Finally, three Polars ago, we were using an exThe inside of the #33 has a machine shop as well as the electrical plant for the passenger train. Here Gary is showing Devin how to mill a part. derstatement when you consider we sold out in 28 days – in August. And that was with an extra operating day giving us 1,800 additional seats this year. Besides getting the train ready, the station building finally got a permanent power arrangement during this time and it was refreshing to see the lights come on again for the nighttime operation. There is also a power/communications distribution point on the picnic grounds for the tents we use during the big events. Foreign power appeared this year. The Black River System had only one diesel assigned to the Bel-Del and we needed two. All other units being out on lease, an Everett Railroad engine, 1712, was brought in. Built as a GP-7 for the Clinchfield, it was converted to a GP-16 by the FEC. You can read about it on their website, everettrailroad.com. Pittsburg and Conn-Dot power car to provide 480 vac to our bi-level cars. During the event, the generator went sour and we ended up using a generator on loan from the quarry to finish the event. Said generator would be mounted on a flat car for the next two years during which time the power car was sold to Norfolk Southern for their steam program. We then obtained a baggage car with much VIA Rail paint still showing around the edges. This became our HEP, and tool car. After rewiring the generator and other repairs it was painted and made its first appearance for the public on Polar Express November 24th. The paint job is a historically correct 1940 Susquehanna color scheme of gray and maroon. Having never seen a baggage car on a Susquehanna train after the coaches went all-maroon about 1942, I suspect this is the last scheme used by the railroad for baggage cars as they were off the trains by the fifties. Does anyone have some photographic evidence to the contrary? Once again, I will remind all that this, while not the only, is the most active part of our Society and it can always use more help both in the shop and the train operation. Our power car/ machine shop # 33 with her brand new Susquehanna paint scheme. 19
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