FEBRUARY 22, 2021 ■■■■■■■■■■■ VOLUME 41 ■■■■■■■■■■ NUMBER 2

13 17 The Semaphore David N. Clinton, Editor-in-Chief CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Southeastern Massachusetts…………………. Paul Cutler, Jr. “The Operator”………………………………… Paul Cutler III Boston Globe & Wall Street Journal Reporters Paul Bonanno, Jack Foley Western Massachusetts………………………. Ron Clough 24 Rhode Island News…………………………… Tony Donatelli “The Chief’s Corner”……………………… . Fred Lockhart Mid-Atlantic News……………………………. Doug Buchanan PRODUCTION STAFF Publication…………….………………… …. … Al Taylor Al Munn Jim Ferris Bryan Miller Web Page …………………..……………….… Savery Moore Club Photographer………………………….…. Joe Dumas

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. ©2021 E-mail: [email protected] Web page: www.ssmrc.org

VOLUME 41 ■■■■■ NUMBER 2 ■■■■■ FEBRUARY 2021

CLUB OFFICERS

President………………….Jack Foley BILL OF LADING Vice-President…….. …..Dan Peterson Treasurer………………....Will Baker Chief’s Corner ...... ……. … .3 Chief Engineer……….. . .Fred Lockhart Contests ...... …...... 3, 18 Directors……………… ...Bill Garvey (’22) ……………………….. .Bryan Miller (‘22) Editor’s Notes. …...... …..9 ……………………… ….Roger St. Peter (’21) Form 19 Calendar………....3 …………………………...Gary Mangelinkx (‘21) Members ...... ……...... 9 Memories ...... ………...3 Potpourri ...... …….....4 Running Extra ...... ….….…15 ON THE COVER: The inaugural run of Amtrak’s What are You Doing?...... 10 Lake Shore Limited #449 on Halloween 1975. South Station; Tail Sign; shirt button; rounding curve into Ashland on another day; Eastbound #448 inaugural servicing at Albany-Renssalear, NY. 2

FORM 19 ORDERS I have recently purchased a Rapido switch motor to test; it is round and so, like their uncoupler, it fits into a drilled hole and can be accessed from above FEBRUARY B.O.D. MEETING for adjustment or replacement. The turnout I Monday, February 22nd 8 p.m. on Zoom recently installed on the trolley line to service a future car barn would be difficult to use a Tortoise MARCH BUSINESS MEETING st machine on and worse to access for future service, Monday, March 1 8 p.m. on Zoom so we will test it out and let you know what we FREE TRAIN RUNNING (Show CANCELLED) th think. Saturday, March 13 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. (No lunch) New Projects MARCH NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Mike Dolan has taken on the project of building Saturday, March 20th the bridges for the that will crossover the MARCH B.O.D. MEETING Boston Division on the new section we are building. Monday, March 29th 8 p.m. on Zoom As part of the planning stage, he has made a mockup of the two bridges and set them in place for evaluation. Bob England is installing working grade crossing CONTESTS flashers in Essex ; on the area he did the

scenery on a while ago. It is one of the features that

got left to do later--keep going, Bob, with some For the May Business Meeting, we have a favorite Tortoises you can make the gates go up and down. word-find contest from Al Taylor, “Amtrak IV”. We Moving Forward are going to have a new puzzle in the Feb-Apr In the next couple of months, or so, I hope we issues, so you will have four chances of winning the can see a more “normal” start to return at the club drawing in May, if you enter each! This month’s is so we will have more accomplished in a shorter “Amtrak V”. Extra copies available inside the Train time. But, believe me, I am very thankful for Room and don’t forget your name. Good luck! everyone who has found time in these uncertain times to get done what we have. That is it for this month. As always, your questions

Fred Lockhart or comments are always welcome.

Fred Lockhart Chief Engineer Railroad Progress This past month we have finished the track work on the new section and the electrical feeders have been finished, also. Very shortly, we will be splitting SEMAPHORE MEMORIES the bench work into two pieces, as we did for the last show, with the longer section placed up on tables and stabilized so all the work that is needed FEBRUARY 2016 (5 years ago) on the underside can be done while standing or Saratoga & North Creek RR plans increase in dining sitting in a chair. The Electrical Committee is really car services on route. happy with this decision and, as the person MBTA opens new South Acton station. installing the switch motors for a while now; it will Long freights with “distributed power” becoming the norm on many Class 1 . be a lot easier than on a creeper. After 10-year, $15-million rehab, The Flying Scotsman New Products testing returns to the rails. The first locomotive in the World to Paul Cutler III has been testing a Rapido be recorded at 100-MPH. Uncoupler at the end of the Boston staging yard. First “Tier 4” low-emission locomotives, EMD F125 He mentioned his work in last month’s Semaphore “Spirit”, delivered to Southern California’s Metrolink. in the “What have you been doing” section. After First new Metro (Montreal) cars since 1970s enter trying different spacers between the uncoupler and service. the underside of the ties, he has got it to “delay” the Keolis reports it lost over $29-million during first year couplers pretty consistently, so we will be installing of its contract to provide MBTA Commuter Rail service. them on the new section after we determine the First “Trains ‘n Touchdowns” held Saturday before the Superbowl. best spots.  “Layout Place names” survey being accepted for future vote by members. 3

