The trip to attend the annual Association of Railway Museums (ARM) Conference actually started yesterday on flights with United Airlines to Chicago and on to Newark. Three hours delay was had in Chicago due rough weather in the Newark / New York area, but by the time we finally got here it was lovely.

Sunny and cool was the start this morning, as I headed for a day in New York before driving to Pennsylvania. The hotel shuttle takes me to the AIR Train station at Newark International, an automated monorail system that serves the three airport terminals, parking, rental cars and directly links to the Rail Link station (Amtrak / NJ Transit). From here, it’s a short 25-minute rail journey to New York’s Penn Station. I purchase my NJ Transit ticket from the machine - $7.50, and it gives me US $1 dollar coins in change from my $20 bill! Pockets loaded, through the machine and to the platform where I board the local 8:12 AM service on track A. We take our time getting there and the train is crowded, but it is rush hour going into New York City. Penn Station is a mass of humanity; fortunately I am going their way!

I walk uptown and take in the NYC sights on this sunny morning, then turn to walk down 42nd Street. The city is as crowded as ever, but that’s part of the experience. I decide to take a three-hour cruise all the way around Manhattan on the classic Circle Line Cruise. It’s a stunning morning for photography – just what I need as I am trying out my new Nikon Digital that I bought just before leaving (my Minolta film camera died just a few weeks ago – so what else is one to do?) The views of the New York skyline, and all the highlights are superb, but there are rails to be seen from the rivers too!

Several of the bridges over the East River carry NYC Subway trains overhead, and we spot them. Up north in Harlem is the massive 207th street Subway maintenance complex, with old and new cars in evidence. As we cruise along the North River, we pass a Metro North base with both electric MU and GE Diesel hauled consists, then the Hudson line parallels the river and we catch some trains in action. Just as we re-enter the Hudson River, the Amtrak line to Albany crosses the river on a swing bridge, which is open for us and stops an inbound Amtrak with a GE unit and five horizon cars for our passage.

Off the boat onto the M50 bus ($2 is the fare) and a ride to Times Square for a look around; some photos, and some camera accessories shopping (that’s another story!). Damage done (to the pocketbook that is), time to head back to New Jersey. I walk back to Penn Station and purchase a ticket to Newark Airport – this time the cost is $14.50! Something about no discounts when originating at NY Penn. The 1432 train is crowded as well, but I get a window seat in one of the new Alsthom coaches for the ride. A nice touch is that they have walk over seats – no one rides backwards on this service.

I spend a few minutes on the platform at Newark Airport station, see two other NJ Transit trains (one has eight cars MU equipment, the other a Bombardier HHST8 loco and ten cars), then Amtrak comes in with a Keystone Service to Harrisburg with an AEM 7 electric loco and four Amfleet cars. Then its back onto the AIR Train and a reverse trip to the hotel.

Sunday, October 2 After a day of business yesterday, I’m off on the road this morning with my destination a railroad landmark (and a US National Historic Site), that being Horseshoe Curve. I decide to drive back roads to Altoona, a decision that is a good one as I enjoy rambling through the Pennsylvania countryside without too much traffic. Gettysburg is an interesting short stop on the way, I did the historical tour there yesterday with a host who did a great job of making the Civil War event come alive.

Arriving Altoona at 1200, I stop first at the Railroaders Memorial Museum. Altoona was the site of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s main shops, a massive historical site of which a few buildings remain. The main museum exhibits are in the old Master Mechanics Building. The exhibits inside are very well done and encompass three floors, with museum offices and library on the fourth floor. There are quality video and sensory components to telling the story of the railroaders who built and maintained the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Outside on the grounds, though, it’s a different matter. The pieces of rolling stock that are there are in poor shape with little interpretation. The site is undergoing work towards the construction of a new roundhouse and historic turntable installation (sound familiar?) but the rolling stock to be housed in it are sitting quite derelict outside and badly in need of work (I refer here to the business car Loretto (Pullman 1917 for Charles Schwab) and the GG1 locomotive #4913), the K-4 #1361 steam loco was not to be seen.

While having a bite of lunch, I sit beside the four track mainline of the Norfolk Southern at Altoona station. Here a nice job has been done of creating a raised viewing platform that clears the NS fencing so good photos can be taken of the action on the busy railroad. Then I head out to Horseshoe Curve – just six miles away and also operated by the Museum. Your admission gets you into both and includes a ride to the top of the Park site on a funicular railway.

