I am a HUGE Arcade & Attica fan. Despite never having visited the railroad (I hope to in the near future), I've personally collected many photos and information in years past at train shows and by doing research in various archives. I love the classic tourist railroads from the 1960s, and the A&A, in my opinion, ranks right up there at the top of my list (after Strasburg, of course)!
I've come to learn that every short line railroad has a resident fan who does nothing else but specialize in documenting their local favorite railroad--taking photos of all of the special moves, typical workaday shots, collecting ephemera, saving old papers, collecting old photos at train shows, etc. Does the A&A have a such a person, and if so, how can I contact them? I've seen Ken Kraemer's name credited to many older A&A images, know of Pat Connor's research efforts and Ed Lewis's book, etc.
So here's my long list of A&A questions for the faithful. If any of you can provide answers, I'd be eternally grateful:
1. Does David Copeland still work for the A&A? Where is he now?
2. Why were 2 of the eight DL&W coaches scrapped (one in '85 and the other in '97)?
3. Whatever happened to the two wooden cabooses and the snowplow?
4. Does the sand tower still stand?
5. Did the A&A ever take the NYO&W private car for any runs down the line, or was it always stationary? When did it arrive at Arcade?
6. Is the siding at Java Center ever used?
7. When did #14 last operate? Why is its tender used on #18, and why is it jacked up? Is #18's tender still on the property and what condition is it in?
8. Does the A&A ever run a stockholder's special? When is the annual meeting held?
9. Does anybody have the A&A 7" 45 rpm audio record released by Mobile Fidelity Productions in the early 1970s? If so, any way I could obtain an audio tape copy? I can talk about it offline.
10. When PRR doddlebug #4666 was stored on the property in the late 60's did it ever operate on the A&A?
11. Besides Manly Hakes, did the A&A have any other steam engineers? Who did the steam loco repairs? Is Brad Mapes still employed on the A&A?
12. How is #18's rebuild progressing? I read somewhere that Linda, the General Mgr., commented that the A&A was low on funds and didn't seem too optimistic that it would be running anytime soon. Who is doing the work?
13. Is Richard Reisdorf still President? Is he the reason why the railroad is still running (i.e. lifeline provided by Reisdorf Mill freight business)?
14. When did Ed Lewis depart the A&A?
15. Who selected #14, #18 and the DL&W coaches back in the 60's? Was there one person who made all of the equipment purchasing decisions?
16. Do the A&A's original business records still exist?
17. Have any Employee Timetables (other than No. 1 from 1995) been issued? Or rule books? (Ed Lewis told me that the last A&A rule book was issued in 1917)
18. Is the Friends of the A&A still an active organization? Do they have a newsletter? Can anybody join?
19. Does the A&A operate by train orders and timetable? Do the engineers have a master log of all moves and operations on the railroad?
20. How did the orange and black paint scheme originate?
21. Are all of the A&A personnel paid employees or part volunteer?
My apologies if I've posted too many questions. Hopefully it will elicit some interesting responses from the A&A faithful.
all the best,
Kurt B.
(Archivist, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg)
I've come to learn that every short line railroad has a resident fan who does nothing else but specialize in documenting their local favorite railroad--taking photos of all of the special moves, typical workaday shots, collecting ephemera, saving old papers, collecting old photos at train shows, etc. Does the A&A have a such a person, and if so, how can I contact them? I've seen Ken Kraemer's name credited to many older A&A images, know of Pat Connor's research efforts and Ed Lewis's book, etc.
So here's my long list of A&A questions for the faithful. If any of you can provide answers, I'd be eternally grateful:
1. Does David Copeland still work for the A&A? Where is he now?
2. Why were 2 of the eight DL&W coaches scrapped (one in '85 and the other in '97)?
3. Whatever happened to the two wooden cabooses and the snowplow?
4. Does the sand tower still stand?
5. Did the A&A ever take the NYO&W private car for any runs down the line, or was it always stationary? When did it arrive at Arcade?
6. Is the siding at Java Center ever used?
7. When did #14 last operate? Why is its tender used on #18, and why is it jacked up? Is #18's tender still on the property and what condition is it in?
8. Does the A&A ever run a stockholder's special? When is the annual meeting held?
9. Does anybody have the A&A 7" 45 rpm audio record released by Mobile Fidelity Productions in the early 1970s? If so, any way I could obtain an audio tape copy? I can talk about it offline.
10. When PRR doddlebug #4666 was stored on the property in the late 60's did it ever operate on the A&A?
11. Besides Manly Hakes, did the A&A have any other steam engineers? Who did the steam loco repairs? Is Brad Mapes still employed on the A&A?
12. How is #18's rebuild progressing? I read somewhere that Linda, the General Mgr., commented that the A&A was low on funds and didn't seem too optimistic that it would be running anytime soon. Who is doing the work?
13. Is Richard Reisdorf still President? Is he the reason why the railroad is still running (i.e. lifeline provided by Reisdorf Mill freight business)?
14. When did Ed Lewis depart the A&A?
15. Who selected #14, #18 and the DL&W coaches back in the 60's? Was there one person who made all of the equipment purchasing decisions?
16. Do the A&A's original business records still exist?
17. Have any Employee Timetables (other than No. 1 from 1995) been issued? Or rule books? (Ed Lewis told me that the last A&A rule book was issued in 1917)
18. Is the Friends of the A&A still an active organization? Do they have a newsletter? Can anybody join?
19. Does the A&A operate by train orders and timetable? Do the engineers have a master log of all moves and operations on the railroad?
20. How did the orange and black paint scheme originate?
21. Are all of the A&A personnel paid employees or part volunteer?
My apologies if I've posted too many questions. Hopefully it will elicit some interesting responses from the A&A faithful.
all the best,
Kurt B.
(Archivist, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg)