May 22 2011
VRAHawthorne Station
Preserve your name or memorialize a loved one for posterity
We are at the beginning of the refurbishment of the Hawthorne Station. The move 75′ back from the corner was funded by our recent projects.
To complete the job and see the buildings exterior returned to its former glory, we need to do more fund raising. By purchasing pavers you will be enhancing the future of a building that has seen so much of the past and has many stories to tell generations to come. The paver bricks will be part of the walking path that leads from Diamond Bridge Avenue to the station.
Text Only Paver Bricks
4″ x 8″ Engraved Brick – Grey $75
1 – 3 Lines, 20 Characters (including spaces)
OR
8″ x 8″ Engraved Brick – Red $150
1 – 6 Lines, 20 Characters (including spaces)
Click to enlarge
Paver Bricks with a Logo
4″ x 8″ Engraved Brick – Grey $100
1 – 3 Lines, 12 Characters (including spaces)
OR
8″ x 8″ Engraved Brick – Red $175
1 – 4 Lines, 20 Characters (including spaces)
Order Form
1) Download the VRA Paver Order Form.
2) Fill it out and then save it.
3) Create a new email to volunteerra@yahoo.com
4) Attach the completed VRA Paver Order Form to the email and click send.
5) Pay for your brick(s) below
Add a logo for $25:
* $5 will be donated to the corresponding organization when you chose their logo!
CLICK IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE
Pay for Your Brick Order
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4″x8″ Engraved Brick – $75
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8″x8″ Engraved Brick – $150
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Add a logo to your brick – $25
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Remember that the VRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the purchase of pavers can even get you a tax write off!
May 15 2011
Paul TrabertMay 2011, Newsletters
| NAME |
LIB |
LOC |
TRAINS |
COMB |
| CTC Board |
10 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
| Diesel Era |
11 |
0 |
11 |
11 |
| Extra 2200 South |
27 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
| Model Railroader |
18 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
| Model Railroading |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pacific Rail News |
10 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| Railfan & Railroad |
22 |
10 |
7 |
10 |
| Railpace |
25 |
25 |
0 |
25 |
| Railroad Explorer |
6 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
| Railroad Model Craftsman |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
| The Railroad Press |
8 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
| Railway Quarterly |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| The Short Line |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Trains |
31 |
25 |
31 |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Totals |
184 |
109 |
77 |
139 |
|
|
59.2% |
41.8% |
75.5% |
Key:
- Column 1 (NAME) is the name of each magazine.
- Column 2 (LIB) is the number of years for each magazine in the library. Yes, we have 184 years of magazines.
- Column 3 (LOC) is the number of years for which we have indexes. This information has been gathered from various public sites on the Internet.
- Column 4 (TRAINS) refers to indexes found on a special site maintained by Trains magazine (http://trc.trains.com/magazineindex/). To access these indexes you must register with your e-mail address. Registration is free.
- Column 5 (COMB) shows the combined results of using our local indexes and the indexes found at Trains.com. Our local indexes cover about 59% of our library. The Trains magazine indexes cover about 42% of our library. Together this gives us about 76% index coverage.
May 15 2011
Joe MeleMay 2011, Newsletters, United Railroad Historical Society of NJ
The URHS has been busy this past winter and early spring with a couple of different projects. Even though there haven’t been any work sessions due to the winter season, I would like to update the VRA members on the URHS activity.
Star Trak is continuing to work on our equipment at Boonton yard.
New Jersey Transit will be donating a Comet 1 ex-Erie Lackawanna cab car to the URHS. We will be receiving #5120. The M&E will be picking up the cab car for the URHS.
The URHS will be leasing Erie Railroad locomotive #436 to the Morristown & Erie Railway. The M&E plans on using this locomotive on the Lackawaxen and Stourbridge railroad.
The URHS purchased a steel shop building from a manufacturer in Southern New Jersey. The company delivered the building to Tuckahoe this past March. The building was delivered in pieces, and the next step is to erect this building on the CMSL in Tuckahoe, NJ at the wye location. The URHS and CMSL are currently working out the details for this building. The plan is to use the building for maintenance on the URHS/CMSL equipment and also for trolley storage. Stay tuned for more details.
