Oh, Gs: Photographing the Pennsy’s Legacy Around New York, 1973-1983
Presented by Oren Helbok

A native of the Bronx, Oren B. Helbok will present “Oh, Gs: Photographing the Pennsy’s Legacy Around New York, 1973-1983”. Beginning as an eight-year-old and continuing until the week that he left for college, Oren photographed GG1s working for Amtrak and NJTransit (and in one case Conrail), mostly on the mainline between Penn Station in Manhattan and Rahway and on the branch to South Amboy. Originally captured on 35mm Plus-X and Tri-X, few of the images ever got printed; only in the digital age has Oren gone back through his archive and worked on them. More than forty years after the last G pulled a train, he hopes that you too will think of at least a couple of the photos as unearthed treasures.

Oren picked up a camera for the first time in 1972 and since then has documented railroading, not at all comprehensively, from approximately coast to coast. For thirty years a resident of northcentral Pennsylvania, Oren lives closer to more active steam locomotives than he could in any other similarly-sized region of North America. You can find more of his work at WhereSteamLives.net.

This meeting will only be available virtually.
Attendees should not travel to Saint Elizabeth University.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

CNJ, Elizabeth to Raritan
Presented by Tom Nemeth

For our October meeting, we are joined by Tom Nemeth, Editor of Railpace Newsmagazine and longtime friend of Tri-State. Nemeth has been a prolific photographer and his presentation will focus on the CNJ mainline between Elizabeth and Raritan.

The CNJ mainline was among the earliest rail lines constructed in New Jersey. It grew to be multiple tracks and host to numerous daily through freights and local drills to serve lineside industries. There were also the CNJ’s commuter trains and the intercity passenger trains of the Reading and Baltimore & Ohio, the CNJ’s corporate parents. The Elizabeth to Raritan section was a busy stretch of railroad and we look forward to Nemeth’s show.

In-Person and Virtual options available

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Longtime Tri-State member, Mitch Dakelman, will present EXPLORING THE RAILROADS OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. His presentation encompasses the iron mining story in Morris County, from the 19th Century through the 1950s, as the Mount Hope Mine was one of the last. Dairy farms prevailed in Sussex County, providing business to the DL&W, and travel to Lake Hopatcong via the CNJ and DL&W. Among the railroads covered will be the Central Railroad of New Jersey, emphasizing their coal business. and activities on the High Bridge Branch. We also will see Lehigh Valley, Lehigh & Hudson River, Pennsylvania Railroad, and Reading, using vintage black and white and color slides that Mitch has gathered through a number of collections.

Mitch is the Media Service Director for the National Railway Historical Society. He joined Tri-State in 1981 with the guidance of the Sandy Shaw and the late Joe Van Hoorebeke, Jr. Mitch has authored numerous books for Morning Sun, and articles for the Block Line, Jersey Central News, and the NRHS Bulletin.

  NOTE: This is a VIRTUAL ONLY meeting. There will be no in-person option for attending this meeting. Do not travel to Saint Elizabeth University for this meeting.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are broadcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

David Alff’s new book, The Northeast Corridor, is a history of America’s most important railroad, and the region it has defined for almost 200 years. The book explores through words, photographs, blueprints, and diagrams how trains transformed an arch of Atlantic shoreline into a world political capital and global financial hub, and home to over fifty million people.

This presentation will focus on the corridor’s impact on New Jersey, from John Stevens’s receipt of the nation’s first rail charter in 1815 to the rise of the Camden & Amboy and New Jersey Railroads to the Pennsylvania Railroad’s construction of the electrified right of way that commuters ride over today. As Amtrak launches massive infrastructural projects to replace the Portal Bridge and North River Tunnels, my talk will look back at the long history that brought us to the present, and what it means for the Garden State’s transit future.

Anyone interested in purchasing Alff’s book should click here. Use the promotional code UCPNEW to receive a 30% discount.

