President: Bernie Leadon Vice-President: John Gonder Secretary: Mark Hudson Treasurer: Tom Norman

Transcription

1 The SETOFF The Official Publication of NARCOA North American Railcar Operators Association July / Aug 2012 Volume 26 No. 4 NARCOA Annual Report Great Lakes Central Railroad Show and Tell, Mannassas Virginia

2 The SETOFF Volume 26 - No 4 The SETOFF is the official publication of the North American Railcar Operators Association (NARCOA) and is published bimonthly to promote safe legal operation of railroad motorcars, and to encourage fellowship and exchange of information among motorcar enthusiasts. Membership in NARCOA is $36 per year and includes a subscription to The SETOFF. Please send a check made out to NARCOA to: Mark Hudson, Membership P.O. Box 321, Dry Ridge, KY membership@narcoa.org Brian Davis, SETOFF Editor 5626 Chadwell Circle Ravenna, Ohio setoff@neo.rr.com Leon Sapp, Assistant Editor Jamie Haislip, Contributor The SETOFF is printed by Greg Kightlinger, GEK Printing All subscriptions, address and changes must go to the Secretary. All materials for publication must go to the SETOFF Editor. Materials received by the 15th of even numbered months will appear on the 1st of the next odd numbered month subject to editing and available space. Please include your address and phone number. Electronic submissions are preferred. Text files must have either.doc or.txt extensions. Photo files must be high resolution with.jpg extensions. All materials are archived and not returned. We cannot reprint copyrighted material without written authorization or proper attribution. Letters to the Editor must be signed and include an address or phone number for authentication. All such letters will be printed as discussed in the NARCOA policy book. For more information about NARCOA, the safe legal operation of motorcars, or to find NARCOA affiliates, please see: Copyright NARCOA. All rights reserved. Reproduction, by any means, in whole or part, by any party, is strictly prohibited. NARCOA Officials President: Bernie Leadon Vice-President: John Gonder Secretary: Mark Hudson Treasurer: Tom Norman Area 1 Director (ME, NH, VT, NY, MA, CT, RI) Warren Riccitelli (401) warren.riccitelli@cox.net Area 2 Director (NJ, PA, DE, MD) John Gonder (724) up3706@msn.com Area 3 Director (IN, Lower MI, OH) Jeff Levengood (330) jlevengood@roadrunner.com Area 4 Director (WV, VA, KY, NC, SC, TN) Bernie Leadon (615) leadon@reallysmall.com Area 5 Director (MS, AL, GA, FL) Bobby Moreman (770) moreman@mindspring.com Area 6 Director (MN, WI, IL, Upper MI) Bob Knight (815) railbuff@indianvalley.com Area 7 Director (ND, SD, NE, IA) Carl Schneider (515) motorcarl@mchsi.com Area 8 Director (Canada, World outside U.S.) Warren Froese (204) wgfroese@gmail.com Area 9 Director (AR, CO, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX) Chris Weaver (303) CPWeaver@gmail.com Area 10 Director (WA, OR, ID, MT, AK, WY) Bill Taylor (406) wtaylor@bresnan.net Area 11 Director (CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, HI) Wayne Parsons (805) wparsons@ix.netcom.com Nominations, Elections Carl Anderson 1330 Rosedale Lane Hoffman Estates, IL ca636@aol.com NARCOA Insurance Administrator Tom Norman (406) Terrace View Drive Alberton, MT alb4961@blackfoot.net Rule Book CertificationTest Al McCracken 2916 Taper Avenue Santa Clara, CA alnethie@alnethie.com The SETOFF Editor Brian Davis (330) setoff@neo.rr.com NARCOA Webmaster Keith Mackey (352) webmaster@narcoa.org NARCOA Forum Moderator Rich Stivers (408) rich@stivers-bros.com Committee Chairs: Judiciary Chair Jim Spicer (541) Coburg Rd Eugene OR jimarea10@aol.com Safety Chair Bob Knight (815) railbuff@indianvalley.com Rules Chair Jim McKeel (316) cp2123@cox.net Operations Chair Bill Taylor (406) wtaylor@bresnan.net Affiliates...Dave Verzi wm340@aol.com Custom-Built Motorcars... Tom Falicon Communications Bernie Leadon FRA... open Legal Forms... Mark Springer lospinos@ksrails.net Membership...Mark Hudson Documents...Wayne Parsons HyRail Committee...Tom Falicon raildawg@gte.net On The Cover: Amtrak Crescent Northbound passing speeders in Mannassas, VA. Photo by Jamie Haislip Director-at-Large (non voting) James (Jim) D. Hopkins (864) bmrmakr@bellsouth.net Director-at-Large (non voting) Mark B. Sorensen sorenmd@inebraska.com SNARCOA Radio Call Sign: WPHT745 Channel MHz Channel MHz Channel MHz Page 2 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012

3 President s Message Bernie Leadon Hello members- I am off this morning driving over to West Virginia to participate in EC John Gonder s wonderful excursion on the West Virginia Central. We are so fortunate in the mid-south to have this railroad. Stopping by a tree shaded waterfall for a picnic during a run is always high on my list for enjoyment. Its also a run where members from the Midwest and Northeast come down, and mingle with those who live in the southern states, and there are always many reunions with friends with whom we have run in previous years. I was also fortunate to be able to go out to run on the Durango & Silverton narrow gauge railroad in early June, and it was spectacular, as usual. Huge thanks go to EC Phillip Walters and everyone at the D&SRR. Without Phillip stepping up to take over supervising that excursion, we would not still be running on the D&S. Thank you! Please read the Annual Report elsewhere in this issue, which the president is required to issue each year. Members may request a copy of the 2012 financial report directly from Treasurer Tom Norman. Take a few minutes to read the report, and you will be better informed about your organization, and its activities. We are basically in good shape, thanks to countless hours of tireless volunteer time. Get involved at your local level, letting folks know you re willing to help, and NARCOA will have a bright future indeed. Be safe out there, it s our highest priority, Bernie Leadon President Jamie Haislip talking about ARCOA with visitors at the Mannassas Rail Festival From The Editor Brian Davis Hello Readers- We are in the heat of the summer, and the middle of the NARCOA operating season, Our excursion listings are packed with excellent runs all across the country, some near and some far away. One of the missions of the SETOFF is to bring accounts of these excursions to NARCOA members and to others interested in our hobby. Now if I were rich and retired, I would be travelling to all of these events to bring their reports to you, but since this isn t the case, it is my hope that you the readers will take the time to jot down your adventures on the rails and forward them to me for a future issue. Thanks again for the chance to put our adventures on paper! See you on the rails! Brian In This Issue Masthead...2 NARCOA Officials...2 President s Message...3 Area Director Messages...4 NARCOA Annual Report...6 Annual Meeting Great Lakes Central RR...8 Show and Tell, Virginia...12 Rail Sweep Origins...14 Folsom Rail Days & 6th Annual Ione Railfair report...16 TRANCO Folding Velocipedes.17 Western New York & PA RR...18 The Road Boss...20 NARCOA Excursion Listings...22 Supplier Listings...27 Company Store...24 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 3

