Honesdale, Pa. -
Stourbridge Line train excursions are getting a new look. You may have seen the black and yellow passenger rail coaches on the tracks behind the Post Office. Al Siebold, manager of the Stourbridge Railway Company, said they are here to stay.
The excursions, which were started by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce in 1979, has five vintage coaches, dating to the 1920’s. They are still in use, but Siebold said that they are planning for the day they would need to be replaced. Meanwhile, the two added coaches offer distinct advantages for the excursion passengers.
The “new” coaches are still classics of yesteryear- from the 1950’s, still a lot newer than the others. The new coaches have air conditioning, something the old ones never had. Siebold said they were also glad that the coach windows can open, for days that are not as hot and the a/c isn’t necessary. Passengers can then still enjoy the breeze, scent of the woods as they go by and the sounds of the train.
They also have handicapped accessible rest rooms, compared to the narrow facilities available on the old. There are also tables and counters aboard the new versions, where snacks and beverages can be served.
Siebold stated that the older coaches are safe to use, but are prone to rust and corrosion. It also gets harder to find replacement parts. Each year, parts need to be replaced. He expects that two of the old coaches can be restored, keeping the original car bodies. They would likely see if a railroad museum would want the other three for static display, before deciding to sell them for scrap.
Morristown and Erie Railroad (M&E), which manages the Stourbridge Railway, did a nationwide search for passenger coaches, and Siebold said he believed they found a good deal. The two coaches originally were for regular passenger use on the Canadian National Railway in the Montreal/Toronto area, till the mid-80’s. Later they were used for a tourist excursion line in Montana, where M&E found them. A third car was also purchased, which is still at the M&E yard in Morristown, NJ, being outfitted with a 50 KW generator. This will enable powering of the whole train. The third coach is expected to be brought to Honesdale in three or four months.
They will all be repainted to match the BL2 locomotive which pulls the Stourbridge Line, and will be bestowed with names commemorating historic figures from Wayne and Pike counties.
The BL2 is also at Morristown for maintenance. Another locomotive was brought up for the Easter run.
In other railroad-related business, Siebold said that Ideal Steel & Supply Corporation is still planning to build their facility in White Mills, and make use of the rail line. Warehouse cranes were recently brought here for storage. Siebold said that Ideal Steel is waiting for the economy to improve, rather than build too early. CEO of Ideal Steel, Paul Brancato, bought the local railroad in May 2008 and hired M&E to manage it.
Railroad crossings at Brown St., Honesdale, and Church Street and Welwood Avenue in Hawley, are currently being refurbished, Siebold stated.
For information on the 2010 schedule of Stourbridge Line excursions, call the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce at (570)253-1960 or visit
http://www.waynecountycc.com.