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Last year we celebrated 20 years of history. We
wanted our members and others who may be interested in joining our organization
to know this history and relive our efforts of forming this entity, the projects
our volunteers have worked on diligently and accomplished and the faces of those
who have helped over these many years. We published a year end newsletter in
December 2011 to share this history. This document in its entirety is now
published here for your reading history.
Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society
PO Box 429 West Pittsburg PA 16160
High Iron Clickity Clack & Bunk House Gossip From MP 22 &
Beyond
Twenty
Years of Preserving Railroad History in Beaver and Lawrence Counties
On a cold, wet Saturday evening early in 1991, a small group of railroad fans
and employees met in the basement of a Beaver Falls, PA library to discuss the
formation of a Beaver Valley chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.
One week later another meeting was held and nearly twice as many people
attended. Meetings continued throughout the spring and summer, and in September
1991 the Beaver Valley Junction became the newest member of the NRHS. Now, the
BVJC's successor –the Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society – celebrates
its twentieth anniversary. The journey from those humble beginnings in a library
basement to an independent historical society that meets at its own railroad
station has been an interesting one.
There's been a gamut of emotions along the way. Excitement in acquiring railroad
equipment and structures, satisfaction in restoring and displaying assets,
pleasure in enjoying newfound friendships ,and sadness in dealing with the loss
of those who left us too soon.
This issue of the Highball highlights many of our activities during the last
twenty years. Sources of information include the 10th and 15th anniversary
editions of the Highball, records of the BVJC and BLRHS, and numerous members'
notes, recollections, and photographs.
Whether you are a long-time member taking a trip down memory lane, a relatively
new member reading our history for the first time, or a non-member interested in
our activities, I hope you enjoy this issue and will support the society as we
begin our third decade of preserving railroad history in Beaver and Lawrence
Counties.
– Barry Householder, Editor
BLRHS Schedule Board
April 14, 2012 – Our first business meeting of the new year.
Subsequent meetings will be held on the second Saturday of each month up
to and including November.BLRHS Bulletin Board
A Frosty Rails train show is being planned for February 2012 but the
date has not been determined. Society members will be notified when
details are finalized.
The next Highball will be published on or about January 2, 2012. The
editor must receive all information, articles, and pictures for that issue
by December 10, 2011.
Back page top – A reminder of one of the numerous excursions the group
enjoyed throughout the years.
Back page bottom – One of many pictures taken at the official dedication
of UN Tower on August 19, 2001. Left to right: Wes Maycock, Jack Zines,
John Fishovitz, unknown, Bob Meier (in doorway), George Alberti.
Photographer unknown.
BVJC Trivia
Some of the names considered in 1991 for the new organization were Beaver
Valley, Beaver & Ohio River, Western Penn Train Lovers, and, of course,
Beaver Valley Junction.
Found At The Station
Carl Kinkade found this in the roof overhang on August 29, 2011. At 100+
years old, it is very brittle. According to Don Gee, it's just the second
historical object found at the station.
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BVJC /
BLRHS Timeline 1991-2011
1991
• In September the Beaver Valley Junction became the newest member of the
National Railway Historical Society. Charter members included Kenneth &
Leona Bortz, Dennis “Red” Bourdon, Jim Brenneman, John Cheng, Domenic Cicco,
Charles & Imagene Davis, Joseph & Margaret Drury, John Fishovitz, Don Gee,
Joe Jack, Bruce Lightcap, Bruce Manwiller, Thomas & Wesley James, Emanuel
Petterson, and David Strausser.
• The first chapter officers were Kenneth Bortz, President; Jim Brenneman,
Vice President; Wesley James, Treasurer; Bruce Lightcap, Recording
Secretary.
• The chapter meeting was held in the community room at Giant Eagle in
Rochester, PA.
• The first Highball was published.
1992
• The chapter received its charter as Chapter 176 of the NRHS.
• The first chapter activity was a 45 mile walking/automobile “hike” on a
32° Saturday in January. Using maps, old track charts, and photos, about
twenty-five members covered all of the old PRR Heritage from Rochester to
New Brighton to New Castle to Volant.
1993
• The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved papers for the Articles of
Incorporation, Domestic Nonprofit Corporation. The letter of incorporation
was filed in Harrisburg on April 1.