Listed below are the Spring 2011 URHS member groups’ model train/railroad shows:
Tri-State is sponsoring caboose hops on the Dover and Rockaway branch on June 12, 2011.
Friends Group: Phillipsburg 150th Anniversary Celebration: May 30, 2011
May 15 2011
VRAAnnouncements, May 2011, Motorcar Trips, Newsletters
Our first motorcar trip of the year is fast approaching, on the weekend of May 21st and 22nd. Last year some attendees asked for a spring run. The trip this year is as early as we could get, as the NARCOA schedule filled up quickly with competing trips. This year we start with something old and something new. This year marks, I believe, the eleventh year in a row we have run over the NYS&W Southern Division. That’s “something old;” now for the “something new.” This year we are starting from Sparta, NJ and heading west to Warwick. In years past we had to stop a few miles east of Warwick due to the track being under the control of Norfolk Southern west of that point. Last year that changed, and the railroad was leased to the Middletown & New Jersey. Even more advantageous is that Frank Eichenlaub, one of the pilots on our trips over the NYS&W, became General Manager of the M&NJ. Frank was gracious enough to ask his boss if we could run over the rail and they agreed. Thank you Frank!
NARCOA NYS&W Southern division trip - Riverdale 'cage' set-on point.
This year we will be starting from Sparta, NJ on Saturday, and running railroad west through Warwick up to Sugar Loaf, NY. The Town of Sugar Loaf is having their spring festival that weekend and our group will be one of the attractions. Our attendees will be having lunch in Sugar Loaf. After our lunch break we will head north to Hudson Junction, the point at which the NYS&W and M&NJ meet Metro North’s Port Jervis Branch, the former Erie Graham Line. We will turn at that point and return south getting to Sparta by the end of the day. On Sunday we will run from Sparta to Hawthorne, where the dedication ceremony for the completed NYS&W Hawthorne station will be held. A barbecue lunch is planned for all attendees and the station will be open for tours and photos. After lunch we will again return to Sparta where we will go home tired but happy from such a great weekend.
As in years past, we are looking for flaggers to lead our group and stop traffic at crossings along the way. If you volunteer one day, you get to ride the other. So come on out and run your car or go for a ride! If you would like to help with flagging one or both days please email me at cvitz@hotmail.com.
Also coming up are our annual trip over the NYS&W Syracuse Branch on July 23rd and 24th starting from Cortland, NY both days. Later in the fall, on October 15th, we will be running over the Stourbridge Railroad out of Honesdale, PA. Finally, on October 16th we will be running on new track again – the Middletown & New Jersey’s Walden and Montgomery Branches out of Campbell Hall, NY. These branch lines have never been open to us before so this should be another fun and new experience.
May 15 2011
KC SmithHawthorne Station, May 2011, Newsletters
For 117 years, Hawthorne station has stood at the corner of Royal and Diamond Bridge Avenues. Although it now stands seventy-five feet north (railroad west) of where it spent 116 of those years, it is now safe from turning trucks and certain destruction.
Southern end garden in the old station location.
Over the last eleven months we have not only moved the building, we have also added a new basement, put in a new floor, put on a new platform, added landscaping, new paint, fencing, retaining wall and repaired or replaced the damaged or rotting wood seven feet up the side of the structure. And while we will still have some finishing touches to complete, the station will once again be able to welcome visitors.
Now safe from the threat of countless trucks, the north-east corner of the station’s roof undergoes repair for, hopefully, the last time.
Thus, on May 22nd at one PM we will celebrate the station’s next chapter when we hold a grand re-opening. The public will be invited in to see what we have done over the last eleven months and meet the people who made it all possible, so please plan on coming out to be part of the day. We will be arriving at the station in a very appropriate way for the VRA, on the rails, for this is the second day of our NYS&W Southern Division motorcar trip. In addition to the motorcars, the day will feature a ribbon cutting, an open house, railroad displays, pictures and videos along with a few words from some very key people who made the preservation and restoration possible.
