The
Night of Penobscot This was one of my favorite fan trips of all
time. It was to be 'STEAM in the SNOW' Washington's Birthday 1968.
There was no snow, but plenty of COLD. The train pulled from
Penn Station Newark behind diesels. Engine #127 met us at Cranford and #90 at
Jim Thorpe. The trip went down hill from there. After a very late start, we
proceeded toward Wilkes Barre, PA, our destination. One delay after another put
us at Ashley, PA, a few miles short of Wilkes Barre later than we should have
been passing Ashley on the way back. This was about 5:00PM.
Our trip hosts decided to turn the train here (there was a wye)
instead of trying for Wilkes Barre. The engines were turned, but the diesel
switcher shunting the observation car derailed on the ONLY switch leading to
the train. After 8:00PM, the engine was rerailed and we proceeded back to
Newark.
At about 9:30PM, the train came to a stop again. The PA system
announced that the tender of #90 had derailed. The good news was that we had
plenty of steam to heat the train for a few hours. Rescue engines were on the
way. By 11:00PM, the rescuers had arrived and pulled us back to Penobscot, PA,
where buses met us for the trip to Newark. What an indignity, steam fans
leaving Newark behind diesels and returning by bus!
We got to Penn Station Newark in time for the Monday morning
rush hour trip into Manhattan and home (in Brooklyn). |
