline the customs process groundbreaking because the drone is flying long for travelers entering the U.S. from Canada. It also distances in the national airspace. "Our system is will reduce travel time by eliminating a second robust enough and the design assurance is high customs stop in Blaine after the initial screening in enough that we were able to prove that we could do Canada. (TN) this in a rural area on a limited basis without risk to ●●●●●●● people on the ground or in the air,” he said. BNSF CONGRESS PASSED A THREE-YEAR and Insitu are part of a select group of companies extension of the positive train control deadline, to partner with the Federal Aviation Administration preventing an unprecedented shutdown of the to work out logistical and safety protocols for nation’s rail network that had railroads, transit commercial unmanned flying. The FAA calls this its agencies, and shippers nervous as the end of the Pathfinder initiative. "The fact that we are out here year approaches. The Senate approved a stopgap flying is revealing friction points and we are working surface transportation bill that funds highway and through them daily," Evans added. "You can't transit programs through Nov. 20. The bill, understand something until you truly go do it." The approved in the House yesterday, also includes the railroad hopes real-time video from drones can three-year PTC deadline extension that railroads, provide a more efficient means to check for transit agencies, and shippers had sought. House obstructions or damage to the rails. "It can see Transportation & Infrastructure Committee gaps in rail, aberrations in the rail itself, issues with Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., inserted the PTC rail ties," BNSF Railway spokesman Mike Trevino extension onto the Surface Transportation said. He said unmanned aircraft inspections will Extension Act of 2015. The bill ensures that states supplement, but not replace, the work of human rail will be able to continue to fund highway and transit inspectors. And it could make their jobs safer. "We projects while Congress irons out the details of a really see it as an additional opportunity to gather multi-year surface transportation bill. Shuster said data," Trevino said. "The project gives us much the bill, “also recognizes that failing to extend the more flexibility for our overall safety program." positive train control deadline now will have Trevino said it is possible future testing with drones devastating impacts.” The rail industry has said it might take place over rural Northwest rail lines. would have to curtail certain chemical shipments "There are hard-to-get-to places in the Northwest beginning in November and would have to virtually that would also be ripe for using an unmanned shut down beginning Jan. 1 in order to comply aerial vehicle," he said. Insitu said the New Mexico with the PTC law. The deadline extension would test flights, which started Sunday, are "the first give the railroads until Dec. 31, 2018 to have PTC commercial beyond visual line of sight operation installed on lines where it is required. The with an unmanned aerial system in the contiguous transportation secretary would be able to grant 48 states." (Railscan) railroads who fail to meet the deadline up to two ●●●●●●● additional years to comply with the law. The bill THE U.S. SENATE on Oct. 28, 2015 confirmed almost certainly will receive President Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah Obama’s signature when it reaches his desk. (TN) Feinberg as the agency’s official head. Her ●●●●●●● appointment was simultaneous with the Senate’s vote passing H.R. 3819, which extended