FEBRUARY 2011 (10 years ago) FEBRUARY 1996 (25 Years Ago) Amtrak re-paints P42 “Genesis” loco into historic Amtrak’s Beech Grove Shops convert Heritage Phase III scheme to commemorate Amtrak’s 40th B’day. coaches into mail-express cars. Amtrak joins NJ Senators to advance plan to build new EMD builds locomotive plant in Scotia, NY. trans-Hudson tunnels to Penn Station, NY. Wisconsin Central begins operating Britain’s Rail Great Smokey Mtn. RR purchases ex-Belfast & Express Systems Ltd. Moosehead Lake Swedish-built 4-6-0 and pass. Cars. Green Mountain RR RS-1 donated to Danbury Railway  “Solari Board” in New Haven station to be replaced Museum, leaving #405 as last of original Rutland RR with high-tech digital; going to Danbury RR Museum. fleet. FL Gov. Rick Scott shuts down state’s plan for high- Amtrak’s AutoTrain begins carrying motorcycles. speed rail between Tampa and Orlando; returns Amtrak ends naming trains on Northeast Corridor. “stimulus funding”. FEBRUARY 1991 (30 Years Ago) CSX spends $100 million revamping yard in MBTA approves design of type-8 streetcars, which will Worcester; plans to close Allston Yard. replace Boeing-Vertol LRVs. NJ begins reconstruction of 7-miles of “Lackawanna Bombardier to build 86 new Red Line cars, which will Cutoff” trackage between Port Morris and Andover. replace Pullman-Standard “Bluebirds”. MBTA leases four MARC GP40WH-2s from Baltimore  pays $460,000 in damages for destroying area commuter rail. famous “Coca-Cola” sign, that was a city landmark at the Member Vic Vogel dies suddenly. Allston bottling plant, where a large hotel is now located. FEBRUARY 2006 (15 years ago) New D&H owner Canadian Pacific plans to spend $50- Old South Weymouth RR station moved away from million to upgrade railroad property. tracks; restored and opened as “General store”. Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, PA, closed for the year, Grafton & Upton RR for sale @ $2-million. in order to build new “visitor center”. Maine D.O.T. agrees to allow “Downeast Scenic RR” Gov. Weld signs $4.4-billion transportation bond bill, to operate on 29-mile portion of ex-MEC Calais branch. supporting restoration of all three Old Colony Lines. ”Charlie Card” arrives at Red Line subway line. Amtrak introduces “Air-Rail Travel Plan”, in conjunction Four new owners take over operation of Cape Cod with United Air Lines. Central RR, one of whom is John Kennedy. FEBRUARY 1986 (35 Years Ago) Construction begins on new “transportation center” in Show admission rose to $2 from “traditional” $1. Warwick, RI, including RR station and “people mover” Restoration of Old Colony Lines getting “hot”, with between station and T.F. Green airport. MBTA planning to end service at Braintree Red Line, Fore River Transportation takes delivery of ex-Conrail with “across platform” transfer. GP38-2 from Juniata Shops in Altoona, PA. Amtrak’s Adirondack re-routed from Montreal’s New Hampshire lawmakers turn down proposal to Windsor Station (CP) to Central Station (VIA Rail), spend state money to help run Downeaster stations in ending intercity service from Windsor Station. New Hampshire. MBTA purchases 50 new trolleys from Kinki-Sharo & Wilton Scenic RR Budd RDCs (ex-BC Rail) sold to Old Co. of Japan. Colony & Newport RR. France and Britain announce agreement to build $3.3- MBTA plans to close Ayer and Shirley stations and billion rail tunnel under English Channel. build consolidated station in Devens. (Never happened) Guilford closes Mechanicville and Oneonta, NY yards. Rapido Trains of Canada announces it will produce R- FEBRUARY 1981 (40 Years Ago) T-R plastic, lightweight passenger cars in HO scale, with Kurt Kramke (H) joins SSMRC. super-detailed underbodies and interiors. MBTA runs “Ski Trains” on Saturday mornings from Ford closes auto unloading facility in Ayer and signs North Station to Fitchburg. 10-year lease to unload cars at old GM plant in Editor purchases used mimeograph machine, in order Framingham. to “run off” copies. Three locations named by vote on ECL: “White River Spring Show at Saint Jerome’s Church in N. Jct.”, “Richmond Mills” and “Bethlehem Tower”. Weymouth on Saturday only; Club open both days. FEBRUARY 2001 (20 Years Ago) Temporary wall comes down, which had divided last 1/3rd of building; work starts on that section. BAR in financial difficulties and looking for buyer. Running out of loco numbers, UP negotiates a new reporting mark: UPY. POTPOURRI Alaska RR ends unusual “Whittier Shuttle”, where cars were driven onto flat cars and passengers remained in them for trip between Whittier and Anchorage. Lionel announces transfer of manufacturing from SCALETRAINS.COM™, Inc., a leading Michigan to China, after 100 years of USA-made. manufacturer of HO and N Scale model trains, Famous RR photographer O. Winston Link dies. announced the acquisition of M.T.H. Electric Amtrak retires its last two FL9s: #485 & #486. 4

Trains® HO Scale and S Gauge tooling assets. UNION PACIFIC’S presidential commemorative “MTH is recognized as a leading manufacturer of locomotive, SD70ACe No. 4141, will arrive at the HO scale steam locomotives. The purchase of George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and MTH’s HO products also allows us to broaden our Museum in College product line into passenger cars, track, and more. Station, Texas, this We believe there is an opportunity to grow the S spring following market as well.” said Shane Wilson, President of approval of a lease ScaleTrains.com. The acquisition includes steam that will allow the and diesel locomotives, freight cars, and track in museum to expand. The Texas A&M University both scales. The HO tooling also includes turbine System Board of Regents approved a $1-per-year and electric locomotives, subway sets, passenger lease to allow a 2-acre expansion of the facility, cars, and more. Engineering schematics for several making room for additional displays including the all-new steam era HO projects were also received locomotive and a former Marine One helicopter. as part of the agreement. Both scales are being (TN) melded into ScaleTrains.com umbrella of brands ●●●●●● including Rivet Counter™. Several molds have BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD No. 51, the first been transferred to the ScaleTrains.com factory Electro-Motive Corp. streamlined diesel locomotive, and testing is already underway. Over the next few was placed on display in the B&O Museum’s months design will begin to convert the models to historic roundhouse on Jan. 29 following accept the ScaleTrains.com motor and change to completion of the locomotive’s restoration. The ESU-LokSound® electronics including DCC & sound. 1937 EA model set the standard for art deco The first models are expected to be available in 2022. (Announced at Amherst Railway Society virtual Show) ●●●●●● THE SENATE CONFIRMED on February 2nd, by a vote of 86-13, Pete Buttigieg as the 19th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. “I’m honored and humbled by today’s vote in the Senate—and ready to get to work @USDOT,” Buttigieg, 39, tweeted on Feb. 2. Buttigieg’s nomination cleared the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation by a 21-3 locomotive design by EMC, which later became the vote on Jan. 21st, just over a month after being Electro-Motive Division of General Motors that selected by then President-elect Joe Biden. lasted for three decades. Buttigieg tweeted the same day that he looked ●●●●●● forward to working with the Committee as “we get WHILE INTERMODAL’S ROLE in boosting North to work on infrastructure and building our economy America rail volume has been in the spotlight, grain back better.” He is the first Senate-confirmed traffic has also been impressive. Canadian National LGBTQ Cabinet Secretary. Expected to report to and Canadian Pacific have set a series of records Buttigieg are former City Transportation for Canadian grain tonnage, but global trade in U.S. Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, who has been grain particularly that destined for China has far tapped as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, exceeded what was predicted in the first half of as well as Amit Bose and Nuria Fernandez, who 2020. The U.S. surge began materializing as soon the Biden Administration recently appointed as as the 2020 harvest was under way. By mid- Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad November, business journal Forbes reported, “U.S. Administration (FRA) and Deputy Administrator of [soybean] exports to China were up 34% when the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), compared to the previous September.” Hellenic respectively. The American Public Transportation Shipping News, which covers the maritime industry, Association (APTA), American Short Line and reported in December that China was the third- Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), Amtrak, largest buyer of U.S. wheat in 2020-21, with the Association of American Railroads (AAR), Railway week ending Dec. 17 marking the fifth straight week Supply Institute (RSI), and New York MTA are importing more than 60,000 metric tons. An among those in the industry that have voiced their agricultural trade journal and the USDA reported support of Buttigieg. (RA) China has total commitments for 2.2 million metric ●●●●●●