Many will be pleasantly surprised to see that we have chosen the colors that the station wore for over thirty years of its life, when the NYS&W was controlled by the Erie RR. The two-tone green color is not only very attractive it is also very fitting for the station to wear. This is because Hawthorne has been a two railroad town for all of its history, and even before when it was part of Paterson. Choosing a color that represents the two roads seemed only right.
Restoration crew on a well deserved rest break.
Please invite your friends and relatives to come down and take part in this historic day and to show off the work a small but dedicated group of people can do when they put their minds to it.
May 15 2011
Carolyn HoffmanMay 2011, Newsletters
The VRA has completed yet another successful Easter Bunny Train Ride. We had a bit of a slow start this year, partially due to the economy being what it is, and with a week to go we were nowhere near sold out. In previous years we were selling out two weeks or more before the trips. Things picked up however, and we ended up overbooked! It seems there was a glitch with Ticket Turtle and several cars ended up with over ninety tickets sold. As the coaches New Jersey Transit provides actually hold over 100 passengers apiece, no one was left without a seat, but it was a tighter fit than we would have liked.
Saturday, April 16th, we ran three trains out of the Wayne Route 23 Transit Center. The car hosts made sure the cars all looked great. A few last-minute character and crew changes were made, and then we were off. Rule V was in effect again! Everyone on the crew adapted beautifully and things went smoothly. By afternoon the weather turned, and the rain poured down in buckets. KC Smith led a very capable, if extremely soggy, platform crew. They did a stellar job keeping the passengers informed, and boarding and de-boarding each trip went without issue.
Frank Ball and Elmo
In addition to our four Easter Bunnies, this season we also had Elmo, Ernie, Cookie Monster and Spider Man to entertain the passengers. Elmo is nearly as exciting for the kids as the Easter Bunny, and Spider Man was a huge hit. Crew chiefs on Saturday were John Kroll, assisted by Matt Phalon, for cars 1 – 4, and Carolyn Hoffman, assisted by Justin Kerstner for cars 5 – 8.
Sunday, April 17th, we ran three more trains – this time out of Glen Rock Boro Hall station. The train was already decorated, so the crew loaded supplies at Radburn and we headed for Glen Rock. We had the same characters as the day before, and an equally competent Platform Crew lead by John Kroll. With Sunny skies and temperatures in the seventies, we had a perfect day. As with Saturday, there were very few snags and the vast majority of our passengers were thrilled. Crew chiefs on Sunday were KC Smith, assisted by Matt Phalon, for cars 1 – 4, and Carolyn Hoffman, assisted by Justin Kerstner for cars 5 – 8.
A huge thank-you goes out to Matt Phalon for coordinating costumed characters, and to Betsy Newbury for taking up crew caller duties on short notice. Of course, thank you to all the volunteers who helped fill car host boxes, put out signs and fliers, manned phones, and filled duties as characters, car hosts, platform crew and the numerous other tasks that go into making these trips the success that they are.
May 15 2011
KC SmithHawthorne Station, May 2011, Newsletters
I need a rest! That is what I feel like after the last three Mondays. I am not sure how we have found the time to do all we have done – or better yet how we get so much done with such a small group of dedicated people. The fact that our group has been able to do the things we have done over the years is because of the dedication of our members. Some can give just a bit of time while others give an extraordinary amount of time and together we all do some incredible work.. To everyone who has helped in any way I say Thank You. To those people who have gone above and beyond I give my deepest gratitude and respect, for without you the rest of the group would never have the opportunity to do what we love.
I would like to point out two people who deserve all of our thanks for always being there making things happen. First and foremost is Charles Smith. Without his efforts the Easter Train could not have happened and the station still need lots of work. Charles is someone we can all look towards to help lead this group, and I am proud to call him my Fridayend. Second is Frank Ball. Frank and I have spent many, many days and nights together working on the station, and he has spent even more days there with contractors making sure the work needed to get the station ready was done. He gave a lot of time before and after the Easter Train making sure everything was set and then put away. Frank has only been a member since September but he has put in what seems like years worth of work. I know that if we need something done both of these members will answer the call.
