Month: September 2010

Street Cars Again?

September 24, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Photo Section
Federal Funding Cincinnati lands federal grant for streetcar project The city of Cincinnati recently received a $25 million federal grant for a proposed streetcar project. Now, $114.5 million has been committed to the project, more than 90 percent of the funds needed, Ohio Department of Transportation officials said in a prepared statement. The project would reconnect the city’s two largest employment centers with electric streetcars. Submitted by Chuck Hinrichs.
Federal Funding Cincinnati lands federal grant for streetcar project The city of Cincinnati recently received a $25 million federal grant for a proposed streetcar project. Now, $114.5 million has been committed to the project, more than 90 percent of the funds needed, Ohio Department of Transportation officials said in a prepared statement. The project would reconnect the city’s two largest employment centers with electric streetcars. Submitted by Chuck Hinrichs.

Moving World’s Largest Railcar

September 24, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Photo Section

Canadian National moved the world’s largest railcar, CEBX800.  Hooper Welding, Oakville, ON, made this vessel to produce sulfur gasoline.  This is departing the place where it was loaded on the rail car August 21, 2010   Notice the swing in has started on the tightest curve of the trip.  According to Andrew Futrell (Son of Jim Futrell), it was handed off to BNSF at Chicago for movement to El Dorado, KS.  There are 18 axles on either end of the car.   The load itself is about 254 feet long and required tree removal and relocation of two power poles.

Newsletter News Flash

September 24, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Chapter News

Beginning January, 2011, we will discontinue the paper printing of our monthly newsletter, The PennyRail.  The publication will be available in Portable Document Format (pdf,  Adobe Reader) via email and  on the chapter’s website (as presently available there).  Adobe Reader is available as a free download to any computer.  The chapter is striving to be a good steward of our resources thus the decision made in the July meeting.

As editor of this work, I do not wish this to be a hardship on any of our members who do not have internet/email access.  If you do not have access to the internet or email, we will make arrangements for you to receive a paper copy in black and white print.  Just let us know.  All we ask is that members not take advantage of this offer and use the electronic medium if possible.  If you do not have a computer, many free public libraries offer computers with internet access as part of their services.

I will need all chapter members to update your email addresses with me so that you receive your email with the newsletter pdf file attached.  You may also want to check with your internet service provider (ISP) to make sure attachments are not filtered and you are set up to receive emails sent out in distribution lists.

I am glad to offer any suggestions, help, etc. if you need it, but remember, most internet/email issues are best handled directly with your ISP.

You can email me at bill@fbcmadisonville.com, call 270-825-4623 (home), call or text me at 270-339-9482 (cell), or look me up on Facebook.

For those of you who do not have a computer at home, let me encourage you to secure one if possible.  You may have a relative or friend with a gently used machine that could be used for internet browsing, email, and light word processing.  There are many rail-related sites with information, videos, discussion groups, and sale items right at your finger tips.

Remember the basic requirements for receiving the PennyRail via email: 1) Internet/email account access; 2)  An internet service provider (ISP) which allows for attachments to emails; 3) Adobe Reader for opening the pdf file when it arrives. Adobe Reader is available for free download at http://www.adobe.com.

Rich’s Ramblings for September 2010

September 24, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Rich's Ramblings

September is promising to be a busy month. We went to the Kentucky Railway Museum last week and had a great time riding behind L&N #152 the 105 year old Pacific type steam engine. She ran and looked fine and the track work going north from New Haven is open and as pretty as ever. There was an ex-US Air Force Alco diesel switcher running around, too. The model layouts are closed for a time due to the severe floods in May but the museum itself is open and the trains will be running every weekend. Try to plan a visit and have a good time and don’t forget to make a donation to a fine museum and bunch of volunteers that are keeping railroading alive.

Rex Easterly and myself will be trying to help Kay Stubblefield dispose of some of Ron’s trains. Let me know if you are interested in being put on an informal mailing list to buy some of these trains and other memorabilia that we might find. There are trains of many gauges that we have found including Z, N, HO, S gauge American Flyer, O gauge, G gauge, Marx, Kusan, and probably others beside a few lanterns, posters, pictures, signs, etc.   Items range in quality from good to poor.

I hope to see many of your smiling faces at the annual Crofton, KY picnic that many of us have enjoyed in the past on Saturday, Sept. 25. Also, don’t forget the Sept. meeting on Monday, Sept. 27th and help us celebrate our 25th birthday. Call Wally to reserve a catered meal as soon as possible. The meeting will be at the Center in beautiful downtown Madisonville at 7pm.