• The chapter toured Conway Yard and the locomotive simulator.
• The chapter held an excursion on the Little Beaver Creek Railroad.
1994
• The February meeting was held at the former Erie-Lackawana station in New
Castle.
• The August meeting was held in a PRR passenger car at the Harlansburg
Museum.
• The chapter went on a rail tour of the Lower Mahoning Valley hosted by Jim
Hill and using chapter member Jack Zines' caboose.
• Chapter volunteers started painting an Alco S2 at ISS.
1995
• Kevin Birkett, a BVJC member from Great Britain, presented “British
Mainline Power 1960-1995.”
• Members rode the Potomac Eagle excursion train.
• The annual banquet was held at the Methodist church in Aliquippa.
1996
• The Highball had its first color cover. It featured Conrail's first
SD80MAC.
• A board meeting was held at ISS to discuss the future direction of the
BVJC.
• The last meeting was held in the community room at Giant Eagle.
• Having learned that UN Tower was being phased out, a letter was sent to
CSXT informing them of the chapter's interest in saving it.
• CSXT agreed to sell UN Tower for $1,000 provided it's removed within sixty
days following the final
sale.
• Chapter members authorized the board of directors to proceed with the
acquisition of UN Tower.
• A site on Cherry Street was selected for UN and temporary storage was
arranged by ISS.
• CSXT modified the financial terms including a reduction in price, but a
month later the chapter's check was returned and it appeared the deal was
dead.
1997
• The chapter awaited word from Conrail on the chapter's request for a
caboose donation.
• Members rode the Kiski Junction RR and held a meeting in a passenger car
while sitting on a bridge
over the Allegheny River.
• The chapter had two self-guided trips to the Western Maryland Scenic RR in
Cumberland, MD.
• The chapter rode the Southwest Penn RR in Scottsdale, PA.
1998
• The UN Tower project is revived when CSXT notifies the chapter that the
price has been reduced to $500. The site on Cherry Street is reaffirmed with
ISS.
• BVJC becomes the new owner of UN Tower in June. Chapter members begin work
on July 6th.
• Chapter member Jack “Doc” Zines assumes the role of project manager; under
his direction the tower is ready to be moved by the end of September.
• UN Tower is moved on October 5th.
• Conrail donates ex-PRR N5c cabin car 477974 (renumbered 23111 after the
PRR/NYC merger) and ex-PC N-9 transfer caboose 18216 to the chapter. Both
are moved to ISS rails on November 5th.
1999
• Most of January’s meeting centered around discussion on finances regarding
UN Tower and the cabooses. Finding and raising funds was a concern.
• February's meeting was held at the Interchange Specialty Services (ISS)
office.
• The chapter traveled to the Kiski Junction RR for an excursion and a
meeting onboard the train.
• The chapter has its first website.
2000
• Chapter member John Fishovitz and his mother started making more than 600
replacement shingles for UN Tower and also started rehab of the tower's
windows.
• The chapter's NRHS number was changed from 176 to 207.
• Work on UN Tower continues.
• Dennis Lippert steps down after six years as Highball editor and is
replaced by Steve Raith.
• The chapter receives an unusual donation from Conrail – a battery-powered
locomotive mover from the Conway diesel terminal. “The bug” was one of four
such units built by the NYC in the mid-1960s and was transferred to Conway
Yard during the Conrail era. It saw limited use at Conway before being
donated to the BVJC.
• During the summer, chapter meetings and picnics are held at UN in
conjunction with workdays there.
• The October meeting is held in Beaver in the former P&LE station, now home
of the Beaver County 911
dispatch center.
• The chapter learned of the possibility of acquiring an ex-Monongahela
Railways track car from the family of a former MGA Superintendent. The
speeder had been given to him as a gift upon his
retirement from the railroad.
• Doc Zines, the New Castle Industrial Railroad, and ISS organize a Santa
train event. On December 17, the train ran from the ISS shop, up the NCIR
main and back with Doc's caboose, the chapter's N5c, and a caboose from the
WPRHS.
2001
• Members vote to send a contingent to West Virginia to check out the ex-MGA
Fairmont speeder. The trip is made on January 28 and those present decide it
is worth purchasing. The chapter approved the purchase at its February
meeting.