4 Area One ( IA, NE, SD, ND ) Warren Riccitelli For this area, it has been a very busy and unusual summer. First was the planning and carry out of a regional Boy Scouts of America Railroading Camporee at Edaville Railroad. Planning that started over one year ago brought NARCOA members from the Northeast together with the NMRA National Model Railroad Association so that five hundred thirtyfive boys could receive their Railroading Merit Badge. With over a dozen members that provided financial support to another dozen that joined in for classroom instruction, I wish to say thanks. Together we had fifty instructor from as far away as Iowa, Kansas and California take part in an endeavor to make the youth aware of the railroading and aspects of the hope. Again I say thanks and I am sure that there are over five hundred more if you listen. The first half of this year has again been opened with good tracks for mentoring, some old standard railroads and new exciting rails. And it looks like the second half of the year will be one of the best ever, offering more excursions, great variety coupled with new rails and great excursions like the Annual Snowflake excursion. NERCA has also been very busy. With only two Certified Excursion Coordinators, we had been asked by NARCOA to train more. We now have five in our region that we are mentoring along with two outside our area that are being mentored. But I am always open to helping members in our area, as usual. - Warren. Area Four (WV, VA, KY, NC, SC, TN) Bernie Leadon I have just returned from John Gonder s excursion on the West Virginia Central in Elkins, WV. I had not been over to that run since the track got put back into the Elkins depot. That made for a very comfortable set-on site, and the ambience of the depot and adjoining downtown and restaurants are great. The weather was perfect, and what a great experience it is over there, running alongside the river for the entire two days. I had been out to the Durango and Silverton Railroad in Colorado only two weeks before WV, and the two experiences are similar. Mountain railroading is unique, and never boring, as straight tangent track is rare. Some of the curvature on the WVC is tighter than anything I saw on the narrow gauge Durango & Silverton! New EC-in-Training Jaime Haislip attended, and is moving forward together with fellow EC-in- Training Boomer John Schmidt and EC mentor Gary Shrey in making plans to approach railroads in the Virginia area over the next months. With their high energy and focus, I m sure NARCOA will gain some great track over the next year or so. Thanks for stepping up, guys. It takes serious volunteer work to put good runs together. Patriot Rail, the owner of the Tennessee Southern Railroad in Mt. Pleasant, TN, is being sold. I understand the current management will continue in Tennessee, and we look forward to continuing the great relationship we have with them. We got back on the Caney Fork Page 4 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 and Western railroad this past April, and we are very grateful to everyone at the railroad, and owners Iron Horse Resources. We will not be able to do this run every year, but hope to be able to do it again in Tom Falicon held his now famous BBQ run on the Great Smoky Mt. Railroad, from Andrews to Dillsboro, NC. Tom (as roadmaster of the railroad) has been very busy rebuilding most of the 100 year old bridges on the GSMRR, and has some great stories. I loved the one about ordering custom sized 14 beams, and discovering when trying to install them that they were too short. A quick call to the timber company resulted in them cutting trees, making new beams that weekend, creosoting them, and Tom had them installed by the end of the weekend. Hope they don t shrink too much when they dry out! Be safe, and don t forget to have fun. -Bernie Area Five (MS, AL, GA, FL) Bobby Moreman NARCOA has become a way of life for me and my family. Brenda and I look back at all the friends we have made all over the US and CANADA and always have the best of thoughts. We look at the travel, the scenery, the food eaten, the sometime misadventures, and all of railroad motorcar excursion life. It has been a great 20 plus years. We never went on a bad trip, never had a bad excursion coordinator, never had a problem that could not be fixed, and we were always surrounded by great operators and their families who were always ready and often did pitch in to help

5 us and others. I think of our friends that are no longer with us and wonder how did we survive without their friendship. I miss them all and I miss them a lot. While I am not retiring from NARCOA or being an Excursion Coordinator, I am retiring from the NARCOA Board of Directors this year. Will Thompson has stepped up to the plate and I m confident he with Connie s help and support will be a Board Members. He is enthusiastic about becoming a Board member and has the ability and desire to help guide NARCOA in the coming years. Please let me thank the members and operators of Area 5, that have elected me to the NARCOA Board all these past years. I hope that I have made a difference in helping NARCOA through changes and growing pains. I have served under a number of NARCOA Presidents and have been proud of everyone. Change for NARCOA is good and the quality of our Area Representatives has always been the best. Where would NARCOA be without the volunteers of committee chairs and its members? Plain and simple, NARCOA is motorcar excursions. Always remember the guys and gals that go knocking on the doors of our railroads and present NARCOA to the managements of the railroads. These are truly NARCOA heroes and through their efforts we have many wonderful motorcar excursions that result if great adventures and great friends. And don t forget all of the assistance excursions coordinators that help keep the excursions running and SAFE. I am going to miss being your NARCOA Area 5 Director and feel that I have left NARCOA with some good accomplishments and confident that I have left you in the capable hands of Will Thompson. Please stay safe on the rails, focus on safety, and come visit us a way down south. Bobby Moreman Area Six MN, WI, IL, Upper MI Bob Knight Greetings and now..happy motorcar time!!! It has been great to meet, greet and motorcar operate with many of the Area 6 members on my last three excursions. The unfortunate side of the runs is that they all have been in other neighboring areas of the Mid-West. We only have a few possible railroads to ride in Area 6, but there are several EC s working on some new rails for us. Illinois Eastern RR (Brocton, Il) has been allowing us to run in the fall and a possible run on the Illinois Railway near Ladd or Streator (Illinois) is still in the works. On July 14 th and 15 th, the First Iowa Division is running an excursion on the Minnesota Northern RR in Northern Minnesota. EC, Mike Ford, has his 15 day excursions in Saskatchewan, Canada, North Dakota and Minnesota ready to go starting in early July. At this time, he still has open spots for you to join the group on July 21 st for the North Shore Scenic RR operating between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota. If you are interested, follow through on the NARCOA website for more information. Mike has also reported that he has open spots for his Indiana Northeastern Railroad in August. Again, check the NARCOA website for more information about that run. Please keep it safe on the rails as we all enjoy the motorcar season. Bob Knight, Area 6 Area Seven ( IA, E, SD, D ) Carl Schneider Things are very busy in Area 7 with lots of rides by the First Iowa Division going on. There s a ride nearly every other weekend throughout the summer months and I ve just been informed that we re going to have a new ride on the Iowa Northern in August. Details will be posted as soon as they become available but this will be new trackage so we re looking forward to this and hope to secure more rides on the Iowa Northern in the future. We haven t ridden any of their lines in several years so this will be a come back for us. We re off to a good start this year with some new members in Area 7. Their mentoring runs have taken place and we welcome them to our hobby. Thanks to all who took the time to mentor the new operators. The First Iowa Division lost a popular railroad ride when the Nebraska Northeastern Railroad was recently purchased back by the BNSF so they can upgrade the tracks and run shuttle grain trains. We could count on a two-day run every year on the NENE so this is a big loss to the club. This was a surprise to us and we ended up canceling the ride just a few days prior to our planned date when we received the news. Have a safe rest of the summer and keep those wheels on the rails! Carl Schneider The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 5

6 North American Railcar Association Annual Report 2012 June 9, 2012 Members, The Association is in good condition as of June 9, Total assets (cash) have increased by $9,290, to $45, This increase was the result of a Board desire to increase our average cash balance to approximately $50,000. This trend of building cash should continue during 2012, and result in reaching our goal by the end of The increase was accomplished by increasing the excursion insurance fee to $60, and by raising the annual member dues to $36. Lower expenses for printing such as Rulebooks also contributed to the increase in the cash balance. The need for the cash on hand balance to be in the approximate amount of $50,000 is that the insurance program self-insurance retention is $2500 per incident, which is basically a deductable amount for each member. The association may be required to pay the retention amount at any time to the insurance company, and would be reimbursed by the member. A reserve is needed for this purpose, and a prudent reserve above that necessary amount is always required. NARCOA has no liabilities, as all expenses are paid when incurred. The two largest expenses for the association are the Setoff publication, primarily for printing and postage. We have saved some expense by also publishing the Setoff as a digital PDF file, which can be downloaded from the website, and members can opt to not receive a printed Setoff in the post, which has reduced our printing and postal costs. The other largest expense is for the annual meeting in Chicago, which is listed under Office Expenses. Total association membership as of October 2, 2011 was Insured operators totaled 1028, and 23 Affiliate groups were in existence. 167 Certificates of Insurance were issued in 2011 compared to 159 in The Wild Apricot online member database has been beta tested for nearly two years as of this writing. A separate official database has been maintained during that time as an Excel file. It is the goal of the Membership Committee and Secretary Mark Hudson to switch over to Wild Apricot as the official database as soon as possible, and then maintain an Excel file as backup. It is now possible for members to view and edit their member data directly from the NARCOA website, at It is also possible to join NARCOA from the website, and to pay annual dues. The Operations Committee is busy supervising the mentoring of Excursion Coordinators, and an EC Continual Training effort has been started. Communications Committee members have been busy as usual, and a huge thank you goes to Setoff Editor Brian Davis, Webmaster Keith Mackey, Printer Greg Kightlinger, and Forum Moderator Rich Stivers. They are a fantastic team. Our Treasurer and Insurance Administrator Tom Norman has worked tirelessly on our behalf again this past year, as have Rules Chair Jim McKeel, Judicial Committee Chair Jim Spicer and the JC Committee, Safety Chair Bob Knight, Affiliate Chair Dave Verzi, Elections Page 6 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012

7 Chair Carl Anderson, Rulebook Certification manager Al McCracken and Tom Falicon with EC Continual Training. Many others contribute countless hours to the benefit of NARCOA members, including the Affiliates, and especially the Excursion Coordinators, who probably put in more hours than anyone. Without their continual efforts in building and maintaining relationships with Railroad managers, we would have no place to operate our rail vehicles. Thanks for their contribution of time on the Board go to Area 11 Director Wayne Parsons, and longtime Area 5 Director Bobby Moreman, both of whom are rolling off this year. Thank you, gentlemen. Please remember to apply the Golden Rule in all your interactions with others, and to Always Take The Safest Course. Copies of the 2012 Financial Statements are available from Tom Norman, upon request by members. Respectfully submitted, Bernie Leadon President 2012 NARCOA Annual Meeting Sept 27, 28 & 29 Sheraton Gateway Suites 6501 N. Mannheim Rd. Rosemont, IL As in years past, this meeting is open to all paid NARCOA members. Any member wishing to address the board or add items to the agenda may do so by first contacting president Bernie Leadon at (615) or leadon@reallysmall.com. To secure a hotel reservation at the NARCOA rate, contact Carl Anderson at (847) or at ca636@aol.com Room rate will be $122 per night, plus taxes, and the reservation cut off date is August Sunset falls during a the night run on the Amador Central Railroad, photo by Mike Cozad. The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 7

