mile and a quarter. At double the length we started with, we gained another four-tenths in 2012 and are now just a mile and two-tenths to reach Riegelsville, which has been our goal since the beginning for our “regular” run. The work has been done by a contractor but once to Riegelsville, we will have people available who can do track work in the yard. I usually cover any news about the Bel-Del here as The year 2012 got off to a good start. Only two stay bolts were replaced on #142 during the winter. As it was a more usual winter program, other work moved up the priority list. The tender, for example, got some body work. New paint was flowing elsewhere as another car, 530, got the vestibules painted to match 500. Plymouth #18 has new paint. Also, the movement to stop the rainwater in M-1 was showing signs of success, if not totally, and the mechanical work continued, including repairs to doors, moldings, a new toilet, engine solenoids, and when work resumes in 2013, engine fluids, finishing the tiled floor and eventually getting the seats reupholstered. In 2011, the three-day Easter event was a sellout and March 31st, April 1st and 7th, 2012, we basically used the entire Polar train and were able to set a new ridership record, topping last year by over 400 customers. The rest of April was not idle. Two weeks later, we hosted the New York University who were filming a movie, Black Dog, Red Dog on our train. Logan Marshall-Green and Chloẻ Sevigny were in this series of scenes, while Whoopie Goldberg and James Franco also appeared in other segments already filmed. Several of our members were used as extras. It was a long day, finishing up near dark, just ahead of a line of thundershowers. The production staff was quite large with half of them or so being NYU students learning the craft. The Independent Movie Data Base does not show a release date as of this writing. Meantime, the weekend in between, several newer members with track expertise went to Holland to fill in a 142 foot gap left by the removal of a switch a few years ago. Straight-railing the section allows us to get speeders and other maintenance equipment down the entire length of the line in order to keep it, if not in service, available for service in the future, including the occasional speeder run down to Milford. While it has not been part of our Mechanical Department prior, the track work is integral to the operation and is worth mention here. The DRRE started with 3-1/2 miles in 2004, increased to 5-1/2 in 2006, gained only about 900 feet in 2008, but a section further down of similar length was also done. We incorporated that section in 2010 as part of another 18 our adopted operational home and as there isn’t often much else to report, but there were freight stirrings in 2012. The quarry has a customer for decorative stone in Florida and has been sending a 100-ton car per month for most of the year. The real addition is a new building supply company taking over the old Warren Lumber site. They relocated from further north in town along the NS track where there is no siding and are looking for a hundred cars a year. The first four came in December 27th with several quickly following. As the Bel-Del’s freight schedule reads “Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday,” we may see the passenger operation share the track again at times. As for passengers, the regular season started May Bob Wyatt wiring up the junction box for the new electrical service. 5th, with 142 making an on-time arrival May 26th for the Memorial Day weekend. Just over a month later came our biggest steam event of the year, Day Out With Thomas, when we run two steam engines, with 142 not to be left out this time. And then another problem arose. On the next to last trip of the first Sunday, metal chips were noticed on the engineer’s side running gear. Turns out the large bronze bearing was blowing out the babbit, a soft metal lining molded into it. This same babbit was replaced five years earlier. The timing couldn’t have been better as it was given to Eric, who was here from Strasburg to run Thomas, to take home with him Monday. Gary and co. had the rod down Sunday night to do this. Meantime, it was decided to go with a brass insert this time and the material was located in Trenton. Gary then had to go to Trenton to get the material and on to Strasburg, arriving there with five minutes to spare for a 4 PM deadline Monday to get the work done quickly. When Brendan arrived for his turn on Thomas Thursday, he had the new bearing and 142 went back to work that Friday. This was an exceptionally quick turnaround for such a repair and credit goes not only to our own crew, but the folks at Strasburg for accommodating us in such quick order. It only emphasizes once again why so few people run steam and our dedication to being one of those few groups who do. We moved on to our “routine” portion of summer following Thomas hoping it will be just that; routine. It’s a long year that goes by quickly and there’s more to report than steam. The day after #142 was done for the year, Hurricane Sandy moved in, one year to the day after the freak snow. While nearby Allentown reported a record wind of 81 mph, rain was not an issue and we didn’t have to watch the river this time. Still, around fifty trees went down on the tracks but we had the line open, if not pretty, in two days. The day after steam is also the get-ready-for-Polar starting line. To say this is our most popular event is an un
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