by Schuylkill Valley
I copied this thred from the Jeresy railfan forum.
The reason is the Bel Del was part of the PRR.
Also check out these videos I took from the Photo Freight Special in June of 2006.
http://www.dailymotion.com/Conrail6370/ ... eight-clip
http://media.putfile.com/Ghost-Whistles-and-Freight-
http://media.putfile.com/Railfanning-The-Bel-Del- This clip has the 142 with a PRR K-4 whistle
Len.
Donko142
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Posts: 38
Location: New Jersey
Posted: 6/3/05 Post subject: Help needed on the Bel-Del. Can you get involved?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello all
We have some members of our group that are also members at the Catskill Mountain Railroad, they are having a nice run of luck up there. I understand they picked up over 60 new members, some from the postings on this site. Good luck guys!! I thought why not try the same thing here in New Jersey on the Bel Del.
2006 was a great year for all of us involved in the strong partnership between the railroad and the NYSWTHS. We learned that totally sold out trains aren’t just at Christmas time anymore. We started the year by getting another 1.7 miles of railroad rebuilt to class 2 standards. The drive to have it ready for opening day 2006 was almost met, but by the first week in June ( 5 weeks behind our goal ) the trains were operating south to Carpentersville at MP.45, just in time for Pete Lerro’s photo freight on June 4th. ( check it out www.lerroproductions.com Bel Del ) This new section of the railroad is very scenic, more then most of the line we were running last year. It was the start of good things to come in 2006. Next came the very successful wine trains on Saturdays, then Sundays and shortly after that the need for two trips on Saturday was clear. After working weekends and sometime during the week all summer we found ourselves ready for the busy season, and it was! October found every available coach ( 7 )on the train every weekend, the caboose was even added for an extra 12 people. When the wine trains, pumpkin trains and photo freights were all over we had hauled more passengers then the best December on record for the group. Speaking of December lets just say any parking spot in Phillipsburg was worth $50.00 on any weekend Santa was around.
2007 and where were hoping the future takes us, where to start! As of last weekend (3-5-07) the 2-8-2 steam engine #142 is 4 feet higher then she’s ever been before. THS CMO Gary Mathews has a great maintenance program in place for the engine. With the boiler in awesome condition the decision was made to go over the running gear, all the drivers have not been out from under the engine since she was built. So down they came as were hoping to get back on the mainline this year. If all goes well, 142 will roll out of our Easton P.A. shop in early May. The track goal for 2007 is to get the railroad rebuilt to class 2 standards to Riegelsville and have a run around installed at MP 42. The run around at Phillipsburg is finally in service, now we just have to keep pushing south! The plan is in place with the final long-term goal being Milford, the more south you go the more scenic this railroad gets! We have multiple projects going on every weekend and sometimes during the week. If you would like to get involved with the group we would be glad to have you! Tired of just reading, writing or taking picture of trains maybe this is for you? No experience required, we would prefer to teach you. If you like trains and can be SAFE around them, that’s a good start. With steam trains on Saturday and Sunday, freights Tuesday and Thursday, coaches that need work, a ROW that needs lots of attention, we could use some more help! If you want to get into engine service, train service, track and ROW maintenance, equipment maintenance or if you just want to pick up a paintbrush and start painting. We have something for everyone to help with. Bottom line, on a bad day on this railroad we all leave with a smile and a days worth of camaraderie with the guys. (And now and then even a few girls)
Easter trains with the railroads new ( to us ) GP-9 will start 3-31-07 Stop and see us!
Anyone interested please contact me through this site or go to www.NYSWTHS.org We'll tell you where and when to stop by and see if this is for you.
Thank you for your time and be safe!
_________________
Main intrestest steam and short line railroads in the East.
Qualified engineer and firemen.
The reason is the Bel Del was part of the PRR.
Also check out these videos I took from the Photo Freight Special in June of 2006.
http://www.dailymotion.com/Conrail6370/ ... eight-clip
http://media.putfile.com/Ghost-Whistles-and-Freight-
http://media.putfile.com/Railfanning-The-Bel-Del- This clip has the 142 with a PRR K-4 whistle
Len.
Donko142
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Posts: 38
Location: New Jersey
Posted: 6/3/05 Post subject: Help needed on the Bel-Del. Can you get involved?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello all
We have some members of our group that are also members at the Catskill Mountain Railroad, they are having a nice run of luck up there. I understand they picked up over 60 new members, some from the postings on this site. Good luck guys!! I thought why not try the same thing here in New Jersey on the Bel Del.
2006 was a great year for all of us involved in the strong partnership between the railroad and the NYSWTHS. We learned that totally sold out trains aren’t just at Christmas time anymore. We started the year by getting another 1.7 miles of railroad rebuilt to class 2 standards. The drive to have it ready for opening day 2006 was almost met, but by the first week in June ( 5 weeks behind our goal ) the trains were operating south to Carpentersville at MP.45, just in time for Pete Lerro’s photo freight on June 4th. ( check it out www.lerroproductions.com Bel Del ) This new section of the railroad is very scenic, more then most of the line we were running last year. It was the start of good things to come in 2006. Next came the very successful wine trains on Saturdays, then Sundays and shortly after that the need for two trips on Saturday was clear. After working weekends and sometime during the week all summer we found ourselves ready for the busy season, and it was! October found every available coach ( 7 )on the train every weekend, the caboose was even added for an extra 12 people. When the wine trains, pumpkin trains and photo freights were all over we had hauled more passengers then the best December on record for the group. Speaking of December lets just say any parking spot in Phillipsburg was worth $50.00 on any weekend Santa was around.
2007 and where were hoping the future takes us, where to start! As of last weekend (3-5-07) the 2-8-2 steam engine #142 is 4 feet higher then she’s ever been before. THS CMO Gary Mathews has a great maintenance program in place for the engine. With the boiler in awesome condition the decision was made to go over the running gear, all the drivers have not been out from under the engine since she was built. So down they came as were hoping to get back on the mainline this year. If all goes well, 142 will roll out of our Easton P.A. shop in early May. The track goal for 2007 is to get the railroad rebuilt to class 2 standards to Riegelsville and have a run around installed at MP 42. The run around at Phillipsburg is finally in service, now we just have to keep pushing south! The plan is in place with the final long-term goal being Milford, the more south you go the more scenic this railroad gets! We have multiple projects going on every weekend and sometimes during the week. If you would like to get involved with the group we would be glad to have you! Tired of just reading, writing or taking picture of trains maybe this is for you? No experience required, we would prefer to teach you. If you like trains and can be SAFE around them, that’s a good start. With steam trains on Saturday and Sunday, freights Tuesday and Thursday, coaches that need work, a ROW that needs lots of attention, we could use some more help! If you want to get into engine service, train service, track and ROW maintenance, equipment maintenance or if you just want to pick up a paintbrush and start painting. We have something for everyone to help with. Bottom line, on a bad day on this railroad we all leave with a smile and a days worth of camaraderie with the guys. (And now and then even a few girls)
Easter trains with the railroads new ( to us ) GP-9 will start 3-31-07 Stop and see us!
Anyone interested please contact me through this site or go to www.NYSWTHS.org We'll tell you where and when to stop by and see if this is for you.
Thank you for your time and be safe!
_________________
Main intrestest steam and short line railroads in the East.
Qualified engineer and firemen.
