l The 5emaphllPe
Newsletter of the Rochester NY Chapter, NRHS July 1999 • P.O. Box 664, Rochester, NY 14603; Published Monthly Volume 41, No. 11
Meeting al Deool. July 15 . :: . , ;: at's Summert;lnt at tk Cf)potf Part 1 The July and the August meetings will be at the R&GVRR Museum Depot on NYS Route 251 at Industry. There is no particular time to be there, but activities should be starting around 6 PM Last month. we rode the PC Transfer caboose up and down the line. What will happen in July? You'll have to come and see!
June's Inspection Trip Ira Cohen, Fred Enrich (guest) and Charles Robinson inspect the trackage as they ride the entering the yard at the June meeting.
(Gale Smith photo) Tioga Central Trip Status • The Tioga CentraJ Dinner Train Excur- sion for Saturday, July 31 is ahoost sold out as this is being written. A good response $3,000 Received from NRHS was obtained from the public announcement in the June 27 edition of the Democrut & Chronicle. Heritage Grants Program Call John Redden at (716) 388-9124 for Those Rochester Chapter merobers who attended the National Railway HistoricaJ an update on any openings for this trip. Society Convention last week in California brought back exciting news. Our application Cost is $65 per person. to the National Railway HistoricaJ Heritage Grant Pregram for funds to repair the exterior of the tw'O cabooses that house our library in Webster Viasapproved! Summer Library Hours These monies will be used to purchase appropriate siding and platform materials plus other necessary items to repair or replace deteriorated siding, windov.'S.roof and skirting. Monday, July 19 We are fortunate to have several able carpenter-knowledgeable merobers to supervise this Monday, August 22 project. 7:30 to 9:30 PM, both days Boiler Tube Failure "B&O RailroaderS' Wanted 1999 Fall Foliage Excursion The tubes in !he boiler of UPs 844 let go Dates Announced - B&O Railroader magazines missing from at the Rail Fair. Since the similar tubes Sunday, Sept. 26 (Family day) our collection that the library would like to were also used in the Challenger, its use was acquire: greatly curtailed - much to the dismay of Sundays of Oct. 3, 10. 17 & 24 o 1972 Vol. I #5 October many visitors - including foreign \\no had Saturdays of Oct. 9 & 16 o 1973 Vol. 2 #1 February traveled to see these two famous locomotives Please see Page 6 for the THIRD in actioD. DL o 1974 Vol. 3#6 REQUEST for help to make these trips possible. In addition for help on getting o 1975 Vol. 4#1 Program Committee ready and maintaining the Excnrsion o 1976 Vol. 5 #2 and remaining issues of Jack Matsik (Chairman) 442-6269 Set and selling Excursion tickets, help 1976. Bill Limburg 586-9470 will also be needed to sell concessions Dan Cosgrove 352-6931 and store items on the train. o 1977 Vol. 6 #3 and remaining issues of Dave Luca (Board liaison) 288-0318 1977. • The Committee weJcomes suggestions o All issues after 1977. and ideas for future programs. Contact any of the Committee members. Page 2 July 1999 The Semaphore
Depot Guides for July In Memoriam Walter .fl. &hwind Sunday July 4' The Chapter extends condolences to by Gale Smith Don Shillin~ 381-3171 the family of Leonard Roe, his wife Olga, This past week was the worst week of John Stewart, 387.9185 and his brother and .Chapter member, my life, bar none. My housemate, Walter Sunday. July 1'; Raymond. Arthur Schwind, died on Friday, July 2 at Eric Drum, 671-5954 Leonard succumbed to infection as Rochester General Hospital. In reality, Tom Way, 482.5787 complication from a blood disease for he had died the previous Friday, June 25 which he was taking experimental treat- after collapsing on the kitchen Ooor. saturday & Sunday. Jyly 17 & 18' (Diesef ments. Unknown at the time. a large piece of Days) Leonard was a mechanical and math- steak was lodged in the lower part of the Ron Amberger ematical wizard. having devised many wind pipe. A Heimlich maneuver was BiU BlaesL 342-6339 maehines and mechanisms during hi. IlIlSUCCe8sfulbefore he collapsed. A 911 DeWain Feller, 527.9619 professional career. call quickly brought the St Paul Boule- Sunday July 25' Leonanl put his skills to use for the vard Fire Department and Volunteer Chuck Whalen, 659-8527 Chapter, working on various motorized Ambulance, \\ho in turn called para Ted Miller, 264-9934 projects and. the famous "RoeMobile" medic team. \\ho then transported Walt track motor car, recovered from Spencer- to Emergency. Depot Guides for August port. The doctors were able to revive him, Sunday August 1; Many