George Hart Update

K.R. Bell · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:37 pm **Posts:** 298

For those of you who were not aware, George Hart, owner of Rail Tours, Inc., of Jim Thorpe, Pa., and Director Emeritus of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, broke his hip a few weeks ago and underwent surgery recently. He is now in the Gnaden Huetten Nursing Home in Lehighton, Pa., Room 100, with little prospect of leaving there. Now 89, he does not have any family, and would enjoy seeing his friends and cohorts from the railway preservation scene. If you'd like to cheer him up he appreciates visitors. George remains in good spirits but his recent illness has taken a serious toll on him physically and otherwise. I visited him today and he is still the encyclopedic historian we all know and love. If you'd like to visit him and share your company, I'm sure George would enjoy hearing from all of you.

tomgears · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:36 am

Thanks for the update Kurt. I'm pretty far away but maybe could drop him a card or letter.

co614 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:55 am

As a follow-up to Mr. Bells thoughtful posting, I called the facility in Lehighton and learned that George is doing "quite well" and would welcome visitors.There are NO phones in the rooms so you'll need to write him and /or go visit him. Here's the info;
George M. Hart
c/o The Gnadden Huetten Nursing Home
Room 100
211 No. 12th. St.
Lehighton, Pa. 18235
610-377-7151--- (NO PHONES IN ROOMS)

Preferred visiting hours are;
10 am- Noon
2pm-- 4:30 pm
7 days

The nurse I spoke with said that George was doing well, was quite "with it" mentally although not great physically. She said he has had a few visitors and that having visitors seems to GREATLY cheer him up.
She said he does read and that she thought he'd welcome getting cards/letters etc. May I ask you to take a few minutes and drop George a line or two as I'm sure it will mean a lot to him to know there's folks out here who appreciate what he's done over the years to help railway preservation.
Lord and weather willing I'm planning to go pay him a visit on 1/28 while I'm in that part of the woods. I'll give you an update after my visit!!
Thanks, Ross Rowland

Ray Montgomery · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 9:27 pm **Posts:** 27

One suggestion, take a recorder with you and ask questions. These memories could be lost forever.

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

I had planned to go up Saturday, but that has changed. I worked on an audio recording of #972 her last season running that was released on cassette tape 20 years ago. That experience, as well as others, are among the indelible memories George gave, and I would like to say thanks one more time.

I went up to see him the last weekend of his service out of Jim Thorpe. It broke my heart. I wanted my son to meet him while he was still railroading.

Rob