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The Crusader “Preserving the Past for the Future”
April 2013
The Crusader RCT&HS 1
Site Development Discussion
Planned for The Membership
All RCT&HS members are invited to participate in
the next phase of the Site Development Revision process at
the RCT&HS membership meeting on May 28. Following a
brief business meeting, everyone will have the privilege of
presenting ideas, alternatives, options, concepts, and ap-
proaches for using the museum property. Suggestions for both
property and programs are welcome. If possible, come at
7 PM and review the statistics and comments from the January
membership survey, the topographic model of the site, and
large maps of the property.
Please bring the maps that were sent to you in the
January survey for your reference during the meeting. Some
copies will also be available at both the April and May
membership meetings. Site diagrams without track shown will
also be available at those meetings. If your ideas include
suggestions for track placement, you may present a drawing or
you can explain your concepts verbally. It will be helpful if
you would review in advance the map that shows the site
grading that has been completed.
Comments during the May 28 meeting will follow this order:
Members’ comments will be heard in the order that
members have written their names on a sign-up sheet. After
all those comments have been heard, others may speak, even if
they have not signed in.
Each person will speak from the front of the room,
first stating his/her name. Each will be allowed to speak for 3
minutes without interruption. No speaker will discuss or
criticize another speaker’s ideas.
Following each 3 minute presentation, listeners may
ask the speaker questions for clarification.
Detailed notes and an audio recording will be made for later
reference. The committee may choose to hear more about
certain ideas as the process continues.
If you would like to have a personal tour of the site
before the May meeting date, please contact Carol Adams at
610-777-3764 and she will arrange for a committee member to
provide a tour for you at a mutually agreed time.
The Long Range Planning Committee is interested in
hearing a wide variety of ideas and concepts. Please take
this opportunity to tell us what you are thinking!
Hamburg Museum Track Fund
Receipts Current Month: April, 2013 = $125.00
Total: May 2007 thru April, 2013 = $31,617.70
Payments Current Month: April, 2013 = $1,387.68
Total: May 2007 thru April, 2013 = $28,376.43
Current Fund Balance = $3,241.27
Pay Down the Loan Program
Receipts Current Month: April, 2013 = $278.00
Total: Nov, 2010 thru April, 2013 = $27,122.72
Payments Current Month: April, 2013 = $500.00
Total: Nov, 2010 thru April, 2013 = $27,300.00
Outstanding Balance = $69,700.00
In The News
A slide show on the Franklin Street Station restoration in
Reading PA can be found at www.slideshare.net . Search for
the Franklin Street Station Rehabilitation.
The Heidelberg Heritage Society of Wernersville, PA will be
holding a rededication of their newly restored Wernersville
train station on June 8th at 10AM during their “A Taste of
Wernersville” event. A reception will be held at the Lerch
Tavern following the event. Also present will be local artists
and craftsmen and children’s activities. Now that the station
has been restored they are looking to donation to furnish the
building.
Wernersville
Station
The Crusader RCT&HS 2
APRIL 23rd GENERAL MEETING President Duane Engle called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
there were 8 officers, and 35 members in attendance. A motion
to accept the February 2013 minutes as printed was made by
Larry Mundell and seconded by John Greene. The motion
passed.
EXECUTIVE BOARD Duane Engle 610-929-5661 [email protected] The regular April meeting of the BOD was held at
7PM on April 2nd at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in
Hamburg, PA. Topics of discussion and motions carried are as
follows:
Financial – It is believed that he reason for the high electric
bills this winter was because the electric heat pump was
activating at the museum. This has been corrected.
Museum – An events report was given by Carol Adams
concerning the planning of the 5th anniversary celebration
event and upcoming use of the museum as a meeting place
for outside groups.
Fund Raising – We are in need of a large project to place
as a reason to raise money. Some ideas were discussed and
the board will consult with the Long Range Planning
Committee after they have completed the membership
survey work. After this project is decided on, the board will
use the services of Fred McKillop to raise the money.
Other fund raising ideas were also discussed. A motion was
passed to allow up to $500 on advertising for a 2013
RCT&HS golf tournament.