5 tons of U.S. wheat, up from just 200,000 metric a small city like Coventry, but without the cost. Very tons in 2019. Light Rail has been defined by its designers as less During October 2020, 73% of U.S. soybean exports than one metric tons of vehicle weight per linear went to China, the sales figure of $3.5 billion meter of the vehicle (in U.S. terms, think one ton coming very close to the previous monthly record of per yard, although the conversion is not exactly $3.51 billion set in November 2013. The USDA now equivalent). expects total U.S. soybean exports for 2020-21 to Plans are for the first route to be double track and reach nearly 61 million tons. More than 1 million around 9 miles long, using a fleet of 20 VLR cars, tons was shipped to China in the first week of each able to carry around 70 people (20 seated). FEBRUARY 2021 alone. (TN) The VLR cars, weighing no more than 17.6 short ●●●●●● tons (16 metric tons) fully laden, will be battery- A NEW HAVEN, VT, railroad station dating to the powered using lithium titanate batteries, chosen as 1850s may have to be torn down to make room for the most stable and safest lithium battery. The VLR planned Amtrak service because it is too close to cars will recharge their batteries at the end of each the railroad tracks. The building, owned by the trip using an overhead charger system already Vermont Agency of Transportation, has been widely used in Europe for electric buses; the identified as a safety risk for planned Amtrak recharge process will take no longer than 2 or 3 operations to Burlington, Vt., because of its minutes. (TN) proximity to the tracks. The building’s tenant, ●●●●●● Roundtree Construction, has been told it must ALSTOM’S ACQUISITION of Bombardier vacate in June, and any effort to move the building Transportation became effective last month, would have to creating a company with 75,000 employees in 70 occur by this countries with revenue of about 15.7 billion Euros fall — which ($19.06 billion) and an order backlog of 71.1 billion could be cost- Euros ($86.3 billion). In a press release, Alstom prohibitive, CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge says completion of the especially on acquisition creates “a new global leader centered such short on smart and sustainable mobility” that can help the notice, world “address the great challenges of although an urbanization, equal opportunity to economic effort to save development, and climate change … Our the building is underway. The structure, built for the responsibility, tighter with the 75,000 people of Rutland & Burlington Railroad, is believed to have Alstom today, is to transform our unique set of been built in approximately 1852-53, although an assets created by this transaction into the enabler exact date is unknown. (TN) of the necessary transformation.” (TN) ●●●●●● ●●●●●● DEVELOPMENT WORK is nearing completion in A VERMONT ENTREPRENEUR who bought and central England for a prototype Very Light Rail refurbished a set of Budd RDCs in hopes of system drawing on design and component launching a commuter rail service in the state is expertise from the auto industry. The project aims now looking for funding to converting one of the to build an autonomous cars from diesel to Tesla battery power. AllEarth rail-based streetcar Rail, founded by environmental entrepreneur David system in the British city Blittersdorf, has applied for a grant from the state of Coventry by 2024, Department of Environmental Conservation to which along with nearby convert one of the company’s 12 RDCs to electric Birmingham is one of power. The funding would come from Vermont’s the main centers of the share of the settlement between the U.S. and UK auto industry; Volkswagen over the automakers’ violation of Marques such as Jaguar and Land Rover are made pollution laws. The application seeks a $198,840 locally. Coventry wants a light rail system to reduce grant for a conversion estimated to cost $284,200. the number of cars and buses on its streets but (TN) decided it could not afford a conventional system ●●●●●● due to the high construction costs for both track A BIPARTISAN GROUP of Maine state legislators and vehicles. The Very Light Rail system aims to have proposed funding for a feasibility study to offer the benefits of a conventional streetcar line for examine the possibility to extend rail passenger 6 service to Bangor. The proposal would examine the based on train braking capabilities rather than the cost of infrastructure improvements, station typical 2-mile length of a fixed signal block. A locations, and projected ridership if service is moving block system essentially puts a safety extended northeast from Brunswick, the current envelope around trains, with distance between northern terminus of Amtrak’s Downeaster. Similar trains determined using real-time data on the proposals have failed in the past, most recently in speed, location, and braking performance of trains 2017. State Sen. Joe Baldacci, one of the leaders moving over the main line. By allowing trains to of the effort, says the timing for the proposal is follow one another more closely, the capacity of a favorable with pro-rail Pete Buttigieg now heading main line would be increased. Moving blocks could the U.S. Department of Transportation. (TN) boost the capacity of about 8,000 route-miles in the ●●●●●● U.S., enabling railroads to avoid adding track and METRO-NORTH SEEKS TO ABANDON Beacon signals on main lines that are at capacity, according Line, remnant of New Haven’s Maybrook Line to a 2004 report on the benefits of positive train Metro-North Railroad seeks to abandon its Beacon control that Zeta-Tech Associates prepared for the Line, a 41-mile remnant of the New Haven’s Federal Railroad Administration. The report said Maybrook line, and the commuter railroad has moving block systems would be particularly informed the Surface Transportation Board. A beneficial on main lines where traffic moves at portion of the route will become part of the 750-mile different speeds. A moving block system would Empire State Trail. In its filing with the STB, Metro- improve BNSF’s ability to pace its premium trains North notes it received an exemption from most around slower moving freights. A high-priority Z- abandonment rules when it acquired the line, and is train, for example, could come up closely behind a requesting an STB waiver and exemption form merchandise train and then leapfrog ahead at discontinuance rules only as they address the quadruple-track crew change points such as trackage rights of the , which Needles, Calif., and Amarillo, Texas. The system has not operated on the route for at least two years. also would eliminate the need for wayside signals. The move will leave just two active segments of the “Among other things, the present principles Maybrook Line— a short segment in Maybrook, alleviate the need for wayside signals, since train N.Y., operated by Middletown & New Jersey, and a braking distance is maintained onboard the portion between Danbury and Derby Junction, locomotives instead of through wayside signal Conn., owned by Housatonic. (TN) aspects,” the patent summary says. “In addition, by ●●●●●● partitioning the physical track blocks into multiple THE MBTA WILL REPLACE commuter trains with virtual track blocks, broken rail can be detected buses on part of its Fitchburg line for about two within an occupied physical track block. (TN) months beginning March 1. The move is to allow ●●●●●● work related to positive train control. Trains will operate between Wachusett and Littleton, with buses providing service between Littleton and Alewife, where passengers will be able to board the Red Line subway to connect to the rest of the MBTA rail system. The bus substitution is scheduled to continue on weekdays through May 2. Weekend service on the line was discontinued as part of recent MBTA service cuts. (TN) ●●●●●● BNSF RAILWAY has received a patent for a virtual track block system that has the potential to significantly boost existing mainline capacity, raise SOMETIMES RAILROAD BRIDGES just need a average train speeds, and improve the detection of little paint. However, what is going on in Muskegon, broken rails. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Mich., is more than your standard paint job. Back in approved the patent application last month, and December, the Muskegon City Public Art Initiative credits the invention to BNSF employees Mitchell (MCPAI) started a fundraiser for murals to be Beard, Kent Shue, Jerry Specht, and Ralph Young. painted on both sides over railroad overpasses on The system would divide existing fixed-length Seaway Drive between Laketon and Hackley physical track blocks into multiple virtual blocks. avenues. The overpasses are owned by CSX. The Train spacing would be reduced and would be fundraiser has successfully met a $50,000 goal, 7

