June 1996 TheSe~aphore Volume 38 Number 10 • Newsletter of the Rochester NY Chapter, National Railway Historical Society

Program (or June 20 Ride the Cars For the next three months, the Chapter's meetings will be held at the R&GV RR- Museum DepoL For June 20. plans are to enjoy track car rides starting at 6 PM. Certain to be on the agenda are details of the 25th Anniversary four-day celebration on July 18-21. The 25th Anniversary Com- mittee has prepared a Ilst of priorities of work that should be completed be- fore this event to present the best possible picture for at'e eJCP"cted grand entou- Wage of visitors and guests. Election Results: Work Sessions Proposed Restoration Building Modeled The previously serving Of- Reguulr work ses- ficers and Trustees up for sions are Tuesday Dan ShlJUng,well known for his outstanding dioramas. modeled to eleclJon _re re-elected. evenings and all day scale (HO) the proposed restoration buUding. Ground breaking The complete Board is Saturdays. Arrange- ceremonJes willtake place on Friday, July 19. listed on the COYer sheet ments can be made A fund drtve is underway for which about 40% of the monies needed (P'ge 10) for other times. h.ovebeen raised.

- 50.000 25th Anniversary Celebration .0. In honor of the 25th Anniver$8ry 01 our Saturday, July 20: Public Day ~ Rochester f, Genesee Valley Railroad Mu- 40.000 a seum, your Chapter Ms planned a four Train and track car rides. Refreshments. Special day weekend extravaganza. displays and exhibits. Extended hours. Sunday, July 21: Public Day Thursday, July 18: Chapter J"IJght f _30.000 Train and tack car rides. Refreshments. Special ~ Evening at the Museum, featuring rides and speeches and spedaJ ceremonies. displays and exhibits. Extended hours. ~ Come and enjoy. Also special exhibits and ThIs Is your celebration of your Museum. We hope displays and refreshments. you will avaUyourself of the opportunities. We also j "$20,250 Friday, July 19: Media Day need your help to puU It aU off successfuUy. (aU .s:: Don Shilling, 381-3171, to indicate which days tl:l Continental breakfast for invited guests, you can help. _ 10,000 media and benefactors. Speeches by dig- nitaries. Train ride to ground breaking (More detaUs on what Is required was sent in a ceremony for start of new buUding. recent letter and Is summarized on Page 2. Also see Page 9.) The Semaphore June 1996 ' Page 2

List of Donors to the In About 4 Weeks: Membership Committee Depot's 25th Anniver- Around June 1st, Chapter members Report • saryFund should have received a letter from The Thomas A Way, Chairman SIlver Anniversary Committee request. 'As of 1 June 1966 Ing local members' asslstance In pre. Welcome to these new members: Dave Luca paring for the BIG 25th AnnIversary John & June Gehrs Bob McKnight Depot Celebration. 443 Peart Ave John Redden Usted were 26 Items that requIrIng Rochester, NY 14622 323-2981 Sam and Anna Grover attention before July 18. In addJtlon, extra help Is needed for Saturday, July Family membership Dave and Anne Jacobs 20 and Sunday, July 21 to greet A.E. Roach Fred Jenks visitors. Among these duties are: 6919 Harrison Ln •••••• guides, cooks, concessionaires, park. Alexandria, VA George Bauerschmidt lng, NYMT guides, ticket sales, track Frank R. Shepard car operators, and store personnel Keith Blackall 88 Karen Lee Dr totaling at least 34 positions. Mike Bl)lIe Rochester, NY 14619 Ira Cohen Don't 1H!&uhfuJ - Step Forward 427-7105 Bernie Cubitt The following are standing by their &til til Jl{lJjC dIml Roster phones awaItIng your call! JIm Dierks Laurie McFaul Peter Emmel Dave Luca, 288-0318 6610 N. Geneva Rd DeWalDFeller Don Shilling. 381-3171 Sodus, NY 14551 (315) 483-9894 . Bob Filch Chris aauf, 381-8583 Bonrue Ghckman Jeremy Tuke, 359-8944 David J. Monte Verde 36 Rochester Sl Child Goodinan In the Magazines: Scottsville, NY 14546 Dan Gallier 889.5329 Charhe Hanhbarger The R&GV Museum Depot NOTES • Chns Hausler Ral1fan and Rallroacl July 1996 Congratulations to all those Commit. RC\ RO' K,I:!"IU On page 65, you'll find a color photo tee Members who have won tickets to of lM>nJa. Avon £, Lakeville two en. ).;"''"KI= thls year's Chapter Banquet. For those gIne consist northbound on Its flrst Henn~l=h who could not attend. we are award. run on Apr1l 15. Added Interest Is that Bob and ~une Mmer Ing $17.00 Certlflcates redeemable at the view Includes our Rochester and the Chapter Store. Harland Morrill Genesee Valley RR Museum! The Ko- J,m Moore dachrome was by Pete Swanson. Memberah.lp Synopsla: Ralph and Barbara Mosher Pete Swanson also authored an article Full MembershJplRochester: 201 ~onn ShaddJd on The I\rc&:fe £, AttiCd on pages 50 Local Membership: 8 Don Shllhng through 55, Both freight and excur. Family MembershJp: ...... ••..... 26 sIon operatlons are CCl\'efed.including TOT~ •...... 235 Gale Snuth maps of present and 19 15 territories. Sian S"adhammer 'JRAIJ'lS, July 1996 NYMT Schedule Tom Tucher June 16: Phoebe Snow Day Jere~ TuJr.e If you have access to the July Issue of lRAll'lS, take note of Duncan Rich. Naor Wallach July 14: Antique Truck Show ards' photo on P.8ge 26 of lA&L's John Weber Inaugural tra1n to pass our Depot. July 20 &21: 25th Anntv. of Depot Child Whalen Comparing the two photos, It looks Aug 10 & 11: Gandy Dancers Bnan Willetl Uke Duncan and Mr. Swanson re- Open every Sunday from 11 to 5.. Ed Van Hom leased their CllJTlera'sshutters at the same moment, although from slightly Finger Lakes Uve Steamers Meet dlfferent locations. I. your Name here? U not, you June 22 £, 23 from 10 AMto 4 PM • llIe welcome to COME ABOARDI rIVe mlles North of Rt. 318 on Whls- key HillRd, between Lyons and Clyde • The Semaphore . June 1996 Page 3

Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum Freight Information • by Rand Warner, ChaIrman, 425-8587 Chris Hauf, Freight Superintendent Recent progresslFuture plans from MIke Dow, as MIke now has a Home Runs Chris Hauf and others cpntlnue work real raIlroad job in PennsylvanIa. Congratulations to MIke Bryne, OUT on the PC caboose. Rotten wood never still Publicity and Public Rela- 1000 feet of specIal wire has been flooring and decking has been re- tions man for a whole string of public- ordered, received and delivered; to moved. Chris Hauf has replaced the ity hits in the local media recently. pennJt extension of OUT signal system rotten decking with new pressure They have covered 1940's day for blocks north of Switch #6 at the top treated decking and options for ac- Sodus Excursions, Railroaders Wall of of the hill. quiring the proper tongue and groove flooring are being pursued. Neil Bel- Fame, donations, grants, radio, televi- Neil Beilenger and Jim Johnson are lenger and Chris Hauf have removed sion and newspapers. Way to go MIkel! providing their electrical expertise to alI of the grates over the windows the Electrification Project for OUT fu- ture trolley line. restoring the car to Its as built appear- National Coverage ance. George Knab, Chris Hauf and Thanks to Chris Hauf f, Co., we're Passenger Equipment others formulated a plan to remove. getting national coverage via the Inter- the dent in the east side of the Supt. Bob Miner, 671-3589 Net, World Wide Web, photos in caboose. Future work includes the replacement of the missing tongue RAJ LPACE and feature articles on OUT BernIe Cubltt has been out every 25th Anniversary In TRAINS, and Saturday, and other days as weil, and groove flooring, removal of the RAJLFAN. He's also drawing in the removing old rivets in the bad panels dent, and preparation for exterior rallfans with plans for another of his of the Stillwell coach east side. Allthe painting into PC green. famous night photo sessions. panels are off now. Nothing seems to Dave Luca, Jeremy Tuke, and others stop him - neJther wind nor rain nor have started removing the plywood .Beautification sleet nor snow nor hall nor ..... paneling in the BRf,P caboose, so restoration can begin. It Is neat to see Thanks to Jan Dittmer we have lots of Chuck Whalen has "patented" a new the original BRf,P interior as the beautiful flowers blooming along our process for bending tempered Mas0- paneling Is removed. Check It out right 01 way. In front 01 the Depot, at nite Into S-curves for the celling sometime! Plans are well underway to the track bumpers. at our bUlboard, panels over the windows on the Still- restore this caboose back to Its as and across the street from the Depot, well Coach. He Is being assisted by bullt appearance. Dave Luca and Bm Chapin have Rick ISI1IeIsonon the general interior mowed the grass. Chris Hauf and rehab. Bill Umburg continues to work on new Dave Luca have cleared brush and Dave Behnke Is making new exterior windows for the Erie caboose. Plans weeds. panels for the StilJwelIeast side, using are to have the windows installed by his "patented" process which results the 25th anniversary celebration in Communications, in a new roof for the Kershaw snow July. Signals & Power brush machine', cab. The New York Central HIstorical Soci- Supt. Neil Bellenger, 359.9985 Bob Miner Is busily making up lists, ety has provided us some very impor- car by car, for getting our excursion tant information on our flat car. Turns Bob Miner, John Redden f, Co. have train at Sodus ready for the next out, the car appears to have been built picked up ~ral signal relay cllSeS season 01 use. in 1907 for the New York Central by donated by OMID RR, and using American Car f, Foundry. ThIs makes John', truck and traller, have delivered Tour of Construction Equipment It the oldest piece of rolling stock In them to our Museums for use on our OUT collection I It was a member of Lot line. 1hanks to Joe Scanlon, George Knab, Charles Harshbarger and John Mc- 208-F which was an order for 2050 Neil Beilenger and Rand Warner have Dona1d for making our Spedal Event such 40 foot flat cars for the New York been scouting and arranging for dona- 01 demo's 01 our antique construction Central. According to Charles Smith, tions and delivery of additional signal equlpment so successful on Sunday, President of the NYC HIstorical Soci- ety, there were 21 cars of this type still equlpment in other locations. May 19. AI.various times the Bucyrus- Erie backhoe, Bucyrus-Erie shovel, in service in January 1941 with all of • im Johnson Is continuing work on the cars out 01 service for the New the signal relay control box for the Bay City shovel, Huber grader, and International dump truck were all in York Central by June of 1944. 1hanks signal blocks going north from the to Mr. Smith and the New York Central use, and were enjoyed by OUT visitors. Depot. ThIs work Is being transltIoned HIstorical Society for their help in The Semaphore June 1-996 Page 4