May 22nd is the next very important day for us, because that is the day we will reopen Hawthorne Station, which is very fitting because it was May 22, 1993 that our group held the last reopening of the station. That was we the first day we served as car and station hosts for the short lived #142 steam program. Eighteen years later I look forward to we will pull into the station with this year’s NYS&W southern division motorcar trip and open up chapter in the 117-year history of the little station on Royal Ave, a place we can be proud to say we not only saved – but also made better.
I look forward to many more years of working with you all and to seeing what other new and exciting things we can accomplish.
May 15 2011
Paul TrabertAnnouncements, May 2011, Newsletters
Monday January 3 – NARCOA insurance carrier change.
Wednesday January 5 – Fanwood, NJ URHS Meeting.
Saturday January 8 – Hawthorne, NJ Station workday.
Monday January 10 – Solicitation for candidates for election of VRA officers.
Tuesday January 18 – Membership list being verified.
Thursday January 20 – Hawthorne, NJ – 10 stack chairs put in station.
Friday January 21 – Hawthorne, NJ – VRA Board meeting.
Saturday January 22 – Hawthorne, NJ – Station workday.
Sunday January 23 – Charlie Roselius died.
Wednesday January 26 – Funeral for Charlie Roselius, Outstanding service award presented to Charlie’s wife.
Wednesday January 26 – Request for VRA Digest articles.
Thursday January 27 – Publicity request for station pavers.
Saturday January 29 – Hawthorne, NJ – Station workday.
Tuesday February 1 – Deadline for Digest submissions.
Friday February 3 – Ballots for VRA officers mailed.
Saturday February 5 – Hawthorne, NJ – Station workday: interior painting & temporary steps.
Saturday February 12 – Hawthorne, NJ Station workday.
Sunday February 13 – VRA Digest newsletter published.
Thursday February 17 – Ballots for VRA officers due.
Thursday February 17 – Hawthorne, NJ Membership meeting.
Saturday February 19 – Hawthorne, NJ Station workday.
Saturday February 26 – Hawthorne, NJ Station workday.
Tuesday March 1 – Press releases for Easter Bunny train.
Wednesday March 2 – Hawthorne, NJ Flooring installed.
Wednesday March 2 - Hawthorne, NJ – Easter Bunny train meeting.
Thursday March 3 – Changes to EB information request site.
Saturday March 5 – Hawthorne, NJ – EB train signs ready.
Saturday March 5 – Hawthorne, NJ – Station workday.
Sunday March 6 – Clark, NJ – JCRHS train show.
Sunday March 6 – Scranton, Pa. – Railroadiana show.
Monday March 7 – Easter Bunny ad made available for email.
Wednesday March 9 – Fanwood NJ – URHS Meeting.
Thursday March 10 – Hawthorne, NJ – Station work heating.
Thursday March 10 – Proposal for Lincoln Park Day Express.
Friday March 11 – Designs for VRA drum head proposed.
Saturday March 12 – Hawthorne, NJ – Station workday & Easter Bunny train signs available.
Thursday March 15 – Operation Lifesaver coloring books with stickers donated by Mountain Lakes Train Station for Easter Bunny train.
Saturday March 19 – Hawthorne, NJ – LP Day Express meeting.
Saturday March 19 – Hawthorne, NJ – Station workday – retaining wall.
Saturday March 19 – Boonton, NJ – URHS yard opened to allow visit by Al McCormick & family.
Saturday March 19 – 1999 to 2002 data recovered for VRA website.
Sunday March 20 – Hawthorne, NJ Station workday.
Sunday March 20 – EB train write up at MommyPoppins.com.
Tuesday March 22 – Hawthorne, NJ – Fencing work.
Tuesday March 22 – Easter Bunny giveaways ordered.
Thursday March 24 – Sample letter for grant application to replace roof & windows proposed.