For In-Person Attendees (UPDATE: 6/11/24): Due to A/C issues, this meeting will be held in the St. Joseph Conference Room in St. Joseph Hall at Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. St. Joseph Hall is located across the parking lot from our usual meeting location, Rainis Auditorium. Student volunteers will help direct attendees. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

27 years ago, Pete Putman and his son Ross set off to explore the remnants of the New York Ontario & Western Railway. Starting in Cornwall, New York, they traveled westward as far as Cadosia and made a separate side trip from Summitville to Kingston, photographing the old right of way, bridges, tunnels, and station sites. This presentation will show what they found, 40 years after the O&W shut down in 1957. Topographic maps from the 1940s will illustrate where the tracks used to go. These trips formed the basis for the O&W Railway Historical Society's "Virtual Bus Tours."

Not surprisingly, many of the O&W remnants they found are no longer there 64 years on and are only preserved as images as more and more of the road fades into the mists of time. Still, these explorations turned out to be wonderful father-and-son bonding trips that still bring back great memories, over a quarter-century later.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Railfan & Railroad editor Steve Barry joins us for the April meeting. He will present his journey in railroad night photography - from group night sessions with Jim Boyd to synchronized flash.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Just a Short Line: Anecdotes & Other Tales

The Story the Rahway Valley Railroad

Presented by Richard J. King

The Rahway Valley Railroad was a colorful short line that operated in northern New Jersey for much of the last century. For the past several years, author and historian (and Tri-State President) Richie King has been researching and collecting everything he can about this little railroad. In an effort to share what has been found, Tri-State is hosting occasional programs on the Rahway Valley Railroad as part of the Just a Short Line series.

In this program, King will share the more amusing side of the Rahway Valley through the laughable anecdotes, harrowing tales, and sardonic letters he has collected. You’ll learn about the lazy conductor, the kids of the railroad, the tale of the engineer’s ill-fated pie, the firebug, calamities with cars, and much more. You’ll be sure to let out a laugh, or two.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Down The Line With Dr. Lenny Part 1: New Jersey's Transformational Years
Presented by Michael L. Kaplonski, Esq.

Dr. Leonard Kaplonski was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1948.  Growing up near the PRR Main Line, he developed a lifelong interest in trains, and particularly in photographing what was around him.  After leaving New Jersey to pursue a medical degree, he arrived back on the scene in 1976 to capture one of the most significant changes in the railroad industry to date - the creation of Conrail.  Between the formation of Amtrak and the creation of Conrail, the rails of the entire northeastern United States would be forever altered - a process of mergers, rationalizations, and reductions that continues through the present day was set in motion.  The once incredibly colorful diversity of New Jersey's keystones, statues, and diamonds gave way to blue, and then a mix of platinum mist, black, white, blue and gold.  With so many notable milestones having occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s, this presentation will be a fun look back at the infancy of today's railroad scene.

Join us as we take a walk down the line with Dr. Lenny and revisit many familiar locations, seeing what was, and what was about to disappear - all with the benefit of now having seen what was to become.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

New Jersey’s Up-and-Coming Rail Photographers
Presented by Russell Sullivan, Rob Amoia, and Duncan Mara

For decades, New Jersey has played host to a myriad of photographers, who have a passion for the railroads that crisscross the state. Those names have included Carstens, Collins, Furler, Krause, Mainey, and many more. Today, a new generation is taking up the torch. They’re dedicated and ambitious in their pursuits of capturing New Jersey’s railroad happenings through their lenses. Tri-State will host two of New Jersey’s Up-and-Coming Rail Photographers, who will show off some of their best work from the past year and beyond:

Rob Amoia is 18-years-old and hails from Bergen County. He’s currently studying engineering at Rutgers University in Newark. Amoia has been into trains since the earliest days of his youth. He’ll be showcasing his photography from 2023, some taken a few minutes away from his house to as far aways as a three-hour flight. Between passenger and freight, old and new, he shoots it all and is eager to share his favorites from 2023.

Duncan Mara is a 22 year-old North Jersey resident who's been photographing trains for nearly a decade. Growing up along the NYS&W Railway in Passaic County, Mara grew passionate about railroads from an early age and started photographing them soon after. While most of his favorite photographs from 2023 were generally taken around the Tri-State area, a few images from a trip to the West Coast will also make an appearance. 