Freight (contirwed from Page 3) We are also assembling substation & The Fairmont track crane and crane swltch gear equipment We need tender car are stllI getting more atten-. Identifying a piece of the car's his- swltches. breakers, metering, llghtnlng tion from Jeremy Tuke. A new draw- tol)'lll As time becomes ava1Iable,It Is arrestors, and panels. If you can help bar for the tender was cut out by the plan to jack up the car to be able wtth design or procurement, let us Gene Redden and has been Installed to remove the' no(th truck for inspec- by Jeremy. Both cars are'ln very active tion and possIble restoration as a first know. and useful service now on trackwork, step In bringing this car back to llfe. The electrification project wlll add a for weekends. weekdays, and week new dimension to our offerings and John Redden. Gene Redden, and nIghts. operations for the visiting publlc. and others continue to work inside and out will fulfll1a drearn we've had since Steve Huse has made and Installed on the BW wagontop caboose. The seat cushions for Trailer Car TC-2. improving weather conditions have 1975. allowed for the continuation of the exterior painting effort started by John Maintenance of Way Tool Car & Shops Redden last year. Equipment Supt. Charles Harshbarger. 266-8339 A five car freight train, featuring vin- Supt Norm Shaddick, 865-2773 Suggestions from aU our volunteers. tage equipment, was put together and and our general membershlp, are. Our new hI-raUboonVdump truck Is operated In May, pulled by the Fair- being factored Into the plans for our now fully operation8i and aU checked banks diesel # 1843. What sight to new restoration bullding and surround- out Hydrovac power brake unit re- see that engine and that train pulling Ing areas. These suggestions relate to placed. Radio Installed. Bad tires re- out of the yard and up the hillInto the the building size. shape, construction, placed. Truck chassis and hI-raUgear S-curve!! location, features, equipment, tracks, lubed. RaUrack Installed. Foot stirrups pits, tools, adjunct sheds, inside and and hand grabs Installed. Brakes bled. outside storage, etc. Please keep the Electrification Check out run successful from NYMT Inputs coming. Facrnt..tor: Rand Warner, 425-8587 bam to NRHS Depot. Boom checked Various plans and options are being Electrification of our first 1000 feet of out Dump box checked out. Thanks to George Knab, Bob Mine'r. Rand considered for location and functiOn. track. starting at NYMTbam lead, and Warner. Dick Holbert NOrm Shad- of addltionai structures. at appropriate heading south. Is actively under way. times In the future - for tumtable, The first 20 wood poles were ordered dick. Jeff Carpenter, Bob Mader and others. . water tower, roundhouse, machine and delivered. 0I8rIes Lowe and shop. sand tower. etc. These plans StNe H~ are laying out pole Ioca. Crew Car TraUer# 3 Is taking shape as need to be Integrated wtth other plans tions and putting in stakes. NYMT adapted from former G&W motor car for additionai trackage north and personnel ~ ooned and categorized - at least on a lemporary basis. south of Rte 251. aU available hardware. fittings, wire Engine and transmlsslon and axle and brackets. Nell Bellenger and c0m- drive have been removed. A new plain OperGtlon Ufvscmu Train pany have ~ auger truck for setting axle from NYMTIs being Installed. Car poles thoroughly operatlon8J. and will Is now standing up on end for ease of Both ConraU and UnIon Pacific were be relocating tt north to NYMTjob work below floor nne - thanks to the operating Operation Ufesaver trains. site. Nell Is also ordering equipment boom truck. The busy bees on this The UP's was In Californfa. ConraU's and tools for welding raUbonds. project Include Rand Warner. Dave toured Pennsylvania. Ohio and Indi- ana. We are looking for a good operational luca. Bob Mader. Bob MIner, Norm standard gage trolley. II should be Shaddick, George Knab. John Red- To help law enforcement officers to double-ended for operation In either den, and others. understand the extent of problems at direction. The trolley could even be The other G&Wmotor car "Madermo- grade crossings, a television carnera used on a loan. basis whlJe we're blle" Is getting lots ol use In work train was mounted In the cab and monitors completing restoration on NYMTs service, even as Its hew air brake were placed In the passenger cars for #107 and #157. system Is being Installed by Bob officialsto watch. In addition, a pollce Mader. officer rode In the cab wtth a radio We are also looking for a 600 volt DC who took llcense plate numbers and power supply of 250 to 500 kUowatt The Roe brothers. Raymond and le- descriptions of vehicles that tried to capacity. ThIs could be provided from onard, are rapidly nearing final beat the train. ThIs officer was an • a medium-sized locomotive. a diesel- completion of mechanical and struc- contact with a following patrol car generator set. a HEP head end power turai work on the PRR track motor which then stopped the offender- car. a transformer-rectifier setup. or a car. The new roof Is going on and an (Source: CONRAILNEWS) rotary converter running on 3-phase angle Iron frame for box over motor Is ACpower. In fabrication. Lake Shore RR Museum sponsored 1S' day on May 18. • The Semaphore . June 1996 Page 5

