Elizabeth and I arose and following our Internet duties, went downstairs and had a buffet breakfast at the Ad Lib Café. I gave Elizabeth a kiss, who was going to set up the registration room, then went back to bed. Following that, I prepared for the day and called our friend and fellow NRHS member Greg Smith, suggesting to him and his brother Marty that we would leave the hotel at 11:30 AM then finished on the Internet and worked on a story.
A picture of the Harrisburg Capitol in the elevator. At 11:20 AM, I went down the lobby and found Robin Bowers, who was having trouble with his phone and was with Greg and Marty.
A 63 acre island and city park, City Island, in the middle of the Susequhanna River, is home to the Harrisburg Senators, the AA affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Walnut Street Bridge, an old steel truss street bridge that is now a pedestrian bridge, connects people with downtown and the western suburbs. It is also the home of the "Pride of the Susquehanna", a riverboat that is a pleasure to ride as you get great views of the river as well as the downtown region. It has a miniature golf course, a carousel and is where the Harrisburg Beach Club is located.
As you enter City Island, there is an important crossing you must make, which is the tracks of City Island Railroad, a miniature train pulled by a replica of an American Civil War-era steam locomotive running on a two foot gauge track. A ride on the train takes you around the stadium, past the miniature golf course and beach club, past the dock of the Pride of Susquehanna but most importantly, you get great views of the river.
The railroad begins at the Walnut Street Station which is a short walk from the parking lot and Walnut Street Bridge but runs mainly in the summer month and is accessible from the Market Street Bridge which crosses the river between downtown and the western side of the river. Admission is required to ride the train, parking is available and it is mainly free, but you may pay for parking during stadium events.
Our Ride
The three of us walked across the Walnut Bridge to City Island where looking to the right, you see the tracks and follow them west to the station, where we waited to buy our tickets. Today we would be riding their trolley and a trailer.
This trolley is operated by the man who sold our tickets and Greg kindly bought my ticket. He and Marty rode the front car and I rode the trailer.
A spare car not being used today.
The view behind the trailer.
We took off and here is the trolley leading.
A look back at the station area.
The view ahead.
This is not the straightest track.
FNB Field, home of the Harrisburg Senators.
Two views behind us.
Stadium Drive and Riverside Drive and the tracks.
A car following us ended up on the tracks.
The State Capital of Pennsylvania across the Susquehanna River.
Another view of FNB Field.
Groundhogs are a protected animal in this state.
The view to the rear.
A view ahead of our train.
A reverse view.
Another groundhog.
On a curve, two people are under the trees.
Looking toward the playground.
A wooden train for children to play on.
The curve and the playground.
An log cabin belonging to the Susequhanna River School.
FNB Field again.
The Walnut Street Bridge, a truss bridge that spanned the Susquehanna River until 1996. Built by the Phoenix Bridge Company in 1890, it is the oldest remaining bridge connecting Harrisburg's downtown and Riverfront Park with City Island. Since flooding in 1996 collapsed sections of the western span, it no longer connects to the West Shore. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Downtown Harrisburg.
The State Capitol across the river.
Four views looking behind us.
Thank You For Visiting City Island.
A trespasser walking down the tracks behind us.
We returned to the station and detrained. Greg and Marty bought Coca-Cola but I declined as I no longer drink it.
Harrisburg Giants, a team in the Negro Baseball League, historical sign.
Walnut Street Bridge historical sign.
The Susquehanna River with the Foster Street bridge in the background.
The State Capitol.
The Market Street bridge, a stone arch bridge that spans the Susquehanna River between Harrisburg and Wormleysburg. The current structure is the third bridge built at its current location and is the second oldest remaining bridge in the city. It carries BicyclePA Route J across the river. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1988 and was documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in 1997.
The Camelback Bridge was the first bridge built to cross the Susquehanna River. The Theodore Burr-designed bridge was built by Jacob Nailor, starting in 1814, and was opened as a toll bridge in 1820. The Camelback remained the only bridge until the Walnut Street Bridge was built in 1890. In 1902, the Camelback Bridge was destroyed by a flood and in 1905, a two-lane replacement bridge was erected at the same location. The current structure is the result of the widening of the replacement bridge in 1926. Columns at the Harrisburg entrance to the bridge were salvaged from the old State Capitol which burned in 1897.
The Underground Railroad history board.
The original Capitol Complex history board, as seen during our walk to Harris Tower.
Harris Tower was constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1929 and opened on April 26, 1930. Its 113 interlocking levers originally controlled the complex maze of switches and signals along 3,250 feet of track between Herr Street and the middle of the Harrisburg passenger station platforms. The tower was later operated by Penn Central (1968-1971) and Amtrak (1971-1992) as the ownership of the terminal and passenger operations changed over the years. As the amount of track in Harrisburg was reduced and regional control operations were computerized and centralized, Harris Tower's importance was diminished. The tower was ultimately closed on November 15, 1991.
On July 24, 1992, Harris Tower was purchased by the Harrisburg Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society to be preserved as a publicly accessible museum. Through the Chapter's efforts, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 30, 1994.
Today, a complex computer program, designed specifically for use at Harris Tower, teaches visitors about the operations of the tower in its heyday. The program is connected to the original levers, allowing visitors to control virtual trains through a simulation of the 1940's track pattern based on period-correct Pennsylvania Railroad timetables and train schedules.
