Re: (rshsdepot) Phillipsburg, NJ

["fred fep" <luckyshow_@_mindspring.com>]

1) Is it feasible to put back the train to Phillipsburg? Or even, perish the
thought, just a little further west to link with the bigger SMSA (I haven't
used that term in years, forgive me)?

2) or would this museum operate such a train(s)?

3) Which reminds me of a question: Why when a museum or tourist line does
operate at least seasonal service that could interconnect at one terminus
where said terminal is served by a AMTRAK train...why do they rarely even
try to have adequate connection times with the Amtrak trains?
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Bernie Wagenblast" <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>
To: "Rail Depot List" <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 5:15 PM
Subject: (rshsdepot) Phillipsburg, NJ


> Man tries to spur museum plans along
>
> Railroad historian says P'burg museum is now languishing in legislative
> limbo.
>
>
> Sunday, January 19, 2003
>
>
> By LINDA LISANTI
> The Express-Times
>
> PHILLIPSBURG -- Seventy-year-old Bill McKelvey hopes to see the state rail
> museum built here before he leaves this earth.
>
> But the railroad historian says that prospect is looking bleaker as the
bill
> needed to move the project forward languishes in a legislative committee.
>
> Assembly Bill 2361, which will provide for formal establishment of the New
> Jersey Transportation Heritage Center, a board of directors and a
> foundation, was introduced last May 16. It was forwarded to the Assembly
> Appropriations Committee on June 17.
>
> "It has been sitting there ever since," said McKelvey, a member of the
> Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center.
>
> "We must have this legislation to move forward. This limbo situation is a
> crisis situation for this whole area," he told town council on Tuesday.
>
> No permanent decisions can be made until the board of directors is
created.
> The commission that had been calling the shots disbanded two months ago,
> officials said.
>
> Phillipsburg's revitalization plans hinge on the creation of the rail
> museum. It is slated for 50 acres of land off South Main Street.
>
> Officials expect the museum to be a big tourist draw, luring people to
> downtown. Millions of dollars have been spent already to restore
dilapidated
> buildings and bring in new businesses and revenues.
>
> The museum was never expected to be completed overnight, more like 10 to
15
> years. But the Friends say it has taken 15 years to get to this point.
>
> McKelvey said Friends members have met with state legislators on various
> occasions, but received no explanation for the wait. He blames the hold-up
> on party politics.
>
> "We made a grand entrance in Governor McGreevey's inaugural day parade
with
> two beautifully restored trucks. Now, he doesn't know us," McKelvey said .
>
> Jennifer Godoski, spokesman for Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman, a
> Mercer County Democrat who chairs the Assembly Appropriations Committee,
> said the bill being held has nothing to do with party politics. It has
more
> to do with cost, she explained.
>
> This is one of many bills under consideration even while the state
projects
> an estimated $5 billion state deficit.
>
> "In these times of economic woes, it is hard to move forward legislation
> that has an unimaginable price tag," Godoski said.
>
> Ken Miller, president of Friends, was flabbergasted as to why the
> assemblywoman's office would say there was a request for money.
>
> "It doesn't say that in the bill. It doesn't request any funding," Miller
> said. "They are just using this so they don't have to move the bill."
>
> Miller said the only mention of cost in the bill is that certain members
of
> the board of directors would be considered quasi-state employees and be
> eligible for state health benefits and pension plan.
>
> "There is no problem here," said Miller. "We think it's all politics."
>
> The money needed to purchase the acreage in Phillipsburg has been secured.
> The appraisal has been completed, as have environmental testing and
> surveying, officials said.
>
> With a $210,000 grant, the town plans to restore the old Phillipsburg
Train
> Station at 178 S. Main St. to be used as the rail museum's Visitor
> Information Center.
>
> The Friends already have more than 90 pieces of railroad equipment and 200
> truckloads of rail artifacts to be used in the museum's exhibits.
>
> McKelvey said they are ready to go. This legislation is the only obstacle
> standing in their way.
>
> To spur lawmakers into action, he is calling on the town council, the
Urban
> Enterprise Zone Corp., zoning and planning boards to join in a
> letter-writing campaign.
>
> He is urging all residents to write to the local assembly members,
> Watson-Coleman and the governor.
>
> Council members on Tuesday assured McKelvey they would draft their letters
> immediately and advise town and school boards to do so.
>
> "How can they say we're a depressed town and not help us?" said council
> President Pete Marino.
>
> McKelvey questions why lawmakers in Trenton won't push through legislation
> that will benefit the state's tourism industry.
>
> "I don't know what to do but to flood the assembly with letters," McKelvey
> said. "We need this. It's been far too long already."
>
>
> Reporter Linda Lisanti can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at
> llisanti_@_express-times.com.
>
>
> =================================
> The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
> railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
>

=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #573
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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org