Metro-North's "Farewell to the ACMU" Fan Trip

MTA Metro-North's "Farewell to the ACMU Trip", departing Grand Central Terminal at 9:30 AM on December 5, 2004. Metro-North's soon to be retired, former New York Central 1100-series MU cars will run on all three of Metro-North's divisions out of GCT, including a rare mileage trip to Mount Vernon East on the New Haven Line. After operating on the New Haven and Harlem Lines (to North White Plains), the train will return to GCT where riders will have time to disembark and buy lunch at any of the many restaurants in and around Grand Central. Then the train will depart for the Hudson Line to Croton-Harmon. Trip includes photo opportunities at Mount Vernon East, Ardsley and Philipse Manor, a runby at Bronxville on the Harlem Line, and will also operate thru Metro-North's new Highbridge Car Appearance Facility on the Hudson Line. Fare includes a commemorative ticket, and an official souvenir brochure. Tickets by reservation only.

Fare: $50.00; children under 12 are $25.

For tickets and information:
Metro-North Group Travel
420 Lexington Avenue, 9th Fl
New York, NY 10017

NYCSHS 2005 Annual Meeting - Albany, NY

The NYCSHS 16th Annual Meeting will take place April 29-May 1, 2005. Not a member of the NYCSHS? Membership can be obtained by filling out the membership application and sending in the money. Memberships will also be taken at the annual meeting registration desk.

Clarion Hotel of Albany (formerly the Quality Inn)
3 Watervliet Ave
Albany NY 12206
(518) 438-8431

Friday Tours:

• Buses leave approximately 8:00 AM for Amsterdam Guy Park or Fonda for railfanning along the busy CSX Chicago Line. Possible talk by Assemblyman Paul Tonko on history of stone building. Photography of old canal lock also available.
• Bus tour for Niagara Power facility in Glenmont to see S-motor and T3a-motor in storage, owned by Mohawk & Hudson Chapter NRHS.
• Bus tour of Amtrak facilities.

Saturday Events and Presentations:

• Jeff English - NYC Boxcars, the Classic Era
• Len Killian and Jim Odell - Albany 1949-1968
• Robert Buck - The Boston and Albany, During and After the NYC
• David Staplin - Modeling the NYC 'Bridge' Series cars
• Richard Barrett - Albany and West Albany - Steam to Diesel era
• Fred Furminger - NYC 5201 - The First Production Hudson - My collection and recollections
• Preston Cook - Inside EMD
• Model Contest, Cocktail Hour, Annual Banquet, and Annual Business Meeting

NYCSHS Awarded 2004 Amherst Railway Society Grant

The New York Central System Historical Society is pleased to announce that a grant in the amount of $1,000 has been received from the Amherst Railway Society, of Amherst Massachusetts. The Society's Grant application to Amherst was for the digitization of additional drawings now in the Society's collection. The size and scope of the New York Central drawing collection should be of particular interest to modelers of the New York Central, as well as its subsidiaries, including the Boston & Albany, and the Michigan Central. Our ability to digitize additional drawings will be valuable to those who model New York Central and its subsidiary lines.

The Amherst organization annually awards grant monies for worthwhile projects in support of the hobby. Source of grant money includes revenue from model train shows that are conducted annually by the Amherst organization. For the year 2004, the Amherst Train Show is scheduled for February 7 and 8. You are encouraged to visit the Amherst web site for details regarding the show. The web site is www.amherstrail.org.

As in previous years, the New York Central System Historical Society has reserved table space at the show, and will have a display, including books, calendars, and other memorabilia published by the Society for sale. We are sure that those of you who have an interest in the New York Central and its subsidiary lines are sure to find items of interest.

On behalf of the Trustees and our members, the New York Central Historical Society wishes to publicly acknowledge this Grant from Amherst, and to express our sincere thanks for their support of our efforts.