Other Topics – an MP&RE rolling stock report and
business plan, a security tack force preliminary report, web
site, Maiden Creek Bridge grant, car 15, car 1189,
Silverliner acquisition, finishing building electric project, a
motion was passed to spend up to $400 on improving the
electrical wiring in the museum, Schuylkill Haven property,
RCT&HS Reading Modelers Meet, and other minor items
of business.
On April 13th, the board held a special meeting where
the following actions were made. A motion to transfer the
responsibility of the LEMTU, covered hopper #70262, caboose
#92832, tender #90691, and gondola #31405 from the MP&RE
to the Museum Operations Committee. A motion was passed
to place the fork lift under the control of the Track and
Grounds Committee. The board authorized an expenditure of
up to $1000 for construction of a viewing platform for
locomotive #5308. Other topics discussed include policy
additions, committee responsibilities and guidelines, creation
of RCT&HS organizational guidelines, and the MP&RE 2013
business plan.
The next regular meeting of the Executive Board will
be held at 7PM at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in
Hamburg, PA on May 7th. For a complete copy of the board
meeting minutes please contact Jeff Smith at
Karen Confer presented a statement. See insert.
TREASURER’S REPORT Jim Adams 610-777-3764 [email protected]
A motion to refer the Treasurer’s Report to the
Finance Committee for audit and vote was made by Don
Davis, and seconded by John Greene. The motion Passed.
The Crusader RCT&HS 3
BUDGET & FINANCE
John Brown 717-426-2238 [email protected]
The thank you/summary of financial donations have
all been mailed. They were mailed later this year than usual,
and I apologize for that.
SALES Duane Engle 610-929-5661 [email protected] (for mail order questions contact Dave Heffner at 717-290-1493 [email protected]) Our train meet in Leesport on Sunday April 7th went
well and we had lots of help. Thank you. We have combined
sales and modular shows at Fairlane Village Mall in Pottsville
on April 25th to the 28th and at the Laurel Mall in Hazelton
May 30th to June 2nd. Anyone that can help with any of these
shows please let me know. The Bowser HO C430s have been
ordered; look for a pre-release order form in the next Crusader
for them as well as HO T-1s with new numbers and SW1500s
from Broadway.
FUND RAISING COMMITTEE Mike Stehman [email protected] The RCT&HS is planning on holding a golf tournament at
Willow Hollow Golf Course in Leesport on October 12, 3013.
MEMBERSHIP
Melanie Zimmerman 717-445-6301 [email protected] As of April 23 we have a total of 42 new members and 772 renewals which brings us to a total membership of 814 for 2013. We had 782 members around this time last year. Currently the membership breakdown is as follows: 534 Individual, Lifetime or Honorary, 88 Family, 117 Contributing, 54 Sustaining, 19 Corporate, and 2 Student memberships. 2012 members that have not renewed for 2013 have been dropped from the Crusader newsletter mailing list. We will be sending reminder postcards out to all of the non-renewals in the near future. MUSEUM OPERATIONS
Dale Woodland 215-723-5848 [email protected]
A reminder we will need many volunteers for staffing
activities at our Fifth Anniversary Celebration on
Saturday May 18th .
We have a very exciting prospect on the horizon for the
museum – details later.
We have a large group school tour scheduled for the
morning and afternoon of May 28th. and another school
group tour June 14th.
The DVD made by Kutztown University student about
our museum is on the museum website.
We will participate in Boscov’s “Friends Helping
Friends” promotion in October. Mike Stehman will
coordinate.
Dale has done several recent slide shows for community
groups promoting the museum. The Reading Public
Library Southeast Branch donated $50 to the RRHM and
the Berks Retired Doctors group donated $100. John
Brown is coordinating a program about the RRHM for
the Hamburg Historical Society (25-30 people) to be held
at the museum the evening of May 2, 2013. They are
donating $50.
Dan Reed, the artist who painted the Crusader and
LaSalle car racing is offering matted prints of the painting
to us for $15 each, we can sell for $30 each. We will
order six copies.
Greg Goodridge requested free passes to the museum for
a radio station WNPV auction.
Dale received a thank you note for a donation of free
passes for the St. Ignatius School in Reading.
Carol Adams is doing a program for the Heidelberg
Historical Society on the P&R in the Civil War April 25th.