Russell Sullivan is a 25-year-old New Jersey resident who has been photographing the New Jersey rail scene for the past 10 years. Growing up in Bergen County and spending summers at the Jersey Shore, Sullivan has a passion for photographing the often-overlooked industrial rail scenes that bridge these two areas. Russell will share his favorite photographs captured in 2023 from the Garden State.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

The Erie’s Orange Branch
Presented by Bill McKelvey

The December meeting will feature a look at the Erie Railroad’s Orange Branch, part of the Erie’s New York & Greenwood Lake Division. Presenter Bill McKelvey grew up along the Orange Branch and will provide us with a unique perspective of this unique rail line’s history and operations, including during the days of the Erie, E-L, and Conrail. McKelvey is the Chairman of the Liberty Historic Railway, which has funded numerous transportation related preservation projects throughout the State of New Jersey, including M&E 19 and HMRC 700.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow on the Lehigh & Hudson River Railway
Presented by Alan Held

The November meeting will feature a presentation by Warwick, NY native and current Trainmaster, Alan Held, on the long and storied history of the L&HR. Mr. Held will discuss early history, operations, and motive power, as well as current operations on the former bridge line. Located in picturesque Warren, Sussex, and Orange Counties, the Lehigh & Hudson River was a Class I carrier with major haulage, yet the feel of a home-town railroad. This presentation will feature rare images from the L&HR archives as well as never before seen maps. Whether you are new to the L&HR or you have some familiarity, there is something for everyone in this in-depth look at a lesser-known fallen flag.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

The Kid From Freeville
Growing up on the Railroad
Presented by Dan Armitage, with Peter Bellisario

Danny Armitage grew up in Freeville, NY where two branches of the Lehigh Valley Railroad crossed. From the age of 5 he hung out at the freight station behind his house getting to know all of the trainmen. This led to an unusual childhood of literally growing up on the railroad. From 1963 until the mid-1980s he rode the locomotives and cabooses over 400 times and was accepted by the crews as one of their own. For 26 years, Dan resided in the Ovid area and worked for 30 years at the Willard Psychiatric Center and Willard Drug Treatment Center. This afforded him time to study both the Willard Asylum and US Army Depot railroads. Dan now resides in Marathon, NY, with his wife Joan Portzline. His program of lecture and slides is titled: The Kid from Freeville: Growing up on the Railroad and has been presented all over central NY, covering the people and operations of the Lehigh Valley Railroad from a very unique perspective.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

CNJ Night at Tri-State
Presented by Frank Reilly

For the September meeting, we are joined by long-time a long-time Tri-Stater, Frank Reilly. He worked for the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and will take us on a tour from the Jersey City roundhouse to the coal mines of Pennsylvania, and everything in-between.

Frank started working for the CNJ in early 1966 and as a railfan he always had his camera with him.  He even convinced management to let him create a Know Your CNJ slide show in 1969 to familiarize new managers coming over from the B&O. He got two weeks to produce this show as well as unlimited slide film and support from officials throughout the CNJ.  Frank also had his pass embossed with the words, “Good on any train or engine” and he made good use of it, which included being in a train wreck!  Don’t miss this rare and exciting show that includes train wrecks, being held up at knife point in the Garwood station, etc.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Gray, Maroon, and Yellow: A Heritage Unit and Creating a DL&W F3
Presented by Mike Del Vecchio

The June 8th meeting will feature a presentation by past president Mike Del Vecchio. He chose a couple of repaints and restorations near and dear to the club. First will be NS 1700, repainted in its original as-delivered livery as part of Norfolk Southern's 30th Anniversary festivities. The 1700 would appear daily at Bayway where Del Vecchio could take many pictures of it. Next is a presentation about Tri-State's F3 in Scranton, "Lackawanna 663." It arrived in Scranton in 2009 looking like the scrap yard was next, but a team of more than 50 Tri-Staters and hundreds of financial contributors restored it to where today it is a national treasure and part of the oldest, unaltered and operating set of F-units in the world. Join us to see this world-class effort that created what TRAINS Magazine's readers in 2013 voted as "Must See Diesels."

