Every few months someone new will post on one of these discussion boards the question "Anyone know the history of the old Morris County Central steam railroad?". With a little amazement that a steam tourist line that closed down in 1980 still attracts so much attention, I and others that remember the MCC have tried to field the questions.

Well now thanks to the Whippany Railway Museum (located at the MCC's original home in Whippany, NJ) there is an excellant detailed history of the MCC for all to enjoy on their website. The brand new web pages feature text (by former MCC conductor Steve Hepler) and numerous photographes that trace the tourist line's history from beginning to end.

See below link to the WRM's online MCC history pages.

Opened in 1965, the MCC was among the "first generation" of steam tourist railroads that came into being soon after the end of "regular service" steam in the US.

Regards,
Jim Robinson



Morris Country Central history

Fantastic site! More short lines should give a history like that. Great work. I visited MCC as a very very small child. I remember absolutley nothing. But the web site makes a great read! THanks.

Jeff Lisowski
West Chester, Pa

Great music!
unfunkyufo76@hotmail.com

Somebody read my mind, which is usally quite easy
because I think in small words....

Anyway, I was just thinking of writing a post asking questions about the M.C.C.

The web site is GREAT!

Thanks for sharing it!

Alan Levy

AlanL759@aol.com

Maybe I missed this in the history section (which is excellent) but is Earl Gil or any of his family still living? I remember riding the line once as a teenager in 1980 I believe. I was on a special excursion in their railbus that had it's own turntable underneath the unit to lift itself up and turn around to run the other direction.

It was a cold November day and I recall the steam train operating the opposite direction over a high trestle that we did with the railbus. I don't know much about the line or where we went but it was an interesting day.

Joel

jdstrolley@enter.net

This is a very well-done website. I note that the history page for the Morristown & Erie has a photo of a 2-4-4T used in passenger service. The M&E later became well-known for a little 2-4-0, which was sadly scrapped at the end of steam. Were the 2-4-4T and the 2-4-0 the same engine, with modifications, or were they two different locomotives?

ryarger@rypn.org

> is Earl Gil or any of his family still living?

I heard from one of his relatives a few monthes back that Mr. Gil is alive and well in Florida--and he is very happy to learn that his little railroad is still thought of.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

I believe Berkshire Videography did a documentary on the history of the MCC back in the mid-1990's, including some excellent "first person" on camera inteviews with Earle Gil. The video also has some excellent still photography and 8mm/16mm films of the operation back in its heyday (60's and 70's). Also featured is a b&w tv "publicity" trailer of the MCC's opening day in 1965 that is a hoot. The program is narrated by Rich Melvin of 765 fame.

K.R. Bell
RR Museum of PA

> I heard from one of his relatives a few
> monthes back that Mr. Gil is alive and well
> in Florida--and he is very happy to learn
> that his little railroad is still thought
> of.

> Regards,
> Jim Robinson

> I believe Berkshire Videography did a
> documentary on the history of the MCC back
> in the mid-1990's,
> The program is narrated by Rich Melvin

That is an excellent tape on the MCC, but it was produced by Hopewell Productions (Rich Melvin's company) (Berkshire was Grant Geist's company).

Also there is a good amount of footage (also excellent) of the MCC at Newfoundland, NJ on Greg Scholl's "Twilight of Steam" video. Both 385 and 4039 are shown on this tape.

BTW, this Greg Scholl tape features a bunch of other great "steam in the 60s and 70s" tourist line / fantrip action. CPR 127(1278) on High Iron trips in NJ, RDG 2100 and 2102 on the Reading Rambles, 2102 as D&H 302, CN 4-8-4 6218, Conway Scenic RR, and some really great early Steamtown stuff including GM 2-6-0 89 and RARE CN 4-6-4T 47 action in NH. All great stuff from early days of steam tourist railroading. This tape is still available (not sure about the Hopewell MCC tape).

Regards,
Jim Robinson