of you know \\tiat a fighter and but informed us that there was no brain Jim East, 377.5389 survivor Leonanl was, having survived a fimction. With prayers and hope, he was Bill Cain, 586-9043 very serious motoreycle accident \\hen he kept alive in Intensive Care Unit with a was already eighty. The doctors told him ventilator for another week. Once the If an Act of God forces you to change he would never walk again, but he just ventilator ,,, •• removed, he passed on. your guide appointment. please trade went ahead and did it anyhow - actually He left behind a brother and four with one of the guys listed above. mowing his grass and shoveling his snow sisters. To me, be was like a -brother- - and of course walking an driving out to relatioosbip wise. We each had our own the Museum 10 work with us \\henever he activities. He liked to cook, bake (my • could ...•... .,.•.aist line proves that!). worked in Membership'lnformation _. - Leonanl was an enthusiastic and stailled glass, took care of six exotic Dues for the calendar year are: cheerful supporter of the Chapter right to birds and had over eighty orchids. Regular $30; StudenURetiree: $25; the end; in fact he called us from the The stress of the fust night, caused Family; $40 Other membership levels are hospital to donated a ladder. my heart to misbehave, forcing me. to available. Includes membership in the Na. We will surely miss Leonanl's per. spend a night in the hospital; hoping that tionalRailwayHistoricalSoclety. sonal presence with us, but we will never medication will eventually straighten thai a member at NRHS and wish to join n forget him absolutely undefecitable spirit out. tile Rochester Chap/&<,dadUCI$15 fromtile On Sunday, July 4, my nieces from by Rand Warner a.boYecategories. Ohio arrived to pay their respects. And Make check payable to Rochester the bad omen still exists. Nikki, the Chapte< NRHS and send to: Rochester Moluccan cockatoo, bit one niece, who Chap/&
Steam Program The Vulcan O-4-OT continues to get Our 0-4-0 Fireless Heisler Loco arrived priority attention in a nwnber of areas. at the Museum Wednesday June 2nd via John Redden, Ron Amberger and Kevin Mendon Enterprises low-boy truck. John Klees continue to remove tubes with our Redden coordinated arrangements and new tube cutter. The cutter has recently been George Knab orchestrated the loading an modified to clear the safe"""dings of the unloading. It was a great day and everything tubes. went smoothly. Rand Warner, Ron Amberger, John Red- Thanks to our crew, including Dave den and Jeremy Tuke have met with a boiler Luca. Chuck Whalen, Rick Israelson, Art contractor to inspect the loco firebox, boiler Mummery, Bob Minter, Nonn Shaddick, and auxiliaries and to discuss options. Rand Warner, Manager, 425-8587 Rand Warner, Ron Amberger, Dick Bean, Thickness gaging of fIrebox sheets and Jerry Leiderthiel and Bob Mader. boiler wrapper was included in this effort Diesel Division Wori< has already started on cleaning, We are continuing to evaluate candidate suppliers, contractors and costs for the RG&E #1941 is down for rehab. Dale prepping and painting the loco. We also have Hartnett and his Young Explorers are clean- to re-inslall the donrs for the cab. Amongst various elements of ~s project FlUId raising will definitely be required to get the loco ing and repainting numing gear. Pilot steps. our members and the Chapter we have fully and safely operational. are removed and oilier areas of electrical? enough appliances to re-equip the locomotive mechanical and brakes are, or "ill be, v.ith "'jewelry." receiving needed attention. ", . NKP #79 is up and numing for the 1i season. Coolant is reinstalled after \\inter storage in plastic tank. The engine was pre-lubed prior to start up. The Alco prime mover sounds great with its unique rumble. Army #1843 is up and numing for the season. The loco was pre-lubed Saturday • June 12th, and started up without a hitch. EKC #9 will be brought down to the Depot area for several items of nc by the rOWldhouse gang. LVRR #211 RS-3m will be started up next It is cunently on the bead of the freight train exhibit at NYMf. The Heisler -fIreless" 0-4-0 arrives at the RGV RR via low boy trailer on June 2"". EKe #6 &O-tonner.enter..cab is in active (Bernie CubitI photo) service, and has been, straight thru the \\inter and spring. We have been investigating leads for a Safety Gas-Mechanical Division possible cab unit in runnabJe condition . Dave Hulings is arranging to present a John Redden, Art Mummery, Bob Mader Alco or EMD, to