This year's National Railway Historical Society Convention took place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from August 26th to 31st. I bought tickets for all events, which were Strasburg Rail Road, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and Shady Maple Smorgasbord, East Broad Top Railroad and Rockhill Trolley Museum, an RDC trip on the Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern, Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad and Northern Central Railroad. Our friends and At-Large members from Orange, California, Greg Smith and his brother Marty, would fly to Harrisburg three days before and we would take them on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad. In addition, another friend and At-Large member, Robin Bowers, would also fly to Harrisburg then take the train back home to California.
In her role as head of registration, Elizabeth was quite busy in the weeks leading up to the convention with ordering tickets, printing name badges and getting everything organized. She would man the registration room for the first two days, as she had been to the event venues before, but would go on the Friday and Saturday trips.
8/21/2024 We packed the day before then said goodbye to our beloved cat, Chessie, who would be well looked-after by our neighbour Philip before Elizabeth drove to Greenville, Illinois for our first depot.
Pennsylvania Railroad Greenville station. In December 1868, the rails were laid to the Greenville Depot. One of the first locomotives on the Vandalia Line was named "Greenville". The original depot was improved, enlarged and destroyed by fire about 1910. The present structure was rebuilt then partially destroyed by fire in 1975. Shank Real Estate rebuilt the depot to its present condition, and now serves as their office.
Vandalia Railroad station information board.
Pioneer Rail GP9 910, nee St. Louis-Southwestern 824, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1957.
This Pennsylvania Railroad tower is now used as Vandalia Railroad offices, a 5.5 mile shortline owned by Pioneer Rail Corporation.
Pennsylvania Railroad/Ilinois Central Vandalia station destroyed by fire and rebuilt.
On display across the parking lot was Gulf Mobile and Ohio caboose 2985, built by the railroad year unknown, painted as Illinois Central Gulf 199085.
Tri-colour signal and the caboose. We then spotted a mural.
Alicia Rheal, Michael Clark, Shawn Durham, Doug Haffner, Scott Lindley are the artists who painted the mural in 2017. The scene depicts a piece of Vandalia history, when the city became the nation's crossroads in 1854, when the Illinois Central and the St. Louis-Vandalia-Terre Haute Railroad became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system, and met in Vandalia.
We continued on to Effingham and parked at the station, just in time to catch a two-unit light engine move.
Ilinois Central SD70 1010, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1995.
Illinois Central/Pennsylvania Effingham station built in 1924. The station contains three houses, at the CSXT St. Louis Line Subdivision (former Pennsylvania Railroad) crossing that once served Amtrak's former National Limited line between Kansas City and either Washington D.C. or New York City until 1979. The station is a flag stop on the City of New Orleans route, served only when passengers have tickets to and from the station; the Illini and Saluki also stops here.
The City of Effingham, Illinois, is served by the Illinois Central Railroad and CSX (previously Conrail). In November 1996, Effingham Railroad Company, a new carrier which had not yet begun operations, proposed to the Surface Transportation Board to operate approximately 206 feet of existing track, which it intended to acquire from Agracel Corporation within the Effingham Business Park. This existing track was part of a 490-foot track (called "the beer track" because it was used to transfer beer from rail cars to trucks) connected to Conrail's line. Effingham Railroad also proposed to construct 9,835 feet of new track within the industrial park. Ready-Mix, an existing shipper located in the industrial park, would be served by 1,867 feet of this new track, which would also serve new shippers that might locate in the industrial park. What followed was an intense dispute between EFRR and the Union as to the classification of these tracks. However, the Union's petition for review of the determinations of the Board were denied, and the EFRR received Surface Transportation Board approval to begin operation in 1997 as a class III line haul common carrier railroad operating within the Effingham Business Park over an interchange with Conrail (now CSX). In the fall of 1998, TQW, a public warehousing operation, started construction on 1.4 miles of trackage mainline to serve new industry and also interchange with the Illinois Central. Today, EFRR's trackage totals 1.7 miles.
Elizabeth then drove us to Indianapolis, but we stopped in Terre Haute for dinner at Texas Roadhouse, where I had a steak and Elizabeth the chicken portabello mushroom; both meals were excellent. We continued on to the Drury Inn in Indianapolis for the night.
8/22/2024 We had a good breakfast at the hotel, then Elizabeth drove us both to Dayton.
Carillon Park RailroadThis nearly mile-long, three foot narrow gauge rail network is equipped with a replica 1851 locomotive capable of carrying 120 guests on a narrated circle tour of Carillon Historical Park’s exhibit buildings. This project features a loading station at Bowling Green station, a 100 foot long triple-cell ConSpan bridge, two open-air coaches, rare views of Carillon Park, and passage through the Old Montgomery County Fairgrounds Horse Barn No. 17.
