Re: (erielack) AFT 1

[Erieberk_@_wmconnect.com]

Todd,  Just wanted to say thanks for the memories, and to add a few notes 
here.  Its a pleasure to reminisce of the times when the ATF #1 (RDG #2101) ran 
on the EL and the display of the American Freedom Train at the Mennon Arena 
site in Morristown on the exDLW/Morris & Essex.  Actually, you may recall, the 
train ran on the EL in August 1976 (not 1975).  It ran up the exNYC (PC) West 
Shore in April 1975, in its earlier paint scheme on its first run from Delaware 
up to Selkirk enroute to the New England states for displaying before it went 
west.

After the train's tour around the country, being hauled thoughout the West by 
SP #4449 and through Texas by T&P #610, it again came east with the #2101 (in 
new paint).  It made a stop at Scranton on the EL before coming east to 
Morristown.  The day it left Scranton, it first made a brief (about 1 1/2 hours) 
stop at East Stroudsburg late in the afternoon, somewhere around 5:30PM.  By the 
time it was on the move again, there was all too little light on the 
Paulinskill Viaduct to get a photo although it did stop briefly at Port Morris where 
it afforded some night shots to be taken.  

After dropping its train of American Bicentennial memorabilia for viewing at 
the Mennon Arena site, it proceeded to the Morristown and Erie where it was 
serviced, had its boiler washed out and a plaque was presented to Ross Rowland 
by the Mayor of Morristown; it stayed there for the duration of the display.

When it left Ben Freedland's property, it went back west to Port Morris in 
the early morning and was turned on the "Wye" tracks to come east, through 
Croxton to KW and shortly afterwards it went back up the West Shore again to 
Selkirk, with its service cars, while the train was pulled though the Hudson River 
tunnel for display on Long Island, although this time not without incident.  
When it reached Kingston in the late afternoon, it developed rod bearing 
problems.  That was repaired by early the next morning, when it continued its trip.  
From Selkirk, it went east to pull the train to Danbury and then came west 
again (again, with only service cars in tow) in September of 1976 over the exNYNH&
H Beacon Branch and up the Hudson Division in the late afternoon back to 
Selkirk (reason being: as we know, it was not allowed through the tunnel).  That 
was its itinerary in this area.  Ray Wetzel   

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