• Workdays start at UN in March and continue throughout the summer.
• The chapter enjoyed a unique outing on a working freight train on the
OHIRAIL RR.
• UN Tower is officially dedicated on August 19 in conjunction with the
Mahoningtown Community Day festival.
• The year's last workday and picnic at UN are held on September 8. That
evening Lee Gregory
presented a unique slideshow – it was shown outdoors on the side of the ISS
Alco S2 parked next to the tower.
• Sixty chapter members and guests rode the OC&T RR in October. That month's
meeting was held at Coal Oil Johnny's Restaurant in Pleasantville, PA.
2002
• In May members began pulling up rail in Rochester that was donated by
Norfolk Southern.
• The chapter hosted its first August train rides in conjunction with the
Mahoningtown Community Day festival.
• The chapter rescues a Brookville railcar from a salvage and surplus yard
in Freedom, PA. The railcar was built in 1940 for the U.S. Army by the
Brookville Locomotive Company in Brookville, PA.
2003
• One of the last cabooses built for the Nickel Plate Road, NKP 479, is
donated to the BVJC. It is transported by truck from Wellsburg, WV to New
Castle, PA where it is unloaded at Ellwood Quality Steel. After being set
back on its wheels (which were removed for the trip from West Virginia), the
caboose is moved by the New Castle Industrial Railroad to Mahoningtown in
time for the Community Day event on August 17th.
2004
• Having decided in December 2003 to find a permanent home, the BVJC has the
opportunity to see the former P&LE station in West Pittsburg. It was not for
sale at the time and a search continued for other suitable locations, but to
no avail.
• The chapter learns that a former B&O watchman's shanty being used as a
golf course storage shed will either be moved or demolished. Several chapter
members visit the site and decide it's worth saving. When the owner agrees
to donate it, chapter members prepare it to be moved, hire a tilt bed, and
transport it to JF Mill where restoration will take place.
• Ben Panella, owner of the West Pittsburg station, and the BVJC make an
oral agreement for the station and property. A fund raising campaign and
search for a lender begin.
2005
• The search for a bank willing to lend money to the chapter proves futile.
Several members decide to use their private property as collateral before
Mr. Panella steps forward and offers to be the mortgage holder. The deal is
agreed to with a handshake in February and the closing takes place in March.
• Doc Zines and John Fishovitz begin work on the watchman's shanty.
• A car cruise is held at the station in September.
• The annual banquet is cancelled as chapter members mourn the sudden loss
of Treasurer Lucy Jack.
2006
• President George Alberti temporarily serves as treasurer until Regis Kuntz
takes over.
• The chapter hosts the August train rides in Mahoningtown.
2007
• The chapter decides to break away from the NRHS and become an independent
historical society.
• The Mahoningtown train rides continue to grow in popularity.
2008
• The chapter officially becomes the Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical
Society.
• Society president Jon Meier is deployed to Afghanistan. He returns home
safely in September.
• Beautiful weather contributes to another successful August event in
Mahoningtown.
• Members visit the Bellevue, OH railroad museum and enjoy a picnic on the
grounds.
2009
• The society purchases K&K excursion car 604 at auction. In May the car is
transported by truck from Marienville to New Castle. After undergoing
necessary mechanical repairs and receiving a fresh coat of paint, it joins
our other rolling stock for the August train rides in Mahoningtown.
• Members installed electrical service to the West Pittsburg station. No
more generators!
• UN Tower receives a new roof and a fresh coat of paint.
2010
• The society holds its first Frosty Rails event in the New Castle area at
the Shenango Township VFD.
• A car cruise is held at the station in July.
• Another successful train & caboose ride event is held in Mahoningtown. We
didn't know at the time that it would be our last one.
• Reliant Energy donates the unused rail at their West Pittsburg power plant
to the BLRHS. Members begin salvage work in September.
• The society holds it first fall train show at the Vanport VFD on October
31st.
2011
• Another successful Frosty Rails event is held at the Shenango Township VFD.
• The society is notified by the railcar repair shop that they need the
track we've used to store our rolling stock. The board of directors cannot
find another storage track, so members vote to sell the equipment. We will
no longer host train rides in Mahoningtown.
