Copy of the latest press release: ----- Original Message ----- From: ohcr6325 To: ohiocentral6325@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 7:05 PM Subject: [ohiocentral6325] TrainFestival 2004 Adds More Steam and Attractions Train Festival 2004 Announces two more attractions to "America's Largest Celebration of Railroading in 2004" Go to www.TrainFestival2004.com for more info. PRESS RELEASE – APRIL 22, 2004 Steam Locomotive to attend TrainFestival 2004 to Provide Free Train Rides Number 75 to attend Dennison for TrainFestival 2004 and will be operating to give visitors free rides during the event. This unique steam locomotive will be a great attraction to the growing number of trains scheduled to appear at TrainFestival 2004 in July. Number 75 was built by the Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1929 for the Flagg Coal Company of Avoca, Pennsylvania and was placed into service on December 1930. It was used as a switch engine at one of the mines operated by Flagg Coal Company to move eight to ten four-wheeled cars from stone quarries to a processing plant. Owners John and Barney Gramling discovered the locomotive in October 1992 with the goal of restoring a steam locomotive. They wanted an engine that would be small enough to truck to their family farm in Indiana and operated on special occasions. Four trips were made to New York to bring No. 75 to Indiana. The first two trips were in a pick-up truck and trailer carrying tools to remove pieces of the engine, and collect extra parts. The semi tractor-trailer made two trips for the boiler with saddle tank, frame and wheels. Work progressed steadily, when the locomotive was successfully test fired in August 1996. Plan now on taking a ride behind this restored steam locomotive during TrainFestival 2004! PRESS RELEASE – APRIL 22, 2004 Buckingham Lining Bar Gang to Attend America's Largest Railroad Celebration An interactive performance by the Buckingham Lining Bar Gang includes storytelling and lectures, as well as track lining demonstrations and singing for everyone. The Buckingham Lining Bar Gang recreates the way long steel rails were aligned before the use of heavy machinery was employed. The Buckingham Lining Bar Gang will do at least three shows per day at TrainFestival 2004. The Buckingham Lining Bar Gang - made up of African-American railroad track maintenance crew veterans - has been recreating traditional work songs for audiences throughout the United States for more than 14 years. Since its inception in 1990, the Buckingham Lining Bar Gang has provided demonstrations of historic tradition with labor intense skills and has caught the attention of railroad history buffs and the general public. Representing important aspects of the black American work experience and the enduring legacy of African-American heritage, this group offers a unique perspective on American history and culture. The African-American work song is an expressive and functional tradition that has perpetuated West African cultural practices, persisted well into the 20th century. Until modern railroad equipment replaced manual labor, the work song might be heard anywhere blacks worked together on a common task: felling trees, building roads, hauling a heavy fishnet, or laying down railroad track. Prior to the mid-1950's, crews of sixteen men aligned tracks by using heavy steel "lining-bars" and sheer strength and song was crucial in coordinating the combined team efforts of the crew. Plan now on attending one of their demonstrations during your visit to TrainFestival 2004! Go to www.TrainFestival2004.com for more info.
Greg, this is good news for Trainfest. Flagg Coal Co. 75 belongs to the MSTRP/SRI group, who operate Pere Marquette 1225. If 75 is going to be there, maybe 1225 is too. If any of you have not seen the Buckingham Bar Lining Gang, you have missed something from railroad history. I have seen these guys at Steamtown's grand opening and at Railfair 99 in Sacramento. They are great.
