From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <28279264.1017587476276.JavaMail.turbine_@_ti098.mtvwca1-dc1.genuity.net> Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002 07:11:16 -0800 (PST) From: lner4472_@_bcpl.net Subject: (rshsdepot) Beauty and history have been locked up to rot From: Alexander D. Mitchell IV - -------------------- Beauty and history have been locked up to rot - -------------------- Nineteenth-century Camden Station, deteriorating in the shadow of Oriole Park, has been shunted to the sidetrack. By Edward Gunts Sun Architecture Critic March 31, 2002 When Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992, one prominent feature remained off limits to the general public. Camden Station, the historic train depot that gave its name to Baltimore's downtown sports district, had been restored to its original exterior appearance, complete with a three-tiered clock tower and 80-foot-tall side cupolas. But officials at the Maryland Stadium Authority had no money to fix up the interior and left the doors locked, saying they'd need a private investor to finish the restoration. Ten years have now passed since Oriole Park made its debut, triggering a wave of baseball-only, back-to-the city ballparks. But nothing much has changed for Camden Station, which will still be locked when crowds arrive tomorrow for Opening Day. Neither the Do It Now leadership of former Gov. William Donald Schaefer nor the Smart Growth strategizing of Gov. Parris Glendening has produced the right combination of public and private funding needed to unlock the doors of Camden Station and make it more than an empty shell. Camden Station remains the most beautiful and valuable vacant building in downtown Baltimore - and in many ways the most embarrassing. Exterior spruced up In fairness to the state officials who presided over Oriole Park's construction, the original plan for Camden Yards didn't even call for the train station's exterior to be restored with state funds. Public money was allocated to build a ballpark for the Orioles and a second stadium for major league football, not to restore a train station on Camden Street. As Oriole Park took shape in 1991, however, leaders of the stadium authority realized that it wouldn't look good to have a dilapidated train station next to the main entrance. "It was boarded up. The cupolas were gone. The sight that you would see as you came to Camden Yards would be of this abandoned building," recalled Herbert Belgrad, chairman of the stadium authority from 1986 to 1995. "We didn't want that to be the first view of Camden Yards." The stadium authority hired the architectural firm of Cho Wilks and Benn, now Cho Benn Holback + Associates, to prepare restoration plans for the state-owned train station. The agency's goal was to stabilize the exterior and spruce it up in time for Opening Day. Once the season was under way, officials figured, they could decide on a use for the building and identify a private developer. The three-story building was clearly worth preserving. Built starting in 1853 but not completed until 1865, it was the principal terminal of America's first commercial railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio, and for years was the city's busiest depot. As designed by John Randolph Neirnsee and J. Crawford Nelson, the station boasted a 185-foot-high clock tower that made it the tallest building in Baltimore and, for a while, the largest train station in the world. Along with President Street Station, it was one of the points where Union soldiers in 1861 were attacked by Confederate sympathizers, resulting in the first casualties of the Civil War. After Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, his funeral train stopped at Camden Station on its journey back to Springfield, Ill. By the early 1990s, the station was used only as a boarding point for passengers of the MARC commuter line. Its interior and exterior were in advanced states of disrepair. Cho Wilks and Benn proposed an artful restoration that made the station a handsome frontispiece for the new ballpark. Although the stadium authority had no funds in its budget to restore the station, leaders "borrowed" $2.2 million earmarked to build the football stadium, which couldn't get under way until a team materialized. The restored station was rededicated three weeks before the ballpark opened, with a lamplighter in 19th-century garb illuminating two vintage gas lamps in front of the building. The careful restoration of the station and the street lamps epitomized the attention to detail that made Camden Yards such a success. Proposals stall To help recoup its investment, the stadium authority planned to solicit proposals from developers and rent the building to the group submitting the best bid. "It was the jewel that everybody was hoping would be a center of activity, day in and day out," said architect George Holback. "It's the birthplace and namesake of the whole complex. The idea was to fill it with uses that gave it life year-round." There had been no shortage of ideas for reusing the station. In the 1980s, the Oliver T. Carr Co. of Washington wanted to fix it up for office use, along with the B&O Warehouse. In the 1990s, a local group proposed to make it the entryway to a $600 million medical mart. The Orioles expressed strong interest in creating a baseball-oriented attraction, including an Orioles Hall of Fame, a Maryland Sports Hall of Fame and an exhibit dedicated to old ballparks. In October 1993, the stadium authority gave leaders of the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum exclusive rights to plan a multi-exhibit baseball center and museum inside Camden Station - a year-round version of a temporary attraction mounted earlier in the year as a prelude to the All Star Game. Proposed occupants included an expansion of the Babe Ruth Museum on Emory Street; the Baltimore Orioles Museum; the Maryland Baseball Hall of Fame and a newly formed Babe Ruth League Hall of Fame. The $8 million to $10 million proposal was a modified version of a $4 million plan that the Babe Ruth Museum submitted in 1991. At that time, the stadium authority chose to work exclusively with the group planning the medical mart. When the medical mart failed to materialize, the Babe Ruth Museum revised its proposal and was granted a contract to develop plans for the train station. The proposal called for the Babe Ruth sports center to occupy roughly two-thirds of the 44,000-square-foot station and for a restaurant to occupy the other third. To design its part of the station, the Babe Ruth Museum hired a team headed by Cambridge Seven Associates, the firm that designed the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Preliminary plans called for part of the station's main corridor to be transformed to look like a 1920s-vintage railroad car in which Babe Ruth and his teammates would have traveled from city to city during the season. The museum couldn't just move in, however. The state needed to make preliminary improvements to get the building ready, such as installing new mechanical systems and repairing rotted floors. The Babe Ruth Museum needed to raise funds for its expansion and fine-tune its design. The stadium authority needed to identify a restaurateur. That's where the plan bogged down. After numerous prospects were considered, the leading candidate was the owner of Bo Brooks, a well known local seafood restaurant. But Orioles owner Peter Angelos, a key backer of the Babe Ruth expansion project, didn't like the idea of a seafood restaurant, and any associated odors, inside the station. Angelos explored opening his own restaurant in the station, including an addition on the south end for the kitchen. But he later turned his attention to building a convention hotel near the ballpark, and didn't follow through with the restaurant plan. Most recently, representatives from the Comcast cable service were exploring the idea of opening an ESPN-Zone-type sports bar and restaurant inside the station, as a way of promoting its broadcast of Orioles games. After the ballclub decided to launch its own network to broadcast games, that proposal fell by the wayside. Cost rises, floor falls According to director Michael Gibbons, the Babe Ruth Museum remains eager to move ahead with its expansion in the station. Just this month, former Baltimore Colt Johnny Unitas donated his collection of football memorabilia to the museum, and Gibbons sees Camden Station as the perfect place to display it. But he still needs a co-tenant. The latest problem is rising construction costs. When the stadium authority sought bids from developers in 1991, the estimated cost of preparing the interior for tenants was several million dollars. Today, the estimated cost is closer to $7.5 million, according to Stadium Authority executive director Richard Slosson. "As time has gone by, that building has deteriorated," Slosson said. "It's in really bad shape. The floor joists are rotted. In some places, there is no floor at all and you can fall right through." The stadium authority was hoping to receive some money during the current legislative session to begin work inside the station, Slosson said, but planners have learned that funds won't be available from the General Assembly until July 2003 at the earliest because of the state's budget crunch. Slosson is open to suggestions. He said the stadium authority may be willing to let tenants complete more of the work that the state was planning to do, in return for a rent credit, but so far that hasn't closed the gap. There's also some question whether the state will continue to offer tax credits for historic preservation. "I think it's the most attractive building in the whole city. I've always thought that," Slosson said. "We would love to find a mechanism to finance the improvements. ... At this point, we just don't have the funds to do any work." It's a sad state of affairs for the start of the baseball season, and a frustrating situation for city planners. This week may mark the 10th anniversary of Oriole Park's grand opening. But it's also the 10th anniversary of the non-opening of Camden Station. To those yearning for a more vibrant Baltimore, that's 10 years too many. Copyright (c) 2002, The Baltimore Sun Link to the article: http://www.sunspot.net/bal-as.camden31mar31.story Visit http://www.sunspot.net ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #332 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42EAA_@_mail1.itochu.com> Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2002 14:44:41 -0500 From: James Dent / NYKGN Subject: (rshsdepot) New London CT roundhouse destroyed in fire From Railpace Hot News... FIRE DESTROYS HISTORIC ROUNDHOUSE: The historic Central Vermont Roundhouse in New London Ct was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning. NLFD was dispatched to an unknown fire under the Gold Star Hy bridge (I-95 bridge over NCRR, Thames River and the P&W tracks) shortly after midnight. Upon the first companies arrival they found the old roundhouse engulfed in flames and struck a second alarm. The fire lit up the night sky along the Thames River, which could be seen for miles for over an hour. Companies had difficultly fighting the fire due the roundhouses' location, (situated under the bridge and between the NCRR and Amtrak lines and along with poor street access.) Incident command had serious concern at the height of the fire that it could spread to a nearby large lumber storage yard under the bridge which connects to a pier as flames shot in the air. The roundhouse continued to smolder as the sun rose. NLFD & state fire marshall are investigating the cause as a part of RR is now gone. (Rich Foreman - posted 3/31) ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <011801c1d9c3$0cbfa1a0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 01 Apr 2002 16:20:29 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Alderson, WV Photo link: http://members.aol.com/ahsawv/adepot.jpg Alderson C&O railroad depot to get makeover By: Joe Myers, Register-Herald Reporter April 01, 2002 ALDERSON - The town of Alderson has been awarded a $40,000 grant to complete the restoration of the old C&O rail depot. The depot will house a visitor center and railroad museum, Mayor Harryette Williams said. The project was begun in 1993 as part of the town's Main Street program, said Tom Roush, volunteer coordinator for the project. Under a previous grant, workers shored up the foundation, replaced flooring, installed new windows and doors, renovated the bathrooms, painted the exterior and put on a new roof, he said. With the new funding, Roush said he plans to restore interior walls, add insulation, upgrade the electrical system and install a new heating and air conditioning system and a security alarm. "We'll try to keep as much of the original material as we can," he said. "I'm hoping this fall we can get everything done. It'll be really nice when we get it finished. I think it'll be good for the town. "My grandfather was the station master here," Roush said, explaining his attachment to the building. "He worked for the C&O for 50 years. My uncle was the station master after him." The depot, built in 1896, is the largest of the original "standard stations" on the C&O line, Roush said. The depot changed colors four times over the years, he said. During the earlier renovation, volunteers decided to return the structure to its original C&O orange, with white trim and burgundy window frames, he said. "Some people thought we should paint it yellow," he said. "But we voted to go back to orange to make it authentic. "A lot of volunteers have been involved in it," Roush said. "There were many others who worked on the depot and gave many hours of time and money to renovate this station. "We will still need volunteer workers and donations." Williams said she would also like to use the depot's waiting room for Amtrak passengers. Until recently, Alderson was a flag stop for passenger service between Chicago and Washington. The mayor said she is working with Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., to get the stop restored. The funding came from the federal TEA-21 transportation grant program. For more information and a photo of the depot, see Alderson's home page at www.angelfire.com/wv2/alderson. - - E-mail Joe Myers at jmyers_@_register-herald.com ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001e01c1d9fd$e1fd1f20$1b8f13cf_@_lner4472> Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2002 23:21:36 -0500 From: "Alexander D. Mitchell IV" Subject: (rshsdepot) Fire Destroys CV Roundhouse, New London, Ct. From Railpace.com Hotnews: FIRE DESTROYS HISTORIC ROUNDHOUSE: The historic Central Vermont Roundhouse in New London Ct was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning. NLFD was dispatched to an unknown fire under the Gold Star Hy bridge (I-95 bridge over NCRR, Thames River and the P&W tracks) shortly after midnight. Upon the first companies arrival they found the old roundhouse engulfed in flames and struck a second alarm. The fire lit up the night sky along the Thames River, which could be seen for miles for over an hour. Companies had difficultly fighting the fire due the roundhouses' location, (situated under the bridge and between the NCRR and Amtrak lines and along with poor street access.) Incident command had serious concern at the height of the fire that it could spread to a nearby large lumber storage yard under the bridge which connects to a pier as flames shot in the air. The roundhouse continued to smolder as the sun rose. NLFD & state fire marshal are investigating the cause as a part of RR is now gone. (Rich Foreman - posted 3/31) ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #333 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <003701c1da39$8fea69e0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 06:28:50 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Providence Forge, VA NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo mlink.gif (image/gif, 853 bytes) Photo link: http://www.newkentguide.com/Images/pfstation.jpg (station circa 1990) Friends Aim To Save Station ; Providence Forge Depot Built In 1880 Source: Richmond Times - Dispatch Publication date: 2002-03-31 Arrival time: 2002-04-02 Janet Kondakor's passion for trains grew up with her son Elek. But her latest project involves a bit more than laying Brio track on the living room floor. Since July, Kondakor has been trying to lead a grassroots effort to save the Providence Forge Station in New Kent County. The Victorian depot, built around 1880 on the old Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, shows years of neglect. The grayish-blue paint is peeling, and the gutters are rusted and falling off. Part of the roofline bends like the brim of a fedora. Still, Kondakor, whose family moved from Williamsburg to Quinton six years ago, looks past the looted trim and sees endless charm and potential. She envisions the station restored and reopened to the public as a welcome center or museum. Kondakor and about 10 others have organized as the Friends of the Providence Forge Station. They're affiliated with the New Kent Historical Society and hope to raise about $30,000 through fund- raising events and grants to stabilize and move the building. They have no idea where. "To find someone to actually donate land, that's what we need," she said. Kondakor, who owns a hair salon in Bottoms Bridge, discovered the station in a New Kent historical brochure. "I thought it was of such value architecturally, a part of history," she said. "It's here, and nothing's being done with it." Elek, who's 7, also was intrigued. "I think it's very nice because I like trains." The station, owned by CSX Transportation, is the only one on the C&O line left in New Kent. Providence Forge was a stop for passengers until about 1931 and for freight until at least the late 1960s, according to the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society. The station, similar in design to the Lee Hall station in Newport News, sits about 25 feet off the rail line, near U.S. 60. Kondakor hopes her group will be able to buy the station for $1 and move it off CSX property, at least 50 feet from the track. "We're certainly willing to work with them in their efforts to preserve the building," said David Hall, a spokesman for CSX Transportation. CSX routinely works with community groups interested in saving stations that are no longer needed by the company, Hall said. "A lot of the burden is going to rest on them to get the funding to make the required move," he said. New Kent officials learned only in recent years that CSX might be willing to part with the building, said John Crump, president of the county historical society. "We're excited about the possibilities," he said. "Throughout the county, we're having a bigger effort to save the older properties." Kondakor is particularly interested in saving the station's two- story section. The rear wall of the single-story section, once used for freight storage, was destroyed sometime during the past year. "Don't let this happen to your station," she said sadly, as she looked at the thick pine beams of the partly collapsed roof. She believes the damage is the result of an accident involving a crane that sits nearby. Still, Kondakor remains optimistic. Whenever she starts feeling discouraged, someone with a memory of or an interest in the station calls or gives her something. She recently received three pages that had been ripped from an old community telephone book. The pages include an article that reflects warmly on New Kent's railroad history, complete with old black-and-white photos and tales told by locals. "The 'fast' trains barely slowed enough to snag the outgoing mailbags off the high hooks," one woman was quoted. "They'd toss yours off as it flew by." Kondakor also finds inspiration every time she visits the station. "If I look awhile, I find something I didn't see before." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <003d01c1da3b$5b622990$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 06:41:41 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Milwaukee, WI Link: http://www.execpc.com/~sponholz/tour.html (photos and information) OPINION: Wisconsin Shouldn't Skimp on Milwaukee Train Station Makeover Mar. 31--Pretend you're a first-time visitor to Milwaukee and you're arriving by rail. As the train rumbles toward the station on the way up from Chicago, you spy a landscape of breathtaking blight: crumbling industrial buildings, acres of graffiti, derelict rail cars, piles of scrap. Welcome to the Rust Belt. (Oh, and did we tell you there's a housing boom under way downtown? Really.) Things only get worse. Our visitor disembarks into an Amtrak station so cheesy and down at the heels that it all but shouts: Get out of town while you can! Stick-on tile and fake-wood Formica cover the walls. The dingy waiting area, with its cheap plastic seats and dim lighting, has all the charm of a public restroom. Heading for a taxi, the traveler confronts a balky automatic door, cracked sidewalks and, across the street, ugly parking lots and a bricked-up warehouse. There's good news on two fronts: For starters, the city is preparing to condemn the abandoned industrial tract just south of the Amtrak station -- 45 acres formerly owned by the Milwaukee Solvay Coke Co. -- and open it up for redevelopment, perhaps by the end of the year. "We agree that the sight of that property makes an awful statement about Milwaukee when you come in on the train," said Greg Shelko, assistant director of the Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority. "That's what got us interested in it." After a long struggle to determine ownership, Shelko's agency last year declared the site -- bounded by E. Greenfield Ave., the railroad tracks and the Menomonee River -- an urban renewal area. Once the Environmental Protection Agency weighs in on the extent of soil contamination (a legacy of the property's coal-gasification days), the city will set a fair market value, condemn the site and acquire the buildings from Wisconsin Wrecking Co. and the land from Cliffs Mining Co. Then, developers will be asked to su bmit proposals for renewal, probably for light industry. While cleanup will be costly, Shelko said, the city expects to tap "responsible parties," including Cliffs Mining Co., to help pay the bill. State and federal brownfields grants may also be used. "There's already a lot of interest in the site," Shelko says. Keep your fingers crossed that an upcoming master plan will require decent landscaping along the railroad line and ensure that buildings don't turn their backs to the tracks. Here's the other piece of good news: The 1965 Amtrak station is about to get what could be a stunning makeover. If I had my druthers, this junky remnant of one of the bleakest periods in American architecture would meet the wrecking ball. With its goofy arches, skinny windows and gimmicky bell tower, it was a misfire from the get-go. Still, the station was evidently solidly constructed; tearing it down and starting over would be too expensive, says Jerry Roth, who now manages the building for the state Department of Transportation, which acquired it from CMC Heartland Partners in December 2000. Roth aptly describes the place as "a 1965 Chevy that never had an oil change." Using $2.6 million in state and federal funds and about $1 million from the private sector, Wilton Partners of Chicago is working with Milwaukee's Eppstein Uhen Architects, developer Gary Grunau and others to turn the station into a multimodal transportation center. Translation: a depot not only for Amtrak but also for future high-speed rail to Madison, for buses and for pedestrian and other connections to the downtown. (The state has already done some no-frills remodeling on the third floor for the 50 people working on redesign of the Marquette Interchange; the second floor, now largely abandoned, will also eventually become offices.) Eppstein Uhen's Greg Uhen gave me a peek at a preliminary concept drawing for the face-lift, which looks pretty cool. There's a gently upswept roof, a curved entrance overlooking 5th St., a nice mix of natural and industrial materials (stone, glass, steel) and a bold metal canopy undulating across the front, its cables echoing the new 6th Street Viaduct under construction next door. Improved lighting, new landscaping and crosswalk treatments are part of the attractive package. The first floor waiting area would also be redone, with interactive informational kiosks, food vendors and colorful graphics. Here's my concern: I'm not convinced that anything close to this can be done well for just under $4 million. We could end up with a stripped-down project that's only marginally better than its unfortunate predecessor. Why doesn't the state set its sights higher? Let the DOT apply for federal funds to ensure a high-quality makeover. Two flexible programs -- CMAQ (for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) and Transportation Enhancements -- offer money for this sort of thing. The state ought to get going now on grant applications. The city, meanwhile, ought to turn one-way St. Paul Ave., the speedway in front of Amtrak, back into a two-way thoroughfare. There's already some interest in this; plans should be coordinated with redesign of the Marquette Interchange. A couple of other friendly suggestions for the city: Include those ugly parking lots across from Amtrak in a broader renewal district. New buildings, with parking underground, would be a much more inviting gateway to the downtown than swaths of asphalt. And, if the downtown post office is going to remain next door, let the city prod the federal government to overhaul that monster of a building. In short, think bigger. Let this long-neglected corner of Milwaukee reflect the highest aspirations of a new generation of city builders, not the pinched expectations of the past. Call Whitney Gould at (414) 224-2358, write her at The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, P.O. Box 371, Milwaukee, WI 53201, or e-mail her at wgould_@_onwis.com ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001401c1dafa$9be59c80$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 05:30:43 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Fairbury, NE Photo links: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/images/histpres/nebraske/11666.jpg (exterior view, before restoration) http://www.sinclairhille.com/programs/NDOR/images/FairburyRI.jpg (exterior view) http://www.sinclairhille.com/programs/NDOR/images/FairburyRI2.jpg (interior view) Museum to reopen By Bill Aldrich/Beatrice Daily Sun special contributor FAIRBURY -- Despite a sluggish start to its renovation plans, the Rock Island Depot Museum is chugging along and will have some unexpected surprises for visitors upon its reopening. Thanks to the diligent work of its curator, as well as several grants, donations and a revenue bond issued to the museum, renovations will not only be completed, they are expected to be finished well ahead of schedule. As a result, the reopening has been scheduled for June 8. Plans were nearly derailed last June when bids for renovations ran nearly $125,000 more than the $330,000 that a federal grant given to the museum allowed for construction purposes. Rock Island Depot Museum curator Denise Andersen began working on additional ways to get the funds needed to make up the difference. Andersen was eventually able to raise funds and get the project started by the anticipated Sept. 15 start date. Andersen is pleased with the progress of the depot's renovations. "The completion date was scheduled for May 30, but most of the repairs will be completed by mid-April," Andersen said. "The contractors did a wonderful job and I'm really pleased with the quality of work." The depot was obtained in 1992 and plans for restoration began at that time. "I never anticipated that the restoration would be done so quickly," Andersen said. "We figured that the renovation project would take about 20 years to complete. The downstairs renovations went pretty slowly because it was done by mostly volunteer work, but the grants really sped things up for the upstairs project." The total cost for the project since 1992 has been $630,000, most of which will be paid for from grants and donations received. The federal grant was a Federal Transportation Enhancement Grant for $371,000 of which $330,000 was used for construction purposes. The other $41,000 was for administrative purposes and other assorted expenses. The renovations were done by Five Star Contracting Inc. of Beatrice. Central heating and air conditioning were added, as well as a conference room with kitchen. Along with the new plumbing and woodwork repairs, an elevator was installed to make the upper floor handicap accessible. The wooden floors were refinished and the walls were painted. Although the depot received many new additions, the main goal was to make the depot look as it did when it was in service. The depot has several displays containing pictures of former employees of the Fairbury depot and photos of everyday life while riding the rails. The depot also features a model railroad that travels through a miniature version of how Fairbury looked in the 1950s. There is a lot of literature and research materials for historians as well as a gift shop. Special speakers, shows, and instructional classes are available throughout the year. Along with assisting in the depot's renovations, Andersen has also been involved with getting some new acquisitions for the reopening. Her most recent arrival is a locomotive that was purchased from the disbanded Washington County Railroad Club in Kansas. She found out about the engine's availability while attending a club meeting where she was trying to obtain the Kesterson Depot, which has been in Kansas since the mid-1990s. "I was at a meeting when they mentioned that they were going to put an engine they had up for sale," Andersen said. "We had been talking about getting the depot a permanent train for entertainment and educational purposes, so when they mentioned they had one for sale I was immediately interested. It didn't take long for the board to approve the purchase. "We weren't planning on getting a railroad right now, with the renovations going on, but we feel very fortunate that we were able to obtain it." The locomotive was built by Bob Kuhlmann of McCook. It is powered by an eight horsepower gasoline engine, which gives it power to pull passenger cars holding up to 30 people. The track that came with the engine will cover half of a city block and be set up just east of the depot grounds. "We are planning on calling it the Little Blue Railroad and using the Kesterson depot as an actual loading and unloading building for the train," Andersen said. "Unfortunately, there weren't any passenger cars for sale so we could really use some help from people to help build them so we can get the railroad up and running." The Little Blue Railroad will run on Sundays and holidays until Labor Day. Andersen feels that all the hard work put into the depot's restoration and its new additions will be worthwhile once people visit the museum and take advantage of what the new Rock Island Depot Museum has to offer. "We would really like to thank everyone who donated money and time to the project," she said. "I think everyone will be happy with the results." Andersen is also looking for volunteers to get the depot ready for its reopening. To volunteer, call 729-5131. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #334 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <004b01c1db31$bbe03cc0$7e01a8c0_@_0018982498> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 09:05:18 -0800 From: "Eric Miller" Subject: (rshsdepot) Fw: [PRR] Broadway Limited Excursion > >Mark your calendars... > > > > > > > The "Broadway Limited" railfan excursion, sponsored by the Windy City > > > Chapter of the National Historic Railway Society (NHRS), is indeed set for > > > October 12-15 (Columbus Day weekend). > > > > > > The New York-Chicago round-trip excursion will commence at New York City > > > with pickups at Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Both coach seat and > >private car > > > accommodations will be available. > > > > > > The excursion will be headed by a pair of restored E8 diesel locomotives. > > > Most coaches will be MARC coaches that were once PRR sleeper cars. A > > > surviving mid-train lounge from the FALLS series will be in the consist, as > > > will a restored VIEW series observation bringing up the rear. > > > > > > The full itinerary and fare schedule will be released in about four weeks. > > > > > > If this trip is successful, there are already plans to do a "Penn Texas" > > > excursion in conjunction with the Missouri Pacific Society. > > > >----------------------------------------------------------- > >Jerry Britton, SPF Member, PRRT&HS jerry_@_pennsyrr.com > >Pennsylvania Railroad, Eastern Region, 1954 in N Scale. > >"Keystone Crossings" - Home of the "PRR-Talk" mailing list! > > http://kc.pennsyrr.com > >"Merchandise Service" - Model railroad products... > > http://merchandise.pennsyrr.com > > > > > >----------------------------------------------------------------------- > >For assistance with this list, please visit http://lists.dsop.com. > ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42EBA_@_mail1.itochu.com> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 15:48:49 -0500 From: James Dent / NYKGN Subject: (rshsdepot) New York, NY From the NY Times... March 31, 2002 The Long Wait at Train Stations, Some Say, Is for Repairs By JIM O'GRADY Mary Anderson lives in Flushing and takes the Long Island Rail Road into Manhattan several times a month to see a play or go to dinner. She used to walk from her house to the Broadway station at Northern Boulevard and 163rd Street, but in recent years she has often driven a mile to the Auburndale station, even though it is farther from Manhattan. "The Broadway station is deplorable," she said. "There are huge cracks in the concrete steps that go up to the platform. And the tunnel that goes under the tracks is very smelly." Ms. Anderson's assessment was confirmed by the city comptroller, William C. Thompson Jr. In a March 15 report on the city's 40 railroad stations, he said the Broadway station had broken concrete and puddles of water on the platform, as well as a platform shelter with "protruding rusty nails" and missing plexiglass. The audit also faulted conditions at the Murray Hill station, at the East New York station in Brooklyn, and at five Metro-North stations in the Bronx. Inspectors for the comptroller visited the stations last summer. New Yorkers, Mr. Thompson said, should get more for their money from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs both railroads. "Given that the city paid the authority over $65 million last year for station maintenance, I am appalled by the conditions cited," he said. But an authority spokesman, Tom Kelly, said the report needlessly scared the public. "The Broadway station is slated for renovation," he said. "And the East New York station has a big vandalism problem. We try to do repairs as quickly as possible. To say we're ignoring this is absurd." State Senator Frank Padavan of Queens also criticized the comptroller for "not doing his homework." He said the state had funneled more than $25 million to the authority over the past 10 years to renovate some Queens stations. The Little Neck, Douglaston, Bayside and Auburndale stations have been refurbished and Broadway is next. "A construction trailer just set up at the station," he said, adding that he was seeking state money for the Murray Hill station. Ms. Anderson looks forward to walking to the train again, but added: "They should have done Murray Hill and Broadway first. They're in the worst possible shape." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00a801c1db6a$3351cde0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 18:49:31 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Rensselaer, NY CDTA seeks firm to run rail station Albany-- Proposals sought from private companies to manage $53M Rensselaer facility By CATHY WOODRUFF, Staff writer First published: Wednesday, April 3, 2002 The Capital District Transportation Authority is seeking proposals from private companies interested in managing the new $53.1 million Rensselaer Rail Station, which is scheduled to open in June. At a meeting of the authority board on Tuesday, the CDTA staff recommended contracting with an outside company rather than relying on CDTA staff to manage the station. "We don't have experience managing public buildings and buildings with space leased to tenants,'' said CDTA Executive Director Dennis Fitzgerald. "We need someone with expertise in commercial building management.'' The board approved the first concession lease for the new station on Tuesday. The agreement is with Hamilton News of Glenmont, the operator of the newsstand at the current rail station, to operate a newsstand and gift shop. Under the 10-year agreement, including a 5-year renewal option, Hamilton News will do its own interior finishing work and will pay $50,000 a year for the first five years. Jack Reilly, director of planning and development, said the staff is continuing to evaluate three proposals to run the food concession. The contenders include the current station restaurant operator, Nickelodeon Emporium of Rensselaer; the Albany-based Coffee Beanery; and Gladco Foods of Pittsburgh, which operates the food concessions at Albany International Airport. Fitzgerald said negotiations continue toward finalization of a lease with the stations major occupant, Amtrak. The leases with Amtrak and the concessionaires -- along with parking revenues, advertising and car rentals -- will provide revenues for CDTA to pay debt service and support the station's annual operating budget of approximately $750,000. Preparations continue toward an as-yet undetermined opening date in June, Fitzgerald said. "The main effort right now is on construction of the platforms and the elevated walkway'' across the tracks, he said. Meanwhile, two escalators from the walkway to the platform were to have been paid for by Amtrak but now will be funded by the state at a cost of $700,000. Sign Studio of Troy was awarded a $125,692 contract to produce signs for the station. In other business, the board re-elected its officers. They are: Chairman David M. Stackrow of Poestenkill, Vice Chairman Donald C. MacElroy of Clifton Park, Secretary Henry S. DeLegge of Schenectady and Treasurer Arthur F. Young Jr. of Delmar. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00ae01c1db6a$74858bd0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 18:51:20 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Penn Station, NY Is Penn Station Being Stalled? Moynihan Back by Tom McGeveran On April 1, while in his offices at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan received a phone call from Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The topic was close to Mr. Moynihan's heart, and now it's close to Mr. Bloomberg's: the redevelopment of Pennsylvania Station, and its expansion into the James A. Farley General Post Office. Would the former Senator like to leap back into the project? You bet. When he still was in office and monitoring the project's progress, Mr. Moynihan was known to describe the restoration as "a fat dolphin swimming in a sea of sharks." It served as a gentle admonition that the longer the project languished, the greater the chance of unacceptable or unworthy deviations from Mr. Moynihan's vision for a new temple of transportation on Eighth Avenue. It has languished long indeed-for 10 years-and the compromises have been substantial. But it is not into a sea of sharks that Mr. Moynihan will be wading now that he has agreed to be Mr. Bloomberg's appointee to the Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Corporation's board. According to sources with knowledge of the deal, the mood on the board is cautiously optimistic. "There are still a couple of hurdles," said one source close to the talks. But several others close to the deal predict that a final agreement between the U.S. Postal Service-the last party left to sign onto the $788 million deal-and the PSRC is only weeks away. The Postal Service is due to move most of its operations out of the building, allowing for its conversion into a rail gateway. There is still much to be done. The PSRC itself isn't ready to bank on the deal going through-the agency has yet to float $155 million in bonds guaranteed against income from leases in the planned retail concourse of the new station. It had been nearly a year since Governor George Pataki signed a state law authorizing the bond issue, which already has gotten a favorable preliminary rating from Standard and Poor's. In reply to a question about the delay in issuing bonds, the PSRC offered a terse statement through a spokesperson: "We will continue to work with the Postal Service to ensure that Governor Pataki's vision for a commuter-friendly, state-of-the-art Penn Station is built at the current site of the Farley Post Office." The protocol of election-year politics apparently has shifted paternity of the Penn Station renovation. Meanwhile, architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill have been biding their time after creating an award-winning design that mirrors the classic train stations of Europe's world capitals, with a large bow of glass and steel that will direct dappled light onto a ticketing and retail concourse. Those ambitious plans have taken on a heightened significance since Sept. 11, when New York's resurgence became not just a rallying cry for the civic-minded, but a brutal necessity for the city's future. It was around the time of the terrorist attack that the project seemed to suffer its greatest blow. A Sept. 21 letter from the Postal Service's vice president for facilities, Rudy Umscheid, to the RSDC seemed to say the deal was off entirely. Charles Gargano, chief of the Empire State Redevelopment Corporation, leaked news of the Postal Service's apparent change of heart to the editorial board of the Daily News. A week later, on Oct. 11, Mr. Gargano accompanied Mr. Pataki to the White House to discuss ways the federal government could assist in rebuilding New York. The two emphasized the importance of the Penn Station project and, many say, asked the White House to put pressure on the Postal Service to come back to the table. The next day, Mr. Umscheid sent a letter to Kevin Corbett of the ESDC. "The Postal Service recognizes that this may be a unique opportunity to advance the project," Mr. Umscheid wrote. "We are prepared to negotiate in good faith." But nearly six months later, there is still no deal. Meanwhile, half a million rail passengers a day still make their way through the dimly lit, narrow and low-ceilinged tunnels under Madison Square Garden, that joyless drum of ochre stucco looming over Seventh Avenue. Until the Postal Service finally gives its approval to the project, New York's Amtrak portal will continue to have all the charm and grace of an unfinished basement. The deal that had been on the table before Sept. 11 already was altered to meet the Postal Service's demands. The PSRC would buy the huge, white-columned building on Eighth Avenue between 31st and 33rd streets from the Postal Service for $140 million. A third of the space-more than was envisioned-would be leased back to the Postal Service for a nominal sum for 15 years, after which the Postal Service would have had to find a new home for its Farley operations. Parties to the deal expected those terms to be agreed upon by March of last year, guaranteeing that money set aside for the project in a complex financial scheme arranged by former PSRC president Alexandros Washburn would still be in place. But last year was horrendous for the Postal Service. Declining revenues had forced the agency into a round of belt-tightening that included a freeze on large-scale capital projects-including the move out of the Farley Post Office. When the Sept. 11 terror attack damaged the Postal Service's Church Street processing facility, the Farley Post Office was commandeered to pick up the slack. With anthrax scares gripping the country through much of October, a heightened advertising recession and a slackening economy, the Post Office came in $521 million under its projections. Overall mail volume dropped some 2.8 billion pieces below the same period in 2000, the single largest quarterly mail-volume decline in recent history. "We are dealing with a lot of financial challenges within the Post Office," Postal Service spokeswoman Diane Todd told The Observer. "We're going to look at the agreement that's being drafted up right now .. The Postal Service is working closely with all of the involved parties to come to some resolution with this whole project." Ms. Todd would not say what part of the earlier deal had become a sticking point in the negotiations. But according to sources on Capitol Hill who have been watching the negotiations closely, disputes over the cost of the Postal Service's refurbished offices in the Farley building and the terms of its lease on a portion of the building, as well as over who will be responsible for finding a new home for the Postal Service's main midtown office, have occupied negotiators over the last six months. A Common Enemy They've been close to a deal before, of course. If the project has been stalled in the past for garden-variety reasons-bureaucratic tangles; internecine squabbles between federal agencies like Amtrak and the Governor' s office; hostility from members of Congress, who are generally loathe to support a civic Taj Mahal on the Hudson-now everyone appears to be arrayed against a single foe: the U.S. Postal Service. Mayor Bloomberg had personally lobbied the President to push the Postal Service to make a deal with PSRC before his election. The President has been seen as a likely source of support now, given his friendly relationship with Governor Pataki, especially since Sept. 11. And the pressure to close the deal has only increased since that fateful day. New York's Congressional delegation finds itself defending a decade-long project before appropriations committees and federal agencies already chafing under the pile of requests for funding that have come in from the city since the terrorist attack. "We've made sure that the federal dollars are there, and it is imperative that the project go ahead as soon as possible for the safety and economic development of the city," said Karen Dunn, spokeswoman for Senator Hillary Clinton. The mood is more defiant at Senator Charles Schumer's office. "The Congress has taken every conceivable step to provide the funding the Post Office needs to recover from 9/11, to deal with any costs related to moving and making way for the new Penn Station," said Mr. Schumer's chief of staff, Bradley Tusk. "There's no excuse. This should be happening immediately." It's a problem Mr. Moynihan remembers well. "They have everything in place: They have the site, they have a great design, they have the money-we cobbled together $800 million," he said. "The problem is nothing more or less than that money migrates. It disappears. You have it one day and you don't spend it, and you look up and it's not there anymore." Indeed. On March 14, a $240 million loan agreement with the Department of Transportation expired; in two weeks, members of New York's Congressional delegation will once again have to defend a $20 million appropriation that has not been spent since it first appeared in their requests for fiscal year 1998. Last year, an appropriations subcommittee cut $40 million from the project. There are political concerns, too. Mr. Pataki, who has taken a leading role in the development of civic projects in New York City, from a redeveloped Penn Station to the Hudson River waterfront park to the privatization of the World Trade Center, now will have to bear the scrutiny for those projects: one stillborn, another half-complete and the last reduced to rubble. A reversal of fortune on the Penn Station project could reverse that perception and persuade New Yorkers that progress is possible. But that will require cooperation from the Postal Service. The longer that takes, the more morale sinks among the parties trying to keep the deal from the sharks. "Our biggest fear is that we keep getting these advance appropriations and they're not using it," said one Capitol Hill staffer. "We're being put in a very awkward position, because we're using a lot of political capital to make this happen." You may reach Tom McGeveran via email at: tmcgeveran_@_observer.com. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00b601c1db6d$c5aeccd0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 19:15:05 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) LIRR Queens Stations This is a follow-up to the story Jim Dent posted today. This is an editorial from Newsday. Photo links: http://www.votegraziano.com/images/PG_photo2.gif (Murray Hill station) http://www.votegraziano.com/images/PG_photo3.gif (Murray Hill station) http://www.lirrhistory.com/jul99/murray1.jpg (Murray Hill station) http://www.lirrhistory.com/jul99/murray2.jpg (Murray Hill station) http://www.lirrhistory.com/jul99/bway2.jpg (Broadway station) http://www.lirrhistory.com/jul99/bway1.jpg (Broadway station) http://www.lirrhistory.com/jul99/auburn1.jpg (Auburndale station) http://www.lirrhistory.com/jul99/auburn2.jpg (Auburndale station) http://www.lirrhistory.com/feb99/rosedale.jpg (Rosedale station platform) List of Hazardous LIRR Stations Shrinks in Queens April 3, 2002 Time was when Queens commuters could routinely count on several of their Long Island Rail Road stations to show up in the city's yearly hazardous-conditions audit. Now, even though city Comptroller William Thompson Jr. cited two borough stations last month in his office's most recent study, the state Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its LIRR subsidiary deserve some credit for facing up to the problem after so many years of neglect. The Broadway station in Auburndale, where the hazards included an uneven platform sidewalk and nails protruding from a platform shelter, is already undergoing $1.7 million in renovations. But the second Queens station mentioned in the audit, at Murray Hill, is more problematic. It has such hazards as crumbling cement and a leaky staircase ceiling. But it's partly below ground level, so its structural problems defy simple correction. But their difficulty does not relieve railroad officials of their obligation to address the hazards in more than just a temporary sense. Another Auburndale station, which had been on previous worst-station lists, was in the midst of a $5-million renovation project at the time of the audit last year. And the notoriously troubled Rosedale station, which was on last year's worst-station list, was among the stations that were reported to be in fair or good condition this year. Thompson points out that the city paid the MTA more than $65 million last year for station maintenance; with resources like that to work with, the MTA should be able to provide Queens commuters stations that are just as comfortable as those used by their Long Island counterparts. He's right about that, although recent improvements - even if long overdue - are worthy of applause. The new challenge is for railroad officials to make sure none of the stations ever fall back into disrepair again. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001301c1db89$25470b60$fb4af6d1_@_paul> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 22:30:58 -0500 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) New York, NY The spokesman comparing Flushing station to the one at East New York was very very bizarre - -----Original Message----- From: James Dent / NYKGN To: RSHS List (E-mail) Date: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 3:51 PM Subject: (rshsdepot) New York, NY >From the NY Times... > >March 31, 2002 >The Long Wait at Train Stations, Some Say, Is for Repairs >By JIM O'GRADY > >Mary Anderson lives in Flushing and takes the Long Island Rail Road into >Manhattan several times a month to see a play or go to dinner. She used to >walk from her house to the Broadway station at Northern Boulevard and 163rd >Street, but in recent years she has often driven a mile to the Auburndale >station, even though it is farther from Manhattan. > >"The Broadway station is deplorable," she said. "There are huge cracks in >the concrete steps that go up to the platform. And the tunnel that goes >under the tracks is very smelly." > >Ms. Anderson's assessment was confirmed by the city comptroller, William C. >Thompson Jr. In a March 15 report on the city's 40 railroad stations, he >said the Broadway station had broken concrete and puddles of water on the >platform, as well as a platform shelter with "protruding rusty nails" and >missing plexiglass. > >The audit also faulted conditions at the Murray Hill station, at the East >New York station in Brooklyn, and at five Metro-North stations in the Bronx. >Inspectors for the comptroller visited the stations last summer. > >New Yorkers, Mr. Thompson said, should get more for their money from the >Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs both railroads. "Given >that the city paid the authority over $65 million last year for station >maintenance, I am appalled by the conditions cited," he said. > >But an authority spokesman, Tom Kelly, said the report needlessly scared the >public. > >"The Broadway station is slated for renovation," he said. "And the East New >York station has a big vandalism problem. We try to do repairs as quickly as >possible. To say we're ignoring this is absurd." > >State Senator Frank Padavan of Queens also criticized the comptroller for >"not doing his homework." He said the state had funneled more than $25 >million to the authority over the past 10 years to renovate some Queens >stations. The Little Neck, Douglaston, Bayside and Auburndale stations have >been refurbished and Broadway is next. > >"A construction trailer just set up at the station," he said, adding that he >was seeking state money for the Murray Hill station. > >Ms. Anderson looks forward to walking to the train again, but added: "They >should have done Murray Hill and Broadway first. They're in the worst >possible shape." > >================================= >The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing >railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org > ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #335 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002001c1dbcf$e6535a20$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2002 06:57:30 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Kaiapoi, New Zealand Photo link: http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/dilly/b/amg103l.jpg New lease on life for station Source: The Press - Christchurch Publication date: 2002-04-03 The Kaiapoi Railway Station was to have slipped quietly through the streets of Kaiapoi early today on the back of a truck to its new home on the banks of the Kaiapoi River. The journey marked a new era for the station, which has sat forlornly alongside the main trunk railway line for over a decade. The 1904 Gary Troupe-designed building will be restored to its former glory by the Kaiapoi Railway Station Trust and be used as the riverside town's visitor and information centre. Trust publicity officer Brian Kirk said yesterday: "Its been talked about for 10 years and hasn't moved an inch. The next stage is restoration." The move ends years of uncertainty for the Edwardian wooden building, which has been vandalised and even set on fire. The railway station trust has raised $150,000 to shift and begin restoring the building, but fundraising is continuing. Mr Kirk hopes when people see it on its new site, opposite Kaiapoi's icon, the Tuhoe, they will realise there is still a long way to go before the station can be something to be proud of. "I hope when they see it they will realise we need help. We are just a steering committee making things happen," he said. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #336 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <004501c1dc93$30880b90$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 05 Apr 2002 06:15:27 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Warwick, RI NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo trans.gif (image/gif, 49 bytes) mlink.gif (image/gif, 853 bytes) Warwick, R.I., Officials Tell State to Trim Train Station Project Source: Providence Journal Apr. 4--WARWICK, R.I.--Citing a precarious outlook for travel in the post-9/11 era, most of the car-rental agencies at T.F. Green Airport have told the state they are no longer interested in helping to finance a $168-million train station and parking garage on Jefferson Boulevard. Governor Almond and the state Department of Transportation weren't taking no for an answer yesterday, but some public officials in Warwick were urging them to take the rental agencies at their word and scale back the project to the $32-million range. Michael Grande, chairman of the Warwick Station Redevelopment Agency, said he believed the fight to build the larger project had been waged and lost. He urged the state to go back to its original plan of May 1998 and build a modest station for $32 million in federal and state grants already in the bank. That plan did not include a people mover connecting the station to the air terminal at Green, and did not include a 4,000-car parking garage, mainly to house the rental agencies and their fleets. Rep. H. Norman Knickle, a Warwick Democrat, said yesterday, "My understanding is it's futile to continue to attempt to negotiate with the rental-car agencies. If that's true, then it's time to move on and build the train station. We're already two years behind schedule." At DOT, Director William Ankner said Almond still supported building a "consolidated intermodal transportation facility" on Jefferson Boulevard, and "we are proceeding ahead on the assumption that this project is going to go forward." Not so the seven car-rental companies, which dropped out of the project between Feb. 25 and March 13, in letters to Michael Cheston, executive director of the Airport Corporation, and Richard Licht, the corporation's lawyer and chief negotiator on the project. Budget Car and Truck Rental said "the economic uncertainty at this time is far too great." Payless Car Rental said it "does not think it would be a good idea to build the planned intermodal station." National Car Rental "is not interested in proceeding." Dollar Rent A Car said "it would not be prudent for us to continue our participation." Thrifty Car Rental "is not in favor" of building the combined facility. Enterprise Rent-A-Car "is not able to commit to moving forward." Finally, Alamo described the project as "premature," suggesting "that we wait" until the business outlook is clearer. State and city officials have talked about building an Amtrak station in Warwick since the new air terminal opened in 1996. In May 1998, the late Sen. John H. Chafee obtained a federal grant of $25 million to build the station about a quarter-mile west of the airport, on Jefferson Boulevard. Initially, the DOT promised to open the station by 2001, but those plans were set aside as the project grew in scope. The plan that the state pitched to the car-rental companies was to integrate an Amtrak station into a 4,000-car parking garage reserved mainly for the rental fleets. Air travelers who wanted to rent a car would take the people mover to the garage and begin their highway travel from there. Advocates said that would free up valuable space in the air terminal, do away with scores of shuttle buses and ease traffic and pollution on Post Road. The rental companies would have been expected to pay for most of the facility by charging a daily fee to out-of-town customers. Indeed, that fee has been in effect since last July and has raised millions to pay for designing a project that many are now saying is dead. Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian is scheduled to meet with Almond's staff today on the project. "I want to find out where we stand," he said, before deciding whether to join Grande in calling for an immediate groundbreaking on a smaller station built with available funds. Grande said yesterday that the long delays in building a station that is affordable without the rental companies' involvement has done much to sap private developers' enthusiasm for building in the 70-acre Warwick Station District. "If we're going to build a train station, let's build it," he said. "Let's stop talking about something that may not be possible. The major assumption behind the Warwick Station redevelopment project was that there was going to be a train station. To the extent that there is not a train station, there is probably no need to have a redevelopment authority overseeing nonexistent development." "We want to know: Is there going to be a train station?" he said. "If there isn't, then let's stop wasting everyone's time." The Airport Corporation referred all questions to Joe Larisa, Almond's chief of staff, who did not respond to numerous messages yesterday. Licht was traveling out of state and could not be reached Tuesday or yesterday. Though Ankner defended the state's larger version of the project, he said he had not seen the letters that seven of the nine rental companies wrote in February and March, dropping out of the project one by one. Avis and Hertz, which control about half of the rental business at Green, have not voiced a final yes or no on the project. The DOT has spent about $11 million of the $25-million federal grant on acquiring three properties needed to build either version of the project, and on cleaning up soil and groundwater contamination on two of them, the Baylis chemical plant and the former Leviton parking lot. Ankner said a small standalone train station can be built for what remains of the federal and state grants, about $21 million. But he insisted that scaling down the project is "not preferable." "This is an important project and we are continuing to work with it," Ankner said. "Like all projects that are large scale we run into issues and concerns and we generally have the ability to work them out and proceed." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <016701c1dcc2$aafce0b0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 05 Apr 2002 11:55:19 -0500 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) High Point, NC Photos: http://www.pwrr.org/nstation/high_point.html Depot work, funding progresses By Jacob McConnico - High Point Enterprise Clouds of dust and loud rumbles at downtown's historic railroad depot might normally signal a horrible calamity or at least a passing train. But the now-familiar sights and sounds of major construction at the 97-year-old train station represent the efforts of more than 20 workers putting in 10-hour days. They are trying to return the depot to its original appearance when it opened in 1905. Ricky Yontz is project superintendent with Rentenbach Constructors, the company hired to complete the 18-month depot restoration project. He said his crews have been working steady since January, ripping out rotten floor joists and pulling up the old concourse. "As far as our company, it's our first dealings with the railroad and our first train station restoration project," he said. "Dealing with the railroad and being on the corner of Main Street, it's been a real challenge." Rentenbach crews started the job by demolishing old structures that eventually will be replaced. The pedestrian bridge across the tracks, the wooden canopy above the depot and the concrete platform between the tracks and the station's retaining wall all were torn out. The inside of the building is now a shell with replaced floor joists holding up sheets of plywood to provide a make-shift floor. Scaffolding has been erected throughout the interior and exterior of the building. The project is scheduled for completion by February, and the work will yield a station with a new, structurally sound, concourse between the railroad tracks, in addition to a platform between the tracks and the retaining wall. A new passenger elevator with room for baggage is to be installed, along with a new roof and a new canopy over the tracks. Rentenbach also plans to pressure wash the retaining wall and all existing concrete surfaces. Gerald Dalton, the flagging foreman assigned to the job by the Norfolk Southern Corp., is responsible for making sure no trains come through while work is being done on or near the tracks. "I've worked on jobs like this in Salisbury (N.C.) and Alta Vista (Va.)," Dalton said. "I've seen the plans, and this is going to be something really special. We still have passengers coming through here, and I hear them comment about the mess out here, but I tell them, 'You just wait until this is all done.' This will be something that people can really be proud of." The restoration project carries a total price tag of $6,223,000 and is being funded through a partnership between the city, state and federal governments. The city is responsible for 10 percent of the project, or $622,300, while the federal government is contributing 80 percent of the cost and the state will provide the remaining 10 percent. Jim Morgan, chairman of the High Point Historic Preservation Society, the group that has committed to provide at least $300,000 to offset the city's share of the project, presented a check for $200,000 to High Point Mayor Arnold Koonce at a City Council meeting Thursday. "I have some commits from several people for additional money, and I feel that we will make our goal of $300,000," Morgan said. "I go out (to the depot) at least once a week, and I am very pleased with the progress that they are making. I think we are really going to have a nice depot." The High Point Historic Preservation Society is accepting donations from individuals, families and corporations. People donating $1,000 or more will have their name placed on a plaque that will be permanently affixed to the depot. Jacob McConnico can be contacted at 888-3515 or jmcconnico_@_hpe.com ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #337 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 11:45:22 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) From: "Mark A. Thomas" Subject: (rshsdepot) Warren Plains, NC, Depot There's an article in Sunday's Raleigh News & Observer about the old Raleigh and Gaston freight depot in Warren Plains, NC. Those who went to the RSHS Raleigh convention will remember this. Kent Hannah really liked the freight doors with rounded tops. :-) http://www.newsobserver.com/sunday/features/travel/Story/1109530p-1107330c.html A couple of minor errors that popped out to me: It's the Seaboard Air Line, not Lines; also, I believe you auger those big holes through wood with a "brace and bit," not a "bracing bit" as the probably young writer says. Since I think access to the online story goes away after Sunday, 4/7, here's the text pasted below. --Mark T. Published: Sunday, April 7, 2002 6:40 a.m. EDT Station break Longtime train workers 'retire' to unused depot -- now an antiques store -- in Warren County. By BARRY D. TEATER, Correspondent WARREN PLAINS - During a half-century of riding trains through Virginia and the Carolinas, Francis M. "Happy" Egerton stopped at, or passed by, the Warren Plains Depot "Lord only knows" how many thousands of times. Egerton, 96, has been retired from Seaboard Air Lines Railway for three decades but still visits the depot almost every day to socialize with friends and reminisce about his railroading days. He comes to a train station that remains much as he knew it when he began working as a brakeman in 1923 and when he retired as a conductor in 1971. Built during the Civil War in 1863, the Warren Plains Depot is among North Carolina's oldest surviving railroad stations and is believed to be the oldest depot still standing mostly in its original form. The depot was closed in 1960, and trains stopped rumbling past in the early 1970s when the tracks were pulled up. The small community of Warren Plains that thrived in the railroad's golden age is quiet. But the depot, seemingly indifferent to the change of three centuries, is very much alive. "This is an old, old structure that I'm just real proud of," says Bill Frazier, a retired high school teacher and football coach who owns the depot and sells antiques and collectibles in it. Frazier bought the depot from his cousin, public TV talk show host Charlie Rose, in 1996 when Frazier retired from teaching and coaching football at Warren County High School (where he never had a losing season in 37 years). Rose had inherited the depot from his parents, who had acquired it from the railroad in 1963. The three-room station, used mainly for freight in its heyday, is built of board-and-batten walls and has a low-hipped roof with wide eaves that shelter a wraparound porch. Freight came and went through double arched doors on either side and through a sliding square door on one end. A passenger house once adjoined the freight house, but it was torn down just before World War II when passenger trains gave way to the automobile. Frazier toes the top of a mostly buried stone foundation that hints at where the annex once stood. The depot's distinctive design merits a two-page description in historian Kenneth McFarland's "The Architecture of Warren County, North Carolina: 1770s to 1860s." Writes contributing author Michael T. Southern: "The well-built, one-story frame structure reflects the picturesque movement in American architecture that was sweeping the region in the late antebellum period and the desire of railroads to project a positive image with high-quality, up-to-date, and stylish buildings along their rights of way." Frazier is happy to show off the depot to tourists who stumble upon his antique shop, three miles north of Warrenton and five miles south of the Virginia line. "Everything in here was hand-hewn," he says, admiring the craftsmanship that went into the joints and pegs of the complex truss system supporting the roof. "This is built mostly out of cypress. That's probably why it has lasted as long as it has." Frazier points to a beam bearing the faint name of W.S. Terrell, the first depot agent, who oversaw the outpost from the mid-1800s until 1906. The black inscription, hand-painted in the elegant cursive of the day, has faded with time. Deep gullies have been worn into the plank floor by nearly 14 decades of working feet, leaving stubborn knots protruding upward, like small stalagmites forming in a cave. Among the feet that trod here were those of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who came in 1870 to visit the grave of his daughter, Annie Carter Lee, who had died of typhoid fever eight years earlier while vacationing with her mother in southwestern Warren County. In another corner, Frazier moves a piece of furniture from a corner to reveal two round, inch-wide holes in the floor. Thieves sneaked under the depot one night about 1920 and used a bracing bit to drill through the floor and into the bottom of a liquor barrel. The spirits drained into their containers in the crawl space. Displayed among items for sale are several artifacts that aren't. A Seaboard railway sign, rusting and riddled with bullet holes, hangs over a doorway. A long, wooden bench bears the initials of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, which gave way to the Seaboard name when the two railroads merged in 1900. Over the bench hangs a giant canvas mail bag. Frazier takes from the wall a long-handled "message stick" and demonstrates how it was used to hand off messages to a moving train before the days of telephones and two-way radios. And he shows a red pail that once hung above a water-filled barrel outside, to be used in case of fire. Its bottom is pointed so the bucket can't be set down without spilling its contents -- a clever deterrent to would-be thieves, he explains. The depot was built to serve the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, stretching 83 miles from the capital city to the Roanoke River near the Virginia line. Completed in 1840, the R&G was one of the state's first two railroads (the Wilmington and Weldon line opened the same year). That same year its rails delivered to Raleigh the Tornado, the first steam locomotive the city had seen, setting off a three-day celebration of the "iron horse." In 1936, Happy Egerton rode those same tracks into Raleigh on the first diesel-powered locomotive the city had seen, foreshadowing the demise of the steam-powered locomotive. He can recite the names of the crew on that maiden voyage as if the train rolled into town this morning. Egerton, who lives two miles away in Norlina, recalls delivering meat packed in ice to the depot before the days of refrigerated freight cars. The depot also received deliveries of lumber, liquor, produce and bales of cotton for a textile plant. As a young man in Warren Plains, Frazier unloaded 200-pound bags of fertilizer at the depot. The work was good weight training for a football player who went on to become a Hall of Fame running back at Chowan College. People have offered to buy the depot from Frazier with notions of turning it into a restaurant or using its timber to build lake homes on nearby Kerr Lake or Lake Gaston. But he has declined all of them. He has also politely rebuffed historic preservationists who want him to list the depot on the National Register of Historic Places, because he doesn't want to deal with the requirements and restrictions that would accompany such a designation. "I don't want anybody telling me what I can do with it," he says. "I like it the way it is. I'm not going to do anything to change it over a lot." Frazier usually shows up at the depot every day, but business hours vary according to his whims. "This is vacation," he says. "I don't care if anybody buys or doesn't buy. This is rewarding because you meet so many good people -- interesting people." Longtime friends drop by frequently, including Bennie King, his high school football coach; Jack Whitby, whom Frazier calls "the mayor" of Warren Plains; and Happy Egerton, who drives to the depot almost daily despite being in to a wheelchair. "I've got to keep these boys straight," Frazier says of his regulars. The player, the coach, the mayor and the conductor are living testament to what every 60-plus wife knows: A retired man has to have a place to loaf during the day. For the brethren of Warren Plains, it's the depot. The author lives in Raleigh. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Mark Thomas / markt_@_duke.edu / 919-660-5853, fax:919-684-2855 Map and GIS Librarian / Economics Bibliographer Public Documents and Maps Department 025 Perkins Library / Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0177 ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000801c1de8c$c1b1d790$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2002 19:34:26 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Fort Worth, TX Links: http://fortwortharchitecture.com/itc.htm Intermodal Transportation Center http://www.texaspacificrailway.org/php/tpry_stations/tpry_stations_bycity.php3?locat=ftworth-tx Texas & Pacific station Fort Worth stations not just places to catch a ride By TONY HARTZEL / The Dallas Morning News Spending time at a train station doesn't have to be an exercise in patience and staring at the clock. Take the Intermodal Transportation Center in Fort Worth, for example. The station - one of two in downtown Cowtown where Trinity Railway Express commuter trains stop - mixes a touch of history and a dash of entertainment. It's also part community gathering place. "It's fabulous," said Grand Prairie resident JoAnn Mikeska, who was waiting for a train so she could visit Dallas' West End. "This brings history together. When you travel, it's most often in a commercial environment. This connects with history. It's the best of both worlds." When the station opened, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, also known as The T, got a pleasant surprise, said Gyna Bivens, vice chairwoman of the agency's executive committee. "We have a lot of people coming here. It's almost a tourist site, even for Fort Worth natives," she said. The intermodal center, and the nearby T&P station, serve not only as a place to get on trains, but also as a "truly public building," Ms. Bivens added. The T had a public hearing at the new center, and community groups can use a meeting room on the center's upper level. "The T&P building is one that people use already. We've had wedding receptions there," she said. "We're still moving into the ITC building. But it is a community building, it has a community room, and we want people to feel welcome." The buildings already have seen a lot of use. The rail line carried more than 10,000 passengers in one day last month - buoyed by spring break riders. Trinity Railway commuter trains usually carry about 6,000 a day. Similar efforts to gather people around transit areas are occurring along the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. Work continues on a transit museum in DART's Monroe Shops building at the Illinois Avenue rail station. In addition, the city of Plano has a community room in a new mixed-used development beside its downtown light rail station. The efforts to mix transit and community also will extend to at least one bus stop area in downtown Dallas. DART hopes to build a small performance stage in a transit waiting area near the West End light rail station. For riders from Dallas who are curious about what awaits them in Fort Worth, other diversions abound at the new Fort Worth center. Workers just finished the station's latest feature, a public art display titled "The Game of Artful Pondering." The work, similar to an interactive treasure map in the pavement, incorporates brightly colored brick paths leading to markers with Texas-related sayings. Some of the sayings were confusing, like "Post Holin' Dust Bowlin," and "High Lonesome." Still, the cypress trees along the walkway were sprouting their first leaves of spring, and the pavement artwork served its purpose of providing an entertaining diversion. Not far away, station visitors walked by a beautiful mural that traces the history of the station area, a former African-American commercial and warehouse district. The artwork features carved and stained bricks, giving observers a memorable way to learn about people such as John Pratt, Fort Worth's first African-American businessman, and other contemporary black leaders. Commuter trains started running to the intermodal station in December, but workers are completing finishing touches. They include a display area for a trolley car from the Northern Texas Traction company, the Fort Worth-to-Dallas commuter rail precursor that halted service in the 1930s. The station features daily connections to other Fort Worth attractions. Trolley buses run daily to the cultural district and on Saturday only to the Stockyards area. And next door to the station, developers are scheduled to open a farmers market this month. "We're changing the way people build transit centers," Ms. Bivens said. Tony Hartzel can be reached at thartzel_@_dallasnews.com and at P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #338 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <20020408162514.96792.qmail_@_web11806.mail.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 09:25:14 -0700 (PDT) From: Art Marsh Subject: (rshsdepot) Hugo, OK http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=844832&pic=none&TP=getarticle Depot holds museum 2002-04-07 By Ed Godfrey The Oklahoman HUGO -- A century ago in southeastern Oklahoma, life flourished around the Frisco Depot. Once a main hub for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, commonly known as the Frisco, the restored train depot has been converted to a museum with a "Harvey House" restaurant. The museum chronicles the histories of Hugo and Choctaw County. Like many Oklahoma towns, the railroad gave birth to Hugo. In 1887, the Frisco Railroad carved a path across Indian Territory from Missouri to Texas. In 1901, the Arkansas and Choctaw Railroad laid an east-west line that intersected the Frisco track at present-day Hugo. Settlers living one mile north in a community known as Good Siding then moved to the railroad crossing area, said Noel Pence, president of the Choctaw County Historical Society. They named their new community after French author Victor Hugo, the favorite writer of one of the town's founders, he said. At the railroad crossing, the town rapidly grew. Seven passenger trains ran daily through Hugo. Ten hotels were built. The town became home to 1,500 railroad employees. The Frisco Railroad built its first depot in 1903, but it burned seven years later. It was rebuilt but burned again in 1914. In 1917, the Frisco railroad replaced the previous wood structures with a two-story brick depot. At the time, it was one of the finest in the Frisco line, Pence said. The spacious depot housed several railroad offices, including a telegraph office. Included in the depot was a ballroom for railroad parties. There were large, segregated waiting areas and rest rooms. Also in the depot was the Harvey House restaurant and newsstand. Fred Harvey operated a chain of restaurants and hotels, mostly for the Santa Fe Railroad. His "Harvey Houses" were the first to offer railroad travelers elegant dining. Harvey recruited young, unmarried women looking for adventure and enticed them to move to the West to work at his restaurants. Known as the Harvey Girls, they were properly trained ladies who were prudently chaperoned in dormitory-like residences. Museum highlights include railroad artifacts, an arrowhead collection, a bootlegger's copper whiskey still, a miniature railroad exhibit, a miniature circus exhibit, a steam-powered popcorn machine, rodeo memorabilia and historical photographs. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Admission is free but donations are accepted. Researcher Billie Harry contributed to this story. ===== Art Marsh Fremont, CA __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <61.1dce8a67.29e320bb_@_aol.com> Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 12:35:07 EDT From: I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Hugo, OK As a follow-up to Art's post, here's a link to some historic photos of the Hugo depot and its predecessor. http://digital.library.arizona.edu/harvey/finding_aid/9ok/12/welcome.html ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <20020408170012.1655.qmail_@_web11806.mail.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <61.1dce8a67.29e320bb_@_aol.com> Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 10:00:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Art Marsh Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Hugo, OK Bernie, Thanks for the link. I believe those are pictures of the second Frisco depot. In reading through the article I noticed that the Frisco had three depots there within a fourteen year time period. Broken down I find, Built Burned Construction 1st. 1903 1910 Wood 2nd. 1910 or 1911 1914 Wood 3rd. 1917 Standing in 2002 Brick I have several photos of the second and third depots (including two from 1911) but I have not seen how the first depot appeared. Is there anyone who might have such a photo that they would be willing to share with the group(s)? Thanks, Art Marsh - --- I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com wrote: > As a follow-up to Art's post, here's a link to some historic photos > of the > Hugo depot and its predecessor. ===== Art Marsh Fremont, CA __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00ee01c1df2b$d27008f0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2002 14:33:04 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) New Penn Station, NY New Penn Hub Stalls Station project 4 yrs. behind schedule By PETE DONOHUE and ERIC HERMAN Daily News Staff Writers Four years after a deal was struck to turn the city's main post office into a bigger and better Penn Station, construction has yet to be begin - meaning jam-packed commuters won't get relief until at least 2007. In 1999, a year after the agreement was announced, state development agency chief Charles Gargano said reconstruction of the landmark James A. Farley Post Office into a transportation hub and shopping mall would begin in 2000 and be completed by 2003. The news thrilled commuters who endure the subterranean station's packed platforms and New Yorkers still mourning the destruction of storied Pennsylvania Station - a twin to the Farley building - nearly four decades ago. But drawn-out negotiations between the state and U.S. Postal Service have left the project four years behind schedule. In December, Gargano, chairman of the Empire State Development Corp., said construction would begin this spring. Now it is unlikely to start before November and won't be finished until at least 2007, according to the Dallas-based developer, Staubach Co. "It's just a terribly frustrating project," said Robert Yaro, director of the Regional Plan Association, a transportation policy group. As the months tick by, the city is losing out on the significant economic boost the project is expected to bring - 7,600 jobs and more than $65 million in tax revenue during construction. Once built, the new transportation hub is expected to create about 1,600 permanent jobs. Deal Affected by Attacks The Postal Service tried to back out of the deal soon after Sept. 11, saying it needed the building because its Church St. station near the World Trade Center was damaged. Negotiations resumed after Gov. Pataki and then-mayoral candidate Michael Bloomberg urged President Bush to get involved. But with several layers of government involved, and the Postal Service and Amtrak fighting for cash, the $788 million deal has gotten bogged down in details, notably how to convert a 1.4 million-square-foot post office into a bustling transportation center without interrupting train or mail service. A Bold Design "I'm holding my breath," said David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the project's highly regarded architect. "But ... I've been holding it for almost a year now." Pushed by former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.), the plan calls for Amtrak operations to move from the current Penn Station under Madison Square Garden across the street to the postal building. That would open space in the old building for NJTransit and the Long Island Rail Road. A small post office would remain where the customer area currently is, on the Eighth Ave. side, between 31st and 33rd Sts. The Postal Service would at least temporarily keep its mail-processing center on the western end of the building. The plan calls for the state development agency, through its Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Corp. subsidiary, to buy the building for about $140 million. The Postal Service is negotiating to remain there for at least 13 years after the sale - probably longer. The new Penn Station will feature a bold design, with a futuristic glass and metal roof curving over a main entrance and an expansive ticket hall. There will be about 100,000 square feet of retail, commercial and conference-center space and a 180-foot-tall multimedia wall to display train information, as well as flight schedules. Despite the on-again, off-again interest of the Postal Service in the project, Vice President Rudy Umscheid insisted the deal is on track. "This isn't buying a house," he said. "The discussions continue in a very positive vein. It's a question of formalizing that into an agreement that deals with a lot of complicated issues." Moynihan, who was appointed this month by Mayor Bloomberg as his representative to the Penn Station redevelopment agency, pledged to keep the project from derailing. "We're right on the edge," Moynihan said. "Negotiations with the post office seem to be very close to closing." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <20020408170012.1655.qmail_@_web11806.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 14:02:05 -0500 (CDT) From: Andy Ingraham Dwyer Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Hugo, OK On Mon, 8 Apr 2002, Art Marsh wrote: > Built Burned Construction > 1st. 1903 1910 Wood > 2nd. 1910 or 1911 1914 Wood > 3rd. 1917 Standing in 2002 Brick I'm sorry, but I couldn't read this without thinking something along the lines of "I'll huff and I'll puff..." - -Andy - -- Interesting side note: Flour+Water+Oil == tortilla. Flour+Water+Oil+Eggs == cake. When making cake, where did the tortilla go? (from http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/apr98/breadbrd.html) ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <010e01c1df39$336c25a0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2002 16:08:50 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Hornell, NY This story is a bit dated (March 7) but I thought it might still be of interest to some of you. Link: http://www.infoblvd.net/june/eriedep.jpg (lithograph of station in 1939) http://www.infoblvd.net/june/depot.htm (photo 2000) http://gelwood.railfan.net/bldg/erie-hornell-sta.jpg (postcard view) Hornell depot restoration takes time, and it's all in the details By ROBERT J. ROBERTS - CANISTEO VALLEY EDITOR HORNELL - As Mike Quinlan sweats the details in bringing the abandoned Erie Railroad depot back to life, he hears from the pessimists. Foreman Quinlan and his crew of Krog Corp. carpenters and masons have been swarming over the depot for the past six weeks, as part of a limited, emergency repair effort to save the depot from even more damage this winter. Some people, however, think it's too late. A few motorists drive by the work scene off Loder Street and shout "A waste of time" or "It's a waste of money," according to Quinlan. But don't count Quinlan among the doubters. "It's going to be a beautiful building when it's done," he says. Jim Griffin, executive director of the Hornell Industrial Development Agency, says he has heard different comments than those hurled at the depot workers. What Griffin hears are compliments that the work done so far - mainly consisting of a new roof and overhang - has improved the look of the historic structure. "People are saying how it is starting shape up," says Griffin. As the community debates whether the depot is worth saving, the project moves ahead. Once the emergency repairs on the facade are completed by Krog, work will be bid out to convert the interior into office space for Alstom Transportation, Inc. A small section is earmarked as a visitors' center - for which there have been considerable proposals from residents. That may be premature, according to Griffin. "That's a small building," he says. "It's only 30 feet wide. It looks bigger because of the overhang, but we've pretty well committed it to office space for Alstom. That was the driving force behind getting (federal and state) money." The people who think the depot can't be salvaged are fooled by its construction, Quinlan says. There actually are three layers to the facade of the 19th-century depot; what people have seen crumbling, he says, are the two outer layers. The foundation of the building remains rock-solid. But complying to the stringent restoration guidelines of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is not easy. Lining the belly of the overhang on the Loder Street side of the depot is what is known as bead board. When the depot was built 120 years ago, construction workers were not particular about uniformity; three different widths of bead board were used, Quinlan says. Now, in 2002, Krog workers have to exactly match those inexact widths. And then there are the rafter tails, the decorative items found at the end of trusses that support the overhang. They all were broken, and had to be replaced with exact replicas. They had to be made of 3-inch-thick pine, "a very hard-to-find material," Quinlan says. A thickness of 2 3/4 inches for the rafter tails would have been easier, but not historically accurate. Little work is being done now inside the depot; that will take place during the second, non-emergency phase. For more than 100 years, the depot handled large volumes of passenger and freight traffic. Legend has it that pie a la mode was born in the restaurant in the Hornell depot. Now those rooms are empty, gutted, many stained by water infiltration in recent years from the leaking roof. Until the Krog crew arrived in mid-January, people hadn't worked in the depot since Conrail pulled out its last 10 dispatchers in March 1990. The greatest amount of damage is the exterior of the depot's west side, across the tracks from the Railroad Centre shopping plaza. Its overhang long gone, this side was most exposed to the winds, rain, snow and ice. It is there that much of the outer facade has crumbled into piles of bricks, and where another part of the facade swells out in a bow, and where whole sections of new brickwork has to be laid and subsequently "tied in" to the foundation of the depot, Quinlan says. This masonry work has to be done in a heated environment - not an easy task when sub-freezing winds are turned arctic by steady gusts of wind. Krog carpenters constructed a heated shelter surrounding this new masonry, to protect it from the cold as it sets. Dansville native Peter Krog gets high marks from Griffin for the emergency restoration. "In hindsight, we probably should have gotten him involved sooner," says Griffin. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #339 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001101c1dfaf$edce0fa0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 06:18:44 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Burlington Station - Omaha, NE Photo links: http://www.nationalrrmuseum.org/stations/omaha-4.gif http://www.nationalrrmuseum.org/stations/omaha-5.gif http://www.classicrail.com/cards/ne1133.JPEG Brains, trains and automobiles: Site inspires students Omaha World-Herald By Chris Burbach Omaha's dusty old Burlington Station threw open its doors to a sympathetic audience of train travelers Saturday.They used their imagination to picture the magnificently shabby shell returning to some of its former glory, or at least becoming really useful.Two college students - Gerald Kopiasz from Creighton University and Eric Miller from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln - propose to turn the long-vacant station at 925 S. 10th St. into an "intermodal terminal." Trains, long-distance buses, local buses and taxi cabs would converge at the station. They have the support of ProRail Nebraska Inc., a passenger-rail advocacy group. They and Realtor Fil Catania, who is listing the building, arranged a tour Saturday. About 50 people attended, most from a Saturday meeting of ProRail and Region 10 of the National Association of Railroad Passengers."It could happen," said the association's national president, Alan Yorker. "It's happening all over the country."The station, finished in 1898, has been vacant for 31 years. A previous owner stripped marble from the walls, chandeliers from the ceilings, even the antique urinals from the bathrooms, Catania said.A later - and current - owner, Warren Distribution, thought to put its headquarters there, but thought again. Warren is asking $ 950,000 for the property. It would cost millions of dollars just to renovate it into a functioning building.As people scuffed around like ghosts, Miller stood on dirty mosaic tiles beneath the 60-foot ceiling in the cavernous, window-lit lobby and talked about the proposal."This could be the main waiting room," he said. "We'd restore the crosswalk (above the train tracks north to the Durham Western Heritage Museum). People could go out to the crosswalk, then down to the track on an escalator."They could board a light-rail train for the convention center or Rosenblatt Stadium through the station's north doors, on the 10th Street bridge, Miller said.Kopiasz also envisions a railroad history museum in the building. So far, it's an idea with no money.The Durham Western Heritage Museum also has what its executive director described as a long-term interest in the building. Miller said the terminal and a Western Heritage use could co-exist. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001001c1dff8$3f462690$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 14:56:24 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Myrtle Beach, SC Link: http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/traindepot.html (City of Myrtle Beach site) Old Myrtle Rail Station Being Transformed Into Meeting Venue Meeting News APRIL 08, 2002 -- Plans to restore an old Myrtle Beach railroad station are under way, and it's likely that small groups may be meeting there by this time next year. "We anticipate it will be a multipurpose building, with the ability to host groups of up to 40," said Kelly Mezzapelle, Myrtle Beach's downtown development coordinator. "We're specifically targeting small groups, because there are not many choices for small meetings in this area." The depot functioned from the early 1990s to 1971; in its early days it brought both passengers and freight to the beach. The current building dates to 1936 and is slated to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It features lots of exposed brick and other quaint features; the addition of a landscaped garden will give the depot, which sits on an acre and a half, a park-like setting. "This architecture is unique to the Myrtle Beach area because we've destroyed most of our historical structures," said Mezzapelle. "There's not a lot of history here; that's why we're scrambling to preserve this one." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002701c1dffe$3b707ec0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 15:39:15 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Storm Lake, IA Link: http://www.old-postcards.com/806.jpg (historic postcard photo) Storm Lake leaders seek to save railroad depot By: Dana Larsen, Pilot-Tribune Editor April 08, 2002 A small group gathered this week to take the first step toward preserving the historic Illinois Central Railroad Depot in Storm Lake. Like the proverbial "little engine that could," it's going to take an attitude of "perpetual optimism" to reach the top of that mountain, predicts local rail enthusiast Burt Bonebrake. Also involved were chamber of commerce leaders Chris Nolte and Marilyn Monson, and local rail historian Charles Slagle. After brainstorming on how to approach the Canadian National Railroad, which now owns the site, the chamber plans to compose a letter to the company with suggestions on how to save the depot. "We would like to work with them in such a way that the railroad could get some benefit and we could obtain the depot and possibly some land for parking," Bonebrake said. The Illinois Central had planned to tear the depot down this year and replace it with a small modern building, despite it being one of the county's few listings on the National Register of Historic Places. They would have considered selling it very inexpensively, but wanted the building moved. "If you take a depot away from the railroad tracks, it loses about 95 percent of its nostalgia value. We would like to be able to leave it right there, maybe with some safety fencing to prevent visitors form getting too close to the tracks and being a liability problem," Bonebrake said. Local enthusiasts will be looking deeper into the railroad history of the area, and hope to visit the restored Cherokee depot museum next week to review how such a project can be done. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <003301c1e000$faa00f20$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 15:58:54 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Ellensburg, WA Links: http://www.soultones.com/postcards/ellensbrg/depot_30.jpg (historic postcard photo) http://www.cbvcp.com/wsrhs/pict/depo11.JPG (1920s photo) Railroad offers 20-year lease on train depot Plans to restore historic structure are back on track 04/08/02 PAT MUIR - Daily Record Historic Ellensburg's plan to renovate and preserve the historic train depot on Wenas Street took a significant step forward last month when Burlington Northern Santa Fe offered a 20-year lease for the property on which the depot sits. While there are some details to work out before the deal is closed, signing the lease would mean the state Department of Transportation would release the $221,000 grant it has been withholding in absence of a long-term lease. "Things are moving along," said Joe Bach, president of Historic Ellensburg. "Everyone's pretty excited about it." The city of Ellensburg has been negotiating the deal on the historic group's behalf and had been struggling with BNSF, which continually denied requests for a lease term longer than five years. The new offer, 20 years for a lump sum $20,000 payment, was a complete reversal of the railroad's position, Ellensburg Public Works Director John Akers said. "I'm not sure what changed," he said. "It was a complete turnaround in the attitude toward the lease. . Something happened, and it was pretty refreshing when it did." It's been a long process for the city and Historic Ellensburg. After raising the required $39,000 to qualify for the federal grant, Historic Ellensburg members thought the deal was on its way. They raised money through fund-raisers and donations only to be told they needed a long-term lease BNSF was unwilling to offer. The 20-year offer is a major breakthrough, Akers said. "It looks like we're there," he said. "It looks like it will happen." There is still much to be done, however. Once the property lease is confirmed, the city will need to negotiate the purchase of the depot itself. The building is owned by Dave Bean, who has previously indicated he's willing to sell, Akers said. Hopefully there will be enough of the grant money left after that purchase to protect the depot from vandalism and severe weather, Bach said. Once that is done, Historic Ellensburg will begin writing grants and raising funds for the building's renovation, he said. While acknowledging that the group has a way to go, Bach said Historic Ellensburg members are pleased with the recent turn of events. "I think everything's going to work out," he said. "It's just going to take time." Gus Melonas, spokesman for BNSF, could not be reached for comment this morning. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #340 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001601c1e077$4ceb8cc0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 06:05:53 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) St. Joseph, MI Link: http://user.mc.net/~louisvw/depot/st-joe/st-joe.htm (information and photos) Depot Diner drawing interest from two restaurant owners By MIKE RUPERT / H-P Staff Writer Herald-Palladium ST. JOSEPH -- Two St. Joseph restaurant owners could wage a bidding war in court to see who will take control of the bankrupt Roxy's Depot Diner's assets and its lease with the city. St. Joseph City Attorney Mark Bowman told the City Commission Monday night that Tom Jennings, owner of Czar's 505 Club and co-owner of the Pump House Grill, and Chris Barnett, co-owner of Clementine's Too and Barney's Boathouse, have shown interest in the property. Jennings' company managed the restaurant last year. The Depot Diner was opened in the city-owned train depot by Roxy's Inc. in June 1998. Roxy's Inc., owned by Kevin Clements, also operated Roxy's on the Plaza on Michigan 139 in Benton Township. Both restaurants closed last fall. Roxy's Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2001, and its assets, previously estimated at $70,000 -- with nearly $40,000 in secured debt -- were turned over to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Gregg in Kalamazoo. Bowman said Gregg is expected to hold a public auction for the assets and lease any day. Barnett's spokesman, Pete Jorgensen, said Barnett plans to open something similar to Clementine's Too if his bid is accepted. Jennings, who was not at Monday's meeting, could not be reached for comment Monday night. Bowman said he was not aware of Jennings' plans. Bowman said anyone can bid on the assets and lease, but he said bankruptcy judges have wide discretion in accepting bids. Bowman said a recommendation by the city could "weigh heavily" on the judge's decision. After an informal discussion, the city took no official stance Monday night other than entrusting Bowman to make the best recommendation possible. Commissioner Jeff Richards said the city should recommend Jennings to the court because of his experience with the Depot Diner. Last April, Judge Gregg approved a management agreement with 505 Group LLC, which Jennings co-owns with his brother-in-law, Raymond Mays. The agreement let 505 Group manage the restaurant. Jennings first approached Clements in fall of 2000 about possibly taking over management of the Depot Diner. The two have known each other "for some time," Jennings has said. After continued poor results, Jennings closed the restaurant and its assets were turned over to a court trustee. Roxy's lease with the city for the diner space runs until June 2003, Bowman said. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42ED1_@_mail1.itochu.com> Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:08:16 -0400 From: James Dent / NYKGN Subject: (rshsdepot) Greendell (NJ) Station to be Demolished - 1942 From the EL list, for RSHS members in Newark in '98 - -----Original Message----- From: Dave Rutan [mailto:rutan3_@_nac.net] Subject: (erielack) Greendell Station to be Demolished - 1942 Funny, Greendell didn't look too demolished last time I drove by it... - -Dave Rutan - -- Sussex Register - December 31, 1942 Greendell Station to be Demolished - 1942 Public Utilities Grants Lackawanna Privilege After it is Found that There Were Only Two Passengers in Week. Public Utilities Commission, it has been announced, has approved the Lackawanna Railroad's petition to abandon and demolish railroad stations at Mt. Arlington and Greendell and discontinuance of freight service in less than carload lots at Johnsonburg. The commission found Mt. Arlington can be served adequately through Lake Hopatcong station and that Blairstown will serve Johnsonburg. The Commission found in the case of Greendell that only two passengers used the station in a week before the time when hearings were held on the Lackawanna's petition and that almost all of the freight is being handled in carload lots. Johnsonburg, under the arrangement, gets a change of schedule. Instead of having an eastbound train stop at 12:51 P.M., a train will stop at 8:25 A.M. The westbound stop will be at 8:58 instead of 7:20 P.M. - -- DL&W Sussex Branch Memorial http://SussexBranchMemorial.com Monomania can be a good thing ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #341 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42ED8_@_mail1.itochu.com> Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 13:17:59 -0400 From: James Dent / NYKGN Subject: (rshsdepot) North Topeka, KS From the Topeka Capital-Journal Depot steams toward recognition House committee opens possibility for other rail museums to share special designation 1:50 a.m. 4/10/2002 By Chris Grenz The Capital-Journal Topeka's Great Overland Station is on track to become an official state railroad museum. But a committee may have derailed efforts to make the depot the state railroad museum of Kansas. A House committee on Wednesday endorsed a resolution that would bestow a special designation on North Topeka's restored Union Pacific Railroad depot, making it "a state railroad museum of Kansas." But the House Federal and State Affairs Committee voted to send the plan to the full House only after the resolution, which had already passed the Senate, was changed to allow other railroad museums to also share the designation. "There are other railroad museums across the state of Kansas," said Rep. R.J. Wilson, D-Pittsburg, who offered the amendment. "I'm not saying any other museums will come forward and want to be a state museum, but I think we should at least leave the door open and give them that potential." The resolution, which was sponsored by Shawnee County Sens. Dave Jackson, R-Topeka, Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, and Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, was supported by Railroad Heritage Inc., which is the official corporate name of the station. The group believes the designation can help draw more tourists to the depot, said Bob St. John, president of the Railroad Heritage Inc. board of directors. "We'll create a venue where Kansans and visitors from around the nation can immerse themselves in our Kansas heritage while savoring today's quality of life in our state," St. John told the committee. "Together with a new riverfront park and the development of adjacent Historic North Topeka, this area will become a prime destination for tourists while promoting pride in our heritage among Kansans of all ages." Jackson, who represents the area where the depot is located, also testified before the committee. "We think this will be a major tourist destination in North Topeka," he said. Topeka is home to the only major railroad founded in Kansas that still exists today -- Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. But despite Topeka's strong rail history, St. John said the Great Overland Station will be the only train museum in Kansas to focus on the railroad heritage of the entire state. All of the major railroads that have served Kansas will be represented -- Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, Katy, Kansas City Southern, Frisco and others. The resolution discussed on Wednesday now moves to the full House for debate. Concurrent resolutions don't carry the weight of law and don't require the governor's signature. However, if the House passes a different version than the Senate, the Senate will have the option to accept the lower chamber's changes or an agreement will have to be worked out. Rep. Becky Hutchins, R-Holton, opposed changing the wording of the resolution. "This would provide a significant marketing tool by being designated the state railroad museum," Hutchins said. But Rep. Ethel Peterson, D-Dodge City, said that while the designation would be positive for the Topeka depot, it could be equally beneficial for other restored depots across Kansas. "We wouldn't want for the world to take away from any museums located somewhere else," she said. "We ought not to shut out anybody." After the meeting, St. John said he wasn't upset by the change. "Regardless of the word -- whether it's 'a' or 'the' -- we're very pleased," he said. "Being recognized by the Legislature of the state of Kansas is a significant event. It really lends credence to the work that's gone into the project." Chris Grenz can be reached at (785) 296-3005 or cgrenz_@_cjonline.com. The station The $200,000 Union Pacific Station opened on Jan. 27, 1927, in North Topeka with great fanfare. Now, 75 years later, the depot is undergoing a $6 million renovation -- including $4.5 million in federal funds -- to transform it into a museum and meeting place. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00a801c1e189$55963100$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 14:47:30 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Babylon, NY Links: http://www.lirrhistory.com/mar2000/babylon.jpg (1964 station - before renovations) http://www.lirrhistory.com/march2001/baby1941.jpg (1941 postcard view) http://www.lihistory.com/spectown/babyln01.jpg (old station in horsecart days) Babylon: 135 Years of Service From "Along the Track" the LIRR employee newsletter The recently completed - except for the elevators, which are being finished up - Babylon station rebuilding project has given our customers at this important terminal a nicely designed, 25% larger space. The previous Babylon Station was built in 1964 to accommodate the grade separation project. It replaced an 1881-built structure that, at the time, was touted by newspapers as the "largest and best equipped east of Long Island City." The 1881 station replaced the first Babylon station, built in 1868 by the South Side Rail Road, which reached Babylon in November 1867. Babylon, and the rest of the South Side Rail Road, became part of our system in 1876. On May 21, 1925, the electrification of the Babylon Branch was completed. While the 1964 station served its purpose, it suffered from somewhat cramped conditions and, with the escalators landing too close to the west side of the station building, awkward pedestrian flows. The $8 million project to create a new Babylon Station addressed those issues and more. The new Babylon Station was developed to optimize the functionality of the space, improve its appearance, and comply with the latest ADA regulations. The project included the complete reconstruction of the station itself, new stairways, and rebuilt parking lots. The station building was actually relocated slightly west of its previous location in order to improve pedestrian flow around the escalators. Other improvements to the site include new taxi and bus staging areas, walkways, access roadways, taxi dispatch center, bus shelters, and an attractive plaza area with benches, planters, pavers, improved lighting and vendor space. The replacement of the building took place in two phases due to the overlap in the location of the old and new stations. While the old station was still open, the east half of the new structure was built first, including the ticket office, partial waiting room and other facilities. Once that opened, in February 2001, the old station was closed and demolished, allowing the west half of the new structure to progress. That work was completed last September, with work continuing on the replacement of the elevators through this month. Also of note to our customers is an increase in parking capacity. While rehabilitating Babylon's 10 lots, more spaces were added, including 10 additional ADA/handicapped spots. This is just one of the projects the Railroad has undertaken in Babylon to improve conditions for our customers, our employees, and the community. Also on tap is the new Babylon Storehouse Facility on Albin Avenue (along the Central Branch). This new facility for the Signal Department will replace the previous structure with a more attractively-designed brick building and new landscaping and designated storage areas to improve the look of the site. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #342 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <003f01c1e210$1f64fa30$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 06:52:21 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Lancaster County, PA Links: http://kc.pennsyrr.com/photos/images/pc_lancaster_1905.gif (Lancaster j1905) http://lib2.clark.cc.oh.us/amtrak/amtSTAtionGM/LancasterPAc.jpg (current view) Lancaster County is leader in train travel; Fixing up old rail stations lures Amtrak riders Intelligencer Journal 4/10/02 HARRISBURG -- Lancaster County can teach a lot to anyone who wants to bring an old train station back to life. A symposium Tuesday at the Harrisburg Amtrak station took up the topic of revitalizing railroad stations and train usage, between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It revealed that Lancaster County is far ahead of other municipalities in both goals. The county Metropolitan Planning Organization plans to spend $11.2 million over the next four years renovating three Amtrak stations and building a new one. Few other counties, if any, in the Keystone Corridor can boast such an active role. And that's why, it seems, annual ridership at Lancaster city's Amtrak station eclipses all other stations between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In fact, while Lancaster is working on four stations at once -- downtown, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown and a new one in Paradise -- most representatives at the symposium were scrounging for money for just one station. "Most counties except Lancaster need to rely on private investment with public assistance (to revitalize their stations)," said Elizabethtown Borough manager Peter Whipple. The Elizabethtown station, a stone structure built in 1915, was one of three stations showcased at the symposium. The station in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, was shown as an example of a completed project. Built in 1909, the station is on the National Register of Historic Places. It now contains restaurants and a microbrewery. Whipple pointed out that Greensburg was renovated by a private organization, the Westmoreland Trust, which raised funds and applied for government grants. Similarly, the example of a brand-new design, an Amtrak station planned for Downingtown, is being financed through a cooperative effort of the town's residents, Downingtown School District, Chester County, the state, Amtrak and SEPTA. It takes advantage of substantial tax breaks obtained by having the area declared a Keystone Opportunity Zone. By contrast, Elizabethtown is on a much faster track than the other example stations, as it was managed entirely by Lancaster County. The design is complete, funding is secured and it awaits only construction approvals. The magic is in the numbers. U.S. Census figures put Lancaster County in its own "metropolitan area." That designation entitles it to its own Metropolitan Planning Organization, said Ronald Bailey, head of the county planning commission. And that's why Elizabethtown had an advantage in securing state and federal funds and lining up consultants and designers. Chester County is part of the nine-county Philadelphia metropolitan area. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission acts as the single MPO for those nine counties and allocates federal and state highway funds. That means Chester County must vie with eight other counties -- four in Pennsylvania and four in New Jersey - - for state and federal money to renovate its train stations. With the exception of Greensburg, where the focus of the station is really tourism, not transit, municipalities west of Harrisburg were conspicuous at the symposium by their absence. "The same level of planning and cooperation between county and municipal government is much more active here than in the west," Bailey said. Also, he added, mass transit "just isn't a local policy issue for them." But reducing pollution and traffic congestion in Lancaster is a goal of county planners here, so Bailey was pleased that Lancaster's station saw 279,189 passengers in 2001. Even the Amtrak station in the state capital, Harrisburg, fell 4,272 passengers short of Lancaster's ridership in 2001. A more telling comparison is with stations in Philadelphia's suburbs -- such as Ardmore, Exton and Paoli -- where ridership numbers are boosted by SEPTA service. They had 38,289, 25,846 and 71,237 riders respectively in 2001. Bailey says a big factor in Lancaster's ridership numbers is its convenience. The easiest way to Philadelphia or Harrisburg from here is by Amtrak, Bailey said, no question about it. "You take the train from here and you're within walking distance of the state Capitol and offices, or Center City," Bailey said. "Conversely, the turnpike runs straight from Harrisburg to Philadelphia, so even with parking issues it's relatively convenient to drive a car between those points." Still, Bailey admits that the money and effort the county has put in to make taking the train a pleasant experience, and getting that message out to the public, have contributed to making Lancaster an example of "how transportation is done in Pennsylvania." In the next year or so, Amtrak will replace its Northeast corridor electric Metroliner locomotives with high-speed trains. The fast, clean Metroliners will be refurbished and put to work on the Keystone corridor. "If you compare Lancaster to other counties, we are clearly a leader in smart growth and trying to get government entities to work together," Bailey said. "We've been very active and working very hard with PennDOT and Amtrak to make some very good things happen here in the next few years." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <009f01c1e220$dd86e2c0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 08:52:12 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) WTC Memorials at NJ Rail Stations Plaques emerge at 11 stations Friday, April 12, 2002 BY KRISTEN ALLOWAY Star-Ledger Staff Seven months later, Sarah Cherry still finds it difficult to pass the Maplewood rail station. The simple brick building on Dunnell Road is where Cherry and her three young children headed many nights to greet her husband, Douglas, as he got off the train. For her, said her brother, Burns Patterson of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., the station remains a bittersweet reminder of a happy family routine. Yesterday, Cherry gathered her strength and joined dozens of other residents at the Maplewood station to honor the memory of her husband and the others who left for work the morning of Sept. 11 and never returned. Ten similar services were conducted elsewhere along NJ Transit's Morris & Essex line. Morning commuters holding steaming cups of coffee and briefcases slung over their shoulders paused to remember those killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. "It felt so good to see the community there, ... that they would come even if they didn't know somebody," said Erin Finnegan in Bernards Township, where she attended the ceremony at the Basking Ridge station with her children Bridget, 6, Bradley, 4 and Jack, 8 months. Her husband Michael died Sept. 11. Of the nearly 700 New Jersey residents killed in the World Trade Center attacks, most were daily commuters, many of whom rode the train to Lower Manhattan. In Maplewood, Cherry and Charles Christophe placed a plaque at the base of a newly planted pear tree. On the plaque are the names of Douglas Cherry and Kirsten Christophe. "Every morning and every evening when I return home, I will see the tree and it will remind me about Kirsten," said Christophe, who is raising their 19-month-old daughter, Gretchen. "It's a great symbol of the living spirit." The idea for the rail memorials came from commuters themselves and Joyce Reynolds, who runs the Heavenly Scent Café at the Maplewood station. "We lost a lot of commuters but, most of all, we lost a lot of friends," said Reynolds. She approached the Maplewood Township Committee, and Mayor Victor De Luca coordinated the idea with the other eight communities -- Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Bloomfield, Chatham, East Orange, Millburn, Montclair and Mount Olive -- for memorials at 11 stations. "These were people we sat next to each day," said De Luca, who commutes into Manhattan from Maplewood. "We're trying to show this is a community that transcends municipal boundaries, up and down the train lines." Twenty-seven NJ Transit employees also lost loved ones Sept. 11, and many attended the memorial services. For dozens of the victims, the stations along the Morris and Essex and Boonton lines were where they started and ended their workday -- where husband and wives exchanged a quick kiss, friends and neighbors made small talk, children greeted their parents. Finnegan said her husband preferred to drive into Manhattan because he left so early in the morning, but that when he rode in, she and the children would be at the station in the evening. "The kids would start jumping in their seats: 'Can we get out? What car's he in?' ... There was no better feeling than to see him jump off the train and grab the kids." In the first few uncertain days after the attacks, those stations became touchstones for concern and grief. Residents passing the stations at night would see a few remaining cars in the lots and worry about their owners. Makeshift memorials sprung up at a few stations. Paul Kasnetz was the first member of the public to see the plaque at the Short Hills station yesterday morning, when workmen briefly removed a blue tarp to clean the marker one last time before its official unveiling at 8:30. He spotted the name of his neighbor, Frank J. Spinelli Jr., one of five from Millburn-Short Hills who never came home on that Tuesday. "Frank lives -- lived -- across the street from me," Kasnetz said. Spinelli had been at a barbecue at Kasnetz's house just three weeks before the disaster. "Everyone will say how nice everyone is when they die," Kasnetz said, "but he really was." "He was a special guy," said Spinelli's widow, Michelle, who arrived with her three children, Nicole, Christopher and Danielle, shortly before the ceremony. Later, she would say: "He took this path every day." Along that path now are a flowering cherry tree, five U.S. flags and a large rock with the plaque bearing the names of Spinelli and Mark L. Charette, Steven B. Lillianthal, Patrick S. Murphy and Ian Schneider. "We shall never forget our friends and neighbors who rode the rails with us that morning but did not return with us that night," it reads in part. In Chatham, about 80 people gathered at the Fairmount Avenue train station for the service. Tracy Larkey, who lost her husband Robin, was touched by the tribute. "I feel sad, but I also think it's a really nice gesture on behalf of the borough and township to do this," said the mother of three from Chatham Township. "Now that it is seven months I can come here without falling apart. ... I'm a bit stronger now," she added as she kept an eye on her youngest, 2-year-old William, wandering close by. Jane Maltby, a mother of three who lost her husband Christian, was moved to tears by the gathering. "We have been through a lot, but it is nice that people still remember," she said, holding son Sam, 3, in her arms and keeping daughter Morgan, 6, close at her side. Chatham Mayor Herbert Kiehn and Chatham Township Mayor Fred Pocci said their towns remain focused on supporting the 10 victims' families. "The sorrow is still with us," Kiehn said, reading aloud the names of borough residents who died in the attack, "Donald Adams, Dennis Buckley, Anthony Infante Jr., Peter Moutos. Rest in peace." Pocci added the names of the Chatham Township residents: Paul Gilbey, Robin Larkey, Christian Maltby, Philip Mastrandrea Jr., Tom Strada, Ken Swenson. At two stations in Bernards Township, residents gathered to remember 17 residents: David O. Campbell, Stephen P. Dimino, John W. Farrell, Louis V. Fersini Jr., Michael Finnegan, Christopher H. Forsythe, Steven G. Genovese, Robert J. Halligan, Kevin J. Hannaford, John Hartz, Matthew T. McDermott, Stacey McGowan, Ludwig J. Picarro, Stephen E. Poulos, Timothy P. Soulas, Craig W. Staub and Frank Wisniewski. "Frank used to take this train, and I would come down with the kids sometimes to pick him up," said Carol Wisniewski, mother of Allie, 14, and Jonathan, 11. "He'd get in at 6:20 every night, and we'd be so happy to see him and eat dinner together. We are having a hard time because Frank was our life." Staff writers Phil Read, Bill Swayze and Towanda Underdue contributed to this report. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002f01c1e25e$c24612e0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 16:15:14 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Hewitt, TX Link: http://www.hewitt-tx.com/Historical.htm Hewitt Historical Preservation Society (includes photos) Hewitt depot renovation project chugging along By JASON MARLIN Tribune-Herald staff writer The renovation project of the former train depot in Hewitt is moving ahead with the speed of a locomotive. The depot, which was badly damaged by a 1996 fire, is expected to be completely reconstructed by June 1, city officials said. The Hewitt Historical Preservation Society took on the project of rebuilding the badly damaged building in 1997. Earlier this year, the city council took over the project, hoping to expedite the process. City Manager Dennis Woodard said the depot, which once acted as the train depot for the city, is rapidly approaching completion. The outside of the structure is nearly completed, with only minor work remaining. However, he added that the building cannot be restored to its original historic look because the damage by the fire was too great. "The best we can do is maintain the appearance as a faade of what it once was, and then equip it to be functional," Woodard said. The building will have two bathrooms and a sink area. The rest of the building is open space. Woodard said the city has no intentions of what to do with the building, adding that it may serve as a meeting place for area groups. Since taking over the project, the city has been able to use vast resources, such as relationships with contractors and manpower, that the Hewitt Historical Preservation Society did not have access to. Woodard said much of the work has been done by city community services employees. The group set the concrete foundation for the depot, which had been propped up on blocks. Although the city council first considered taking over the project during budget proceedings last fall, Woodard said the restoration of the depot has not been a heavily funded project for the city. The society handed over the remaining $16,000 it had allocated to the project. The city had given the group $8,000 two years ago. The Waco Foundation also donated more than $12,000 to the project. Additional money was raised by the society's hosting of numerous fund-raisers over the years. The depot, which was built in the 1880s, was part of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. It is considered by many Hewitt residents to be one of the few historical structures in the city, Woodard said. The depot was originally operated by George A. Hewitt, eventual name-sake of the city. The depot building also served as the city's first fire station from the 1950s until 1971. The structure was then sold and moved several times around the area before ending up in Woodway with a private owner. While in Woodway, the structure caught fire. The depot, now located on Hewitt Drive, rests almost directly across the street from its original location. Jason Marlin can be reached at jmarlin_@_wacotrib.com or at 757-5738. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 03:11:43 +0000 From: "John Kincaid" Subject: (rshsdepot) Hobson Ohio Depot - six feet under (new kid on the block) A friend recently sent me a picture of Hobson Depot, under six feet of water ('37 flood), but plainly visible. This picture "is" the depot. Not only from my personal knowledge, but my baby sister (78) started her railroad career working on the second floor of the building, and she agrees. The building is now demolished, and I have been searching for two years for a picture. Go to “Middleport & Meigs Pictures”, #32, at http://jpkincaid.com or “1937 Flood Middleport”, #12, on same site. Read “Big Brother” on my home page for further description. If anyone has a better picture, please share. At 83 I am beginning to get frustrated in my search. John P. Kincaid http://jpkincaid.com _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 03:18:26 +0000 From: "John Kincaid" Subject: (rshsdepot) Hobson Ohio Depot - six feet under (Obviously) A friend recently sent me a picture of Hobson Depot, under six feet of water, but plainly visible. This picture "is" the depot. Not only from my personal knowledge, but my baby sister (78) started her railroad career working on the second floor of the building, and she agrees. The building is now demolished. Go to “Middleport & Meigs Pictures”, #32, at http://jpkincaid.com or “1937 Flood Middleport”, #12, on same site. Read “Big Brother” on my home page for further description. If anyone has a better picture, please share. At 83 I am beginning to get frustrated in my search. _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002e01c1e29b$f1fbbde0$74d1d23f_@_paul> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 23:33:07 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: (rshsdepot) A Larkspur rail question A friend has written from the coast the following rail question,,I know it was NWP and had rapid ransit with third rail until 1941 go over here, but I know little else, I guess it still stands because no railroad operates there now and then would be demolishing any structures, does the station still standSo what do you know about these rail remnants? 3) I'm working in Larkspur now. Close by there is a very old train trestle that passes over the Corte Madera Creek. The section that raises to let boats through is stuck in the 'up' position. The tracks are out of use and most of the rails have been pulled out. I'm sure the only reason it hasn't been torn down is that it has some historical interest, but I don't know anything about it. What can you tell me about it? ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <20020413033732.53097.qmail_@_web11808.mail.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <002e01c1e29b$f1fbbde0$74d1d23f_@_paul> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 20:37:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Art Marsh Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) A Larkspur rail question I thought I read a while back that a railroad (short line) was trying to reactivate that old line. Or was the Larkspur area not a part of the deal? Do not really remember, but I think the talk was in 2001. "Paul S. Luchter" wrote: A friend has written from the coast the following rail question,,I know it was NWP and had rapid ransit with third rail until 1941 go over here, but I know little else, I guess it still stands because no railroad operates there now and then would be demolishing any structures, does the station still standSo what do you know about these rail remnants? 3) I'm working in Larkspur now. Close by there is a very old train trestle that passes over the Corte Madera Creek. The section that raises to let boats through is stuck in the 'up' position. The tracks are out of use and most of the rails have been pulled out. I'm sure the only reason it hasn't been torn down is that it has some historical interest, but I don't know anything about it. What can you tell me about it? ================================ The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org Art Marsh Fremont, CA - --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <005201c1e2a4$10a139c0$74d1d23f_@_paul> Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 00:31:18 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) A Larkspur rail question I think there was a vote..I think it was a referendum for some thing like used to be called a "people mover", a relatively low density thing, I don't know if it was north or south of Larkspur (the line was cut back north to there before it stopped, I don't know when)...they voted against it, I remember most of the ROW as being very woodsy, maybe near a road sometime but not much in the way of huge populations except in the cities, of course when I saw it it was barely still running...They voted down the referendum, kind of sad for a peninsula which I think once I think had the most commuter rail, rapid transit per capata than anywhere else, I am not sure in # of trains or in passenger train miles....I also think the platforms and such may still be standing in Tiburon near the Bay shore, but I don't think in Sausalito - -----Original Message----- From: Art Marsh To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net Date: Friday, April 12, 2002 11:38 PM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) A Larkspur rail question > > I thought I read a while back that a railroad (short line) was trying to reactivate that old line. Or was the Larkspur area not a part of the deal? >Do not really remember, but I think the talk was in 2001. > > "Paul S. Luchter" wrote: A friend has written from the coast the following rail question,,I know >it was NWP and had rapid ransit with third rail until 1941 go over here, >but I know little else, I guess it still stands because no railroad >operates there now and then would be demolishing any structures, does >the station still standSo what do you know about these rail remnants? > > > >3) I'm working in Larkspur now. Close by there is a >very old train trestle that passes over the Corte >Madera Creek. The section that raises to let boats >through is stuck in the 'up' position. The tracks are >out of use and most of the rails have been pulled out. > >I'm sure the only reason it hasn't been torn down is >that it has some historical interest, but I don't know >anything about it. What can you tell me about it? > >================================ >The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing >railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org > > >Art Marsh >Fremont, CA > > >--------------------------------- >Do You Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax >================================= >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 ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #343 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <197.5496c12.29e9696b_@_aol.com> Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 06:58:51 EDT From: Ham148_@_aol.com Subject: (rshsdepot) Re: [BayAreaRailHistory] A Larkspur rail question From: <stash810@ix.netcom.com> To: <BayArea_RailHistory@yahoogroups.com>; <NWPRRfan@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 00:34 Subject: Re: [BayAreaRailHistory] Few: (rshsdepot) A Larkspur rail question Golden Gate Bridge district owns the right of way and draw bridge. There has been talk of running passenger trains again, but it's just talk. Even if that were to happen I doubt trains would cross Court Madera Creek. They'd go to the Larkspur ferry terminal or maybe a new ferry terminal at San Quentin if the prison closes. So the bridge just stays put. The trestle over Sir Francis Drake Blvd. next to the bridge will be removed, so I understand, for street improvements. A new span will be built for bikers and pedestrians I guess. Some bikers were floating an idea to open the tunnels of the NWT (including one at Greenbrae) for bike and pd. use. I doubt if there is money for that stuff now. - ---stash via Harry http://www.snowcrest.net/marnells/NWP1914.htm <~~~ "screenshots" from three silent movies on the NWP... very cool > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Paul S. Luther" <luckyshow@mindspring.com> > > To: "RSHSDepot" <rshsdepot@lists.railfan.net> > > Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 20:33 > > Subject: (rshsdepot) A Larkspur rail question > > > > A friend has written from the coast the following rail question,,I know > > it was NWP and had rapid transit with third rail until 1941 go over here, > > but I know little else, I guess it still stands because no railroad > > operates there now and then would be demolishing any structures, does > > the station still stand So what do you know about these rail remnants? > > > > 3) I'm working in Larkspur now. Close by there is a > > very old train trestle that passes over the Corte > > Madera Creek. The section that raises to let boats > > through is stuck in the 'up' position. The tracks are > > out of use and most of the rails have been pulled out. > > > > I'm sure the only reason it hasn't been torn down is > > that it has some historical interest, but I don't know > > anything about it. What can you tell me about it? ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 22:04:21 -0400 From: Lynne Williams Subject: (rshsdepot) Larkspur rail bridge Although I now live in Maine, I previously lived for many years in Marin County, CA, near the bridge you mention. Over the years there has been much talk about reactiving commuter rail between southern Marin (Sausalito) and Sonoma County (Santa Rose and that vicinity). Commuters could ride down to Sausalito and then take the ferry into the City. Many rail beds have been converted to bike and footpaths, but there remains enough track, or at least state owned land connecting tracks, to complete this sort of project. I suspect that as the commuter traffic continues to get heavier and heavier, and the Golden Gate Bridge toll increases, there will again be more talk about the commuter rail system. Lynne Williams, Publisher, www.thetraintraveler.com ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001501c1e2f4$69886a90$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 10:06:30 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Colleyville, TX Links: http://216.110.53.17/navigate/depot.jpg (Grapevine depot) http://www.localnewsonly.com/COLLEYVILLE/BransfordDed/House.jpg (Webb House) http://216.110.53.17/ (Tarantula Steam Train) http://www.stockyardsstation.com/ (Stockyards Station) City focusing effort on rail line depot Historic Webb House proposed as stopping point, tourist draw 04/13/2002 By DEBRA DENNIS / The Dallas Morning News Colleyville's most noted historic home is getting a face-lift, courtesy of a $349,000 contract approved by the council. But that may not be the only change in store. The city is lobbying the North Central Texas Council of Governments to make Webb House a stop on a commuter rail line that would run through the city. "Colleyville is making some major strides in our transportation. Commuter rail will be advancing, and we need to protect our city from the disadvantages of commuter rail and make it work for us," Colleyville Mayor Donna Arp said. A stop would mean tourist dollars for the city that is undergoing a building boom, she said. "It would be good if there's one for a park-and-ride. If they are going to do commuter rail, it would slow the train down as it comes through Colleyville. We want it to go slower as it comes through, and of course it would bring tourist dollars," Ms. Arp said. City Manager Bill Lindley said requests have been sent to the North Central Texas Council of Governments for a feasibility study for a park-and-ride center.. "It's a better product if it becomes a tourist destination," Mr. Lindley said. Webb House is one of the sites being considered for a stop, city officials said. Michael Morris, director of transportation for the council of governments, said there is a proposal from several Tarrant County cities to bring rail service from downtown Fort Worth to the airport. "There will be public meetings on the best way to interface the downtown station and the D/FW portion. We need to connect with the other cities including Colleyville and Grapevine and North Richland Hills. This is regular transit - a commuter effort that will assist those on their way to work or on their way to the airport," he said. Webb House is next to the tracks owned by Dallas Area Rapid Transit. The tracks are being used by the Tarantula steam excursion train that runs from the Fort Worth Stockyards to the Cotton Belt Depot in Grapevine. Colleyville resident Ed Havran said he would like to see a park-and-ride center at Webb House equipped with a tourist center and concession stands to attract visitors. "It would add to the community. It's a great idea. Many times people are late to catch the train. Colleyville needs to become a stop on the train," Mr. Havran said. Webb House in Bransford Park is home of former Cotton Belt railroad section foreman John Webb. The now-boarded-up house was built in 1914 and replaced a home that had been destroyed by fire. The commuter rail line is "coming through the city and Webb House is the only facility that is in its original site. It is the only existing facility that sits on the same site its always sat," Mr. Havran said. Webb House, the only historical building owned by the city, would have a dual purpose, city officials said. A train stop would add to Webb House's usefulness as the city makes plans for renovation, officials said. Webb House renovation has taken years and has taken on additional costs as the project expanded. Last year, the city made Webb House one of its priorities and allocated about $295,000 through various sources for restoration. But that left a shortfall after consulting fees were factored in, according to park and recreation department cost estimates. Costs for renovating the building have jumped from the original estimates of $250,000. The Park Land Dedication Committee, which has been trying to restore the house for 16 years, has given more than $98,000 to the project. Webb House's restoration will include air conditioning and heating, an additional bathroom and parking. Deputy City Manager Dianne McWethy said the city is considering making the house available for community events and meetings and staffing it with volunteers to help maintain the building. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001b01c1e2f8$7ca6d680$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 10:35:41 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Bismarck, MO Photo links: http://www.trainweb.org/mopac/bismark-1.jpg http://www.trainweb.org/mopac/bismark-4.jpg http://www.trainweb.org/mopac/bismark-5.jpg http://www.trainweb.org/mopac/bismark-6.jpg Bismarck Seeks To Preserve Historic Depot By Linda Bayles Fitzgerald - Daily Journal Staff Writer For years the railroad tracks have been the center of activity in Bismarck, and now the old depot is the center of a movement to reclaim a portion of the city's past. With construction on the new depot building completed, the disposition of the old depot was a major topic of discussion at Bismarck's Aldermanic meeting Thursday evening. "The people in Bismarck came here because of the train," said Mayor Dennis Mayberry. "And I would think it would be a terrible thing to tear down the depot." Liz Bennett ask the board how she and others in Bismarck could help preserve the old train depot. A recent construction project has built a new depot building on the western side of the train tracks. The new depot will be privately owned and leased to Union Pacific. Some Bismarck residents hope to have the old depot declared a historic property. "There are several of us whose daddies worked on the railroad," Bennett said. The railroad that moves through the town is an integral part of Bismarck's community spirit. "When I got married and moved away, I couldn't sleep without the noise of the trains," Bennett said. The mayor asked Bennett to form a committee to rally community support for recovering ownership of the depot and to develop a use for the historic building. The mayor said he hoped the railroad would deed the old depot to the city. "We got the dollar bill to pay for it," he said. He was referring to the practice of deeding property for $1 and other considerations. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002101c1e2f9$a03d4ab0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 10:43:50 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Terry, MS i Depot dream on track a.. Friends of Terry plan revitalization via restoration By Julie Whitehead Special to The Clarion-Ledger Betty Davis of Terry speaks with pride about the old railroad depot, brought back to Terry, that Illinois Central Railroad built in the early 1880s. "This is the direct line from Chicago to New Orleans," Davis said of the track that still runs through the town. "They had five shipping sheds beside the depot then." About 10 years ago, a group called Friends of Terry was formed to support city projects such as reclamation of the Terry Depot, removed from along the tracks in the 1950s and placed in Parham Bridges Park in Jackson. Davis, a charter member, aided in lobbying the Hinds County Board of Supervisors to bring the depot back. The building now rests in the curve of U.S. 51, and the Friends of Terry plan "to put it back as close to what it used to look like with all the amenities," said Bobbie Davis, no relation to Betty Davis. "Terry, back in the '30s and '40s, was a truck-crop area," said Bobbie Davis, president of the Friends of Terry. Vegetables were shipped to northern markets daily. After raising $44,000 for the restoration, the group received a $250,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation to fix up the building, which will house a museum, a community meeting room in what used to be the freight area, and a modern kitchen. Community events such as a dinner theater and other musical productions have been staged to raise funds. The Terry Depot project is expected to aid in downtown redevelopment efforts. Like many communities in the metro area, the city center needs more people and businesses to continue thriving. "All of the countryside has built up. We don't really have any rural areas now," Betty Davis said. Merrie Anderson, branch manager for the Terry branch of the Jackson-Hinds Library System, said the town retains a great deal of its attractiveness in the residential areas around the Town of Terry Park. "The houses along Cunningham are very architecturally interesting. It's all still very quaint," Anderson said. That's not to say Terry doesn't have new buildings and businesses coming in. The town, population 600, has seen the opening of a New Deal Grocery, a Dollar General, a new building for Union Planters Bank and a postal facility in the past few years, Betty Davis said. "Most of the growth is in Byram, but it's moving over here," Betty Davis said. "We're the last little town in Hinds County." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <20020413.105242.-267335.0.ptrmgtsvc_@_juno.com> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 01:01:53 -0400 From: "M. E Allen" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Greendell (NJ) Station to be Demolished - 1942 Mr Dent, You may need to change a setting or two. Every message of yours that I open on this list brings down a little Microsoft message box that asks me if I want to download Japanese Text Mike Allen On Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:08:16 -0400 James Dent / NYKGN writes: > From the EL list, for RSHS members in Newark in '98 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Dave Rutan [mailto:rutan3_@_nac.net] > Subject: (erielack) Greendell Station to be Demolished - 1942 > > > Funny, Greendell didn't look too demolished last time I drove by > it... > > -Dave Rutan > -- > Sussex Register - December 31, 1942 > > Greendell Station to be Demolished - 1942 > > Public Utilities Grants Lackawanna Privilege After it is Found that > There Were Only Two Passengers in Week. > > Public Utilities Commission, it has been announced, has approved > the > Lackawanna Railroad's petition to abandon and demolish railroad > stations > at Mt. Arlington and Greendell and discontinuance of freight service > in > less than carload lots at Johnsonburg. The commission found Mt. > Arlington can be served adequately through Lake Hopatcong station > and > that Blairstown will serve Johnsonburg. > > The Commission found in the case of Greendell that only two > passengers > used the station in a week before the time when hearings were held > on > the Lackawanna's petition and that almost all of the freight is > being > handled in carload lots. > > Johnsonburg, under the arrangement, gets a change of schedule. > Instead > of having an eastbound train stop at 12:51 P.M., a train will stop > at > 8:25 A.M. The westbound stop will be at 8:58 instead of 7:20 P.M. > -- > DL&W Sussex Branch Memorial > http://SussexBranchMemorial.com > Monomania can be a good thing > ================================= > The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of > existing > railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org > > ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001701c1e302$98ed1ac0$fe805043_@_JimDent> References: <20020413.105242.-267335.0.ptrmgtsvc_@_juno.com> Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 11:48:03 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Greendell (NJ) Station to be Demolished - 1942 Yep, anyone that uses MS Outlook (and only them) will get that. I can't change the setting, believe me I've tried. I have to remember to use my home email to send messages. Jim - ----- Original Message ----- From: "M. E Allen" To: Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 1:01 AM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Greendell (NJ) Station to be Demolished - 1942 > Mr Dent, > > You may need to change a setting or two. Every message of yours > that I open on this list brings down a little Microsoft message box that > asks me if I want to download Japanese Text > > Mike Allen > > On Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:08:16 -0400 James Dent / NYKGN > writes: > > From the EL list, for RSHS members in Newark in '98 > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Dave Rutan [mailto:rutan3_@_nac.net] > > Subject: (erielack) Greendell Station to be Demolished - 1942 > > > > > > Funny, Greendell didn't look too demolished last time I drove by > > it... > > > > -Dave Rutan > > -- > > Sussex Register - December 31, 1942 > > > > Greendell Station to be Demolished - 1942 > > > > Public Utilities Grants Lackawanna Privilege After it is Found that > > There Were Only Two Passengers in Week. > > > > Public Utilities Commission, it has been announced, has approved > > the > > Lackawanna Railroad's petition to abandon and demolish railroad > > stations > > at Mt. Arlington and Greendell and discontinuance of freight service > > in > > less than carload lots at Johnsonburg. The commission found Mt. > > Arlington can be served adequately through Lake Hopatcong station > > and > > that Blairstown will serve Johnsonburg. > > > > The Commission found in the case of Greendell that only two > > passengers > > used the station in a week before the time when hearings were held > > on > > the Lackawanna's petition and that almost all of the freight is > > being > > handled in carload lots. > > > > Johnsonburg, under the arrangement, gets a change of schedule. > > Instead > > of having an eastbound train stop at 12:51 P.M., a train will stop > > at > > 8:25 A.M. The westbound stop will be at 8:58 instead of 7:20 P.M. > > -- > > DL&W Sussex Branch Memorial > > http://SussexBranchMemorial.com > > Monomania can be a good thing > > ================================= > > The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of > > existing > > railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________ > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. > ================================= > 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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <003701c1e31e$c6b306b0$8b04a918_@_1srtw01> References: <001b01c1e2f8$7ca6d680$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 15:08:29 -0400 From: "nightrag" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Bismarck, MO This may seem a dumb question, but the old depot in Bismark still looks quite sturdy and restorable. Why would they have even considered building a new one, only to have to try and decide what to do with the old one? Is this an Amtrak stop? - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bernie Wagenblast" To: "Rail Depot List" Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 10:35 AM Subject: (rshsdepot) Bismarck, MO > Photo links: > http://www.trainweb.org/mopac/bismark-1.jpg > http://www.trainweb.org/mopac/bismark-4.jpg > http://www.trainweb.org/mopac/bismark-5.jpg > http://www.trainweb.org/mopac/bismark-6.jpg > > Bismarck Seeks To Preserve Historic Depot > > By Linda Bayles Fitzgerald - Daily Journal Staff Writer > > For years the railroad tracks have been the center of activity in Bismarck, > and now the old depot is the center of a movement to reclaim a portion of > the city's past. With construction on the new depot building completed, the > disposition of the old depot was a major topic of discussion at Bismarck's > Aldermanic meeting Thursday evening. > > "The people in Bismarck came here because of the train," said Mayor Dennis > Mayberry. "And I would think it would be a terrible thing to tear down the > depot." > > Liz Bennett ask the board how she and others in Bismarck could help preserve > the old train depot. A recent construction project has built a new depot > building on the western side of the train tracks. The new depot will be > privately owned and leased to Union Pacific. > > Some Bismarck residents hope to have the old depot declared a historic > property. "There are several of us whose daddies worked on the railroad," > Bennett said. > > The railroad that moves through the town is an integral part of Bismarck's > community spirit. "When I got married and moved away, I couldn't sleep > without the noise of the trains," Bennett said. > > The mayor asked Bennett to form a committee to rally community support for > recovering ownership of the depot and to develop a use for the historic > building. > > The mayor said he hoped the railroad would deed the old depot to the city. > "We got the dollar bill to pay for it," he said. He was referring to the > practice of deeding property for $1 and other considerations. > > ================================= > 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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000701c1e344$47b1cb00$fe805043_@_JimDent> Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 19:38:13 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: (rshsdepot) Non-member submission from [Allen Tacy ] > From: Allen Tacy > Subject: Re: Fw: (rshsdepot) A Larkspur rail question > Cc: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net > Content-type: text/plain > > Paul Luchter - Yes, the larkspur rail depot still exists, although > the tracks were torn up in 1954. The building is leased to a > commercial tenant. The Corte mader Creek bridge with the Bascule lift > has become non-grata to the City of Larkspur. Rather than save it for > a proposed bike trail, they have voted to tear it down in favor of a > wider road and new commercial construction for the tax dollars the > construction will generate. > > Allen Tacy, NWP RR HS ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 01:37:38 -0400 From: Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Larkspur rail bridge Yeah but then they will spend far more than might have been needed to rehab this ROW, and they will build something above the freeway north Paul On Fri, 12 Apr 2002 22:04:21 -0400 Lynne Williams wrote: Although I now live in Maine, I previously lived for many years in Marin County, CA, near the bridge you mention. Over the years there has been much talk about reactiving commuter rail between southern Marin (Sausalito) and Sonoma County (Santa Rose and that vicinity). Commuters could ride down to Sausalito and then take the ferry into the City. Many rail beds have been converted to bike and footpaths, but there remains enough track, or at least state owned land connecting tracks, to complete this sort of project. I suspect that as the commuter traffic continues to get heavier and heavier, and the Golden Gate Bridge toll increases, there will again be more talk about the commuter rail system. Lynne Williams, Publisher, www.thetraintraveler.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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00b301c1e37d$76eac8c0$ca5ef6d1_@_paul> Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 02:27:31 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Greendell (NJ) Station to be Demolished - 1942 Yeah I have Outlook Express, it wouldn't download my mail today and I had to go to the so slow web address mailbox to see the messages, then they delivered each up to three times each....yet I see nothing about Japanese... Paul - -----Original Message----- From: Jim Dent To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net Date: Saturday, April 13, 2002 11:52 AM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Greendell (NJ) Station to be Demolished - 1942 Yep, anyone that uses MS Outlook (and only them) will get that. I can't change the setting, believe me I've tried. I have to remember to use my home email to send messages. Jim - ----- Original Message ----- From: "M. E Allen" To: Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 1:01 AM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Greendell (NJ) Station to be Demolished - 1942 > Mr Dent, > > You may need to change a setting or two. Every message of yours > that I open on this list brings down a little Microsoft message box that > asks me if I want to download Japanese Text > > Mike Allen > > On Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:08:16 -0400 James Dent / NYKGN > writes: > > From the EL list, for RSHS members in Newark in '98 > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Dave Rutan [mailto:rutan3_@_nac.net] > > Subject: (erielack) Greendell Station to be Demolished - 1942 > > > > > > Funny, Greendell didn't look too demolished last time I drove by > > it... > > > > -Dave Rutan > > -- > > Sussex Register - December 31, 1942 > > > > Greendell Station to be Demolished - 1942 > > > > Public Utilities Grants Lackawanna Privilege After it is Found that > > There Were Only Two Passengers in Week. > > > > Public Utilities Commission, it has been announced, has approved > > the > > Lackawanna Railroad's petition to abandon and demolish railroad > > stations > > at Mt. Arlington and Greendell and discontinuance of freight service > > in > > less than carload lots at Johnsonburg. The commission found Mt. > > Arlington can be served adequately through Lake Hopatcong station > > and > > that Blairstown will serve Johnsonburg. > > > > The Commission found in the case of Greendell that only two > > passengers > > used the station in a week before the time when hearings were held > > on > > the Lackawanna's petition and that almost all of the freight is > > being > > handled in carload lots. > > > > Johnsonburg, under the arrangement, gets a change of schedule. > > Instead > > of having an eastbound train stop at 12:51 P.M., a train will stop > > at > > 8:25 A.M. The westbound stop will be at 8:58 instead of 7:20 P.M. > > -- > > DL&W Sussex Branch Memorial > > http://SussexBranchMemorial.com > > Monomania can be a good thing > > ================================= > > The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of > > existing > > railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________ > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. > ================================= > 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 ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #344 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002b01c1e3c2$f8d2a700$fe805043_@_JimDent> Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 10:45:07 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: (rshsdepot) Fw: BOUNCE rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net: Non-member submission from [Allen Tacy ] - ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 8:13 PM Subject: BOUNCE rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net: Non-member submission from [Allen Tacy ] > Paul Luchter - No people mover, but most of the right of way from > Sausalito to Fairfax, including through larkspur, and over the hill > to Point Reyes Station, is a public trail, either hiking (most of it) > or highway. Also the right of way from Baltimore Park to Detour, and > south from there to Paradise Drive in Corte Madera. And finally the > stretch from Trestle Glen to Tiburon. You can find the platforms at > Larkspur and other spots. Marin does remember its railroads, and does > remember that at one time Sausalito was an extremely busy terminal > with narrow gauge and standard gauge steam as well as the electrics. > A terrific heritage, and a spectacular site. > > Allen Tacy, NWP RR HS > ----------------------- > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Paul S. Luchter" > >To: > >Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 21:31 > >Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) A Larkspur rail question > > > > > >> I think there was a vote..I think it was a referendum for some thing > >like > >> used to be called a "people mover", a relatively low density thing, I > >don't > >> know if it was north or south of Larkspur (the line was cut back north > >to > >> there before it stopped, I don't know when)...they voted against it, I > >> remember most of the ROW as being very woodsy, maybe near a road > >sometime > >> but not much in the way of huge populations except in the cities, of > >course > >> when I saw it it was barely still running...They voted down the > >referendum, > >> kind of sad for a peninsula which I think once I think had the most > >commuter > >> rail, rapid transit per capata than anywhere else, I am not sure in # > >of > >> trains or in passenger train miles....I also think the platforms and > >such > >> may still be standing in Tiburon near the Bay shore, but I don't think > >in > >> Sausalito > > > > > > > >------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> > >Buy Stock for $4 > >and no minimums. > >FREE Money 2002. > >http://us.click.yahoo.com/orkH0C/n97DAA/ySSFAA/DmVolB/TM > >---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> > > > > > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > -- > ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <012301c1e3f5$4da2eba0$37ba4781_@_computer> References: Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 16:45:23 -0400 From: "Don Mills, Jr." Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Hobson Ohio Depot - six feet under John, I am Don Mills of Huntington, WV. I am so glad to finally get some information from you concerning the Hobson area. I have been working for almost two years on putting together a book on the Kanawha & Michigan railroad. I have all the written word but would like to have a huge picture file contained inside. I am also interested in any stories of those men and women who worked for the railroad. I enjoyed looking at the pictures you have on the Meigs page and have put it on my favorites list. I would like to get with you and show you some of the pictures that I have been able to get and to possibily get some that you might have. I recently found 5 K&M lanterns in one place and got pictures of all and have found a T&OC time table that mentions the K&M, K&WV, Z&W on it. I found the history of the K&M bridge to be facinating. Especially when I discovered that its building was financed by the witch of wall street. I had another man show me the old K&M hospital in Pt. Pleasant. The handcar picture. I could not make out the writing on the handcar itself, is that a railroad handcar or a private one. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Kincaid" To: Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 11:11 PM Subject: (rshsdepot) Hobson Ohio Depot - six feet under > (new kid on the block) > A friend recently sent me a picture of Hobson Depot, under six feet > of > water ('37 flood), but plainly visible. This picture "is" the depot. Not > only from my personal knowledge, but my baby sister (78) started her > railroad career working on the second floor of the building, and > she agrees. The building is now demolished, and I have been searching for > two years for a picture. > Go to "Middleport & Meigs Pictures", #32, at http://jpkincaid.com > or "1937 Flood Middleport", #12, on same site. > Read "Big Brother" on my home page for further description. > If anyone has a better picture, please share. At 83 I am > beginning to get frustrated in my search. > > > > John P. Kincaid > http://jpkincaid.com > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. > http://www.hotmail.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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001201c1e3fe$aca46da0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 17:52:29 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Greensboro, NC Links: http://www.greensborolibrary.org/downtown/pics22.htm (1st Southern Railway Passenger depot - built 1899) http://www.greensborolibrary.org/downtown/pics24.htm (Southern Railway station noted in story) Station donates segregation-era sign 4-14-02 By JIM SCHLOSSER, Staff Writer News & Record GREENSBORO -- After more than 40 years, daylight has shone again on a sign that represents a dark period in the city's past. Workmen at the old the Southern Railway station on East Washington Street recently ripped away a piece of sheet metal and exposed the words "colored entrance," etched in limestone. One of the last visual reminders in Greensboro of the Jim Crow era of segregation, the sign was above the entrance to what was once the station's black waiting room. The sign has been removed and given to the Greensboro Historical Museum. Eventually, the museum plans to use it in a display about race relations. Signs directing black people and white people to separate bathrooms, water fountains, waiting rooms and entrances once were as common as kudzu in the South. The signs vanished once segregation ended. Many were made of cheap metal and wound up in scrap heaps. When one of these racial relics turns up, collectors offer high prices. The station sign survived "because it was built into the side of the building," says Jon Zachman, the museum's curator of collections. "It was part of the facade." The city is renovating the Southern Railway station as a transportation center for trains, buses and cabs. Opened in 1927 and designed by a New York architectural firm, the station was one of the largest and most ornate in the state. White passengers used a center entrance flanked by soaring columns. They waited for trains in a large waiting room with a vaulted ceiling and a giant map of Southern Railway passenger train routes. Black travelers had to enter through a side door to a separate black waiting room that was spacious but unadorned. Two blocks from the station, another Jim Crow sign remains above the door of a building on the Bennett College campus. It says "Carnegie Negro Library," engraved in concrete. Even though the building ceased being a library in the 1960s, college officials decided to leave the original sign uncovered to memorialize a site that had been an important educational and meeting place for the black community during segregation. In 2000, a crew renovating the old Kress 5 & 10 store on South Elm Street found a door with "Colored Men" on it. The building's owners donated the former restroom door to the International Civil Rights Museum being developed in the old Woolworth's dime-store building. The 1960 sit-ins that hastened segregation's end happened at the whites-only lunch counters in the Woolworth's and Kress buildings. Eresterine Guidry of High Point, a collector of black memorabilia, says original signs from segregation have become so rare that reproductions must be manufacturered. Her kitchen has a reproduction of one she encountered as a child: "We serve colored. Carry out only." She doubts if many forgotten racist signs remain in old buildings because "people go into those places looking for them." Southern Railway, now Norfolk Southern Railroad, closed the station in 1979 and donated it to the city. The "Colored Entrance" sign had been covered years earlier because it was offensive. Besides, the old black waiting room had new uses, including the home of the local model railroad club. In removing the sign, workers found the 15 letters extended over three pieces of limestone, weighing more than 400 pounds. Each slab was placed on an antique Southern Railway baggage cart that museum officials discovered in the station. Cart and sign now occupy space in a dark museum storage facility flanked by old Singer sewing machines and other relics. The sign will remain there until the museum completes and implements a new master plan for displays interpreting the city's history. A new entrance sign will be needed at the station. Once the transportation center is fully completed, the former black waiting room will serve as the waiting room for all train passengers. Contact Jim Schlosser at 373-7081 or jschlosser_@_news-record.com ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #345 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002201c1e465$d8665720$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 06:11:01 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Kansas City, MO Links: http://www.unionstation.org/ http://www.kcsciencefiction.org/union.htm http://www.kcmuseum.com/timeline.html http://communities.prodigy.net/trains/gally012.htm TRAINS WILL RETURN TO KANSAS CITY'S UNION STATION The Associated Press Trains are scheduled to arrive at Union Station again by November, returning the historic station to its roots as a transportation gateway. A $5 million contract has been signed to build a new Amtrak station for the six trains and 300 to 400 passengers who ride trains each day into Kansas City. Construction will start soon. The new station also is being designed to accommodate commuter rail service that has been envisioned to serve Johnson County and other suburban areas. Currently, train travelers enter the city at an underground station under the Main Street viaduct. Turner White, chief executive of Union Station Kansas City Inc., called the return of train service the pinnacle of a $250 million project that restored the 88-year-old station in 1999. "The arrival of Amtrak gives the station a complete package of educational and civic use, and now transportation," White said. Jeff Reeder, project manager for TranSystems Corp., the engineering firm in charge, said planning for the new station had been in the works for several years. Amtrak will use a passenger waiting and ticketing area already set aside in the northeast corner of the station's Grand Hall. At its peak in 1920, the station was served by 207 trains daily operated by 12 railroads, including the Santa Fe, the Frisco, the Wabash, the Missouri Pacific, the Kansas City Southern and the Chicago Great Western. Amtrak took over passenger service in 1973. The last passenger train pulled out of Union Station in 1985, when operations were shifted to the current facility. Kansas City now is served by six trains daily. There is one national route, the Southwest Chief, that has a daily eastbound train to Chicago and a westbound train to Los Angeles. A route between Kansas City and St. Louis is served by two westbound and two eastbound trains daily. Kevin Lewis, the service manager for the Kansas City Amtrak operation, said employees were looking forward to working in Union Station. "They're excited about it," Lewis said. "To be in the heart of Union Station will be great. I think it will add to ridership." Ultimately, Union Station is intended to serve as a transportation hub, with Amtrak and commuter rail passengers arriving and then departing to downtown and the Country Club Plaza on special express buses, light rail or both. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <00ae01c1db6a$74858bd0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 09:37:47 -0400 From: "David S. Rose" Subject: (rshsdepot) High Speed Space-Age Rail Debuts :-) Workin' on the Space Railroad CAPE CANAVERAL -- Astronauts from the space shuttle Atlantis made their third spacewalk in four days yesterday, this time to prepare the first railway in space for its inaugural run. The rail car, installed outside the International Space Station on the crew's first spacewalk, will have a top speed of just 1 inch per second. Ground controllers said they may not open it up all the way in their first test today. The rail car is part of the 44-foot-long truss, the centerpiece of what is to be a 360-foot truss that will support an acre of solar panels generating power for use throughout the space station. Spacewalkers Steve Smith and Rex Walheim will release launch restraints on the rail car, which rode to space in the shuttle's cargo bay, and make a number of power connections. Slow Going With that, the Mobile Transporter, as the rail car is officially known, will be ready for its first test. "As far as speed in concerned, it's probably going to be in the fractions of an inch velocity — on the order of a tenth of an inch per second," Ben Sellari, the launch package manager at mission control, said of today's test speeds. The small trolley is designed to roll the station's giant robotic arm from one construction site to another as work progresses on the station over the next several years. The Big Arm, as it is known, is 58 feet long and able to heft entire station modules out of shuttle cargo bays. The two spacewalkers will also rewire the Big Arm so it will draw its power through the truss. Eight more truss segments will be added on future missions. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 14:10:03 -0400 From: "jdent1_@_optonline.net" Subject: (rshsdepot) Hobart Tower, Los Angeles, CA From Altamont Press Newsline... Hobart Tower To Close Picture of tower: http://www.cawilsonco.com/public/PHOTOS/April599/pic00038.htm BNSF has posted notice of Hobart Tower closing this weekend. Full control of the interlocking was cut over to the BNSF S= an Bernardino Subdivision Dispatcher (DS15). Union Pacific apparently did not properly post a notice to notify the operators of the Tower's closing, so they are going= to be there an additional ten days of service before the tower is officially closed. UP said that the operators will be offered various clerical positions if they can't find a job within the system to their= liking. If they don't find an opening in the computer that they are interested in, they will fill the various clerical v= acancies at Los Angeles area facilities. Hobart Tower is the last operating interlocking tower in California. - Victor Y= oder - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00bd01c1e4b3$6f7d3500$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 15:26:26 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Woodbury, NY Metro-North, Woodbury closer to environmental review By Judy Rife Times Herald-Record jrife_@_th-record.com The Town of Woodbury and Metro-North Railroad still have not signed the memorandum of understanding that will guide the environmental review of the railroad's proposal to build a new $7 million train station at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets. The town Planning Board voted 3-2 to authorize its chairman, Mike Queenan, to sign the agreement at its Feb. 6 meeting. The action, however, was dependent on the town resolving two issues with the railroad - payment of legal and consulting fees and participation in a local traffic management plan. Woodbury Supervisor Sheila Conroy said Metro-North now has agreed to reimburse the town for its expenses in reviewing the environmental study, a common practice spelled out in the state legislation that governs this process. Metro-North had balked at this request originally because of concerns that the reimbursement could violate some provisions of its charter. Now, Conroy said, the two sides are tackling Metro-North's potential traffic management responsibilities. She voiced optimism that a resolution would be forthcoming shortly and the environmental review process would formally begin. "Our position is that they have to abide by the agreement between the town and Woodbury Common,'' Conroy said. "So if they build a station there, then they are going to be part of the traffic problem, and they have to be part of the problem-solving." Margie Anders, a Metro-North spokeswoman, echoed Conroy's positive comments: "We're still negotiating. The negotiations are very cordial, and we're very close to an agreement." Woodbury Common's special use permit from the town includes participation in an elaborate traffic management plan that is overseen by a committee of local and state emergency services personnel. Similar requirements have also been imposed on other commercial developments. The committee meets regularly to review and approve the outlet center's plan to manage traffic on key shopping holidays such as Memorial Day and Labor Day. The plan is in the process of being overhauled as a result of gridlock conditions on Black Friday, as the day after Thanksgiving is known. "Signing the memorandum might be the best protection for the town,'' said Queenan. "That's why the language in it dealing with the environment and traffic issues is extremely important. The traffic impact . could literally shut down Route 32 and the town. It would also have a dramatic effect on emergency services' ability to access certain portions of the town." Since it first proposed the new station last year, Metro-North has insisted on acting as lead agency for the environmental review, basing its position on state and federal law. The Town of Woodbury, however, only dropped its demand to serve as lead agency when Metro-North agreed to give the town a larger-than-usual role in the process as well as conduct a full-scale review and hold a public scoping session. The details are contained in the memorandum. Normally, the railroad operates on its own property independent of any local review or oversight. However, this proposal to use 1,800 of Woodbury Common's 5,700 parking spaces for the new station requires an amendment to the outlet center's special use permit, which only the town can approve. The new station would augment the existing one at Harriman rather than replace it. Many local people oppose the plan, saying the railroad should expand the parking lot on the 20 acres it owns in Harriman and not add to the traffic congestion and pollution at the routes 32, 6, 17 and Thruway interchanges near Woodbury Common. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00c301c1e4b6$5b9c8650$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 15:47:21 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Boise, ID Links: http://www.adasheriff.org/images/Scenic%20Pictures/boise%20depot%20lg.jpg (exterior) http://pages.prodigy.net/kendalld2/depot.html (exterior) http://www.the-one.com/1961/depot2.htm (exterior) http://www.the-one.com/1961/depot1.htm (exterior) http://www.marshallpictures.com/images/Bus05.jpg (interior) http://www.marshallpictures.com/images/Bus01.jpg (interior) Boise Depot open house set for weekend Full-size and model railroad cars and memorabilia will be featured Saturday and Sunday at an open house marking the 77th anniversary of the Boise Depot. Visitors will be able to take elevator rides into the depot bell tower, see the restored depot interior and buy depot merchandise. Vintage autos and a fire engine will be on display. Idaho Operation Lifesaver, which promotes railroad crossing safety, will give free rides in a trolley pulled by a mini-locomotive. The free celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <1a0.bf0d42.29eca013_@_aol.com> Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 17:28:51 EDT From: Mrhorn55_@_aol.com Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Woodbury, NY Hi For all concerned. The location is the TOWN of Woodbury, located near Middletown, NY. Woodbury, NY is a hamlet located between Syosset and Cold Spring Harbor on Long IslaSd. It does not have a railroad station on the Long Island Rail Road. The state of NY has a confusing governmental set up. Working downward, it is State, County, Town (township) or city , then either village or hamlet. Whenever you say Town in NY, it really means a township type of government as in most other states where comon sense takes hold. Sorry for the nit pickin. Dick Horn ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <005101c1e4e2$776a94e0$9a59f6d1_@_paul> Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 21:03:00 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Kansas City, MO I am confused...it is a new station, it is the old station, is it two, two, two stations in one? - -----Original Message----- From: Bernie Wagenblast To: Rail Depot List Date: Monday, April 15, 2002 6:12 AM Subject: (rshsdepot) Kansas City, MO Links: http://www.unionstation.org/ http://www.kcsciencefiction.org/union.htm http://www.kcmuseum.com/timeline.html http://communities.prodigy.net/trains/gally012.htm TRAINS WILL RETURN TO KANSAS CITY'S UNION STATION The Associated Press Trains are scheduled to arrive at Union Station again by November, returning the historic station to its roots as a transportation gateway. A $5 million contract has been signed to build a new Amtrak station for the six trains and 300 to 400 passengers who ride trains each day into Kansas City. Construction will start soon. The new station also is being designed to accommodate commuter rail service that has been envisioned to serve Johnson County and other suburban areas. Currently, train travelers enter the city at an underground station under the Main Street viaduct. Turner White, chief executive of Union Station Kansas City Inc., called the return of train service the pinnacle of a $250 million project that restored the 88-year-old station in 1999. "The arrival of Amtrak gives the station a complete package of educational and civic use, and now transportation," White said. Jeff Reeder, project manager for TranSystems Corp., the engineering firm in charge, said planning for the new station had been in the works for several years. Amtrak will use a passenger waiting and ticketing area already set aside in the northeast corner of the station's Grand Hall. At its peak in 1920, the station was served by 207 trains daily operated by 12 railroads, including the Santa Fe, the Frisco, the Wabash, the Missouri Pacific, the Kansas City Southern and the Chicago Great Western. Amtrak took over passenger service in 1973. The last passenger train pulled out of Union Station in 1985, when operations were shifted to the current facility. Kansas City now is served by six trains daily. There is one national route, the Southwest Chief, that has a daily eastbound train to Chicago and a westbound train to Los Angeles. A route between Kansas City and St. Louis is served by two westbound and two eastbound trains daily. Kevin Lewis, the service manager for the Kansas City Amtrak operation, said employees were looking forward to working in Union Station. "They're excited about it," Lewis said. "To be in the heart of Union Station will be great. I think it will add to ridership." Ultimately, Union Station is intended to serve as a transportation hub, with Amtrak and commuter rail passengers arriving and then departing to downtown and the Country Club Plaza on special express buses, light rail or both. ================================= 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 ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #346 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000901c1e52e$3b727e20$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 06:05:26 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Bryn Athyn, PA Photo: http://www.suburbanites.com/postcard/images/burbs003.jpg Bryn Athyn Post Office celebrates its centennial By: Joe Harrington, Staff Writer April 15, 2002 The Globe At first glance, the Bryn Athyn Post Office on Fetters Mill Road looks like a post office from an old western movie. The back of the building still has the look of an old train station, which it also housed for many years, with railroad tracks that run along the bank of the Pennypack Creek. On Tuesday, a number of local residents converged on the old post office to celebrate its 100th anniversary. According to postal records, the Bryn Athyn Post Office was established April 7, 1902. To commemorate the event, Larry Eastwood, a retired postal service supervisor, has prepared a limited edition special post card. The Bryn Athyn Post Office and train station holds a special place in Eastwood's heart. His boyhood home, which he lived in from 1943 until1969, was right across the creek. "I briefly worked at the post office around Christmastime when I was in high school," Eastwood said. "I watched the train go by here for years." Eastwood is a fountain of historical information about the post office and the train station, which has been out of service since 1983. One of the most famous stories surrounding the post office and station is the tragic accident of 1921, when two trains crashed head-on killing 27 and injuring 70. Eastwood said the ensuing fire killed more people than were killed in the crash. "The postmaster at the time was J. Russell Clayton, who notified the nearest rescue squad," Eastwood said. "Trouble was, none of the local fire departments had a rescue squad. "The closest one was at Abington Hospital." According to Eastwood, during the early days of the Bryn Athyn Post Office, the postmaster served the dual roles of postmaster and train station agent. When he wasn't selling stamps or sorting mail, the postmaster-train station agent would sell train tickets and handle baggage. Eastwood said he feels fortunate to have grown up in such a scenic area. He envisions a bright future for the Bryn Athyn Post Office. All the residents love the place and help with the upkeep, he said. At Christmas they install decorative lights and they plant flowers in the pot outside the main entrance in the spring. Residents regard it a meeting place. "People come here from all over," Eastwood said. "It's like a rural post office in suburbia." Eastwood said SEPTA previously announced plans to put the train tracks back into service, but not before 2006. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 09:36:55 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) From: "Mark A. Thomas" Subject: (rshsdepot) Raleigh NCRR (Sou) frt depot See article in Raleigh News and Observer regarding the freight=20 depot owned by the state-owned North Carolina RR (leased to NS=20 and since the late 19th cen by Southern and predecessors). http://newsobserver.com/business/rtp_nc/v-print/story/1299071p-1334331c.htm= l Free access goes away after today, so below is text. I have no=20 idea what "historic railroad property" they own in Durham. --Mark "Renovation on track " [caption for photo] At one end of downtown Raleigh's trendy warehouse district sits=20 the N.C. Railroad Co. depot. Once the building is renovated and=20 ready for shops and such, its ample parking could make it a hot=20 commodity.=20 Staff Photo By Jim Bounds=20 =20 By STEVE CANNON, Staff Writer=20 RALEIGH - Downtown Raleigh's blossoming warehouse district could=20 be getting a big anchor on its southern end, as the owner of an=20 82-year-old freight depot pushes ahead with plans to convert the=20 building into space for trendy restaurants, shops and offices. The N.C. Railroad Co. has chosen a developer to lead the=20 renovation of the 16,000-square-foot depot -- on Davie Street=20 between Dawson and Harrington streets -- and wants to start=20 construction this summer, pending city approval. The project would stretch a corridor of redevelopment in the=20 city's center from Glenwood Avenue and Peace Street to Davie=20 Street and feed off a flurry of proposed downtown projects led=20 by Progress Energy's recently announced $100 million plan for=20 offices, condominiums and stores on Wilmington Street. The NCRR announced plans to redevelop the depot in November=20 2000, but Scott Saylor, NCRR's president, said the project was=20 delayed while the state-owned company determined how much it=20 would spend on the renovation. Developers have tried to buy the depot and its cobblestone=20 parking lot in recent years as Raleigh's warehouse district,=20 located west of the Capitol and Fayetteville Street Mall, came=20 to life with new restaurants and clubs. But the NCRR wouldn't=20 sell. "It's absolutely an awesome location," said Ann-Cabell Baum=20 Anderson, a real-estate agent with White Oak Properties, who=20 sells and leases residential and retail space in downtown. "I'm=20 always working with little boutiques and trendy stores that are=20 looking for space in that area." The NCRR has hired Gregg Sandreuter, whose company, Hamilton=20 Merritt, was the lead developer of Powerhouse Square in 1999.=20 That project -- backed by Carolina Power and Light, the utility=20 owned by Progress Energy -- used government tax credits to fund=20 turning former industrial buildings into restaurants, such as=20 The Southend Brewery and RiRa, offices and a parking deck. Saylor said his company wants some of the funding for the=20 project to come from historical-preservation tax credits, which=20 give companies a tax deduction based on money spent to renovate=20 and reuse historical buildings. He said it is too early in the=20 planning process to say how much the project will cost. Cherry Huffman Architects and engineering firm McNeely=20 Associates are working with city planners to iron out how much=20 parking can go on the site. The city has also sought to connect=20 Harrington Street between Cabarrus and Davie streets through the=20 NCRR's land. Saylor said a site plan could be submitted to the city in about=20 six weeks. If the project is approved, Saylor said he hopes his=20 company can pick a construction company and get to work on the=20 building by late summer. The NCRR is still deciding whether to=20 start renovation on the dilapidated building before it has=20 signed tenants. The depot sits on two acres, and its parking lot has room for 82=20 cars, a precious commodity on downtown's cramped streets. Saylor=20 said his company is considering adding another building later. With more parking, the freight station, which is across Davie=20 Street from the Humble Pie restaurant, wine bar Cork and 20,000=20 square feet of offices renovated by Empire Properties, could=20 serve as a key point for downtown visitors to park and walk to=20 nearby businesses. "We see our building as the linchpin for that area of the=20 warehouse district," Saylor said. "It's really the only site=20 with adequate parking and the only site adjacent to other=20 transportation." The NCRR, a 153-year-old company that owns 317 miles of track=20 between Morehead City and Charlotte, has some experience=20 redeveloping stations. Projects have been started to renovate=20 its stations in New Bern, High Point, Burlington and Salisbury=20 for continued use as railway stations, as well as offices.=20 The NCRR also owns historic railway properties in Kinston,=20 Goldsboro, Durham, Kannapolis and Charlotte.=20 =A9 Copyright 2002, The News & Observer. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <005101c1e4e2$776a94e0$9a59f6d1_@_paul> Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 14:05:24 -0400 (EDT) From: Blue Moon Network Administrator Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Kansas City, MO On Mon, 15 Apr 2002, Paul S. Luchter wrote: > I am confused...it is a new station, it is the old station, is it two, two, > two stations in one? From the 'weekly rail recap': >(THU) Kansas City, MO. officials awarded a $5 million contract to construct a >new Amtrak passenger station. The station, which is expected to be completed >later this year, will be located in the complex of the old Kansas City >Terminal station, which was remodeled into a $250 million shopping, >entertainment and community center in 1999. (ffd: wire services) Henry J. Henry Priebe Jr. Blue Moon President & Network Administrator root_@_bluemoon.net www.bluemoon.net - Blue Moon Internet Corp V.90, X2 & K56flex www.railfan.net - The Railfan Network ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #347 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002501c1e5f6$e95aebd0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 06:01:58 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Metro-North Makes Silk Purses Out of Old Depots Metro-North Makes Silk Purses Out of Old Depots By SANA SIWOLOP New York Times The roar of passing trains just a few feet away may not be everyone's idea of retail heaven, but so far there have been few complaints at the Flying Pig Farm Market Cafe, which calls the Metro-North station in Mount Kisco, N.Y., home. When the 800-square-foot cafe opened in August 2000, it was part of an effort by Metro-North to find commercial tenants who would be willing to make substantial capital investments in some stations in exchange for a relatively reasonable rent, an effort that the railroad is now expanding. And at the Flying Pig, the arrangement seems to have worked out nicely. Before the cafe in Mount Kisco could begin operating effectively, its owners had to shore up and renovate a 100-year-old building as well as erect large iron-and-glass doors that would separate it from the rest of the station's waiting room. Still, Deberah Sutter, a general manager and chef at the cafe, says the Flying Pig would consider branching out to another station among the 119 in the Metro-North network. "Being here has given us incredible visibility," she said last week over the din of clattering dishes. The Metro-North rental program began in 1993, and by 2000 tenants had been found for 6 of the 30 stations that it still owns (many stations are owned by the towns and cities they serve), including the one in Mount Kisco. Recently the railroad began looking for tenants for six other stations, in Brewster, Hastings-on-Hudson, Pelham, Port Chester, Tarrytown and Tuckahoe. Marjorie Anders, a Metro-North spokeswoman, says that two retail tenants are close to signing leases, for a restaurant at the station in Hastings and for a bagel shop at Brewster. She also said that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North's parent agency, was close to signing up buyers for two large former electrical substations that became obsolete when the M.T.A. upgraded its electrical systems a decade ago. Though many of the substations were subsequently demolished, the substation in North White Plains may soon be turned into a storage center, while the old Astor Street substation in Irvington is tentatively scheduled to be converted into 19 luxury apartments by Trinity Development Associates, a developer based in Yonkers. If Metro-North has its way, some of its other buildings may soon have tenants, too. Ms. Anders said that the M.T.A. hoped to begin looking soon for either buyers or tenants for two substantial brick substations that it owns in Tuckahoe and at its Fordham stop in the Bronx. The agency also expects to hire a consultant soon to develop a master plan for reuse of the 9,560-square-foot three-story station it owns in Poughkeepsie and to lease out space eventually at the Yonkers station, which is in the midst of a $3.5 million makeover. Leasing out station space to tenants like the Flying Pig, Ms. Anders said, is a way to generate rental income, help stations undergo sizable renovations and offer railroad customers more amenities, like longer hours in waiting rooms. Though some Metro-North waiting rooms are open until 9 p.m. she said, smaller stations now close at 1:30 in the afternoon. The six stations that Metro-North is hoping to lease vary considerably in size, from 1,600 square feet in Tuckahoe to 5,632 square feet in Port Chester. Ms. Anders says that Metro-North charges rents of $5,000 to $35,000 annually, depending on the size of the station and the amount that prospective tenants are willing to make in capital improvements, a figure that varies enormously. According to Metro-North, the station in Tuckahoe, for example, needs only about $150,000 in improvements, while the station at Tarrytown, which was built in 1890, requires about $600,000 in work. Ms. Anders said the Starbucks store that moved into the Hartsdale Metro-North station in September 2000 spent about $400,000 on renovations. Ms. Sutter said that her cafe at the Mount Kisco station had to step up its marketing efforts to snag more commuters who were passing though the station during afternoon and evening hours. "We thought it would be more like Grand Central Terminal, where business is more evenly spread out during the day," she said. "But we discovered that commuters here are pretty much in a routine, so we really had to push to get their attention," with efforts like wine and cheese samplings. The cafe is open until 6 most nights but stays open for dinner until 9 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. That means the station's waiting room is also open far longer than it used to be. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <3CBDBC21.8FA41DC0_@_swbell.net> References: Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 13:17:05 -0500 From: "Paul R. Metzler" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Kansas City, MO I am confused too. Last I was at KC (6 months ago), there was a room on main floor (2nd level) designated as being the future site of Amtrak --- surely, it wouldn't take $5Million to convert one, maybe 20x20 room! Are they building new passenger loading area also? Anyone who has chance to visit KC should make it a point to visit Union Station. Restoration is wonderful, and there is a "restoration museum" with exhibits of what it was before decay, after decay, and relics of what they found during restoration. Paul R. Metzler St. Louis, MO Blue Moon Network Administrator wrote: > On Mon, 15 Apr 2002, Paul S. Luchter wrote: > > > I am confused...it is a new station, it is the old station, is it two, two, > > two stations in one? > > >From the 'weekly rail recap': > > >(THU) Kansas City, MO. officials awarded a $5 million contract to construct a > >new Amtrak passenger station. The station, which is expected to be completed > >later this year, will be located in the complex of the old Kansas City > >Terminal station, which was remodeled into a $250 million shopping, > >entertainment and community center in 1999. (ffd: wire services) > > Henry > > J. Henry Priebe Jr. Blue Moon President & Network Administrator > root_@_bluemoon.net www.bluemoon.net - Blue Moon Internet Corp > V.90, X2 & K56flex www.railfan.net - The Railfan Network > > ================================= > 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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <006201c1e654$3980fac0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 17:09:55 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Statesville, NC Links: http://www.downtownstatesvillenc.org/tour01.htm (old photo and history of station) http://www.riverwoodhall.com/Gallery/david_shoemaker/shoemaker_2.htm (depot painting) http://www.visitstatesville.org/images/Depot2.jpg (recent picture of depot) Statesville to accept grant for depot improvements CASEY JACOBUS Special Correspondent STATESVILLE - The train will stop at Statesville after all. The Statesville City Council on Monday night reversed a decision it made in February and accepted a $614,700 grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation. The money will go to improving Statesville's Historic Depot to accommodate future passenger service between Salisbury and Asheville. The town must match 10 percent of the grant, or $61,470. The council heard new information Monday from Frank Johnson, a state Transportation Board member from Statesville, and from Pat Simmons, the state's rail division director. The information updated some of the facts council members had based their earlier decision on. The two most significant changes were: . The proposed Salisbury-to-Asheville line is expected to carry about five times as many passengers as originally thought. . The train will travel faster, at about 79 miles an hour, than the originally estimated 59 mph. Johnson urged the council to reconsider its earlier decision and to work with N.C. DOT to complete the western corridor project plan by 2004. He said that would ensure Statesville a stop on the route that will be increasingly important when a high-speed passenger rail route from Charlotte to Washington is completed in 2010. "Folks will be able to get on a train in Statesville at 7:45 a.m., transfer to a high-speed train in Salisbury and be in Washington for lunch," Johnson told the council. "Rail is not a far off vision for North Carolina. It is here now, and more is coming." Mayor John Marshall said the council had heard from many people since February who expressed displeasure with the council's stand on the train issue. While not permitting public comment at Monday's meeting, he did ask the audience of about 40 to stand if they favored rail. Virtually everyone did. The project was then approved by 6-to-2. "It's up to us to take a leap of faith," said council member Ray Raymer, who supported the measure. "Then, if the passengers want it, they'll ride it." Councilmen Jim Lawton and Jap Johnson voted against the project. Johnson said he believed the Iredell Board of County Commissioners was the appropriate agency for funding the rail project, as it would benefit residents across the county, not just Statesville. Lawton estimated the project would lose $1 million a year, and he didn't think people would ride the train. "The reason we don't have rail today is we found a better alternative, the car," Lawton said. "If they told me it was free, I still wouldn't vote for it." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <008301c1e65d$948a1970$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 18:16:49 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI Links: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/9105/depot2.jpg (recent photo) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/9105/Depot.gif (depot circa 1900) Federal grant to breathe new life into old depot RUSS OLIVO, Staff Writer April 17, 2002 Woonsocket Call WOONSOCKET -- The state Department of Transportation (DOT) has received a $650,000 federal grant for renovations to the historic Depot Building, paving the way for construction to begin later this summer, state officials say. Lori Capaldi, DOT's chief real estate specialist, said the grant will underwrite an estimated $1.8 million in improvements to the west wing of the building. A second phase of renovations that could cost another $1 million is planned to get under way in "the next couple of years." The current phase of work also calls for the development of a basement repository for archeological artifacts unearthed during DOT excavations and a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus depot, said Capaldi. "We're hoping to be under construction by July," Capaldi said. "It's kind of nice for a building that was considered for demolition." News of the grant was announced this week in a joint press release by U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, both Democrats who serve on the appropriations committees of their respective chambers. They said they secured the funding last year in appropriations for fiscal 2002. Built by the Providence & Worcester Railroad in 1882, the Depot, at the corner of High and Main streets, presently houses a small visitors center for the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, as well as administrative offices for the commission's 22 employees. The state DOT purchased the building from the Worcester County Institutions for Savings in 1992 for $250,000, sparing the landmark from the wrecker's ball, state officials said. The building, said Capaldi, was once considered one of the finest passenger rail depots in New England. It is actually the second depot on the site; the first, built in 1846, burned down. Special tourism trains still pass through the depot several times a year. Over the years, the depot has fallen into disrepair and, until now, DOT had been unable to secure funding for repairs. In addition to changing the windows and shoring up the exterior, the plans call for park benches in the courtyard and a small foyer where people waiting for buses can find informational materials about bus, ferry and trolley service offered by RIPTA. The plumbing and electrical systems will be overhauled, and restrooms, entrances and exits will become handicapped-accessible. In the basement, DOT will build a climate-controlled repository for artifacts the agency is obliged to catalogue under federal preservation laws. The new facility will also allow DOT to centralize its collection, which is presently scattered among various sites. DOT says the artifacts aren't generally museum-quality, but those of interest to academics or historians -- shards of pottery and bits of old-time construction materials, for example. Because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, the renovations must be supervised by the state Historical Preservation Commission, which could slow the project down, Capaldi said. "Here's the dilemma," she said. "You have to restore these buildings in some way, shape or form to what they used to be like. They've even done paint studies to see what color they used to be." Kennedy said the restoration of the Depot "is simply the next step in the wonderful revitalization of the Blackstone Valley. "These funds will provide the necessary repairs to enable the Corridor Commission to better promote our tourism industry, one of the Valley's fastest-growing economic engines, and at the same time preserve our cultural heritage," Kennedy said. Reed said the grant is "vital to the preservation of a unique historic site. Our efforts today to conserve our historic resources will ensure that Rhode Island remains a wonderful place to live and visit tomorrow." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <004b01c1e68d$eda56020$ea4e9a40_@_paul> Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 00:02:55 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI What trolley service is offered by the RIPTA - -----Original Message----- From: Bernie Wagenblast To: Rail Depot List Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 6:24 PM Subject: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI Links: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/9105/depot2.jpg (recent photo) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/9105/Depot.gif (depot circa 1900) Federal grant to breathe new life into old depot RUSS OLIVO, Staff Writer April 17, 2002 Woonsocket Call WOONSOCKET -- The state Department of Transportation (DOT) has received a $650,000 federal grant for renovations to the historic Depot Building, paving the way for construction to begin later this summer, state officials say. Lori Capaldi, DOT's chief real estate specialist, said the grant will underwrite an estimated $1.8 million in improvements to the west wing of the building. A second phase of renovations that could cost another $1 million is planned to get under way in "the next couple of years." The current phase of work also calls for the development of a basement repository for archeological artifacts unearthed during DOT excavations and a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus depot, said Capaldi. "We're hoping to be under construction by July," Capaldi said. "It's kind of nice for a building that was considered for demolition." News of the grant was announced this week in a joint press release by U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, both Democrats who serve on the appropriations committees of their respective chambers. They said they secured the funding last year in appropriations for fiscal 2002. Built by the Providence & Worcester Railroad in 1882, the Depot, at the corner of High and Main streets, presently houses a small visitors center for the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, as well as administrative offices for the commission's 22 employees. The state DOT purchased the building from the Worcester County Institutions for Savings in 1992 for $250,000, sparing the landmark from the wrecker's ball, state officials said. The building, said Capaldi, was once considered one of the finest passenger rail depots in New England. It is actually the second depot on the site; the first, built in 1846, burned down. Special tourism trains still pass through the depot several times a year. Over the years, the depot has fallen into disrepair and, until now, DOT had been unable to secure funding for repairs. In addition to changing the windows and shoring up the exterior, the plans call for park benches in the courtyard and a small foyer where people waiting for buses can find informational materials about bus, ferry and trolley service offered by RIPTA. The plumbing and electrical systems will be overhauled, and restrooms, entrances and exits will become handicapped-accessible. In the basement, DOT will build a climate-controlled repository for artifacts the agency is obliged to catalogue under federal preservation laws. The new facility will also allow DOT to centralize its collection, which is presently scattered among various sites. DOT says the artifacts aren't generally museum-quality, but those of interest to academics or historians -- shards of pottery and bits of old-time construction materials, for example. Because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, the renovations must be supervised by the state Historical Preservation Commission, which could slow the project down, Capaldi said. "Here's the dilemma," she said. "You have to restore these buildings in some way, shape or form to what they used to be like. They've even done paint studies to see what color they used to be." Kennedy said the restoration of the Depot "is simply the next step in the wonderful revitalization of the Blackstone Valley. "These funds will provide the necessary repairs to enable the Corridor Commission to better promote our tourism industry, one of the Valley's fastest-growing economic engines, and at the same time preserve our cultural heritage," Kennedy said. Reed said the grant is "vital to the preservation of a unique historic site. Our efforts today to conserve our historic resources will ensure that Rhode Island remains a wonderful place to live and visit tomorrow." ================================= 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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <005401c1e68e$65781e80$ea4e9a40_@_paul> Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 00:06:14 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Metro-North Makes Silk Purses Out of Old Depots If they can reuse substations, why not Towers?? - -----Original Message----- From: Bernie Wagenblast To: Rail Depot List Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 6:11 AM Subject: (rshsdepot) Metro-North Makes Silk Purses Out of Old Depots Metro-North Makes Silk Purses Out of Old Depots By SANA SIWOLOP New York Times The roar of passing trains just a few feet away may not be everyone's idea of retail heaven, but so far there have been few complaints at the Flying Pig Farm Market Cafe, which calls the Metro-North station in Mount Kisco, N.Y., home. When the 800-square-foot cafe opened in August 2000, it was part of an effort by Metro-North to find commercial tenants who would be willing to make substantial capital investments in some stations in exchange for a relatively reasonable rent, an effort that the railroad is now expanding. And at the Flying Pig, the arrangement seems to have worked out nicely. Before the cafe in Mount Kisco could begin operating effectively, its owners had to shore up and renovate a 100-year-old building as well as erect large iron-and-glass doors that would separate it from the rest of the station's waiting room. Still, Deberah Sutter, a general manager and chef at the cafe, says the Flying Pig would consider branching out to another station among the 119 in the Metro-North network. "Being here has given us incredible visibility," she said last week over the din of clattering dishes. The Metro-North rental program began in 1993, and by 2000 tenants had been found for 6 of the 30 stations that it still owns (many stations are owned by the towns and cities they serve), including the one in Mount Kisco. Recently the railroad began looking for tenants for six other stations, in Brewster, Hastings-on-Hudson, Pelham, Port Chester, Tarrytown and Tuckahoe. Marjorie Anders, a Metro-North spokeswoman, says that two retail tenants are close to signing leases, for a restaurant at the station in Hastings and for a bagel shop at Brewster. She also said that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North's parent agency, was close to signing up buyers for two large former electrical substations that became obsolete when the M.T.A. upgraded its electrical systems a decade ago. Though many of the substations were subsequently demolished, the substation in North White Plains may soon be turned into a storage center, while the old Astor Street substation in Irvington is tentatively scheduled to be converted into 19 luxury apartments by Trinity Development Associates, a developer based in Yonkers. If Metro-North has its way, some of its other buildings may soon have tenants, too. Ms. Anders said that the M.T.A. hoped to begin looking soon for either buyers or tenants for two substantial brick substations that it owns in Tuckahoe and at its Fordham stop in the Bronx. The agency also expects to hire a consultant soon to develop a master plan for reuse of the 9,560-square-foot three-story station it owns in Poughkeepsie and to lease out space eventually at the Yonkers station, which is in the midst of a $3.5 million makeover. Leasing out station space to tenants like the Flying Pig, Ms. Anders said, is a way to generate rental income, help stations undergo sizable renovations and offer railroad customers more amenities, like longer hours in waiting rooms. Though some Metro-North waiting rooms are open until 9 p.m. she said, smaller stations now close at 1:30 in the afternoon. The six stations that Metro-North is hoping to lease vary considerably in size, from 1,600 square feet in Tuckahoe to 5,632 square feet in Port Chester. Ms. Anders says that Metro-North charges rents of $5,000 to $35,000 annually, depending on the size of the station and the amount that prospective tenants are willing to make in capital improvements, a figure that varies enormously. According to Metro-North, the station in Tuckahoe, for example, needs only about $150,000 in improvements, while the station at Tarrytown, which was built in 1890, requires about $600,000 in work. Ms. Anders said the Starbucks store that moved into the Hartsdale Metro-North station in September 2000 spent about $400,000 on renovations. Ms. Sutter said that her cafe at the Mount Kisco station had to step up its marketing efforts to snag more commuters who were passing though the station during afternoon and evening hours. "We thought it would be more like Grand Central Terminal, where business is more evenly spread out during the day," she said. "But we discovered that commuters here are pretty much in a routine, so we really had to push to get their attention," with efforts like wine and cheese samplings. The cafe is open until 6 most nights but stays open for dinner until 9 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. That means the station's waiting room is also open far longer than it used to be. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <005701c1e68e$cfb3dbe0$ea4e9a40_@_paul> Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 00:09:05 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re#2: (rshsdepot) Metro-North Makes Silk Purses Out of Old Depots Are they closing the Fordham station?? - -----Original Message----- From: Bernie Wagenblast To: Rail Depot List Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 6:11 AM Subject: (rshsdepot) Metro-North Makes Silk Purses Out of Old Depots Metro-North Makes Silk Purses Out of Old Depots By SANA SIWOLOP New York Times The roar of passing trains just a few feet away may not be everyone's idea of retail heaven, but so far there have been few complaints at the Flying Pig Farm Market Cafe, which calls the Metro-North station in Mount Kisco, N.Y., home. When the 800-square-foot cafe opened in August 2000, it was part of an effort by Metro-North to find commercial tenants who would be willing to make substantial capital investments in some stations in exchange for a relatively reasonable rent, an effort that the railroad is now expanding. And at the Flying Pig, the arrangement seems to have worked out nicely. Before the cafe in Mount Kisco could begin operating effectively, its owners had to shore up and renovate a 100-year-old building as well as erect large iron-and-glass doors that would separate it from the rest of the station's waiting room. Still, Deberah Sutter, a general manager and chef at the cafe, says the Flying Pig would consider branching out to another station among the 119 in the Metro-North network. "Being here has given us incredible visibility," she said last week over the din of clattering dishes. The Metro-North rental program began in 1993, and by 2000 tenants had been found for 6 of the 30 stations that it still owns (many stations are owned by the towns and cities they serve), including the one in Mount Kisco. Recently the railroad began looking for tenants for six other stations, in Brewster, Hastings-on-Hudson, Pelham, Port Chester, Tarrytown and Tuckahoe. Marjorie Anders, a Metro-North spokeswoman, says that two retail tenants are close to signing leases, for a restaurant at the station in Hastings and for a bagel shop at Brewster. She also said that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North's parent agency, was close to signing up buyers for two large former electrical substations that became obsolete when the M.T.A. upgraded its electrical systems a decade ago. Though many of the substations were subsequently demolished, the substation in North White Plains may soon be turned into a storage center, while the old Astor Street substation in Irvington is tentatively scheduled to be converted into 19 luxury apartments by Trinity Development Associates, a developer based in Yonkers. If Metro-North has its way, some of its other buildings may soon have tenants, too. Ms. Anders said that the M.T.A. hoped to begin looking soon for either buyers or tenants for two substantial brick substations that it owns in Tuckahoe and at its Fordham stop in the Bronx. The agency also expects to hire a consultant soon to develop a master plan for reuse of the 9,560-square-foot three-story station it owns in Poughkeepsie and to lease out space eventually at the Yonkers station, which is in the midst of a $3.5 million makeover. Leasing out station space to tenants like the Flying Pig, Ms. Anders said, is a way to generate rental income, help stations undergo sizable renovations and offer railroad customers more amenities, like longer hours in waiting rooms. Though some Metro-North waiting rooms are open until 9 p.m. she said, smaller stations now close at 1:30 in the afternoon. The six stations that Metro-North is hoping to lease vary considerably in size, from 1,600 square feet in Tuckahoe to 5,632 square feet in Port Chester. Ms. Anders says that Metro-North charges rents of $5,000 to $35,000 annually, depending on the size of the station and the amount that prospective tenants are willing to make in capital improvements, a figure that varies enormously. According to Metro-North, the station in Tuckahoe, for example, needs only about $150,000 in improvements, while the station at Tarrytown, which was built in 1890, requires about $600,000 in work. Ms. Anders said the Starbucks store that moved into the Hartsdale Metro-North station in September 2000 spent about $400,000 on renovations. Ms. Sutter said that her cafe at the Mount Kisco station had to step up its marketing efforts to snag more commuters who were passing though the station during afternoon and evening hours. "We thought it would be more like Grand Central Terminal, where business is more evenly spread out during the day," she said. "But we discovered that commuters here are pretty much in a routine, so we really had to push to get their attention," with efforts like wine and cheese samplings. The cafe is open until 6 most nights but stays open for dinner until 9 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. That means the station's waiting room is also open far longer than it used to be. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #348 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <013301c1e6d3$cd0db4c0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 08:23:09 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Utica, NY Links: http://utica.topcities.com/v1/Union_Station-1920.jpg (interior 1920) http://www.norwich.net/~pstrany/row/nyc/nyc003.jpg (historic exterior) http://www.norwich.net/~pstrany/row/utica/ut004.jpg (recent exterior) http://www.norwich.net/~pstrany/row/utica/ut002.jpg (recent exterior) http://www.norwich.net/~pstrany/row/utica/ut003.jpg (recent interior) http://www.cityusa.net/trainland/gallery1/uticastation.JPG (recent interior) http://www.oneidacounty.org/oneidacty/gov/dept/planning/UnionStation.html (info on Union Station) Landmark Union Station moves ahead April 18, 2002 By PATRICK GANNON Observer-Dispatch UTICA - After nearly $18 million in renovations over the past decade, Union Station is chugging full-steam ahead with new tenants, the Adirondack Scenic Railroad and a comedy club, among other developments. Meanwhile, train ridership increased slightly while the number of bus passengers remained steady in 2001, despite the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a struggling economy. The health of historic Union Station is considered important because it has the potential to spur growth in the oldest section of Utica. Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace Jr. said he hopes revitalization of Union Station will spread through the Bagg's Square area of downtown, creating a "whole new public square," including the Children's Museum and future ventures. "I have a dream ... whether that could be an antique alley or farmer's market or some type of other public use in the future," Eannace said. Such growth likely wouldn't occur for some time. For now, however, several recent and pending developments should increase foot traffic at the building and beyond. Since 1993, about $17.6 in federal, state and local funds have been committed to the Union Station revitalization effort, county figures show. That includes about $12.6 million for transportation-related improvements and $5 million for office-space renovations. The county's Department of Motor Vehicles will move from the County Office Building to Union Station some time this summer, which will bring hundreds of new faces to Union Station every day and could help area businesses. "Having the DMV there is almost like having a billboard in a high visibility area on the arterial," said John Adasek, owner of The Station Restaurant and Martini Bar inside the train station. Other developments: * The county Board of Elections will move from the county building to the train station's third floor, possibly before the end of the year. * Throughout the summer, trains will leave Union Station on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad for destinations in the North Country. * The Station restaurant and bar inside Union Station recently began hosting a comedy series on Saturday nights at its Giggles comedy club. Union Station eventually will house the county's DMV, Board of Elections, Planning and Probation departments and perhaps other offices. With more foot traffic comes increased concerns about security and parking. Eannace said he asked Utica Mayor Tim Julian to push for more police patrols in the area, and the mayor has responded. "We are going to put a special emphasis on security there because we know that has been a concern of people in the past," Eannace said. Also, the county Board of Legislators recently passed a local law regulating parking at Union Station. It designates specific areas for various parking needs and provides for enforcement by the Utica Police Department. Marlene Brown, president of the Board of Directors of the Children's Museum, said increased foot traffic next door would help the museum, which is capitalizing on the transportation theme with a new exhibit called "Transportation Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." The display will include artifacts from the Utica fire and police departments, the Oneida County Sheriff's Department and the Utica/Mohawk Valley Railway Association, as well as an Outer Space exhibit, Brown said. "That's a phenomenal marriage of two historic buildings ... of value to families and the community," Brown said of the relationship between Union Station and the Children's Museum. "All it is is a matter of letting people know ... what we have." Said Adirondack Scenic Railroad General Manager Peter Gores: "We're looking at it as a big plus this year to be able to start the trip from that grand old building." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 09:35:18 -0400 From: "jdent1_@_optonline.net" Subject: RE: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI CNG buses made to look like trolleys From the RIPTA website: "On June 26, 1999, a piece of transit history was reintroduced to Rhode Island. The Providence LINK, on this day, made it= s debut as RIPTA's contribution to the restoration of historic downtown Providence bringing back the vintage style, track= less trolley. These trolleys, moreover, serve as the first fleet fueled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Rhode Island's= mass transit history." Original Message: - ----------------- From: Paul S. Luchter luckyshow_@_mindspring.com Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 00:02:55 -0400 To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI What trolley service is offered by the RIPTA - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002c01c1e6ee$333faae0$7e01a8c0_@_0018982498> References: Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 08:31:54 -0700 From: "Eric Miller" Subject: Re: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI If it is not connected to a wire it is not a trolley. It is a bus. - ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 6:35 AM Subject: RE: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI CNG buses made to look like trolleys From the RIPTA website: "On June 26, 1999, a piece of transit history was reintroduced to Rhode Island. The Providence LINK, on this day, made its debut as RIPTA's contribution to the restoration of historic downtown Providence bringing back the vintage style, trackless trolley. These trolleys, moreover, serve as the first fleet fueled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Rhode Island's mass transit history." Original Message: - ----------------- From: Paul S. Luchter luckyshow_@_mindspring.com Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 00:02:55 -0400 To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI What trolley service is offered by the RIPTA - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <016b01c1e6f2$74c4e760$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 12:02:35 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Old Fort, NC Links: http://www.oldfort.org/Depot%20Renovation.htm (information on renovation) http://home.wnclink.com/depot/images/1940_Depot_with_tag.jpg (circa 1940) http://www.itpi.dpi.state.nc.us/counties/mcdowell/mcdowell/station.JPG (recent photo) http://www.bytrain.org/passenger/future/wncpax/graphics/pic5.JPG (Black Mountain station - recent) Old Fort chugs along in passenger rail effort By MIKE CONLEY Staff Writer - Marion McDowell News The Old Fort Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Monday to approve a contract with the architectural firm selected to oversee the renovation of the depot for passenger rail station. The regular April meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held in the Town Hall. The aldermen voted to approve the contract with Harris Architects of Brevard. This firm has worked on the restoration of Fort Hill, the John C. Calhoun home on the campus of Clemson University. The firm also worked on the restoration of the roof on the Asheville City Building and oversaw the raising of the Zachary-Tolbert House in Cashiers. Under the contract, Harris Architects will be paid $117,585 for their services. The town will have to pay 10 percent of this. Mayor Wayne Stafford said he discussed this amount for the architectural services with Craig Newton, senior project engineer-operations with the N.C. Department of Transportation's Rail Division, and it is comparable with the prices for the other depots. The aldermen also voted to add Sam Gray, curator of the Mountain Gateway Museum, to the Passenger Rail Committee. A meeting about passenger rail service for western North Carolina will be held today in Asheville. Black Mountain officials are looking at the possibility of either moving their old depot building to another location or constructing a new station and leaving the old depot where it is. Norfolk Southern Corp. owns the depot building and the right of way along the railroad track. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 14:07:43 -0400 From: "jdent1_@_optonline.net" Subject: (rshsdepot) Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, CA From Altamont Press Newsline... Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink depot set to debut After more than a decade of planning, the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink station will open Friday, the 10th platfo= rm along the Orange County, CA rail line. The $9.8-million facility is expected to take pressure off the popular and congested San Juan Capistrano and Irvine rail = stations, Orange County Transportation Authority officials said. The hope is that it will also convince more South County= commuters to use public transportation. The depot is fully automated - there are no employees. Located on Forbes Road just south of Crown Valley Parkway, it has = 300 parking spaces and four electric-vehicle charging stations. Two more Metrolink stations, one in Buena Park and anothe= r in Yorba Linda, should be open within three years. The addition of each new Metrolink station adds about three minutes to a rider's commute. For Orange County residents who= travel the full length of the line - San Clemente to Los Angeles - the commute will take one hour and 37 minutes. - Dave= McKibben, The Los Angeles Times, courtesy Larry W. Grant - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 14:33:56 -0400 From: "jdent1_@_optonline.net" Subject: (rshsdepot) Berkeley, CA NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo Depot.jpg (application/octet-stream, 36209 bytes) From the 4/15/2002 Daily Californian... Barren Train Stop Could See New Life City Council Examining Revamp of Old Station Photo/Ramin Rahimian A lone passenger waits for a train to arrive near the former Southern Pacific Railroad station in West Berkeley. City off icials are considering buying the old station and refurbishing it. By MIKE MEYERS Contributing Writer Monday, April 15, 2002 Waiting for Amtrak may get safer and more pleasant, as the Berkeley City Council is considering a full-service train stat ion to be located across from the current train stop. The barren Berkeley stop, where passengers have only a freeway overpass to protect them from the elements, faces the form er Southern Pacific Railroad station, recently vacated and ready for the city to seize it up. Mayor Shirley Dean has proposed the city purchase the depot and return it to its original use as a train station. Passengers waiting at the current stop, which consists of little more than a few benches, said they thought the new stati on would be a major improvement. "It's a poor representation of Berkeley," said UC Berkeley sophomore Elena Virgadamo, who was waiting for a train. Virgadamo also said she thought the station was "unsafe," as did others at the train-stop. A new station would allow passengers to buy tickets at the stop=97something they can't do now. Currently, passengers must buy their tickets on the train. Besides Amtrak aficionados, members of the city's powerful historical preservation community are lining up behind the ide a. "What better use for a train station than a train station," said Richard Dishnica, a member of the the city's Landmark Pr eservation Commission. That commission designated the depot a Berkeley Landmark in 2001, citing its historic "mission revival" style. Such a designation can prevent renovation of a building, but the city should not have trouble securing permission to alte r the structure, said Dishnica. The idea also has support across the often divided council. Councilmember Linda Maio, whose district includes the current Amtrak stop, said the the building would "make a wonderful restoration." The city has renovated landmarked structures in the past, including the Civic Center and the Central Library. But both those projects were expensive=97the library alone cost over $30 million. And in a city facing a $1.8 million budget shortfall, money for the depot's purchase and renovation may be hard to find. "We'd have to figure out how to find the money," Maio said. She estimated the project would cost the city between $1 million to $2 million. She said the cash-strapped city could pro bably raise some of that through grants, because of the project's historic nature. The depot building was until late 2001 occupied by Xanadu RestorAsian restaurant, which closed because of economic hardsh ip. Since then it has stood vacant, giving the city a chance to reclaim it. "We need to strike while the fire's hot. If another business gets in there, we may not get another chance," said Councilm ember Dona Spring, who also supports the idea of repurchasing the station. Dean's plans also call for a restaurant inside the new station. Despite Xanadu's failure, Maio believes the station's proximity to the popular 4th Street district, as well as the new I- 80 pedestrian bridge, could make the station a dining destination. Renting out part of the station to a tenant could offset some of the building's acquisition costs, Maio said. The station could also be the northern terminus of a new line of "shop hop" trains, running from Oakland's Jack London Sq uare through Emeryville to the new Berkeley station, she said. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <019a01c1e711$74a427e0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 15:44:29 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ (PATH) Links: http://www.nycsubway.org/us/path/historical/hm-270.jpg (1965) http://www.nycsubway.org/us/path/historical/hm-456.jpg (1965) Damaged NJ rail station to reopen June 2003 Metro The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is expected to reopen the Exchange Place PATH commuter rail station in Jersey City, N.J., in June 2003. Exchange Place, along with the World Trade Center station, sustained heavy damage from the Sept. 11 attacks and service was cut off to thousands of commuters. The Port Authority plans to start controlled blasts in the Jersey City tunnels as soon as May 6, officials said. In a related news item, here are links to new photos of the PATH tracks at the World Trade Center site. Excavations have now reached the track level. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020416/168/1eomo.html http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020410/168/1djsx.html ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <01d101c1e71f$8e074c90$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 17:25:24 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Halifax, NS Links: http://www.trainweb.org/canadianrailways/StationFile/Hfxsta.jpg (exterior - 1988) http://www.trainweb.org/canadianrailways/StationFile/NSHalifax1928.jpg (exterior-recent) http://www.myphotographs.net/canada/image173.html (exterior - recent) http://old-postcards.com/3880.jpg (historic postcard view) VIA Rail welcomes Acadian Lines to renovated rail station - intercity bus and rail service centralized at one location HALIFAX, April 18 /CNW/ - Acadian Lines has officially begun offering its 20 daily departures to and from Halifax at the newly renovated VIA Rail station on Hollis Street. The intermodal facility is part of VIA's extensive renovation of the historic train station. "The new terminal offers our customers a more spacious and comfortable atmosphere in closer proximity to more amenities and the downtown core," said Bob Odell, General Manager for Acadian Lines. Sharing the same location with VIA Rail offers our customers seamless bus/rail connections to and from the 47 communities we serve throughout Nova Scotia." VIA's Eastern Services Regional Director, Keith Moulton, said that both bus and rail passengers will benefit by bringing the two services together in one central station. "A cooperative relationship, and better integration of services, means better options and convenience for all travelers," said Mr. Moulton. The move will give bus/rail passengers more convenient intermodal connections through the Maritimes and to Western Canada. Renovations to the Halifax station include new bus access and redeveloped parking, a joint VIA Rail/Acadian Lines concourse, and improved passenger facilities. VIA Rail has also undertaken major structural and restoration work on the station, a heritage landmark in Halifax since it was built almost a century ago. Work already completed includes a new roof and restoration of the exterior brickwork. Additional interior renovations will be completed over the next few months. Mr. Moulton said that a transportation network is not made up of companies operating in isolation: "It is the entire travel experience that is important to the traveling public. We are proud to be associated with Acadian Lines who understands the importance of delivering quality service to its customers." VIA Rail Canada operates Canada's national passenger rail network, with 460 trains weekly on 14,000 kilometres of track, connecting more than 450 Canadian communities from coast to coast. VIA trains carried almost four million passengers in 2001. Recognizing the growing demand, the federal government recently invested some $402 million over five years to modernize VIA's passenger rail network. This investment is giving VIA modern equipment, better tracks and infrastructure, and better stations - allowing it to deliver more trains, faster trains, and better service to Canadians across the country. Acadian Lines constitutes the Maritime's largest passenger bus network, serving 103 communities. Together, the company's 258 employees operate a fleet of state-of the art passenger coaches that log 7,200,000 kilometres per year. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <006401c1e758$b87506a0$b54d9a40_@_paul> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 00:14:34 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI - -----Original Message----- From: Eric Miller To: jdent1_@_optonline.net ; rshsdepot@lists.railfan.net Cc: Jay N. Melrose Date: Thursday, April 18, 2002 11:16 AM Subject: Re: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI >If it is not connected to a wire it is not a trolley. It is a bus. Amen, brother >----- Original Message ----- >From: >To: >Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 6:35 AM >Subject: RE: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI > > >CNG buses made to look like trolleys > >From the RIPTA website: > >"On June 26, 1999, a piece of transit history was reintroduced to Rhode >Island. The Providence LINK, on this day, made its debut as RIPTA's >contribution to the restoration of historic downtown Providence bringing >back the vintage style, trackless trolley. These trolleys, moreover, serve >as the first fleet fueled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Rhode Island's >mass transit history." > > > >Original Message: >----------------- >From: Paul S. Luchter luckyshow_@_mindspring.com >Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 00:02:55 -0400 >To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net >Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Woonsocket, RI > > >What trolley service is offered by the RIPTA > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------- >mail2web - Check your email from the web at >http://mail2web.com/ . > >=========== >The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing >railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org > > >================================= >The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing >railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org > ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <007401c1e759$bca01d40$b54d9a40_@_paul> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 00:21:45 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Berkeley, CA Amen to this too, what an amazing idea, using a station as a station!...They should use the old WP station near Jack London Square as well...there used to be a good Chinese restaurant in this SP station...and what of the old Santa Fe Station? - -----Original Message----- From: jdent1_@_optonline.net To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net Date: Thursday, April 18, 2002 2:41 PM Subject: (rshsdepot) Berkeley, CA NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo Depot.jpg (application/octet-stream, 36209 bytes) From the 4/15/2002 Daily Californian... Barren Train Stop Could See New Life City Council Examining Revamp of Old Station Photo/Ramin Rahimian A lone passenger waits for a train to arrive near the former Southern Pacific Railroad station in West Berkeley. City off icials are considering buying the old station and refurbishing it. By MIKE MEYERS Contributing Writer Monday, April 15, 2002 Waiting for Amtrak may get safer and more pleasant, as the Berkeley City Council is considering a full-service train stat ion to be located across from the current train stop. The barren Berkeley stop, where passengers have only a freeway overpass to protect them from the elements, faces the form er Southern Pacific Railroad station, recently vacated and ready for the city to seize it up. Mayor Shirley Dean has proposed the city purchase the depot and return it to its original use as a train station. Passengers waiting at the current stop, which consists of little more than a few benches, said they thought the new stati on would be a major improvement. "It's a poor representation of Berkeley," said UC Berkeley sophomore Elena Virgadamo, who was waiting for a train. Virgadamo also said she thought the station was "unsafe," as did others at the train-stop. A new station would allow passengers to buy tickets at the stop—something they can't do now. Currently, passengers must buy their tickets on the train. Besides Amtrak aficionados, members of the city's powerful historical preservation community are lining up behind the ide a. "What better use for a train station than a train station," said Richard Dishnica, a member of the the city's Landmark Pr eservation Commission. That commission designated the depot a Berkeley Landmark in 2001, citing its historic "mission revival" style. Such a designation can prevent renovation of a building, but the city should not have trouble securing permission to alte r the structure, said Dishnica. The idea also has support across the often divided council. Councilmember Linda Maio, whose district includes the current Amtrak stop, said the the building would "make a wonderful restoration." The city has renovated landmarked structures in the past, including the Civic Center and the Central Library. But both those projects were expensive—the library alone cost over $30 million. And in a city facing a $1.8 million budget shortfall, money for the depot's purchase and renovation may be hard to find. "We'd have to figure out how to find the money," Maio said. She estimated the project would cost the city between $1 million to $2 million. She said the cash-strapped city could pro bably raise some of that through grants, because of the project's historic nature. The depot building was until late 2001 occupied by Xanadu RestorAsian restaurant, which closed because of economic hardsh ip. Since then it has stood vacant, giving the city a chance to reclaim it. "We need to strike while the fire's hot. If another business gets in there, we may not get another chance," said Councilm ember Dona Spring, who also supports the idea of repurchasing the station. Dean's plans also call for a restaurant inside the new station. Despite Xanadu's failure, Maio believes the station's proximity to the popular 4th Street district, as well as the new I- 80 pedestrian bridge, could make the station a dining destination. Renting out part of the station to a tenant could offset some of the building's acquisition costs, Maio said. The station could also be the northern terminus of a new line of "shop hop" trains, running from Oakland's Jack London Sq uare through Emeryville to the new Berkeley station, she said. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . =========== The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <004601c1e784$e9e876f0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 05:30:58 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Centralia, WA Links: http://www.chronline.com/images/news/news1.jpg (station interior - note this link will expire later today) http://www.trainpics.com/PageMill_Resources/Centralia.html (exterior - recent) http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/amtrak/images/centralstation.jpg (exterior - recent) http://www.northwestrailfan.com/pictures/centraliadepot.jpg (exterior - recent) Celebrate Railroad Days Centralia: First salute to railroads includes steam train display, music vendors By Amy Emerson The Chronicle Centralia will start a new tradition this weekend with the celebration of the first Centralia Railroad Days, a celebration of the railroad's contribution to Centralia's history, growth, culture and character. The festival, which will take place Saturday and Sunday in downtown Centralia, will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the restored historic Centralia Railroad Depot, a brass band concert, a steam train exhibit, street vendors, model railroad displays, a farmers market, free rides on a vintage trolley, children's games, historic building tours and a variety of live music throughout the downtown area, including local talent in country, bluegrass, rock and folk. "Celebrating Railroad Days can be a good way for the whole family to have some fun, an enjoyable way to learn about Centralia's history, a good excuse to come downtown and see all the improvements to the railroad depot and streetscape, and a very good way to honor all of those who worked so hard over the last 150 years to make Centralia what it is today," said David Eatwell, Centralia's downtown economic development coordinator. The railroad is an important element of Centralia's existence as it was "the reason George Washington decided to lay out the town, as it provided an obvious boost to business growth potential," said Eatwell, noting how the railroad allowed for the local growth of the industries of coal, timber and agriculture. "It was the arterial through which the town's life blood flowed," he said. "And it may very well be that again in the future." The Railroad Days celebration will kick off with the grand reopening of the newly restored historic Railroad Depot, a $5 million project. As a result of the extensive renovation, the depot has been touted as one of the most beautiful in Western Washington, and a "jewel of the West Coast rail system." The historic building includes a brick exterior, a tile roof, heavy oak millwork, a terrazzo floor, ornate ceilings and leaded windows. It is the showpiece of the downtown business district, a business district that, because of it's past affiliation with the railroad, is much larger than other towns of similar size, said Eatwell. The business district remains, though the lumber mills and mines of old have been replaced by 350 antique merchants and 52 factory outlet stores. In Centralia's hey day, the railroad made Centralia into an active hospitality center, and many community leaders and business people are hoping those days will return. In 1912, when the depot was built, 44 passenger trains stopped in Centralia every day, and passengers were accommodated by 14 bustling hotels along Tower Avenue. Today, just eight trains stop in Centralia each day. Yet, modern downtown Centralia retains the ambiance of the 1912 railroad town it once was, said Eatwell, and the community is working to restore this ambiance not only through the renovation of the depot, but also the $2.5 million streetscape project. The project includes vintage streetlights, cobblestone sidewalks, brick streets and park benches. The hope to transform Centralia into a historic destination spot may be further assisted by the Washington State Department of Transportation's 20-year plan to increase rail service and eventually have a train stop in Centralia each hour. "By celebrating railroad days, we are not just celebrating Centralia's past, but it's future," said Eatwell. - --- Amy Emerson covers energy, business and economic issues for The Chronicle. She may be reached by e-mail at aemerson_@_chronline.com, or by telephoning 807-8231. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #349 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <004c01c1e786$d1e711e0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 05:44:37 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Mattoon, IL Link: http://www.iltrails.org/coles/trainstation.jpg (1922 postcard view) Train depot gets historic status BY CARL WALWORTH City Editor - Mattoon Journal Gazette MATTOON - The recent listing of the city's train depot on the National Register of Historic Places is considered an important step toward the building's restoration. The Coles County Historical Society has a goal of restoring the Broadway Avenue building by the city's sesquicentennial in 2005. Representatives of the state's historic preservation agency toured the site on Wednesday to get a first-hand look at the building in which the agency invested $22,500 in the new roof. Agency representatives Chris Knorr and Mattoon native Anna Borntrager walked through with local architect Don Hance and others who are working toward making the facility functional. Knorr and Borntrager, while officially following up on the use of grant funds, may be in a position to help the society identify more funding sources. Renee Henry, the society's executive director, said the designation on the national register is an important milestone. "It's a major step," she said. "It gives you something like the Good Housekeeping stamp of approval, something that says this building deserves to be saved by the community." The designation could be a factor in future grant applications, she said. Buildings on the register are ones that the agency considers worthy of preservation. The depot project is a focus for the society, which sees the depot as the center of a Midtown development effort. "This building is historically important to the community," Henry said. "Some may not realize it now but it was a centerpiece of this community." Henry said the society sees the depot returning to the status as a community gathering place and a big part of the city's identity. Commissioner Mark Donnell commended the society for its efforts. "This is a huge compliment for the society's efforts," Donnell said of the designation on the historic register. The city doesn't have money to lend to the effort, Donnell said, but otherwise will cooperate, including support of grant applications. "We want to help them any way we can," Donnell said. "We don't have the money ourselves, but the city owns the building now and we're interested in seeing it be a place that people come to and use." Jacqueline Record of the historical society said a new elevator that makes the entire facility accessible is the next step in the redevelopment. She noted that four grants were involved in the funding for the roof. Record said a time capsule was found when a plaque was taken down in the building, and the society is waiting for an appropriate time to open the capsule. She mentioned two other upcoming events involving the depot. The rail corridor meeting that typically is attended by about 25 people along the line is scheduled to be in Mattoon on May 14. And the society has scheduled another cleanup day on May 4. - - Contact Carl Walworth at cwalworth_@_jg-tc.com. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42EF5_@_mail1.itochu.com> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 09:56:25 -0400 From: James Dent / NYKGN Subject: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey Off-topic, from the EL List... - -----Original Message----- From: olsenkbce_@_juno.com [mailto:olsenkbce@juno.com] Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 10:02 PM Subject: (erielack) Strange but True in New Jersey Yes, this did happen, According to the Wayne Today, April 18th, 2002, page 2 (Today Newspapers, West Paterson, NJ) Train Set Found with Live Grenade, On April 4th township police officers and fire company 5 were called to the home of a Wayne Township man who reported that a model train he had purchased appeared to have a hand grenade inside it. The purchaser had removed the grenade and placed it on his kitchen table. Police cordened off the area and called in the bomb squad. The grenade was removed and later detonated without incident. Kevin Olsen Wayne, NJ ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002001c1e7b0$7e2fb280$464476d8_@_oemcomputer> References: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42EF5_@_mail1.itochu.com> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 10:42:51 -0400 From: "Rich Chapin" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey JIM, FYI, A JAPANESE TRANSLATOR POPS UP WITH YOUR MESSAGE. REGARDS, RICH CHAPIN - ----- Original Message ----- From: James Dent / NYKGN To: RSHS List (E-mail) Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 9:56 AM Subject: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > Off-topic, from the EL List... > > -----Original Message----- > From: olsenkbce_@_juno.com [mailto:olsenkbce@juno.com] > Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 10:02 PM > Subject: (erielack) Strange but True in New Jersey > > Yes, this did happen, > > According to the Wayne Today, April 18th, 2002, page 2 (Today Newspapers, > West Paterson, NJ) > > Train Set Found with Live Grenade, > > On April 4th township police officers and fire company 5 were called to > the home of a Wayne Township man who reported that a model train he had > purchased appeared to have a hand grenade inside it. The purchaser had > removed the grenade and placed it on his kitchen table. Police cordened > off the area and called in the bomb squad. The grenade was removed and > later detonated without incident. > > Kevin Olsen > Wayne, NJ > ================================= > 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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 13:42:12 -0400 From: "jdent1_@_optonline.net" Subject: (rshsdepot) Terry, MS From Eastern Railroad News... TERRY, MISSISSIPPI DEPOT RETURNS AFTER MOVE TO JACKSON... The town of Terry, Mississippi has seen the return of their former Illinois Central Railroad depot, originally constructe= d in the 1880s. About 10 years ago, a group called Friends of Terry was formed to support city projects such as reclamati= on of the Terry Depot, removed from along the tracks in the 1950s and placed in Parham Bridges Park in Jackson, MS. Friends of Terry was instrumental in lobbying the Hinds County Board of Supervisors to bring the depot back. The building= now rests in the curve of U.S. 51, and the Friends of Terry plan "to put it back as close to what it used to look like w= ith all the amenities," said Bobbie Davis. After raising $44,000 for the restoration, the group received a $250,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Transpo= rtation to fix up the building, which will house a museum, a community meeting room in what used to be the freight area, = and a modern kitchen. Community events such as a dinner theater and other musical productions have been staged to raise f= unds. The Terry Depot project is expected to aid in downtown redevelopment efforts. Like many communities in the metro area, th= e city center needs more people and businesses to continue thriving. -Julie Whitehead - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <009001c1e7fd$08288560$3762f6d1_@_0019873538> References: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42EF5_@_mail1.itochu.com> <002001c1e7b0$7e2fb280$464476d8@oemcomputer> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 19:49:41 -0400 From: "Steven Delibert" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey Jim, I think the reason for this is one of those mindless programming stunts, where in some versions of Outlook the translator will pop up whenever it thinks it sees a word in a foreign language -- I think it's your "itochu.com" address that makes the thing think it's reading something in Japanese. - ----- Original Message ----- From: Rich Chapin To: Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 10:42 AM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > JIM, > > FYI, A JAPANESE TRANSLATOR POPS UP WITH YOUR MESSAGE. > > REGARDS, > RICH CHAPIN > ----- Original Message ----- > From: James Dent / NYKGN > To: RSHS List (E-mail) > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 9:56 AM > Subject: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > Off-topic, from the EL List... > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: olsenkbce_@_juno.com [mailto:olsenkbce@juno.com] > > Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 10:02 PM > > Subject: (erielack) Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > Yes, this did happen, > > > > According to the Wayne Today, April 18th, 2002, page 2 (Today Newspapers, > > West Paterson, NJ) > > > > Train Set Found with Live Grenade, > > > > On April 4th township police officers and fire company 5 were called to > > the home of a Wayne Township man who reported that a model train he had > > purchased appeared to have a hand grenade inside it. The purchaser had > > removed the grenade and placed it on his kitchen table. Police cordened > > off the area and called in the bomb squad. The grenade was removed and > > later detonated without incident. > > > > Kevin Olsen > > Wayne, NJ > > ================================= > > 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 > ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <014001c1e815$6b324b60$0200000a_@_windows98> References: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42EF5_@_mail1.itochu.com> <002001c1e7b0$7e2fb280$464476d8@oemcomputer> <009001c1e7fd$08288560$3762f6d1@0019873538> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 19:45:22 -0700 From: "Bob Harbison" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey >> I think it's your "itochu.com" address that makes >> the thing think it's reading something in Japanese. Nope, it's right here in his header file: > charset="iso-2022-jp" Now I have no idea why he's got his character set listed as Japanese, but he does, so that's what Lookout err I mean Outlook expects. Normally if you go to file properties and details, you'll find the following: Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Here's how to fix this problem, if you're using Outlook: To set the default encoding for sending messages On the Tools menu, click Options. On the Send tab, click International Settings, and then select the default encoding you want to use. Bob Harbison - Bob_@_RailroadInfo.com http://www.RailroadForums.com - NEW! Free Railroad Discussion Forum http://www.RailroadData.com - Railroad Links Directory and Search Engine http://www.RailroadPix.com - Railroad Photo Gallery http://www.RailroadBookstore.com - Railroad Books at Discount Prices - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Delibert" To: Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 4:49 PM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > Jim, I think the reason for this is one of those mindless programming > stunts, where in some versions of Outlook the translator will pop up > whenever it thinks it sees a word in a foreign language -- > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rich Chapin > To: > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 10:42 AM > Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > JIM, > > > > FYI, A JAPANESE TRANSLATOR POPS UP WITH YOUR MESSAGE. > > > > REGARDS, > > RICH CHAPIN > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: James Dent / NYKGN > > To: RSHS List (E-mail) > > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 9:56 AM > > Subject: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > > > > Off-topic, from the EL List... > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: olsenkbce_@_juno.com [mailto:olsenkbce@juno.com] > > > Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 10:02 PM > > > Subject: (erielack) Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > > > Yes, this did happen, > > > > > > According to the Wayne Today, April 18th, 2002, page 2 (Today > Newspapers, > > > West Paterson, NJ) > > > > > > Train Set Found with Live Grenade, > > > > > > On April 4th township police officers and fire company 5 were called to > > > the home of a Wayne Township man who reported that a model train he had > > > purchased appeared to have a hand grenade inside it. The purchaser had > > > removed the grenade and placed it on his kitchen table. Police cordened > > > off the area and called in the bomb squad. The grenade was removed and > > > later detonated without incident. > > > > > > Kevin Olsen > > > Wayne, NJ > > > ================================= > > > 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 > > > > ================================= > 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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <20020420031937.16444.qmail_@_web11802.mail.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <014001c1e815$6b324b60$0200000a_@_windows98> Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 20:19:37 -0700 (PDT) From: Art Marsh Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey Sorry folks, I was not keeping track of where this thread started so please excuse me for jumping in the middle. What you have is a very common occurance with Microsoft Outlook(s) up to and including Outlook 2000 and ALL versions of Outlook Express. Outlook 2002 (Commonly shipped with MS Office XP) is the FIRST Outlook to have solved the problem but I will not get into that here in this post. Basically Rich (?), your “installed” version of Outlook does not recognize Jim’s message body text character style. There are more reasons for that than I can get into and still be brief. Please contact me directly if you need assistance in solving this problem. Here is a little snip from Microsoft’s Technet problem assistance tool. “When the Microsoft Exchange Internet Mail Connector (IMC) receives a message that contains a character set that is not installed, the content of the message body is placed into an attachment containing the message. The file will contain an attachment display name of "Charset = XXX" (for example, Charset = iso-2022-JP). This behavior does not give the recipient a clear indication of the reason for the location of the message contents, or instructions to access the attachment. The message is placed into the attachment (for example, ATT00000.txt). The contents of the attachment can be accessed by using a viewer that can display the original character set.” And your email might have included an error message something like this “This message was sent using a character set not supported on the Internet Mail Connector. The message text has been placed into an attachment….” If I knew a little more about the exact wording of your message copy I could do more. Later, - --- Bob Harbison wrote: > >> I think it's your "itochu.com" address that makes > >> the thing think it's reading something in Japanese. > > Nope, it's right here in his header file: > > charset="iso-2022-jp" > > Now I have no idea why he's got his character > set listed as Japanese, but he does, so that's > what Lookout err I mean Outlook expects. > > Normally if you go to file properties and details, > you'll find the following: > Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Here's how to fix this problem, if you're using Outlook: > > To set the default encoding for sending messages > > On the Tools menu, click Options. > On the Send tab, click International Settings, and then select the > default > encoding you want to use. > > > Bob Harbison - Bob_@_RailroadInfo.com > > http://www.RailroadForums.com - NEW! Free Railroad Discussion Forum > http://www.RailroadData.com - Railroad Links Directory and Search > Engine > http://www.RailroadPix.com - Railroad Photo Gallery > http://www.RailroadBookstore.com - Railroad Books at Discount Prices > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steven Delibert" > To: > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 4:49 PM > Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > Jim, I think the reason for this is one of those mindless > programming > > stunts, where in some versions of Outlook the translator will pop > up > > whenever it thinks it sees a word in a foreign language -- > ----- > Original Message ----- > > From: Rich Chapin > > To: > > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 10:42 AM > > Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > > > > JIM, > > > > > > FYI, A JAPANESE TRANSLATOR POPS UP WITH YOUR MESSAGE. > > > > > > REGARDS, > > > RICH CHAPIN > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: James Dent / NYKGN > > > To: RSHS List (E-mail) > > > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 9:56 AM > > > Subject: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey ===== Art Marsh Fremont, CA __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Games - play chess, backgammon, pool and more http://games.yahoo.com/ ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000f01c1e824$a64e4aa0$fe805043_@_JimDent> References: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42EF5_@_mail1.itochu.com> <002001c1e7b0$7e2fb280$464476d8@oemcomputer> <009001c1e7fd$08288560$3762f6d1@0019873538> <014001c1e815$6b324b60$0200000a@windows98> Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 00:34:24 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey Bob and Steve and all, Regarding the "charset" message, my outgoing message default encoding always has been"western european". I will not send anymore messages from that email address, that should fix the problem. Perhaps the subject of the message should have been: "Off-topic - Strange but True in Outlook" Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming... Jim ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00a501c1e827$c38c3980$fe805043_@_JimDent> Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 00:56:42 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: (rshsdepot) Fw: Sewell, NJ train station sewell train station Can anyone help Mr. Schairer? - ----- Original Message ----- From: Joseph Schairer Joseph.Schairer_@_atx.com To: 'jdent1_@_optonline.net' Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 3:30 PM Subject: sewell train station I am looking for any pictures or information on the Sewell nj railroad station. its located at the corner of atlantic and centre aves in Sewell, Mantua township nj. I am considering purchasing the station and am looking for any info I can get on it. thanks for your time Joseph T. Schairer Facilities Management Technician ATX/Corecomm 215-320-0461 ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #350 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001901c1e8c8$ef54cd60$06b6f4d1_@_paul> Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 20:10:20 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Fw: Fw: (rshsdepot) Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ (PATH) - -----Original Message----- From: Henry Rosenberg To: Paul S. Luchter Date: Saturday, April 20, 2002 1:57 PM Subject: Re: Fw: (rshsdepot) Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ (PATH) My friend queries the following: >Did I already ask you this? How did Exch. Place get damaged? Henry I thought that the tunnel was sealed after the station, and there was no damage to Exchange Place. My guess is they want to put in crossovers or a loop for terminus use? >At 12:28 AM 4/19/02 -0400, you wrote: > >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Bernie Wagenblast >>To: Rail Depot List >>Date: Thursday, April 18, 2002 3:47 PM >>Subject: (rshsdepot) Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ (PATH) >> >> >>Links: >>http://www.nycsubway.org/us/path/historical/hm-270.jpg (1965) >>http://www.nycsubway.org/us/path/historical/hm-456.jpg (1965) >> >> >>Damaged NJ rail station to reopen June 2003 >>Metro >> >>The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is expected to reopen the >>Exchange Place PATH commuter rail station in Jersey City, N.J., in June >>2003. >>Exchange Place, along with the World Trade Center station, sustained heavy >>damage from the Sept. 11 attacks and service was cut off to thousands of >>commuters. >> >>The Port Authority plans to start controlled blasts in the Jersey City >>tunnels as soon as May 6, officials said. >> >> >> >>In a related news item, here are links to new photos of the PATH tracks at >>the World Trade Center site. Excavations have now reached the track level. >> >>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020416/168/1eomo.html >> >>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020410/168/1djsx.html >> >> >>================================= >>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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <005201c1e8e9$875e1b00$0200000a_@_windows98> References: <00C0C9E94081D5119E5200508BB9051DF42EF5_@_mail1.itochu.com> <002001c1e7b0$7e2fb280$464476d8@oemcomputer> <009001c1e7fd$08288560$3762f6d1@0019873538> <014001c1e815$6b324b60$0200000a@windows98> <000f01c1e824$a64e4aa0$fe805043@JimDent> Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 21:01:20 -0700 From: "Bob Harbison" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > Regarding the "charset" message, my > outgoing message default encoding > always has been"western european". It's getting changed someplace: > Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net > Message-id: <000f01c1e824$a64e4aa0$fe805043_@_JimDent> > MIME-version: 1.0 > X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 > X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000 > Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-2022-jp ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <005901c1e8e9$ad26a6e0$0200000a_@_windows98> References: <20020420031937.16444.qmail_@_web11802.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 21:04:33 -0700 From: "Bob Harbison" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > your "installed" version of Outlook does not > recognize Jim's message body text character style. NO, Jim's version of Outlook is incorrectly labeling the body text character style. There is no Japanese text in the body, even though the header indicates that there is. The solution is not for everyone who gets his message to install Japanese characters, it is for Outlook to correctly classify his character set. In typical Microsoft fashion, correcting this problem is much harder than it has any reason to be. Bob Harbison - Bob_@_RailroadInfo.com http://www.RailroadForums.com - NEW! Free Railroad Discussion Forum http://www.RailroadData.com - Railroad Links Directory and Search Engine http://www.RailroadPix.com - Railroad Photo Gallery http://www.RailroadBookstore.com - Railroad Books at Discount Prices - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Art Marsh" To: ; "Steven Delibert" ; "James Dent / NYKGN" Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 8:19 PM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > Sorry folks, > > I was not keeping track of where this thread started so please excuse > me for jumping in the middle. What you have is a very common occurance > with Microsoft Outlook(s) up to and including Outlook 2000 and ALL > versions of Outlook Express. Outlook 2002 (Commonly shipped with MS > Office XP) is the FIRST Outlook to have solved the problem but I will > not get into that here in this post. > > Basically Rich (?), your "installed" version of Outlook does not > recognize Jim's message body text character style. There are more > reasons for that than I can get into and still be brief. Please contact > me directly if you need assistance in solving this problem. Here is a > little snip from Microsoft's Technet problem assistance tool. > > "When the Microsoft Exchange Internet Mail Connector (IMC) receives a > message that contains a character set that is not installed, the > content of the message body is placed into an attachment containing the > message. The file will contain an attachment display name of "Charset = > XXX" (for example, Charset = iso-2022-JP). > > This behavior does not give the recipient a clear indication of the > reason for the location of the message contents, or instructions to > access the attachment. The message is placed into the attachment (for > example, ATT00000.txt). > > The contents of the attachment can be accessed by using a viewer that > can display the original character set." > > And your email might have included an error message something like this > "This message was sent using a character set not supported on the > Internet Mail Connector. The message text has been placed into an > attachment.." > > If I knew a little more about the exact wording of your message copy I > could do more. > > Later, > > --- Bob Harbison wrote: > > >> I think it's your "itochu.com" address that makes > > >> the thing think it's reading something in Japanese. > > > > Nope, it's right here in his header file: > > > charset="iso-2022-jp" > > > > Now I have no idea why he's got his character > > set listed as Japanese, but he does, so that's > > what Lookout err I mean Outlook expects. > > > > Normally if you go to file properties and details, > > you'll find the following: > > Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > > > Here's how to fix this problem, if you're using Outlook: > > > > To set the default encoding for sending messages > > > > On the Tools menu, click Options. > > On the Send tab, click International Settings, and then select the > > default > > encoding you want to use. > > > > > > Bob Harbison - Bob_@_RailroadInfo.com > > > > http://www.RailroadForums.com - NEW! Free Railroad Discussion Forum > > http://www.RailroadData.com - Railroad Links Directory and Search > > Engine > > http://www.RailroadPix.com - Railroad Photo Gallery > > http://www.RailroadBookstore.com - Railroad Books at Discount Prices > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Steven Delibert" > > To: > > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 4:49 PM > > Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > > > > Jim, I think the reason for this is one of those mindless > > programming > > > stunts, where in some versions of Outlook the translator will pop > > up > > > whenever it thinks it sees a word in a foreign language -- > ----- > > Original Message ----- > > > From: Rich Chapin > > > To: > > > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 10:42 AM > > > Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > > > > > > > > > > JIM, > > > > > > > > FYI, A JAPANESE TRANSLATOR POPS UP WITH YOUR MESSAGE. > > > > > > > > REGARDS, > > > > RICH CHAPIN > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: James Dent / NYKGN > > > > To: RSHS List (E-mail) > > > > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 9:56 AM > > > > Subject: (rshsdepot) Off-topic - Strange but True in New Jersey > > > ===== > Art Marsh > Fremont, CA > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Games - play chess, backgammon, pool and more > http://games.yahoo.