complement the rest of our First Aid course to those candidates who and Norm Shaddick are working on the diesel collection of industrial switchers, yard sigoed up. TrackMobile fleet. switehers. and road switchers. Our Operation Lifesaver crew partici~ Blue Anny TrackMobile #I is back in Thanks to roundhouse gang: John Red- pated at Fairport Canal Days on June 4,5,6 service with improved brakes and other den, Dick Holbert, Bob Miner, Jim Johnson, weekend. assorted nc. Charles Harshbarger, Dale Hartnett, Young Explorers, Bill Chapin and others. Our PRRIRPO car "ill be getting grab Blue Army TrackMobile #2 is getting the imns repaired and steps replaced. engine from the RG&E TrackMobiJe and Engineering Dept_ Our DL&W MU power car will get new will return to service. steps on northwest comer. Scott Hemenway will be putting our site The RG&E TrackMobile "ill get the plans and interior plans for the new building Grab irons will be re-inslalled on NYC engine from the Blue Anny #2, after rehab, on AutoCAD so we can print out different wood caboose. and also needs a replacement transfer case. layers for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, Parking brake on Fairmont track crane "hich - may come from the yellow Army TrackMobile or other sources. etc. will be made operational. He will also be putting our track plans Heavy duty hitch pins are installed on all The Yellow Anny TrackMobile has a and the Four Quadrants Vision plans on track cars and M.O.W. equipment. stuck engine. It has been used as a parts source, to date, to support other projects. Auto-CAD to help us with both internal and The RG&E loco will get new main •external communicatio~ interfaces with reservoir and air piping. rehab of valves. and other organizations and design of various pari Electric Division Rochester Subway Car #60 is getting Communications, Signals, Rochester Lockport and Buffalo interur. heavy attention from volunteers from both Power & Line • inside and outside the Chapter: ban car body #206 is essentially ready to Scott Gleason is equipping the lockers of move. Upper and lower window sash and the new bucket truck ",th tools and materi. The" interior has been cleaned out by wmdow grills are removed. als for our overhead trolley mre work. Lyell Caleb and the exterior" has been Front end and rear end vestibule sheet George Knab and Scott Gleason are prepped by our voltmteers. metal has been removed, along ",th going to make up down-guy anchors from Openings at the west end and along the bumpers. structural steeL north side have been closed up w1th ply- All seat cushions are now out and Jim Johnson is running a heavier tempo- wood. The roof is taIped. The south side is stacked. rary lead cord to the new Restoration being painted in prototype colors. Seat frames are removed from all of the Facility which will quadruple the available George Knab is planning the relocatioo west side of the aisle. power at the building. move. He is also making arrangements to get We are gelting down to the basic flooring the car body onto a tandem axle dolly and and framing so that we can begin repairs and Maintenance-of-way fifth wheel hitch after arrival at the Museum replacement as necessary and start rebuild- " Equipment for future mobility. ing from the floor up and from the frame Dick Bean and Hiram Collett have all the Thanks to Bernie Cubit!, Chuck Whalen, down. sheet melal repainted for the Burro crane. Dee Mowers, Bill Chapin, Rand Warner, The rear vestibule area on this car ",II John Redden and Bob Miner are working Lyell Caleb and Jerry LederthieL require ahnost a tota! re-creation as the on the tic extractor. It has been relocated to Philadelphia Sweeper #C-147 has been vestibule floor and framing are shol At least our new bam. we have good patterns for everything donated and moved to our Museum from Dick Holbart and Norm Shaddick have needed. Thendara, NY, by Robert Barry, arriving the Jackson tamper running. Friday, June 4th. The side frames, truck bolsters, and cross Bob Miner is putting new plugs in the members of this Ford h)TaiI dump boom truck. essentially all- steel car will re- Dave Luca wants to get the Chevy high quire considerable rail utility truck back into service. rC\\o'Ork and some replacCment. Give us a call Thanks to ... if you can help on Tbe Gunlock< Company of Wayland, • electrical: me- NY for donation of 50-ton Heisler fireless chanical, sheet steam loco built in 1941. metal, structural Robert Barry for donation of antique or other areas. Brill trolley sweeper circa 1910, including Thanks