Location(s)

Bellefonte Historical Railroad

  We need your support to help restore the Bellefonte Historical Railroad.

Our Project:
The Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society is in immediate need of funds in order to upgrade our cars to present safety standards. At the minimum, 4 emergency windows are needed for each car. This rather new federal regulation is a result of an accident on a passenger train where passengers were trapped in a car that caught fire and could not escape. Until we can add these safety features to our own cars, we will not be able to run the trains. Our target date for safety compliance is Spring 2007.

Who we are:
The Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation dedicated to promoting, preserving, and fostering a public appreciation of the railroading heritage of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania and beyond. Our Society provides the funding and volunteer crews for the Bellefonte Historical Railroads excursion and ride-to-dine trains. There are no paid employees or administrators.

The railcars:
The two cars, 9167 and 9153, that we operate were built in 1953 and 1962 for the New Haven and Reading railroads, respectively. Both cars are Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs) built by the Edwin G. Budd Company of Philadelphia, and are both of stainless steel construction. With the exception of window replacement the cars are in excellent mechanical condition.

Why we need your help:
Before the cars can return to excursion service all 40 windows need to be replaced to meet Federal regulations. The BHRS is vital to the tourism industry of Bellefonte and has brought several thousand people annually to the community of Bellefonte and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The historic rail excursions are in jeopardy if the funds for restoration cannot be raised.

History

Written by Vince P. Smith

The Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society (BHRS) was chartered in 1984 with the intent of offering excursion service on the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad (NBER). At that time, the NBER was a newly-formed short line. At about the same time, the BHRS acquired its first major piece of rolling stock in the form of RDC1 #9167. This car was retired by SEPTA after a long career that began on the New Haven in 1953 as their #40.

In 1992, the BHRS acquired their second RDC, MBTA's #9153. This car was built in 1962 for the Reading Railroad. The balance of the BHRS fleet is made up of two track cars, a snowplow, and a caboose. The caboose and snowplow are former Bellefonte Central pieces that reside as static displays adjacent to the Bellefonte station. One of the two track cars is a large, ex-Bellefonte Central car currently in maintenance-of-way service. The other is a former PRR Fairmont M-9 that is used for special occasions.

Over the years, the NBER grew to a system comprising approximately 70 miles with lines stretching from Tyrone to Lock Haven and from Milesburg to Dale Summit (State College) and Pleasant Gap via Bellefonte. The BHRS currently has operating rights on the entire NBER.

The only track owned by the BHRS is a 1/2 mile leading into the village of Lemont outside of State College.

Major changes came to the NBER and the BHRS in 1996. Conrail began operating coal trains on track rights via the NBER mainline between Tyrone and Lock Haven. This brought a track upgrade, increased traffic, and Conrail dispatching.

Since Norfolk Southern's arrival in the Bald Eagle Valley, run-through traffic has increased again due to additional coal trains and merchandise freights operating between Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Another track upgrade, started in the fall of 1999, has brought welded rail to the NBER main.

The BHRS is thought to be the only volunteer operation in the country that runs in conjunction with a Class I railroad. Although we are proud of this status, heavy freight traffic has hampered our ability to operate scheduled excursion service between Tyrone and Lock Haven.

The main operating season for the BHRS typically runs from May to September.

All contributions are welcome

Make checks payable to:

      Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society

The Train Station, 320 West High Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823.

Please visit our site for more pictures and news about our restoration project

http://www.bellefontetrain.com/