The New York Susquehanna & Western
Technical & Historical  Society Inc.

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News (blog)

UPDATED May 2023

Steam engine #142 came out of service for a fifteen year inspection near the end of the 2017 season. The problem was the lack of a facility to do this most intense of inspections on it and the main impetus of the Society was the erection of a new and permanent shop facility to accomplish this, and many other much needed equipment projects. The shop was constructed in 2018, had one track installed in 2019 and 142 was moved into the shop to begin work. And then came 2020 and Covid, which further delayed the project. Finally, a government requirement not previously done stalled the project further but work is proceeding to culmination at this time. An announcement will be forthcoming when 142 will return to action.

By late summer of 2022, we reached our goal of improving the track to Riegelsville. There were associated details that need attention and it was too close to the close of the regular 2022 season so we put off starting until 2023 with the full 8-1/2 mile trip, first with a test train March 18th and passenger service May 6th. Ridership is expected to climb. For now, the Winery Train unloads at the new Rieglesville station and the bus still runs from there to the winery. Eventually, a road constructed from the runaround connecting to the winery's driveway will be used once a platform is constructed and the road paved.  

The new two hour interval schedule seems to be working out well but the schedule is not officially in effect until the new rulebook and timetable are issued.

Stay tuned for other improvements we hope to see this year. Snyders station is being assessed for extending the previous improvements in order to increase the capacity and reduce the pinch points in pedestrian movement. This is critical for October when it sees its heaviest loads.

“Snow with a sunset”
Greg and Frank as usual!
Hank, Greg, Devin
John Oct. 29,2011
Don and Gary Oct. 29,2011
Oct. 29, 2011
Don C. working on 3254
Steaming into Mine Station
The moon over Easton from Lehigh Junction one cold winter night.
Easton Lights
The moon setting over Easton one cold winter night.
A rare shot of 142 departing Lehigh Junction on a snowy Saturday afternoon. Oct 29, 2011
A rare shot of 142 departing Lehigh Junction on a snowy Saturday afternoon. Oct 29, 2011
Greg Smokey Ruch
M-1 leaving Butler for Croxton, and eventually to Phillipsburg.
M-1 in Allentown Yard. 8-8-11 @ 4:30 PM
M-1 in Allentown Yard in the consist with other cars due to go up the Portland Secondary. 8-8-11 @ 4:30 PM.
M-1 in Allentown Yard. 8-8-11 @ 4:30 PM
M-1 in Allentown Yard. 8-8-11 @ 4:30 PM
M-1 in Allentown Yard. 8-8-11 @ 4:30 PM
The finished product. The bricks with curved ends are edge bricks.
Waiting for the bricks to set up.
Making bricks for 142's firebox. The material has the consistency of damp sand.
The plastic lining protects the mold and makes removing the finished bricks easier.
Even the molds to make the bricks had to be made in house.
Molds used to form the edge bricks.
NYSWTHS ANNUAL PICNIC & JULY MEETING
A little HELP here!
Clearing up the RofW!
KB & John
I wonder what's in here!
Easter Train 2011, look at all those eggs!!!
Easter Trains 2011
Catching up on Safety Rules!
Gary
Making sure Rule Books are up to date
What's my next class?
Are we done yet!
Stewie keeping an eye on Martin as he works on the gift car electric
Loving the ice!
Loving the seas!
Loving the slopes!
Loving the sand!
Looking beautiful, out in the sun for the first time!
All finished, with lettering applied.
Top coat on the opposite side of the car.
Finally the top coat has been applied!
The ends of the cars were painted black.
All primed and ready for a top coat.
The installation of new window gaskets was critical to the stabilization of the car.
The roof was completely sanded down, primed and a new silver paint applied.
Sanding and body work under way.
New window gaskets have been installed and body work is under way.
All done, the interior is complete.
The seats are being installed!
The carpet is installed and the seat frames are going back in!
A beautiful new commercial grade carpet is being installed.
The rotten sections have been replaced!
Removing and replacing the damaged portions of the floor.
The sub floor was rotten and needed to be removed and replaced. Water had been leaking in from the old window gaskets.
Here you can see the condition of the floor after the seats were removed.
The rubber floor needed to be removed!
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