8 Great Lakes Central RR BY John Brown Your journey begins at Michigan.org Here in Ontario one of my favorite country music stations has the commercials for the State of Michigan. They have been doing these Pure Michigan commercials for the past three or four years. Narrated by Tim Allen, these are very soothing and relaxing commercials depicted the scenery of Michigan and I have always enjoyed them. But I say your journey begins at mford@indy.rr.com. Mike Ford has run a great 2 1/2 day trip out of Cadillac Michigan for the past 6 years and I was once again lucky to get on it for a second time this past June. When I signed up for Mike s trip I was told I was third on the waiting list. Shucks. As I was about to decide to sign up for Tom Falicon s ( a fantastic trip!) in N.C. the same weekend Mike ed and said he had an opening, did I still want to come? Sorry Tom but Michigan is closer and its a 2 1/2 day trip. Maybe next year if you pick a different weekend or make it later in the year. My co-pilot Paul McDermott and I left Ontario on Wednesday June 6th and we had planned to ride the Set on in Cadillac Michigan. All photos by the author. 464 a K27, Rio Grande narrow gauge in Crossroads Village in Flint Mich. Crossing the border is always fun as the Speeder always is the centre of conversation with Border Guards. We arrived at Crossroads Village just as the last train of the day was pulling in and I managed to get a few shots of the steam locomotive at the water tower. We rode the train on Thursday morning and got photos of the good looking locomotive bringing back memories of the narrow gauge speeder run in Colorado and New Mexico with Dan Page last August. Thursday June 7th around 3 pm found us in Cadillac Michigan setting on between 5 pm and 7 pm just north of the engine house. There were cars from Ontario, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and California in attendance. Friday morning just before the safety meeting the skies opened up and enough rain came down to get everyone wet. Luck would have it that the rain stopped just as Mike was about to give the Safety Talk. Our host for the weekend was the Great Lakes Central Railroad which was formerly known as the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railroad (TSBY). The track was originally built in 1873 by the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad but eventually became the Pennsylvania Railroad (1918). During Conrail breakup it was sold and became the TSBY. In March 2006 the line was sold to Federated Railway Corporation and became known as the Great Lakes Central Railroad. President and CEO Mr Mike Bagwell has been very generous in allowing Mike Ford and NARCOA to operate on his tracks and a thank you to Mr Bagwell was offered by the group. Our railroad escort was Ray Robinson (Vice President and Chief Engineer) and he had his family along in the company car. Also along was Carol Ford lovely wife of Mike who Page 8 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012

9 was taking her first ever motor car trip. It was not long till the group got to let Carol know what kind of weekend she was in for. Carol even mentioned later on in the trip what a bunch of bad ones some were. She was referring to the prankster couples from Ohio and Kentucky. As the safety meeting was ending Mike once again mentioned that as of other years the group had contributed to two charities in the areas we were travelling. Great idea Mike. Mike says he likes to give back to the area we visit as a way to help the communities. Wonder if any other EC s do that, MMMMMMMMMMMM- MMM At 8 am, we departed MP334 we headed north to Petoskey (MP 424.8) Our first stop of the day was at Manton MP 344 for a washroom stop. What great scenery we passed through farm lands with huge irrigation machines, forests of tall trees almost like a canopy and then around Fife Lake whose crystal clear water allowed you to see the bottom with its sandy beaches and of course picturesque small towns some of them having restored the old passenger stations. Lunch was at Kalkaska MP You either brought your own or headed across the busy 4 lane highway to McDonalds or Big Boy restaurants. Above: The tracks lead us southwest across the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan. Below: The Traverse City station where we parked the speeders for the night. The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 9

10 Above: Mike Ford and Fred Lonnes at the head of the line up on a wet morning in Petoskey. Below: Fife Lake, Opposite: Jeff Levengood, Jamie Samual, and Dale Brix cars entering the main line to Cadillac. Next stop was a break down somewhere south of Boyne Falls for your authors MT19 as I came to a slow rolling stop. I no sooner called Mike when my good friend Ted Poesse from Ohio came running up asking me why I had stopped the procession. Ted was also first to start looking for the reason. Ted came to the conclusion I had no spark and with the 5 minute rule time up, I was pushed to the next crossing and was set off and then towed by Fred Lonnes. At Boyne Fall MP 409 an afternoon stop was planned and as soon as we came to a stop I was looking for the problem. I had just started to look when Fred Lonnes asked why the wire to the coil was not connected up. Ahhhhhhhhhh problem solved. Guess over 7 years of running and trailing over bad roads the wire had pulled out of my crimping job. I was pleased to fire up the car and now get in front of Rear end Fred. We arrived in Petoskey MP around 4 pm and once again were allowed to operate through tracks covered in grass in the Town of Petoskey. I mean one sees no ties just two steel rails through the grass. What an thrill to be driving ones motor car through the scene. Mike had mentioned last year that the town has hopes of running a trolley on this track so Mike had to once again ask for permission. Thanks to the town of Petoskey! A bus was waiting to take us to the Days Inn of Petoskey. No sooner had I showered and unpacked when the rain came down. Last year we had 50 degree and rain all 3 days. Supper was on your own with either renting a cab or taking a free shuttle bus to the local Casino about 5 minutes away. Paul and I took the shuttle to the Casino and for about $18.00 we had a fantastic buffet and much to my surprise no waiting line (not like the casinos in Ontario were you line up for an hour). We just walked in and was seated immediately. Saturday morning it was still raining but not a down pour. By the time we got to our cars the rain had stopped. Departure after the safety meeting was 8 am and once again we stopped at Boyne Falls MP 409,for a morning pit stop. Lunch was once again at Kalkaska MP Page 10 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012

11 Mike has allowed plenty of time at his pit stops and lunch so one can enjoy the scenery and not be rushed. While we were in Kalkaska my co-pilot Paul mentioned a lady form there had asked who was in charge as she would like to have a service club have lunch ready for us and at the same time sell the lunch to fellow towns people. She said our travelling circus group (as I sometimes think we look like) are an attraction and would draw the locals down to trackside so we could answer any questions. A winning situation I think for both. Good home cooking for the group. money maker for the organization doing the cooking and exposure for NARCOA. At Walton Junction MP we left the main line and took the branch line to Traverse City. At Kingsley MP 9.3 was our afternoon pit stop and I must admit I was looking forward to enjoying a great sticky bun. But to my surprise and disappointment I was told by Mike that the shop had burned down and I was out of luck. Not that I needed to eat one of the delicious, filled calorie, buns. 5 PM found us at the restored beautiful brick downtown train station in Traverse City MP The station has a restaurant and nursery at the one end and is very pleasing to the eye. Nothing I like better is to see is old railways stations being used in the communities Buses were waiting to take us to the Hampton Inn and once again supper was on your own. Paul and I snagged a ride in a taxi with Jim and Bonnie Boone to a local Ponderosa for supper. A gorgeous sunset was arranged for us and one could walk out of the motel to the beach across the highway and wade in Lake Michigan if one chose to. Sunday morning we were trackside by 7 am. Again with the safety meeting over with we were rolling towards Cadillac and set off. Once again we stopped at MP 9.3 for morning break then we were off to Cadillac for set off. I thanked Mike and Fred then said my goodbyes to new friends and old ones with safe journeys home to all. Thanks for the friendship folks, and of course thanks to Mike, Fred, Ray and the Great Lakes Central for making it all possible Arrival time in Cadillac was around 11:00 am but since I was at the end of the 30 car group it was near 12:30 when I had my MT19 on the trailer. Most of the trip I was either behind or ahead of Dale and Marilyn Brix and enjoyed their company and friendship for the trip. Once my electrical problem was solved and even being towed about 9 miles I was pleased to have to refill my 5 gallon gas tank after about 160 miles. If you like forests, quaint towns, gushing clear streams and cruising around a clear lake like Fife Lake then as the Michigan tourist campaign says your journey begins at Michigan.org, but they really mean your journey begins at mford@indy.rr.com John Brown Waubaushene The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 11

