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N.R.H.S.- L.I.S.T. TrainWeb Server

Updated on May 23, 2012

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Welcome to the Official Website of the

Long Island Sunrise Trail Chapter

of the

National Railway Historical Society

Click here for the Nat'l. Railway Historical Society Website.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be
Friday, Jun 15, 2012
at 8:00 p.m. in Babylon Village at the usual location:
at Christ Episcopal Church, basement hall at
S. Carll Avenue and Prospect St.,
Babylon (Long Island)
.

PROGRAM---Jun 2012 meeting: This month's presentation will be given by Don Fisher, from the Railroad Museum of Long Island,
who will show us material from the museum's archives.
Originally scheduled in error for May's meeting.

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Please check this website for any cancellation or changes to meeting dates
due to dangerous weather conditions.
Latest update would be posted by 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting
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The 2012 LIRR calendars are still available-

The 2010 Penn Station 100th Anniv. commemorative calendars are still available for $5-
see below to order your copy.

2012 LIRR and PENN STATION CALENDAR order form

Recent past meetings:

If you couldn't attend, this is what you missed out on . . .

April 2012 meeting: Past Prez. Ben Young returned with more of the outstanding movies he and his brother took back in the last days of steam in the Northeast and Midwest.
He also showed us footage from the long gone Third Avenue Railway in NY City.

Mar 2012: Leigh Bedia highlighted a number of past Chapter rail trips with his own pics along with some from Ken Katta, Elliot Courtney and Kevin Katta.

Feb. 2012: Junior member John Grocki gave a short presentation on his Chapter sponsored trip to Steamtown's Railcamp last summer.
Following that, Kevin Katta paid tribute to AMTRAK's 40th Anniv. with a showing of pics from his collection.

Jan. 2012: Steve Williams, a rail photographer from here on LI, brought down his personal collection of NY City metro area shots from the 70's and '80s. Spuyten Duyvil, Sunnyside Yard, S. Amboy & Hoboken NJ, LIRR, NYCTA and other locations were shown.

Dec 2011: Ed Koehler continued his in depth presentation on the abandoned New York, Ontario and Western Railway, tying in its small but important role in Long Island Rail Road history.

For our annual Modeler's Night at the Nov. meeting, several chapter members displayed some of their personal favorite RR models.
Noted modeler, photographer and BNSF/Santa Fe fan, Ray Rhodes brought in a few of his BNSF/Santa Fe models in HO scale and gave a fantastic digital slideshow on the Santa Fe in Chicago in the 1960s.

Oct 2011: Rail historian and photographer Rich Taylor gave an excellent digital slide show on the Lehigh and New England Railroad that was shut down October 31st, 1961 -50 years ago. He also discussed the history, facilities, and operations of this famous anthracite coal hauler.

Renowned rail photographer Matt Herson returned for our Sept. 2011 meeting and took us back to New England
during the 60's, 70's, and 80's-- "Railroading- New England Style".

The presentation for the June meeting was given by chapter member John Iacono. He spotlighted the Central RR of NJ, or CNJ, as it once was.

The May meeting featured a special program by internationally known transportation photojournalist Joseph M. Calisi -he outlined the LIRR ESA (East Side Access) project which will bring the LIRR to Grand Central Terminal in a few years from now.

Past Prez Ben Young brightened up the April 2011 meeting with his 16mm footage from Canada in the '50's
showing off tons of steam action during the final years.

Mark Sullivan gave a fine presentation at the March '11 meeting which showcased a railfanning adventure he made out west to Idaho.

Past Chapter Prez Ed Koeler gave a fine presentation at the Feb '11 meeting, highlighting the O&W- past and present. This was only Pt I- Pt II is scheduled for the Fall of this year.

The program for the Jan. 2011 Chapter meeting was given by member George Loy who has researched the LIRR Central Branch which connects with the Montauk Branch here in Babylon. He explored the Central Branch's past history and present activity.

