Tri-State Establishes Permanent Archive and Library in Boonton, NJ

Tri-State Railway Historical Society announced today that it has signed a lease to establish the Mike Del Vecchio Library & Archive in historic downtown Boonton, New Jersey. The archive will be home to Tri-State’s growing artifact and book collection focused on the railroad history of New Jersey its connecting regions. This is the first such archive in the state dedicated to railroad history.

“New Jersey has perhaps the richest railroad history of any state in the country. There has unfortunately never been a central repository where the paper artifacts and data from this region can be collected and accessed by the public,” said Tri-State President Richie King. “This archive finally begins to solve this decades-old problem.”

Located on the top floor of 408 Main Street in Boonton, NJ, the archive is strategically located just walking distance from United Railroad Historical Society of NJ’s Boonton Yard, the base of operations for Tri-State over the last several years. This proximity will allow volunteers to have easy access to the entirety of both organizations’ collections in one lively, downtown area. The building itself, built in 1904, retains its exposed brick interior and has a historic character that lends itself beautifully to Tri-State’s purposes.

With a permanent site established, Tri-State welcomes the donation of historic photos, documents, artifacts, and even full collections that fit the archive’s New Jersey-centric scope.

“We know there are troves of resources out there to just waiting to be shared with the public,” said King. “We encourage folks to make the Mike Del Vecchio Library & Archive the forever home for their collections. With an ever-growing archive, we can collectively help to enrich the public’s understanding of railroad history.”

The archive is named in honor of Mike Del Vecchio, Tri-State’s recently deceased, long-time President and patron. It was his significant bequest of photos and documentation upon his passing that formed the impetus to establish this archive.

The archive will consist of two main spaces. One large room to house artifacts, and a smaller reading room with working space for volunteers and visitors. Following the move-in, Tri-State will look to procure professional equipment and software to digitize and catalog its collection over the coming months

To support the Mike Del Vecchio Library & Archive, donors can contribute at https://www.tristaterail.org/donate.

Tri-State Pledges to Support Restoration of U34CH

Tri-State Railway Historical Society is proud to pledge its support to the restoration of Erie Lackawanna U34CH No. 3372. Today, United Railroad Historical Society of NJ begins fundraising for a major restoration of the locomotive. We are proud to match each of those donations, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 to kickstart this campaign.

No. 3372 is the last of is kind, a locomotive built to serve the people of New Jersey, and modernize their experience as rail commuters. URHS has partnered with FMW Solutions, industry professionals, to embark on this extensive restoration project.

A project of this size and scope will only be possible through generous support. Learn more about the project, read the full mechanical report, and donate at urhs.org/u34ch.

We wish our friends and partners at URHS much success!

Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 Moves Back Home to NJ

Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 (lettered as Tyburn Railroad No. 400) is loaded in Morrisville, PA on January 25, 2022. Adam B. Reich photo.

Operation 88 moves forward yet again! On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad No. 700 was transported back to its home state of New Jersey after an absence of 45-years. 

The shipment is the culmination of two months of planning. Originally, plans had called for shipping the locomotive directly to the United Railroad Historical Society of NJ’s yard in Boonton, NJ on December 20, 2021, the day prior to the shipment of M&NJ No. 2 to Port Jervis, NY. Due to a number of clearance issues discovered during route surveys, shipment had to be postponed while alternative plans were explored. The Morristown & Erie Railway, Inc. (M&E) generously offered to take delivery of the locomotive at their Troy Hills Road Bulk Transload Facility in Whippany, NJ and a new date was scheduled. 

Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 (lettered as Tyburn Railroad No. 400) is prepared to be moved to New Jersey on January 25, 2022. Adam B. Reich photo.

In addition to determining a delivery location, many other logistical details had to be sorted out and coordinated between numerous individuals and organizations. Dozens of emails and phone calls were exchanged over the course of several weeks in order to make the move possible. Logistics included inspections, surveys, procuring equipment, scheduling, and so on. 