which will be matched by the Michigan Economic runs carrying pallets of wheel rims from California Development Corporation’s Public Spaces, to Dearborn, Mich. “The benefit of this process is to Community Places. eliminate the 66,000 railcars that come back empty” ●●●●●● each year, Pro-Tech CEO Earle B. Higgins WORK AT EAST BROAD TOP uncovers, tells Trains News Wire. removes decayed dynamite. Stabilization work on a ●●●●●● building at the East Broad Top Railroad took an NEW TRAINSETS and a new snow blower for the unexpected turn this month, with the discovery of Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway in five cases of material labeled as explosives. After Colorado have begun their journey from work halted, analysis determined the material was Switzerland. The Stadler equipment, along with a probably decayed dynamite, estimated to be 100 snow blower built by Zaugg at its Eggiwil, years old. While it was determined the material Switzerland, factory, was taken by truck from posed no imminent danger, removal and disposal is Stadler’s factory in taking place under supervision of several Erlen, Swtizerland, to authorities. (TN) Basel, where they will ●●●●●● be loaded onto a barge RESPONDING TO HEAVY DEMAND, the East for a trip up the Rhine Broad Top added several trips during this past to Rotterdam, Saturday’s Winter Netherlands. From Spectacular, a revival of there, they will travel by the event held 1966-81. ship to the U.S. and by Scheduled trips with Brill truck to Colorado. The new locomotive-hauled gas-electric M-1 and a trains are part of a $100 million rebuild of the 8.9- caboose all sold out mile railway, which has included a change of its cog within hours of tickets system. The snow blower will be capable of cutting

Gas-electric car M-1 pulls a caboose going on sale, so the through drifts up to 10 feet tall and 20 feet wide. during Saturday's East Broad Top EBT added trips, and (TN) Winter Spectacular. ●●●●●● PHASE 1 OF THE MBTA’S South Coast Rail sold all those out, as well. The railroad also brought construction is alive and well. About $600 million of out railbus/motorcar M-3, built from a 1928 Nash, work is currently taking place and the section is and offered rides on that, as well. The one-day fully funded through Massachusetts’ Capital event also saw Investment Plan. Construction began in late 2020. operations at the Phase 1 will extend commuter rail service on the neighboring Rockhill Middleboro/Lakeville Line to New Bedford, Fall Trolley Museum. The River, and Taunton, and is expected to be complete EBT continues to work by the end of 2023. Twenty-seven miles of track toward the resumption and four new stations will fill the line. The MBTA of regular operations says crews have been clearing the right-of-way this spring. (TN) near the track and replacing four railroad bridges, and that work is almost complete. In Taunton, work A 1926 St. Louis Car Co. car from Johnstown, Pa. (left) a Newark PCC car meet during Rockhill Trolley on encroachments and demolition to prepare the Museum operations during Saturday's EBT Winter right-of-way are under way. When Phase 1 is Spectacular. complete a ride to get to Boston on the Middleboro/Lakeville Line will take 70 minutes. (RA) ●●●●●● ●●●●●● A DETROIT-AREA COMPANY aims to use its THE MBTA HAS DECIDED to maintain late-night patented shipping containers to put loads of auto commuter rail service on weekdays, and is planning parts into multilevel a new round of schedule changes this spring that railcars that otherwise will be “closer to regional rail,” according to MBTA would return empty to General Manager Steve Poftak. MBTA officials told assembly plants. Pro- the Fiscal and Management Control Board on Tech Group, which has Monday that, instead of ending service after 9 p.m., designed containers to commuter service will continue until about 11 p.m. fit within the confines of auto racks that carry to maintain service for “key workers and transit- finished vehicles, has successfully completed pilot 8 critical populations.” While only a small number of News sources: Boston Globe, Boston Herald, people use the late-night service — an estimated Trains “Newswire”, Railway Age, Progressive 535 passengers — they represent more than 18% Railroading, Railpace Newsmagazine, RRE of pre-pandemic ridership, while overall commuter “Callboy”, “The 470”, Patriot Ledger. ridership is down almost 90 percent.(TN) ●●●●●● MAINE’S transportation department and the agency which operates Amtrak’s Downeaster are EDITOR’S NOTES seeking a site for a new Portland station to replace the current station, which adds 15 minutes to each 1. I have found the writings and pics in the trip because of its location off the main line used by “What are you doing?” column pretty the train. Nate Moulton, director of freight and interesting and, sometimes, inspiring. Some passenger rail services for the state department of great projects, so thanks to those Transportation, said his agency has “come to a participants. Maybe next issue for some of point where the department is willing to pass the you who have been hesitant? This has baton on to [the Northern New England Passenger become a very popular addition to the Rail Authority] to work on whether we can get a newsletter over the past year. facility located on the main line.” A state study 2. Since Amtrak will be celebrating it’s 50th on identified a location on St. John Street as the ideal May 1st, we’re going to have “heritage” location, but rail authority executive director Patricia Amtrak photos on the covers through May. Quinn said quick action is needed, as other This issue’s cover shows the inaugural trip potential sites have already been developed. Quinn of the Lake Shore Limited on October 31, also said the agency is looking to restore a fifth 1975. A friend and I rode from South Station round trip to Boston by late May. (TN) to Albany and back on the inaugural ●●●●●● eastbound the next day. A very interesting I ENJOYED THESE ARTICLES in this month’s RR back-up move from Chatham, NY to the magazines and can suggest them to you: mainline was involved, until TRAINS the “Roger Lewis Memorial Trackage” was One Good Turn replaced several years later. Thus, the Santa Fe Turntable floodlights on the “Tail Sign”. A story for Flathead Tunnel another time. After PTC 3. If you have any “heritage Amtrak” pics you’d In My Own Words like to share, please send to me; I would Growing Up with a Mallet RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN love to have and share with all. Easy-to-Model Tank Head Loads ……….. David N. Clinton Diverging Points Laser Adventures! “Remember that from dust you came and from dust you shall Perspective return.” (Genesis 13:4) Building a Layout for a Cause MODEL RAILROADER