12 Show and Tell By Boomer John Schimdt mont MT 14. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the young children. Most of the kids ranged in age from 3 to 8 years old. They got to push and pull levers and switches, honk the horn, and run the lights. Big smiles and wide-eyed stares were everywhere. What is this? What does it do? Can I pull this? I also had on display my orange hardhat, safety vest, RR lantern. Everyone enjoyed putting on the hardhat for a photo in the train car. I did not have my friend s, Dean Grote, speeder with me - but I told all the kids that my speeder was a best friend with THOMAS. Do you Above: You need gloves to work. Photo by Carol Schmidt know THOMAS? What does This article chronicles two public service events in THOMAS do? But the best fun they which ARCOA vehicles were displayed to the public all had was stopping the train. I asked, How does the in a community service event. conductor stop the train? Handing them the red flag. Everyone - even the 3-year olds - knew how to wave TOUCH-A-TRUCK April 14, 2012 Old-town, the flag - all trained flagmen and gals. Manassas, VA It was Saturday, April 14, 2012, and the sun was shining. Set on was in a parking lot - and somehow I drew In the spring, my daughter approached me with a proposal to assist my grand daughter s (age 3) preschool and also to have some fun. Spring-Mar Coop- slot #1 - right inside the gate. The event opened to the public at 10 am and we went thru 2 pm.; never once erative Preschool is privately operated and, in addition did I get a moment of slack time. The kids (and their to tuition, supplements its operational revenues with parents - the BIG kids) all enjoyed the show and the fundraising events. Their event - Touch-A-Truck - intrigued me. This is their second year providing this tiny train car. Many stopped for a second visit on their way out. All in all, my MT 14 placed well. It is hard experience, and it is no run-of-the-mill bake sale - NO to compete with a police helicopter or a big red fire SIR! The organization solicits all types of local companies and public service agencies to bring a repre- truck - but next to them the speeder was a true contender and a point of interest. sentative piece of equipment to the local government center for display and to allow young children the opportunity to get up close and personal with those averaging years old - went away with more It was a great day! Many adults - parents probably enormous items. knowledge on a little piece of RR history. I had a BLAST! Plus the preschool earned several thousands Represented were fire trucks (pumper and hook and of dollars. ladder), a police cruiser, animal control s cage truck, trash trucks, an armored car, construction equipment, Credit and thanks go to Ms. Kellie Kuhar and the wreckers, a mobile pet grooming step-van, etc. The Spring-Mar Cooperative Preschool Fundraising and police helicopter made a cameo fly-in appearance. Special event Committee for organizing and coordinating the There also was a RR speeder in attendance - a Fair- event. Page 12 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012

13 MA ASSAS RAILWAY FESTIVAL July 2, 2012 Fairfax County Govt Center, Fairfax, VA One hundred and fifty years ago two significant battles in the Civil War occurred around Manassas, Virginia. The imputes of both was control of the vital rail junction connecting Virginia s strategic points: Alexandria, Richmond, and the Shenandoah Valley. After the conflict, the Southern Railway - Serving the South - made Manassas a stop on its main line between Washington, DC and New Orleans. Even today Manassas continues to be an important rail junction and yard on the Norfolk Southern (NS) mainline - witnessing daily many trains moving north, south, and west thru Virginia. The town - proud of its railroad heritage - hosts an annual event at the old Southern Railway depot in the heart of town. Manassas Railway Festival has been an event for at least the 25 years of my remembrance while living here; this year the festival would occur Saturday July 2, Late in 2011, the event coordinator, Historic Manassas, Inc., with a request to display some historic rail maintenance equipment during the community event, approached Mr. Bernie Leadon, President of NARCOA. Bernie in turn contacted Mr. Jamie Haislip, who graciously offered to be the local point of contact and help organize a display. We were given a section of dead track, parallel with the NS mainline and across the tracks from the station, on which to display our vehicles. We were in the center of events. Our location was on Battle Street, a main access street to the event; the public walked thru our display to get to the event and the food vendors right across the tracks. The station was to our front as was the NS mainline, sporting a mainline freight, three Amtrak trains, and several VRA (Virginia Rail Express - the local commuter line) hops. The VRA provided train rides during the event; Historic Manassas, Inc. offered $5.00 per ride tickets which were used directly to pay for the track usage fee. Jamie displayed his CN A-4E, Mr. Don Kirkpatrick, NRHS-Rappahannock Chapter member, showed off his Irish Mail pump handcar, and I presented my Ann Arbor RR MT-14. As with the previous event, the children had a blast - pulling levers and handles. Many adults showed an inquisitive curiosity, and a few old-timers came by with some back in the day remembrances of their own. The event was well run by the committee and both NS and VRA had officials available to keep the fun day a safe day. Credit and thanks go to the Sarah R. McHugh, Event Coordinator, Historic Manassas, Inc. and Mark Olsen, Historic Manassas, Inc. Board President for organizing and coordinating the event. Also a special thanks goes to NS & VRA staff - taking time from their professional rail operating careers to cater to the delights of us rail nuts enjoying their calling vicariously from afar. EPILOG Public affairs events are very important to NAR- COA: they keep a small portion of RR history alive, they tell the story of our hobby and our avocation, and they keep the American railroad dream alive into the 21-century. Below: Virginia Railway Express passes a handcar and an A-4E Photo by Historic Manassas Inc. The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 13

14 Rail Sweeps and How They Came To Be! If you have never had the unfortunate experience of being on a motorcar when it derailed you can probably thank those two little rubber thingy s hanging on the front of your car that we call rail sweeps. And, you probably never wondered how they came to be called sweeps. Its all right there in the name itself. But, for the first 75 years of railroad history there was no such thing as a rail sweep. The old hand powered crank and lever cars did not go fast enough or far enough to cause much of a concern. Keeping the top of the rail clear was part of the section gang s job and they were alert and watching for obstructions. However, when George Sheffield started selling inexpensive light weight velocipede speeders there was a problem. Suddenly most operators were not the watchful section hand at all but everyone from extra board telegraphers to clerks, messengers, claims agents, and a multitude of minor officials. The little cars were capable of propelling a man at thirty miles an hour and injuries started to become a serious concern. The little cars were so light that often the rider weighed more than they did. Anything could send them off the track from a mismatched joint, a rock thrown on top of the rail at a road crossing, or even children stacking spikes or other debris on the rail just for the fun of it. When a derailment happened at speed, someone was probably going to suffer an injury. When motors were added to the equation speeds grew even more. Even an observant rider could be on top of a problem before he knew it. A sage once observed that most great safety rules are first written in blood. There was an obvious need for some something to prevent derailments and the serious injury they caused. by Leon Sapp Page 14 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Like a lot of problems in history, inventors first treated the cough rather than prevent the cold. In 1915 a Mr. Roy K. Payne of Beaverton, Oregon patented rail skids, which he called Horizontal Guards, to prevent the injury of operator or passenger. If a car did derail the skid kept the wheels from hitting the ballast and flipping or turning the car sideways, ejecting the rider for a very nasty landing. However the small guards were an extra cost add-on and no manufacturer wanted to increase the price of the cars they were struggling to sell. Although Fairmont and others would offer a type of skid they were advertised more as an aid in turning the car than a true safety device. There had to be a better solution to the problem and inquiring minds started looking around for alternatives. Rail sweeps seem to be one of those items that came about spontaneously and from a multitude of sources. There are illustrations of some early cars that show boards suspended across the front of cars acting like small snow plows to clear debris off the rails. Of course if the homemade brackets failed or the board shattered, it suddenly became a fault instead of a fix. By the mid 1920s motorcar derailments and injuries had become such a concern that few buyers would order their new cars without something to clear the rail ahead of them. A variety of devices started appearing in motorcar catalogs as options and accessories. Those with older cars were ordering the bolt on accessories which were now seen as cheap insurance. In 1925 a Mr. R. J. Dougherty patented the first flap type rail sweep. He was soon followed by several other inventors offering a variety of devices to knock

15 objects off the rail ahead of the car wheels. One of the most popular of those devices was in fact a set of brackets to hold two small brooms just ahead of the leading wheels to literally sweep the rails. The name stuck. But, while they worked well for a while, straw brooms wore out quickly. By the turn of the last century air brakes had become universal on most railroads and supplies of replacement parts were readily available. So, it is not surprising that someone would grab a couple of the stiff rubber connecting hoses and try using them as more durable and longer lasting sweeps. The effectiveness of those hose sweeps was such that nearly all manufacturers began building their cars with brackets for them. In fact in 1925 the Rock Island Railroad would issue a bulletin to their Section Foremen in 1925 recommending that they watch for and pick up any failed air hoses they saw along the line of track to use in replacing their worn out sweeps. In 1930 Sheffield would offer both hose type rail sweeps and side skids on many of their models. By the mid thirties nearly every make and model of motorcar had sweeps of some kind as standard equipment. In 1943 Fairmont would pick up on Mr. Dougherty s idea and began to offer the familiar flapper style using thick rubber pads that could be replaced using pieces of old drive belts. A Bulletin was issued on the MK&T Railroad in 1948 instructing maintenance employees to install their sweeps so that there was a positive contact with the ball of the rail. It seemed a very good idea since an object of any size on top of the rail posed a threat. A popular efficiency test by supervisors and safety inspectors was to check sweeps for the obvious signs of wear which would indicate the correct application. Once worn down to the rail profile there was little chance of anything slipping under the sweep and striking the wheel. NARCOA rules require that if a motorcar is so equipped, sweeps must be lowered and properly adjusted to a close proximity with the rails. It is one of the best safety rules we have. Few cars operating today are old enough to have been built without some sort of sweep as their standard equipment. Having a set of sweeps, even in the best condition, is no absolute guarantee of preventing a derailment. But, the dangers of not having the guards are great. They are one of the best safety devices we have available to us. So, which ever kind of sweep you prefer, keep em in good shape, down and working. Loosing a few teeth should not be part of your next excursion plan. TThe SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 15

