Volume 64 – Issue 8 1 August 2024
From the Brass Hat
Thanks to everyone who came out to the Museum and participated in running our trains, attended the Rules & Safety training and all the other myriad things we have going on each week. Special thanks to our paint crew. The excursion cars really look nice in their fresh yellow paint!
The acquisition of the NS bay window caboose from Kings Mountain is still up in the air. Several organizations submitted similar bids, so the town council had representatives from each come in and give a pitch for why they wanted it. They are still in their deliberation regarding the two cabooses (we only asked for one).
Halloween is fast approaching! Our member, Gina Casselberry, is already working on the daily schedule for the 3-1/2 weeks prior to the first Halloween trains. We will have four Wednesdays during which a huge part of the job will be accomplished, but we will need a few volunteer folks each of the other days, if possible, to lend a hand with the details like placing all the characters on their respective mountings and helping set up the Witches’ Path and the other more detailed vignettes along the right of way. Gina’s Halloween Calendar (V1) is at the end of this newsletter. There are some implied tasks as well, such as having all the equipment confirmed operational to accomplish this mission.
For those voting members, expect to see a ballot next month for the Board of Directors election as well as a very small change to the NCRM Bylaws. Exact details of both will be included on the ballot which will be an attachment to the newsletter, mailed to those without email access and available at the railyard on the day ballots are to be counted (which is also the same day as Rules and Safety training).
I need some stories from the old (or more recent) days! If you know of some old stories that have not yet appeared in these pages, please let me know. I don’t need a fully written story, but some basic facts that I can work with you to turn into a story for our readers.
As Always, Thank you for all you do for our Museum!
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Tilley
President, NCRM
Get to Know a Member
by Tom Hutchinson
Name: Jeff Portzer
How long have you been a member?
Since April 2015.
Where are you originally from?
Buffalo, NY. (actually Amherst, NY, to be precise)
What was your job in real life?
Chemical engineer for about 20 years with Union Carbide and its successor companies, then Research Triangle Institute for another 20 years.
Where do you live now?
Apex, NC
Any family…Kids, grandkids?
Two adult children. My son lives in Sydney, Australia, and my daughter lives in Arlington, Virginia, with two grandchildren.
How did you become interested in trains?
How could I not be interested in trains? Isn’t everybody? Especially boys?
When I was 7 my father took a transfer to Indianapolis and the neighborhood we lived in was very close to the Monon line to Chicago. Besides putting nickels on the track to see if they would get smooshed, I remember taking a day trip on that line when I was about 9 or 10. We could walk to the little suburban station and we got dinner in the dining car on the way home. Today there’s a rail trail on that Right Of Way.
I had a truly formative railroad experience (don’t you just love that formal interviewer/interviewee language?) when I was 11, after the family had moved back to Buffalo. My grandparents took me with them on a 3-week long trip on sleeper trains from Niagara Falls, Canada, to Toronto, across Canada on the Canadian National Railroad to Jasper National Park then on to Vancouver and then on a cruise in Alaska’s Inside Passage. It was 1959 – the year that Alaska became a state. Then we took a ferry to Seattle and more trains to San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, the CB&Q California Zephyr to Chicago and then back to Niagara Falls. I’ve loved train travel ever since.
Youth Rail Crew Member Attends NRHS RailCamp
by Patrick Cook and Brandt Wilkus (Squiggie)
Our Youth Rail Crew member, Patrick Cook, attended the National Railway Historical Society’s (NRHS) RailCamp program in late June. He is grateful to the North Carolina Railway Museum for sponsoring his scholarship to attend RailCamp East, and thanks all the members who helped him achieve this unique learning experience. The following is a recap of an interview with Patrick about his recent experience at RailCamp.
What were your first impressions at RailCamp? Once I found the right entrance door to the dorm the first day, there was excitement mixed with anticipation as attendees were welcomed and directed where to go. Everyone waited in the meeting room for the other attendees to arrive and get their rooms set up before going to the cafeteria for dinner then back to the dorm building for a 
presentation by the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
How did your experience help you grow as a young adult and as a member of NHVRY/NCRM? The experience was a good test of my communication skills as it challenged me in different scenarios with different people from all over the country. The unifying force between everyone was our combined enjoyment of all things railroading. The program’s intensity helped me quickly learn railroading skills such as how to safely couple and uncouple cars, use simple hand signals, and replace railroad ties. I also gained some insight into the new experiences I will be challenged with in my first year of college next year.