to our transportation 10 Rochester. carbam crew of George Knab for loan of large dump Dave Luca, Rand truck body. Warner," Bill Ted Strang of NYMT for loan of back Chapin, Jim blade attachment for 3-point hitch 00 traclor. Moore, Bernie Cu- bilt, Bob Van Terry and Rand Warner, Bob Barry and Valkinburgh, Dave Baer, Cliff Rogers, personnel of Adirondack Scenic Rwy loaded Hiram Collette and others. the car at Thendara over Memorial Day weekend. George Knab, Scott Gleason, Dan Water- straat, Bob Mader, Rand Warner and others helped unload it Saturday, June 5th under direction of George Knab. The car comes ",th freight trucks, com- plete broom drives and motors, and other spares applicable to the sister #C-130 Sweeper at NYMT. We plan to adapt the car as an all- purpose line car/freight motor/electric ex. press car in support of our CSP&L functions. Work has started to clean out the car, • removed plywood exterior, and begin prep work for repainting. Sweeper converted to a Line Car? (Drawing by &nd Warner) r The Semaphore July 1999 PageS Caterpillar D7E Bulldozer by Joe &anton • Another of the great opportunities we have been able to take advantage of through the New York State Office of Federal SurpluS Property was the acquisition of this Caterpillar mE bulldozer from Seneca Anny Depot at Romulus, NY in February of 1999. We were quite lucky to fInd this macbine because bulldozers just are not available through this program - they get snapped up too quickly. But this one slipped through.the CI1lCksprimarily because It has a bad engme. We decided to acquire it because replacing an engine with our available heavy equip- ment and the expertise of our members gives us an advantage over so many other organi- zations. In this case, a town highway department had titst choice on this bull- Library Report dozer but passed on it, fIguring it would be by Charles Robinson the winter's debris, cut down the high grass, too ~uch ""'ark. We convinced the officials at Albany that we could handle the chore, The library is now on a sununer schedule removed some unwanted. pieces of wood. and and they sold it to the Chapter at a fIre sale and will be open for general use on Monday planted flowers in the planter in front of the library. Yours truly has been up on the roof price. evening, July 19 between 7:30-9:30 PM The crew is usually working at the library on again huping to patch up the leaks that The CAT D7E has lots of bells and every Monday night 7:30 - 9:30 PM and a appeared over the winter. whistles - turbocharged engine power shift, visit then is welcome. Howc\'er. call the hydraulic blade, integra1 ripper teeth, hy- Inside Jerry Gillette has been industri- library chairman Charles Robinson at 3TI- draulic winch, roll-<>verprotection structure ously listing the Woodbury negatives on the 4245 to be certain the library is open these computer. Gale, Smith has almost all our all the hydraulic plumbing to 'connect to ':d other Monday's. In August, the library will recent donation of books cataloged and a hydraulic pan scraper. be open Monday evening, August 23. Please placed Eric Drum has been attending to Since we already have our fonner Roch- note the library is air conditioned! flIing and recording the last remains of the ester Asphalt Materials, Inc. D7 bulldozer in Not ouly are the library volunteers con- magazines donated to the library: operating condition. we are in no huny t~ tinuing to work on our collection but now put this one to use which m~ we can w:ut Our future projects include putting new our efforts are now being - direc~ to until we fInd the right opporturuty to aeqWTe siding and skirting on the building, fIxing maintaining the building in good shape. The an engine at the right price. We can also the platforms, fmishing cataloging and re- cabooses have been neglected for many years "'lorkon it at our leisure. But like everything cording the vase and important Woodbury and there is evidence of serious deteriOf"dtion else at our museum. sooner or later? it collection of negatives, and continuing to in the siding and in the platforms at both happens! And when it does, it give us organize and file our timetable collection. ends of the cabooses. Quite frankly the another boost in our ability to self perform We also have the collection of Erie railcar library crew is not reno\\11ed for its carpen- even bigger tasks! drawings that needs to be flied plus a try and major building maintenance capabili- collection of rail photos to be placed in Wanted ties, however. we are trying to attract