Since the locomotive would be delivered to Whippany, the M&E would need to move the GE 44-tonner over NJ Transit between Morristown, NJ and Boonton, NJ in order to deliver it to the United Railroad Historical Society of NJ yard. NJ Transit would need to inspect the locomotive prior to its arrival on the M&E to approve it for shipment over their lines. John Nolan and Rich Adams worked to prep the locomotive for an inspection by NJ Transit, which it passed on January 5, 2022 without issue.

Finally, after weeks of logistical wrangling and a positive truck route survey, January 25 was set as the date of the move. 

At 7 AM, crews began to arrive at the Tyburn Railroad in Morrisville, PA. The loading location, where the tops of the rails had to be at grade level with 100-feet of room for the truck to maneuver, had been determined to be the railroad’s driveway. The Tyburn Railroad is a busy train-to-truck transload facility with many trucks entering and leaving throughout the day. In order to provide for the move, the railroad generously rearranged its schedule in order to keep its driveway clear for loading the locomotive.

Some of the crew who made the move of Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 possible pose with the locomotive before it departs Morrisville, PA on January 25, 2022. Adam B. Reich photo.

A little before 7:30 AM, Lenny Yocum from Daily Express, Inc. arrived with the truck and trailer to load the locomotive. The Tyburn Railroad closed their gate and a little before 9 AM the truck was positioned over the tracks. John Nolan of Diamond Crossing Enterprises LLC utilized his backhoe to set the loading ramp into position. The Tyburn train crew, utilizing their own locomotive and idler car, shoved No. 700 onto the trailer. Tri-State volunteers, Erik Stenzel and Richie King, assisted with loading. The trailer was reconnected, moved off the driveway, and the load secured.

Meanwhile, a cache of GE 44-tonner parts was loaded into two pickup trucks. The acquisition of No. 700 and M&NJ No. 2 included all spare parts for both locomotives. Most parts were removed from Morrisville, including filters, gaskets, rebuilt heads, a rebuilt auxiliary generator, a gearbox, and more. Volunteers will return to load all remaining parts, and will also travel to two other Regional Rail LLC locations to gather their remaining parts. 

Shortly before 11 AM, the locomotive departed the Tyburn Railroad and began its journey. In order to avoid any clearance issues, a circuitous route was taken through Pennsylvania before reaching I-78 East just outside of Allentown, PA. At 1:02 PM, No. 700 crossed the Delaware River and reentered the State of New Jersey after a 45-year absence. At Exit 29, the locomotive ventured onto I-287 North and eventually reached Route 10 and Troy Hills Road. No. 700 arrived at the offload site around 2 PM. Bruce Brueche of B. Brueche Jr. & Sons was on-hand to set the loading ramp and pull the locomotive off of the trailer. Around 2:30 PM, the locomotive was back on the rails.

After residing at the facility for 32-years, Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 departs the Tyburn Railroad in Morrisville, PA on January 25, 2022. Adam B. Reich photo.

Tri-State volunteers, Kevin Phalon and Adam Reich, were on hand throughout the day to film and photograph the move. At Whippany, News 12 New Jersey was on hand to capture the event for the 6 PM news hour (link to News 12 story).

Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 is ready to be offloaded in Whippany, NJ on January 25, 2022. Adam B. Reich photo.

The transportation of Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 would not have been possible without the support of all the aforementioned people and entities, as well as the numerous contributions of the public. Major funding for the move was provided by Liberty Historic Railway, Inc. and numerous other donors. Also, a special thanks to John Nolan of Diamond Crossing Enterprises, LLC and Kevin Cotter and Brenda Rieder of the Tyburn Railroad for coordinating scheduling and logistics in Morrisville, PA, Mark Eyer of Daily Express, Inc. for handling the trucking logistics, Rich Adams for lending his mechanical expertise, News 12 New Jersey for covering the project, Tri-State volunteers Kevin Phalon and Adam Reich for filming and photographing the move, Erik Stenzel of Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Inc. for coordinating work site activities, and Richie King of Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Inc. for handling the bids, finances, insurance, and other paperwork for the move.

