Hi,

I have taken on a the task of digitizing and archiving slides in the collection of the Garden State Central Model Railroad Club. The club turns 50 years old this year, and we have had quite a few members who were very active in the glory days of fantrips.

I am not posting all the pictures, as we will eventually have a proper site for that, but I am putting some up on the club's Facebook page.

I need some help identifying dates, locations and people and I am hoping the RYPN community can help. I will only post images here that are directly related to preservation.

And with that, it is summer of 1968 in Jim Thorpe, PA and a High Iron Co. excursion finds NKP #759 getting some TLC before the return trip to NJ.

Does anyone know the HICO folks in the image?

All the best,

Rob

The man on the ground is Al Phillips.

Here we have GMRC #89 in Rutland, VT during the mid-60's. Apparently she ran a Bellows Falls - Rutland trip with this beautiful tender artwork. Anyone here a rider or have the exact date?

Again, to see more images head over to the Facebook page of the Garden State Central Model Railroad Club. I will be posting a ton of them in the coming weeks... quite a bit more of Vermont, PA and NJ fantrip steam.

Rob -

I've seen number 89 with this headlight before. Looks like it might be Northern Pacific or DM&IR. She doesn't have it at Strasburg. Anyone know what happened to it?

Les

I'm not sure of the exact date of that trip, as I was yet to live around Rutland at that time. Someone at the Center Rutland depot museum or my job may know. I'll check in this week. As a current resident of Rutland, I will say this is much missed in the Rutland area and the entire western New England/ eastern New York region. Perhaps in time it will have its season once again.

Steve

The HICO picture with 759 is at Jim Thorpe,Pa. in 1968 shown servicing the engine prior to the return trip to Jersey City.

Hank webber is on the ladder, Al Philips is on the ground and yours truly is hanging out of the cab.

The good ole days!!

Ross Rowland

Just before HICO's crew was clad in dark green coveralls with "HIGH IRON CO" on the back, and red/white small-polka-dot Kromer caps. I think that uniform started with the Golden Spike trip in May 1969?

Howard P.
Bib Overall, CT

Probably a real long shot, but does anyone know the fellow with the can on the steam locomotive footboard? And what's going on? Did she run out of gas? ;-)

This is Colonie, NY 1973 with CPR #1278 dolled up as "D&H #653" to celebrate the Bridge Line's 150th corporate anniversary.

Rob

PS: Apologies for the #653 blocking the view of the RS3 behind her. ;-)

He was sent to fetch a bucket of steam?

Awesome photos. Please keep them coming.

I thought he was filling up the headlight with oil?

Emptying the chemical toilet.

Seeing pictures like these take me back, and I'm glad to see others haven't lost the taste for reviewing preservation's roots. That being said, 1278 was a wonderful steam ambassador in her day. Knowing what happened to her after she left Steamtown's fleet and Ross's custody, makes me grieve her loss even further. I do hope Jerry Jacobson will seriously consider bringing her back online as a CPR design, and run her or lease her out once more.

IIRC that's Howard P. with the can?? Lord knows what's in it or where he's headed in the pic.

The then CEO of the D&H Mr. Bruce Sterzing asked me if we could help him celebrate the 150th. of the D&H by providing steam for special runs on his rr and of course we were glad to assist.

As I recall we sent the T-1 and the G-5 up there and ran a doubleheader with them all the way from Albany to Montreal and back.

Great trips as I remember. Howard P. is much better at recalling facts/dates etc. and perhaps he can confirm it's him in the picture and tell us what was in the can??

Ross Rowland

That old steam elixer, Okumpuckee?

Oakumpuckee comes in much smaller cans, although I can certainly imagine the occasional need for 5 or even 55 gallons of the stuff.

That's Fred Bailey on the 1278/653, photo is at Colonie Shops.

I had no involvement with the operation of the D&H trip (2-day, Albany-Montreal, April 1973). I was too busy with the operation of: a 1972 light puke green Datsun 510, a large pile of USGS 250,000 series topo maps, a 1950 4x5 Speed Graphic, and a 1968 Nikon F. All this afore-mentioned equipment was utilized on the roads and byways of upstate New York, in a rather frantic manner. Those engines were fast!

Howard P.
Cloudy Weekend, NY

Probably going to climb up and oil the bell bearings!

653 is facing north, out the north end of the Colonie Shop's main building. 302 took the full train north from Albany on Saturday morning and 653 was dispatched light to Port Henry, NY, where it was coupled on ahead of 302 for the rest of the northbound run, as far as Rouses Point (the US-Canada border). I recall there was some question about the ex-CPR (Canadian-built) 653/1278 crossing the border and perhaps incurring import duties, either going into Canada, or coming back to the US. It was decided to leave her at R. P. overnight and add to the train on Sunday morning. 653 was on for some of the southbound trip and not for other portions. Too long ago for memory recall without notes/prompts etc.

Howard P.