Build an Adjustable Track Cleaning Car MEMBER NEWS A Fresh Start

DCC Currents Note: The “Health & Welfare Committee” (Ye Ed.) would like to DCC, DC, or Both hear of any member who is ill or hospitalized, so that we can Trains of Thoughts help “cheer them up” and keep their fellow members advised. Visiting Mystical Places PASSENGER TRAIN JOURNAL (2021-1) Moynihan Train Hall Opens Intercity: The Trains We Rode BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Last Hurrah for Trains in 1960s

Trail Blazer to South Central Pennsylvania Horseshoe Curve The following members have made it through another year and deserve congratulations on their special day:

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Joe Dumas ...... March 4th additional kit. Parts were cut an assembled to fit the Bob Engand ...... March 7th area. The center chute is a lower level chute to Larry Strumpf ...... March 13th facilitate small truck loading for local deliveries. Peter Palica ...... March 28th The stock <><><><><><><> roof was cut to fit Meanwhile, I’ve heard from these folks on the WHAT ARE YOU DOING? opening. The rear Mike Dolan: Whitman-Southern Coal Tipple roof had A couple of years ago I designed what I wanted for to be a Coal Facility, not a complete Coalery but a fabricated segment that fit the area I planned. Things changed and as I built out the area and then mocked up the covered Tipple. Wasn’t working as I planned so I had to with Tar make some modifications. I had the Track plan as I Paper. wanted it, but the structure just didn’t fit correctly. I Not many parts left when I got to this point. The roof makes it look like an expanded structure that may have been required at that time.

Overall, I’m satisfied with the final product. Because I’m getting over a Double Hernia operation, progress on the final area has been slow this past month. My goal in the next month is get the surrounding area scenery finished and the structure mounted in its final position. I will write an additional article to explain the scenery methods I used. must have had a premonition this was going to be the situation. Chip Mullen: “I was asked by Coley Walsh's widow I purchased a Walther’s New River Mining to try to liquidate his train collection and his Company kit when they had it on sale with the basement layout. It soon became apparent that intention to build it as is. At a train show prior to with Covid 19 restrictions the usual approach of Covid, I saw another New River kit for sale at a offering it through the White Elephant table was reasonable price, so I bought it thinking I may need impractical, since we are unlikely to stage an event some additional parts. Good thing I did when it that would draw buyers any time soon. I contacted came time to assemble. Because the area for the a couple of estate liquidators and didn't particularly Tipple was larger, I needed to increase the size. care for the responses I got from them so I decided The only option, kitbash the 2 kits and make a to see what the Ebay market would bear. I initially better facility. Looking at the Front view of the offered Coley's Montana Raillink equipment and structure, the right side of the structure was the first modification. I rearranged and added the structure on stilts for individual car loading of specific grades of coal. The original opening for the shoot is under the New River Sign. The chute for the opening shown carries product to another remote building for distribution. A second chute will mount to the then a batch of his Union Pacific stuff. All of it sold right on the back building. This chute leads to an at very respectable prices, so I have decided to overhead Mine Track and is supported by a Steel continue in this way for Phyllis's benefit. Coley had Truss. I added some additional details to increase a lot of stuff and the vast majority is really high- the interest in the building, namely the vents, quality. Coley was primarily into Union Pacific but Ladders and Walkway. he also had some B&M, PRR, and a wide- The structure encompassing the 1st 3 tracks is scattering of other interesting engines and rolling basically stock from the front to the back. The left to stock. If club members are interested in seeing loading spaces were what was added from the what we are offering they can look for my Ebay 10 seller name "aclcowboy" I plan on putting between Econami #882004.” 10 to 20 items up for auction every Saturday and Sunday in 5-day auctions, until everything is either Ron Clough: “Still trying to deal with this gone or I collapse from exhaustion. Here's a picture pandemonium that is keeping us all sort of house- of one of the first things sold. An Athearn Genesis bound. I'm still dealing with Mom's estate (today MRL SD70Ace with Tsunami sound. The winner would have been her 97th birthday!) but I’m making got it for $315.55.” progress. I've got to get up there in the next day or two to check on the snow, make sure the house is okay and bring the mail in, etc. And, also, do more Jesse Collins: “Dave you can put this in the shoveling at home in the morning! I hope this is the newsletter if you like. Not sure if you have a picture last of the snow. We need a break! of this engine yet.” (I have never seen a picture of One railroad thing of interest to me, I wonder if anyone, other than Bob Farrenkopf, since it is "his back yard", seen the new bridge to carry Rte. 18 over the commuter rail tracks near the South Weymouth ? The old bridge was at about a 30º skew angle to roadway and the new bridge will be at a 90º angle. The new bridge is completed but only one lane of traffic goes over it, as they are now building the new southerly abutments and then will slide the new bridge into its permanent location. I find it to be an interesting this P42 before…didn’t even know they were going engineering project, due to the limited room to work to paint one up like this…good “catch”!-Ed.) in because of wetlands and adjacent residences.”

