$500 REWARD
For the recovery of the missing plaque recently removed from the East Portal of Hoosac Tunnel, in Florida, MA, commemorating the "World's First Fantrip."
On Sunday, August 26, 1934, the "National Association of Railroad Enthusiasts", predecessor of today's Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. organized the "world's first railfan trip" on the Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad. Passengers first rode Boston & Maine Railroad Boston-Troy train #67 to East Portal, MA. There they boarded an HT&W special behind ex-Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 4-6-0 21 for the trip to Wilmington, VT and back. They returned to Boston later that day on B&M Troy-Boston train #62.
On August 26, 1984, exactly fifty years later, Mass Bay RRE sponsored the "Half-Century Limited," a special train of MBTA equipment that ran from Boston through Hoosac Tunnel to North Adams, then to Adams on the ex-Boston & Albany North Adams Branch.
Mass Bay RRE commissioned the commemorative plaque, which Guilford Transportation (owner of the B&M) placed on the face of the East Portal. During the 1984 excursion, we held a dedication ceremony at the tunnel marking the 50th anniversary of the 1934 trip. Sadly, the plaque was reported missing the week of April 3.
Mass Bay RRE Trip Chairman Bill Crawford, who was our president when the plaque was placed, filed a report of the missing plaque with Guilford Police April 7. The Mass Bay RRE Executive Committee has authorized a $500 reward for recovery of the plaque, which we announced at the joint Mass Bay RRE-B&MRRHS meeting in Lowell, MA April 10.
We would appreciate help from all railfans in publicizing this reward and
recovering the missing plaque. Please contact us at [email protected] or Box 2742, Wilmington, MA 01888.
-The Officers and Directors of Mass Bay RRE
For the recovery of the missing plaque recently removed from the East Portal of Hoosac Tunnel, in Florida, MA, commemorating the "World's First Fantrip."
On Sunday, August 26, 1934, the "National Association of Railroad Enthusiasts", predecessor of today's Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. organized the "world's first railfan trip" on the Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad. Passengers first rode Boston & Maine Railroad Boston-Troy train #67 to East Portal, MA. There they boarded an HT&W special behind ex-Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 4-6-0 21 for the trip to Wilmington, VT and back. They returned to Boston later that day on B&M Troy-Boston train #62.
On August 26, 1984, exactly fifty years later, Mass Bay RRE sponsored the "Half-Century Limited," a special train of MBTA equipment that ran from Boston through Hoosac Tunnel to North Adams, then to Adams on the ex-Boston & Albany North Adams Branch.
Mass Bay RRE commissioned the commemorative plaque, which Guilford Transportation (owner of the B&M) placed on the face of the East Portal. During the 1984 excursion, we held a dedication ceremony at the tunnel marking the 50th anniversary of the 1934 trip. Sadly, the plaque was reported missing the week of April 3.
Mass Bay RRE Trip Chairman Bill Crawford, who was our president when the plaque was placed, filed a report of the missing plaque with Guilford Police April 7. The Mass Bay RRE Executive Committee has authorized a $500 reward for recovery of the plaque, which we announced at the joint Mass Bay RRE-B&MRRHS meeting in Lowell, MA April 10.
We would appreciate help from all railfans in publicizing this reward and
recovering the missing plaque. Please contact us at [email protected] or Box 2742, Wilmington, MA 01888.
-The Officers and Directors of Mass Bay RRE