Note: The original program scheduled, Building Route 280, had to be postponed due to the presenter's illness. We will work to schedule it for the fall.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Susie-Q and L&HR
Presented by Tom Nemeth

For our May meeting, we will be joined by prolific photographer and Railpace editor Tom Nemeth. He will give us an interesting look at the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad and Lehigh & Hudson River Railway in the 1960s and 1970s.

The NYS&W was a struggling New Jersey railroad that had retreated to Butler, NJ in 1971 and declared bankruptcy in 1976. We’ll take a look at Susie-Q’s operations with a fleet of aging Alcos and its yellow-jacket EMD GP-18s.

The L&HR was a bridge route operating between Allentown, PA and Maybrook, NJ, operated with a fleet of Alco C420s and RS-3s. We’ll take a look at the L&HR’s operations before it was assimilated into Conrail.

We’re all looking forward to this look at two fan-favorite railroads that operated across northern New Jersey.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

In an age before jets, air conditioning and super highways, Lake Hopatcong was a major northeast resort.  Within easy reach of large cities to the east, the lake’s size and setting at over 900 feet above sea level made it a perfect summer destination.  Boasting over 40 hotels, two amusement parks, and all types of entertainment, Lake Hopatcong welcomed thousands each year, including leaders in government, industry and entertainment.  Lake Hopatcong’s rise as a resort was the result of two major railroads serving and promoting the lake.  This program will look at the Central Railroad of New Jersey’s opening of rail service to the Nolan’s Point section of Lake Hopatcong in 1882 and the Lackawanna Railroad efforts to compete by having their trains connect to waiting steamboats which took passengers directly to their Lake Hopatcong destination through the Morris Canal.  It will also look at how rail service play a major role in the ice, iron, and explosives industries at the lake.

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Rainis Auditorium of Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Just a Short Line: TOUR THE RAILROAD

The Story the Rahway Valley Railroad

The Rahway Valley Railroad was a colorful short line that operated in northern New Jersey for much of the last century. For the past several years, author and historian (and Tri-State President) Richie King has been researching and collecting everything he can about this little railroad. In an effort to share what has been found, Tri-State will host occasional programs on the Rahway Valley Railroad in addition to the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.

In this program, King takes you on a tour of the railroad in the 1940s and 50s. The RV was a bustling little freight operation back then. In this presentation, you’ll take a ride along the RV’s 11.8-mile-long streak of rust, including the mainline, three branches, and three interchanges.

The presentation begins on Zoom at 7:30 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Note: This is not the regular monthly membership meeting. This is a virtual only presentation.

Steve Barry will present some of his favorite photos of 2022. Main line steam, vanishing Class I railroads, and modern and historic transit will all be a part of the diverse year. From the return of Chesapeake & Ohio 1309 to the final year of Kansas City Southern, 2022 was quite a year! 

UPDATE (3/9/2023)! ROOM CHANGE! For In-Person Attendees: Our March 9, 2023 meeting will be held in the Flexible Meeting Rooms located on the lower level of the Annunciation Center at Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ.

The Annunciation Center is located in the same parking lot as Rainis Auditorium. Please look for event signs to direct you to the proper location.

For printable driving directions, please click here. Doors open at 7:00 PM, the membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

Your membership dollars help keep these meetings free for all to enjoy. Join today here. Or, you can support us by sending a donation here.

Rails from the Air

Presented by Jon Berkemeyer

Join us on Thursday, February 9th for a presentation of unique aerial railroad photography by drone photographer Jon Berkemeyer. He will be showcasing some of his favorite images that he has captured from his camera drone over the last five years. Featuring abandoned structures, hard to reach locations along with well worn railfan haunts captured in a whole new light, this is railfanning across New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in all three dimensions.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Railroads of Picatinny Arsenal

Presented by Jason HuggAN and Jeff Ranu

U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal is located in the Highlands of northwestern Morris County. Picatinny is situated on approximately 5,853 acres and stretches northwards from Rt 15 towards Green Pond. The Arsenal specializes in the research, development, acquisition and lifecycle of advanced conventional weapon systems and ammunition. The Cultural Resources Program (CRP) located in the Environmental Affairs Division of the Directorate of Public Works manages the historic structures, buildings, districts, and archaeological sites located across the Arsenal.

