The iPad as a Revolutionary Tool

I have to admit, my first week with the iPad has proven it to be more useful than I anticipated. It dawned on me over the weekend that it has tremendous potential to revolutionize railfanning. Here are 5 reasons I expect to see them in camera bags very soon.

1. It can be used as a portable drive.

For digital shooters, especially those of us shooting RAW in the 10, 20 or 25+ megapixel range we have a choice of bringing along a dozen memory cards or a drive to which we can dump pictures and reuse the card.

With an adapter (which I just purchased but have not used yet) a camera or card can be hooked to the iPad via USB and files can be dumped. When you get home from your trip, plug the iPad into your computer and transfer the files to your permanent storage system.

And, of course, you can review pictures on the iPad.

I will review the adaptor and also see how it works with simple video cameras like the Flip.

2. Mapping

Yes, the iPhone can map, too, but the screen size of the iPad makes it perfect for using online maps. If you use a personal mapping service you can also drop markers of where you took your shots, creating an archive of photospots you can keep to yourself or share with others.

3. Notetaking

Again, you can take notes on your iPhone, but the iPad’s large screen and keyboard make it very simple to write down train numbers, consists and the like. You don’t need to write down dates and camera settings anymore, as that is in the EXIF data of your images.

4. Portable Slide Shows

The $9.99 Keynote app lets you run presentation software on the iPad. You can create very simple arrangements of photos on the iPad and show them to friends. With the projector adaptor, you can plug the iPad in and show your images through standard digital projection systems.

5. Field Research

If you have the 3G connectivity, you can research photospots, check rosters and even live update your own blogs from the field. Again, smart phones can do similar things, but the screen size and battery life of the iPad brings all of the possibilities into focus.

Bonus – Battery life

All these things are great, but if the batteries run out as fast as the iPhone, it is useless unless tethered to the lighter jack in your vehicle. Fortunately, the iPad’s battery gives you up to 10 hours of usage. Keeping it charging in the car will give it the boost, but a battery should give you a day’s service.

If you are traveling to Scranton, PA for the Nation Railway Historical Society convention in June, 2010 you might enjoy this list of 10 Things A Railfan Might Want to Know While in Scranton written by an unabashed fan of the area and it’s industrial history.

1. Introduce Yourself to Scranton’s Railroad History

Located the crossroads of mainline railroads and a patchwork of coal branches, tracking what railroad went where and when can be a challenge. Understanding the ever changing iron and coal industries that made the railroads possible can be even more difficult. Dave Crosby’s “Scranton Railroads” ($14.95 at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Scranton-Railroads-Images-David-Crosby/dp/0738565180) serves as a primer to the historic highlights of the city’s rail lines while “Urban Capitalists” (Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Capitalists-Entrepreneurs-Pennsylvanias-Lackawanna/dp/0940866943) dives deep into massive wealth generated from the mines, factories and railroads of the Lackawanna Valley.

2. Craft Beers

If you like to end a day of railfanning with some cold ones, you will find a tremendous selection of American craft beers and international champs at the Backyard Ale House http://www.backyardalehouse.com/ on Linden Street. They do not serve food, but you can bring your own in or even order a pizza to be delivered at the bar. The beer choices are exquisite. Don’t miss the flavors from local craft brewer Breaker Brewing Company. http://www.breakerbrewingcompany.com/ whose ales are only available at local wateringholes.

3. Visit the Radisson

Located in the former Lackawanna Railroad headquarters, the Radisson Hotel is an architectural gem. Allow 15 minutes just for the lobby, where intricate tile artworks depict scenes from around the DL&W. If you are staying there, I suggest the Sunday Brunch but for other meals it can vary. You will find a wider variety of eats and drinks directly across the street at Kildare’s. And one more thing, the hotel uses Sleep Number beds. Dial yourself in carefully.

4. The Banshee

A great Irish pub and restaurant on Penn Ave, The Banshee is my must-visit place in Scranton. I was introduced to it by one the L&WV NRHS members, and I have been back many times with and without my family in tow. Some nights feature Irish music as well. Enjoy! http://www.banshee-pub.com/

5. Walk Around Downtown

Although demolition has vied with restoration as Scranton seeks to reinvent itself, there are some incredible century-old buildings in downtown. A great view of the ornate skyline can be had from the top of the Hilton parking deck.

6. Do the 3 Rail

If Lionel is part of your railroad hobby, don’t miss the beautiful new Grzyboski’s store south of the ballpark in Moosic. It is a gorgeous store with many items worthy of a swipe of the credit card. http://www.grzyboskitrains.com/

7. Early Closings

Stores in the area, especially in the city, tend to close early and may or may not open at all on weekends. Plan carefully.