protective covers and recorded. attention to the problem and we have been The library volunteers contioue in their For lrol1e,y sweeperlline car: given support by the trustees. So prepara- efforts to organize and preserve these items Trucks, poles, retrievers, headlights, cou- tions are in progress. A. search has been of rail history for our members. made at local lumber yards noted for plers, controls, pilots. See you at the library on Monday night, stocking odd ball stufT for suitable tongue Track Materials' July 191 and grove siding for the library in keeping Switch timbers relay grade with the caboose motif of the building. So Ties, relay grade 7x9 or 6xg. far nothing exactly right has turned up. PM 1225 returns to the rails Tools for New Sbo,p" Perhaps some member more acknowledge- The Lima built Pere Marquette 1225 Heavy double action ratchet jacks. able in narrow tongue and groove lumber steamer operated a two day 200-mile excur- could give us some advice on finding such Planer, Joiner, Table saw, Band saw, sion in Michigan. This was a cooperative boards 3-4" wide or a siding that simulates MIG welder, Plasma cutter. program presented by the Blue""ter Michi- such construction. Of course if anyone wants gan Chapter, NRIIS, Michigan State Trust Wood Materials to join the crew to remove the old siding and for Rail""y Preservation - Project 1225 and Roof sbeathine for troJleys" put on the new when we are ready. you are the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway. Tongue and grove: 3" x 7/16" thick most cordially welcome to come out. [Bluewater Setltine~ Spring, 1999] • Gale Smith and Steve Oagley have Side sheatbioi for trolleys" Tongue & grove 2-112" x 3/4" thick. completed a much needed clean up of the grounds around the building. They removed Page 6 July 1999 The Semaphore Great Memories Are Made Video Tape Revjew' with Calliope Music Illinois Terminal Research: Donovan A. Shilling To Maintain Operational A few months ago lbe New York Mu- A videotape from Interurban Videos • Railroad Passenger seum of Transportation received a donation Reviewed by Bill Heron of lbe calliope once. used by Mr. Audrew Coaches. The nfu,ois Terminal might well be Wolfe to promote his Wolfe Publications classified as a "one-<>f-a-kind" interurban • No Experience Necessary NYMT Trustee Bob Miner, a band organ line. It was very important passenger carrier, • On Job Training musical buff as well as an avid. train fan. but in addition, its freight operstion was arranged to have lbe calliope play its rousing • Working towards a Team Environment matched by few if any olber interurban line. noted during lbe model steam engine week- The Chapter's Ex-New York Ccntnll Also, The 1I1inoisTerminal opersted not only end al NYMT as lbe track cars arrived and Coaches need a technical support per>OIlor • high speed main. line, buI also had a departed on lbeir trips to our depot museum. persons to learn what makes lbe coaches quaint, meandering branch that 1inked lbe fimction. The sound was stirring. The feeling of main line wilb a little town named Grafton. fanfare the calliope produced had an almost We have books and dIawings to cover lbe Fortunately, while the 1I1inoisTerminal is no magical elIecton lbe listener. One had to be coaches structural, meehanical and electrical longer. with us, this tape acts as a time there to hear its exhilarating elIect to truly components. machine to help us to relive and re- appreciate lbe experience. experience lIlinois Terminal' glory dsys. The coaches were built by lbe Bud Co. in From some research into calliope history 1941. They were built entirely of stainless The main line was a north-soulb route fro we learned thaI lbe calliope was one of the steel spot welded together, except for lbe Peoria to Sl Louis. An east-west line wenl few musical instnunents that originated in interior walls and ceiling. The air condition- fro Peoria to Bloomington, where a north- America. First developed in 1855, lbe origi- ing systems were built by Frigidaire in 1941. soulb line went down to Decatur. Al Spring- nal instrument had only eight keys, each . The electrical systems were built by Safety field, anOlber east-west line ran to Danville opening valves to eight pitched pipes. A Car Heating & Lighting in 1941. The via Decature and Champaign-Urbana. Fi- small coal or wood fired boiler produced lbe nally lbere was lbe Grafton branch that went electrical system uses DC generators to steam pressure behiud lbe valves. Two generate 67 volts to charge lbe batteries and west fro Alton to