8 transportation funding for three weeks as a stopgap measure, and also extended the deadline to Norfolk Southern network. The Erie Railroad built implement PTC until at least year-end 2018. the current wrought-iron bridge in 1875 and while it Feinberg, a former chief of staff to U.S. has served several railroad owners from the Erie Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, has been Lackawanna Railroad to Conrail, its current Acting Administrator since January. (RA) condition can no longer efficiently handle modern- ●●●●●●● day freight rail transportation. Currently, Norfolk NORFOLK SOUTHERN, the New York State Southern must slow freight trains crossing the Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the bridge to 10 mph and freight car weights must be New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and reduced 13,000 pounds below the industry Historic Preservation broke ground on a $70-million standard. The current bridge will remain open steel arch railroad bridge in Letchworth State Park. during construction of the new arch bridge and then The new single-track bridge, expected to take be dismantled. about three years to construct, will be 900 feet long ●●●●●●● and located about 75 feet south of the current iron THE NATIONAL RAILROAD HALL OF FAME has truss bridge, which spans the Genesee River inducted Edward Gowen Budd, founder of the Gorge. NS also will construct 1,200 feet of new Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co. in Philadelphia track on either side of the gorge to align existing in 1912. Bombardier Transportation, which tracks with the new bridge. "This successful public- acquired the Budd Co.’s passenger railcar designs private partnership underscores the strong and related assets of its mass transit equipment confidence we all have in the ongoing potential of division in 1987, accepted the award on Edward the Southern Tier," said James Squires, Norfolk Budd’s behalf during an Oct. 27, 2015 ceremony at Southern chairman, president and chief executive St. Louis Union Station. The Budd Co. made history officer. "Norfolk Southern has a robust bridge in 1934 when it introduced the nation’s first program and the new Portageville Bridge will be a stainless-steel, diesel-powered streamliner, the testament to today's expert engineers and the Zephyr. “The Zephyr’s stainless-steel fluted craftsmanship of today's railroaders. We expect this skirt structure was made with Budd’s proprietary project will start a new rail legacy for Letchworth shot-welding process, a breakthrough that State Park and the Southern Tier." When inaugurated the modern age of metal fabrication,” completed, the new bridge will be the linchpin of a said Hall of Fame Chair Jay Matson. “The vibrant Norfolk Southern rail line that helps streamliner’s light weight and aerodynamic shape businesses in Buffalo and the Southern Tier improved fuel economy and enabled it to travel regions connect with markets east and west. faster than any train had ever traveled. Budd’s Among the New York-based entities to benefit from pioneering advances in manufacturing techniques the new bridge will be 10 shortline railroads that transformed the passenger and commuter trains of serve local businesses and connect them to the the world.” (RA) ●●●●●●● AS UNION PACIFIC continues to store excess locomotives this fall due to depressed business levels, two of the most noteworthy engines on its roster were placed into storage last week, Chicago & North Western C44-9Ws Nos. 8646 and 8701. The General Electric locomotives are the only two remaining on Union Pacific’s roster that wears their as-delivered Chicago & North Western paint and road numbers from 1994. Before being parked, the two were typically assigned to various locals and transfer assignments in the Chicago area. While Union Pacific has selected various storage

Norfolk Southern estimates it will take three years to construct the 900- locations around its system for its sidelined power, foot bridge in Letchworth State Park in Portageville, NY.(Artist the two CNW locomotives were dispatched last rendering of new bridge.)

9 week to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Ill., passenger vehicles that donned plows last year, for long term storage on museum grounds. (TN) often to their detriment, MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola said. “Last year, the bulk of snow removal ... was done by affixing plows to our revenue vehicles,” he told reporters at a Cambridge rail yard. “That exposes those vehicles to the stress of snow plowing, and we had a number of locomotives break down. ... Using these heavy pieces of equipment to do the bulk of the work will help protect those revenue cars from that stress.” (BG) ●●●●●●● FOLLOWING THREE DAYS of debate, during ●●●●●●● which over 100 amendments were considered, the THE MBTA IS ATTACHING snowplows to Red and U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 5, 2015 Orange line trains, a decision made after last year’s “overwhelmingly” approved the Surface record snowfall in Boston. The two lines will each Transportation Reauthorization and Reform (STRR) have 40 cars equipped with stainless steel plows. Act of 2015 (H.R. 3763), “a bipartisan, multi-year Each line will have 20 installed by December and surface transportation bill to reauthorize and reform another 20 by January. “Every 10 minutes, they’ll federal highway, transit, and highway safety take four inches off,” Steve Hicks, Massachusetts programs.” H.R. 3763 helps “improve the nation’s Bay Transportation Authority’s senior director of surface transportation infrastructure, refocuses vehicle maintenance tells the Boston Globe. “It’s programs on addressing national priorities, not designed to remove two feet of snow. It’s provides more flexibility and certainty for states and designed to run constantly and keep snow off the local governments, accelerates project delivery, tracks.” The plows should prevent snow from maintains a strong commitment to safety, and debilitating the trains’ traction motors, one of the big promotes innovation to make the transportation problems on the Red and Orange lines last winter, system and programs more effective, stated the MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo says. In the past, Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee. the MBTA has attached larger plows to a few empty T&I Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), T&I trains to remove snow from the Red and Orange Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D- lines during service hours. Plows were attached to OR), Highways and Transit Subcommittee Blue Line trains when the latest fleet was delivered Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), and Highways and 10 years ago, Pesaturo says. The pilots on Green Transit Subcommittee Ranking Member Eleanor Line trolleys clear debris on the tracks, and can Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the legislation, help clear snow. Green Line cars didn’t experience approved by a vote of 363 to 64, in the House. (RA) the major issues with traction motors that Red and ●●●●●●● Orange line cars did during the winter, Pesaturo THE GROUP HOPING to restore that last Maine adds. (TN) The MBTA is bringing on nearly 50 Central steam locomotive to ever run made a big pieces of new snow removal equipment to help step forward. On Thursday, the New England keep the commuter rail running during the winter, Steam Corp. presented a $25,000 check to the city according to officials who unveiled some of the of Waterville to finally purchase 4-6-2 No. 470. The equipment this month. Many of the heavy duty group has been raising money for nearly two years machines are equipped with plows or snowblowers. in hopes to acquire and restore the locomotive at A model called a “snow fighter” features both. The the Downeast Scenic Railroad in Ellsworth. The equipment represents fresh artillery for the com- nonprofit has also spent the past two years trying to muter rail and its operator, Keolis Commuter prepare the locomotive for the 80-mile move, Services, whose riders were beset by severe expected to take place sometime in the coming delays and cancellations during last winter’s record- year. The steam locomotive – the largest still in setting snowfall. In addition to their most obvious New England – will be moved in two pieces. function—clearing snow—the machines will also “The locomotive is a historic icon from another era, relieve some of the burden on commuter rail