• The K&K car, the PC transfer caboose, the NKP caboose, and the CR
locomotive mover are sold. The N5c is not sold and members will study the
feasibility of moving it to the station.
• The society pays off the station mortgage. The station is ours!
• Members construct a panel track at the station using rail donated by the
power company.
• The N5c is moved to the station in September.
• Happy 20th Anniversary!
Meeting Invitations - August 1991
The first page of the first “Hiball”
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UN Tower
Looking for a Home by George Alberti
Hello everyone. Isn’t this just wonderful that here on our 20 year anniversary,
that we are also able to celebrate the fact that we now have our own place to
call ours. A double celebration is in order.
But it wasn’t always this easy when it came to finding us a permanent home. I
for one really thought that we were going to be a permanent fixture on Cherry
St. in Mahoningtown. What I hadn’t taken into consideration was how hard it was
going to be to prove that we weren’t just another bunch of rail “nuts” wanting
to play with someone's trains, but real historians with a true sense of
preservation.
I’ll tell you, those were some good times when we started to really put UN Tower
back together again. We started off slow in 2000, actually just feeling our way
into trying to do right in restoration. Through 2001 and 2002 we made amazing
progress, and in 2003 we officially dedicated UN at its new home during the
annual Mahoningtown Festival.
But all was not well at this site. In late 2003 we were about to get a rude
awaking into just how vulnerable we were. Another rail group was in the process
of disbanding and we were getting caught up in events that were not of our
doing. That started the process of making us fully aware that by not owning the
property on Cherry Street, we had nothing really to fall back on. The issue came
to a head when we were basically snubbed for a rail event taking place on the UN
grounds. This event over all others really brought home the fact that we were at
the mercy of others.
After a long discussion at the December 2003 meeting, it was decided that in the
upcoming new year a search would be conducted for finding the BVJC a permanent
home. Through the effort of John Fishovitz, we were able to look at the West
Pittsburg Station in February 2004. The owner, Ben Panella, did not have the
property for sale but had invited the chapter to see the building. For most of
us attending, this was the first look at what would become our new home. In the
meantime, chapter members Dr. Jack and Nancy Zines, Joe and Lucy Jack, Don Gee,
John Fishovitz, Wes and Carol Maycock, and I continued looking for a suitable
location. There weren’t that many choices available in the immediate area, and
we were almost resigning ourselves to the status quo. You can imagine my (our)
surprise when Ben Panella contacted John Fishovitz and asked him if our group
would be interested in the West Pittsburg property. In discussions we had with
Mr. Panella, we came to an oral
agreement on the approximate size of the property for sale and a sale price.
The May 2004 meeting of the BVJC was one of the most important in our history.
After a long debate on the merits of buying this property, it was almost a
unanimous decision to proceed with the purchase. The sale price was $50,000 and
included 4.2 acres of level ground. Now the onus was on us to try and make this
happen. We needed to put $10,000 down and pay all fees on this transaction.
Thanks to Mike Zilka Sr. and Mike Jr, we started by having the land surveyed at
no cost. (Mike Sr. is a licensed surveyor.) The chapter went on a money raising
campaign, with many chapter members donating $500 for our Golden Spike plaque
and most others donating what they could. In the meantime, Don Gee, Joe and Lucy
Jack and I began what were to become almost futile attempts at trying to get a
lender. Chapter member Nick D'Amore made us great spreadsheets that showed all
of our assets, how and where money was spent, etc. It seemed that all was for
naught, however,
because for whatever reasons the lending institutions did not want to take a
chance on us.
Meanwhile, we still were doing some things that had to be done for the property
to sell. One of these was having the septic system pass a state inspection to
see if it was still useable. It was a mild day in early December of 2004 when we
found and uncovered the trap basin for the system and received the OK from the
state inspector. There was a cost of several hundred dollars to do this, and we
just took it in stride as part of the expense for the purchase.
It was now early 2005, and the board of directors – well, we were about at our
wits end. In February,
Joe Jack was able to arrange a meeting with the president of a large bank in
Beaver County that also
had offices in Lawrence County. Once again, Joe and Lucy, Don, and I made the
trip and met with
bank officials. I couldn’t believe it, as the CEO had already told this bank
manager to do this deal.
