Amherst Train Show - 2005

During the 2 day show, volunteers manned the
tables for the SONO Switch Tower Museum,
selling items from our Gift Shop and promoting
the Museum.

The Tower saw record sales for the two-day show.

Among the displays, there was a computer
slide show, showing the condition of the
Tower before, during and after restoration.

Photos By Bob Gambling

Welcome Back Former Member!

Kevin Feeney - New Canaan, CT

Last Month’s Mystery Photo
From John Mount

And the winners are; Bob Gambling, Anthony Gruerio, Dana Hunt and Bob Westerfield.

They correctly identified where one of the most dramatic scenes of Clint Eastwoods “Dirty Harry”, was filmed in 1971.

Scorpio has highjacked a school bus full of children. The bus crosses the Golden Gate Bridge, out of San Francisco, heading north on 101. It exits at “San Quentin, Sir Francis Drake Blvd” exit (Greenbrae/Larkspur) with Scorpio at the wheel. He panics when he sees Harry Callahan standing on the trestle, silhouetted against the sky. Passing under the trestle Harry drops down onto the roof of the bus.

The rest is history.

The trestle or bridge, at the time the movie was filmed, crossed over Sir Francis Drake Blvd. The span over the road was removed in the 70’s or 80’s when the rail line was abandoned.

Photos provided by John Mount

Queensland,Australia Railway's diesels at Redbank

There is a large number of Diesels at Redbank, redundant because of newer types being introduced.  Over the last few years QR has sold many to Tasmania, New Zealand, South Africa, south east Asia and South America.  Many Diesel-hydraulic
locos have been sold to sugar mills in Queensland and re-gauged to 2 feet for their lines - look a bit ungainly.

QR track gauge is 3'6" I believe, same as in NZ.

Photo credit Robert Briechle

Robert Briechle received this from a friend who pulled it down from a www.trainorders.com  posting.

Fascinating view of the Tehachapi Loop

The railcam is located along the curve at the bottom right, just about where it says Keyhole, and is pointed uphill, towards the bottom left corner of the picture, so technically it is before the loop as, if you are going west/north/left, you go through a tunnel before you get to the loop from the camera.  Right below the loop and on the inside are two black things that look like trucks.  Those are actually two switch panels that have been sitting there for some unknown reason for a couple of years now.  Across the tracks from there are two more black things, smaller.  One of those is a tree sitting on top of a little hill and that is my favorite spot to sit at the loop.  You can see uphill (lower right) into Tunnel 10 and can look behind you as trains come up the hill.  In fact, you can actually see them way off to the left of the picture, our of range here.  The trains come by and you are eye level with the crew.  From this view, it looks flat, of course.  But from the ground it is anything but.  I have no idea what the purple and red lines mean.  To the immediate right of the loop itself is the Loop Ranch.  The horses can walk inside the loop by crossing it at tunnel 9.

Auction

This beautiful Union Pacific 24 X 30

Framed Cibachrome print could be yours!

Original photo was taken by Tim Broadley

Bidding starts at only $150.00
And ends on March 28, 2005 at monthly meeting.

Please call Jim Mescher at (201) 391-7362

Or mail you bid to:
Jim Mescher
37 Kinderkamack Rd.
Woodcliff Lake , NJ 07677

Proceeds from this auction benefit the Western Connecticut Chapter.

THE NEW YORK, WESTCHESTER, & BOSTON RAILWAY COMPANY
By Robert A. Bang  

A state-of-the art high-speed electric commuter railroad built ahead of it’s time. Great plans and optimism soon gave way to grim reality and bitter struggle. Spotless trains ran day and night on frequent headways, an impeccable on-time record and mostly empty. Despite its woes, the Westchester was a colorful line. There is little evidence that this line ever existed. Through the use of photographs, artifacts, maps, diagrams, and newspaper clippings, this book will help recount the fascinating story of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway.

Westconn Chapter member, Dan Gallo Sr. wrote the introductory history of this new 177-page hardcover book by Robert A. Bang.

The book retails for $35.00 plus $4.00 shipping.

NRHS WestConn members may purchase it from Dan Gallo for $32.00 (plus $4.00 shipping if required) and is available autographed if requested.

Please contact: Dan Gallo
14 Fairview Place
New Rochelle, NY 10805-3502
(914) 235-6026 or e-mail danbargal@aol.com

Gift Shop Special

Click Here for more information.

Post card from the collection of David (Diz) Squires – South Norwalk Railroad Station circa 1914

Photo from the collection of Tim Shields – South Norwalk, CT. Note Tower 44 on left.

Westconn Schedule of Events

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Annual Spring Train Meet
Presented by The Westchester Model Railroad Club
Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Greenwich Civic Center Old, Greenwich, CT

Admission: Adults $6.00 Senior: $4.00 Family: $8.00
Senior & Spouse: $6.00 - Under 12 free with adult

 Plan to volunteer at the Sono Switch Tower table or be sure to visit us.
---

Monday - March 28 Membership meeting - Bring your 20 best slides to show

Monday - April 25 - 7PM - Annual Chapter Dinner at Maneros Restaurant - Greenwich, CT

Saturday - April 30 - SONO Switch Tower Museum re-opens for the season

Our Next Chapter meeting will be
Monday, February 28, 2005 - 8:00 P.M. at:
At The United Congregational Church
275 Richards Ave. Norwalk, CT

Entertainment this month will be provided by:  

Dan Gallo, Sr.
“Railraods of Maybrook” slide presentation

Bob Gambling will provide refreshments.

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