December, 2016 – Dave Morrison, retired LIRR Branch Line Manager presented his new book titled “Sunnyside Yard and Hell Gate Bridge”. Dave discussed the subject matter of the book and gave an “on-the-cutting-room-floor” look at lots of photographs that did not make it into the book. He’ll also discussed the research methods that he used in writing the book.
November, 2016 – “LIRR Over the Years–1954 to early ’80’s”. Showcase of the LIRR from 1954 to the early 1980’s, presented by Walter Zullig.
October, 2016 – “Current and future plans capital plans of the LIRR”, presented by a Senior Executive of the LIRR. The topics covered included current and future capital plans of the LIRR. East Side Access, the Third Track between Floral Park and Hicksville as well as the Second Track between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale.
September, 2016 – “Steam and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad”
June, 2016 – “LIRR from the 1970’s to the 1990’s” To finish out the 1st half of 2016 which is the 50th Anniversary of LIST, we will had an ALL LIRR presentation. The slides focused on the LIRR in the 1970’s to the 1990’s.
May, 2016 – Doug Nash presented a show about Eastern Europe railroads, “After up to the Before”. About a transition era of 4 years AFTER a major event but leading up to BEFORE the roads of the future.
April, 2016 – Chapter member Mike Boland presented, “LIRR Passenger Cars since 1945.” This show was first presented at the 2016 Proto Rails Cocoa Beach Florida Prototype Modelers Meet.
March, 2016 – John Kilbride presented, for almost 50 years, South Amboy was also the site for commuter train engine changes. Established by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1936, regional consolidation with the Jersey Central provided a diverse setting for train operations into the 1980’s. John Kilbride provided a review of its rich railroading heritage that began in 1832, views of the colorful engines that passed through, the extension of electrification further south that closed the engine house and some present day scenes. A GG-1 cab ride was included and other behind-the-scenes views provided a fond look back at a vanished railroad hub.
February, 2016 – Gene Collora presented “Things that are no longer on the property, a walk down memory lane.”
January, 2016 – Noted railroad historian and retired LIRR Branch Line Manager Dave Morrison provided a presentation on his recent trip out west. His show featured material from Colorado and the surrounding areas showcasing the modern freight action and other points of interest that currently exists.
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 .