Friday March 25 – Lincoln Park, NJ – LP Day express meeting.
Saturday March 26 – Hawthorne, NJ – Station workday plumbing.
Monday March 26 – VRA speeder trips for 2011announced.
Wednesday March 30 – Hawthorne, NJ – Fencing installed.
Thursday March 31 – Grant application for roof & window replacement submitted.
May 13 2011
KC SmithAnnouncements, Hawthorne Station
PRESS RELEASE
(May 12, 2011) After working for 11 months to move, rebuild and preserve the historic Susquehanna Railroad Hawthorne Station the Volunteer Railroaders Association is proud to announce its grand re-opening on Sunday May 22nd at 1pm. The public is invited to join in the celebration and to enjoy the railroad museum and library now housed inside the station. In addition special displays and an operating model train layout will be available for viewing plus an interactive train simulator will be available for young and old alike to experience. As a special bonus many VRA members will be arriving by rail just after noon in railroad motorcars once used by railroads for maintenance but are now in private hands and used for special tours of railroads throughout the country and around the world.
All of the work done to restore and preserve the station has been completed by the VRA without any public funds but instead was raised through the operations of special Easter Bunny and Santa train rides and other special events. The VRA would like to thank DiGeronimo PC for architectural services and outstanding support, LAN Associates for the site work, Ed Newman of Command Electric for all the help and outstanding work, Total Quality Services for the landscaping, Downs Tree Service for trucking and grading help, and the members of the VRA who have worked for last 11 months of hammering, painting, digging, cutting and everything else. All of these businesses provided their services free or at cost making it possible for the project to be completed.
In addition the VRA would like to thank the governing body in Hawthorne, the members of the Economic Development committee, the management of the NYS&W Railway and all the contractors that helped make the rebuild possible. An extra special thanks go out to the people who have purchased bricks that will be used in the pathway leading to the station and to all those people who have stopped by the station to say thank you and encourage us with their wonderful comments. You have all made the countless days of work worthwhile.
The installation of the paver bricks that the VRA has been selling to help raise funds for the work is one of the aspects of the project that is yet to be completed, so you still have time to get your order in to recognize a special person in your life, a loved one you have lost or for any other reason. The bricks can be purchased by visiting www.vratrips.org , calling 973-238-0555 or by stopping at the station located at 80 Royal Avenue in Hawthorne and picking up an order form and then mailing it back in with your check.
The VRA looks forward to having the station open for the public to view and enjoy for years to come and to see a good crowd at the May 22nd Grand Re-opening.
The Volunteer Railroaders Association is federally recognized 501c3 non-profit organization
May 01 2011
VRAAnnouncements, United Railroad Historical Society of NJ
On June 24th and June 25th of 2000 the URHS ran 4 excursions through the Naval Weapons Station – Earle. The trips featured 8 newly renovated URHS excursion coaches pulled onto a 3 mile pier. The excursions were run to fund the maintenance of the coaches and to provide the US Navy with a train to the pier during their annual “Summerfest”.
The URHS would first like to express its deepest thanks to the volunteers pictured above. Without these good folks there would never have been a Sea Train Excursion. A special thanks goes to the Volunteer Railroaders Association for assembling their experienced crew members. Here the volunteer train crew poses on US Navy #7 after the last trip on June 25th.
The Sea Train Excursion makes a photo run under the New Jersey Transit North Jersey Coast Line on Saturday, June 24.
John Sanders, the volunteer parlor car attendant extraordinaire, serves the locomotive crew with soda.
After the twin SW-1200 locomotives ran around the train, they pose for photos on the 2.8 mile long pier over Sandy Hook Bay. The train consist included the venerable ex-NYC lounge car 5450 and eight excursion coaches.
After passengers relax on the pier, the locomotive horn summons them to return to the train. How often can one ride on a train over Sandy Hook Bay?
US Navy locomotives numbers 7 and 4 bring the final excursion of the weekend back to the classification yard at Colts Neck, N.J. On the right is the “Photo Freight” provided by the NWS-Earle Railroad for the fans.