10 before airlines and interstate highways. It has been components from Electro-Motive Diesel, a division deteriorating for years and someone with the of Progress Rail Services, a Caterpillar company. knowledge had to intervene and preserve it,” says The prime-mover is a 3,000-hp, EPA Tier 3- President Richard Glueck. (TN) certified, 12-cylinder EMD 710. NS plans to put 18 ●●●●●●● of the locomotives to work at its five major Chicago THE AMTRAK Downeaster is making it easier and rail yards by the end this year. (RA) more affordable to travel with family or friends with ●●●●●●● the Take 5 – Pay $5 deal happening now through RAILROADS ARE KNOWN throughout history as the end of the year. When a passenger buys one forces for change, often uniting countries spread adult full-price coach ticket for travel on Tuesdays over vast land masses. On Saturday, Canadians or Thursdays through Dec. 31 they can bring up to celebrated the 130th anniversary of the completion five companions for $5 per person one-way. (AN) of their first transcontinental railroad, Canadian ●●●●●●● Pacific. Andy Cummings, a CP spokesman tells DID YOU KNOW that the nation’s railroads Trains News Wire that the Nov. 7, 1885, adopted “Standard Time” in 1883, and it wasn’t completion of the railroad with the driving of the officially adopted by the U.S. government until "last spike" launched a successful franchise that March 1918? (B&O Museum) continues today. "From our construction through to ●●●●●●● later expansion in hotels, steamships, NORFOLK SOUTHERN joined local and state telecommunications, airlines, and now back to our officials on Nov. 5, 2015 to dedicate a new fleet of railway core, CP continues the energy and spirit GP33ECO environmentally friendly yard that the builders demonstrated," Cummings says. locomotives for Chicago at its 47th Street "Their courage and vision for CP’s future is the intermodal facility. The locomotives are branded legacy of the Last Spike." “ECO” for their operating efficiencies in reducing emissions and fuel consumption. More than $19 million in grant funding through the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) made the $30 million public- private partnership to replace Norfolk Southern’s entire Chicago yard locomotive fleet possible. The new units feature a stylistic green paint scheme with an Illinois-shaped icon and the slogan “Working Together for a Cleaner State.”

Company officials drove the last spike at Craigellachie, British Columbia, in a town named after a gathering place used by George Stephen's historical clan in Scotland. Stephen was CP's first president. The railroad also unified Canada, much as the railroad did in the United States, but in a more literal sense. One of the articles of the British North American Act of 1867 constituting a confederation of provinces and territories in what would become Canada said that the country must have a transcontinental railway. In effect, the completion of the Canadian Pacific was the completion of the last condition of Confederation, Cummings says. (TN)

NS designed and built the locomotives at its Juniata ●●●●●●● Locomotive Shops in Altoona, Pa., using

