NKP 759 on the EL in 1971 - Question

Dave Crosby · **Posted:** Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:00 pm

Hello All

A few photos (including the one below) have appeared on Ebay, showing High Iron/Steamtown 759 on the EL in 1971. I've seen many photos of the NKP Berk pulling an excursion train over this route, but never any of the engine on freight. What was the occasion, ferry move, publicity?

Thanks in advance.

Dave Crosby

johnacraft · **Joined:** Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:53 pm **Posts:** 660

Dave Crosby wrote:

Hello All

A few photos (including the one below) have appeared on Ebay, showing High Iron/Steamtown 759 on the EL in 1971. I've seen many photos of the NKP Berk pulling an excursion train over this route, but never any of the engine on freight. What was the occasion, ferry move, publicity?

According to notes Kurt Bell sent me a while back, this was late August, 1971, after the August 14-15 Hoboken - Binghamton excursions. 759 was returning to Steamtown. Route was Hoboken - Binghamton - (D&H) - Whitehall - Rutland - (GMR)- Riverside, with freight at least as far as Rutland.

JAC

Howard P. · **Posted:** Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:26 pm

The WM gon was carrying HICO-owned coal for the trip. The lower shot was taken at Cresco on the Lackawanna. This ferry move operated during the week after the August 14-15 trip.

Dave Crosby · **Posted:** Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:09 pm

Thanks one and all, I knew Howard would have the goods. Neat to know you can still stand on the bridge at Cresco and see ALCo hauled freights and steam excursions pass the same depot, which is in much better shape these days!

Photo below from my site, taken last summer...

co614 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:34 pm

The original plan as worked out between Nelson Blount and I was to use the 759 if we were able to get the American Freedom Train funded along with the 763. After Nelsons tragic death in the plane crash the Steamtown Foundation hired one Robert Barbera as its exec.-director and he made certain demands on us that we found unacceptable(i.e. he was insisting that we put tarps over the running gear so that chasers couldn't get good pictures of her underway) so we just sent her back to Vermont and that was that.
The freight cars were there to provide breaking on the deadhead move which went very smoothly. A couple years later thru human error she was allowed to be put out of doors in very frigid weather and she sufferred extensive freeze damage which remains unrepaired to this day.
Darn shame as she was a good runner!
Ross Rowland

Alan Maples · **Posted:** Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:35 pm

A few details and two more pictures of the freight move can be found in the September 1971 issue of William S. Young's "Railroading" (Issue 40).

Alan Maples

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Alan Maples wrote:

A few details and two more pictures of the freight move can be found in the September 1971 issue of William S. Young's "Railroading" (Issue 40).

Alan Maples

Alan - Sure do miss that great little magazine!

Les

rev66vette · **Joined:** Mon Aug 30, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 362

Actually the Cresco station has been further restored within the past several months through the efforts of the Barrett County Historical Society and the Weiler Corporation, a business located not to far away. Workers were busy painting the interior last Wednesday, and the effort thus far, has been quite astonishing. They've even installed plumbing and restrooms. I'll be out there tomorrow chasing the D-L Alcos in my old E-L haunts and no doubt will snag a similar shot, although I wish it could be steam!

Great shots, and thanks for sharing them.

Rich O

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:19 pm

See

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_bo ... n/shst.htm

for a detailed history of damage and repairs.

nathansixchime · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:03 pm **Posts:** 948

What's so cool is the station looks better in the recent photo than it does with 759 charging past!

-Lynch

Dave Lewandoski · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:58 pm **Posts:** 1083

co614 wrote:

After Nelsons tragic death in the plane crash the Steamtown Foundation hired one Robert Barbera as its exec.-director and he made certain demands on us that we found unacceptable(i.e. he was insisting that we put tarps over the running gear so that chasers couldn't get good pictures of her underway) so we just sent her back to Vermont and that was that.

Ross Rowland

sounds like that guy didn't have a clue.

eldiner · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:39 am **Posts:** 534

In addition to Cresco, the DL&W stations at Moscow, Gouldsboro, Tobyhanna, East Stroudsburg and Delaware Water Gap have all been preserved or are undergoing restoration. There are also projects to restore the towers at East Stroudsburg and Slateford Jct.

Howard P. · **Posted:** Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:31 am

"sounds like that guy didn't have a clue."

A book could be written about the "Barbera Era" at Steamtown; it would be rather interesting reading....

Stephen Hussar · **Posted:** Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:10 am

And I always thought the "tarps" story was just that, a story! I think I first heard this from my father MANY years ago...

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:27 pm

Mentioned in the beginning of the Steamtown writeup, as having overhauled the 759 in 1958. Was he in charge of the shop at Conneaut? I presume the shop and remainder of the roundhouse I saw at Conneaut in 1969 are long gone? Turntable too?