The National Historic Site has a viewing area at the parking lot level, but trackside is the place to be and the ride to the top sure beats all those stairs. The park area up there sits alongside the centre of the curve, and features the Pennsy GP9, which has just received a new coat of black paint. The scanner plays over the loudspeakers so one can hear the railroad chatter and know when a train is coming. The trains are also announced including train number, origin and destination, and manifest. The grounds are pleasant with nice shady trees, lovely lawn, benches etc. to relax on. (photo below)

As for the action, I don’t see multiple trains at one time (there are three active tracks) but several do pass by. Westbounds can be heard for about 15 minutes ( photo below) as they climb the grade; so being ready when they enter the curve is easy. The sun is perfect – we get good photos. After an hour or so, I head further west and find the portals of the tunnels at the top of the grade. Here there is also a park for viewing and I see an auto freight emerge westbound, then Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian comes through eastbound.

The day has gone quickly, I head back on Route 22 which follows the mainline in several spots along the Juniata River to Harrisburg. Just west of Harrisburg several frights are stacked up – including two from Canada (you can spot the CN and BC Rail cars) both headed by CN power. I make it back to my hotel just after dark – a most satisfying Pennsylvania Railroading day.

Northbound again, the next stop is Middletown, this time intersected by the old Pennsylvania mainline (now Amtrak), with three tracks active. I check the schedule posted in the “Amshack” and note that there will be both eastbound and westbound trains around 1300 hours. I buy some lunch and return to enjoy the park like setting and catch both Amtrak trains, each with a P 42 locomotive and five Amfleet cars. The super-elevated curve and passing at speed make these dramatic. (photo below)

My return to York is via different back road routes; the small Pennsylvania towns are delightful to travel through.

Tuesday, October 4 I start this morning with a walk around historic York, and discover a rail trail that follows the YorkRail right of way (on what was the former Western Maryland’s second main track). Good to stretch the legs, the sign said this is a shared walkway with an active railway – by golly, here comes a train. A pair of yellow and black CF7 locomotives - #1504 lettered Maryland & Pennsylvania and #1500 YorkRail – Operation Lifesaver. They trundle past and end up switching around downtown York.

Time to head east for Strasburg, the site of ARM 2005. I follow route 30 and don’t see much railway wise, except a couple of high hood Norfolk Southern units picking up cars from YorkRail under an underpass as I cross overhead. I find Strasburg and check into the hotel (which will serve as the conference site). A walk around the property yields views of Amish farm country. In the distance, the sound of a steam whistle—I’m going to like this place!

I head into Harrisburg, the Capitol of Pennsylvania, for the afternoon. Walk around the city and visit many of its historical areas. The two long rail viaducts across the Susquehanna River are both there, the former Pennsylvania one with the electric catenary standards appears to be not in service but the other one sees frequent Norfolk Southern trains. Harrisburg station is still its traditional brick self, with new train sheds to cover the tracks. On display in the shed is Pennsylvania RR GG1 #4885 in Brunswick green and a caboose. Amtrak is present with two consists, Norfolk Southern freights trundle through on adjacent tracks. Sherry flies in from Vancouver (via Toronto) and we head back to Strasburg. Ready now for ARM 2005 to start tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 5 We’re off on the first field trip of the conference, an optional tour that captures the history of the Reading Railroad. The buses head us north through Reading to the town of Temple, PA and the station that houses the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society. This organization collects artifacts and history related to the Reading Railroad, and they have a significant rolling stock collection – all Reading, of course. Of interest are their two Budd RDC’s – sisters to our own BC 21, which was originally Reading 9156. Their pair includes Reading 9162, the very last Budd RDC built in 1962. (left)

Thurs., October 6 Opening seminars this morning, then off to Philadelphia. A fairly long bus ride takes us to the city, and our first stop the Juniata Terminal. This is home to a shortline RR and locomotive shops facility, their array of EMD’s out and running for us includes an MP 15, and GP 38 as well as maintenance equipment. But the real show is the pair of Pennsylvania Railroad E 8’s, #5711 / 5809 (above), out and idling. Inside is the three car matching train of sleepers Little Juniata Rapids, Warrior Ridge and the famous business car PRR 120. They also house some private business cars and the former Conrail executive E8. Outside, Northeast Corridor trains glide by; this is a stop with much railroad history and ambiance.

Our final stop is Amtrak’s 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, the USA’s second most active station (built 1929—1933). It’s grand concourse is impressive and we get some time to wander the city and enjoy dinner before returning to Strasburg.

Friday, October 7 Once again the day starts with seminars, then we are off for our visit to the Strasburg RR and other local rail sites. Strasburg has become a railway heritage centre, with the RR, the Pennsylvania RR Museum and the Toy Train Museum all located close together.

