Notes on Meetings of 2009
The December meeting of the Cornell Railroad Historical Society had an auction of books, magazines, railroadiana and other rail memorabilia. Members are asked to bring items they wish to have sold off. There was spirited bidding on some items, especially on a cast iron rail crossing "crossbuck".
Palmer, a journalist and historian for many years, has a large rail postcard collection. He showed them at our October meeting, with many images of stations never before seen by our membership. It was an interesting and informative showing. Palmer has many more postcards, and we hope to bring him back soon for more rare pictures.
Barry, honored this summer by the Center for Railroad Photography and Art, presented a fine show of photos he took of steam locomotives, beginning in the late 1950s and continuing on from there, mainly with pictures he took in the 1960s. Barry has sought the final remnants of steam in various remote places,and his skilled photography brings the excitement of the steam locomotive back to those who remember it and shows it new to those who have rarely or never seen it.
Our Annual Picnic Meeting was at Stewart Park on July 13, 2010
Weather was warm and humid, but a good time was had by all attendees.
Greg Dickinson Presented LV Steam at June 2010 Meeting CRHS Member and font of all kinds of railroad and rolling stock detail Greg Dickinson gave us the second part of his discourse on "Steam Locomotives of the Lehigh Valley Railroad" at our June meeting. He covered everything from Camelbacks rebuilt into standard "cab at the back" engines to the streamlined LV Pacifics and the powerful "Wyoming" type 4-8-4s.
CRHS Saw Many Rail Stations at May 2010 Meeting
Our May 11 meeting enjoyed a visit from George Vergamini of the Dayton, Ohio area. George's presentation focused on structures that are still standing, but have often been converted to non-railroad uses. He showed pictures in the form of color and monochrome slides (the real kind). He began with stations along lines in New York State — along the original New York Central [Auburn-Rochester], the Lehigh Valley and some lines of the Erie, Hojak, RW&O [Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg] and then moved on to his home territory in Ohio. It was a diverting and informative program. Interlaken Station, Interlaken, New York, circa 1978 - Photo:Endres
The Cornell Railroad Historical Society program on April 13 had a visit from Robert Gongleski, who is a postcard collector. Gongleski, a software developer and engineer, showed examples of postcards both from the Finger Lakes area and more general postcards of railroads, stations and trains. It was a fine program with many pictures not seen before by our membership. We can only say, "Wish You'd Been Here."
Our March meeting had John Taibi of Munnsville, author of "A Ride through the Countryside on the Syracuse and Chenango Valley Railroad", along with his co-author, Jim George. Mr. Taibi gave an entertaining and enlightening talk, illustrated with a computer slide presentation, on the life and times of the Syracuse and Chenango Valley Railroad. This line, constructed to connect Syracuse with the Ontario Midland line at Earlville, eventually came under the control of the West Shore railroad and thus entered the New York Central family. For a time, it took cars that traveled up the O&W from Weehawken and Cornwall, New York, and forwarded them to the Central at Syracuse and on west. Intriguingly, portions of the line are still visible, most notably the tunnel through a ridge west of Cazenovia Lake. Taibi himself has been through the tunnel (on foot) but he says he wouldn't do it again, since major sections are held up only by rotting timbers. The tunnel, is, in fact, for sale by the current landowner. Taibi's talk was enjoyed by a large audience at the History Center, and he promises to return when his next book is completed.
The Cornell Chapter, NRHS, presented a variety of short presentations from members of the chapter as our February meeting. Included was a slide show about Steamtown last fall, showings of curious items including a large lamp and an unusual three-sided marker lantern. Picture opposite is from our newsletter article detailing the beginnings of the Cornell Railroad Club in the late 1930s. Picture was taken by the brother of one of the Cornell Chapter's original members, Jack Perry, on a fan trip in 1939.
The January meeting of the Cornell Railroad Historical Society had a visit from Mark Crandall and Albert Kunz, mining engineers from Cargill, operator of the salt mine at Myers on Cayuga Lake.. They showed underground salt mining techniques, rail (and other) transportation of the salt and detailed diagrams of the vast complex Cargill operates under Cayuga Lake. He also had pictures of the underground narrow-gauge railroad which served the Cayuga Mine until 1970. Crandall also discussed his previous career in various underground mining operations in the American west, including mines in Montana and Arizona. It was a fascinating presentation and we thank Cargill for bringing them to us.