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THE NATIONAL RAILROAD Hall of Fame's it purchased from the Agence métropolitaine de newest inductee's work is familiar to all fans of transport, Montreal. The three F59s were originally fluted, stainless, streamliners. The hall named built in 1988 for Go Transit in Toronto. Before Edward Gowen Budd to its awardee list during a releasing the F59, Metra made several wiring ceremony held in conjunction with the American modifications, installed public address and intercom Association of Private Railcar Owners at St. Louis systems, and modified the head-end power and in- Union Station recently. Budd founded his company cab control indicators so that they are similar to the in 1912 in Philadelphia. He specialized in stainless- railroad's existing locomotives. Before its release, steel fabrication and in 1934 produced America’s Metra's Kensington Yard Maintenance Facility also first stainless-steel diesel streamliner, the Pioneer removed the old classification lights, and added Zephyr. Budd’s shot-welding process helped create marker lights, and an oscillating light before the fluted skirt structure which would soon be a painting the locomotive in a paint scheme similar to feature on early streamliners up to current Amtrak that of the railroads existing MP36PH-3S's. Metra cars. “Budd’s pioneering advances in also announced that 42 of its F40s, will be getting manufacturing techniques transformed the the newer paint scheme as they receive a major passenger and commuter trains of the world,” says overhaul in the next four years. (TN) Jay Matson, hall of fame chairman. “Honoring him at a convention of private railcar owners, many of whom own Budd-built railcars, was a natural fit.” The National Railroad Hall of Fame is located in Galesburg, Ill. (TN) ●●●●●●● GE TRANSPORTATION announced Nov. 9, 2015 that it received a Letter of Award from India’s Ministry of Railways for a locomotive supply and maintenance contract worth approximately $2.6 billion over 11 years to supply Indian Railways with 1,000 diesel-electric locomotives. “The deal advances the ‘Make in India’ initiative and ●●●●●●● reinforces India’s position as a global FEDERAL AND AMTRAK OFFICIALS and state manufacturing destination,” GE said. The largest officials from New York and New Jersey announced deal in GE’s 100-year history in India involves the Nov. 11, 2015 that they have reached an company building a diesel locomotive agreement on funding commitments and a manufacturing facility in Marhowra district in the governance structure that will allow the long- Indian state of Bihar, as well as maintenance awaited, critically important $20 billion Gateway facilities at Bhatinda in Punjab and Gandhidham in Tunnel Project to construct two new rail tunnels Gujarat. “This effort is a major boost to India’s under the Hudson River to move forward. The railway modernization efforts, and will provide skill agreement establishes a new federal commitment development opportunities for local talent,” GE to fund 50% of project costs and creates the said. The company added that it will be making a “Gateway Development Corp.” under the Port $200 million investment in the project. The Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) locomotives will be diesel-electric and powered by to leverage billions in federal grant and loan funding Evolution (EVO) engines, with the first locomotive for the project. The corporation will include the scheduled for delivery in January 2018. The first states of New York and New Jersey, the U.S. 100 locomotives can be imported or include Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Amtrak imported kit content from the U.S, GE says. The as members and will be established and chaired by remainders are expected to be built in India of PANYNJ. “The agreement marks a major milestone mostly local content. (RA) in the effort to build a new trans-Hudson river ●●●●●●● tunnel that is an essential portion of Amtrak’s eight- METRA (CHICAGO) RELEASED its first F59PH, state connecting the states of No. 97, into revenue service on Friday, one of three New York and New Jersey and is one of the