16 TWO MAJOR SPEEDER EVENTS ARE NOW HISTORY: FOLSOM RAIL DAZE & THE 6 T H ANNUAL IONE RAILFAIR by Larry Bowler Two major speeder events were carried off in California on May and May The Folsom Rail Daze community event was planned to focus on two targets. A bicycle enthusiasts group has been trying for years to lobby the 4 governmental entity owners of the historic Placerville Branch, considered the oldest railroad corridor west of the Mississippi, to remove these iconic old rails and construct a walking/bicycle trail in the mode of Rails to Trails. For as long as can be remembered the recreational railroad community has opposed this plan and has tried to demonstrate the educational and recreational values of this corridor. The Folsom Rail Daze community event was staged to raise the level of awareness on the part of the general public as well as with the Public Policy Makers who own the corridor Two Executive Members of Recreational Railroad Coalition Historical Society (RRCHS) decided to duplicate the Ione RailFair on the tracks of the Placerville Branch. Arrangements were made to borrow a 1913 vintage streetcar, connect it to a 56KW generator, make a rectifier to change the AC power to DC, place it on a pushcar to provide the necessary electricity to power the streetcar. Pacific Railcar Operators Excursion Coordinator, Steve Paluso agreed to carry out the responsibilities of the EC and so began the logistic work to produce this festival. May 12 was National Train Day so arrangements were made to sanction this event as one of the many local celebrations for this national recognition. Vendors, three model railroad clubs, pony rides and speeders became the main attraction for this event. A model airplane club s airport adjoins the tracks about 3 miles east from the center of the activities, Hampton Station. The members of the model airport club were alerted and put on a nice show of airborne models as the speeder consist motored by. Two weeks later, the Ione RailFair was scheduled to be activated as its 6 th annual celebration of speeders. Ione is 40 miles distant from Folsom. The Amador Central Railroad (AMCRR) is co-owned by RRCHS and the Amador County Historical Society. Although a smaller city than Folsom, Ione pulled out all the stops to welcome the speeder community to the AMCRR. Fire trucks, Wells Fargo s stagecoach, logging truck, vendors, another large model railroad club demonstrating their hobby as well as Live Steamer models were in operation over the 2-days of this second community event. The focus of this festival was to raise dollars to pay for the insurance required of railroad owners. The AMCRR has already been preserved and protected by its purchase. It is now the only known complete railroad corridor owned and operated by speeder owner/operators. Scores of passengers lined up to buy a ticket to run the AMCRR in a speeder. No fee was charged to operators who offered 4 seats to paying passengers over the 2 days of the event. A Hobo Camp was set up for operators who arrived in their recreational vehicles. Volunteers from RRCHS turned out to flag the crossings, manage the switches, sell the tickets, T-shirts, bottled water, oversee the signing of waivers, etc. Without these stalwart helpers, both events would not have been possible. As a Co-Chair of both events, it was humbling to see the level of work by these individuals. Both railroad corridors are mountain corridors running through different parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills. The views are breath-taking and the condition of the rails are excellent for speeder traffic. Comments from passengers and vendors were complimentary. One passenger said he would pay 4 times the cost of a ticket to ride the speeders again. A vendor said this is the best family event in her memory. Words like fantastic, beautiful, Never saw my county like that before flowed like water as the passengers debarked from the nearly 20 mile round trip. Speeder operators who missed these two major events missed out indeed. A free, no fee excursion on two beautiful, well conditioned railroads is a rare occasion. Operators returned to their homes, tired but satisfied that they played a role in protecting and preserving two historic old railroad corridors. Page 16 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012

17 Track Necessities Company, TRANCO By Leon Sapp This Chicago based company marketed a wide variety of track tools and a unique folding velocipede. The company incorporated on March 8, 1913 with a capital stock of only $5,000 for the purpose of manufacturing and dealing in railroad supplies. Their folding velocipede came late in the game for hand powered cars. But for a while it sold well to railroad telegraphers who used them to travel from assignment to assignment. It weighed only 52 lbs, most of which were the wheels. Originally equipped with a spoked wheel, they were later built with a pressed steel wheel and ball bearings. Not only were the pressed steel wheels cheaper to manufacture, they were lighter and far more durable. The car itself was constructed of trussed white ash and when folded took only 12 x 24 of floor space. Far too light for anything but a commuter it was still capable of speeds up to 30 mph if the operator had the courage to do so. By the time the company entered the handcar market the competition was keen and demand dwindling. A powered version was promised but apparently never left the planning stage. Several railroad histories have mentioned a portable hand car being carried in baggage cars and used for emergency transport. As a sort of land life boat it is likely those portable machines were either TRANCO folding velocipedes or a close copy. There is an interesting story of a 1920 Baseball Special running on the Rock Island Railroad that experienced a hot journal on the engine tender. According to the tale, the brakeman used a handcar carried in the baggage car to power back a safe distance to flag the following section and avoid a collision. It is possible that one of the folding hand cars was actually a standard issue on Rock Island passenger trains. Most TRANCO advertisements appeared in issues of The Railroad Telegrapher, the official newspaper of the Telegrapher s Union. Obviously the company felt the traveling extra board telegrapher would be one of their primary customers... and they were. Extra board Telegraphers were kept on the move from temporary assignment to temporary assignment. Having a personal velocipede freed him from depending upon infrequent passenger trains. And having one that was easily stowable in a locker or under a desk was a real advantage. The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 17

18 Western New York and Pennsylvania Ry By Brian and Jane Davis April 28th dawned bright and cold in western New York, the day we seton to run the Western New York and Pennsylvania. Warren and Al have set up a two day trip from Olean NY to Hornell, NY on Saturday and then from Olean to Emporium, Pennsylvania on Sunday. Our seton and Safety meeting ran a little long, and there was a bit of a struggle getting our 39 car group backed out of the yard, but when we got moving east we began seeing the wonderful scenery along the Alleghany River valley. With the slow start and the time creeping past 1PM, the decision was taken to turn our group in Andover, NY about 18 miles short of the intended goal of Hornell. After an uneventful turn the group returned to Wellsville for lunch, then back to Olean by early evening. Sundays route took us south out of Olean to Driftwood Pa, just at the railroad s Driftwood Turn. On the way we crossed Keating Summit, at the top of a 8 mile 2.6% grade on the old Pennsylvania Railroad s Buffalo line. Our progress on Sunday was quite good, and we reached driftwood for our turn on schedule. NARCOA wants to thank Eugene H. Blabey II Chairman & CEO, Carl P. Belke President & COO, and all the employees from the WNY & PA who made this wonderful trip possible! Top right: the excursion group pulling out of the W Y &PA yard in Olean, Y; backing through the yard, passing a few of the Alcos that make up the W Y & PA s motive power roster. Approaching functioning position light signals provided block control on this stretch of the PRR. These three photos by Jamie Haislip. Page 18 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012

19 Left: The excursion awaits clearance to proceed north at Keating Summit, PA; photo by Jim Cook of Port Allegany. Lower left: The group is rolling north near Port Allegany; photo by Jim Cook of Port Allegany. Bottom left: ex-erie Railroad cantilever signal bridge, photo by Jane Davis. Bottom right:skewed bridge once carried two tracks over Sinnemahoning Creek, just north of Driftwood, PA. Photo by Jamie Haislip. The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 19

