2015 Meetings


2015 Meetings

  • December, 2015 – Andy Sparberg presented “Before the Subways – New York’s Elevated Trains” Covering the history of the two separate 19th century elevated systems that were built in New York – in Manhattan and Brooklyn.   Originally steam powered, the lines were converted to electric power early in the 20th century.   Some were rebuilt for inclusion into the subways; many others were razed between 1940 and 1973.   The key point is that the 19th century New York elevated systems created travel patterns that are still important more than a century later.
  • November, 2015 – Mike Boland presented a show titled “LIRR MP54s in Glorious Black and White” and it is a comprehensive look at six decades plus of service provided by this venerable MU veteran. The show, all in black and white, covered ALL kinds of LIRR MP54s with all subclasses and is an in-depth history of this car, from 1908 until about 1971 or so when the last cars were removed from service.
  • October, 2015 – Ed Koehler presented “Interurban Railways of the Isle of Man”.
  • September, 2015 – Our September meeting will include a slide show presentation by John Kilbride, “Supernumerary Brakeman” which features his brief career as an assistant freight brakeman on the Lackawanna Valley, Panther Valley and Reading & Northern Railroads – several diverse eastern Pennsylvania shortlines. Using vacation days from his “other” railroad job, John participated in several day-long trips that provided opportunities to throw switches and uncouple freight cars in an effort to both expedite the operations of those trains as well as get rid of frustrations from his regular full-time duties!!!! He’s also included views of his experience escorting newly-delivered NJ Transit electric locomotives from Baltimore to New Jersey.
  • June, 2015 George Wybenga presented a visit to the Spoorweg (Railway) Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
  • May, 2015 – John Kilbride presented “The Albany Funnel” a historical review of rail operations through New York State’s capital region, and include views of B&M, D&H and PC freight trains as well as 30 years of passenger trains. Some “behind the scenes” views are included as the regions status as a rail funnel will be explained.
  • March, 2015 – General Meeting without a presentation due to inclement weather.
  • February, 2015 – FROM A NICKEL TO A TOKEN: AN EVENING WITH ANDREW J. SPARBERG.  Author, transit historian, and retired Long Island Rail Road manager Andrew J. Sparberg presented a slide show about his new book From a Nickel to a Token. The book examines twenty specific events between 1940 and 1968, bookended by subway unification and the MTA’s creation. Beyond unification of the IRT, BMT, and IND, the system morphed into today’s network. The public sector absorbed most private surface lines, and buses completely replaced streetcars. Elevated lines were demolished, replaced by subways or, along Manhattan’s Third Avenue, not at all. Strategic track connections were built to allow a more flexible and unified operation. The oldest subway routes received much needed rehabilitation. Thousands of new subway cars and buses were purchased. The sacred nickel fare barrier was broken, and by 1968 a ride cost twenty cents. Labor issues were often front page news.
  • January, 2015 – Eliot Courtney shared his pictures taken while interning for Metro North during the past summer. He will also showed us the latest from the Rochester & Southern RR and  other action around upstate NY .