12 region’s most critical infrastructure projects,” said CANADA'S PASSENGER RAILROAD is looking at Governors Andrew M. Cuomo of New York and adding more routes to the Maritime Provinces or Chris Christie of New Jersey. (RA) eastern Canada. Canada President Yves ●●●●●●● Desjardins-Siciliano says the railroad is considering BNSF HAS TESTED a UAS (unmanned aerial launching new regional routes to serve Nova system, better-known as a drone) supplied by Scotia, New Brunswick, and Halifax. The new Boeing Co. subsidiary Insitu Inc. in east-central routes allow for tailored regional needs while New Mexico, on approximately 132 miles of main maintaining its Ocean route between Halifax and line track. The ScanEagle, in use in military Montreal, Desjardins-Siciliano says. The proposals applications for more than a decade and capable of are being considered for 2016. Desjardins-Siciliano flying for up to 24 hours at 92 mph, provides real- says a Moncton to Halifax route would run first time video. BNSF selected the Insitu ScanEagle thing in the morning and return in the evening. because it carries an FAA certification for In New Brunswick, a new route would service commercial (non-military) applications. BNSF points between Campbellton and Moncton, also in operates 32,500 miles of track and is reportedly the morning and evening. The long-distance Ocean interested in employing UAS technology to spot would continue three days a week. (TN) such problems as warped track, washouts, major ●●●●●●● erosion or bridge outages well before a train AIMING TO ADD context to its offer to buy Norfolk reaches them. The technology is capable of Southern — and appease shareholders over what providing 3D rendering as well as high-resolution appeared to be a lowball bid — Canadian Pacific video magnification. Insitu intends to improve the today released the full merger proposal letter CEO ScanEagle’s sensor and data analysis capabilities E. Hunter Harrison sent to his NS counterpart, with features like automated reporting to quickly James Squires. “CP also wishes to correct any relay such information as vehicles or misconceptions about the sizable premium offered people/animals on the tracks and missing crossties. to NS shareholders,” CP says in a statement Such data can be transmitted in real time to track accompanying the letter. CP says its offer of a 50- inspectors. It could also be used to improve safety 50 cash-stock transaction was a 23 percent for field personnel working in extreme weather premium over NS’s 45-day average share price of conditions. Insitu recently acquired 2d3 Sensing, $79.14. The CP letter was dated Nov. 9 and since which now serves as its mission systems division, then NS stock has climbed due to market for this purpose. (RA) speculation about a potential merger. NS said the ●●●●●●● offer from CP was “low premium,” coming in at less APPLE COMPUTER may have Siri, but it was than a 10 percent bump over its current stock price. Amtrak’s “Ask Julie” intelligent assistant computer In the letter to Squires, Harrison called the program that won Opus Research’s 2nd annual combination a “transformational opportunity” that Intelligent Assistant Award. Winners of the industry would be a win for both railroads, their award were highlighted as “best-of-class examples shareholders, and shippers. (TN) of automated self-service systems that provide a ●●●●●●● pleasant, human-like customer experience.” THE BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL Projection Amtrak’s Julie was highlighted for its "seamless voted unanimously on November 19th to accept the integration with complementary systems and a recommendations of their staff by endorsing the strong focus on completing transactions, going Storm Water Management permit granted by the beyond simply answering questions" according to a DEP to the Northern New England Passenger Rail news release. Julie helps passengers by pre-filling Authority on the construction of the Brunswick, ME, forms on Amtrak's computer system and guiding layover facility for Downeaster trains. By rejecting them through the entire process. She also delivers the appeal of the Brunswick West Neighborhood information on all aspects of traveling with Amtrak – Coalition, the Brunswick Layover Facility has including what items can be carried on trains – and surmounted its last regulatory hurdle. An opposition can even help make hotel and rental-car group, the Brunswick West Neighborhood Coalition, reservations. is now considering an appeal of the board’s ●●●●●●● decision to the Maine Superior Court, the Portland

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Press Herald reported. Maine law stipulates that an RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN appeal must be filed within 30 days. Marble Service Flatcars ●●●●●●● Harvest Time NORFOLK SOUTHERN says it has another Look Both Ways special-painted locomotive gracing its rails. This time, GP38-2 No. 5642 is painted as a first News sources: Boston Globe, Boston Herald, responder unit similar to SD60E No. 9-1-1. NS says Amtrak “News”, Trains Newswire, Railway Age, on its Facebook page that the locomotive will be Railpace Newsmagazine, RRE “Callboy”, “The assigned to service on NS' Safety Train that travels 470”, Patriot Ledger, Wall Street Journal, Portland the railroad providing training to emergency Press-Herald, Boston Herald. workers who might respond to railroad accidents.