What skills or knowledge did you gain at RailCamp that could be applied to your involvement with New Hope Valley Railway/North Carolina Railway Museum?
I think I gained the most knowledge within the physical part of railroading. Prior to RailCamp, I was already well versed in railroading academic/historical information as I enjoy studying historical data. Physical work skills, on the other hand, are not something that can simply be learned by reading articles and books. I feel more capable now to carry out additional MOW work on the RoW if the youth program plans something in that department.
Tell us about how RailCamp met your expectations: I did not have any large expectations for RailCamp
activities as I only knew of the locations we were going to and not the specifics of the activities. Before camp, I was provided accounts from previous RailCamp attendees, but I purposely did not read those accounts as I wanted to keep an open mind about the event. In terms of instruction, the camp programs matched what I’d expect from a summer instructional camp. The food (for me, personally) could use some improvement but I admit I have high standards in that realm and food allergies limit what I can eat. The instructors and other attendees were all quite nice people once we warmed up to each other.
What advice do you have for future applicants/attendees for RailCamp? Don’t follow the list the camp provides about clothes to pack; I over-packed the wrong items. The list called for only 2 pair of jeans/pants but long pants were required to be worn every day. Tips for future campers: plan your clothes the night before so you can sleep in a bit longer; talk frequently with the other people there and generally be welcoming and 
friendly.
Anything you wish to add about your time at camp? It may be helpful if NRHS further clarifies the application method, for example, how applicants should submit their application, and provide more details about when information is sent out. More communication from camp staff would be helpful for applicants with dietary issues. For example, I was not aware of a kiosk where we could custom order food until the final meal in the cafeteria. Also, applicants don’t have to be at the building until around 5pm the first day. Generally speaking, if you treat this camp like any other summer camp, you’ll do alright and have fun while learning new things every day.
What did you enjoy the most during your time at RailCamp? The physical work part — actually moving around a working railroad — doing hands on railroad activities instead of listening to all day lectures. The information given was always pertinent to the activities which balanced listening to information that is specific to a location (i.e., info about Penn Station, Amtrak shop operations, NEC info, etc.)
After attending RailCamp East, would you recommend the program to other Youth Crew members? Oh 100%, it’s a very good way to quickly learn a lot about everything railroad and a great way to make friends your age from across the country and who also enjoy railroading. Many of us have been keeping in touch through online platforms after camp. I feel I gained the most in the final two days of camp but that’s only due to me coming in knowing a good bit of railroad information already. You learn a lot about yourself and railroading during RailCamp so I highly recommend it!
[We are lucky to have TWO RailCamp graduates among our members. Brandt attended a few years ago. -ed]
NCRM Seeking Nominees to Run for Board of Directors – by Kyle Obermiller
LAST CALL! Calling all members! We are seeking candidates for our annual October Board of Directors election. There are three spots up for election this year and we are seeking qualified candidates to add to the ballot. Board of Director terms are for three years and would begin this November. Per NCRM updated bylaws, any “voting member” at least 21 years of age who has been a “voting member” for no less than two years is eligible to serve on the Board of Directors. If you are interested in joining the ballot, please send a short 3-4 sentence write-up of your volunteer story here in Bonsal. Thank you all for your continued support of NCRM.
If you do not receive the operating crew calls, please contact the crew caller at if you are interested in participating in train operations! We need all the help we can get to keep the trains running safely.
Proposed NCRM Bylaws Change
by Tom Hutchinson
Article 6(C)(d)(ii) of our Bylaws adopted on January 20,2024 established a Finance Committee consisting of the Treasurer and at least two other members. The Finance Committee assists the Treasurer in performing his/her duties and provides general oversight of the methods used for keeping the accounts of the NCRM. The Bylaws stated that the Treasurer would chair the Committee.
Now that the Committee has been operational for several months, the Treasurer and the other Committee members believe that for proper internal control, the Chair of the Committee should not be the Treasurer but instead should be another Finance Committee member. Therefore, at its July 18, 2024 meeting, the Board approved a proposal to submit a revised Article 6(C)(d)(ii) to the NCRM voting membership for approval, as worded below:
The Treasurer shall be assisted by a permanent committee of the NCRM, to be named the Finance Committee. This committee shall consist of the Treasurer and at least two (2) other Voting Members. The Chair of the committee shall be a committee member other than the Treasurer, selected by the committee. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for assisting the Treasurer in performing his/her duties and providing general oversight of the methods used for keeping the accounts of the NCRM.
The Board recommends NCRM membership approval. This revision will be submitted to the members along with the October ballot for election of NCRM Directors.