8. Take the Trolley to the Baseball Stadium

The experience of taking a vintage trolley on a 5 mile ride directly to the gates of a baseball stadium is a throwback to life before the automobile. You can have this unique experience in Scranton, and catch the AAA Yankees team. Take it. The ride may be the best tourist trolley route in the world, with a mile-long tunnel and deep woods running.

9. Savor Steamtown

It is easy to get distracted by a Mikado on the turntable or the great railroad book shop, but Steamtown is as much about the details as it is about the big picture. Rushing through the displays or missing the shop tours will cheat you of a truly unique experience. And don’t miss the locomotives and rolling stock of independent historical societies and NRHS chapters that now call Steamtown home. Take-your-time.

10. Go See the Huber Colliery in Ashley

About 20 minutes south of Scranton, right off Route 309 is the village of Ashley. At sat at the bottom of the inclined planes that the Central Railroad of New Jersey used to lift loaded coal hoppers out of the valley. Today it is home of a giant rusting collection of buildings that represent the last intact large anthracite coal colliery in Pennsylvania. Those of you taking the Reading & Northern trip may catch a glimpse of the breaker as the train climbs up to Penobscot. The colliery is private property and off limits, but all the good stuff can be seen from the road. It is worth the visit. You may never have a chance to see one again, as the Huber’s fate is not firm and the only other large colliery left (Reading Anthracite’s old St. Nicholas) is rumored to be headed for scrap this year. http://www.undergroundminers.com/huber.html

Enjoy your visit. Scranton is a special place!

Rob

Update: Friends on RYPN jogged my memory of things worthy of adding to the list.

11. The Big Bridges

Northeastern Pennsylvania is home to four of the greatest railroad bridges in the world: Starrucca Viaduct,, the Nicholson Bridge (which is sometimes called the Tunkhannock Viaduct, but is in Nicholson not Tunkhannock – that’s the creek it crosses), the currently abandoned Lackawanna Cut-off viaduct over the Delaware and the often overlook Martin’s Creek Viaduct also known as the Kingsley Bridge. And if you are headed back via western NJ, toss in the magnificent DL&W Paulin’s Kill Viaduct.

12. Coney Island Lunch, a Scranton legend

Coney Island Texas Wieners

On Saturday @ 2pm I will be presenting a session on milk trains and PRR milk ops
at the Railroad Museum of PA in Strasburg as part of the Pennsy days weekend.

The focus will be on prototype ops, but I discuss modeling and would be happy to stay after to discuss both O and HO milk train modeling on all railroads, not just the PRR.

It is not going to be the end-all be-all research project. Instead, I am looking
at it as a kick-off to further the great work folks like John Greene have
already done and to raise interest in awareness of the PRR as a milk road — and
not just on the eastern portion of the system.

The PRR is RARELY considered among the milk railroads or the anthracite railroads (my two passions) but it played a significant role in both. Unlike other major milk players, the PRR never had “milk cars” of their own per se, though they did build express reefers designed for milk service among other things. And unlike the roads we think of as “milk roads” the PRR was not focused on one city (the other big milk players focused mostly on New York or Boston). The PRR had milk service throughout the system to big cities and medium sized burgs – and they weren’t always the short or medium haul we think of. For instance, one regular car route to Brooklyn started 500 miles away in western New York state.

Most of the PRR material I have uncovered deals with the the can service era (pre-tank cars) and that will be the focus of the material presented, though we will will discuss tank-era trains as well.

Among the topics begging more research are milk trains on the New York & Long Branch, operations around St. Louis and those within the Chicago milkshed.

I hope that the Yahoo MilkTrains group will become the focal point of the discussion going forward and that it
will encourage similar ideas around less-studied topics (like Chicago area milk ops).

If you are around Strasburg, stop by and say Hi!

Rob

A classic side-rod General Electric 45 ton diesel locomotive #7258 hauls two restored Reading Railroad cabooses through scenic Berks County, PA on a private excursion April 24, 2010 for The Legend. The video shows the train on-board and trackside as it rolls south from Wanamaker to Kempton on the WK&S mainline – the former Reading Company Schuylkill & Lehigh Branch. The scenery along Ontelaunee Creek is bright with the first growth of Spring as the train rolls past farms and forests. Regular rides are offered throughout the year. It is a very child-friendly attraction. Nearby is the world-famous Hawk Mountain wildlife center and bird-watching area. Details may be found at: http://www.kemptontrain.com/

Shot on a Flip camera.