With No. 700 safely on the rails in Whippany, NJ, it awaits final shipment on its own wheels to the URHS yard in Boonton, NJ in the coming weeks. Once delivered to Boonton, Tri-State Railway Historical Society volunteers can begin the second phase of the Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 portion of the project. Mechanics will get the two Caterpillar D17000 engines running and the locomotive will be cosmetically restored. 

Your generous support will help Operation 88 continue forward to completion. Please consider an online donation here, or you may mail us a check at Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Inc., PO Box 1217, Morristown, NJ 07962. All donations, large or small, will help get this project done!

Hoboken Manufacturers No. 700 is offloaded in Whippany on January 25, 2022. Adam B. Reich photo.

THE TRANSPORTATION OF HOBOKEN MANUFACTURERS RAILROAD NO. 700
was made possible by the following:

B. Brueche Jr. & Sons

Daily Express, Inc.,
with special thanks to Mark Eyer and Lenny Yocum

John Nolan of Diamond Crossing Enterprises, LLC

Morristown & Erie Railway, Inc., 
with special thanks to Chuck Jensen and Matt Phalon

NJ Transit

Operation Toy Train,
with special thanks to Frank Eichenlaub

Rich Adams

Regional Rail LLC / Tyburn Railroad, 
with special thanks to Don Craumer, Kevin Cotter, and Brenda Rieder

United Railroad Historical Society of NJ, Inc.

DONORS TO OPERATION 88
as of January 28, 2022

Liberty Historic Railway, Inc.

Gabriel Caprio

Reg Mitchell

Steven R. Cohen

Frank M. Dellapolla

Tom Piccirillo of HobbyAdvisors LLC

Erie Limited Xpress

Matthew Wolchko

Christopher Vitz

Michael Scruggs

Philip Gengler

Roberta Ballard

Sandra Shaw

Bruce Benson

John Centenaro

Leon Moreau

Thomas Scheffer

Eric Kammer

Pat Kauffman

Timothy Stuy

Lisa Nalepka

John Dunn

Barry Kanig, in memory of Ken Combs

Tri-State Assists With Move of Historic GE 44-tonner

Over the course of December 21-22, 2021, Tri-State personnel assisted with the move of Middletown & New Jersey Railroad No. 2 from Manheim, PA to its new owner, Operation Toy Train of New York, and its new home at the Port Jervis Transportation History Center in Port Jervis, NY as part of Operation 88.

In cooperation with Daily Express, the East Penn Railroad, John Nolan of Diamond Crossing Enterprises LLC, Gordon’s Body Shop, and the City of Port Jervis, Tri-State helped to coordinate scheduling, logistics, funding, finances, paperwork, and work site activities for the move. Log onto https://www.operation88.org/news/mnj-2-moved to learn more!

M&NJ No. 2 is offloaded at the Port Jervis Transportation History Center on December 22, 2021. (Rudy Garbely photo)

Historic Hoboken and Middletown Locomotives to be Preserved by Non-Profit Partnership

BOONTON, NJ AND PORT JERVIS, NY – The Tri-State Railway Historical Society and Operation Toy Train of New York have partnered to acquire former Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad locomotive No. 700 and Middletown & New Jersey Railroad locomotive No. 2 for historic preservation. These locomotives are the last remaining examples of historic rail equipment from the heydays of their respective railroads.

M&NJ No. 2 switches Martin’s feed mill in Slate Hill, NY in April 1970. (Peter Brill collection)

Both are 44-ton diesel-electric locomotives constructed in 1947 by General Electric’s factory in Erie, Pennsylvania. Middletown & New Jersey No. 2 was originally built as American Cyanamid No. 5 in February of that year, and went to work at American Cyanamid’s Calco Chemical Division in Bridgewater, New Jersey. In 1963, the engine was acquired secondhand by the Middletown & New Jersey Railroad to supplement the railroad’s original 44-ton locomotive (No. 1). The new locomotive was renumbered as M&NJ No. 2 and operated along the entire 15-mile Middletown & New Jersey line, constructed in 1868 as an important bridge route between Middletown and the New Jersey state line in Unionville, New York.

