Month: April 2013
The Western Kentucky NRHS chapter is getting a group together for the Monterey Super Fall Foliage Excursion. The excursion is October 12, 2013 and boards at 7:30AM at the TCRM in Nashville, TN. This is the 216 mile round trip, see the web site for details (http://tcry.org/pdf/13-10-12.pdf). This trip will sell out early so we need to act fast.
We already have enough people for a group discount, so the ticket price will be $47.00 per person. In order to get the group discount all the tickets have to be purchased at one time with one payment. I need to have payment for the tickets by the next NRHS meeting on April 15, 2013 (I can accept the payment at the meeting.) If you will not be at the next meeting, you can mail me a check at the address below. If you want me to mail your tickets to you please enclose a stamped self addressed envelope. I plan on going to Nashville on April 16, 2013 to purchase the tickets.
Steve Miller
2721 S Virginia St
Hopkinsville, KY 42240
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I (Chuck Hinrichs) got a message from Jody Moore with Pullman Rail Journeys yesterday.
The regular runs of the first class private cars on the City Of New Orleans are beginning their regular runs next Friday, March 29. They will be running on two Chicago – New Orleans cycles per week with Chicago departures on Tuesdays and Fridays and New Orleans departures on Thursdays and Sundays.
The cars have been in the yard upside Union Station for a while, so we knew it was coming soon.
This is a new venture, so it remains to be seen whether or not it will be viable as a long term operation. The cars look great on the inside, and these folks are really going out of their way to make it a first class operation.
These runs may be around for a while; too soon to tell. But I would suggest that anyone wanting to ride down the Mailine of Mid-America in the round end observation car Ponchatrain Club should take the opportunity sooner rather than later.
For more information visit their website, http://www.travelpullman.com.
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DVDs to Share…
Some of you may be familiar with the DVD series Great American Layouts by Allen Keller. Some of the videos are dated.
I have the following: 1. N Scale Cumberland Valley System of Bill and Wayne Reid 2. Ken McCorry’s Conrail 3. Howard Zane’s Piermont Division 4. John Armstrong’s Canandaigua Southern and The Yosemite Valley of Jack Burgress 5. Lou Sassi’s West Hoosic Division 6. Jim Providenza’s Santa Cruz Northern 7. Bill Aldrich’s New York, New Haven and Hartford and Bob Hayden’s Carrabasset & Dead River Railway 8. John Pryke’s New York, New Haven and Hartford 9. Paul Dolkos’ Boston & Maine New Hampshire Division 10. W. Allen McClelland’s Virginian & Ohio and Rick Rideout’s L&N Henderson Subdivision 11. Dick Elwell’s Hoosic Valley Railroad and Gil Freitag’s Stony Creek & Western 12. Lance Mindheim’s Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville 13. Weathering Techniques, Creating Scenes, and Building Structures. 14. Bob Brown’s Tuolumne Forks Railroad.
If you would like to borrow one or more, just let me know, Bill Thomas.
In the late 1980s, the Indiana Hi-Rail operated the former Illinois Central line from Newton, Illinois to Evansville, Indiana.
This railroad had a most interesting collection of mostly Alco built diesels from several different railroads.
Included was a pair of 2400 HP RSD15s which came from Peabody Coal Company but were originally built for the Santa Fe in 1959. Because of their long low noses, railfans referred to them as “alligators”.
Also on the roster was a C420 built for the Delaware & Hudson, a 1800 HP RS11 from the Seaboard Air Line, and ex-L&N C420s #1315 and #1332 (ex-Monon #515) and S4 switcher ex-Santa 
Fe #1519.
“Chasing” a train on this railroad was a misnomer as one would drive ahead to the next photo location and wait and wait while the train negotiated the notoriously decrepit track inherited from the IC. Today both the IHR and this line are long gone.
| Santa Fe 3751 The Restoration |
| Pentrex |
| Full Screen DVD |
| 1 Hr |
| Trainvideodepot.com |
| 10/26/2012 |
| $24.95 total for this video and its counterpart, Santa Fe 3751 Return to Steam bought as a set |
We are given front row seats as we observe the awe-inspiring process of Santa Fe 3751’s restoration undertaken by members of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society. The restoration of this 4-8-4 steam locomotive took place over a period of more than ten years beginning in 1981. The 3751 was the first Santa Fe Northern type locomotive and it was the first one ever produced by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
The San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society was established primarily for the purpose of this restoration. The dedication of these people is almost beyond belief. Many took leaves of absence from their jobs for up to one year and one member even took early retirement just to be able to work on this project full time.
If you have ever wanted to see a steam locomotive completely disassembled, here is your chance. The 3751 was torn down as far as a locomotive can be torn down. The fire box was refurbished, the boiler flue tubing was totally replaced, and every sub component on the engine was torn down and rebuilit.
Given the enormity of this project, it is truly a miracle that it was completed successfully. It only happened because of the dedication and the skills of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society members. I am very confident that you wil say that watching this video was an hour of your time well spent.
A train made entirely of chocolate has set a new Guinness World Record as the longest chocolate structure in the world.
The sculpture, on display at the busy Brussels South station, is 112-feet (34.05 meters) long and weighs over 2,755 pounds (1250 kilos).
Maltese chocolate artist Andrew Farrugia spent over 700 hours constructing the masterpiece. He said he came up with the idea of the train last year 
after visiting the Belgian Chocolate Festival in Bruge: “I had this idea for a while, and I said what do you think if we do this realization of a long chocolate train, you know, because a train you can make it as long as you like.
Here we find ourselves at a more familiar location than in the last picture we used from Georgia. This area is known more for the natural mineral springs and baseball than anything else. At least that’s what I’ve heard. If you are pictured here, don’t even send me an answer, you’re disqualified. But my, how the years work on those ties. I bet most of them have been replaced. If you know the place, get some extra credit and tell me which way we are looking. If you can name all those pictured, maybe the chapter member on the far right will buy you a Coke.
And here’s to a happy April dear NRHS members. Cool weather has been stubborn to give in to spring this year. Not that I mind so much, I do not look forward to the stifling heat, humidity, sunburn and bugs. Those four things aside, summer would be OK! But as discussed in previous meeting, summer brings people out and events to attend.
Matt presented the latest “calling card design” which was approved. Matt may have cards available this meeting if not, soon. When received, the members need to hand them out to potential members, persons that seem to have an interest in trains in general and rail history specifically. These cards will hopefully generate a few members per year and help our Chapter grow.
Keith may have a report from Progress Rail as may Rich. This will be a delightful event when it does come about. Steve will have a report on the slide transfer equipment cost as was discussed at the March meeting and I will have a report on the video equipment that is in use at the Depot.
Steve will update us on the planned Tennessee Central excursion trip to take place this fall from Nashville TN. to Cookeville TN. Knowing full well not everyone can go, but Steve needs a confirmed list of members in order to purchase tickets at a discount which will assure seating of members in one area.
Madisonville KY. Friday Night Live is coming up quickly Members. The Chapter has consented to have a display again this year. It would be nice if more members get involved in these events. Our displays are enjoyed by event goers and the members present always have a good time.
We need to close out the “cabinet at the Mall” idea this month. If you have a railroad related item to display please bring it this month…said item can double as a “Show-N-Tell” item.
Looking ahead, May will see us in Hopkinsville as guests of our Members there so plan ahead.
OK Members, the meeting is “just around the corner” so plan ahead to Monday, April 15, 2013 at 7:00PM.