The Messenger - March 1998

Directors' Report

    The Board of Directors took the following actions during the January to March period. Continuation of the web site was approved for another year. (The site is accessible at www.esrm.com). A formal offer to purchase nearby property was authorized.

    A project to publish a book on the building of the Castkill Reservoir System using photos collected for the 1997 and 1998 exhibits, including the Shandaken Tunnel, Gilboa Dam and Schoharie Reservoir was approved. A bylaws amendment authorizing board action to remove a director from office after repeated absences from board meetings was adopted. NRHS members will get a 10% discount in the gift shop upon proof of NRHS membership.

    Dexter Jeannotte announced that he will be unable to continue to serve on the board after his term of office as director expires at the May All-Members meeting due to the press of other commitments. He will be retiring as museum president at this time.

Curator's Corner

Olive Branch Depot prior to 1913, courtesy Alonzo Gale Collection

    Our Curator, Lonnie Gale, tells us, "Last year in the newsletter, a picture showed Ulster & Delaware Engine #18 at Olive Branch." The picture, shown here on the first page, "from a `real photo' postcard was taken at the opposite end of the station. I wish I could identify the station agent but you can see the sign, OLIVE BRANCH, above him. This station, along with Ashton, the village it served, was gone forever after the Ashokan Reservoir was built."

Calendar

• April 1st, 1998 - Open meeting, a slide show featuring a visit to the past through the eyes and camera lens of John Sheldon will be presented. See the description on page 4 for more details. 7:30PM, VFW Post 1386, Rt. 9W, East Chester Bypass, Kingston, NY.

• May 16th, 1998 - All-Members Annual Meeting, Election of Directors, 10:30AM, Phoenicia Station

• May 23rd, 1998 - 11:00AM, Station season opening, Memorial Day Weekend

• June 28th, 1998 - Catskill Reservoir System Construction Exhibit Reception, 5:00 to 7:00PM, Phoenicia Station

• October 12th, 1998 - Columbus Day, Closing day of summer exhibit

River Line Changes

   Soon, if the latest high stakes Rail Baron game at the multi-billion dollar level plays out according to the wishes of CSX and NS railroads, our local Kingston, NY, railroad scene will change from Conrail blue to CSX dark blue, yellow and gray. Not much will change at first since CSX engines have regularly been seen on runthrought freights such as SECS, the Selkirk to CSX train (see photo below).

    CSX will extend three of the River Line sidings between Selkirk and New Jersey to improve the flow of traffic. They are the sidings at Nyack, Milton and Alsen. The latest issue of the Conrail Technical Society Newsletter (Nov/Dec '97) reports that the CSX operating plan on the River Line filed for the combined railroad features 8 pairs of intermodal freights, 4 automotive, and seven manifest freights for a total of 28 trains.

    The report did not indicate if these trains were daily so it is not known what is implied for traffic density compared to present density. It may be that present trains such as OPNS (Oak Point to Norfolk Southern via Selkirk), SENS, and SEAL (Selkirk to Allentown) and their return trains will be handled by NS directly from Selkirk over their trackage rights on the D&H from Albany to Binghamton, NY or Sunbury, PA.

Conrail train SECS-7 is seen just south of milepost 89 on the River Line main track, approaching Flatbush Avenue in Kingston with CSX engine #6209, model GF40-2, with five more CSX engines, one SP engine and 100 cars in town on Feb. 17th, 1997.

Member Donations

Museum Supporters

   The members listed on this page have supported the museum above the level of individual or family membership through their donations or contributing membership dues level. In addition to those listed here, special mention is made of $5,000.00 contribution made by Chet Lyons, Jr. for land acquisition, $600.00 contributed by Harry Leeds for our general fund, and prepayment of his 1998 land acquisition pledge by Archie Campbell.

    The donors listed in the adjacent columns gave a total of $644.20 for station winterization, $567.50 for Engine 23 restoration, and $35.00 for our general fund. The ESRM Board of Directors expresses their grateful appreciate for the support given to the museum by the members listed on this page. In addition to these contributions, the mail order receipts from the previous newsletter totaled $559.53.

Catskill Reservoirs

   The 1998 summer exhibit in the Phoenicia station will feature a further look at the projects which contribute to the New York City water supply, including the Schoharie Reservoir, Gilboa Dam and the Shandaken Tunnel, which was the longest tunnel in the world when completed in 1923. As in 1997 for the exhibit on the Ashokan Reservoir, exhibit sponsors who contribute $25.00 or more will have their names listed in the exhibit brochure. Contributors of $100.00 or more will be listed in larger type. The deadline for sponsorship is April 10th, 1998, to allow for sufficient time to prepare and print the brochure for our season opening on May 23rd, 1998. Please send your sponsor donation checks or money orders, payable to the attention of Bethia Waterman, Empire State Railway Museum, P.O. Box 455, Phoenicia NY, 12464. Please note on the check or money order, "Sponsor - 1998 Summer Exhibit".

April 1st Slide Show

   Join us for a visit to the late 60's to see the northeast railroad scene through the camera lens of ESRM Life Member John Sheldon. Selections from the ESRM collection of John Sheldon slides of first generation diesel and railfan steam excursion images from throughout the Northeast will be shown to museum members and guests at VFW Post 1386, 708 East Chester Bypass, Kingston on April 1st, 1998. EL, NH, NYC, PRR, PC, B&O, C&O, WM, StJ&LC and other railroads are represented. John Sheldon, a past president of ESRM, recorded early ESRM excursions to Rutland, VT, and Steamtown at Bellows Falls, VT, as well as excursions on Poughkeepsie Bridge, to Canada and the Southeast; selected slides from these excursions will also be shown.

In Memory

   During 1997, the following ESRM members died: Carl Lathrop, Bernard Willig, and Kent Reeves. Carl Lathrop was a dearly loved and valued contributor to the Catskill Mountain Railroad. CMRR engine #29 was named for him. Bernard Willig was a member since 1995. Kent Reeves was an ESRM life member and former owner of Engine 23 and the Phoenicia Station. He was instrumental in ESRM acquisition of the station. Our deepest sympathy is extened to all affected by these deaths.