With time running down until his 30+ year tourist operation in Jim Thorpe is forced out of business, George Hart looks over his train after a fall foliage run this past Saturday. He founded his company, Rail Tours Inc., in 1962, with the express intent of saving the glory of railroading's past.

I, for one, shall always be grateful.

Rob Davis



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George Hart is one of the pioneers of steam operation in the preservation era, having personally rescued a hadful of steam locomotives from the torch in the 1960's. His steam operations from his base of Jim Thorpe, PA and fan trips across NJ and PA brought rail preservation to thousands. Although only sporadically in steam since 1986, his Jim Thorpe operation remained a vital part -- indeed the very first stone - of the town's revival from forgotten backwater to tourist center.

County politics and the reality of today's world have caught up with Mr. Hart. His operation is being shutdown at the end of the year. Ironically, when Jack Showalter was thrown out of Cumberland, MD under simliar political winds, he was using two of Hart's former engines. Now, it is Mr. Hart's turn.

If the town of Jim Thorpe has a soul, they will honor Mr. Hart. The man who single handedly did what no one else could do in the 1970's and early 1980's - bring people into town.

If you want to say good-bye to Mr. Hart, you have a short window of time. Fall foliage trips are wrapping up, and two weekends of Christmas season trips will bring the curtain down on this pioneering operation, when hsi company Rail Tours, Inc (founded in 1962) is given the boot.

If you want to ride and say good-bye, visit http://www.railtours-inc.com/

See you there!

Rob Davis

I was able to ride the train and visit the George Hart in August. Despite his advancing years, his recall of railroad history, people, places and events was remarkable, and I was greatful for the chance to meet and visit with him.

Alan Maples

Power for Rail Tours Inc's special trips in recent years has been the A-A set of Bangor & Aroostook F-3's operated by the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society, and painted as former CNJ units.

Under Hart's time in Jim Thorpe, he has owned or operated the following units:

*CPR 4-6-0 #972
*CPR 4-6-0 #1098
*CPR 4-6-2's (2)
*44-tonner Stewartstown #1
*several U-boats and rebuilt early Geeps
*CNJ RS-3 #1554
*CNJ-painted A-B-A F-3's

Additionally, he has hosted or double-headed with the follwing engines (many of which turned on the turntable):

*Strasburg 2-10-0 #90
*NKP 2-8-4 #759
*Reading 4-8-4 #2102
*NJ Transit E-8's
*M&E Alcos

Then there were all the other preservation projects, his trove of photos at the RRMofPA and the Stewartstown operation...

George Hart has given our community many, many gifts. He is, in my estimation, the last of the first generation of eastern steam preservationists still running - the last of the men who went through the scrap lines, laid out their own money, and saved what they could. Blount, Atwood, Hart...

George Hart is a treasure. The closing of his operation should not go unremarked.

Rob Davis







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Hello all,

It was reported earlier that there was talk that the city was planning to scrap the former CNJ yard and turntable in Jim Thorpe. Is this still planned? If so, is anyone/organization making an effort to save this important and useful site?

Anyone have any? I have never seen a photo of No. 90 on a turntable, as neither the Great Western and Strasburg ever had one. Would like to see one.

Rob,
Thank you for your kind words regarding George Hart. I've had the pleasure of working with George on the Stewartstown Railroad in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as both a volunteer and as a member of the STRT board of directors in the early 1990s. I've spoken with George several times during the past few months regarding the STRT and he is still sharp and full of ideas!

I, too, hope George's contributions to railroad preservation will be remembered, as well as his generosity. -- Ray

One of the High Iron trips, on the Lehigh & Hudson River. Does this depot (and the track) still remain?

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?o ... 1286_T.jpg

Oops! link above is for the back of the postcard. Here's the link for the actual photo:

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?o ... n_1286.jpg

Bob,

Still there with a little track left in front.

Rob

I hear the Lackwanna Chapter who was given the yard track from Mr. Hart just gave a notice to the private cabin car owners. The cabooses must be moved by Nov. 22, 2004. The chapter will begin removing "their" rails and other appurtenances on or around that date. Now that's railway preservation at it's worst! The Lackwanna Chapter is just looking to make a buck at the scrap yard from a gift from Mr. Hart. And if I recall currectly doesn't Railtours still have Santa trains to run, and why would they start pulling track before Railtours operations have stopped.