This presentation demonstrates a historical background of Picatinny Arsenal’s Railroads that were used to transport ammunition, equipment, and personnel across the installation, along with the Wharton & Northern Railroad, which was installed starting in 1887 with a 99-year lease. At one time, Picatinny had over 42 miles of railroads across the installation.

Jason Huggan was the former Cultural Resource Manager (CRM) for Picatinny Arsenal from 2007 to 2020. Starting in April 2020, Huggan accepted a promotion to Environmental Affairs Division Chief within the Directorate of Public Works. He has been with Picatinny for over 15yrs and prior to this held a similar position at Fort Lee, VA and Fort Irwin, CA as CRM. Huggan has a Master’s degree in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Leicester, UK and has worked in over 15 states across the continental U.S. with over 19yrs of experience in cultural resource management. Huggan is also a Registered Professional Archaeologist.

Jeff Ranu became the DEVCOM-Armaments Center Historian in 2017, when it was still ARDEC, upon retirement of the renowned Arsenal Historian Dr. Patrick Owens. He has also served as an engineer at the installation for 23yrs. Ranu’s credentials include Masters Degrees in both Engineering and History. Duties as the Historian include researching technical historical information about ammunition and weapon systems for Army engineers, and supporting current programs and field maintenance. He also maintains the Picatinny Historical Archive, which contains documentation dating back to 1880 and conducts oral history interviews on a variety of topics from Picatinny Arsenal.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Just A SHORT LINE: LOCOMOTIVES & EQUIPMENT

THE STORY OF THE RAHWAY VALLEY RAILROAD

The Rahway Valley Railroad was a colorful short line that operated in northern New Jersey for much of the last century. For the past several years, author and historian (and Tri-State President) Richie King has been researching and collecting everything he can about this little railroad. In an effort to share what has been found, Tri-State will host occasional programs on the Rahway Valley Railroad in addition to the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.

In this program, King will be joined by Jeff Jargosch, a longtime Rahway Valley fan and steam locomotive aficionado, and Walt Switz, a retired railroader and former Rahway Valley employee, for a look at the railroad’s locomotives and equipment. The show will cover the earliest locomotives and their histories. With Jeff, we’ll take a detailed look at the last three steam engines, Nos. 13, 14, and 15, what is was like to operate them, their differences, and idiosyncrasies. With Walt, we’ll cover what it was like to work with the 70-tonners in daily freight service. We’ll even cover the railroad’s lone caboose, the 102, and more.

The presentation begins on Zoom at 7:30 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Note: This is not the regular monthly membership meeting.

Tri-State’s First President

An Evening with Mike Wikman

Our December 8th meeting will feature a digital visit from Tri-State first president, Mike Wikman. Now aged 88, he had hired out on the Lackawanna in 1955 as a towerman and soon landed in engine service. From there, his railroad career went to the EL, CNJ, Amtrak and a host of shortlines as either a manager or consultant. In 1979 he was the engineer on the Amtrak train that traversed the Cut-off from Port Morris to Scranton. He, Ray Storey and Tom Taber the elder helped form Tri-State in 1964. Mike has been everywhere and has a vivid memory, and he carried a camera. We're in for a treat, and a reunion. Today he lives in San Antonio.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Just a Short Line: Best Photo Finds

The Story the Rahway Valley Railroad

The Rahway Valley Railroad was a colorful short line that operated in northern New Jersey for much of the last century. For the past several years, author and historian (and Tri-State President) Richie King has been researching and collecting everything he can about this little railroad. In an effort to share what has been found, Tri-State will host occasional programs on the Rahway Valley Railroad in addition to the regularly scheduled monthly meetings.

In this program, King will share some of the best photography of the Rahway Valley he has come across in his searching. "The “best” photos are rare finds, high quality, or just photos with a good story behind them. There will be early color (both steam and diesels), photos from well-known photographers and railfans, and lots of good stories.

The presentation begins on Zoom at 7:30 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Note: This is not the regular monthly membership meeting.

