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Bellefonte railroad receives loaner cars
By Jennifer Thomas
BELLEFONTE -- The Bellefonte Historic Railroad plans to resume weekend trips by the end of August, according to a member of the railroad society.
It just won't be with its own cars, said Brian Roslund, vice president of the organization.
"It's time to try something different," he said.
After nearly 20 months of delays to get its railroad cars back in operation -- the result of an inability to meet Federal Railroad Administration guidelines with its rail diesel cars and financial difficulties -- a fellow railroad association has come to the group's aid, Roslund said.
The Central New York chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in Syracuse, N.Y., has agreed to lease two EX-Long Island Coaches, built by the Pullman Corp. in 1955, and a 1950s diesel-era locomotive to the Bellefonte group, Roslund said.
"As soon as they arrive in Bellefonte, they'll be ready to roll," he said.
This will be the first time that the Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society will operate a conventional passenger railroad, complete with locomotive and cars.
Jeff Hagan, a member of the Central New York chapter, who also serves as chief mechanical officer for the Bellefonte group, said that equipment needs a few tweaks and a final inspection by the Federal Railroad Administration before it can be transported to Bellefonte. He expects that to happen in the next several weeks.
"We want to have it so its running and ready to use as soon as it gets to Bellefonte," he said.
The equipment is being loaned without charge, in exchange for Bellefonte providing it a safe home, Hagan said.
"Where we store the equipment there's a lot of vandalism problems," he said.
"In order to save the equipment, we're trying to get it out of the area temporarily."
He said one concern is that the locomotive engine the group plans to loan might not match up with the requirements of North Shore Railroad, whose tracks are used by the Bellefonte society.
"It was designed for something slightly different than we intend to do," Hagan said, adding that if that one doesn't work out, both groups are keeping feelers out for other options.
"We are coming back bigger and better than ever," Roslund said, adding that the new railroad coaches have a seating capacity for more than 100 passengers per car. "Without them, this wouldn't be possible."
Bellefonte's own rail diesel cars have 88 seats each and are still sidelined by federal guidelines concerning window glass and emergency-exit windows.
Cost estimates to replace the glass in the passenger cars and driver's cab were $51,000. Otherwise, Roslund said, the group would need a federal waiver to begin operation. The railroad society applied for the waiver and began a fundraising effort in hopes of being back in operation by year's end, he said.
The assistance from the Central New York chapter means the railroad can operate on weekends as soon as the loaner cars arrive, and work toward replacing the glass in Bellefonte's own cars as the funds become available.
"This is great news for the railroad and it's great news for Bellefonte," Roslund said.
He said the railroad society hopes to reintroduce ride-and-dine promotions in the near future and increase trips during the fall foliage season.
The fundraiser is still ongoing. For information, visit http://www.bellefontetrain.com.
Otto Vondrak wrote:Still using the Budd cars?Not at this time. One is ready to go - now FRA compliant - but we have no certified, up-to-date operators at this moment in time. This is another hosted run using cars belonging to Jeff Pontius of North Shore. Without his generosity we'd almost surely be in very dire straits. It' s been a long, slow road to recovery and we're not there yet but can see the light at the end of the tunnel finally. With luck and persistence we'll be operating again sometime next year.