(Editor's Note: For those who mlssed Since trolley lines were built primarily to Olcott line were not ignored. M!. Gerstung's talk at the May meet- handle the rush hour crowds of workers Interurban lines across the country found eIng, this article summarizes the talk.) going to and from their jobs, street car that an on-line freight business was also to owners began to dream up ways to entice be derived. The Lockport-Olcott Divisionof people to ride the cars that would other- By Trolley to Olcott the IRe was by no means an exception. wise be idle on evenings and weekends. If by Geoff Gerstung Special farm produce trains ran to. Buffalo a car line could be easDy extended to a markets with a sizeable business done In Niagara County's enterprising community beach or other attraclion a destination fruits, vegetables and dairy products. of Olcott, situated on Lake Ontario, was would be developed, Olcott Beach was a desiring to market Its potential as a sum- natural for such a seasonal business. The Whether strolling in the park, bathing on a mer resort in the 1890's. A means of trolley company purchased the pine grove sandy beach, boating, fishing, taking In the transporting large numbers from the popu. along the L.ke front and developed a park. rides at the Rialto, enjoying a delicious "'tion centers was needed. A Railroad line, The large Olcott Beach Hotel was erected meal, dancing at the big hotel, or Just of SOrts, seemed to be the solution at the at the west end of the park. It featured a simply the ride to and from. Olcott Beach time. fine ballroom. dining room, casino and 100 was a wonderful place to visit. In the warm When newspapers headlined the "dawn of rooms for guests. In the park Itself a weather months thousands rode the elec. a new era-spreading the word about number of attraclions were added assuring tric cars to Olcott Beach - a "Trolley Park electricity for the first time there was activitiesfor an enjoyable outing. The Rialto on Lake Ontario.- wonderment about Its use in transportation amusement park was across the Lake conveyance. The question was. could a Road. The beach, wooded park, hotel and Cosgrove writes for The Call train be propelled by the mysterious new amusement area were developed by the Board railway to generate off hour traffic. Stearn energy? Use of the street car became The April Issue of The Call Board, the boat seMce from Toronto brought capac- common pL.ce answering the wban trans- newsletter of the Mohawk 8. Hudson Ity loads to Olcott and met the railway's portatIOn need across the country with Chapter, NRHS, contains Dan's article dock branch along EIghteen Mile creek ot>es of the N_a Frontier no exception. entitled: NYC Signal Towers of Syra- also generating trolley r""""ues. Fust. hoBe-dtawn cars plied the streets cuse: Part I. An added bonus was a A.1th the new electnc trolley followingIn the 1he Lockport (, 01cOll and Buffalo & photo of ~2~, the tower !It Ames -1890. For SOmethe rwoa,for especiaJly Lockport Railwayswere Consolidated under Street Junction In Rochester. til<' new electnc trolley. was the answer to the banner of the new International Railway This Issue of The Call Board con- OicOll' fulwe transpuaoon needs. Company ORO on February 20, 1902, tained other Infonnatlve articles. One jocning other eIectrlc lines In the area. This " trolley bne from Olcott. connectmg with is "Some Recollections of a Former large new company controlled the destiny til<' ~ Buffalo (, Locllport Railwayat Aleo Engineer authored by Ernest Lockpor. was geographlC4Dy the most of the Olcott line until the demise of Johnson. These are snippets as this _ In the !are 1930's. But. we are ~""' •. routr lor the propooed rail bne, " trouble-shooter travelled around solv- C""rtef lor til<' Locllport (, Olcott Railway gettlng ahead of our story. ing problems and making observa- "'as granted In Apnl 1900 for a trolley line 1he Interurban cars. as the Inter-dly tr0l- tions. ~ •• ~ke communibes. 1he leys were called. were larger and faster Another is on the workings of the b~ wa. lD be lJ~ miles long. Assuring than the then typlC4icity street car. 1he Walschaerts valve gear by Don Bar- qwck rumung lime the track bed was lD be Olcott line saw a newly designed car beau with diagrams. ball4sted W1lhrock. furrushed with oak bes entering _ WI 1904. They were de. and ~ pound ralh Work proceeded scr1bed as a "magnificent advance: The MKRalJ rapodly W1lh compiellon desired at the new 4000 series can were buD!by the J. Reportedly In MK RaIl's 1995 Annual e",!Jesl date pouible. Burt Van Hom. a G. Br1DCompany of Philadelphia. The pron1lne11tlocal figure. played a major role Report, the company is putting up Its could operate In 2 Of 3

