News - 2021
PRR K-4s #1361 Campaign
Philadelphia Chapter Donation Presentation
Pictured left to right: Russell Polo (Chapter Vice President), Thomas Lavin (Chapter Treasurer)
Steve Staffieri (President PRRT&HS) and Gus Minardi (Chapter President)
The Philadelphia Chapter is excited to announce that membership today (12-11-2021) approved a $10,000.00 donation to the 2022 Campaign to light a fire in the restoration of PRR K-4s #1361.
The PRR K-4s #1361 restoration has been long sought. The Philadelphia Chapter is proud to contribute to "The Match Challenge" between The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society and The Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum.
Chapter Meeting: December 11, 2021
The December 11, 2021 meeting included both a modelers and feature presentations, given by Ron Hoess and Gregory Vlassopoulos Jr., respectively. Both presentations were content rich and well received.
PRRT&HS Publication
Pennsylvania Railroad Cabin Cars - Revenue and Work Equipment, 1860-1988
By Robert L. Johnson, 2021
This book provides an in-depth look at PRR cabin car development, from the earliest beginnings in 1860. Their use in revenue freight, passenger express, and work equipment service are all explained. The book concludes with their gradual disappearance during the Penn-Central and Conrail years.
Softbound ONLY -
PURCHASE HERE
Chapter Meeting: September 25, 2021
Chapter Meeting: June 19, 2021
Presenter Bruce F. Smith will cover the activity at COLA tower in Columbia, PA, over the course of 24 hours on March 8, 1945. The data was originally collected as part of a traffic study being conducted by the PRR and offers a fascinating insight into the operation of trains through Columbia. In addition to covering the general data (e.g. number of trains, locomotives, locomotive classes) several trains will be examined in detail.
The High Line - Volume 33
Volume 33 was shipped to all Philadelphia Chapter members in May 2021
Newly subscribing members will also receive Volume 33, while supplies last,
otherwise a recent volume will be shipped.
The High Line Volume 33 for 2021 includes a professional writer’s first-hand impressions of a trip on the “Broadway Limited” from New York to Chicago in 1927 when the PRR celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its deluxe train with details about the luxury and maintenance of the equipment, dedication of its service staff and the efforts made by the Company to make it the best in unrivaled luxury in rail travel.
The issue also includes a first-hand PRR employee description of a little known special event coordinated by the railroad to record a one-time-only photograph of the first two TrucTrains, T1 and T2 meeting on the Brilliant Branch in Pittsburgh on their first day of operation.
A history of the Atglen & Susquehanna Branch and the Safe Harbor industrialarea through which it passed on a high trestle is presented along with a surprise insert.
To help identify old fan trip photos, the “Off the Beaten Track” PRR excursions which began in 1936 are listed with dates and general consist drawn from Christopher T. Baer’s “PRR Chronology”; and a selection of more-than-interesting photos are included in the High Line’s standard section “Pennsy Pictorial”.
Chapter Meeting: March 20, 2021
Presenter Douglas Nelson will look at PRR magazine advertising between 1927 and 1952 and the interesting perspective it provides regarding the PRR's motive power strategy.
To all PRR T&HS Members:
Unfortunately, this is like a bad “deja-vu” experience, but (again) I have to inform all our members that the PRR T&HS Annual Meeting scheduled for May 13-15, 2021 has been cancelled. This meeting in Dublin OH is re-scheduled for 2023, and the Altoona annual meeting will be moved back one year to 2024.
The COVID vaccinations are being steadily given out, but not enough to ensure the safety of our members by this May.
The North Central Chapter committee members are working very hard to make sure our next REAL get together in 2022 will be something to really look forward to!!
Currently, we are concentrating on having multiple “virtual” presentations during the year. And a “possible” weekend event as a get together in the fall. But that depends all on the state of the country by then.
We are also doing something we do not normally do. We are publishing THREE books this year to at least give you all something to read. The first one is already available “The Pennsylvania Railroad’s Muleshoe, Horseshoe, Altoona and Beyond”. Sales have been steady so get your copy soon! The next book (untitled yet) is the long awaited PRR Cabin car book by Bob Johnson. Look for it in the very near future. The last book is a continuation of the Conquest (former Triumph) series from the late Dave Messer, Conquest 2. That will be released later this year.
According to our by-laws we are required to have some form of annual meeting and we do have society business to take care of regardless. We have five board positions that need to be voted. How we are going to do this is still being planned. We will contact everyone again shortly on how we will be doing this. Our new website PRRTHS.org, will be a help in this effort.
For now, the best thing that we can all do is “stay safe and well”. Please follow all the rules to protect yourselves, get your vaccinations and God willing we will all be together very soon.
Steve Staffieri
President PRR T&HS
Due to the current cancellation of in-person meetings, the Philadelphia Chapter will not be selling the Audio Visual Designs "2021 All Pennsy Calendar" or the Tidemark "Pennsylvania Railroad 2021 Calendar."
The Philadelphia Chapter generally purchases both of these calendars, in bulk, making them available for purchase at fall chapter meetings (with a deep discount to members). With physical meetings currently suspended, it is unlikely that sales will fulfill our purchase quantity minimums. Further, making these available for on-line purchase, to members only, is also not conducive due to shipping costs.
Members can purchase both calendars directly, at the following web locations:
Audio Visual Designs: 2021 All Pennsy Calendar
Tidemark: Pennsylvania Railroad 2021 Calendar