When M&NJ No. 1 was taken out of service in 1981, the No. 2 became the M&NJ’s sole operating locomotive, remaining so for 36 years until additional locomotives were purchased in 2007. The railroad was acquired by holding company Regional Rail, LLC in 2009, and the No. 2 was sent to one of Regional Rail’s contract switching operations in Manheim, Pennsylvania. With the scrapping of M&NJ No. 1 in early 2021, the No. 2 became the sole surviving piece of equipment from the first 139 years of the M&NJ’s history.

Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad No. 700 is pictured shortly after its delivery to the railroad in late-1947, wearing its original red and grey Stevens Institute colors. (Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania collection)

Just eight months after M&NJ No. 2 rolled off the production line, Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad No. 700 rolled out of the General Electric plant in October of 1947. It went to work for its new owner, a line constructed in 1897 along the bustling waterfront of Hoboken, New Jersey with the backing of grandsons of John Stevens III, who had held the first charter for a railroad in the United States. The railroad was only a mile-and-a-half in length and featured tight curves and tracks that ran down the middle of several Hoboken streets. As delivered, HMRR No. 700 wore Stevens Institute of Technology colors - red and grey - to signify the railroad’s connection to Hoboken’s founding family.

The No. 700 was later repainted in a striking green and yellow scheme, operating for the Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad and its successor, the Hoboken Shore Railroad, until the latter railroad’s closure in 1976. It passed through a variety of owners until it was acquired by the Tyburn Railroad in Morrisville, Pennsylvania and became that railroad’s No. 400. The Tyburn Railroad was acquired by Regional Rail in 2011, placing both of these 44-ton locomotives under the same owner. The former HMRR No. 700 is the sole remaining piece of rail equipment from the Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad.

No. 700 is shown in this 1970s image wearing the green and yellow colors it wore for the majority of its Hoboken career. The railroad was renamed the Hoboken Shore Railroad in 1954. (Robert Eastwood photo, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania collection)

Regional Rail, which is headquartered in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, recognized the historic and regional significance of the No. 2 and No. 700 and reached out to Operation Toy Train of New York and the Tri-State Railway Historical Society to pass them both into preservation upon their retirement. The sale price for both locomotives, which graciously included a supply of spare parts, was not disclosed.

M&NJ No. 2 will join the display of Operation Toy Train of New York’s rail equipment at the new Port Jervis Transportation History Center in Port Jervis, New York, while the HMRR No. 700 will be added to the Tri-State Railway Historical Society’s railroad collection at the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey’s restoration and storage facility in Boonton, New Jersey. Both engines are slated for full mechanical and cosmetic restorations once they have been trucked to their respective new homes.

“The Middletown & New Jersey Railroad operated from Middletown, NY to the New Jersey state line, with the whole 15-mile line running less than 20 miles away from Port Jervis,” said Rudy Garbely, a director of Operation Toy Train. “When No. 2 became available, it made perfect sense to preserve it at the Port Jervis Transportation History Center as a prime example of equipment from a local railroad.”

No. 2 is at the Middletown, NY engine house on December 23, 1986. (Peter Brill collection)

“We are returning No. 700 home to New Jersey after an absence of forty-five years, said Richie King, treasurer of the Tri-State Railway Historical Society. “This locomotive is the last piece of equipment from a railroad with deep ties to Hoboken, the Stevens family, Stevens Institute, and New Jersey’s industrial heritage – it had to be saved, without question.” King will become Tri-State’s president on January 1st.

The two organizations have launched a joint campaign, called Operation 88, to fundraise $15,000 to complete the project. These funds will be used to cover the remaining transportation costs, mechanical upgrades, and repainting the locomotives into their historic liveries. Funding for the acquisition and initial transportation costs was secured from Liberty Historic Railway, Inc., a New Jersey-based non-profit that has funded numerous preservation efforts in years past, as well as contributions from private donors. To learn more about the project and to donate to the restorations of both locomotives, visit www.Operation88.org.