--T. R. Gerbracht
President - NYCSHS

2004 Annual Meeting Rail Tour

About 80 NYCSHS members participated in the tour which covered the Amtrak Beech Grove Maintenance Facility, the CSX Avon Yard, and the CSX Train Dispatching Office. At Beech Grove, the tour covered all of the buildings in active service. The group was split into several sections, each of which was led by an Amtrak supervisor. Our thanks to Amtrak Supt. Lew Wood, Office Manager Sharon McElroy, and Safety Supervisor Jim Goodlet for their hospitality.

Upon leaving Beech Grove, the two buses went separately, one to Avon Yard and the other to the Train Dispatching Office downtown. After visiting the first site, the buses went to the other site. Dispatching Supervisor Charlie Williamson explained the operations in detail as the groups went through the office. At Avon, Asst. Terminal Supertintendent Jesse De Luca took charge as the groups went through the engine facility, car shop, and hump office. Our thanks to these personnel and to General Manager Gary Bethel, Linda Morris, and Margaret Elston for their courtesy in hosting the NYCSHS.

Above all, our thanks go to Amtrak Chairman David L. Gunn and CSX Chairman Michael S. Ward for giving their approval and allowing the tours to occur.

2004 NYCSHS Election Results

Results of the April 2004 NYCSHS Election:

• John Reehling stepped down as Trustee (Director), but will continue as Drawing Coordinator.
• Messrs. Suhs, Lustig, and Bernhardt were re-elected as Directors.
• Richard Barrett was elected to the vacancy in place of Mr. Reehling.
• Dr John Mills was appointed as a new Director (new position)

Results of the 2004 E. L. May Award:

Prizes were awarded to joint winners John M Ham and Robert W Cosgrove. Details of this should be in an upcoming Headlight.

2004 NYCSHS Calendar - SOLD OUT!

This calendar is now SOLD OUT! Thanks for your patronage!

The Society's 2004 calendar is now available. Our calendar features a painting by the Robert Lorenz, commissioned by Warren Smith, and depicts Boston & Albany 2-8-4 #1428 eastbound at Chatham, NY during the Christmas season of 1929. On the back cover shows two EMD E-7 diesels leading a westbound passenger train through Vermillion, OH. Don Ball collection, New York Central Museum.

Inside the calendar are pictures of Lake Shore & Michigan Southern class F-52 4-6-0 heading an eastbound passenger train at Millersburg, IN, Westbound Michigan Central train powered by FM "Erie Built" class DPA-3A units, led by #4404 at 115th Street in Chicago, IL, class J-3a Hudson at Elkhart, IN October 1947, class L-4b #3138 at West Nyack, NY on the River Division April 1951, class J-3a 5451 with the Westbound "20th Century Limited" at Manitou, NY June 1940, class S-1b Niagara #6023 at Buffalo, NY June 1953, class J-1 Hudson #5200 at Harmon, NY with train #161 August 1948 and T-3a #280, GP-7 diesel, class DRSP-4N #5762 at Elkhart, IN with the "Old Road" train from Toledo, OH in summer 1956, Class A-2a #9400 at Bellefontaine, OH September 1955, class Fx 4-6-0 #815 at Oneonta, NY, October 1946, class K-3p 4719 on NMRA excursion at Mishawaka, IN November 1947, class J-2c Hudson #611 arriving Boston, MA September 1950, class H-7e Mikado #1991 and Class L-2d Mohawk #2945 near Greensburg, IN April 1956.

Calendar Back Issues Available
The NYCSHS has a limited supply of previously issued calendars available for purchase. Quantities are limited, so please order soon to ensure we have your calendar in supply! The price is $5.00 each postage paid. Ohio residents must include $.29 sales tax. Please send your order to:

NYCSHS Calendar
Dept W
17038 Roosevelt Ave
Lockport IL 60441-4734

2003 Calendar

2002 Calendar :: 2001 Calendar :: 2000 Calendar :: 1999 Calendar

1998 Calendar :: 1990 Calendar :: 1989 Calendar