An Interview: Wall of Fame Union Pacific presence in EastemUS. • Ira Cohen The announcement of the Wall of Fame plaque made the local Gannett Joseph G. Streamer writes In Empire newspapers on Wednesday. May 1 In 5We Express, newsletter of the Nla. Carol Rltter's column. gara Frontier Chapter, about how the Union Pacific Railroad encountered For $50. one can honor a relative eastern Influence. railroad employee (present or past; or yourself Ifworking on the railroad) with The PRR controlled the UP from March a brass name plate to be mounted on 1871 to March 1872. The UP faced a a large walnut plaque at the Museum. cash crisis In early 1871 and sought a loan from PRR, which was secured by For details, contact Mike Byrne at UP stock. This cause UP stock to 987-1305. Increase. Subsequently, PRR sold to take a profit; the UP Board was not R&GV RR. The Model pleased and voted PRR group off the UP Board. PRR lost lis chance of being Among the layout tours at the recent a trans-continental railroad. NMAAReglonal ConvenlJon was that A NYCgroup took notice and solicited for David Coon. David's plannlng of control of UP from PRR. This lasted the Rochester f, Genesee Valleymodel about a year; the financial Panic of began In 1978. In present form, It fills 1873 forces NYC to relinquish Its a lOx II.foot basement room. plus a position. Jay Gould of Erie RR fame segment travelling through a bath. also entered the picture. room (Caledonia) to a staging area. The tlme period is when the Erie In summary, Mr. Streamer notes that controlled this road between Mortimer whereas the once powerful Pennsylva. and Avon. Depicted are Rochester nia and New,York Central roads were. yard f, Rochester Bdt. MortimerJunc. doomed to fallure after the 1968 tJon, Commerce Industrial Park. merger and now swept Into Conrall, today the UP is considering a merger H~' PdrtJal to Conrall. largely be. Bailey. RJverton. Golah. Industry (with with Southern Pacific. Wouldn't it be cau"," It local Ira still mall1tains an Industries rather than just the present Interesting If Union Pacific bids for lI1t~rest 111Pds.senger trains: Amtrak. slatJon), and Avon. Interchange traffic Conrall. "What goes around does \t••.commut~r trains and subwa)". takes place with LehIgh Valley, Bro, L.A£.Land NYc. sometimes come around." I.. ~ l/)e Roches1~r Chapter around 1989 Early on. Don Shilling The layout is chest high gMng a Olympic Aame on one 01 Ius recrulllng drives. sug. dJfferent ~ the normal waist g~s1"" Ira YOlunt~r as a Car Host on high ones. The rallroad operates with The Union Pacific Railroad wilicontrib- to., Fa FoIlag~ tours Ira loved It - block control and two mainline cabs ute a 19-car passenger train to help and one yard controller. and IS doing It. H~ also partJcI. carry the Olympic flame across the Pdt"" In l/)e summer maintenance 01 ForB&O Fans United States on lis way to the 1996 tn~ exC\JISlOO r~ games In Atlanta. The train will trans- The B£,() RaiiroadMuseum, 901 West port the Flame for more than 3500 Ira ~ currently l/)e Chapter's Trea. Pratt St., Baltimore, Me 21223 has miles of the 15.000 mile joumey surer Most approprlat~ ••• It goes reJeased a gift catalog. Listed are between Los Angles and Atlanta. along 10IlUl Ius regular work: that 01 tax Items bearing B£,() InsIgnta, also accountant 10IlUl emphasis on IndJ. books and videos. A speciaily-bulJt"cauldron car" will be \/ldualInc""", taxes. on the rear of the train. It willcarry the flame between events as well as dis- As far ••• other RR organlzalJons, he Present Day SbrGm play It at hundreds of communities w••• once a member of the Iron Horse In the Aprli 1996 issue of American along the rail route. Model Railroad (no longer In existence) Heritage appears Ihe Power of Uve and NMAA(s1illIn existence). Stearn" by John Whlte, Jr. Both Working with the UP are eight other • railroads: Arizona f, California RR Co., Sa)" Ira: Ihe lir Idd In me is ecstlIlJc current and hJstorical photos are In. ATE;SF. BN, CP RaiVSoo line, IC, when I ~ one of the locornotJvesat cluded In this 10 page artJcle detailing the Museum!- some of the present day s1eam excur. KCS, SP and Washington Central RR. slon lines. •