Back at the depot, we dash across the street under umbrellas to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, our host museum for the conference. What a facility! Part of the State of Pennsylvania’s legion of 28 museums, their 14 acre site includes more than 45 pieces undercover in their major theme museum building. The exhibits are breathtaking, and their display concept includes complete trainsets in many cases. The largest component of the collection is, of course, the Pennsylvania Railroad and they have steam, diesel (GP9 / Conrail GP 30) and electrics (GG1 4935, E44, boxcabs etc.) from the line. Excellent quality restorations are evident and the building is spacious, well lit and professionally done.

Almost out of time, we scoot over to the Toy Train Museum which houses a wonderful collection of vintage toy trains in all scales, both exhibited and operating layouts are featured. It is a great afternoon, and we have a short time to change for dinner, then return to enjoy the annual banquet in the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. It is similar in concept to what we will do with our new roundhouse and conference centre – there are 200 of us seated for dinner among the exhibits.

Saturday, October 8 We awake to more rain and prepare for another soggy field trip day. It wasn’t just soggy – the water was pouring off the roofs and running around in rivers as the area received over 5 inches of rain in 12 hours overnight! It continued all the way west for two hours to the little town of Orbisonia, PA – home of the East Broad Top Railroad (three foot narrow gauge) and the Rockhill Trolley Museum.

While the rain continued, we headed off for a shop tour. The EBT was established in 1856 as a coal, iron ore and passenger hauler, and was the last narrow gauge line to survive in Pennsylvania. In 1956 the railroad was finally shut down. Workers just walked away from the complete shops and roundhouse complex, and the entire property was sold to a scrap dealer. This is where the story takes a bend – the purchasers, the Kovalchick family, decided to preserve the entire property as an historic treasure. While one could argue today the need for some preservation work to the shop and equipment, there is no other complete steam powered belt driven locomotive shop still extant on the continent.

A walk through the shop is truly a step back in time. Although nothing is operational, the equipment still exists as it was left in 1956. Unfortunately, many leaks exist and structure supports are everywhere – wouldn’t it be wonderful if these basic needs were able to be attended to, to ensure that this equipment doesn’t just one day fall in on itself. (photo below)

From the shops it was over to the roundhouse, a brick structure in much better shape with a turntable out front, home to the maintenance base of the five surviving steam locomotives, # 12, 14, 15, 17 and one unidentified. The EBT also stables three diesels (GE 44 ton # M 7 and two four wheel industrial switchers) and rail motor car M 1. The M 1 and M 7 were also out and running for us.

A ride on the East Broad Top is an experience out of yesteryear. We climb aboard wooden coaches / combines from the 1880’s, and roll off to the sights and sounds of narrow gauge steam. The ride has lots of rocking and rolling, and the wooden car creaks and groans just like one would expect. We go out to Shady Gap picnic site, and the rain finally eases. There we wye and await the next train, which is hauled by diesel M 7. Its open cars are empty, but the two cabooses are full! Then back we go to the station, across the main street and disembark at the Rockhill Trolley Museum.

Sunday, October 9 Today is ARM’s annual meeting, which takes up the morning, then we head off for Lancaster station and a ride to New York City and back on Amtrak. Lancaster station is a classic, not updated to any modern styles, and is a very busy station on Amtrak’s Keystone line. There is a large crowd (at least 100) awaiting the arrival of train

650 for Philadelphia and New York, which rolls in right on time with four Amfleet cars behind a P 42 locomotive. We board and find seats in what is a sold out train. Soon we are rolling for a mostly quick trip to Philadelphia's 30th street station. Checking out the café car proves a surprise—although in the consist, there is no service available at all.

At Philadelphia, the train swaps power, the P 42 diesel is replaced by an AEM 7 electric for the run north on the corridor to New York. The train also reverses direction, so we move to forward facing seats in the café car—which is actually a business class car with big 2 / 1 seats, although no such class on this train. The ride up the corridor is fast and smooth, we arrive New York City’s Penn Station a couple of minutes early at 1630.

Time for a quick jaunt around New York, including a ride on the NYC Subway from Battery Park to 50th Street. Fare now is $2, tokens are replaced by fare cards, and security is heavy. After our marathon short tour, it’s back to Penn Station where we take Amtrak Keystone train 657 back to Lancaster, a repeat of the inbound trip, again riding in the wide seats of the café car. Arrival back at Lancaster is again on time, and a huge crowd disembarks.

And that’s it—now time to head for home. Sherry flies out of Harrisburg, and I head back to New Jersey for diner in New York with a friend, then flights home from Newark.

I hope you have enjoyed this taste of Pennsylvania—I expect to provide the whole story and slide show at the WCRA’s December 20 meeting. Hope to see you there.