The Enola Roundhouse model.
The Pennsylvania Railroad station now used by Amtrak.
This red stripe means Style M Code Transmitter.
Pennsylvania Railroad clock and a picture.
Amtrak Train 41 "The Broadway Limited" at Harrisburg on July 3, 1977.
Norfolk Southern AC4400CW 7588 built by General Electric in 2006.
BNSF AC4400CW 5621 built by General Electric in 2003.
A position light signal without its covering. We all went upstairs to see the second floor.
The signalling for Harris Tower.
The control panel with all the switching controls.
All the points in Harrisburg.
All of the levers to switch the tracks.
Harrisburg Union Station built in 1887, as seen from the Tower.
Cabinets of trains and memorabilia.
On one of the walls of Harris Tower is a series of paintings by Peter A. Lerro Jr., Illustrator and Graphic Designer. Growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, Pete fell in love with the many trains, trolley cars, subways and buses at a very early age. Spending hours drawing and coloring was a daily occurrence and eventually became the passion that he wanted to pursue as a professional. Distribution of his work is worldwide. He has been commissioned by museums, historical societies and railroads for original art. His portfolio includes a vast collection of railroad watercolor paintings and reproductions available to everyone.
A native of Delaware County, Pennsylvania with over 40 years experience in all phases of the graphic design industry, Pete has won several awards in advertising design. He graduated from Hussian School of Art in 1981, where he taught freshman advertising design. Perfecting his creative, design, production and illustration skills, Pete has worked for various advertising agencies in the Philadelphia and Northern Virginia region. Experience includes full ad campaigns, displays, collateral, web design, illustration and art supervision.
"Reflections of Power".
"Home For The Holidays".
"Suseuqhanna Crossing".
"Generations At Harris Tower".
"Power and Pride - Enola Yard West".
"High Grade - Low Grade".
"Performance and Prestge - Enola Yard East".
"The Family Tradition".
"Afternoon Keystone".
"E44-Bound For Enola".
"Ramblin' Through Hershey".
"Saluting The Railroad".
"Harrisburg Glory Days".
"Queen of The Valley". This is the last Peter A. Lerro painting.
A GG1 painting.
Photograph of Penn Central Heritage unit 1073.
The Reading Bee Line Service 1067.
A Grif Teller Pennsylvania Railroad calendar from 1979/1980.
A return to the present with a view from the Tower of a Keystone Amfleet train waiting for the call of duty.
Pennsylvania Railroad steam train passing a railroad tower by Ted Xaras.
Evolution of motive power and Harrisburg Power Office.
Lantern display.
Various paperwork.
First aid kit.
Link and pin coupler.
More paperwork and employee timetables.
Items for sale.
"Emperors of the Road" by Gil Reid.
Shop employees on a steam engine at Enola Yard.
Progress of Locomotion Traced Through a Century from January 29, 1938. We went out to the parking lot.
A twenty-minute late Amtrak Pennsylvanian arriving at Harrisburg on its way to New York City.
Harris Tower. I saw good friend Doug Scott and went outside to join him.
Norfolk Southern C44-9W 4357, nee 9052 built by General Electric in 1997 and C44-9W 4370 nee 9107, also built by General Electric in 1997.
Norfolk Southern 7588 and BNSF 5621 leave Harrisburg for good.
Norfolk Southern ES44DC 7638 built by General Electric in 2005 as the DPU for 4357.
Norfolk Southern AC44A6M 4271 built by General Electric in 2019 and Norfolk Southern ES44AC 8040 built by General Electric in 2012. Doug and I went into the tower and found Greg and Marty, who were waiting for us and we chatted then returned outside.
Harris Tower was built in 1929.
Preservation Award by the Historic Harrisburg Association in 2018.
We walked over to the Amtrak station and looked for the Pennsylvania Railroad Harrisburg Power Director's Office, but the door was locked so we went into the station instead.
A collage of Harrisburg railroad photographs.
The tunnel that leads you down to the tracks. We proceeded to Strawberry Square and on the way, found some historic plaques.
T. Morris Chester journalist, educator, lawyer. Born here, 1834. Taught in Liberia 1857-61. Recruited black soldiers in Civil War; noted as war correspondent. In Europe for freedmen's aid; was admitted to the English bar in 1870. Held major posts in Louisiana 1873-83. Died nearby, 1892 historical plaque.
Doug and I went to Fresca where I ordered a plain hamburger.
Back at the Hilton Hotel, the Capitol rotunda in the other elevator.
The registration room ready for business. Elizabeth was ably assisted by Ellen Scott, Eileen Weber, Dawn Holmberg, Bob Bitzer and Dave Baniewicz (who was in charge of emblem sales) in setting everything up and it all came together very well. She put the finishing touches on the room and Klaus Michels, Bob Bitzer and Valli Hoski took care of everyone throughout the afternoon and evening. A little after 3:00, I picked up my registration packet.
Photo courtesy Dawn Holmberg. That evening, I attended the members' reception, which was in place of a banquet this year, which was followed by a most captivating and interesting seminar of East Broad Top Railroad history presented by Julie Rockwell, Archivist and Sammy Bellin, Archives Technician.
Elizabeth returned to our room about 9:00 PM and we called it a night soon after as we had a series of early starts the next few days.
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