Hello All.

I'm very excited to make this announcement. We've just signed a contract to bring Flagg Coal 75 to Scranton for the opening days of the NRHS Convention in Scranton. It's taken the cooperation of the NRHS, Steamtown National Historic Site, The Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad and the Gramling Locomotive Works to make this happen. I've copied the schedule from our upcoming press release...

On Saturday June 19th the Vulcan will be on public display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. This display will coincide with “Arts on Fire”, an Industrial Arts Festival and Iron Pour at the Scranton Iron Furnaces. Frequent electric trolley runs will connect the two events.

On Sunday June 20th the engine will power short caboose rides departing from the Electric City Trolley Museum adjacent to Steamtown National Historic Site between 10 AM and 4 PM. This rare opportunity to ride in authentic cabooses will cost $5.00 per person. One of the cabooses slated for use was built in Scranton by the Delaware Lackawanna & Western Railroad in 1948. A second caboose, from the mighty Pennsylvania Railroad is expected to see use as well. This 1941 car has been restored to its former glory by the Rivanna Chapter of the NRHS, and will travel to Scranton from its home base in central Virginia. This event is being offered in cooperation with the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad’s participation in “Operation Lifesaver” a national, non-profit educational organization that seeks to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities at America's highway-rail grade crossings and on the railroad rights-of-way.

June 21st will see the locomotive parked adjacent to the Radisson at Lackawanna Station in Downtown Scranton between noon and 5 PM, greeting conventioneers as they arrive for a week of activities.

The Flagg Coal 75 was one of several thousand of locomotives built by Vulcan in Wilkes Barre between 1874 and 1954. It was initially used in Avoca, Pennsylvania (near Scranton). After changing hands a number of times, the engine was purchased and restored by John Gramling of Indiana. Flagg Coal 75 has traveled to a number of locations since it was returned to operation on its own semi truck.

Pennsylvania Railroad Caboose number 477768 was acquired by the Rivanna Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 2006. It has been restored with assistance provided by the National Railway Historical Society’s Heritage Grant Program. The “Cabin Car”, as it was called by the Pennsylvania Railroad, will be on display at Steamtown during the rest of the convention.

As visiting equipment coordinator Dave Crosby explains, the organizers of this event hope to accomplish several goals. “We hope to familiarize the public with the NRHS as an organization and the wonderful things that the society has accomplished in its 75 years of existence. At the same time we’ll be promoting railway safety with Operation Lifesaver and giving the public the opportunity to enjoy a living, breathing piece of their industrial heritage” Crosby says.

Those interested in sponsoring this event or making a donation to help offset its cost should contact Dave Crosby at dave.crosby@endlessmountainrails.com General information about the convention is available at the event website http://www.endlessmountainrails.com.

That's great news!

Thanks... It's taken a lot of work and "shuttle diplomacy" to get to this point. We look forward to having something that's outside of the normal realm of NRHS convention activities.

We feel that this is probably the most historically pertinent locomotive out there for the Northeastern Pennsylvania region.

Dave