We will ask Jeff Smith to send a congratulatory letter to
the Heidelberg society for their role in the restoration of
the former Reading Company passenger station in
Wernersville, Pa.
LONG RANGE PLANNING TASK FORCE Carol Adams 610-777-3764 [email protected] See front page. MUSEUM BUILDING COMMITTEE
John Corbit 610-781-1939
No report. TRACK & GROUNDS Duane Engle 610-929-5661 [email protected]
We are now into the grass cutting season again. We
can always use help in this area. We did get a little more track
work done and will be continuing with this work on some
Saturdays during the summer. Paul Payne is still looking for
more track that we can remove. Anyone that can help with
any of this work, please contact me.
MOTIVE POWER AND ROLLING EQUIPMENT
Tim Weidner 610-780-0497
2013 Projects
NW2/#103 Rewiring - No significant progress.
Current target to restart the locomotive now Fall of
2013.
GP7/#621 Cylinder Gasket Replacement and Cylinder
Liner Cleanup - Re-installation set for Spring.
Fishbelly 66418 - Numbering and lettering has begun.
Minor paint touch up and finishing of the lettering will
happen as weather permits.
Offset Hopper 63921 - Metal work is complete,
Repainting of the car will start in the spring,
Stenciling being made and lettering will start after the
painting is complete
94074 Caboose Flooring - Metal work and window
installation continues.
RS3/#485 Undercarriage Cleaning and Painting -
Expected to restart in May.
Power Distribution (for Battery Charging and local
power) - NW2/103 will get this first, as part of its
rewiring project.
109132 Box Car Repainting - A Summer/Fall project
17039 Box Car Roof Repainting - Approximately half
of the roof prepped and primed.
Shop Talk (online MPRE newsletter) - To sign up,
email [email protected] if you want to sign up for
shop talk. Note: No funds for paper copies at this
time.
Other News
Car 15 - Awaiting approval from NS to transport.
LEMTU - Barriers installed to ensure visibility while protecting valuable components and wobbly desks.
Car 1189 - No report.
2013 Business Plan and Equipment Inventory - Submitted to BOD at their April meeting.
Box Car Re-organization - No action. Key Obstacles:
Information - In need of good photos and lettering diagrams of HTss, HTv, HTc hopper cars. In need of info, photos and lettering diagrams of XMc boxcars. If you can help please contact us at 610-780-0497 or email us at [email protected]
Volunteers - If anyone is interested in helping please contact us at 610-780-0497 or [email protected]. We have a large variety of projects for any range of skill sets to be able to help contribute.
Funding - If any of the above projects or MP&RE ef-
forts in general are of interest to you, please consid-ering making a donation targeted to an MP&RE pro-ject or to MP&RE in general
PASSENGER OPERATIONS Dale Woodland 215-723-5848 [email protected] No report.
ACQUISITIONS Steve Schwartz 610-434-1289 [email protected] No report.
The Crusader RCT&HS 4
ARCHIVES AND PUBLICATIONS Rick Bates 610-647-9359 [email protected]
Archives
Many thanks to all of the following for Archives
donations during April: a rolled drawing of the entire
Crusader train from Grant Middlestead; a carton of old Rdg
RR records from Larry Ryan; assorted Rdg RR records from
John Tomlin; a bulletin order logbook and other Rdg RR
operating booklets from Joe Seaman; a collection of MP&RE
equipment classification booklets and other items from Paul
Kutta; some railroad books, videos, and RdgCo uniform
buttons from Tom Snyder; and a couple RdgCo manuals and
a stamp from Larry Mundell. Sorting work continues in the
Archives on a time-available basis; we thank Duane Briscoe
for his continued help this month in sorting drawings. We
handled about 15 requests for information in April.
Publications
Bee Line 2010 #1&2, a double issue, was delayed a
bit due to technical difficulties, but is back on track and
should be printed early May. Still working on Bee Line #4
for 2009.
CALENDAR Dale Woodland 215-723-5848 [email protected] John Greene 215-721-3006 [email protected] The 2014 calendar will be going to the printer
shortly.