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 ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #351 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.2.20020421153637.00dbf220_@_postoffice2.mail.cornell.edu> In-Reply-To: <001201c1e3fe$aca46da0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 15:43:16 -0400 From: William Casey Subject: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Square Publishing Hi Folks: I had a chance to review a copy of "Scenes Along the Rails" published last year by John W. Hudson of Depot Square Publishing. This publication had many very rare photos and is excellently done, well worth a review for those interested in the Binghamton/Syracuse railroad. Was anyone on this list involved in obtaining photos for this great collection. Bill Casey > http://www.rrshs.org ******************************************************************** Bill Casey PO Box 36 Apulia Station, NY 13020 315 683-5674 e-mail: wtc8_@_cornell.edu ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002f01c1e9a9$b69d6e00$a8d4ffcc_@_lner4472> References: <200204200934.g3K9Y1H85153_@_net.bluemoon.net> Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 22:59:25 -0400 From: "Alexander D. Mitchell IV" Subject: (rshsdepot) Reading Terminal (Market), Philadelphia Today's Philadelphia Inquirer has a VERY lengthy feature article on Reading Terminal Market. Although it focuses more on the market than the station, it's a worthwhile read if you're into the ancilliary uses of stations--remember, the market and station co-existed for decades. Link: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/3090726.htm Alexander D. Mitchell IV ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001601c1e9c2$9042aae0$1b66f4d1_@_paul> Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 01:52:31 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: (rshsdepot) Raymond Loewy LIRR shelter NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo loewylirr.jpg (image/jpeg, 442987 bytes) Here is a scan of a 1948 picture of a Raymond Loewy designed Long Island Rail Road shelter from an article in the New York Times: He had a long history with the Pennsylvania RR, owners of the LIRR Raymond Loewy designed Studebaker cars up to and including the 1961 Avanti, he designed the famous Coke bottle (actually he only redesigned it in 1954-the enamel lettering instead of the embossing-but even the Encyclopedia Britannica says he designed the original), the S-1 PRR locomotive, the T-1, the GG-1, the Greyhound bus, Air Force One, the Lucky Strike cigarette pack, Exxon and Shell logos, the Space Shuttle, Skylab, the Saltines cracker box for Nabisco, Coldspot refrigerator, the redsigned Roanoke station, the paint design for the Cleveland PCC cars, those original Coca Cola vending machines,... His first assignment for the PRR was to design new trash receptacles for Pennsylvania Station in NYC, I wonder if any still exist? Below are links to pictures (and info) on his designs for the R-1, P-5a, GG-1, T-1, S-1 and other stuff he did: For GG-1 (my favorite locomotive excepting those real cute 0-4-0's on the NY Elevated Rail Road),see: http://www.vmt.org/prr_number4919.htm For PRR T-1 see: http://www.rediscoveredpaper.com/t1.html For good picture of S-1, discussion of Broadway Limited observation car, and short biography of Henry Dreyfuss who designed the streamlined art deco NY Central trains, see: http://www.idsa.org/whatis/100yr/locomotive.htm For more on the the PRR S-1, the first PRR duplex-drive loco see: http://www.raymondloewyfoundation.com/about/casestudy/s1locomotive.html See his earlier classic deco PRR K4S at: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/2066/penn.html For pictures of all his cars designed for Studebaker, the Coke soda fountain dispenser and a profile of the GG-1 in its Tuscan Red glory, along with an odd discussion comparing Steve Job to Koewy, see: http://www.applelinks.com/mooresviews/loewy.shtml. The car pictures are great... You probably all know about this one, the GG-1 home page: http://www.spikesys.com/GG1/ I couldn't find a picture of his silent trash can... Loewy designed the cowlings, the exterior design of the engines, the first was a redesigned electric P-5, the first wholly designed engine was the R-1, here is a picture: http://www.chesco.com/~apu/prr/images/l-6a.jpg Here is an O-1, the first PR electric, notice the non-streamlined lines: http://www.chesco.com/~apu/prr/images/o-1a.jpg On this page, the second picture down is Loewy's redesign of the P-5a, note that the lines are not too far from the later GG-1: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/lexcie/tops-prrac.htm For Coke vending machines see: http://design.art.utexas.edu/projects/miodrag/Spring99/Mydesigner/bao/cok e3.html http://design.art.utexas.edu/projects/miodrag/Spring99/Mydesigner/bao/cok e4.html there are 6 of them), these are very cool here is a sketch of John Lennon by Raymond Loewy: http://www.explodedview.tv/geller/commercial/lennonloewy.html C:\My Documents\articles\loewylirr.jpg ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #352 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 20:05:29 -0400 From: "Michael Bosak" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Square Publishi No, but I've met John Hudson, and I'm a friend of John Taibi's. He was i nstrumental in getting the project done. He's the guy who owns and lives in the Munn's(ville) station. - ----- Original Message ----- From: William Casey Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2002 3:48 PM To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net Subject: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Squ are Publishing Hi Folks: I had a chance to review a copy of "Scenes Along the Rails" published last year by John W. Hudson of Depot Square Publishing. This publication had many very rare photos and is excellently done, well worth a review for those interested in the Binghamton/Syracuse railroad. Was anyone on this list involved in obtaining photos for this great collection. Bill Casey > http://www.rrshs.org ******************************************************************** Bill Casey PO Box 36 Apulia Station, NY 13020 315 683-5674 e-mail: wtc8_@_cornell.edu =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.orgGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <2.2.32.20020423022557.033ede08_@_mail.norwich.net> Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 22:25:57 -0400 From: "Paul F. Straney" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Square Publishi Any idea where an interested party could pick up a copy? Paul At 08:05 PM 4/22/02 -0400, you wrote: >No, but I've met John Hudson, and I'm a friend of John Taibi's. He was i >nstrumental in getting the project done. He's the guy who owns and lives > in the Munn's(ville) station. > >----- Original Message ----- >From: William Casey >Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2002 3:48 PM >To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net >Subject: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Squ >are Publishing > > >Hi Folks: I had a chance to review a copy of "Scenes Along the Rails" >published last year by John W. Hudson of Depot Square Publishing. This >publication had many very rare photos and is excellently done, well worth > a >review for those interested in the Binghamton/Syracuse railroad. > >Was anyone on this list involved in obtaining photos for this great >collection. > >Bill Casey > > >> http://www.rrshs.org > >******************************************************************** >Bill Casey >PO Box 36 >Apulia Station, NY 13020 >315 683-5674 >e-mail: wtc8_@_cornell.edu > >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D >The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing >railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.orgGet more from the Web. FREE >MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00a101c1ea71$7f07b4a0$374576d8_@_oemcomputer> References: <2.2.32.20020423022557.033ede08_@_mail.norwich.net> Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 22:49:31 -0400 From: "Rich Chapin" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Square Publishi Paul, Raritan Bay Hobbies http://www.raritanbayhobbies.com/index.html has all three "Scenes Along the Rails" listed as in stock. I've bought a number of times from them and always found they had very good prices and service. (No relation to them, just a very satisfied customer) Good Luck, Rich Chapin - ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul F. Straney To: Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 10:25 PM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Square Publishi > Any idea where an interested party could pick up a copy? > > Paul ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #353 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000f01c1eaab$06226870$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 05:41:20 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) South Salem, MA MBTA sets aside $8 million for South Salem train depot By DAVE GERSHMAN News staff - Salem Evening News SALEM -- The MBTA has set aside $8.1 million to build a commuter rail station in South Salem in the next three to four years, potentially giving a major boost to nearby Salem State College. While the project is still just a concept, the T put in money for the station in its newest, five-year capital investment spending plan. Whether that money actually gets spent, however, depends on the reaction of the community, T officials say. "This gives us an opportunity to gauge the interest," said Dennis DiZoglio, the T's head planner. For years, a commuter rail station in South Salem has been a dream of some neighbors, as well as leaders at Salem State College, which enrolls thousands of commuter students but is hard-pressed for parking. Never before, however, has the transit agency even come close to putting any money behind the idea. In fact, only a few years ago, the T told station proponents that the new station was unworkable for three reasons: It wouldn't attract enough riders, there is nowhere to put it, and stopping trains in South Salem would add travel time to the commute to or from Boston. But the T's interest was jump-started after Salem State College President Nancy Harrington wrote then-state Transportation Secretary Kevin Sullivan about 18 months ago and advocated for the new station, DiZoglio said. According to her letter, Harrington said the school could run shuttle buses to the station to pick up students, faculty and employees. Sullivan apparently liked the idea, DiZoglio said. A surprise Now that the stop is on the T's radar screen, and apparently has some state support, some city councilors are getting nervous at the finer details. The project appears bigger than what many people envisioned, said Ward 5 Councilor Kim Driscoll. "A lot of people thought it would be a platform," she said. "I don't think anyone knew $8 million would have been set aside for a station." Members of the South Salem Neighborhood Association strongly backed the idea in the past. They wanted to get some of the students who commute to Salem State out of their cars, which are often parked on neighbors' streets. But, those neighbors also envisioned a simple station with little to no parking. "They initiated it and they wanted it," said Sandi Power of the group. "What they might get from the T may be entirely different from what they wanted. ... I think it could resolve a lot of problems. We wish it wouldn't create more." The location could be behind the eastern corner of Broadway, which is mostly home to commercial and industrial property. However, near the northern side of the tracks is a small, quiet neighborhood. At one time, Ocean Avenue crossed the tracks. The bridge was taken down years ago. "The neighbors are concerned they may put that back, and then people would come in from other communities and park in the neighborhood," Ward 3 Councilor Joan Lovely said. "It would really change the whole dynamics of the neighborhood." Both councilors see the benefits for the college, but are worried the station could attract large numbers of commuters from Marblehead. "The concept of a South Salem commuter rail stop might be a double-edged sword," Driscoll said. Recently, MBTA officials met with Mayor Stan Usovicz and City Planner Joe Walsh. Walsh said the mayor told the T that the South Salem stop must be supported by the neighbors and college officials. And, like the two councilors, the mayor said investment in the new station is no substitute for the state's plans to rehab the downtown train station and build an adjacent parking garage. Driscoll is trying to set up a meeting with T officials in May to discuss the South Salem stop with neighbors. 'A small station' To build it, DiZoglio said, the T would have to buy some of the adjacent land. It would be a small station, he emphasized, with parking for perhaps fewer than 150 cars. The biggest cost would be to move a section of the current commuter rail line, which is double-tracked in that area, to accommodate a platform. A raised, handicapped-accessible platform would be inserted between the two tracks, so riders would not have to step up to board the trains. Pedestrian ramps would extend up from the platform and over the tracks. The money is included in the T's five-year budget, to be spent in the next three to four years. There are no drawings or schematics yet. But if the community reacts positively to the idea, DiZoglio said, the T could act more quickly. If there is opposition, DiZoglio indicated, the project could fade away. Proposed in 1988 The idea for a station goes back a ways. In 1988, then-Mayor Tony Salvo commissioned a study on a South Salem station after neighbors became concerned about the amount of traffic heading to the college. Another study to generate interest in the station was commissioned by the college, with help from neighbors. It even projected ridership figures. Neither caught the T's eye. But, after receiving Harrington's letter, Sullivan asked the T to take a new look at the idea. So, a year ago, the T performed a ridership study and took a look at the area. Sullivan liked what the T found. It soon became apparent that a station could fit in the area. And the station would generate an estimated 520 train trips a day -- with 320 to 350 associated with the college. "Now that ridership isn't bad for a commuter rail station," DiZoglio said. Those numbers may explain why the stop now makes sense. Express trains could be run to the South Salem stop, DiZoglio said, so as not to drag down the travel times of other trains. In just the last two years, he said, more people have been riding the commuter rail. The entire system went from providing 120,000 trips a day to 140,000 trips a day. "Our new models are showing that there's significant growth," he said. "People are finding commuter rail to be a convenient transit mode to get to where they want to go." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.20020423080230.01304634_@_MYMAIL.EMCYBER.COM> References: <2.2.32.20020423022557.033ede08_@_mail.norwich.net> In-Reply-To: <00a101c1ea71$7f07b4a0$374576d8_@_oemcomputer> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 08:02:30 -0400 From: "Bruce Mowbray" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Square Publishi > >Raritan Bay Hobbies http://www.raritanbayhobbies.com/index.html has all >three "Scenes Along the Rails" listed as in stock. Part 3??? I have one and two and have been waiting on #3. Has this really been published? Raritan Hobbies only shows #1 and #2. Bruce Mowbray trainhead_@_mymail.emcyber.com http://www.geocities.com/trainhead391/ TMB Manufacturing and Locomotive Works 1 1/2" Scale & 2 1/2" Scale (Narrow Gauge) Live Steamer ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <003801c1eac3$4a48eca0$b94476d8_@_oemcomputer> References: <2.2.32.20020423022557.033ede08_@_mail.norwich.net> <3.0.1.32.20020423080230.01304634@MYMAIL.EMCYBER.COM> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 08:35:01 -0400 From: "Rich Chapin" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Square Publishi Bruce, Copied from the RBH site under "Scenes Along the Rails" and pasted here. "DL&W's Syracuse Division 35.95" Please note: this is not labelled "Part 3", although it's the third Scenes book. Since RBH lists this, they should have it. Send an e-mail or call Gerry Regards, Rich - ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Mowbray To: Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 8:02 AM Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Book "Scenes Along the Rails" published by Depot Square Publishi > > > > >Raritan Bay Hobbies http://www.raritanbayhobbies.com/index.html has all > >three "Scenes Along the Rails" listed as in stock. > > Part 3??? I have one and two and have been waiting on #3. Has this really > been published? Raritan Hobbies only shows #1 and #2. > > > > Bruce Mowbray > trainhead_@_mymail.emcyber.com > http://www.geocities.com/trainhead391/ > TMB Manufacturing and Locomotive Works > 1 1/2" Scale & 2 1/2" Scale (Narrow Gauge) Live Steamer > > > ================================= > 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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <01b101c1eb2f$f0c18850$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 21:32:47 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Marion, NC Old depot to get new life Architects inspect Marion building By MIKE CONLEY Staff Writer - The McDowell News Architects are taking a close look at the old railroad depot in Marion as they start the process of returning the building to its former use as a passenger rail station. The building may be one of the oldest brick depots still standing in North Carolina. City of Marion officials said last week they have been told that Norfolk Southern Corp. no longer wants the 4,000-square-foot depot moved to a new location off the railroad's right of way. But a spokesman for Norfolk Southern said Monday his corporation has not made a final decision on whether to move the depot. "Basically, Norfolk Southern is working with the N.C. DOT's Rail Division on their study for passenger rail in western North Carolina," said Rick Harris, director of corporate communications. "And with respect to its impact on the Marion depot, our position is we are going to do what it is best for the safety of the people using the depot and the safety of our own operations. Safety is our highest priority." After completing a yearlong study, the N.C. Department of Transportation unveiled last year its proposed five-phase plan to bring passenger rail service back to western North Carolina. The state DOT's plan calls for a passenger rail line between Salisbury and Asheville, with stops in Marion, Old Fort, Black Mountain, Morganton, Valdese, Hickory and Statesville. Architect David Black and interior designer Christy Worthington, both from the Raleigh architectural firm of Hager Smith Design, spent Thursday and Friday getting a close look at the old Southern Railway depot building. This building and the right of way are still owned by Norfolk Southern. This architectural firm will also oversee the renovation of the Morganton depot. They took notes and measurements, made photographs and performed a close inspection of the building which has stood vacant for at least 10 years. A few pigeons were found living inside the old depot, though. Some of the more recent papers found lying on the dusty, dirty floor inside the building date from the late 1980s. Old railroad equipment and documents used by both the Southern Railway and its successor, Norfolk Southern, are stored inside the building. Regular passenger rail service to western North Carolina ended in August 1975. In recent years, the Marion depot has stood empty with its windows covered by boards while the Old Fort depot has been used as a railroad museum and the office of the Old Fort Chamber of Commerce. At times, the Marion depot has been the target of vandals who have left graffiti on its walls. Last year, Norfolk Southern cleaned the graffiti from the walls and mowed the grass on the right of way. Despite the years of neglect, the old depot building is still in pretty good condition, according to Black. "All in all, I would say it is in pretty sound condition," he said while inspecting the building. Black has had experience in the restoration and upgrade of old railroad buildings. He has worked on renovations for the Southern Railway's repair shops in Spencer. These old railroad buildings were converted into the N.C. Transportation Museum. He has worked on the finishes and paints for the massive Back Shop building at the museum in Spencer. The state is now renovating this old 600-foot-long building into a state-of-the-art facility to showcase North Carolina's transportation history, including trains, airplanes and automobiles. Much of the old Marion depot building was once used for handling freight. Black and Worthington found old signs still hanging on the brick walls of the vast freight depot section. These hand-painted wooden signs bear the names from Marion's past: "Clinchfield Mfg. Co.," "Marion Mfg. Co.," "Cross Mill," "J.D. Blanton" and "J.F. Nanney." Apparently, these signs were hung in the freight depot to indicate where shipments were supposed to be placed after the goods were unloaded from the train. This part of the depot used for freight service is the oldest section of the building. Black said the interior walls, that still have white paint on them, were built in 1868 when the railroad first made its way through McDowell and the rest of western North Carolina. This early railroad preceded the formation of the Southern Railway. Other portions of the freight depot section were built later in the 1880s or 1890s. This indicates that the Marion depot may be one of the oldest surviving railroad depots in North Carolina, according to Black. "It is one of the oldest," he said. "It is certainly one of the oldest surviving masonry depots in North Carolina." Furthermore, Marion once had a separate depot for passenger service and this building stood next to the current building. "There was a passenger depot here but it was torn down in 1952," Black said. "It was a very nice depot. It's unfortunate it was torn down." An addition was then built onto the freight depot in order to accomodate passenger service. This addition was used as a railroad offce in later years. Looking outside the building, you can easily see the newer portion compared to the older portion. The renovation and upgrade plans for the Marion depot include a 20-passenger waiting room in one section of the building with space available for offices, a visitor's center or some other use such as an arts and crafts display. The depot could be used for parties and special events, as sort of an alternative to the Marion Community Building. "Those are some possible choices," said City Manager Bob Boyette. The cost of renovating the Marion depot was previously estimated to be $1.8 million. This included the cost of moving the building. Marion's share of this amount was estimated to be approximately $178,300, or 10 percent of the total cost. If the depot building will not have to be moved, then the cost of renovating the structure will be lowered. However, the city may request money from the state DOT to help connect the depot with Main Street and West Henderson Street. Within 30 to 45 days, the architects from Hager Smith will meet with the local Rail Committee and discuss their renovation ideas based on the initial assessment. "I was really impressed. I think that there is a lot of potential," Boyette said after he toured the inside of the building. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <01ba01c1eb33$0791f530$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 21:54:54 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Topeka, KS Links: http://www.greatoverlandstation.com/pages/mission.htm (detailed information and photos) http://www.cjonline.com/stories/041102/leg_new.depot.shtml (interior of station - recent) http://www.cjonline.com/stories/041102/leg_leg.depot2.shtml (exterior of station - recent) Depot steams toward recognition House committee opens possibility for other rail museums to share special designation By Chris Grenz The Capital-Journal Topeka's Great Overland Station is on track to become an official state railroad museum. But a committee may have derailed efforts to make the depot the state railroad museum of Kansas.A House committee on Wednesday endorsed a resolution that would bestow a special designation on North Topeka's restored Union Pacific Railroad depot, making it "a state railroad museum of Kansas." But the House Federal and State Affairs Committee voted to send the plan to the full House only after the resolution, which had already passed the Senate, was changed to allow other railroad museums to also share the designation. "There are other railroad museums across the state of Kansas," said Rep. R.J. Wilson, D-Pittsburg, who offered the amendment. "I'm not saying any other museums will come forward and want to be a state museum, but I think we should at least leave the door open and give them that potential."The resolution, which was sponsored by Shawnee County Sens. Dave Jackson, R-Topeka, Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, and Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, was supported by Railroad Heritage Inc., which is the official corporate name of the station. The group believes the designation can help draw more tourists to the depot, said Bob St. John, president of the Railroad Heritage Inc. board of directors."We'll create a venue where Kansans and visitors from around the nation can immerse themselves in our Kansas heritage while savoring today's quality of life in our state," St. John told the committee. "Together with a new riverfront park and the development of adjacent Historic North Topeka, this area will become a prime destination for tourists while promoting pride in our heritage among Kansans of all ages."Jackson, who represents the area where the depot is located, also testified before the committee. "We think this will be a major tourist destination in North Topeka," he said.Topeka is home to the only major railroad founded in Kansas that still exists today -- Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. But despite Topeka's strong rail history, St. John said the Great Overland Station will be the only train museum in Kansas to focus on the railroad heritage of the entire state. All of the major railroads that have served Kansas will be represented -- Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, Katy, Kansas City Southern, Frisco and others.The resolution discussed on Wednesday now moves to the full House for debate. Concurrent resolutions don't carry the weight of law and don't require the governor's signature. However, if the House passes a different version than the Senate, the Senate will have the option to accept the lower chamber's changes or an agreement will have to be worked out.Rep. Becky Hutchins, R-Holton, opposed changing the wording of the resolution."This would provide a significant marketing tool by being designated the state railroad museum," Hutchins said. But Rep. Ethel Peterson, D-Dodge City, said that while the designation would be positive for the Topeka depot, it could be equally beneficial for other restored depots across Kansas."We wouldn't want for the world to take away from any museums located somewhere else," she said. "We ought not to shut out anybody."After the meeting, St. John said he wasn't upset by the change."Regardless of the word -- whether it's 'a' or 'the' -- we're very pleased," he said. "Being recognized by the Legislature of the state of Kansas is a significant event. It really lends credence to the work that's gone into the project."Chris Grenz can be reached at (785) 296-3005 or cgrenz_@_cjonline.com.The station The $200,000 Union Pacific Station opened on Jan. 27, 1927, in North Topeka with great fanfare. Now, 75 years later, the depot is undergoing a $6 million renovation -- including $4.5 million in federal funds -- to transform it into a museum and meeting place. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <040d01c1eb36$3d4b7040$fe805043_@_JimDent> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 22:17:53 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: (rshsdepot) Nebraska City, NE Roundhouse collapses From Railway Preservation News... For photos go to: http://www.rypn.org/Briefs/april2002/020422.htm Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Roundhouse Collapses Years of efforts by the Heartland Railroad Historical Society to preserve the former Burlington & Missouri River roundhouse, located in Nebraska City, NE ended in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday, April 18 when winds gusting up to 70 MPH blew down the south wall of the structure, and precipitated a major collapse of the much of the remaining structure, including the roof. One truck trailer parked next to the building was totaled and another trailer seriously damaged, along with minor damage to a water tanker also parked nearby. Gerald Kopiasz, a Creighton student and President of the Heartland Railroad Historical Society which was formed partly to preserve the roundhouse, said he and the HRRHS now believe the building is beyond saving. The 5-stall roundhouse was built in 1884 and continued to service steam and diesel engines into the mid 1950s. This was the third collapse of the building, the first happening in October of 1999 when part of the roof fell in. At that time the City wanted to condemn the structure and demolish it, but Gerald went to work trying to save it. Kopiasz found an ally in John Kotouc, an Omaha banker, who helped raise $36,000 to stabilize the structure in 2001. Later that year, the building suffered another partial collapse, but this left the HRRHS undaunted, and they proceeded with plans for adaptive reuse of the structure. These plans included commercial use for some of the space, an amphitheater, and an interpretative railroad museum. The estimated cost of restoring the roundhouse was $715,000, of which approximately $500,000 was to have been ISTEA monies. The HRRHS was on the verge of announcing a fundraising effort to raise $300,000 for the required 20% match and the remainder of the balance. This roundhouse was one of two major restoration projects planned by the HRRHS, the other being efforts to preserve the former 1898 Burlington Station in Omaha, currently derelict. The Station project will proceed, but this is apparently the end of the line for the roundhouse. City officials have already announced their intention to seek demolition of the remaining parts of the building. The HRRHS expressed regrets at the sudden termination of their efforts, and for those persons adversely affected by the collapse. They also commended Mayor Jo Dee Adelung, the Nebraska City City Council, George and Susuan Yohe, and the residents of Nebraska City for giving every opportunity to do something positive with the roundhouse. Materials from the building will be salvaged for use on other projects. (Hume Kading, compiled from information on the HRRHS website, and a report in the Omaha World Herald Online Edition) ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <01b101c1eb2f$f0c18850$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 23:33:04 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) From: "Mark A. Thomas" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Marion, NC On Tue, 23 Apr 2002 21:32:47 -0400 Bernie Wagenblast wrote: > Old depot to get new life > Architects inspect Marion building > > By MIKE CONLEY > Staff Writer - The McDowell News > > Architects are taking a close look at the old railroad depot in Marion as > they start the process of returning the building to its former use as a > passenger rail station. This story was about the old Southern depot. Until just 4 or 5 years ago, the old Clinchfield depot was also standing, near the location (I think it was on the east side of town) where Southern, I think, crossed over the Clinchfield. I was out there in about 1997 with a friend on a train photo expedition and he took me by there to see the depot and was surprised to find nothing left. CSX must have razed it within the last few months because he said he had seen it that recently. - --Mark, markt_@_duke.edu ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #354 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <004a01c1eb83$5bf8f510$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 07:29:55 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Utica, NY Editorial in The Observer-Dispatch 4/24/02 Don't leave county stranded at station April 24, 2002 The ongoing development at Union Station certainly bodes well for Oneida County government, which is pressed for space and is making good use of one of this region's most treasured public facilities. Since the county took title to the station in 1990, it has spent millions in renovations, a project that County Executive Ralph Eannace says could be a catalyst for growth in the oldest section of the city. Eannace is right. The traffic the county has generated here and expects to generate in the near future bodes well for additional development. County government has laid a cornerstone for good things to come. Now others need to step up and help build the success. It is fitting that the city would resurrect a "new public square," as Eannace suggests, at this spot. After all, it was here where in 1758 the British built Fort Schuyler, a supply fort during the French and Indian Wars. The spot was strategic - the Mohawk River once flowed nearby - and it was shallow enough here to allow troops and other travelers to ford the stream as they made their way through the valley. Moses Bagg built a hotel here in 1794, and other businesses and homes soon sprung up as pioneers cleared the surrounding wilderness. By 1820, settlers had carved out a community in the area we know today as Main, Broad, Whitesboro, Hotel and Liberty streets. The area around the hotel became known as Bagg's Square and was the center of public life. Urban blight swept the area in the '60s, '70s and '80s, but with the county takeover of Union Station in 1990, there began a slow renaissance. Since 1993, about $17.6 million in federal, state and local funds have been used for transportation-related improvements and office-space renovations. That has increased public traffic in the area, and that will grow signifcantly this summer once the county's Department of Motor Vehicles office relocates here from the County Office Building. But government can't carry the load. As with any successful municipal operation, there needs to be private investment. That has happened to an extent in the Union Station area, but to realize the area's full potential, there needs to be more. Lupino's Trackside Restaurant is a pioneer, having been at its Main Street site for 13 years. More recently, John Adasek opened The Station Restaurant and Martini Bar inside the train station, and has since added a comedy club that is doing well. Additional restaurants and things like a coffeehouse, brew pub, jazz club and, as Eannace suggests, antique shops, would add significant traffic in the area and could be a great complement to this "new public square." Many old buildings in that area are ripe for development, and a little creativity could be catalyst for that growth. Surely part of the package is the Children's Museum. The museum has come a long way since its founding in 1963. It's one of the oldest children's museums in the country, and moved to its current site at 311 Main St. in 1979. The building was built in 1893. The museum has grown significantly, but has had a rough go of it in recent years. Frankly, it's a shame a community asset with such incredible potential needs to struggle at all. Similar operations in places like Bangor, Maine; Providence, R.I., and Rochester's Strong Museum are bursting with energy, largely thanks to corporate sponsors. While there has been some corporate support for Utica's museum, there's room for much more. While it isn't likely to ever reach the level of say, Rochester's museum, better business support could ensure the museum's vitality and contribute to its growth. It's good news, too, that train ridership is up over 2001, for that certainly stirs activity. And the opening of the overpass to the Adirondack Scenic Railroad for destinations in the North Country can be another big draw. Finally, those who think the Bagg's Square area is not safe really need to pay it a visit. This area - and others downtown - have few safety issues compared to some other parts of the city, says Utica Police Chief C. Allen Pylman. One issue that will need to be addressed as the Union Station area grows is parking. The county Board of Legislators recently passed a local law designating specific areas for various parking needs and providing for enforcement by Utica police. Increasing parking is something the city and county will need to address as more and more traffic is drawn to the area. In the meantime, kudos to government leaders for laying down a track at Union Station. But this can't be a one-way ticket. It's now time for those in the private sector to climb board and help make this a successful trip. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #355 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <003801c1ecc5$15552aa0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 21:52:55 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Saratoga Springs, NY CDTA close to starting train station renovations LAWRENCE FERCHAW, The Saratogian April 25, 2002 SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Plans to rehabilitate and expand the city's train station moved forward this week with the Capital District Transportation Autho-rity's hiring of a construction manager for the project. CDTA, the lead agency on the project, has brought U.W. Marx of Troy on board. Improving the tracks could begin within two months. CDTA is also working on an agreement with the city to partially fund improvements to Station Lane, the road leading to the station off West Avenue. The estimated $400,000 worth of work would include improved utility lines, a sidewalk, lighting and regrading of the road, Deputy Mayor Hank Kuczynski said. CDTA's proposal calls for the city to pay 20 percent of the total through direct funding or in-kind services. The agreement, which CDTA said is required to move the project ahead, was first presented at the April 16 City Council meeting for discussion. It is likely to go before the council on May 7. CDTA's board on Tuesday approved the selection of a construction manager for the renovations of the 1960s-era train station. U.W. Marx was awarded the contract, which is not to exceed $369,000, to oversee all construction activity on behalf of CDTA. The board also authorized an agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway to pay for the track improvements at the station. CDTA will pay $676,000 and CP Rail will pay $150,000. Work on the tracks could begin in four to six weeks, according to a statement from CDTA. CDTA Chairman David Stackrow, in a prepared statement, said the agreement with CP Rail ''will pave the way for track work to be done and for work on the station building to start.'' CDTA has not decided when work on the station will begin but sometime this year is likely, said spokeswoman Margo Janack. Construction will take 18 months to complete. A rendering of what the station will look like when completed is not yet available. Meanwhile, CDTA is wrapping up work on the new station in Rensselaer. The board on Tuesday approved contracts for management of that station, which should be completed in June. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #356 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000601c1ed0b$ef654860$1f8e13cf_@_lner4472> References: <200204260934.g3Q9Y0e97963_@_net.bluemoon.net> Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 06:20:04 -0400 From: "Alexander D. Mitchell IV" Subject: (rshsdepot) Deshler, Ohio News Report from Railway Preservation News (www.rypn.org): "The Deshler, Ohio B&O passenger & freight station, a classic yellow brick with tile roof structure that sits right at the diamond, was damaged in a 15 car coal train derailment on the diamonds this morning [April 25]. It is unclear how much damage has been done to the building, or if it will be demolished. The building was being used by CSX mow forces, and would have been a good candidate for preservation with a rather active historical society operating the railroad park acrossed the tracks. BTW, there are sidebooms, panel track and a mangled hopper car where the railroad park is/was." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00df01c1ed0f$9eb4b5a0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 06:46:28 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Richland, GA Photo: http://www.dca.state.ga.us/regions/profiles/region_8/images/8_55.jpg Richland Depot ribbon-cutting is this Saturday Restoration came through grant and local funds BY HARRY FRANKLIN State Editor - Ledger-Enquirer The historic Richland Depot, which once served as a hub for railway traffic moving north, south, east and west through southwest Georgia, has undergone extensive renovation and soon will open as a railroad museum, Richland City Hall and a welcome center. In planning more than a decade, the restoration project was carried out through a Georgia Department of Transportation $411,000 Transportation Enhancement Act grant plus a local match of some $120,000 of in-kind services and other grants, Helen Blanton, the Richland city clerk, said Monday. The ribbon-cutting, with state and local officials participating, will be 11 a.m. Saturday. Tours are offered until 2 p.m. at the facility off Broad Street. Refreshments will be served and the Richland Better Hometown panel will sell hotdogs and drinks outside. The restoration work was designed by Bruce Jennings, a Dalton architect, who specializes in historic restoration. D. Dean and Associates of Columbus required several months to complete the work, which wrapped up earlier this month. The facilities should all be open in 30 days. "They did an excellent job," Blanton said. "One of my favorite things to do is show people through the depot." The welcome center also will be operated by the two city hall employees. The depot, built in the late 1800s, was vacated by CSX Transportation in the 1980s, but then was operated by Georgia Southwestern Railroad. It has been closed more than a decade. It is owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation, which leases the building to the town of Richland for $1 a year. "We hope to eventually get a scale model of the town with a model train," Blanton said. "It will feature railroad memorabilia from people who will loan or donate it, including many pictures of the old railroad days. We have a gentleman who has been collecting things." ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <010101c1ed12$c0eff4b0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 07:08:54 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Key Regional North Carolina Stations Sited Key regional rail stations sited The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC)...04/25/2002 Richard Stradling, Staff Writers The Triangle Transit Authority has settled on sites for two critical regional rail stations in Raleigh and Durham that have vexed planners, local officials and neighborhood residents since 1999. The station locations are a key part of an environmental study of the 35-mile rail line to link Raleigh, Cary, Research Triangle Park and Durham. The agency has now chosen sites for 15 of the 16 stations in the first phase of the project, with only the location of the Morrisville station in limbo. The TTA needs to finish the rail plan to submit to the Federal Transit Administration, which has to sign off on the project. If it wins funding, trains could start running in December 2007. In downtown Raleigh, the TTA would tunnel below the tangled railroad interchange known as the "wye" after the shape formed by the tracks. Trains would stop at a station near the intersection of West and Hargett streets, but the boarding platform would be below street level. The board also approved a station on Elba Street in Durham, north of Duke University Medical Center, rather than at another possible site on Hospital Drive. Duke University had objected to the Hospital Drive plan, which would have run elevated trains along Erwin Road and put a station between the hospital and its parking garage. The site for the downtown Raleigh station has been the most troublesome. The transit agency had favored an elevated station on the west side of the wye. But neighborhood residents fought that option because the trains would have run across the Boylan Avenue bridge, raising safety concerns for pedestrians and motorists. Juanita Shearer-Swink, a TTA planner, said the underpass option, endorsed Wednesday by the transit authority board, solves those problems. "We are no longer impacting the Boylan Heights neighborhood or any other neighborhood," Shearer-Swink said. The authority, nearby homeowners and city planners and officials also clashed on other issues, including which station site would encourage the most development. But many of them latched onto the West Street station, which emerged as an alternative a few months ago because it would help revitalize Raleigh's warehouse district. "It allows us to get the station closer to the fabric of downtown, closer to West Street," Shearer-Swink said. Raleigh City Council member Benson Kirkman said the city and the TTA were still working out details. But he said he likes the West Street station because it "puts the momentum for redevelopment" closer to downtown. The TTA trains would approach the wye from N.C. State University on the north side of the railroad corridor. The track would then dip under the railroad tracks and the Boylan Avenue bridge, like a highway underpass. Hargett Street could remain open to traffic in this scenario. Constructing this segment of the rail line would cost about $ 50 million, or $ 10 million more than building the elevated station near the Boylan Avenue bridge. In either scenario, the TTA expects it will have to buy the red brick warehouses along the rail corridor, opening some of that land for redevelopment. The new station is a victory for many Boylan Heights residents who fiercely opposed the elevated station. "It's nice to know that we've been working together all this time and something really positive is happening," said Deanna Kerrigan, president of the Boylan Heights Neighborhood Association. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 11:43:46 -0400 From: "jdent1_@_optonline.net" Subject: (rshsdepot) Deshler, OH NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo bilde.jpg (application/octet-stream, 125296 bytes) More on the Deshler, OH derailment from the Toledo, OH, Blade... Deshler derailment cuts communications Crews remove debris near where a coal car hit the town=92s former passenger depot. (THE BLADE/LORI KING) DESHLER, Ohio - Fourteen cars of a 100-car CSX coal train derailed in the middle of town yesterday, blocking a busy main railroad line and disrupting local street traffic for a time. No one was hurt. At least one of the wayward coal cars hit the town=92s former passenger depot, which local preservationists have been try ing to acquire from CSX and restore. Robert Sullivan, a CSX spokesman, said initial reports did not indicate substantial damage to the building. The accident severed a WorldCom telecommunications cable buried along the tracks, and a second cable was damaged during t he cleanup. WorldCom spokeswoman Linda Laughlin said long-distance telephone and Internet services were disrupted over a wide area of northwest Ohio until repairs were made. The westbound train, en route from Columbus to the Chicago area, derailed about 6:20 a.m., Mr. Sullivan said. The cars th at derailed were the 71st through 84th in the train. The cause of the accident was under investigation yesterday, Mr. Sullivan said. The derailment occurred within a junction at which a CSX line between Willard, Ohio, and Chicago intersects with a line b etween Toledo and Cincinnati. The Willard-Chicago line is used by 60 or more trains a day, and some of those trains were rerouted via Toledo yesterday. Mr. Sullivan said CSX hoped to have one of two main tracks reopened by early today. The Toledo-Cincinnati track reopened once the rear cars of the derailed train were towed out of the way. Sandra Shaffer, Deshler=92s postmaster and wife of Bill Shaffer, president of the Bartlow Township Historical Society, sa id one of the coal cars hit the southwest corner of the depot, but the extent of damage couldn=92t be ascertained. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <59.1ac7bd3c.29fad27e_@_aol.com> Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 11:55:42 EDT From: I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Deshler, OH Photos of the depot before the derailment: http://www.geocities.com/csxt_gp38//DEPOT1.html http://www.railfan.net/railpix/railfan/fosdesh09-22-01/img_2561.jpg http://www.railfan.net/railpix/railfan/deshler12-08-01/img_2791.jpg ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: In-Reply-To: <59.1ac7bd3c.29fad27e_@_aol.com> Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 12:18:05 -0400 (EDT) From: Blue Moon Network Administrator Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Deshler, OH On Fri, 26 Apr 2002 I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com wrote: > Photos of the depot before the derailment: > > http://www.geocities.com/csxt_gp38//DEPOT1.html > > http://www.railfan.net/railpix/railfan/fosdesh09-22-01/img_2561.jpg > > http://www.railfan.net/railpix/railfan/deshler12-08-01/img_2791.jpg Deshler is one of my favorite railfanning locations an just over an hour away from my home in Port Clinton, OH. There is both a B&O tower and B&O station there. The traffic density is great and the "Bartlow Township Historical Society" owns the property at the SW corner of the diamonds where the REA building used to be. It is now known as "Crossroads Park" and anyone is welcome to join the regulars there at any time of day or night. I hope CSX hasn't destroyed too much of the park as I was hoping to get over there the weekend of May 4th. I'll have to email Bill Shaffer to find out how badly the station was damaged. Henry J. Henry Priebe Jr. Blue Moon President & Network Administrator root_@_bluemoon.net www.bluemoon.net - Blue Moon Internet Corp V.90, X2 & K56flex www.railfan.net - The Railfan Network ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 12:20:01 -0400 From: "jdent1_@_optonline.net" Subject: (rshsdepot) PA Transportation Improvement Projects From a PA DOT Press Release, I have removed all the non-railroad projects (and rail-trails)... 04/25/2002 STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION APPROVES FINAL ROUND OF TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS HARRISBURG (April 25) -- On behalf of Gov. Mark Schweiker, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) Secretary Bradley L. Mallory today announced the state Transportation Commission's approval of $45.4 million in federal funds for 153 projects that will enhance recreational trails, historic transportation properties and landscaping along streets and highways across Pennsylvania. "This is the third and final round of enhancement projects made possible by the federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, also known as TEA-21," Secretary Mallory said. "Through the Transportation Enhancements program, we are making Pennsylvania a better place to live, work and play," Secretary Mallory added. Last year, the Transportation Commission approved 154 enhancement projects totaling $39.2 million. In the first round, the commission approved 76 projects totaling $47.8 million. TEA-21 earmarked the money over six years for enhancements in Pennsylvania. The projects are funded 80 percent with federal funds and 20 percent with a local share. The program was developed through the collaboration of Pennsylvania's planning partners -- the state Transportation Commission, 14 Metropolitan Planning Organizations, six Local Development Districts, the statewide Transportation Enhancements Advisory Committee and PENNDOT. "Nobody knows local needs more than local people, and our collaborative process reflects that," Secretary Mallory said. STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION APPROVES ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS BUCKS =B7 Restoration of 1902 Reading Railroad freight station, $100,000, Quakertown Train Station Historical Society; CARBON =B7 Improvements to Mauch Chunk Railroad Station, $360,000, Carbon County; DAUPHIN =B7 Millersburg Train Station Restoration, $137,000, Historical Society of Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township; =B7 Sharon Hill Train Station Rehabilitation, $342,000, Delaware County Planning Department; LACKAWANNA =B7 Delaware and Hudson Railcar restoration, $5,000, Carbondale Historical Society; =B7 Restoration of the boiler to the Boston and Maine No. 3713 locomotive at the Steamtown National Historic site, $200,000, Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society Inc.; =B7 Restoration of Erie Lackawanna dining car No. 741, $28,000, Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society Inc.; =B7 Develop an access to the Lackawanna River from the N.J. Central Railroad Freight Station, $120,000, The Historic Preservation Group Inc.; LANCASTER =B7 Elizabethtown Train Station, new signs and public address system, $65,000, Borough of Elizabethtown; =B7 Phase II of five-phase plan to renovate the Manheim Railroad Station, $90,000, Manheim Historical Society; =B7 Renovation of the entrance to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, $303,000, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania; LYCOMING =B7 New Transportation Museum in railroad freight station, restoration of Trinity Place, $330,000, City of Williamsport; SCHUYLKILL =B7 Improvements to the Pottsville Area Heritage Corridor and Union Station Square area, $250,000, City of Pottsville; WASHINGTON =B7 Reconstruct and rehabilitate a 1917 Pittsburgh trolley, $215,000, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum; =B7 Rehabilitate the Wheeling Lake Erie Railroad Station, $150,000, A.D. White Research Society Ltd.; WAYNE =B7 Rehabilitation of the Delaware and Hudson Gravity Railroad Depot, $178,000, Waymart Area Historical Society; For more information, contact: Rich Kirkpatrick Press Secretary (717) 783-8800 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:38:18 -0400 From: "James Kelling" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Deshler, OH Please give us a followup report when possible. Hope the depot can be repaired. >>> root_@_net.bluemoon.net 04/26/02 12:18PM >>> On Fri, 26 Apr 2002 I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com wrote: > Photos of the depot before the derailment: > > http://www.geocities.com/csxt_gp38//DEPOT1.html > > http://www.railfan.net/railpix/railfan/fosdesh09-22-01/img_2561.jpg > > http://www.railfan.net/railpix/railfan/deshler12-08-01/img_2791.jpg Deshler is one of my favorite railfanning locations an just over an hour away from my home in Port Clinton, OH. There is both a B&O tower and B&O station there. The traffic density is great and the "Bartlow Township Historical Society" owns the property at the SW corner of the diamonds where the REA building used to be. It is now known as "Crossroads Park" and anyone is welcome to join the regulars there at any time of day or night. I hope CSX hasn't destroyed too much of the park as I was hoping to get over there the weekend of May 4th. I'll have to email Bill Shaffer to find out how badly the station was damaged. Henry J. Henry Priebe Jr. Blue Moon President & Network Administrator root_@_bluemoon.net www.bluemoon.net - Blue Moon Internet Corp V.90, X2 & K56flex www.railfan.net - The Railfan Network =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 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 ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 14:13:16 -0400 From: "jdent1_@_optonline.net" Subject: (rshsdepot) Pic of Deshler, OH depot damage NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo Deshler.jpg (application/octet-stream, 36875 bytes) A pic from Trainorders.com showing some of the depot damage. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <004e01c1eda2$984db980$40b5f4d1_@_paul> Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 00:18:28 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) PA Transportation Improvement Projects Does the Delaware and Hudson Gravity Railroad still operate...? Is Schuykill Union Station gone? Wouldn't it be great if they had also announced that passenger trains would start reserving all these areas? Paul - -----Original Message----- From: jdent1_@_optonline.net To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net Date: Friday, April 26, 2002 12:22 PM Subject: (rshsdepot) PA Transportation Improvement Projects From a PA DOT Press Release, I have removed all the non-railroad projects (and rail-trails)... 04/25/2002 STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION APPROVES FINAL ROUND OF TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS HARRISBURG (April 25) -- On behalf of Gov. Mark Schweiker, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) Secretary Bradley L. Mallory today announced the state Transportation Commission's approval of $45.4 million in federal funds for 153 projects that will enhance recreational trails, historic transportation properties and landscaping along streets and highways across Pennsylvania. "This is the third and final round of enhancement projects made possible by the federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, also known as TEA-21," Secretary Mallory said. "Through the Transportation Enhancements program, we are making Pennsylvania a better place to live, work and play," Secretary Mallory added. Last year, the Transportation Commission approved 154 enhancement projects totaling $39.2 million. In the first round, the commission approved 76 projects totaling $47.8 million. TEA-21 earmarked the money over six years for enhancements in Pennsylvania. The projects are funded 80 percent with federal funds and 20 percent with a local share. The program was developed through the collaboration of Pennsylvania's planning partners -- the state Transportation Commission, 14 Metropolitan Planning Organizations, six Local Development Districts, the statewide Transportation Enhancements Advisory Committee and PENNDOT. "Nobody knows local needs more than local people, and our collaborative process reflects that," Secretary Mallory said. STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION APPROVES ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS BUCKS · Restoration of 1902 Reading Railroad freight station, $100,000, Quakertown Train Station Historical Society; CARBON · Improvements to Mauch Chunk Railroad Station, $360,000, Carbon County; DAUPHIN · Millersburg Train Station Restoration, $137,000, Historical Society of Millersburg and Upper Paxton Township; · Sharon Hill Train Station Rehabilitation, $342,000, Delaware County Planning Department; LACKAWANNA · Delaware and Hudson Railcar restoration, $5,000, Carbondale Historical Society; · Restoration of the boiler to the Boston and Maine No. 3713 locomotive at the Steamtown National Historic site, $200,000, Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society Inc.; · Restoration of Erie Lackawanna dining car No. 741, $28,000, Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society Inc.; · Develop an access to the Lackawanna River from the N.J. Central Railroad Freight Station, $120,000, The Historic Preservation Group Inc.; LANCASTER · Elizabethtown Train Station, new signs and public address system, $65,000, Borough of Elizabethtown; · Phase II of five-phase plan to renovate the Manheim Railroad Station, $90,000, Manheim Historical Society; · Renovation of the entrance to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, $303,000, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania; LYCOMING · New Transportation Museum in railroad freight station, restoration of Trinity Place, $330,000, City of Williamsport; SCHUYLKILL · Improvements to the Pottsville Area Heritage Corridor and Union Station Square area, $250,000, City of Pottsville; WASHINGTON · Reconstruct and rehabilitate a 1917 Pittsburgh trolley, $215,000, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum; · Rehabilitate the Wheeling Lake Erie Railroad Station, $150,000, A.D. White Research Society Ltd.; WAYNE · Rehabilitation of the Delaware and Hudson Gravity Railroad Depot, $178,000, Waymart Area Historical Society; For more information, contact: Rich Kirkpatrick Press Secretary (717) 783-8800 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . =========== The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #357 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000801c1edec$bbda1160$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:09:15 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Bemidji, MN Photos: http://www.old-postcards.com/2295.jpg (historic postcard shot) http://www.nbs-inc.com/MARK/bemidji4.JPG (recent photo during restoration) http://www.nbs-inc.com/MARK/bemidji5.JPG (recent photo during restoration) History center celebrates first year in depot By: Linda Greer, Staff Writer April 26, 2002 The Pioneer Displaying artifacts from the last two centuries and housed in a 90-year-old building, the Beltrami County Historical Center is itself still in infancy. This month the museum is celebrating its first anniversary in the historic Great Northern Depot in downtown Bemidji. Restoring the vintage 1912 building was no small undertaking. BCHS Executive Director Wanda Hoyum said many people, including her, occasionally wondered whether the dream to open a museum would become reality. "I think, at one time or another, everyone had doubts," said Hoyum. Hoyum wrote grant requests and campaigned for funding from several entities. That perseverance paid off. The restoration project received a $650,000 state grant with funds matched by the city of Bemidji, Beltrami County and the historical society. Other private and business donations netted the $2 million needed to restore the depot and open the museum. "This community was really receptive to it," said Hoyum. Before moving downtown, BCHS spent seven years at the Beltrami County Fairgrounds where it offered access to research. "All the exhibits were in boxes," said Hoyum. The city of Bemidji leases the depot to BCHS annually. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A new museum The character of the museum is a meld of history, art, wood, steel and technology. All of the wood trim was refinished, preserving the quaint burns and scratches of the past 90 years. The original terrazzo floor in the central station area simply required buffing. The vast interior was compartmentalized to create rooms for displays, meetings, a gift shop and offices. With a year of history behind it now, Hoyum said the museum is a financial boon to the area. "The museum contributes to the economic development of the community," said Hoyum. "People come from all over to visit it." During the first eight months' of operation last year, more than 4,100 people from 33 states and seven foreign countries visited the museum. Hoyum said many local residents haven't toured the museum yet. "If they don't come before March of 2003, they will miss out on our inaugural exhibit," said Hoyum. The museum changes its displays periodically to prevent dormancy. The inaugural exhibit, "Pathways through History," tells the story of Beltrami County from glacial formations to settlement. Next March the exhibit will be replaced by "Voices of Victory," a view of the warriors of Beltrami County. "We aren't your Grandma's attic anymore," said Hoyum. "We don't want to remain stagnant." Other services Two full-time staff and seven volunteers run the museum. "We couldn't do any of this without volunteers," said Hoyum. BCHS also partners with other organizations to create displays. The public donates many family diaries, manuscripts, photos and memorabilia. "That's how historical society collections are built," said Hoyum. "We are a full-service history center now." The museum offers a research room with maps, census reports, city directories and newspapers. Hoyum said the room is free and useful to students, researchers and people doing genealogy. The museum also has a 30-person capacity meeting room for rent, complete with speakers and a kitchen area. The gift shop features a large book selection, antique reproductions, wooden and cast iron toys and a unique train display. On Monday, Miriam Tell and Mike Mohler will perform music in the museum gallery from 1 to 3:30 p.m. to celebrate the museum's anniversary. There will also be a raffle drawing, refreshments and gift shop discounts. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #358 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001d01c1eeba$e8274520$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 09:45:06 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) =?iso-8859-1?Q?Interiors:_They_don't_build_railway_stations_like_they_use?= =?iso-8859-1?Q?d_to?= Interiors: They don't build railway stations like they used to Karen Hesse The Sunday Times - London The station master's daughter played the piano on the platform of Lismore station to cheer up the departing emigrants whose next stop was Rosslare Port. When the last train pulled out of Lismore in Co Waterford in 1967, the 100-year-old building began a journey of Indiana Jones proportions that ended only recently when it was rescued by a couple of "traders of the lost arts". After the rolling stock and railway track were sold and shipped to a new life in India, the old station was reinvented as a sausage-casing factory. Next followed a period of dereliction after its owner, a Dutchman, was sent to prison. Now it has been reinvented by a couple from Northern Ireland, John O'Neill and his wife, Caitriona MacReynolds, who have transformed the station into a home for their son Ruairi, and the goods shed into a workshop for their courses in forgotten skills. The once-derelict building now plays host to weekend workshops in lime-plaster rendering, dry-stone-wall building, traditional woodwork and basketry, and other age-old crafts. "We first discovered the station in 1994 while visiting friends in Lismore. It had been lying derelict for eight years," says O' Neill. The Dutch owner was eventually tracked down but wasn't interested in selling. A year later when he was released, the station was put on the market. "The only competition was from a farmer who was thinking of using the station as cattle sheds." The couple saw a different potential in the beautiful cut-stone building, which has gothic windows and impressive architecture commissioned in the late 1800s by the Duke of Devonshire, a resident of nearby Lismore Castle. It was a giant leap of faith to take on the restoration of the building, but one that was made possible by O'Neill's skills as a carpenter and blacksmith and MacReynolds's creative vision. "When we moved in there wasn't even glass in windows," says O'Neill. Inside, the rooms were clad in board, and the 1970s false ceilings concealed the original 20ft ceiling heights. Below the platform the rail tracks had been filled in. "It's amazing what you can do with a few hours in a JCB (excavator)," says O'Neill. Bit by bit, the couple stripped back the station building to its original splendour, revealing a number of surprises as they went. In the old booking hall, now the main entrance to the house, a beautiful vaulted ceiling was discovered, along with the original timber hatch that separated the room from the station master's office next door. Given the nature of the building it is difficult to resist the urge to add the requisite memorabilia, and the couple have shown a keen knack for finding just the right pieces to set off the interior. The original enamel Lismore station sign was found folded in two and dumped out the back. O' Neill can date it to about the late 1920s, when mandatory "as gaeilge" signage was introduced for public buildings. A circular station clock hangs on the wall while an old bell, bought through a lucky-dip auction, sits at the ticket hatch. In the corner a collection of old leather suitcases is stacked like long-forgotten baggage. "We have tried to respect the station's history, even down to our choice of colour," O'Neill says. The large gothic window and door frames are painted traditional bottle green while in the booking hall, layers of paint were chipped away to reveal an original yellow wall colour and green trim, which has now been faithfully restored. "You can 't forget that for many people this was the last place they saw their families before taking the Sunday boat train to Rosslare," he says. The couple's restoration of the station has generated much interest and support. Every other week somebody arrives with a "last day" train ticket or some memory of the station. "There are lots of memories here, and we sometimes wake in the morning and find someone sitting on the platform," says O'Neill. Over the past five years, all of the children of the last station master have visited, travelling from their homes all over the world. "We hear fascinating stories recalling how the station master's daughter, an accomplished pianist, was asked to play happy tunes on a Sunday to ease the 'goodbyes' for emigrants. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <002301c1eebb$fbe3cd30$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 09:52:49 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Gettysburg, PA Photo links: http://www.dominionpost.com/a/news/2002/04/27/ce/historic1.jpg (station interior during restoration) http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/tours/gettyrr.htm (Web page about station) http://www.mainstreetgettysburg.org/Trainwww/train%20home.htm (Web page about station) http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/history/waughj/classes/civilwar/gburgtrip/gburg07 30/pages/NK010728050934_662c.htm (station circa 1888) Associated Press GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Volunteer workers are stripping down the Gettysburg Lincoln Train Station, preparing to restore the building to its Civil War-era state. In the process, historians are discovering the original outlines of the building and well as artifacts like old railroad equipment, newspaper clippings and telegraphs. ''Tucked away in the attic was a ledger for the Western Union Telegraph Co. from 1870. It listed the sender, how many words were in the message and the cost per word,'' said Borough Historic Preservation Officer Walter Powell. The station was built in 1858 and an addition was made in 1886. Small trains, with just an engine and one car, would pass through the station. One such train brought President Abraham Lincoln to Gettysburg. Gettysburg officials want to restore the building to its appearance in 1863, during the Civil War. When it's finished, officials hope it will become a historical attraction in downtown Gettysburg. The station was being used as the Convention and Visitors Bureau, but the bureau has moved to a new location on the street. Inside the building, the original spiral staircase is intact upstairs, although not downstairs, and there are outlines of the doors and windows, Powell said. He also said the original paint samples have been uncovered. But the years of use have damaged the building and historians said it's not in very good shape. ''The layers of brick are turning to dust,'' said historian Kevin Trostle. Architect Mary DeNadi is working on a report and design recommendations for the project which will be given to town officials. Powell said the borough has applied for a $250,000 grant to help pay for the restoration. Work could begin this fall, he said. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 11:08:18 -0400 (EDT) From: Blue Moon Network Administrator Subject: (rshsdepot) Deshler, OH B&O Station According to Bill Shaffer in Deshler the station's foundation has some damage, but how much has yet to be determined. There is only landscaping damage to the Crossroads Park from the derailment cleanup equipment. He'll keep me advised and I will relay anything more which I find out. Henry J. Henry Priebe Jr. Blue Moon President & Network Administrator root_@_bluemoon.net www.bluemoon.net - Blue Moon Internet Corp V.90, X2 & K56flex www.railfan.net - The Railfan Network ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000a01c1ef17$c82cccb0$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 20:49:56 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Madison, NJ Photo links: http://www.morscher.com/rr/1977/19770621_08.jpg (platform-1977) http://www.morscher.com/rr/1977/19770621_09.jpg (platform-1977) http://gelwood.railfan.net/bldg/el-madison-ajg.jpg Train station renovation delayed By Darran A. Simon, Daily Record MADISON - A $2.4 million historic restoration of the Madison train station will be completed in the spring of 2003, more than half a year later than originally scheduled, according to NJ Transit. The project will include improved platforms, canopies and walkways, roof repairs, restoration of the building exterior and a new bathroom that will be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, NJ Transit spokeswoman Anna Farneski said. The project's construction phases were explained at a borough council meeting last week. When the first phase begins in July, access to the main station building will be closed but there will be access to platform-level waiting rooms. A temporary ticket office will be installed. Interior restoration of the main station building will begin in August, and the walkway beneath the station will be closed sometime later this summer for refurbishing of the area, Farneski said. "Certainly we are excited about the project," she said. "We believe it will enhance the station, and the community will be pleased with the work." The project originally was expected to begin in the spring of 2001 and be completed by this summer. But financial concerns caused NJ Transit to scale back the project slightly, which delayed it, Farneski said. The station was built in 1916 by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad as part of a grade crossing elimination project on the Morris and Essex Lines. It is one of 49 that NJ Transit recognizes as historic stations among its 162 stations. "It is wonderful," said councilwoman Mary-Anna Holden, council liaison to the Madison Historic Preservation Commission. "This is just the beginning of revitalizing the centerpiece in our community." Holden said an additional $4 million worth of work on handicapped accessibility and landscaping is in the works for the station in the next two years. Work includes the installation of elevators in the eastbound and westbound track buildings and creation of a New Jersey State Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum in a former baggage building on the site. The beginning of the restoration project was signaled in November 2000, when a 520-foot brick walkway was unveiled. The $100,000 walkway, which was three years in the making, was paid for by the Friends of the Madison Train Station. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00f201c1ef23$62abbac0$fe805043_@_JimDent> References: <004e01c1eda2$984db980$40b5f4d1_@_paul> Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 22:12:59 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) PA Transportation Improvement Projects > Does the Delaware and Hudson Gravity Railroad still operate...? > No. > Is Schuykill Union Station gone? Only the Reading station at Schuykill Haven still exists. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <000701c1ef34$a5885e00$fe805043_@_JimDent> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 00:16:33 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: (rshsdepot) Nanaimo, BC From Railway Preservation News (http://www.rypn.org/)... Photo: http://www.rypn.org/Briefs/april2002/images/nanaimo.jpg Nanaimo Railway Station Revisited Some time ago RyPN (see news brief on 11/14/01) reported the Nanaimo railway station destroyed. In fact the baggage area was damaged, apparently by arson, but has since been repaired. New shingles applied to the roof are clearly visible in the photograph, taken on April 21, 2002. There doesn't appear to be any external damage, but I can't speak for the interior. The Nanaimo station is a designated Canadian Pacific Railway station duly listed in 1991 under the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act of Canada. It currently sees a daily VIA Rail Dayliner stop once in each direction between Victoria and Courtenay. RailAmerica, the current owner of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway, wishes to shut-down the line due to lack of freight customers and insufficient revenue from VIA Rail Canada. VIA is all that remains keeping the line operative but it refuses to supply increased funding after 15 May 2002. This may result in the final end of a railway that has existed on Vancouver Island since 1886. (William C. Slim) ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001001c1ef37$170f4140$fe805043_@_JimDent> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 00:34:02 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: (rshsdepot) Mystery Depot #1 NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo Mystery_depot_no_1.jpg (image/jpeg, 265113 bytes) From the Trainorders Eastern RR Discussion Forum, anybody know or have a guess? Gentlemen of the Eastern Forum, A little mystery for you. This picture was taken in the early 1960s either in New Jersey or Pennsylvania by a good friend, Ed Birch. At that time, he lived in Camden NJ. Ed has forgotten the location of this depot and which railroad it was located on. He was hoping one of you senior railfans might recognize this location. Ed believes that this may be a PRR depot simply from the other pictures on that roll of film. Appreciate any help you all might be able to give. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001901c1ef37$6b4c8060$fe805043_@_JimDent> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 00:36:23 -0400 From: Jim Dent Subject: (rshsdepot) Mystery Depot #2 NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment. To view or download the image(s), click on or cut and paste the following URL into your web browser and click/select the index or matching subject link. http://www.railfan.net/lists/mplist.cgi?rshsdepot-photo Mystery_depot_no_2.jpg (image/jpeg, 278342 bytes) Also from the Eastern RR Disussion on Trainorders.com... ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #359 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <001f01c1ef68$9e91d840$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 06:28:35 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Washington, DC (Union Station) D.C.'s Union Station Is Refurbished Source: Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Union Station opened in 1908 as a monumental gateway to a capital just beginning to find its way onto the world stage. For more than half a century the railroads brought the world to Washington; the world spilled into the city through the triple arches of a station intended by its designers to stamp the city indelibly with the mark of imperial Rome. Union Station's construction just north of the Capital allowed the removal of the tracks and trains and the old rail station that had scarred the National Mall for decades. The removal made possible the ambitious reshaping of the city's ceremonial core in the first decades of the 20th century. At its early zenith, Union Station was a place of a million stories, a railroad palace that witnessed the arrivals and departures of presidents and kings, of tourists eager to see government at work, of the bureaucrats and lawmakers who staffed it and protesters straining to denounce all of the above. While presidents had their own private quarters, most passengers arrived and departed by walking past a platoon of stone warriors on guard just below the coffered, gilded and barrel-vaulted ceiling of the mammoth waiting room. Standing on the broad plaza outside, tour guides pointed out the statues dedicated to Fire, Electricity, Freedom and Imagination. People approaching the station could read the lofty inscriptions cut into the granite wall, including this one: ``He that would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him. So it is in traveling - a man must carry knowledge with him if he would bring home knowledge.'' It is at Union Station where Jimmy Stewart, playing wide-eyed Sen. Jefferson Smith in Frank Capra's classic 1939 movie, ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' arrives from the heartland, spies the Capitol dome and, eluding his cynical handlers, sets out among the monuments to give idealism a good name. But by the 1960s, after a last great surge in train travel during World War II, the steam-whistle age of the passenger railroad yielded to the speed of the jet aircraft and the hum of cars on the new Interstate Highway system. Giant railroad stations were suddenly obsolete. Union Station, designed by architect Daniel Burnham as the foundation stone of a classically beautiful city, became an expensive white elephant whose most likely future appeared to be demolition by neglect. The railroads slashed schedules and began to bulldoze the stations that had once been their pride. People began calling Union Station a mausoleum, a quiet catacomb, a ``depressing cavern where people no longer come.'' Searching for a future for a historic building many people still loved, the government stumbled into a blind alley: The station was converted into a national visitors' center, a headquarters for the celebration of the 1976 Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of American independence. The key to making it work was the construction of a bus and auto garage behind the station. But the money never flowed and parking never materialized. Little was spent on the urgent repairs needed on the structure itself. The center's chief feature was a visual orientation center excavated in the floor of the waiting room. Instantly dubbed ``the pit,'' it permitted visitors to descend into semidarkness to view a slide show of the city's sights, including the Capitol dome, which they could see for themselves simply by walking outside. In the end, the visitors center had few visitors. The actual rail station was exiled in unglamorous quarters a long walk down the tracks. The ``pit'' closed in 1979, the visitors center three years later. By then, water was cascading through leaks in the roof, dislodging chunks of plaster. The old station was closed. Amtrak passengers were shunted to their trains through a plywood maze. Union Station rose again in the 1980s, its revival a tale of a private-public enterprise, of repair and careful restoration. When it reopened in 1988 it had galleries of shops and restaurants, a food court and a nine-screen movie theater. At its heart it was still a railway station. And once again it was a gateway to a capital city. - --- The story of Union Station, including the saga of its revival, is told in ``Union Station, A History of Washington's Grand Terminal,'' by Carol M. Highsmith and Ted Landphair and published by Chelsea Publishing Co. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 12:27:48 -0400 From: "Kenyon Karl" Subject: (rshsdepot) FW: Articles of Interest - -----Original Message----- From: NARP [mailto:narp_@_narprail.org] Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 11:00 AM To: NARP Subject: Articles of Interest To all NARP members, April 29, 2002-- Below are links and headlines for three recent news articles of interest. The last two, on the New York Times web site, may require that you set up a user account in order to read the articles. The Times article about David Gunn, the newly appointed Amtrak president, has some interesting quotes that weren't in the earlier Washington Post piece. - --Ross B. Capon, Executive Director "Amtrak is Put under Special Safety Watch" "A New York Transit Rescuer is Hired to Revive Amtrak" "DC's Union Station is Refurbished" ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <20020429194627.25E3215C2B_@_email4.lga2.nytimes.com> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 12:46:27 -0700 (PDT) From: james.dent_@_itochu.com Subject: (rshsdepot) NYTimes.com Article: D.C.'s Union Station Is Refurbished This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by james.dent_@_itochu.com. /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ Enjoy new investment freedom! Get the tools you need to successfully manage your portfolio from Harrisdirect. Start with award-winning research. Then add access to round-the-clock customer service from Series-7 trained representatives. Open an account today and receive a $100 credit! http://www.nytimes.com/ads/Harrisdirect.html \----------------------------------------------------------/ D.C.'s Union Station Is Refurbished April 29, 2002 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 1:38 a.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- Union Station opened in 1908 as a monumental gateway to a capital just beginning to find its way onto the world stage. For more than half a century the railroads brought the world to Washington; the world spilled into the city through the triple arches of a station intended by its designers to stamp the city indelibly with the mark of imperial Rome. Union Station's construction just north of the Capital allowed the removal of the tracks and trains and the old rail station that had scarred the National Mall for decades. The removal made possible the ambitious reshaping of the city's ceremonial core in the first decades of the 20th century. At its early zenith, Union Station was a place of a million stories, a railroad palace that witnessed the arrivals and departures of presidents and kings, of tourists eager to see government at work, of the bureaucrats and lawmakers who staffed it and protesters straining to denounce all of the above. While presidents had their own private quarters, most passengers arrived and departed by walking past a platoon of stone warriors on guard just below the coffered, gilded and barrel-vaulted ceiling of the mammoth waiting room. Standing on the broad plaza outside, tour guides pointed out the statues dedicated to Fire, Electricity, Freedom and Imagination. People approaching the station could read the lofty inscriptions cut into the granite wall, including this one: ``He that would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him. So it is in traveling -- a man must carry knowledge with him if he would bring home knowledge.'' It is at Union Station where Jimmy Stewart, playing wide-eyed Sen. Jefferson Smith in Frank Capra's classic 1939 movie, ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' arrives from the heartland, spies the Capitol dome and, eluding his cynical handlers, sets out among the monuments to give idealism a good name. But by the 1960s, after a last great surge in train travel during World War II, the steam-whistle age of the passenger railroad yielded to the speed of the jet aircraft and the hum of cars on the new Interstate Highway system. Giant railroad stations were suddenly obsolete. Union Station, designed by architect Daniel Burnham as the foundation stone of a classically beautiful city, became an expensive white elephant whose most likely future appeared to be demolition by neglect. The railroads slashed schedules and began to bulldoze the stations that had once been their pride. People began calling Union Station a mausoleum, a quiet catacomb, a ``depressing cavern where people no longer come.'' Searching for a future for a historic building many people still loved, the government stumbled into a blind alley: The station was converted into a national visitors' center, a headquarters for the celebration of the 1976 Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of American independence. The key to making it work was the construction of a bus and auto garage behind the station. But the money never flowed and parking never materialized. Little was spent on the urgent repairs needed on the structure itself. The center's chief feature was a visual orientation center excavated in the floor of the waiting room. Instantly dubbed ``the pit,'' it permitted visitors to descend into semidarkness to view a slide show of the city's sights, including the Capitol dome, which they could see for themselves simply by walking outside. In the end, the visitors center had few visitors. The actual rail station was exiled in unglamorous quarters a long walk down the tracks. The ``pit'' closed in 1979, the visitors center three years later. By then, water was cascading through leaks in the roof, dislodging chunks of plaster. The old station was closed. Amtrak passengers were shunted to their trains through a plywood maze. Union Station rose again in the 1980s, its revival a tale of a private-public enterprise, of repair and careful restoration. When it reopened in 1988 it had galleries of shops and restaurants, a food court and a nine-screen movie theater. At its heart it was still a railway station. And once again it was a gateway to a capital city. - ------ The story of Union Station, including the saga of its revival, is told in ``Union Station, A History of Washington's Grand Terminal,'' by Carol M. Highsmith and Ted Landphair and published by Chelsea Publishing Co. - ------ EDITOR'S NOTE: Lawrence L. Knutson has reported on Congress, the White House and Washington's history for 34 years. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Union-Station.html?ex=1021109586&ei=1&en=56f380da5cd25522 HOW TO ADVERTISE - --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales_@_nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help_@_nytimes.com. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <00c001c1efbc$c0ccc560$9865fea9_@_Wagenblast> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 16:30:50 -0400 From: Bernie Wagenblast Subject: (rshsdepot) Terre Haute, IN Links: http://www.tribstar.com/2interre-haute/inn_news/news05.jpg (photo of model - link may expire tomorrow) http://www.rose-hulman.edu/Users/groups/ModelRailroad/HTML/thus.html (details on model building project, including numerous photos of the original station and the model) Railroad replication Train station will be on display at Wabash Valley Historical Museum By Matt Miller/Tribune-Star April 28, 2002 A black steam engine lugged seven yellow Union Pacific passenger cars as it snaked along Hoosier train tracks and chugged past Tunnel Hill Elementary School. Children frolicked on swings and slides as the rumble of the engine sounded nearby. The train then passed a mine and pulled alongside the towering, ornate Terre Haute Union Depot. If onlookers concentrated hard enough on the scale replica of what was a major railroad hub from 1893 to 1960, they probably could relive memories of the station or imagine being in it. The replica, created for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Model Railroad Club, was unveiled Saturday morning at the campus' Hulman Memorial Union. The replica, created in Cloverdale by modeler Dennis Kirchmann, cost $3,400 -- $2,700 of which was paid by the Model Railroad Club through Rose-Hulman's student government association. Kirchmann worked for 264 hours to complete the 70 feet of track, four buildings and two train sheds that make up the project. The replica is a "$3,400 toy," said Mike Raffay, Rose-Hulman junior and club member, but its purpose is more important. "It helps the younger generation understand the importance of railroads at the time," he said. Doug Christensen, president of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Historical Society, sees it in a different light. "It was a great building," said the Chicago resident. "I'm sad we lost it. ... This was really a major landmark at that time." Christensen said replicating this key part of Terre Haute's history is important. "It's an opportunity for people to see it in perspective ... what a huge building it was and an impressive structure," he said. "It was the equivalent of a modern airport." The depot was finished in 1893 and was home to 104 daily train stops for passengers, Raffay said during a pre-unveiling presentation. The Liberty Bell and famous entertainers and sports figures passed through on it during its heyday, he said. But it hosted many more train routes than that, said Terre Haute historian Mike McCormick. Plenty of freight stops were made at the depot, and they may have outnumbered the number of passenger stops. William Riley McKeen, president of the Vandalia Line in Terre Haute, had the depot built because the old station's grandeur didn't match the importance of train travel in Terre Haute, McCormick said. "He wanted this as a source of pride and a symbol of Terre Haute's importance in the railroad industry for a community of this size," McCormick said. "Terre Haute was a railroad center." The depot's place in history wasn't created just because of the building, he said. Many people have personal ties to it from World War II times. There was a lot of "emotion you saw amid the noise of the steam engine, people hugging and crying because soldiers were leaving, because soldiers were coming home," he said. Bill Foster, president of Haley Tower Historical and Technological Society in Terre Haute, called the replica a "good representation of historical preservation." "If we could build something like that today, we'd probably do it," he said of the depot. The replica will be displayed at the Wabash Valley Historical Museum at Sixth Street and Washington Avenue from February to July 2003. ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ From Archives_@_Railfan.net Message-ID: <008501c1eff0$7a804260$f84cf6d1_@_paul> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 22:41:04 -0400 From: "Paul S. Luchter" Subject: (rshsdepot) I am taking the train to Amherst I hope Amtrak doesn't disband while I am up there and go make me take a b-u-s...actually I am going to Northampton, I can't even hitch a freight through Hadley...the Northampton station is a restaurant,,, that is all... ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org ------------------------------ End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #360 ******************************* ================================= The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org