20 Page 20 The Road Boss The North American Engine Company The North American Engine Company was one company that got into the market a bit late but nevertheless produced an exceptional power conversion kit for hand cars. The company was founded in Algona, Iowa and lasted for about six years manufacturing a four cycle, water cooled engine for motorcars. They used two slogans in their advertisements; Best by Test and Built for the Business. Rather than being an adaptation of a farm or shop engine the Road Boss was designed from the start especially for railway motorcars. It was one of the few horizontal four cycle engines produced for conversion kits. The company name first appeared in several bulletins published by the Iowa Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1919 which listed them simply as An Engine Factory. They were exhibitors at both the 1919 and 1920 National Railway Appliances Association Exhibition in the Chicago Coliseum. The first commercial ads also started appearing in trade journals in 1919 and they were still being shown in the 1921 issues of The Maintenance of Way Journal. In 1925 The Pocket List of Railroad Officials still listed them as being the manufacturer of The Road Boss engines but beyond that time no other advertisements or mention have been found. North American called their engine kit The Road Boss which was a slang expression for a Track Foreman or Road Master. The engine was reversible and available in either a four or six horsepower version. It had a patented radiator that cooled the water and The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 By Leon Sapp returned it to a hopper. The radiator was fitted under the seat of the housing and consisted of a broad, shallow tank or pan that was connected to the engine water hopper by means of a short hose. In fact it was nothing more than a simplified condenser that took steam from the cylinder jacket and cooled it in the same manner the condenser Fairmont and others used. But, having the condenser separate from the block allowed everything to fit and still keep the deck narrow. In kit form the narrow deck enabled the unit to be bolted directly to the center sills of any hand car with all the machinery within the frame. The hinged top of the engine compartment served as a bench seat. While the kit was relatively compact and light, weighing only 215 pounds, it was still far too massive to repower a velocipede. The Road Boss was indirect drive. The belt drive was tightened by a three-point mount, sliding base similar to both the Fairmont and Woolery designs. A 3-1/2 inch belt to a rear axle pulley completed the drive train. Since the engine was four cycle, the crank case was partially filled with oil and the crank bearings were lubricated with a splash system. Replacement crank bearing liners were unique in that they were constructed oversize and in thin laminated layers. The buyer was instructed to peel the layers off with a jack knife until the proper fit was obtained. Operators were advised to carry a spare as one would carry a spare igniter (spark plug). A removable plate at the rear of the crank case gave access for replacing a worn lining. In 1924, a lengthy advertisement in the Brotherhood of

21 Maintenance of Way Employees Journal carried another ad encouraging sales with an offer to Pay for Engine while you are using it. Prospective buyers were encouraged with a 30 day free trial offer. They could install the engine, run it for a month and if not fully satisfied they could request return shipping instructions with no obligation. If they decided to purchase they could do so on an easy monthly payment plan. No advertisements have been found later than Like others they probably fell victim to the dwindling market for hand car conversion kits. Their entry into the repowering market was a little too late. By the late 1920s most of the old hand cars were gone. Virtually all of Railroad Management was now on-board with the motorcar idea and were either buying complete cars or had already converted the fleet of hand cars they had. All the manufacturers like North American who had catered exclusively to the repowering market had found their customer base disappearing fast. Had North American built complete cars they might have survived. However, that would have required a substantial investment in more sophisticated plant with additional parts manufacturing capability. The financial times would have made investors hard to come by. Add to that the slump in rail traffic and their reduced revenue following World War One. Railroad Management turned to established and proven builders for their few new motorcar orders. The Road Boss name would be resurrected years later by the White Motor Company for one of their over-theroad big rigs but by then the North American Engine Company would be long gone. The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 21

22 July 4 & 7-8, OR Oregon Pacific Railroad The Oregon Pacific Railroad (OPR) is hosting a Speeders, Fireworks & Night Run on the East Portland Branch in Portland on both branch lines. 20 car maximum, non-narcoa event is free! July 4th - Operate between Oaks Park and OMSI for public speeder/locomotive rides. July 7th - Tour most, if not all of the (same as above) 5.5 mile East Portland Branch line end to end. July 8th - Tour the entire 9.1 mile Molalla branch end to end. or phone for further details. Kevin Novak (503) , PST. July 6-9, Y 14th Annual Delaware & Ulster Three days in the Catskills. EC's Warren Riccitelli/Al Elliott. Detailed information and electronic reservations are HERE. July 6, PA orthern Central & Stewartstown Railroads Northern Central RR in the morning, Stewartstown RR in the afternoon. A single set-on for both railroads in New Freedom, PA. $40 total for both railroads. No charge for current NCRA members. 49 Approximate total round trip miles for both railroads. EC Dale Steiner. (717) Details at North Central Railcar Assoc. website. July 7, PA West Chester Railroad West Chester and Phoenixville branch. Multiple trips from West Chester to Glen Mills, a distance of 7.7 miles. Cost $25 per car. 25 car limit. EC Gary Shrey Home: Cell: Details at North Central Railcar Assoc. website. July 8, PA Eastern Berks Gateway Railroad 8.6 miles of track that we expect to run several times. Cost $25 per car. 25 car limit. EC Gary Shrey Home: Cell: Details at North Central Railcar Assoc. website. July 7, GA Blue Ridge Scenic RR NARCOA Excursions as of Jun 16th, 2012 Please submit all excursions and ads directly to webmaster@narcoa.org The SETOFF downloads directly from the website for the most current information. Page 22 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Blue Ridge, GA to Ellijay, GA (2 round trips) Price: $5. per car active Blue Ridge Scenic RR Volunteers. All others $10. Coordinators: Carl Hymen ( ), Ron Long ( ) Barry Vincent. July 7, SK Wheatland Railway North Central Railcars, Ltd. 92 mile round trip between Hoey, SK and Totzke East, SK. The excursion fee is $75 (USD or CDN). Checks payable to North Central Railcars sent to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, Indiana (317) July 9-10, SK FULL - wait list started Great Sandhills Rwy, Ltd. Approximately 260 rail miles. Fee of $225 (USD or CDN) covers the railroad fee, insurance, 2 lunches, gratuities and other related excursion costs. Complete details and registration materials will be sent upon receipt of the excursion fee (US participants) or by request (Canadian participants can pay in local currency at the excursion). Checks payable to North Central Railcars and send to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, Indiana (317) July 11-13, SK FULL - wait list started Great Western Rwy North Central Railcars, Ltd. Approximately 340 rail miles. Fee of $325 (USD or CDN) covers the railroad fee, insurance, gratuities, and miscellaneous excursion costs. 25 car limit. Checks payable to North Central Railcars to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, Indiana (317) July 13-15, CO Leadville, Colorado and Southern RR Rocky Mountain Division will operate an excursion from Leadville to Fremont Pass on the route of the old DSP&P RR on the highest adhesion railroad in North American. Total run miles 80 over three days. Run one day or three. Cost: 1 day, $65 or all 3 days, $95. Details on the RMD website. EC Jerry Geiger (719)

23 Assistant EC Rob Small, (970) July 14, SK FULL-wait list started Last Mountain Railway, Ltd North Central Railcars, Ltd. Approximately 108 round trip miles. Fee of $100 (USD or CDN) covers the railroad fee, insurance, and other excursion related expenses. 25 car limit. Checks payable to North Central Railcars to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, Indiana (317) July 14 15, M Minnesota orthern Railroad The First Iowa Division is hosting a two day excursion from St Hilaire to Roseau and back on Saturday and Crookston to Shelly and return & Crookston to Beltrami and Return on Sunday. Total mileage is 240 miles. For full information, contact Dave Voeltz EC at H C to register for the event and to get the information packet. July 15, QE Quebec Central Railway Les Draisineurs associés du Québec inc. (DAQ) invites you to ride 30 miles from Charny to Valley- Junction PQ and return. Cost is $75.00/car for a total of 60 miles/day. SETON will be in Breakeyville PQ at 9 AM EC: Louis-François Garceau - Phone: (418) Mobile: (418) July 15-16, SK FULL - wait list started Big Sky Rail, Ltd North Central Railcars, Ltd. 208 mile, excursion. Fee $200 (USD or CDN) covers the railroad fee, insurance, and other excursion related expenses. 25 car limit. Checks payable to North Central Railcars to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, Indiana (317) July 17, SK Stewart Southern Railway North Central Railcars, Ltd. 114 mile, round trip between Richardson and Fillmore. Fee $ (USD or CDN) per car. 25 car limit. Check for $100 payable to North Central Railcars, Ltd. to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, Indiana (317) July 19, D orthern Plains Railroad North Central Railcars, Ltd. 120 mile round-trip excursion between Fordville, ND and Munich, ND. 25 car limit. Fee $100 per car (payable to North Central Railcars, Ltd.) to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, Indiana (317) July 20-26, BC Vancouver Island Tour Motorcar Operators West will tour Vancouver Island with runs on the Englewood Logging Railroad, the Port Alberni to Parkwood branch and the then the Southern Vancouver Island Railroad. The total mileage is about 340 miles and the fee $550. Send checks to 2320 E street Sacramento Ca.. for registration packet or call EC's Don Wigen and Dave Balestreri. July 21, CA California Western (Skunk Line) Excursion Southwest Railcar, 80 mile round trip from Fort Bragg to Willits, and return. Mufflers and spark arrestors required on all cars. Run fee of $ includes payment for two lunches per car. EC Tom Phair. Ed Best is handling all applications and communications. He can be reached at (925) More details on SWRC web site, July 21, M orth Shore Scenic Railroad North Central Railcars, Ltd. 52 mile round trip between Two Harbors and Duluth. Fee $75 per car, includes the excursion and museum admission. There is a 25 car limit. Fee to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, Indiana (317) July 21-22, Y YS&W Syracuse Branch Mid-Atlantic Motorcars will run app. 160 miles between Chenango Bridge, NY and Syracuse, NY over two days. ECs Chris Vitz, Craig Hartman, Assisting Steve Weiss. July 28, TX Capitol Metro Transportation Llano, TX to Scobee Spur, TX Approx. 54 miles RT. This will be a cleanup ride. Sturdy shoes and long pants required. No tennis shoes. Mentoring available. Hyrails welcome. Fee: $25 membership to Railroad Partners, Inc. Trip information available at (EC) Leland Stewart Palomino Canyon Converse, TX July 28, IA Appanoose County Railroad The First Iowa Division is hosting an excursion from Centerville to Albia. Total 64 miles. Time and weather permitting, we'll also make some extra runs out to Moul- The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 23

