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

Farewell to the E's Railfan Weekend

Southern Rail Charters Announces A Premier Railfan Excursion Event for 2003 "Farewell To The E's" Railfan Weekend November 14-15, 2003

If you missed our May excursion behind the New York Central E-8's, or would lilke one last chance to ride behind and photograph these classic passenger diesels in action, make plans to join us this November as the 'E's' conclude their final season in excursion service over the scenic route of the former Tennessee Central Railway.

Our "Farewell to the E's" Railfan Weekend will kick off with a Friday night photo session at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum with Steve Barry of Railfan & Railroad as our invited guest and lead photographer. The photo session will be followed by a slide show featuring the very best of E-units in passenger service across the country from the 1950s and '60s.

The weekends main event will be Saturdays excursion with not one, not two, but three ex-New York Central E-8's (two in original 'Lightning Stripe' livery) scheduled to pull our train. If all three units are available, plans call for running non-stop to Baxter to cover the most scenic portion of the route through Caney Fork River Valley and up Silver Point Hill, otherwise we will turn the train at Carthage Junction, with some 'rare milage' up the rarely used Carthage Branch. Either way we'll spend a full afternoon on the way back to Nashville making photo runbys with our streamlined consist 'properly pointed' for cameras (Railway Post Office car in the lead, observation car carrying the markers).

Excursion accommodations include Deluxe Coach, First Class Lounge or Vista-Dome seating and all passengers will be eligible to win a cab ride. This charter will be your best opportunity to photograph and ride behind (or maybe ride inside!) the 'E's' before their retirement from Tennessee Central excursion service. For details and reservations, visit the Southern Rail Charters website or call us at 205-335-3457.