Grafton. people were need to run lbe calliope, one 10 run lbe AC & lights. They use carbon pile Sometimes lbe picture quality in this tap';. stoke lbe frre, lbe olber to brave the sparks regulators to regulate the generator output is not as good as one might like, but it i and hoI steam while playing lbe unique and regulate the voltsge to keep lbe DC much better than nothing at all. The cover- contraption. lights from receiving too high a voltsge. age is quite thorough. The viewer sees Circus promoter P. T. Barnum, who had Here is your chimee to study lbese very plenty of footsge of traditional, heavy silver pipes on his calliope staled, "the historic pieces of equipmenl weight, arch window interurban cars, run- circus thaI couldn't alford a calliope just ning bolb on private right-<>f-wayas well as If we do not flud a persoo(s) to take on wasn'l a true circus." It was lbe loud, on city streets. Similar to the North Shore, in this responsibility we may not be able to run . penetrating notes of lbe novel music-maker its waning days lbe 1I1inois Terminal 01>- lbe Fall Foliage Train Rides - TIlE that drew in lbe crowds as it "whistled and tained sleek trainsets, referred to as MAJOR source of revenue thaI allows lbe n whined its way to lbe circus grounds. "Streamliners". Chapter to rehabilitate other prize artifacts. Railroads in lbe 1870's pol lbe circus on It certainly would have been nice if lbe Contact Dave Luea (283-0318) or Bob rails. This in tum broughl aboul larger producers of this tape had given information Miner (671-3589) for more Informalion. calliopes and lbeir enchanting sounds as to which companies had produced the whistled lbeir way into lbe hearts of equipment shown. Also for lbe Streantliners, Gift Shop Personnel and America during lbe circus parndes. have any been preserved? Ticket Agents NYMT's calliope has 43 brass whistles The Grafton branch must have been a The Rocbester & Genesee Valley Rail- and is opersted by compressed air ralber treasure. Because patronage was light, a road Museum and lbe New York Museum of than sleam. It can be played manually or by railbus provided service. Scenes of this Transportation need persons for marketing using one of lbe two dozen mechanized unusual vehicle bring out its similarity to lbe and sales.' paper rolls sirnilar to player pianos. The famous "Galloping Geese" of Colorado. Each SWldayrequires at least two people: calliope, a restored Model CA-43 was mad filinois Terminal also provided local One sells tickets for admission to lbe arorrud 1920 by lbe Tangley Company of service in a least one of the cities it served. Museums and lbe popular Track Car Rides Muscatine, Iowa The on-board air compress Springfield, and used PeC cars 10 provide between lbe Museums. is powered by AC power or by a gssoline- powered generator that came as part of lbe commuter service in the Sl Louis area. In The olber will be in charge of The Gift donation. The instnunent itself is housed in addition, if my memory is reliable, lbe Shop and sell memorabilia to our visitors. a mobile vehicle designed and decorated filinoi, Railway Museum, where one may The profits from this activity are split by after the old-fashioned circus wagons of lbe find several preserved 1I1inoisTerminal cars, • bolb Museums and is a big source of 19th century. NYMT plans to have this has a sleeping car which once served on lbe revenue. spectaeular crowd pleaser performing on lllinois Taminal. There is no mention of • On job training. event weekends throughoul lbe summer. this. however. in this tape. Among tapes that a traction fan might be • Interact wilb visitors directly (no com- tempted to own, this one is defmitely a puters or AlMs interfaces!) winner. It is one of lbe few that I have Plea,e contact Marie Miner (671-3589) to sign up. .. ,. The Semaphore July 1999 Page 7 enjoyed going back to from time to time for Snacks and soft drinks as weU as coffee and reached Oakland. Aboul this time 1wenl 10 bed. The next morning when I gol up, .other look. juice were always available, inclnded in the firsl class fare. shaved, showered in my roomelle and Following the parlor car was the dining dressed, we were still in California, bul A Trip Report. car one's home away from home for excellenl getting close to Oregon. During breakfast food. First class and coach passengers order we reached Dunsmuir, CA, elevatioo 2290. The Coast Starlight from the same menu, for frrst class, however, Now we real\y began a climb, going past By Bill Heron an meals are inclnded in the fare, whereas 14,380 