Welcome, New Members!
We are pleased to welcome the following new members this month Daniel Irwin, Susan Vanness and her son Eric, Timothy Giambra and Aeriel Yeager. Welcome to you all. Please attend the New Member Orientation and Rules Training coming up soon. I know you will have fun working with us! Please grab on to a veteran member and make them show you what they do. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or one of the Board Members.
[Editor’s note: If you have photos or other info about long-ago (or recent) events at the NCRM, please contact your editor. You can submit your own “Back in the Old Days…” or other article with pictures about anything (within reason) from our past for the Telegrapher. If you can rough out the ideas, we can work with you to craft an article to benefit the entire membership. – CT]
New Member Orientation
by Victor Varney
The next new member orientation session will be offered on Saturday, September 14 from 10 am to noon. It will be held under the covered area behind the yard office, and include a tour of the property along with some of our ongoing projects. The new member orientation session is intended to share information about our history, bylaws, policies, how to get information, who’s who, and most importantly how to get involved as a volunteer (and have fun). This session is open to those who have been members for up to 2 years. This is not a substitute for the rules and safety training sessions necessary to get involved with train operations, but we will explain how to attend those sessions, too. [See related story below. -ed] This will be the second of two orientation sessions offered in 2024. The next one will be scheduled for TBD in early 2025. If you are interested in attending on September 14, please RSVP to Victor Varney or Dennis Winchell by Wednesday September 11.
NC State Fair is Approaching – Volunteers Needed
by Tom Hutchinson
The 2024 North Carolina State Fair will be held from October 17-27, 2024 (Yes…this is a bit later than usual). For many years, the New Hope Valley Railway has operated a garden railway in the Horticulture section of the fair. Given the timing of the Fair, this is a prime opportunity to advertise our Christmas rides (and last two Halloween rides, assuming we still have open seats) which generate a substantial portion of our annual revenue.
Volunteers are needed to staff the garden railway again this year. We operate from 9:30 am until 8:30 pm every full day of the fair with two shifts…each 5-6 hours long. You don’t have to have experience with garden railroading to volunteer. Newbies will always be paired with an experienced garden railroad operator, and we also have published helpful hints for volunteers. The primary duty of our volunteers is to interact with the thousands of people who stop by our exhibit…answering questions about our museum and letting them know about the fun they can have on our rides. Pre-printed rack cards are available for volunteers to hand out to visitors. With two volunteers for each shift, there are times for bathroom and food breaks.
In addition to the fun of interacting with our visitors, you get free admission to the Fair and are welcome to roam the fairgrounds before or after your volunteer shift. You will also get a pass on your volunteer day for free parking, a valuable perk. We use a computerized sign-up sheet so that you can see which shifts are available and choose times which fit your schedule (also recognizing that we have Halloween rides during both Saturdays of the Fair).
If you did not volunteer last year and are interested in volunteering this year, or if you have any questions, please contact Tom Hutchinson at by mid-August, and you will be added to our email communications regarding our Fair display. If you volunteered last year, Tom will contact you in early August.
Rules and Safety Training 5 October at 9:00 a.m.
by Kevin Edwards
The next Rules and Safety Annual Training session will be conducted on 5 October 2024 at the NCRM Gazebo, located behind the Dispatcher’s Office. Bear in mind that each member of the Operating Crew (Car/Train/Head Brakemen, Conductors, Engineers, Signalmen, Dispatchers, Switch Tenders) are required to attend at least one session every 365 days in order to maintain Federal Railroad Administration mandated crew currency requirements. For newer members, this is your first step toward advancement in the crew qualifications. Training will consist of “classroom” discussions of the rulebook, timetable, policies, how to interact with passengers and general railroad information followed by a “hands-on” portion covering brake systems, coupling the train, connecting the air brake lines, how to skate and other yard activities. Come prepared to run a train! Lunch, Boots, long pants that can get dirty, rulebooks, timetables, training record books, radios (if you own one), gloves, water, etc. Rules tests, required every two years, will be given during lunch or after the hands-on session.
The 5 October session, prior to the Halloween/Santa Trains will be your last opportunity for 2024. Those who fail to meet the training requirement can still serve as Car Hosts or other non-crew-related jobs.
Looking Ahead
by Gina Casselberry
Below is version 1 of the proposed Halloween Setup Calendar in preparation for the 2024 Halloween Trains on the NHV. We have four Wednesdays, but you can see projects for the rest of the days. If you are available and willing to help, please contact me! Thank you for your help!