 

LONG ISLAND RAILROAD 175th ANNIVERSARY CHAPTER MEETING

The April 2009 meeting featured a 3+ hour marathon of the LIRR's colorful past. We featured the best Long Island Railroad photos from numerous chapter members and guests.
The list of presenters included John Iacono, John Scala, Walter Zullig, George Wybenga, and Ray Muntz. If you weren't here, you missed a fine show. Thank you to all who made these notable presentations possible. I just can't get enough of the old LIRR. Happy Birthday LIRR!

The monthly meeting is usually held at the Christ Episcopal Church
located in Babylon, Long Island, three blocks south of the LIRR Babylon station.
Guests are invited to attend -50 cent donation requested!
Please, come on down- you won't be disappointed!

Please check this website for any changes to meeting dates due to dangerous weather conditions.

CHAPTER STORE:

2012 LIRR calendars are now available:

2010 marked the 100th anniversary of the opening of the original Pennsylvania Station in N.Y.
The Chapter has produced a calendar to commorate this historic anniversary- we still have a few left -only $5.00.

The 2012 LIRR calendar and the 2010 Pennsylvania Station 100th Anniversary calendars are in stock and are ready to be shipped.

2012 LIRR and PENN STATION CALENDAR order form

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Jamaica Station -by Dave Morrison - Retired branch mgr. for the LIRR

Published by Arcadia Publishing - Available from our Chapter for $ 21.99 + shipping and NYS sales tax.

175th Anniversary of the Long Island Railroad: Apr. 24, 2009

The officers and other members of the chapter have published a softcover book to celebrate
the 175th anniversary of the LIRR, it is a soft-cover book with LIRR historical articles and photos and is still available by mail order.
The price is now $10.00 which includes shipping and handling. NY State residents please add $1.55 sales tax.
Supplies are running low so please order your copy now.




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The Chapter also has its latest book for sale at the meetings and by mail order.
The N.Y. Connecting Railroad

The L.I.S.T. Chapter is proud to announce that we have produced a new book about the
New York Connecting Railroad. This fine book is still available for sale but supplies are limited.
The retail price is $35.95 + tax and shipping for non-members.
This book is available at the chapter meetings and directly by mail-order.
Click below for a printable mail-order form. We have only 10 copies left!

BOOK ORDER FORM



Congratulations to authors Bill Thom and Bob Sturm for putting together this fantastic new book. The descriptive content is fascinating, and the quality of the photos is supurb. This is a must-get book if you haven't already done so, especially if you are a fan of NY City's railroad history and it's development. Living in Brooklyn for 27 years basically always near the Bay Ridge branch, I am particularly fond of this stretch of track from Bay Ridge Yard up and over the Hell Gate Bridge into the Bronx. Too bad I'm too young to remember any of the NH or PRR equipment which pounded the rails up there. This book however, provides a fascinating look back into the activity on the branch. This book has it all- it covers the development, building and operation of the NYCRR with plenty of detailed maps, photos, and diagrams. (Director/Webmaster-Kevin Katta)

The NYC Transit Museum in Brooklyn has on display the beautifully restored LIRR hack (caboose) # 60. It is well worth the effort to get in to Brooklyn to see it.
It is located at Boerum Pl. & Schermerhorn St. in Brooklyn, NY 11201
Click here for all info: NYC Transit Museum

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Click here for- Archived LIRR Articles from past L.I.S.T. Semaphores
-Thank you to Steve Lynch, way down in sunny Florida.


GENERAL CHAPTER INFORMATION


The Long Island - Sunrise Trail Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is a group of dedicated railroad enthusiasts who gather regularly for companionship and fun to preserve and enjoy Long Island's significant contribution to railroad history, as well as all other aspects of railroading. The Chapter has monthly meetings at which slides and movies of the Long Island Rail Road and many other railroads are shown and news of local railroad groups and items related to railroading are discussed.


The Chapter was instrumental in preserving Long Island Rail Road steam locomotive #35, built in 1928 by the Pennsylvania Rail Road's Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pennsylvania as a Class G5 "Ten Wheeler" 4-6-0, and moved to Oyster Bay on Aug 01, 2002. It was one of the two last steam engines to run in regular revenue service on the LIRR, and the LIST Chapter supports continuing efforts to restore the engine and return it to active service for tourist use.