When we left there, our spirits were really high to say the least. But when I
contacted the bank as
instructed to set up a signing appointment, I was flabbergasted to find out that
they had changed their
minds and rescinded the offer. Once again our plans went down the drain.
Our last plan to arrange a loan came from chapter members who were going to use
their private property as collateral to make the purchase. We never got it to
the attorneys because late inFebruary I had a phone call from Mr. Panella who
wanted to meet with me. Don Gee, John Fishovitz, and I met Ben at his home at
which time he told us he would be willing to owner-finance the property for us.
Wow, we couldn’t believe what we were hearing. Ben said he was aware of how we
had been trying with no luck to secure a loan. What really persuaded him to be
the mortgage holder was our paying for the septic inspection in December. He
believed in what we said we were, folks interested in trying to preserve some of
our rail heritage. We proved it by incurring the septic inspection expense
before owning the building. He said he knew for sure that we were serious about
doing this.
Actually, Ben Panella is also a historian and did not want to see the station
torn down, but saved and preserved for the future. This property is not the only
historic piece that Ben has dealt with, and today there are other structures
that have been saved by him.
Well, at that meeting the deal was struck with a handshake, Ben's and ours. Ben
believes a man lives by his word. With me as president of the chapter at the
time, then by Jon, and now Wes, we acted for the chapter as a whole, as the man
who also would live by our words and actions.
In late March of 2005, we inked the deal for the West Pittsburg station and
property. It was a cold gray windy afternoon when Joe and Lucy, Don, and I made
our way there after the closing. For better or worse, it was ours now. I can
remember going inside, walking around outside and thinking how some day – the
Lord willing – it would be ours.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Ben Panella one more time. Before we knew
it, 2010 was here and our balloon payment was coming due. But long before the
due date, Ben made it clear that he was willing to let us just keep going again
for another 5 years to pay it off. We took Ben up on his offer and, as they say,
the rest is history.
One last thought. I often have wondered if we made the right decision when we
purchased this ground. I never thought that we would leave Mahoningtown and
always thought our rolling stock would be OK. Well times change, people change,
and the status quo just comes and goes. I really do believe that Mahoningtown
and New Castle folks lost what could have been something really good, a nice
jewel in the public eye, bringing visitors and, yes, rail nuts (they like to
spend $) to see what we had, what they could have had. Their loss is going to be
West Pittsburg's gain and our gain, for this is NOW the home of the
BEAVER-LAWRENCE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Congratulations BLRHS and members on 20 great years and on now being able to
control our course at OUR station and grounds. Take care all.
– George Alberti
The BVJC's first visit to the West Pittsburg station -
February 2004 photos by Don
Gee
Station Restoration
Station Electric
The Brookville Project - by Nick D'Amore
A retelling of the Brookville project story? I’ll probably bore everyone and
make myself feel old in the process, but here goes. How long has it been
ongoing? I had to look through three e-mail programs (remember ‘Eudora’ for
email?) on two computers to pull out some of the timeline, but I’ll try to hit
the basics.
Everyone knows it was built by Brookville Locomotive for the Army in 1940,
right? It was more or less built customized to the requirements of a Lt. Childs
at Raritan Arsenal, who was a strong advocate of diesel power. When considering
that it was being used in an ammunition supply depot, it’s not surprising that
it has the diesel (vs. volatile gasoline) power, a mostly wooden body, and
aluminum (“anti-sparking” in the specifications) trim.
Somewhere along the line, the original diesel engine was replaced, the body
enclosed, and the final drive taken apart at least twice. One of our ring gears
was marked “Ford“, the other the standard unmarked gears Brookville used. The
pinion gear that drives the ring gears wore itself down to practically nothing,
and the Brookville was out of service when the arsenal essentially closed in the
early 1960s. (Some of the arsenal site has been converted to a community
college, but some, including some of the track, remains today.) The unit, with
the disassembled drive and center frame sitting in the back end, made its way to
the New Cumberland, PA Army Depot, then eventually to the Army surplus dealer
just west of Cranberry Township, PA… waiting for us.