The Semaphore o June 1996 Page 7

Railroad Poetry I hope thls poem conveys the aroma the way along the main line to S5-46 on the Shore. Also remember thls was By Dan Cosgrove of the lime, There were four dispatch- ers working In Syracuse at the lime. a lime when we routinely handled • While looking over some railroad pa- The Termlna1 man worked the territory around 70 some odd passenger. traJns pers I have, I carne across thls poem from Syracuse Junction (55-2, just per day and as many more freights, written so many years ago. I attended east of the New York State Fair, and literally clouds of local traJns - that testimonial .dinner and was grounds to SS44 at KIrkville, the and they worked every trick and every shocked to realize that aU the partici- westernmost Mohawk DMsion Tower). place. There were no quiet limes! pants of that ceremony had passed The East End Dispatcher had the There were limes that seemed almost away, even the author, save for a territory from 55-2 to 55-20 at impossible to handle, but the trains friend and myself. The author, ErnIe Wayneport The West End Dispatcher did get handled and the trains dld Rowell, becarne a Trainmaster on thls had the territory from 55-20 to S5-46 move, but It didn't happen automati- dMslon In later years and was a much at Depew, which was the first tower of caUy. It took much planning and respected official, and this perspective the Buffalo DMsion. The West Shore headscratchlng - but it was never, of the four track main line and the Man had the West Shore from 55-2 aU never dull. single track West Shore In the 19405 was met with real appreciation at that Poem by E. C. (Ernie) Rowell Train Dispatcher upon the occasion of a dinner. Who aU was there at that testimonJaJ dinner for W.E Mastin, retiring Train Dispatcher, Sept. 30, 1946. dinner? It reaDy matters not - every official and aU the dispatchers and 'Twas three a.m. In Syracuse, Ed Hennigan In the chair, chiefs not working were there, and . they aU are gone. Some of the occur- Number 68 at 25, left eccentric loose -- rences referred to would be a mystery XB-2 ahead of 10, hot journal on caboose, to anyone not acquainted with the NY-4 at CrIttenden, car with broken sill, knowiedge of the railroad at that lime. HBS-I, 2000 tons, staUed on Byron Hill. For Instance, "HBS-I, 2000 tons, stalled on Byron Hill'. Our L engines, The East End man was busy, too: busy as a bee. ~e 4-8-2 Mohawks that were the NS-I just west of 6 - lire off, on 3, -"c1

times • week 00 the Moonlight had aU the high caTSand aUthe wide cars and Kellerhouse leaned back and smlJed - the West Shore man was he all the double and triple loaded cars The Moonlight leavln9 Genesee was late as late could be. tnat had speed limits of 15 mlles per hour on the straight and 10 mph on WIth wide caTSand slow caTSand lots of work to do, curves -- the MoonIigh\ picked up aU He'd never make It to DewItt. he'd have to have a crew. the repaired cripples that had to be A Jigger west of ChurchvlUe had staUed, account low steam, they say; babied In \0 a car shop somewhere. He'd double train to Elba, but not without delay. The crews a\ this point In lime worked Advance DH.I at Port Byron stood, to meet the CD-2; 16 hour days. but the Moonlight mlght Two hours since they'd left South Oyde, and nothing from the crew. very well take 30 hours to complete one tour from Buffalo to DewItt yard, The Terminal man was going strong, as very well he mlght; so somewhere In their slow trip down Belle Isle full of Hojack cars, and no relief In sight. the road they would have to be FIVewestward trains were waiting power, short one Coming crew ' relieved. It sometimes happened that One over In the Southport pool was the best that he could do the day before yesterday's B0-28 Tracks 4 and 8 were full of trains, yard couldn't take them In _ mlght be approaching DewItt, as to- The Pullers running here and there - and added to the din. day's B0-28 just was departing Buf- .Jt..0' The white light out at 55-6 at The boys kept grimly at their tasks - they had a job to do . ..-rdan was for the benefit of the The crossed 'em over, crossed 'em back, and wrong-tracked one or two. rreights coming east to Dewitt, warn- Ing them to take water at Amboy as By six a.m. the scene had changed - the trains were on their way they mlght be subject to a long walt at To Mastin, working 8:00 to 4:00, It seemed that usual day. Oark Street till Dewitt found a track But. knowing aUthe Inside facts, I think that you'll agree for their train. That things. were n~t quite normal In Syracuse at 3:00. • The Semaphore June t996 Page 8