Rise & Fall of the Raritan River

Presented by Tom Reynolds

For the November show, Tom Reynolds returns to continue his history of New Jersey’s Raritan River Rail Road. The story picks up the railroad’s peak freight tonnages in World War I, its lean years during the Great Depression, and proceeds through boom times during the war effort years of World War II. The history will be rounded out by the railroad’s last three decades as a vibrant short line and its eventual assimilation into Conrail in 1980.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

The Lackawanna Cutoff

Presented by Chuck Walsh and Keith Smollin

At its peak, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad described itself as “mile for mile, the most highly developed in the world.” The Lackawanna had entered the 20th century with the goal of becoming a super railroad, giving its president, William H. Truesdale, a mandate to make it so. The crowning achievement of this period of incredible period of capital improvement was the Lackawanna Cutoff, a 28-mile section of 70 MPH railroad of monumental viaducts, cuts, and fills.

For the October meeting, we are joined by Chuck Walsh and Keith Smollin who will give an overview of the Cutoff’s history, including its construction between 1908 and 1911. They will also discuss the current efforts and developments in reactivating the Cutoff for commuter service.

Chuck Walsh first became fascinated with the Lackawanna as a kid growing up next to the Morris & Essex in South Orange, NJ, being able to watch trains like the Phoebe Snow.. Chuck joined the North Jersey Rail Commuter Association in 1985, a group which helped spearhead the effort for the State of New Jersey to acquire the Cutoff in 2001. Chuck was a founding member of the Penn-Jersey Rail Coalition and, later, the Lackawanna Cutoff Historical Committee. Chuck and his daughter, Larissa, who is a videographer (who has made a couple of very brief cameo appearances), started the Lackawanna Cutoff channel on YouTube in 2016 and have thus far produced over 50 videos related to the Cutoff.

Keith Smollin has been a lifelong railfan and has been associated with the Maywood Station Museum along the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad since its inception in 2001. Keith holds a BA in History from William Paterson University and teaches History and English in Union City, NJ. Keith is a founding member of the Lackawanna Cutoff Historical Committee, founded in 2013 to preserve the Greendell station.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!

Lehigh Valley Across New Jersey

Presented by Tom Nemeth

Take a trip across New Jersey from Oak Island engine terminal, through the suburbs of Cranford, South Plainfield, and Bound Brook, to the western border in Phillipsburg.  Most of the shots are from the early to mid-1960s (FAs, PAs, RS3s, etc.) continuing into the 1970s. The show runs about a half hour.

Click here to register in advance for the webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation portion will also be simulcast on our Facebook page.

Attendance is free! All are welcome to attend!

The Susie-Q, East to West

Presented by Carolyn Hoffman, with Rudy Garbely

From its earliest origins as the New Jersey Midland Railway in the 1870s, the New York, Susquehanna & Western has been an integral piece of the northern New Jersey rail network. Stretching from the Hudson River in Jersey City and Edgewater westward to Stroudsburg, PA and beyond via its subsidiary, the Wilkes-Barre & Eastern, the NYS&W formed a vital east-west link across the state.

Despite cutting its west end back to Hainesburg, NJ in 1941, the railroad continued to flourish during World War II. Using funds from the influx of wartime traffic, NYS&W became the first Class I railroad in the U.S. to fully dieselize (accomplished in June of 1945). Following the recession of 1957 and the abandonment of the connecting Lehigh & New England in 1961, the NYS&W abandoned its line west of the Lehigh & Hudson River connection in Sparta, NJ. Commuter service ended entirely in 1966, and the railroad’s limited freight operations were cut back in 1968 from Sparta to Oak Ridge and again in 1971 from Oak Ridge to Butler. The NYS&W operated as a down-on-its-luck shortline into the 1980s, when it was famously revived by Walter Rich and the Delaware Otsego Corporation as a powerful Class II regional carrier.

This presentation, covering the railroad from east to west, showcases never-before-seen images from the NYS&W’s earliest diesels in the 1940s through the railroad’s first decade under Delaware Otsego ownership. Carolyn Hoffman, author of the forthcoming book New York, Susquehanna & Western, Volume 1: Jersey City to Passaic Jct. (click here to preorder), provides a thorough look at the railroad’s locations and motive power during these tumultuous decades. She is joined by her husband Rudy Garbely, who will help to present locations and photos from future books in this series covering the western portions of the “Susie-Q”.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. Attendance is free, all are welcome to attend!

