As you may recall the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association (WGHSEA), home to ex-PRR B4a 0-6-0 643, recently acquired the land on which the organization has been occupying since 1959. In order to survive the WGHSEA had to make this step, but to pay the mortgage the organization needed to find a suitable income-producing use of its property. In addition to its own events (steam and gas machinery shows, train shows, etc) the primary use of the grounds will be for a regularly scheduled farmer's and flea market. From the linked photos (see below link to WGHSEA's website) it appears this source of income is off to a very sucessful start. Scroll down and the last photo shows PRR 643 strutting her stuff along the Williams Grove RR.

Elsewhere on the WGHSEA website (click on tabs on the left) you'll find the dates and info on the various upcoming events. Also information about the oganization's popular "engineer sessions" were you can learn to run 643 ($75 for 30 minutes of throttle time).

http://wghsea.org/photos.aspx

Regards,
Jim Robinson

For those of you who can get away with ignoring Mother on May 13th, the Baltimore Chapter NRHS is running an afternoon-long charter with 643 and freight train on that date. Cost per participant is $15; we may be able to hit you up for your cost at the site if you wish to show up and participate. No promises, but I *think* cab rides are part of the fare.........

What cars will be on the train? I am unfamiliar with their freight fleet.

Rob

Count me in. I'll be a "walk-in".

Not sure what cars are *operable*, but on the property is a flat car, a Na & Pa wooden boxcar, a tank car, two flats used as open passenger cars with sides and roofs, and a PRR wooden caboose........... maybe more than that......

The engineer school is a fine experience: well worth it. But a half hour goes by really fast. Next time I'll sign up for an hour.