As has been a tradition for many years at the SSMRC, Bill Garvey, USMC, has set up a box in the meeting room to collect Toys for Tots. This is

an extremely worthwhile cause, which was started ●●●●●●● many years ago by a Marine wanting to help make A YEAR AGO, frustration ruled in Vermont’s state Christmas special for less fortunate children. The capitol as the $10 million application for the last 11 drive has blossomed into a huge, country-wide miles of rail between Rutland and Burlington to get collection, which helps thousands of children continuous welded rail was been rejected by the experience the joys of Christmas. Donated toys federal government. The frowns have now been are to be new and unwrapped. Please place in turned into smiles as Amtrak said recently that the the yellow box marked “Toys for Tots”. The Ethan Allen could be extended from Rutland north collection will continue until the weekend before to Burlington within four years on the trackage Christmas. (If you need some ideas for toys, speak known as the Western Rail Corridor. The area near with Dan.) Thanks to Bill and all who participate in Burlington is the most populous region of the state. this cause! Half of the $20 million funding for the project is coming from a federal grant and the rest matching GET A NEW RADIO & HEADSET! state funds. The other track along the line has either been already upgraded. The single track line needs new sidings, passenger platforms and 13 new grade crossings. Welded rail is required for trains operating at 60 mph. (TN) ●●●●●●● I ENJOYED THESE ARTICLES in this month’s RR magazines and can suggest them to you:

TRAINS 75th Anniversary issue—excellent read MODEL RAILROADER Modeling Fall Forests Legacy of the Berkshire Lines How to Build a Laser-cut Wood Kit 43 Years of Having Fun

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We have researched for new Radios and headset and have helped over the years, some of have come up with an attractive price: whom are no longer with us. Thanks to you loyal readers and contributors, too. $22.50 for a nice up-to-date Radio and $25 for a Happy Birthday to us all! comfortable (2-prong) headset. 3. Since retiring, I am finishing up a third estate, involving the selling of a model For the most part, our radios are pushing 20 years old, train collection on Ebay. If you know of anyone who has quality HO trains and various things have broken, so now is the time to they want to sell, please consider giving up-date, or buy for the first time. them my name. Thanks!

There is a sign-up sheet on the Bulletin Board. If you ………………..David N. Clinton want both the radio and headset, please write “both” next to your name. (you really should get both) If you can’t get to the club to sign-up, or think you will forget, MEMBER NEWS please feel free to email me at [email protected] and let me know your desires and I will add you to the list. Barry Doland had a very serious operation a couple of weeks ago, and is recovering, soon at So much of a good Operations depends on good home we hope. Please keep him in your thoughts communication, so now is an opportunity to get with it and prayers for a speedy recovery and return to the and do away with those single-prong radios, that have Club’s activities. We miss you, Barry! lose headset contacts or broken belt clips or just over- all outdated! Imagine: No more “you’re on vox” with Nice to see applicant Bob Cook back, after a long the new radios and headsets! absence, due to work issues. Look forward to seeing you move quickly towards the “member” We will keep the list up through December and place an status, Bob! order after that. Hey...what a nice Christmas gift...let your “better half” know about this...and he or she can email me privately and it will be a “surprise” for you! Birthday Celebrations Happier days for Operations are just over the horizon and coming with the New Year The following members have made it through another year and deserve congratulations:

EDITOR’S NOTES Bill Garvey ...... December 2nd Jay Pease ...... December 2nd Tom Ryder (H) ...... December 2nd 1. The next issue of the newsletter will be Nick Nickerson ...... December 3rd the Monday after Christmas, so I take Paul Patev (H) ...... December 6th this time to wish you and your family Stan Rydell ...... December 6th Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Chris Barlow ...... December 12th Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Paul Feeney ...... December 13th 2. This month marks the 35th Anniversary Will Baker ...... December 14th of the first issue of . Ron Clough ...... December 15th The Semaphore I started this newsletter a year after I joined the SSMRC. It’s hard to believe, at least for me, that this is possible. Time does seem to go faster, with each passing year. I thank all those folks who

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Junk Food Jollies

When: Tuesday, December 8th Time: Anytime after 6 pm Where: Editorial Offices, 11Hancock Rd., Hingham Who: All members and applicants welcome

Come and enjoy hot mulled cider, cookies, crackers, cheese and lots of other not- so-good-for-you food! A time for camaraderie with your fellow members away from the RR Club...but still in a RR atmosphere!

About 8 pm, we’ll enjoy movies, slides and CD’s made by the photographers in our group.

Come and have fun with your friends at both these Club traditions!

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