The Carillon Park Railroad is a major component of our campus-wide masterplan and builds upon a concept conceived by Carillon Park founder Edward Deeds to include a large-scale mid-19th-century locomotive among the exhibits. A miniature model, commissioned by Deeds in the 1940's, served as an inspiration for the project. This was a great opportunity to implement and expand upon a project that our founder was excited about achieving, while also providing transportation for guests around the Park. Please know that while this new railroad is much larger, it will not replace, but rather complement the Rail & Steam Society miniature trains operated since 1984 by dedicated volunteers on special days during the year.
The station was from Bowling Green, Ohio is 130 miles away.
National Cash Register 0-4-0F "Dayton", ex. Southeastern Railway Museum 1974, exx. Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society 1965, nee National Cash Register Company "Dayton" built by Lima Locomotive Works in 1913.
The train is a full-size replica of the "Cincinnati," the first locomotive to pull a passenger train into Dayton in 1851 on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. The train was built by Severn Lamb, a company in Warwickshire, England that has built locomotives for theme parks across the globe, including the Disney Animal Kingdom in Florida. Although talks with the company began in 2016, it took 18 months to manufacture and build the locomotive. The specifications of the build were based on a miniature model of the 1851 locomotive, commissioned by Edward Deeds in the 1950's. While the train resembles the historic original, it has been modernized with 21st-century technology to be a zero-emission battery, electric-power train. It took ten weeks to ship the completed train across the pond. The locomotive, named "Jane Ellen" has flowers around the name, including poppies, which represent Edith Deed's love of Belgium.
The two unnumbered coaches follow the engine around the park.
Pennsylvania Railroad crossing gate tower built in 1907.
The train returned to the station.
The train at rest. We turned in our tickets to the man in the booth and then boarded.
The view from the rear of the train.
Bowling Green station as we left.
Locust Grove School 12 from 1896, a one-room schoolhouse that was at the corner of Possum and Bird Roads outside of Springfield, Ohio from 1896 until 1929. One teacher instructed students in grades one through eight.
Approaching the location where the train is kept at night.
An old truck.
Bellwagon, Horse Barn No. 17 (1901) was originally constructed as a timber frame bank barn housing 70 horse stalls.
Live steamers in their engine house.
Brethen tower, a 100-foot tall climbing tower supports the Callahan Building Clock. Built in 1919, the clock was a distinctive landmark in downtown Dayton atop the Callahan Building, later known as the Gem Savings Building, at the corner of Third and Main Streets. The tower features an observation platform allowing views of the area surrounding Carillon Park.
Crossing an arch bridge.
Rounding the curve.
The live steamers.
The old canal of the Miami and Erie Canal Lock 17 circa 1833 that is located in the original canal bed dug between 1825 and 1829 which runs through Carillon Park. It was originally located six miles north of Dayton.
Smith Covered Bridge 1870 built by Robert W. Smith and spanned Little Sugar Creek on Feedwire Road in Greene County.
John W. Berry, Sr. Wright Brothers National Museum, including the Wright Cycle Company building and Wright Hall, tells the world-changing story of the Wright brothers and showcases their original 1905 Wright Flyer III, the world's first practical airplane and a National Historic Landmark. The Museum is a privately owned and operated as a unit of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
National Cash Register 0-4-0F "Dayton" again.
Pennsylvania Railroad crossing gate tower.
Rounding the final curve into the station.
One last look behind our train. We detrained and walked to the front.
The engine of our train.
Carillon Historical Park Dayton, Ohio. Since we had quite a distance to drive, we did not explore the rest of the grounds but did purchase a few souvenirs before I drove us to Marion and Marion Union Station.
Norfolk Western ES44AC 8021 West was our first train.
Next CSX GP38-2 2727 came out as it was switching a train.
Erie Railroad caboose C306, built by International Car in 1953 on display.
Concrete Milepost 305.
Marion Union Station built in 1902. All three railroads pass within 50 feet of this "Union" Station. The old waiting room is currently open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 2:00. The tracks to the north are now Conrail, they were originally Erie/Erie-Lackawanna and New York Central. The tracks to the east are now Norfolk Southern, formerly Norfolk and Western and originally Pennsylvania Railroad in 1964. The tracks to the west are CSX, former Chesapeake and Ohio/Chessie. All three railroads currently have two tracks at the station. It is quite a spot for railfans, with nearly 100 trains passing every 24 hours (CSX 30, NS 27, CR 25 plus locals). During its active years, the station was operated and maintained by the Columbus, Hocking Valley and Toledo (Chesapeake and Ohio).