Annual Banquet: June 1, 1996 Annual Banquet Seventy.four attended the Annual Ban-. Selected highlights . quet at the Marketplace Inn, Fairmont Award Marie Miner received the traveling Fair. mont Award (a rather heavy one ac. cording to Marie) from last year's recipient, Dan Cosgrove. Marie was honored for the many years she has sold Foliage Trip tickets, not only at the time of departure at Sodus, but also via mall orders and phone calls. Congratulations, Marie. Tom Way read the names of those receiving recognition. Bruce Hodges, VP of NE Region was In attendance and expects to be at our 25th AnniversaryCelebration. Program: Bob Groman, the son of the late Dr. Stanley Groman, gave a very Informa- G'eneral area; the buffet table Is at the rear with plenty of food, The last table tive talk about his father's vision and served found a fullbuffet. accomplishments on RaIlOty, the first steam train museum in the country.• He finished'"his talk with a 20-minute Rlgh1: Marie Miner receives the Fainnont movie film that his father took of 'the 1rophy for 1996. Presenter was Dan last steam train ride' from Canadalgua Cosgrove, last year. recipient. Marie was to Sandy Beach,NY. honored for tne fTl4nyyears she has sold Fal: Folidge 1np tickets from the ticket On tables were about 14 large photo t>ool,~ as wdI as phone and fTl411orders. albums and newspaper clippings that •••••••ne "'~.,.the trophy Is 'heavy' •• ~ Is! Dr. Groman had accumulated . The food was great. the Program was great .- our thanks to Mike Byrne and "~gh1.Boo GrorTl4nand Chris Keith Blackall for the arrangements, Haul prepanng for the audio- VISualportion 01 the Rail Oty Bonnie GUckman recovering prograr" About a month ago, Bonnie fell and broke her shoulder. She Is currently undergoing physical therapy. We wish you a speedy recovery, Bonnie.

Rubber bands: they don' make them like they use tol WhIle your Editor was working on the NYMT Archives (he works on the NRHS Ubrary also), he came across a rubber band around a packet Of. papers dated in the 1940s. It must have been 50 years old, yet It was in ._- perfect condition: elastic, didn't break, had Its 'snap' and showed no signs of deterioration! • The Semaphore • June 1996 Page 9