fool Mounl Shasta in the process, and reaching an attitnde over 4000 feel al A few mooths ago Train.! magazine IlID coach passengers pay by the meal. Both of Klamath Fans, Oregon. Our climb contin- an article in regard to Amtrak's "Coast us ate way 100 much, bul the temptation was ued through tunnels and around curves until Starlighl" train. The author described the jusl too much to resistl we reached the highest point 00 the Coasl quality of the train itself, the scenery Beyood the dining car there' was a Starlighfs route, Cascade Swnmi~ 4840 feet encountered along the way from Los Angles Sightseer lounge car, furnished more Spar- Along the way we saw some greal scenery, to Seattle, the gourmel meals in the dining tanly than the first class parlor car, yet mountain peaks and lots of snow. The depth car and the dedicatioo of the crew. It . featuring the same kind of big windows of the snow remaining in the Cascade sounded so good thaI I couldo' resist tIying curving up into the ceiling. FinaI\y, the last Swnmil area was measured in fee~ nol three cars were Superliner 11 coaches. il for myself. inches. I was able to persuade Marian to go with Amenities abound on the Coasl Starligh~ Now il was time 10 roll do••••n the bill me even though she usually is nol much including fresh flowers in each first class which we did, righl down to Portland al interested in trains. To do so I added an room. In addition there are movies, although m feel. The weather was not very favorable al extension via rental car to Vancouver and I cant imagine walching a movie when the this poinl and we missed views of Mounl SI. Victoria. British Colombia. We bad bean! view oul the window constaIitly changes Helens and Mounl Rainier which are often glowing reports aboul these places bul bad from ooe interesting sighl to another, games, enjoyed by Coasl Starlighl travelers. From not visited either. a "Kiddie Kar", lounge where the little ooes whal could be seen il was obvious as 10 how fmnd Portland there was a in our case the trip was clearly ••••"rth the ing in an altitude of over 1100 feel crossing choice of several connecting trains to Seattle trip. operated. over the "joint line" by Union Santa Susana Pass through a series of Pacific, Northern Pacific and Greal North- tunnels. ern. Not long after thaI we were at Oxnard al Editor's When Amtrak took over, il became. an elevation of 45 feet. Shortly after leaving possible to ride ooe train an the way from Oxnard we began a long run past some Corner Los Angeles to Seattle. AI firsl the service spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean As a resull of situ- was tri-weeldy, bul il became daily in 1973, (Santa Barbara Channel). The roule took us ations described else- and bas remained so ever since. through part of Vandenberg Air Force Base where, this issue is a ••••l1ere we saw a Titan missile on a launch The consist of our train was beaded by a trifle lale. The temptatioo was to hold some pad awailing blast- The Semaphare Rochester Chapter Non Profit Org. National Rallway Historical Society U.S. Postage P.O. Box 664 Rochester, NY 14603 PAID Rochester, NY Permit #826 Chapter Meeting & Program: Fun Night: Part 2 July 15, 1999 R&GV RR Museum NVS Route 251 at Industry The Semaphore is published monthly by the Rochester, NY Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. It is mailed free to all Chapter• members. Non-memba's subscriptions are S5.00 and run from January I to December 31. Chapter meetings are held the third l1l\lIsday and the Board of DirectoIs meets the first Thwsday of eaChmonth Rochester Chapter NRHS Officen: Contributions to The Semaphore are welcomed and encouraged from all readers. They should he mailed to: Gale E. Smith, 299 Seneca Park Avenue, Rochester, NY 14617-2433. President: Chris Hauf Phone: (716) ~221. Contributors using a computer are asked to send their submissions on Vice President: Steve Oagley any MS-DOS diskette in ASCII formal, as well as a printed copy. Deadline: Fint Oay of Treasurer: Ira Cohen Eath Month. Recording Secretary: Jeremy Tuke Correspondence Sec.: Don Shilling The status of our Restoration Building Fund. Each 'car'represents SIO,OOO in the fimd National Director: Bob Miner Swprise - the building moves mther than the train - easier to dol Trustees: Dale Hartnett, Charles Harsh. barger, Dave Luca, Joe Scanlon, John Stewart and John Weber. The Semaphore Staff: Editor: Gale Smith Printing: Bob Miner 110K $5OK $4OK $3OK $2OK $10K InterNet (World Wide Weh) address: htlpJIwww.rochnrbs.orgI $104,000 • . .'