MODULAR Jonathan Barket 570-366-1533 [email protected]
We continue to work on modules between
shows. We also have been making repairs to some of the
racks as they are in need of attention. Our latest show was in
Pottsville at the Fairlane Village Mall where we were 96' in
length. Our next show will be in Hazelton with setup on
May 29th starting at 6:00 PM. We plan on being 114' in
length. The show will be from May 30th to June 2nd. If
anyone is interested in assisting please come up as we will be
happy to see you. Current modules being worked on are the
Hess refinery scene which may make an appearance at the
Hazelton show for testing. It is roughly 80% complete. We
are also working hard on the Hershey Factory scene which is
roughly 40% complete. We hope to have both for our show
in Strasburg! Current electrical focus is now on Cross-
ings. We now have the crossing in Fleetwood working in-
cluding the gates and next up is the crossing on our Prescott
module which is 50% complete and hope to be working for
Hazelton. We are still looking for additional help, so if you
would like to help out at either events or work sessions,
please contact me! MODELING -John Greene 215-721-3006 [email protected]
Broadway Limited Imports has announced new
numbers for the HO Scale Reading T-1 models. Broadway
has also announced that the SW1500 models are back on the
schedule. These models were announced several years ago
and until now have been put on hold.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Steve Gilbert 610-781-2100 [email protected] A notice was sent to the NRHS web site about the
open house and current exhibits. We are still looking for
suggestions and assistance. Please contact Steve with ideas
and interest. MAILING
Ken Riegel 610-777-4555
No report.
SAFETY This committee needs a chairman. Please contact any board
member if you are interested. TRAIN MEET Tom Brown 717-279-6783 [email protected] We had a very good train meet in April. We took in
$3,024 and netted, after expenses, $2,196 for the Society. We
hope to do even better with the October 2013 train meet.
Many thanks to all who helped make this meet a success,
including Barb Goodridge, Greg Goodridge, and Jim Lyle
(advertising); Larry Mundell, Jim Lyle, Chuck Race, Paul
Skvarla, Dave Frees, Bill Bubeck and Dale Miller (set up);
Don Davis and Dick Diehm (admissions).
CONVENTION COMMITTEE
John Greene 215-721-3006 [email protected]
The convention was successful with about 60
attendees.
WEBSITE AND CORRESPONDENCE
Norman O. Mueller 610-446-6651 [email protected] Mike Martin 215-681-7428 [email protected] The web site has been transferred to the new
domain and the emails should be working. Items are being
brought up to date.
ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
Larry Mundell, Carol Adams, and John Funk On April 16, 2013, the Election Committee met at
the Adams residence to count the ballots. The 130 ballots
were verified for eligibility and 4 were disqualified for dues
not paid before the deadline, 4 for no names on the envelope
or ballot, and 2 for more than 2 votes for director. The
remaining 120 ballots were counted with the following
results:
1st VP - Bill Hodson 117 votes (elected)
Treasurer - Jim Adams 119 votes (elected)
Director - Steve Gilbert 85 votes (elected)
Jonathan Barket 78 votes (elected)
Karen Confer 58 votes
Mike Stehman 18 votes
ENTERTAINMENT
Dale Woodland (215) 723-5848 [email protected] Tonight – Last Years of the Reading DVD; May –
Long Range Planning Presentation; June – Reading
The Crusader RCT&HS 5
Memories, Paul Kutta; July – Shadows of the Royal Blue,
the Rebirth of RBM&N 425 DVD; August – Reading
Baldwin Diesels, Dale Woodland; September – Some
Pennsylvania Shortlines, Paul Kutta; October – Escapades of
NS/ RDG 1067, Dale Woodland; November – The Reading’s
Echo Valley, Dave Augsburger; December – The Reading’s
Alco RS3’s, Dale Woodland.
OLD BUSINESS
Rich Tobin announced that the electrical panels in
the compressor room have been connected to the overhead
cable hung between the finishing building and the museum
building. We will now pull cable through the finishing
building and power it up.
NEW BUSINESS
Jim Blake announced that a committee has been formed
for the purpose of better defining committee
responsibilities, structure policies and look at possible
By-Law changes. Members of the committee are Jim
Blake, Karen Confer, and Duane Engle. If you are
interested in joining this committee please let one of the
committee members know.