Everyone must stop by soon for their final Railtours ride! When the fall comes around next year, the R&N won't have enough capacity to run the level of trips that were run here this year.

Rob,

Many thanks for shining the spotlight on Mr. Hart. If there is ever a "Railway Preservation Hall Of Fame", Mr. Hart should be in the top ten places of honor. We owe thanks to him for his efforts in the preservation of railroad history in general and that of pennsylvania railroad history in particular. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania might not have become the grand institution it is today without the early efforts of Mr. Hart. As an individual he preserved many pieces of railroad equipment, including saving 6 steam locomotives from scrap and later acquiring another (CPR 4-6-0 1098) from Steamtown. Luckly Kurt Bell had the mind to interview (I believe on tape) Mr. Hart about his life and times in railway preservation. Perhaps, someday, somewhere it will find its way into print.

I will add that before coming to Jim Thorpe , Mr. Hart's Rail Tours Inc. was based out of York, PA. He ran excursions on the famous Ma & Pa Railroad using ex-CPR 4-6-0 972, one of his ex-CPR 4-6-2's (I forget if it was 1286 or 1238), and ex-RDG 0-6-0T shop switcher 1251. Early on he very briefly ran his ex-BEDT 0-6-0T 14 at York before leasing that engine to the BR&W Railroad (later 14 was sold and today is at Arkville, NY). He also owned ex-BEDT 0-6-0T 13, which today is at the RMofP along with RDG 1251.

I remember when Mr. Hart started the RTI operation at Jim Thorpe during the 1970's, the town wasn't the tourist draw it is today (you didn't have to pay to park!). Back then it was 972 push-pulling one car (usually the open car) along just a mile of track between the station and the former engine facility site. In a few years the ride and the train lengthed and RTI became a key attraction as tourists came in greater numbers to Jim Thorpe. Yes, the town does owe Mr. Hart a thank you. Hopefully things work out and his equipment can find a home.

"co614" can set the record straight, but I don't recall Strasburg 90 being turned on the Jim Thorpe turntable.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Quite sad... while much attention has been given the to the charade in Georgetown, the Jim Thorpe situation is acttual just as sad, and maybe messier.

The ray of light is that the Reading & Northern team is really good at running excursions. I am confident they will do a good job. I am just saddened by the way it is going down.

And the whole ripping up track thing is just another nasty, bitter thorn.

This should be a time to celebrate Mr. Hart.

Heck, the town renamed itself Jim Thorpe hoping the name and his tomb would bring in tourism. In the end, it was George Hart who turned the tourism goal into reality. Maybe they should rename Jim Thorpe "George Hart?"

Rob

So who owns the land? Are there plans in the works for this land, or will it just lie fallow? What am I missing - as it would seem that working with the Reading & Northern would open up opporunities for more routes and more trips and there would be a greater demand for this site.

As I understand it, the land is owned by Carbon County, and the Lackawanna Chapter of the R&LHS is getting the squeeze on removing the track that was given to them. I don't think they are a greedy organization.
This is a situation where various agencies can't get along, so they are forced to go their separate ways.
I sincerely hope that the Reading & Northern operation of the tours will work out, but I rarely see any promotion of the rail trips they offer, and I'm only 60 miles away. Without promotion, all of these operations, steam or diesel will wither on the vine.

Having said that, one of my co-workers took the train this past Saturday, (Oct 16), and had a wonderful trip. It was a rather full train, so I hope everyone else enjoyed it, too.

George Hart has done a great job in Jim Thorpe for many years. Having said that I can also note from personal experience that the operation is not what it used to be. The equipment looks worn and tired and the whole area around the station could use a bit of attention.

Next take a look at the equipment and facilities of the Reading and Northern. Sadly there is simply no comparison. While I have no involvement with the R&N I can say my expectation is that the operation in Jim Thorpe will look and feel like what you see and feel at Port Clinton. Neat, clean, and professional with the friendly feel of a small company that really gives a hoot.

It seems to me that the NRHS chapter is the group trying to use strong arm tactics. It seems they are the ones threatening to scrap stuff if they don't get the outragous price for the track or the lease that they want. If they more honorable reasons for acting that way they have not made them public which is not helping the cause.

Tom Gears