Chapter members were also involved in the restoration of the business car Jamaica, on display next to the Wantagh Historical Society's preserved LIRR station on Wantagh Avenue north of the new Wantagh station.

The chapter does provide grants for local rail museums and other railroad related preservation work.

N.R.H.S. membership information and forms can be found here:
Join the N.R.H.S. !

It's a lot easier to join if you come down to our Chapter meeting. You can fill out an application and submit it there.
Many of the rail trips put together by the officers of the Chapter are for its members only.
Join now so you don't miss out on future events.

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The SEMAPHORE

We publish a monthly newsletter, the SEMAPHORE, with meeting notices, previews, and recapitulations, historical vignettes and feature articles, reminiscences by old-time railroad employees, and railroad modeling information.
Many thanks to member Steve Torborg who has graciously volunteered to produce the newsletter.

In the near future, we will attempt to offer the Semaphore in electronic form to be downloaded (virus-free!) from this website by way of a password available only to members which may ultimately result in a lower Chapter membership fee to those who opt for
the electronic version. Many other organizations are now doing this and it translates to us offering full color photographs. more content, no printing and mailing costs and delay and less clutter for your spouses to complain about.

Archived LIRR Semaphore Articles (Thanks go out to Steve Lynch): http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/semaphore/semaphore.htm

CHAPTER SPONSORED TRIPS


Most of our trips are open to the public--but LIST members get first crack if tickets are limited.
Also, members will be able to purchase tickets at a reduced price.


UPCOMING CHAPTER RAILFAN TRIPS:

A Chapter sponsored all-rail trip to the Danbury RR Museum and SONO Tower in S. Norwalk, CT is planned for June 9, 2012.

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PAST CHAPTER RAILFAN TRIPS:

LIRR Morris Park Shops and Hillside Facility Nov 2011

NJ TRANSIT MMC Shops Kearny NJ - May 21, 2011

PATH Shop Tour at Harrison NJ - Oct. 30 2010

MTA Coney Island Yard Tour - June 2010

We took a tour of the MTA Coney Island Subway Yards in Brooklyn in June 2010. We toured the shop buildings and the main control tower and we're able to take an up close look at the vintage equipment stored outside near the tower.

SIRT FANTRIP held Sat. June 28, 2008

Staten Island Rapid Transit - Staten Island Railway - Now retired ALCO S-1's (including ex-LIRR #407)
Consist: R-44s pulled by SIRT ALCO S-1's 821 and 407 plus two hacks.

The round trip excursion ran from St. George Terminal to Tottenville, Staten Island. A tour of the former B&O Clifton Yard Shops was included. Two SIRT cabooses were used for the trip back to the terminal.

Click here for: SIRT: Staten Island Rapid Transit photos and information at NYC Subway.org
This is a great website for SIRT photos and description of the entire system.

 


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NY & ATLANTIC-BAY RIDGE BRANCH EXCURSION

On Saturday, June 2, 2007, the chapter sponsored an excursion on the N.Y. & Atlantic Railway from the wye at
Fresh Pond Yard in Glendale, Queens. The train then made its way down the Bay Ridge Branch and stopped at the
East NY tunnel for photos. The train then continued to the Linden Blvd. overpass for a photo runby. Afterwards, the excursion continued to the 65th St Yard in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn where riders detrained and photographed the still unused float bridges and the train. The riders then enjoyed a great prepared deli lunch as the train began it's journey back to Glendale. Once everyone detrained, the riders took many photos of the rolling stock and motive power in the yard as well as other NYA crews drilling the yard at Pond.

The Chapter members wish to thank the NY& A, Mark Westerfield, and his crew for their gracious hospitality.


The NYA crew along with the LIST members at 65th St. Yard in Bay Ridge Brooklyn.

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Farewell to the LIRR M-1's

On Nov. 4th, 2006, the chapter sponsored the "Farewell to the LIRR M-1's" excursion from Jamaica station.
This rail trip was a final salute to the M-1 electric MU's and covered a portion of the Main Line, as well as the Far Rockaway, Long Beach, and Port Washington branches. The train stopped at Penn Station to allow riders to take a lunch break. the train then continued to the West Side Yard where riders detrained and photographed the yard and equipment. The excursion also ran out to Garden City and up to Clinton Av.