24 ton Jct. and back for additional mileage on the most scenic portion of the line. Frosty Farrell is the EC. Contact Carl Schneider July 28-29, PA orth Shore and Shamokin Valley Railroads Approximately 86 miles from Northumberland to Beach Haven and return and on July 29 approximately 50 miles from Sunbury, PA to Shamokin, PA and return. Tour of Susquehanna Steam nuclear power plant at Beach Haven Saturday. Open house and dinner at the former Reading Railroad White Deer station on Saturday night. Cost $90. Send check and self-addressed business size envelope to: Central PA Excursions, PO BOX 145, White Deer, PA Contact Larry Maynard at (570) July 30, PA Mount Hood Railroad Hood River, OR. Set on in the Hood River railroad yard. 42 miles up to Parkdale and back. Cost $ car minimum. Check payable to PRO to Richard Wilkins, 6135 Hwy 35 MT Hood Parkdale, OR Include your address. Questions call Deadline for sign up is July 10th. July 31, OR City of Prineville Railroad Motorcar operators West will operate on the City of Prineville RXR on July 31, There will be 72 round trip mile. The fee is $125 and the E.C. is Dave Balestreri Details at Mowonline.org August 4, IA Iowa River Railroad The First Iowa Division ride at Eldora, IA between Marshalltown and Steamboat Rock. Total mileage about 60 miles. We'll ride the line twice as time permits. This line is up for abandonment so this might be the last chance to ride it. Don Schoeb is the EC. Contact Carl Schneider at H or C for further information. Details HERE August 12, QE Quebec Central Railway Les Draisineurs associés du Québec inc. (DAQ) invites you to ride 30 miles from Charny to Valley-Junction PQ and return. Cost is $75.00/car for a total of 60 miles/day. SETON will be in Breakeyville PQ at 9 AM EC: Louis-François Garceau - Phone: (418) Mobile: (418) August 17-20, CO Durango & Silverton arrow Gauge Railroad-3 ft arrow Gauge Rail- Fest Friday, Silverton to Elk Park and return mandatory test run. Saturday, Sunday and Monday- Silverton to Rockwood & return each day. 178mi RT. (Jim McKeel is planning a C&TS run that will follow this run.) No Mentoring. Fee $380 per car. 20 car limit. Sign ends July 17. RMD, EC Philip Walters August 18, 2012, - WVSouth Branch Valley Railroad 104 miles along the Potomac River. Trip goes from Petersburg to Greenspring WV and return. Stops at the Potomac Eagle Scenic train and for Bald Eagle watching in the Trough. $75. per/car Details Appalachian Rail Excursions web site Pare this with Northern Central Railcar's Western Maryland trip on the following day to make a great weekend. Trips are 90 minutes apart. EC John Gonder August 19, 2012, - WV Western Maryland Scenic Railroad From Ridgeley, WV, to Frostburg and return. Approx 34 round trip miles. 40 car limit. This will be a good way to complete the weekend for those riding the South Branch Valley RR on 8/18/12. Price $40 per car. Gary Shrey: Phone: Details and application on our web site. August 21-24, M/CO Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad - 3 ft arrow Gauge Set-on in Chama, NM Tuesday late afternoon. Ride from Chama to Big Horn and back on Wednesday, Chama to Antonito on Thursday (overnight in Antonito), and Antonito back to Chama on Friday. 20 car limit. $ per car + $30 per person for snacks/coffee/etc. on Wednesday & lunch on Thursday & Friday. Deadline for signing up is July 17, EC Jim McKeel August 24-26, 2012 I /MI Indiana ortheastern Railroad Great Lakes Railcars, Inc. Trip will start in Ashley, IN and run east/west, then north to Coldwater, MI for an overnight stay, with return to Ashley early afternoon on Sunday. Approximately 150 miles total. To register, send the excursion fee of $275 (USD) which includes overnight accommodations in Coldwater, to Michael P. Ford, 7712 Carpenter Court, Plainfield, IN car limit. Contact Michael P. Ford, EC, at for more information. Page 24 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012

25 September 1-2, SD Dakota Missouri Valley and Western RR First Iowa Division ride on the former Great Northern line between Aberdeen, SD and Geneseo, ND. From Britton, SD toward Aberdeen Saturday morning and return in mid afternoon. Depart 5:30 pm to Geneseo and return for a night excursion. Sunday again to Geneseo and back. Mileage is 210. Cost is $70 per car. EC Dave Voeltz 801 N Harrison Ave, Pierre, SD H C. September 3, SD Dakota Southern Railroad The First Iowa Division is hosting a ride on the former Milwaukee Road line between Mitchell and Oacoma, SD. Details HERE. Mileage is 140, cost is $40 per car. EC Dave Voeltz, 801 N Harrison Ave, Pierre, SD 57501, H C. September 8, Y Falls Road Railroad Ohio Valley Railcars has a 90 mile round trip planed for this date. Lockport to Brockport NY. and return. Details posted on OVR's website. E.C Jeff Levengood September 8-9, Y/PA Lehigh Railway Lines Saturday excursion on the Lehigh Railway rom Athens to Mehoopany. Sunday is on the Owego and Harford Railway between Owego, New York and Harford Mills, New York. EC's Warren Riccitelli/Al Elliott. Detailed information and electronic reservations are on Narcoa website. September 22-23, WV West Virginia Central Railroad Saturday from Elkins WV to Cheat Bridge WV & return. Aprox 70 miles, Sunday from Elkins to Tygart JCT & return. Aprox 65 miles. Cars stay on track overnight. $140 fee percar. See Appalachian Rail Excursion's website for full details. EC John Gonder September 22, MO Columbia Terminal RR (COLT) First Iowa Division ride from Columbia to Centralia.We will run this line two times during the day. Each run approximately 44 miles round trip. Cost $45 per car. Frosty Farrell EC. Contact Carl Schneider at September 23, MO Ft. Leonard Wood Army RR First Iowa Division ride. Two 20-mile trips to Bundy Junction. Everyone will need a picture ID, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and be prepared for a vehicle inspection. Cost $35. Frosty Farrell EC. Contact Carl Schneider at September 28-29, IL 2012 ARCOA Annual Meeting Sheraton O'Hare Airport Hotel, 6501 North Mannheim Road, Rosemont, IL This meeting is open to all paid NARCOA members. October 5-6, SD Black Hills Central Railroad First Iowa Division excursion between Hill City and Keystone. Evening run Friday and three round trips on Saturday. Full itinerary included in the registration packet. 24 car limit. Pre-registration required. Price $60 does not include meals or motel. Contact EC Dave Voeltz 801 N Harrison Ave, Pierre, SD H C to register for the event and to get the information packet. October 6, PA Wellsboro & Corning Railroad Approximately 70 miles from Wellsboro, PA to Gang Mills, NY and return.cost $55. Send check and self-addressed business size envelope to: Central PA Excursions, PO Box 145, White Deer, PA Contact Larry Maynard at (570) October 7, PA Union County Industrial Railroad 18 mile RT from New Columbia to White Deer, Winfield and back twice. This is a great short follow up ride to the Wellsboro & Corning on October 6th. Cost $35. Send payment and stamped self-addressed business size envelope to Central PA Excursions, PO Box 145, White Deer, PA Questions contact Larry Maynard (570) October 10-13, AZ Grand Canyon Railway Motorcar Operators West 126 mile round trip tour explores the railway, the Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim and its attractions. Please or call EC Dan Berg for details. The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 25