Jeff Smith announced that Norfolk Southern has filed
for a permit to demolish the former Reading freight
station in Lititz, PA. There is still a local effort to save
the building.
Ken Hertzer announced the construction of a rail trail
between Clay Road in Warwick Twp and Ephrata.
There is an expected completion date of no later than
2017. Currently in negotiations with Norfolk Southern,
it is expected that planners will have rights to build the
trail from Clay Road to Rt. 501 in Lititz within a year.
Tonight’s Coal Bucket contained $99 and 10 pay down
the loan envelopes.
The Reading Railroad Modelers Meet on October 4 and
5 will be held at the Hamburg High School.
CLOSING
Greg Goodridge made a motion to adjourn the
meeting and Bill Hodson seconded the motion. The motion
passed and President Duane Engle adjourned the meeting at
8:31 PM.
Statement Presented by Board Member Karen Confer On Saturday, April 13, 2013, the Board of the RCT&HS held an emergency meeting to address some conflicting situations within the Society. The outcome of this meeting is the realization that business practices must be put in place in order to insure a more cooperative nature between committees, their members, and the Soci-ety at large. We know these actions will, no doubt, not please everyone. Up until a few years ago, we could fashion ourselves as what is affectionately known as a ‘train club.’ Our successful launch and growth of the Museum has also moved us toward ‘owning a business.’ It is to this end, that the Board will undertake a project to define ourselves more clearly, structure policies for everyone, and, where necessary, make changes to the By-Laws. I have agreed to coordinate this work in conjunction with Duane Engle and Jim Blake. I ask that you be patient, faithful, and if you have anything to suggest, that you be kind in your words. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] and put ‘Operations Manual’ in the subject box.
RCT&HS Corporate Members
Russell & Julia Angstadt; Bethlehem Car Works, John Greene, CEO, Telford, PA (215) 721-3006; C&C
Tax Service, Inc., 842 Lancaster Ave., Reading, PA (610) 796-9330; Centralia Coal Sales Co. ,Wilkes-
Barre, PA (570) 822-4135; Municipal & Financial Services Group, Annapolis, MD (410) 226-910; G&K
Hobbies, Bill Krug CEO, Reading, PA (610) 374-8598; Health Insurance Solutions, Inc., Tom and
Nanette Poserina, Health Brokers (215) 721-2220; “It’s All the Rage” Hair Designs, In memory of
Charles W. Moyer, Jr., 1213 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, PA (610) 375-0816; Jonathan L. Shalter III, Conser-
vationist-Naturalist-Historian, Temple, PA; Lancaster Chapter, NRHS, Christiana, PA (610) 593-4968;
Outer Station Project, Benjamin Bernhart, historian, author, publisher; PENNVIA Private Railcars, Inc.,
Passenger Dome car charters in the US and Canada, West Lawn, PA (610) 678-3604; R. Harris Russo, MD,
Neurological Surgery, Kalamazoo, MI (269) 343-3939; R Y Models/Richard D Yoder, 7 Edgedale Ct,
Wyomissing PA, (610) 678-2834; Rabenold, Koestel, and Scheidt, Attorneys at Law, Wyomissing, PA
(610) 374-2103; RackAbility, Inc., 332 N Reading Rd, Ephrata, PA 17522 (717) 917-7403; Reading and
Northern Railroad, Co., AndMuller Jr., CEO, Port Clinton, PA (610) 562-2100; Reading Berks Historic
Transportation Assoc., Inc., 842 Lancaster Avenue, Reading, PA; Town & Country Newspaper, Penns-
burg PA, (215) 679-5060; Vreeland & Linda Wood/V J Wood Towing & Recovery LLC, 450 S Apple
Street, Hamburg PA, (610) 587-1335
www.readingrailroad.org
Mark Your Calendars
May 18: RRHM 5th Anniversary Celebration in Hamburg, PA
10-4 (rail date - 19th 12-5)
May 28: General Meeting of the RCT&HS at Trinity Bible Fellowship
Church, Rt. 73, Blandon, PA
May 30 - June 2: Modular and Sales at the Laurel Mall in Hazelton, PA
July 2 - 7: Modular and Sales at Reading Railroad Days at the Pennsylvania State
Railroad Museum in Strasburg, PA
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