••• :!!'" 'r' ..~--- How safe are railroad bridges? National NRHS News To our good friends and members who haven't had time to donate to • The lollowlng Inlormatlon was gleaned Convention Dates: from the pages 01 Ihe Federal RegIs- the 25th Depot Anniversary Fund ter" 49 CFR Part 213: Beginning In Charlotte (June 18-23,1996): some Raising Project tickets avaJIable. 1991, the Federal RallwayAdministra. It Is now hall past June .. In just a lew tlon conducted a review 01 the salety Salt Lake City (June 24-28, 1997) days you'U be Invited to attend the 01 rallroad bridges. This review as Syracuse, NY (July 8-12, 1998) Chapter's speclal meeting on Thurs- prompted by the agency's perception day, July 18th, 1996. That's when that the bridge population was aging, we're going to have our special traffic density and loads were increas- On AprJI 14 Eo 15, records from the ground breaking ceremonies espe- Ing on many routes, and the conse- late Allan Vaughn's apartment were clally lor Chapter members. The quences 01 a bridge Iallure could be moved to phlJadelphia headquarters. Anniversary Committee's been In high catastrophic. New Chapters: hopes 01 garnering the $50,000 Mer counting the approximate num. needed lor our new 60 by 120 loot White Oak, Oak Hill, WV; Twin Forks, ber 01 bridges that cany rallroad track rall car renovation, restoration and RIverhead, NY and Brazos Valley, lake in the US the FRA then surveyed the rehabllttatlon structure. Jackson, 1X. Pearl RIver Valley Chap- salety 01 those bridges. The count BUT ... we're not quite there yet. As a ter, Bogalusa, LAwas reinstated. Total revealed that: -- Approximately chapters: 17J. matter 01 lact we're stIJl under the 100,700 bridges carried rallroad tracks 50% figure. So il you haven't made in 1991. -- Approximately 10 bridges Proposed Dues Structure: your tax deductible donation as yet exist lor every 14 mlIes 01 rallroad, and BegInnIng with the 1997 membership please do so RIGHT NOW! We really _. Approximately 120 leet 01 track per year, the proposed National dues are: need your support. mile is located on a bridge. Your 25th Anniversary Committee. Regular: from $14 to $17 The salety survey showed that all 01 the 2] major raJlroads have conducted Associate: $15 to $18 Inadequate Information? omprehensive, effective bridge In. FamiJy. Unchanged at $2 per person. • pection programs lor several de. The May 27, 1996 Issue 01 (J.S. cades. The survey demonstrated that The lAst dues ;,d)uSuOOli was In 1992. News & World Report compares these railroads are acting to saleguard or the proposed $3, $1 Is lor Bulletin a!rline salety with that 01 the rallroads. the integnty 01 their bridges. The printing and postage Increases; $1 lor On Page 40 begins a "Special Report" findings for the 20 regioMJ rallroads Improved membership records opera. entltJed Running ofT /he rails. tIons. and $1 lor general inflation. were similar to those 01 the major Mer reading this, your editor con. railroads. Responsible JoumaJlam, EthIcs & cludes that the writer and support During Ule past live decades. not one Interl'fel reporters were comparing the classfc fatality has been caused by the struc. WIth the advent 01 computers and 'oranges with apples' situation. tural faJIure oIa rll!lroad bridge. on.lIne services, messages have been The 'oranges' are that "175 people Bridges keep going. and going. posted when they should not have were kJJJedIn domestic airplane disas- been, either because the person doing ters In 1995." The 'apples' Include The Big Four (NYO, BW and Penn. so was not In a position to ethically do "1.144 rail workers, passengers, m0- S}1vanlaRailroads bridges remained In so, or they just perpetualed 'rumors'. torists and trespassers were kJJJed"In place during the 1913 flood of the 1995. The authors gave no break. Sandusky RIver In llffin, OH. Allof the These problems also appear In 'print'. down lor the latter categories. From highway bridges were swept aWilY,but In this case, the source II often reading the InterNet news furnIshed by they saved the RR bridges by loading lacking: an employee, company official MIke Bryne, there Is a significant them down with loaded coal hoppers. newspaper report ()( raIlfan. In case 01 lataltty rate just from motorists and Last year and this year the CIty 01 company news. tt may be proprietary trespassers - that accounts lor most llffin Is replacing the concrete bridges InlOfTTlll!lon,release 01 which, helps 01Amtrak's related latalltles. that replace the bridges swept away In the competitors. There Is also the 1913, but the rallroad bridges stIJl need to honor copyrights. True, ralIroad accldents have and are stand and the BW (now CSX) contln- (Your edttor affirms the above and occurring and efforts should be made es to clm)' about 20 plus trains a makes every effort to llSSIgncontribu- to reduce the number. Because 01 • ay. tors names or sources.) recent medJa coverage. I would have to conclude that this article was bl. (Sow-c:e: "Nickel Plate Road Train ased, Improper and certainly Incom. Bulletin: 311996. Mad RIver Eo NKP plete. Rallroad Society, Inc., Bellevue, OH.) • The Semaphore June ~r996 - Page 10

The Semaphore Is published monthly by the Rochester, NY Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. It Is mailed free to all Chapter members. Non.member's subscriptions lire $5.00 and run from January 1 to December 31. Chapter. meetings lire held the third Thursday and .the Board of Directors meets the first Thursday of each month. Contributions to The Semaphore are welcomed and encouraged from all Rochester Chapter NRHS Officers: readers. . They should be mailed to: Gale E. Smith, 299 Seneca Park Avenue, President: Dave LuCa Rochester, NY 14617.2433. Phone~ (716) 544-6221. 'ContribUtors using a Vice Preside;;t: John Weber computer are asked to send their submissions on any MS-DOS diskette In ASCII Treasurer: Ira Cohen format, as well as a printed copy. Deadline: The first of each month. Recording Secretary: Jeremy Tuke Correspondence Sec.: Don Shilling National Direcror: Bob Miner Stillwell Coach Panel Installation Status: Trustees: Nell BeUenger, Charlie Harsh. ThIs graphic of the StlUwellcoach was extended to represent 22 panels (11 barger, Steve Oagley, John Redden, panels per side). AUpanels have been subscribed. To dale, eleven, or those on Joe Scanlon, Rand Warner, . the west side have been lnstaJIed. The Semaphore Staff: Editor: Gale Smith Pnnting: Dave Luca Interrlet (World Wide Web) ad. dress: http://www.rochester.ny.u&'rall .. museum.htmJ • Panels InstaUed

j The Semaphore • Rochester Chapter Non Profit Org. National Railway Hlstorlcal Society U.S. Postage PAID P.O. Box 664 Rochester, NY Rochester, NY 14603 Permit #826

Chapter MeetIng (, Program: Track Car Rides 6:00 PM, June 20, 1996 Industry Depot, Rush ,''"'",''...." DONOVA~'III'~~~'C:.;~~'II"I"1"'1"'1111", 1765 FIVE MiLE LINE RD PENFIELD NY 14526-9724 •