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(erielack) FW: ELHS Western Region Spring Meeting report

From Rich Behrendt...


The ELHS 2006 Western Region Spring Meeting turned out to be another great
weekend for attendees in Meadville, PA.  Blue skys and sunny weather in the
60's greeted members on Saturday morning for the anticipated WNY&PA trip. 
 
The trip on the Erie/EL was the highlight of the weekend, powered by two of
WNY&PA's C430 Alcos, that took about 62 riders from Meadville to Corry
(approx. 42 miles one way).  After departing at approx. 915am, the crew made
good time getting up to Corry and off-loading everyone.  Considering the
line had been out of service for a nearly a dozen years after Conrail
removed service in the early 1990's, the WNY&PA has done great work in
getting the track back up to running speed nearly reminiscent of EL days.
After off-loadig passengers at Corry, the special was put into a short
siding there to allow for an NS loaded coal train that was following to pass
through. 
 
After reboarding, passengers enjoyed the view of French Creek Valley running
back through Union City, Cambridge Springs, and Saegertown down the
westbound main (the eastbound 'highline' (grade seperated by the Erie to
handle the heavier eastbound loads) had been removed years before by
Conrail).  After arrival back in Meadville, some members stopped by the
Crawford County Historical Society to see some of the Erie employee records
that were once housed in the Meadville Shop complex.  
 
The banquet was held at Chovy's Restaurant (about a mile west of the yard in
Meadville), and provided a great buffet dinner of beef, chicken and fish.
After dinner, Ed Cronin from the French Creek Valley Railroad Historical
Society spoke a few words of his organization's efforts to establish a
historical museum that would be based upon the rich railroad history of
northwestern Pennsylvania, as well as Meadville area's history in the tool
and die industry (which continues to flouish there today) along with the
importance that the railroad provided the community. 
 
After dessert and a break, Sandy Burton showed some of his classic EL slides
from the early 1970's when he lived in Bergen County, and included a brief
look at the restoration of WC Tower in Waldwick.  Rich Behrendt showed some
misc. slides of post-1976 views, including some towers and stations, as well
as some slides of the final run of the Cleveland-Youngstown passenger
service.  He also followed up with a brief show on the Bessemer & Lake Erie.

 
Our thanks and appreciation to Steve Timko, Bill Burt and Tom Collard at the
WNY&PA for arranging a great train ride that will not be soon forgotten on
the Erie/EL - also our thanks to Chovy's Restarant in Meadville, as well as
to Joe Schveder for making the dinner arrangements;  and assisted by Jon
Seman and Tom Marshalak for bringing down the EL sales table and materials
for the benefit of members.
 
...and thanks to all of our members who attended...
 
Rich Behrendt
ELHS #384   


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