Here is LIRR M-1 # 9609 in the lead at West Side Yard.

The M-1 consist is on the ladder in VD yard with # 9609 in the lead. Photos by Chapter member Leigh Bedia.

More LIRR video can be found here: YouTube Video- LIRR Farewell to the M-1's
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In the past, the Chapter has sponsored rail trips around Long Island and elsewhere in the Metropolitan New York area. Some of the most famous trips have been those to the Long Island Rail Road facilities, dinner trips to Montauk and Greenport, and off-island trips on LIRR trains or Metro-North to such distant points such as Danbury, Norwalk and Waterbury Connecticut and to Grand Central Terminal, Poughkeepsie and Harmon Yards in New York. Photo run-bys take place and food service is usually arranged.

At each meeting, we usually hold a raffle for railroad-related memorabilia. Donations of RR items are welcomed.
Refreshments now available during entire meeting. Guests and potential members are always welcomed at our monthly meetings.

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The Long Island Sunrise Trail Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is incorporated as a non-profit 501(C)(3) educational organization. It was founded in 1966 to serve the Long Island area. Membership in the Chapter also provides the full benefits of membership in the national organization, including a splendid bi-monthly magazine, the National Railway Bulletin.

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The Chapter meets at 8:00 p.m. on the third Friday of every month (except July and August) at the

Christ Episcopal Church, basement hall at
S. Carll Avenue and Prospect Street, Babylon (Long Island), New York.

The Church is located one block south of the big brick village hall /firehouse/courthouse on West Main Street (a.k.a. State Route 27A, Montauk Highway, or Merrick Rd.), in Babylon Village off S. Carll Avenue, and only 3 blocks south of the west end of the Babylon station of the
Long Island Rail Road.

Please check this website for any changes to meeting dates due to dangerous weather conditions.
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Long Island is 120 miles long; the west end (Brooklyn and Queens) is in New York City and is primarily served by the (Metro) New York Chapter (no Website). The far east end, eastern Suffolk, Riverhead and beyond, is primarily served by the
Twin Forks Chapter.

The Chapter's email address is: LISunriseTrail@yahoo.com

Our mailing address:

NRHS-LIST
P. O. Box 507
Babylon, New York 11702-0507

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LINKS SECTION

THESE HAVE ALL BEEN CHECKED AND ARE ACTIVE:

Special thanks to Sam Berliner III for previously hosting the chapter's site and for providing outstanding content.
Here is a link to his information packed website: Sam Berliner III's Railroad Website

N.R.H.S.- Twin Forks Chapter: www.twinforksnrhs.org

Caboose Art -by George Wybenga: www.cabooseart.com/

Long Island Live Steamers: www.trainweb.org/lils

Railroad.net: Message Forums, Photos and News: www.railroad.net/

The Long Island Railroad Forum & Discussion Board: LIRR.thermomods.com/index.php

LIRR Photo Site- Locomotives and Rolling Stock: www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=LIRR

So, do you want to know more about the Long Island Railroad and its history?

The Oyster Bay Railroad Museum: www.oysterbayrailroadmuseum.org/

Railroad Museum of Long Island (in Riverhead & Greenport): www.rmli.us

Steve Lynch's excellent LIRR historical Sites: www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrcontents.htm

NEW! Here's John LaBoda's website with in-depth information and photos about LIRR Parlor and other passenger cars:
http://www.trainweb.org/passengercars/Indices/L2.htm . . . (Click on "Home' to view other RR's on his site)

LIRR, NY Connecting RR, Steve Lynch and Dave Kellers Archives, Modeling LIRR: www.trainsarefun.com A must see for hardcore LIRR fans.

Art Huneke's LIRR History Site: www.arrts-arrchives.com/

Long Island RR History Site: www.lirrhistory.com/

LIRR Abandoned Spurs: www.trainweb.org/AbandonedLIRR

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This site is always under development. Suggestions and corrections are encouraged and welcomed.
Check back weekly. Thank you for visiting.

LIST Chapter Director and Webmaster- Kevin Katta -email me-

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