Ed Miller has passed away at age 90.

I first met Ed 22 years ago when I was volunteering at Steamtown. He was quite a legend to me, a budding Laurel Line fan. The two Ed’s, Blossom and Miller, active at the park at that time were quite a treat to listen to, and one could learn quite a bit from them.

Among the many things that made Ed unique was that his railroad, interurban and streetcar photography of the middle 20th century embraced the landscape. He wasn’t just a roster shooter. And while his work is known to anthracite railroad fans and trolley buffs, it has yet to be recognized on the national stage to the extent it deserves. He did more than be at the right place at the right time, he had the eye of an artist.

I am glad to have crossed paths with Ed. Rest in peace.

Rob

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Time_is_short_for_historical_breaker_03-24-2010.html

Time is short for historical breaker
Lack of action on Huber Breaker frustrates buffs.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter

ASHLEY – The fate of the Huber Breaker in Ashley remains up in the air, to the frustration of coal mining history buffs who’d like to see it preserved.

Visible from Interstate 81, the hulking structure is the largest standing coal breaker left in Pennsylvania, said Ray Clarke, board chairman of the Huber Breaker Preservation Society.

Luzerne County Commissioners pulled out of plans to turn the site into a mining museum in January 2009, saying the county could not afford the $7 million purchase price demanded by property owner, No. 1 Contracting Corp.

No. 1 Contracting filed for bankruptcy earlier this month.

Local historian John Dziak said he and others worry the breaker will be dismantled for scrap as part of the bankruptcy.

A meeting of creditors in that bankruptcy case is scheduled for April 23 at the federal courthouse in Scranton.

“Everybody’s waiting for somebody else to do something. There’s no coordinated effort to find out what could be done and the costs,” said Dziak, president of the Greater Pittston Historical Society.

Dziak said he would be willing to volunteer his time to help with the breaker preservation but said he can’t spearhead the cause because of several ongoing projects in the Greater Pittston Historical Society.

The museum portion of the project could be scaled back to cost much less than $9 million, he said. The site would attract tourists, he said.

“This could be our signature project for Luzerne County,” he said.

Clarke said he has long hoped to save the breaker but doesn’t want to develop plans unless an organization or government entity acquires the property, and he doesn’t know if or when that will happen because of the purchase price.

Even if No. 1 Contracting President Al Roman were willing to donate the breaker, the cost of liability insurance could deter takers, Clarke said.

“It’s kind of foolish to invest time and money when we don’t own the property, and Al Roman isn’t about to relinquish the property at the present time,” Clarke said.

Instead, the preservation society is focusing on developing its 3.1-acre plot near the breaker into a park that will be worthwhile with or without the breaker, he said.

“It’s something tangible that we have, and we feel it makes more sense trying to develop that,” Clarke said.

The society is collecting donations and seeking grants to put a miner’s memorial, informational kiosks and walking and picnic areas in the park, Clarke said.

The society’s land also includes the concrete foundation of the Huber colliery’s powder house, where miners obtained dynamite for blasting.

Plans to build a replica of the powder house on that foundation and possibly a company house, museum and gift shop are also under discussion, said Clarke, who has been working on the Huber project for 19 years.

Park visitors will still have a front-row view of the breaker, he said.

“If the breaker isn’t there, we will express details of what was there,” he said.

Roman could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Time_is_short_for_historical_breaker_03-24-2010.html

The sad news spread through the anthracite railroad and industrial history world this week that longtime publisher and book dealer Paul A. Kuehner, of Rails ‘n’ Shafts, passed away.

I only knew Paul in terms of a retailer/customer relationship, but I always enjoyed chatting with him. Often, our club would visit his mail order shop on one of the few days each year it was open.

While I enjoyed the good prices and service offered, the real treat were the books Paul published under the Garrigues House imprint. These gems of the anthracite region are treasured volumes in my library.

I last talked to Paul at the Spring Thaw meet in Allentown a few weeks ago. It was nice to see him. I never thought it would be the last time.

Canal buffs, mining fans and railfans have lost a friend.

Thank you, Paul, rest in peace.

An incredible resource for Pennsylvania anthracite coal research has just launched on http://www.northernfield.info/. The site now features a database of all the mining operations in the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valley regions by operation name and company name. Data is from Pennsylvania Mine Inspection Reports 1872 through 1945.

If you are researching anthracite history, or are just curious about things like “how much coal did the Slocum Hollow colliery produce?”, then this site will be a must-read.

Rob