When the dealer closed, somehow we found out about it and bought it for $200. It
was another $200 to haul it to Hill Railcar. It sat there for a while until
someone (George Alberti?) asked me to take charge of fixing it. After all, I
could run the Brookville in St. Marys, so I shouldn’t have any problems fixing
this one, right? My late friend Bob Bailey helped with the first restoration
step − sliding the final drive along a board from the back of the Brookville
into my truck. Jon Meier soon signed on, then Bruce Kelly, then Ray Wood, Garry
Hrinda, and Darren Hamill who round out the crew that have put in the majority
of the thousands of hours to date.
Highlights of the restoration to date: (Specific dates are generally that of the
e-mail describing the news, usually a day or two after the fact).
September 14th, 2002 - At the regular meeting, George Alberti stated that the
chapter had an opportunity to purchase the Brookville for $200. Jon Meier made a
motion to buy it, and Wes Maycock seconded it (now we know the guilty parties!);
October 20th, 2002 - George posted photos of the acquisition on the Railway
Preservation News website (Rypn.org). One commenter nominated it “Biggest basket
case adopted as a restoration project” (and assured himself a seat on the first
ride when we prove him wrong).
Early 2003 - Nothing much happened. September 7th, 2003 - Moved the final drive
parts out of the back to the unit into my pickup and then garage. September
25th, 2003 - discovered a Hercules parts supplier.
January 24th, 2004 - made contact with Brookville, obtained sales file --
everything we needed (except the main body blueprint, which remains MIA). I
think I still owe George Alberti the box of donuts I bet him… our unit is the
same one pictured on Brookville’s website. June 24th, 2004 - pursued a similar
6-ton 36” Brookville in Latrobe PA. Over that summer, this unit was donated to
B&W in St. Marys (BVJC had no place to store it) and is now at Doe River Gorge
in North Carolina. When we picked up the unit, the plant manager gave us the
file they had: Overall spec sheet, shipping waybill, 1940 Ford truck owners
manual, and a diagram of the Brookville final drive… exactly what we needed.
With the diagram, we decided to rebuild our drive rather than remove it from
this other unit.
June 2005: Found the first ring and pinion near Reading, PA; July 13th, 2005
initial budget: two years, $4,000 (We are probably at the top end of that wild
guess by now); Summer / Fall dismantled upper body and removed roof; November
11th, 2005 - moved the Brookville from ISS Shop to JF Mill & Lumber.
January 20th, 2006 - Kicked off indoor restoration. March 13th, 2006 - Found a
second set of gears, an entire axle (later determined to be an earlier,
non-floating axle and just different enough we did not use it); Wednesday,
August 23rd, 2006 -- 7:45pm --- IT IS ALIVE! The Hercules engine started in a
cloud of exhaust. Motor was removed from the frame in November for rebuild.
January 27th, 2007 - Ray Wood has joined us and we are battling the journal
pedestal springs, which are
exceedingly difficult to remove. March 5th, 2007 - finished installing new front
frame member. June 28th, 2007-
fabricating new ‘knee-knocker brackets for exterior steps, dropped off
transmission for overhaul, found a new ring gear that matches the latter style;
August 7th, 2007 -- Gulp…. transmission cost total was $734, a good bit more
than we first thought, but it should hopefully not need any attention in the
future; September 27th, 2007 - painted the frame… it almost glows in the dark.
More from the e-mails: January 24th, 2008 - start of year three: Finishing up
rear of engine block with a new bearing, the flywheel and clutch; Match 3rd,
2008 - installed oil pan, fabricated front sander mechanism; June 2nd, 2008 -
setting valves on the engine; May 8th, 2008 -- successful test of vacuum
cylinder, installed vacuum pump on engine; July 20th, 2008 - engine re-installed
on frame; September 27th, 2008 -- dashboard is ready to paint and install;
November 3rd, 2008 dashboard in and gauges assembled.
February 23rd, 2009 - pressed off bearings on final drive shaft; May 28th, 2009
- fabricating new front bumper, still wiring dashboard, repaired steel floor for
in below dashboard; July 19th, 2009 - ran out of usable shims for final drive
and had to have some ordered (fortunately, from a plant in Cannonsburg);
However, by November 2009 we determined that we couldn’t get the gear mesh right
no matter what we tried… it was always too wide. Without specs, our best option
was to measure another final drive to determine what the factory specs were.