26 October 13-14, ME Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway NERCA will travel on an overnight trip from Searsport, ME to Millinocket, ME. Rooms, dinner, gas, buses and a box lunch included. EC's Warren Riccitelli/Al Elliott. Detailed information and electronic reservations are on Narcoa website. October 19-21, GA Georgia ortheastern Railroad All attendees must wear a reflectorized safety vest/shirt. No car or trailer may exceed eight persons, all 'A' cars and trailers must have a chain or other horizontal restraining device. EC and affiliate is Bobby Moreman. A waiting list will be established. Send name, address, phone numbers, and with a check for $ payable to Atlanta Railcar Transportation LLC, 3520 Cold Spring Lane, Chamblee, GA Flyer available here soon. ovember 3, IA Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad The First Iowa Division is hosting a ride starting in Boone, Iowa on an ex-ftddm&s interurban line running northwest from Boone. If the line is open on Fraser hill, the round trip mileage will be about 18 miles and we'll ride the line several times during the day. Contact Carl Schneider EC for further information at ovember 10-11, H 9th Annual ERCA Snowflake Excursion - Overnight Join us on one of the best runs of the year. From Concord to Lincoln, NH and an overnight stay. Detailed information and electronic reservations are on Narcoa website. December 1, PA Toys for Tots ride on the orth Shore Railroad Approximately 86 miles from Northumberland, PA to Berwick, PA and return. We will be collecting toys and donations along the right of way. Cost $55 and at least 1 new, unwrapped toy. Send check and self-addressed business size envelope to: Central PA Excursions, PO BOX 145, White Deer, PA Central PA Excursions, PO BOX 145, White Deer, PA Contact Larry Maynard at (570) Excursions Held On A Regular Basis Page 26 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 February 1, January 31, GA Heart Of Georgia West RR Southeast Railcar Operators, Inc. will be having NAR- COA Motor Car runs and workdayson the HOG West Railroad from Richland, Ga. to Omaha, Ga. on various dates. Contact Will Thompson E.C Home or Cell Or . Details and map on Narcoa web site. February 1, January 31, PA orthern Central Railroad Excursions on the Northern Central Railroad from New Freedom, Pa to York, Pa on various dates. E.C. Dean L. Grote call or for details. February 1, January 31, PA Stewartstown Railroad Excursions on the Stewartstown Railroad from New Freedom, Pa to Stewartstown, Pa on various dates. Northern Central Railcar Association E.C. Dean L. Grote call or for details. PLEASE OTE: Advertisement of an excursion at the NARCOA Web Site does not constitute responsibility by NARCOA and/or its officers nor the NARCOA Web Site manager for event conditions. Excursion attendees must exercise caution in the observance of safety conditions and rules and must accept full responsibility for themselves, their guests, and their equipment when attending any event. Information for excursion coordinators Narcoa affiliates must advertise excursions on our website. Include details of the trip such as time, schedule, total mileage, costs, restrictions, EC name(s) and conditions for attending. all excusion annoucements to webmaster@narcoa.org Please follow the standard format for the submissions. "THE SETOFF" editor will copy these ads for inclusion in the magazine on the deadline dates listed below. Do not send a separate notice to "THE SETOFF". When the Details Here option is used the reader will be referred to the NARCOA website. SETOFF deadlines are the 15th of February, April, June, August, October, and December of each year

27 Suppliers If you are a supplier of motorcar parts, and wish to be included here, please contact setoff@neo.rr.com. o endorsement is made of the products, services, or vendors. All listings are for member s consideration only, and are at the discretion of the Editor. Atlantic Rail Cars / Warren Riccitelli, warren.riccitelli@cox.net 39 Jacksonia Drive, North Providence, RI phone: (401) Fax: (401) Brake Shoes, brake liners, and brake parts for most cars. Carey Boney, Careyboney@embarqmail.com or Carey Boney, 1605 Powers RD., Wallace, NC phone Engine parts for RQ,QBA,ROB,ODB, ROC and parts for F-4,C-5,F-6 and C-8 carburetors. Frame and some body parts. Brown Railroad Equipment / Dan Brown, 4 Amersham Court, Glen Carbon, IL (618) The entire remaining Fairmont factory inventory of motorcar parts was bought by Brown when Fairmont stopped making speeders in the early 1990 s. Web site has NOS inventory look up by part number. Over 200 cars for sale. Se hable espanol. Railroad Motor Car Resource Library / Doug Cummins, rrstuff@hawaiihost.us 1146 W. 27th St. Independence, MO Library of rail motorcar manuals, performance sheets, parts lists, maintenance instructions. H & H Mfg. CO. hhimaparts@aol.com (707) Full service machine shop and Mfg. of aftermarket Fairmont parts. Large supply of new and used Fairmont and Onan parts including transmissions, engines, brake and drive sprockets. Frame and aluminum door and side panels.assorted rail speeder project cars for sale. Tom Falicon Raildawg@gte.net 1227 Sawmill Creek Rd, Bryson City, NC ph: after six. Fairmont Billet Shift Knobs. Fredericksburg Shops, fredshops@earthlink.net or or 209 Creamery Rd., Fredericksburg, Ohio 44627, phone: PM-6PM EST. Newly manufactured motor car parts and accessories. Many original producers identified, and their parts are again for sale. Shop also does car repair. Formerly Les King & Company. Doug Heinmuller, P.O. Box 111, 153 Bobbin Mill Rd, Lunenburg, VT 05906, phone Former ONAN dealer has many Fairmont and ONAN parts. Complete engine & transmission rebuilding. For a detailed list of parts available, see website. Model T coils for 2-cycle cars Epoxy sealed in heavy duty plastic case. Moisture and vibration proof. USA made. These are the famous grain dryer coils. $80.00 each. Shipping $10.00 via priority mail Randy or www. fifthaveinternetgarage.com L&S Speeder Repair and Restoration heatmor@itctel.com th Ave., Henry, SD phone (605) Custom motorcar trailers - will build to your specifications. Dave Myers at: dave@redspeeder.com or MT-19 Temporary Axle splint. Fairmont transmission sprockets, and special sprockets of interest when re-powering a car with non-onan engines. Tom Phair tom@phairs.net phone (925) Complete line of the David Clark Company Intercom systems and railroad type Motorola Radios; new double chain sprocket kits, large inventory of NOS Fairmont parts. Some motorcars for sale. ARCOA does not guarantee, certify or warrant that any mechanical equipment, modification, solution or device described in articles or advertisements in The SETOFF are safe or suitable for any member s needs or purposes. Technical articles are provided for member s consideration only. Readers are advised to do their own due diligence to determine the safety and suitability of any such equipment, modification, solution, or device for their purposes, and are advised to seek outside expert advice. B The SETOFF July / Aug 2012 Page 27

28 [>narcoa_company_store] Wheel Inspection Tools The clear plastic wheel profile is necessary to determine if the wheel is flat, thin in the flange area, or has wear between the flange and the flat section of the tread. Use the wheel profile as your first step in diagnosing hunting on the rails. Use two of the clear plastic wheel profiles to determine track gauge. The stainless steel caliper is necessary to determine if you have the required 1/8 minimum wheel thickness. One plastic wheel profile is $11 including s/h. Two plastic profiles are $17 including s/h. Stainless steel wheel calipers with laser printing (they ll outlast your grandson!) are $30 each including s/h. One plastic profile and one stainless steel wheel caliper go for $35 including s/h. Two plastic profiles and one stainless steel wheel caliper caliper are the best combination for $40 including s/h. The new calipers have a bold mark at the 1/8 minimum. Shipments outside the USA are becoming more expensive, so add to the list price: $5 for Canada, and $11 for the rest of the world. Make your check payable to NARCOA, and mail to Warren Riccitelli, 39 Jacksonia Drive, North Providence, RI questions to: warren.riccitelli@cox.net ARCOA Lanterns NARCOA has received another order of Trainman's lanterns produced by Star Headlight and Lantern. They are model 292 featuring a bright halogen lamp along with a conventional bulb. A standard 6 volt lantern battery is required (not included). The body is orange plastic with the NARCOA name, motorcar logo, and "Safety First" imprinted. The lamps are effective for night signaling, and make great presentation items for our railroad hosts. Cost is $29.00 each plus $8.00 shipping for the first lantern and $2.00 s/h for each additional lantern per order. Make your check payable to NARCOA, and mail to Jeff Levengood 2189 Oak Tree Dr., Dover, Ohio phone Please note: each item is shipped from the person in charge of that particular product. Profits from Company Store sales go to ARCOA. Reproduction Fairmont Data Plates These plates fit on the engine cover. They are correct for late 1930's to late 1960's cars. M9 M14 M19 S2 ST2 A3 A5 59C - maybe others. $6.00 per plate except Membership plate which is $3.00. Include SSAE with one stamp for each plate (Three Plates per envelope maximum) to: Richard C. Ray, 5 Hemlock Place, Randolph, NJ All Profits go to NARCOA - Make checks out to NARCOA. ray_r@rocketmail.com ARCOA Tee Shirts Show your support for NARCOA by wearing one of the new NARCOA Tee Shirts. Available in either Ash Gray, or Safety Green. High quality Gilden Extreem Cotton shirts. Short sleeve with the NARCOA on Track emblem on the left front and the NARCOA.ORG emblem on the back in black screen print. Sizes: adult, from med-3xl. No kids sizes at this time. All proceeds go to NAR- COA. $20.00 each, includes postage to U.S. To order send your request with sizes and color to: John Gonder 415 Levine Lane, Ruffs Dale, PA Make check out to NAR- COA. US funds only. Canadian orders please include $5.00 extra per/shirt for additional postage and customs. Page 28 The SETOFF July / Aug 2012