Kurt Kramke: “I have started to take down the old Ed Carter: “I’ve only been to the club a few times HO layout in over the last couple months, due to Covid spiking. I preparation of the hope to get back to a more frequent schedule over new build. Also, the next couple weeks, so I can do some scenery working on my O related work around the steel mill on the scale version of layout. For one thing, most of our photo industrial Brett's brewery backdrops depict a blue sky that is considerably and I built a darker than what we’ve painted behind them. I crossing for the trust that a local paint store can get us closer to On30 layout, as well as something that will be a match. Then I can repaint tuning up locomotives that that small area that we intend to keep behind the were in storage for so mill. Other than that, I’ve been weathering some long.” Pennsy hoppers, that I’ve had for some time and also getting more familiar with some of the Digitrax functions as they relate to sounds available over the various decoders.”

Ross Hall: “Now a Cape Cod ‘wash-a-shore’, I’ve Bob Farrenkropf: gathered the necessary components for DCC/DC “I'm putting sound hookup on my new garage layout. I still have to in a Kato Santa Fe wire it up and also finish registering the rolling SD 40-2 Mid. One stock, then organize operations. inch round speaker goes in the fuel I can also give a vague report on the construction tank, which activities at Hyannis. The crossing over the Rt. 28 requires complete bypass has been isolated with the connecting disassembly of the tracks (Track 9 and the Cape Main) on either side loco. I'm using a having been removed. The rebuilt crossing will be Soundtraxx doubled to four tracks. The western side of the yard is now torn up to be graded for new turnouts 11 and spurs; the eastern side had been rebuilt rebuilding a couple rooms at work and helping our several years ago to accommodate the CapeFlyer daughter with some new oak cabinets to box out during its summer layover times. I see an SSMRC her fireplace.” day trip down here in the future!”

John Sheridan: “I decided to get into 3d printing. So I purchased an Anycubic Mono X printer & wash station. Now I can make whatever parts I want. I have many projects that I need to create parts for. Now all I need is the time to finish all of them! The printer is the one that says ANYCUBIC on it. Other than that, Rapido is keeping me very busy with various projects that occupy most of my time. Lots of new Gary Mangelinkx: “This stuff coming!” month had been busy. Hunting season is over and Eric Tedeschi: “I'm Ice Fishing is starting up. I custom-building some will be teaching hunter safety vehicles for a military class next month and I start train I'm building. working Tuesday at the Gun Here is a pic of one of range as range Safety them. I've got more at Officer. I am sending a few photos of Sophia & Hayden, my grandkids, who are painting HO figures for the "AM-BROKE RxR.”

Bob Knapp: “After years of patching up Paul Feeney's bathroom floor, lifting mosaic home but haven't sheet tiles and rotted, taken pics yet. I will delaminated plywood, it was time for the next for a complete tear out. Was quite newsletter. Anyway, the project, the 3 Stooges had this is my version of done the plumbing in 1967...what an M-123 10-ton a mess! Pipes directly under floor tractor truck. Nobody makes one in HO so I built boards and when I nailed off this one from 4 different vehicles and sparks parts I loose boards, I put 2 nails through had on hand. I actually built 2 of them. I’ve attached the 1/2" pipes. Had to tear up pics I have of them and a pic of a real one.” subfloor, the plumber repaired pipes and replaced toilet valve. Roger St. Peter: “I’m working on home layout, Replaced boards, 1/2" hard board and layer 12x12 porcelain tiles. Definitely a marked improvement.”

Savery Moore: “I’ve been at the club, and I’ve been working around the oil delivery area in Cedar Hill Yard – new fencing, 12 piping, shrubs, and oil stains on the concrete pad. items being used for research and/or, publication in I’ve also enclosed a photo magazine or book form. The most interesting items of the bare plywood at the to me have been a number of different station end of the Cedar Hill building plans from all over the system, and receiving/departure yard. inventorying them has taken up a bunch of my I’m looking for ideas as to time. See the attached Atlantic (Quincy) and East what can go there. Weymouth plans for examples. Whatever we put there needs to be very low, I’ve only been up to the club a couple times since there is a lot of coupling/uncoupling done due to weather or family, but while there I finished there and errant hands and elbows could damage work on the Rapido Rail Crew remote uncoupler in anything high.” Boston yard. I consider it a successful installation with a 1/8” thick Masonite shim between the magnet and the bottoms of the ties (thanks to Fred Paul Cutler III: “This month, I’ve been polishing up Lockhart for making the experimental shims). It will the next issue of the Shoreliner magazine. I’ve also now both uncouple and delay the Kadee coupler been trying to pull without pulling so hard that the couplers miss each together other.” another SpeedWitch magazine. Our last Tony Donatelli: “Here are some shots of the issues of both building of the emergency pop-up access that I magazines were mailed needed at the curved trestle. The photos are in

out on December 7th and only within the last two weeks are they arriving in mailboxes across the U.S.A. We do ship Third Class Mail, but still it shows how messed up the Post Office was over the holidays.