January 10th, 2010 - Made contact with Paul Harvey at Coolspring Power Museum;
March 30th, 2010 - drove to Coolspring (near Brookville) and removed the drive
from their unit, which is unrestored; July 22, 2010 - finished disassembling
Coolspring’s drive, determined that gear lash was about .060 total on both sides
vs. .150 on ours… our gears were about .070” too far apart. This is probably why
our pinion gear wore itself down to nothing. October 2010 - My dad machined off
the excess from one side, which results in the shaft being equal on both sides.
We suspect that someone misread the blueprint, or broke early for lunch, when
the shaft was first made.
January 19th, 2011 - began reassembling our drive, estimating the number of
required shims on each side and
altering them until the lash was equal on both sides. February 19th, 2011 -
Finished alignment and sealed the drive up. April 6th, 2011 Installed our
rebuilt drive on our unit… 7 years, 6 months and 29 days after sliding the parts
into my pickup to start restoration; April 27th, 2011 - Installed the chain
drive to the rear axle and watched the wheels spin under power for the first
time since, well, at least since I was born. July 7th, 2011 - finished
reassembling Coolspring’s drive. July 12th, 2011 - Wrote this summary.
After this one-year detour, we’re ready to move forward again with
troubleshooting the vacuum brake system, then installing the floor, upper body
and roof. Check back on our 30th anniversary to see what we’ve done!
B&O Crossing Shanty - by Gary Mittner
There are not a lot of known early details on the shanty. It was probably
constructed in the earlier half of the 1900s. It protected the 4th Street
crossing in Ellwood City, PA. Here is a photo taken by Joe Polefko in 1977.
A woman crossing guard was its last
user. At some point after it closed it was acquired by McElwain Motors of
Ellwood City. It was repaired and repainted brown with an oxide color trim and
relocated to McElwain's auto shop/storage facility on River Road in North
Sewickley Township. There it survived the tornado of May 31, 1985. Ownership of
the shanty and McElwain's other River Road property was transferred to Max
Messing when he purchased it for inclusion for his Fox Run Golf Course property.
At that time the shanty was used as a storage shed for shovels, rakes, etc. In
the summer of 2004 I had the opportunity to ask Max what his plans were for the
shanty. He said "funny you ask" as he needed it moved to make room for a corral
for his daughter's mini horses. I asked him about donating it to the BVJC and he
told me to bring some members down to see if it was worth saving. We decided it
was and soon we made plans to prep it for the move, hired a tilt bed car hauler,
and we soon had it sitting at John's lumber mill.
Shanty Restoration
Darlington Days
Mahoningtown Events
Nickel Plate Caboose 479 from July 2003
newspaper articles
NKP caboose 479, one of the last cabooses built for the Nickel Plate Road, was
to have been part of a display near the old depot in Wellsburg, West Virginia.
That site was taken over for a rails-to-trails project and the caboose was
donated by its owner to the BVJC. The chapter paid the cost of transporting the
caboose which arrived in New Castle on July 29, 2001.
The caboose was transported without it wheels by tractor-trailer; a smaller
truck carried the wheels. The trip from Wellsburg to New Castle took
approximately 2-1/2 hours. Upon its arrival in New Castle, the caboose was
delivered to Ellwood Quality Steel on Moravia Street. There, the wheels were
unloaded from the smaller truck and placed on rails inside the mill, after which
the tractor-trailer backed into the building. Then the caboose was lifted by
crane and placed on its wheels. The caboose was then moved by a New Castle
Industrial Railroad locomotive to a location near UN Tower in Mahoningtown.
“This is really exciting,” said Sharon DeVite, a member of the BVJC. “The
railroad has been a part of my family for so long and now I can be part of it as
well.”
The caboose arrived just in time for the August 17th Mahoningtown Community Day
celebration and the BVJC's caboose rides, tours of UN Tower, and displays of
various railroad memorabilia.
Knox & Kane 604
Rail Salvage
Panel Track Construction
N5c Move
Activities, Equipment, and Rainbows
A reminder of one of the numerous excursions
the group enjoyed throughout the years.
One of many pictures taken at the official dedication of UN Tower on August 19,
2001. Left to right: Wes Maycock, Jack Zines, John Fishovitz, unknown, Bob Meier
(in doorway), George Alberti. Photographer unknown.
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