10,000 and Beyond: Pictures on a Path

Presented by Dennis A. Livesey

With a three-decade-long career in the motion picture industry and a lifelong passion and hobby of railroad photography, Dennis Livesey will share a retrospective on his many years of photographing trains. Dennis has been passionate about railroads, photography, and life since the Eisenhower administration, allowing him to see, photograph, and work on amazing trains here and abroad. He is also the author of the hardcover photography book Smoke Over Steamtown.

We will be hosting an in-person option at the historic DL&W Lake Hopatcong Station at 125 Landing Road, Landing, NJ. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00 PM.

For those attending virtually, click here to register in advance for the webinar. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation portion will also be simulcast on our Facebook page.

Attendance is free! All are welcome to attend!

Short-Line Man - The Story of George A. Clark

Presented by Richard J. King

UPDATE (4/19/2022): The date of the meeting has been pushed back to 6/16/2022.

UPDATE (4/12/2022): In-person and virtual options available. For the June meeting, Tri-State will offer the opportunity to attend in-person at the restored Lake Hopatcong Station of the Lackawanna Railroad at 125 Landing Road, Landing, NJ, hosted by the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. The presentation will also be broadcast on Zoom and Facebook Live.

Author, historian, and Tri-State President Richie King joins us for the June 2022 meeting. King has spent years researching the Rahway Valley Railroad, a small neighborhood short-line that operated in Union County, New Jersey during the last century. The railroad enjoyed a long and colorful history of hauling freight to the numerous consignees along its 11.8-mile route. However, perhaps the most interesting part of the railroad’s story is that of its long-time President & General Manager: George A. Clark.

King will present an in-depth look at George A. Clark, a complicated man known for his unique brand of opinion, profanity, and sarcasm - as well as his generosity, work ethic, and level of attention to just about everyone and everything. The presentation will follow Clark’s life from his birth in Rochester, NY, through his formative years in Oregon, to his nearly fifty year career with the Rahway Valley. We’ll also see some of Clark’s most pungent literary creations, his famous calendars, and some of the many letters he received from railfans. King will also touch upon the lives of Clark’s father and son, who also served as President and General Manager of the railroad. The show is sure to be a crowd pleaser, elicit a laugh or two, and demonstrate just what it took to run a one-horse railroad.

For those attending in-person, the membership portion of the meeting will begin at the Lake Hopatcong Station at 7:00 PM.

For those attending virtually, click here to register in advance for the webinar. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation portion will also be simulcast on our Facebook page.

Attendance is free! All are welcome to attend!

Steam Trains of Yesteryear: The Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Story

Presented by Rick Kfoury

Amongst the many chapters of American railroad preservation during the whirlwind 1960s comes the wild story of a plucky operation and the legacies it created. It's the story of a man: F. Nelson Blount, whose wild dreams inspired and bewildered. It's a story of characters: railroad men, photographers, preachers, politicians, and enthusiasts. It's the story of places: small rural villages, tranquil lakes, and rugged mountains. It's a story of twists, dreams, tragedy, disappointment, and success. And it's a story of machines: the steam trains of yesteryear, a dying breed brought back to life.

From the author of Steam Trains of Yesteryear: The Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Story comes a multimedia presentation bringing this amazing tale to life. This presentation will navigate F. Nelson Blount's exploits from 1960 to 1967, namely his Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Railroad, and its early operations on the Claremont & Concord Railway, the Boston & Maine Railroad’s Cheshire Branch, and the former Rutland Railroad in Vermont. Also to be discussed are the subsequent political negotiations involving the search for a permanent home for Blount’s planned museum, “Steamtown USA”, and the start of his freight-hauling shortline, the Green Mountain Railroad. Tying it all together are the first steps down a long road leading to today's Steamtown National Historic Site. Illustrating the story will be rare photographs, 8mm film, primary documents, and testimony from those who made history.

The membership portion of the meeting begins on Zoom at 7:00 PM. Click here to register in advance for this webinar. Attendees will need to register in advance for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The presentation will continue on Zoom and be simulcast on our Facebook page after. All are welcome to attend!