A train show dealer I know put me in contact with a friend of his. This friend is a retired Amtrak employee who hired on with the New Haven back in the 1960s in the civil engineer department, and moved up the ladder at PC, CR and Amtrak. He order, and start with the area that I wanted to add worked in the NH’s General Office Building when emergency access to tracks that would be difficult PC took over and he rescued a lot of NH paperwork to reach. The lift-out section was formed and then from the dumpster as PC was cleaning house. As moved to my workbench to do the scenery and he’s now permanently moved to his vacation home details. It was then fitted in place - removed - and on the Cape, he’s decided to thin his the stream completed. The last photo shows the collection. Through me, the NHRHTA has been completed project.” purchasing small lots of his collection for eventual digitizing over the past month with the goal of these 13

Peter Palica: “Decades ago when Edaville still hosted an annual model railroad show under a tent in their park, I made my first purchase of an antique railroad stock certificate. Over the years I have accumulated several hundred of these beautiful historical documents with lovely vignettes many of which were printed by the American Bank Note Company which at times I’ve also become the membership chairman for the Central Vermont Railway Historical Society, where I also printed our National have been a member for many years. The currency. Such collections organization puts out a great quarterly magazine are called Scripophily. called The Ambassador, which is what the CV’s Here is a fun group of day train between Boston/New York and Montreal was called, with the two sections combining in certificates that I White River Jct., VT. The latest issue just assembled representing the four railroads featured published: in the iconic Monopoly game. Those of you who are familiar with the hidden corridors of South Station may have passed enlarged copies of stock certificates of the various railroads that were once served at South Station off the Red Line entrance leading to the elevator that leads to the main concourse. Those were produced from copies of originals that are part of my collection. I hope some of you may find this an interesting adjunct to our hobby and interest in railroading. Keep your eyes open. You might someday unearth a Standard Oil Company of New Jersey certificate signed by John D. Rockefeller. If you do, note that it is worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Ye Ed.: I’ve been installing operating L.E.D. marker lamps in Tony Donatelli’s three Northeast-style WM cabeese. I enjoy the electrical end of the hobby and am not fond of what Tony loves—scenery. As you can see by the pics above, Tony does magnificent From Doug Buchanan: scenery. That’s the nice thing about this hobby, especially in a club, where you can do what you like and others like what you don’t! Tomar makes both types of markers: Red-Green-Green, which is most typical and Red-Yellow-Yellow, which was the New Haven’s rule. The markers come with the necessary Bridge Rectifier and two proper resistors. I add a small capacitor to keep the lamps from “flickering” over dirty track or dead frogs. Both Kadee and Athearn offer replacement trucks for “all-wheel pickup” of power, so no need for “wipers” that drag on the axles.