Looking down the CSX mainlines.
Norfolk Southern ES40DC 7711 built by General Electric in 2008.
I drove to the Interstate and Elizabeth then drove us to Lodi, where we had dinner at Bob Evans then she drove us to the Best Western Plus in North Canton for the night.
8/23/2024 After we arose and following our Internet duties, Elizabeth drove us over to Cracker Barrel where I enjoyed French Toast, bacon and sausage and Elizabeth had Fried Apple French Toast Bake, which we both enjoyed. She then continued across Ohio all the way to Brookville, Pennsylvnia.
Allengheny Valley Railway Brookville freight house, year of construction unknown.
Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Brookville station, year of construction unknown.
I drove us to Dubois where we found a treasure trove of railroad equipment at Doctor Doolittle's Roadside Café. After a few trials and errors, the Roadside Café was established in 2000 and is owned by Dr. Jeffery Rice of Dubois, a local Oral Maxillofacial & Aesthetic Surgeon. Dr. Rice has brought many jobs to the area and takes pride in watching his dream grow with each passing day. The restaurant is ran by Donna Gibson and her staff. Donna has been in food service management for more than thirty years and she will go out of her way to ensure your visit is the best possible.
The front of the establishment with a railroad crossing signal.
Home to Aegis Coffee Company since 2023, the history of this car is unknown. It is not Pennsylvania Railroad.
Chessie System caboose 900206, builder and year unknown.
The Depot at Doolittle Station is built based on the blueprint of an 1880 Baltimore and Ohio station.
Plymouth 12 formally at Laurel Run Farms, builder and year unknown.
New York Central baggage car 8112, currently painted as New York Central 1182, built by American Car and Foundry in 1946.
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern presidential car 40 "Illinois", built by Pullman Company in 1901.
The diisplay board.
New York Central transfer caboose 18086, painted as Penn Central 18086, built by the railroad, year unknown. It came from Uniontown, Pennsylvania where it belonged to the Fayette Central Railroad and was used in train excursions.
New York, New Haven and Hartford baggage-coach 2175, nee New York, New Haven and Hartford baggage-coach 2633, builder unknown but constructed in 1906.
Delaware and Hudson center cupola caboose 35789, builder and year unknown.
New York Central position signal.
A sasquatch may seem rather out-of-place but the grounds of Dr. Doolittle's Roadside Café include a 14-hole dinosaur-themed glow-in-the-dark mini golf.
Amtrak baggage car 5442, nee Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 803 built by Budd Company in 1940.
Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus Train horse car 43007, ex. Amtrak 4580, exx. Union Pacific coach 5540, built by St. Louis Car Company in 1965.
Ringling Brothers, Barum and Bailey Bailey Circus coach 41307 1995, ex. RBX 38 1992, exx. Kayen Railcar Service 1990, exxx. United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, exxxx. New Jersey Transit 5439 1976, exxxxx. Penn Central 1505 1963, exxxxxx. Pennsylvania Railroad 64-seat coach/12-seat smoker 1505 1963, nee Pennsylvania Railroad 21-roomette sleeper 8267 "Lewiston Inn" built by Budd Company in 1949.
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie caboose 504, builder and year unknown. Ite came from Uniontown, Pennsylvania where it belonged to the Fayette Central Railroad and was used in train excursions.
Conrail centre cupola caboose 23374, nee Baltimore and Ohio center 8662 built by the railroad in 1950.
New York Central caboose 71525.
Conrail N7E caboose 21165, nee Erie Lackawanna C368, built by International Car Company in 1969. It was the Conrail Historical Society's first acquired piece of Conrail equipment. Conveyed to Conrail in 1976, it was painted blue in 1976 and served Conrail until 1984 when it was sidelined in Reading, Pennsylvania. Eventually sold into private ownership, 21165 was moved to Sands Point, New York and put on private property. In 2006, the property owner decided to list the caboose on eBay. After several months with no bids, the owner donated the caboose to The CRHS. It was trucked from Sands Point to Middletown, where it was placed back on live rail at the Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad.
In 2014, 21165 was moved to the Allentown & Auburn Railroad in Kutztown, where it underwent an exterior cosmetic restoration.
Milwaukee Great Northern buffet-library-solairum-lounge "Alaska", ex. Milwaukee Road X419, nee Milwaukee Road "Iandee", builder and year unknown.
The two of us the drove to the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg to drop off all of the registration paraphenalia then went to the airport to pick up Greg and Marty Smith. We stopped at Jersey Mike's in Shippensburg for dinner then, refreshed, Elizabeth drove us an hour-and-a-half, crossing the Potomac River into Virginia and we stayed at the Quality Inn in Winchester for the night.
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