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RUNNING EXTRA: vice chair of the transportation committee, and “the Biden domestic agenda goes right through Richie EDITORIAL Neal’s desk,” he added, referring to US Massachusetts needs a strong Representative Richard Neal, the powerful House Ways and Means chairman. Representative transportation vision and a Katherine Clark, another member of the leader who can carry it out Massachusetts delegation, recently became Stephanie Pollack’s departure is a chance for the assistant speaker; and as a Harvard graduate, governor to move past small-bore thinking on even Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s transportation transit and congestion. secretary, has a Massachusetts connection. By The Editorial Board Updated February 7, 2021 Boston Globe So the time is right for Baker to put his foot on the gas pedal when it comes to transportation policy. As he manages the state through excruciating Unfortunately, that has never been his passion, fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Governor perhaps because way back in the administration of Charlie Baker has a lot on his plate. So much, that Governor Bill Weld, Baker was the one who getting behind a strong and creative transportation came up with a way to pay for Big Dig agenda may not seem like a front-burner issue. But overruns — by shifting the debt to the T. During it should be — along with choosing a strong and his first term as governor, he was forced to confront creative transportation leader to carry it out after longstanding public transit deficiencies after record the departure of Secretary of Transportation snowfall brought the T and commuter rail to a Stephanie Pollack. halt. Since then, the Baker administration has worked to bring down costs at the T and ramp up After Pollack announced she was some capital programs, such as the Green Line leaving Baker’s cabinet for a position in the extension and South Coast Rail, and taken on Federal Highway Administration, Jamey L. Tesler, some worthy causes like creating bus lanes. That’s head of the Registry of Motor Vehicles and former fine, but as transit advocate Chris Dempsey sees it, chief operating officer at the Department of none of it is “transformational” — and a lot of what Transportation under Pollack, was promoted Baker says and does is contradictory. to acting secretary. The Baker administration declined to discuss any post-Pollack plans for the Baker has resisted congestion pricing aimed at agency. But whether Baker wants to talk about it or reducing traffic and pollution, arguing that it hurts not, when it comes to transportation, he’s at a people with the least commuting flexibility. After critical fork in the . Will he move beyond the proposing a fee increase on Uber and Lyft trips in small-bore thinking of the past six years — or stick 2020, he vetoed a proposal that would do just with it and doom Massachusetts to a future of that. He has also been unenthusiastic about a failing infrastructure and inadequate public transit? proposal to expand rail service between Central and Western Massachusetts. Infrastructure plans Decisions made now about public transit, highway are also on hold. Last November, Pollack put off a congestion, and major infrastructure projects will decision on replacing a deteriorating stretch of the affect how people move around in Massachusetts elevated Massachusetts turnpike at the I-90 Allston for the next 30 or 40 years. And those decisions, interchange. Meanwhile, service has been “as much as the governor’s COVID-19 response, slashed on the T and commuter rail in ways that will determine his legacy,” said Representative undermine their long-term viability, due to the William M. Straus, who chairs the joint legislative short-term decrease in ridership connected to the Committee on Transportation. coronavirus. By doing that, Baker is sacrificing his own “transit-oriented development” plans, which Politically, this is a great time to forge ahead with link housing development to public transit access. big thinking. The stars are aligning in a way that Massachusetts hasn’t seen since the days when The Baker administration actually produced a well- House Speaker Tip O’Neill, Representative Joe executed, forward-looking plan, released in Moakley, and Governor Michael Dukakis got behind December 2018 by the Commission on the Future the Big Dig. President Biden is “an infrastructure of Transportation — a group headed by Steve and train guy,” said state Senator Eric Lesser, the Kadish, who served as Baker’s chief of staff for 15 three years. After generating positive reviews, the morning after an overnight snowstorm leaves it report disappeared from view. completely buried. But, for the most part, snowstorms are mostly an inconvenience in The pandemic has given Baker an excuse to ignore northern Canadian cities, leaving side streets these major transportation issues. But he does it at impassible until plows finish with major routes. great risk, said James Aloisi, a former transportation secretary and public transit Ice storms, when temperatures result in freezing advocate. This is the time for planning for the rain falling to earth instead of picturesque future, not for retrenchment: “The service has to be snowflakes, are a different story. The ice sticks to ready when people are ready to use it,” said Aloisi. whatever it lands on and accumulates, often adding thousands of extra pounds of weight to trees or Baker is halfway through his second term; he hasn’t power lines and towers which eventually pushes said if he plans to seek reelection. Whatever his them past their structural capacities until they decision, what he does over the next two years collapse. That’s exactly what happened across concerning transportation will have a huge impact parts of northeastern Canada over a week on the future state of transportation in Mass. in FEBRUARY of 1998. Three successive ice storms brought down power lines and the towers supporting them that take much longer to fix, <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> leaving over 1.5 million people without power in the middle of winter. That Time a Canadian Town A lack of power doesn’t just make it difficult for people to stay warm and feed themselves; it also Derailed a Diesel Train and makes it difficult for elected authorities and Drove It Down the Street to emergency personnel to plan and coordinate repairs and efforts to assist the people they Provide Emergency Power represent. So while staring down endless questions about when power would potentially be restored, the mayor of Boucherville, Quebec, Francine Gadbois, came up with a clever plan to at least get the town’s city hall and emergency warming shelters up and running in the immediate future. Modern locomotives run on diesel fuel instead of coal or wood as their steam-powered ancestors did, but the fuel is actually used to power onboard generators that create electricity to power the electric motors that drive the train’s wheels. In other words, modern locomotives are really just giant mobile generators, and Gadbois had recalled stories about them being used to provide power to Photo: Ryan Remiorza (AP) small towns in rural northern Quebec several years prior. After some calls to the Canadian National Even in a suburb of Montreal that’s well versed in Railway, the diesel locomotive M420W 3502 rolled dealing with winter storms, inclement weather can into Boucherville to provide some much-needed still overwhelm basic services like power, an issue assistance. with which millions of people in Texas are still The rail line was close to the town’s city hall, but currently struggling. After an especially bad ice not close enough for this unusual application, so a storm in 1998, the mayor of Boucherville, Quebec, crane was used to lift the diesel engine off its tracks had a clever idea to borrow a diesel-electric and place it on Boulevard de Montarville. From locomotive and use it as a super-sized emergency there the locomotive completed the last 1,000 feet generator. of its journey rolling down the street under its own In most Canadian cities grabbing a snow brush and power while its extreme weight caused the train’s cleaning off your car before you can head to work flanged wheels to cut deep tracks into the asphalt in the morning is all part of enduring the winter road which later had to be repaired. months. In cities like Montreal, however, it’s not Cables were run from the diesel engine to the uncommon to have to first find your car in the nearby municipal buildings and its throttle was set 16 to a speed which would produce roughly 375 He’s started companies and developed products kilowatts of power at 60 hertz (well below the ranging from snowmobile shock absorbers to deck locomotive’s maximum power of around 2,000 awnings, and now he wants to reinvent light rail. horsepower) which is the alternating frequency the The way Ostrowski sees it, light rail is attractive but North American power system runs on, and is what expensive to build, and new lines take years to all of our electronics are expecting. The diesel make their way through environmental reviews, engine produced enough electricity to power funding, and construction. Bus routes and bus rapid several municipal buildings at the same time transit are cheaper to develop but may not attract riders allowing the local authorities to better organize their out of their cars. So, he wants to blend the two modes. emergency and recovery planning. He calls it ultra-light rail or ULRT. He proposes putting a A second locomotive was also brought in with the bus on steel wheels where it can run on rails but retain intention of using its output to power a local high the rubber tires to drive off-rail for more flexibility. Think of a Hi-Rail vehicle that’s a city bus. school that was to be used as an emergency Instead of traditional street-running or a dedicated right- warming station for local residents. But getting to of-way for trains, the lighter weight of a bus enables a the shelter would have required the engine to cross less costly an overpass, and it was eventually decided that roadbed. there was a very good chance the overpass would Rails are set collapse under the weight of a 260,000-pound into a 12-inch locomotive, leaving the city with yet another wide concrete emergency to deal with, and some concerned channel, which phone calls from the Canadian National Railway. provides As a result, it was left parked down the street on clearance for the road wheels Boulevard de Montarville as an emergency backup. and tires. When power was eventually restored to the region Where rail ends, the two diesel engines were returned to the rails the channel slopes up, bringing the rubber tires into and put back to work hauling cargo, but not before contact with the roadway. From there, the operator being sent for repairs to damage caused to their drives to the next rail segment or can go off-route as gear cases after their unorthodox cruises through needed. Boucherville. Ostrowski envisions this system to be all-electric. Using As much as the city would have liked to keep the off-the-shelf electric buses from existing manufacturers, trains around for the next emergency (during their the running gear would be modified to add steel wheels stay the locomotives also became quite a tourist inboard of the road wheels. About half the batteries will be replaced with ultra- draw with locals stopping by to have their pictures capacitors, which enable flash charging. Every three taken with the trains parked on the street) a diesel miles, an overhead charger would contact the vehicle at locomotive can cost well north of two million dollars a scheduled station stop and recharge the bus in as little and keeping one sitting idle “just in case” is a tough as a minute, enough to get it to the next charging station, sell, especially when you’re borrowing someone eliminating overhead wires. Regenerative braking also else’s. recharges the capacitors along the way. (Article from Kevin Linagen. Kind of appropriate for this time in history—maybe Texans should consider this, to go along with their Ultra-capacitors have advanced in recent years and are “independence” from “Federal interference” with their electric supply!- Ed.) already in use in transportation, energy storage systems, laptops, and wind turbines. They charge almost instantly, are long-lasting and much lighter than lithium batteries. Entrepreneur proposes bus-light rail hybrid system “What's in it for the city is the lowest carbon footprint of While hard-hit transit agencies are struggling to find any technology out there,” Ostrowski says. “It also money to keep trains running and undertake operates at a lower cost.” He asserts that the construction timeline is much shorter than traditional light construction rail and avoids most environmental reviews. projects, a Ostrowski has filed a provisional patent application and Canadian will make a full patent application in May. Based in entrepreneur Ontario, Canada, his firm, Municipal Transit Solutions believes he (MTS), has made proposals to Ontario’s Metrolinx, the has a new city of Albany, New York, and spoken with other solution. municipalities. They haven’t got any takers yet, but he’s Steve planning to build a demonstration site on 10 acres to Ostrowski says he’s “in the good idea business.” showcase his idea to wary buyers. (Trains Industry Newsletter) 17

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