HOJACK is the definitive story of the historic and surviving contemporary lines of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad and – after its 1891 acquisition by the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad – the RW&O Division. The word Hojack is a term of endearment that has always meant the RW&O railroad past, and even present lines.

At its height, the RW&O Division was comprised of just over 700 miles of trackage, which spanned the length and breadth of upstate New York. The RW&O railroad and division extended from the Adirondacks to the Niagara Escarpment, and from the Mohawk River Valley to the St. Lawrence River and on into Canada via Massena.

To satisfactorily present all of this, HOJACK is composed of 12 chapters, totaling 768 pages, upon which are displayed 1,392 images (266 color) – maps, black and white photographs, color photographs, drawings, and ephemera. Because of this, Authors Peter Gores and John Taibi, along with the assistance of David Link and Richard Palmer can authoritatively proclaim that HOJACK is a complete work regarding its presentation of historic fact and current presence supported by the above imagery.

This is a fascinating book about an extremely interesting part of the NYCS.  The authors have produced over 55 books dealing with railroading’s history, mostly within New York State. We know what makes a book interesting and informative. HOJACK does this as well.

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Banquet Guest Speaker

John Taibi

Co-author of the current NYCSHS book

Hojack – Remembering The RW&O

Railroad and Division

Mr. Taibi is a well respected railroad historian, author and enthusiast. People have said of his talks, “It’s a joy to listen to a man who’s so passionate about his work and so good at it and a master of Power-Point presentations.” He is a retired postal worker from Long Island, who developed a love affair with the old Ontario and Western railroad so much that he purchased and refurbished the old O&W station in Munnsville,NY and now resides there with his wife, Barbara.  He has authored 120 articles and over ten books on the history of railroads in central New York State, with a predominance of his work focused on the New York, Ontario and Western Railway. His most recent books published by the NYCSHS include Silver Rails – Through the Heart of the Park and the Hojack book. Mr. Taibi not only covers the railroad itself but the region and the affects that the railroad has had on it and its people. His publications are noted as being well researched with many pictures to aid the understanding.

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Additional Covid 19 protocol will be dictated by NY state regulations

at the time of the convention.

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Pieces Of NYCS History

Rusting NYCS Original S-1 Prototype and the only

remaining NYCS T-motor to finally be moved!!

After years of worry by NYCS fans and historians, these locos, owned by the Danbury Railway Museum are going to be moved and preserved.

Check out the full story by clicking here.

The first article for this quarter’s edition is from Noel Widdifield, who shares the “A NYC Operating Session on Pete LaGuardia’s Layout”. Dave Staplin returns with ”Part 2 Upgrading and Air Conditioning A Branchline Coach”. Steve Lasher explains a”Wnow Swite & the Deven Swarves”.  Bob Shaw provides a final article with “Ideas To Light Up A Town” in his “O-Gauge Model Railroading” regular feature. Noel Widdifield continues his regular feature, “The NYCentral Modeler Tool Shop”. Dennis Regan shares the “14th Annual St. Louis RPM”.  “Building a NYC Mark II Flexi-Van in O-scale, Part 3”, by Russ Briggs is a continuing story.  In his first article in a long time, Richard Karnes returns with “20th Century Limited in S-Scale”.

And you also get all of the regular features with “NYCSHS RPO,” “Extra Board,” “What’s New,” and “The Observation Car.” All in the October 2021 edition.

If you haven’t been reading this NYCSHS magazine, you have been missing out on a lot of NYCS action.  Each edition contains five to seven articles covering different scales of NYCS modeling, a section reviewing all new NYCS models being offered by manufacturers for the quarter, letters and emails from members and readers, the latest news on models being offered by the NYCSHS at 20% discounts, and a variety of other information about modeling and happenings at the NYCSHS.

The magazine is free, and all you need to do to read or download it is go to the NYCSHS website. To do that, go to www.NYCSHS.org. Then put your curser on the “Modeling Resources” button and drop down to the “NYCentral Modeler” tab.  Then just follow the instruction on the page.   ENJOY!!

1^st Qtr. 2022 Edition
 

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Take A Look!!!

From Grand Central to Albany –

New York Central’s Water Level

Route

Over the years numerous books have been produced depicting trains along the old New York Central Main Line between New York City and Albany. Early ones dealt mainly with locomotive and equipment roster shots with some fine scenic views tossed in here and there. More recent publications deal with modern day diesel and electric trains and the photo quality in most are really good. Several fine books have been done recently regarding the days of Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak, and the MTA.

The focus of this book on the Central’s “Glory Years” using a multitude of magnificent steam and early diesel photos taken along the Water Level Route by some of the most noted rail photographers of the 20th Century. Many of the images within have not previously been published and their original negatives and prints have been graciously loaned to the author by different Historical Societies and collectors to scan and present to readers on the pages within.

This 336 page volume contains not only superb New York Central photos, but images of connecting railroads and industries of all sorts that were served by the Central in one capacity or another. There are even mining railroads that we had known little about before doing our extensive research.

There are more than 650 images between the covers. We hope you will be taking this trip up the scenic Hudson Valley with us and enjoy it as much as we have.

Here are some member reviews!!

I think this is John Ham’s best book ever, and I have them all.  He has included many historical photographs I wouldn’t have thought existed, and he has included subjects, such as the Albany & Hudson Fast LIne, that I never knew about.  His coverage of some major on-line industries is also welcome.  This is a ‘must have” for anyone who cherishes the memory of the New York Central System. 

Rich Stoving, Wellsboro, PA

NYCSHS Director Emeritus, Editor, Central Headlight

“Having grown up on the west end of the system, I found this fantastic book to be full of interesting facts and pictures.  The picture quality is excellent.  I especially liked the layout by stations progressing from GCT to Albany.  If you don’t already own this terrific book, you should add it to your library.”

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MSRP $79.95  NYCSHS Members’ Price $59.96 

and that is 25% off MSRP!

Shipping is extra and Ohio residents pay 8% Ohio Sales Tax

The book is expected to be released in late October 2021!!

It is Never Too Early to Renew!!!

NYCSHS 2022 Is Just Around

The Corner

Don’t Miss Out on a Year of

NYCSHS Excitement!!!

You can renew online now by

Clicking Here

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Download a membership renewal

form by Clicking Here

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To download a mail in new

membership application,

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And while you are at it, order the new

2022 NYCSHS Calendar

The NYCSHS 2022 Calendar is now available with eleven color and three black & white photographs.

With our New York Central calendar for 2022, we’ve done more than to provide you with the days of the week, some historical dates, and some nice train pictures. We want to take you on a trip around the vast New York Central System with stunning photos that are evocative of the seasons. In February, you’ll sympathize with a South Bend operator as he hoops up orders to The Chicagoan in bitterly cold South Bend, Indiana; and in April you’ll see a conductor and rear brakeman conversing while their local freight pauses in still-chilly Hudson, Michigan. In July you’ll feel the heat of The Bronx as a P-motor wheels a two-car Empire Service train past what is left of Mott Haven; and in December you’ll be glad to be warm at home when you observe a classic Hudson departing nearly snowed-in Buffalo Central Terminal. Our calendar will also take you inside Harmon’s roundhouse as two Century-styled Hudsons are prepared for another westward voyage. And our two covers will help you to recollect the final years of the Age of Steam. All this from fine, high-resolution photos carefully selected from hundreds of candidates.

Price is still $16.00.

Free shipping on US and Canadian orders, and Ohio residents pay 8% Ohio Sales Tax

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New Items in the Collinwood Shop

Dining A La Pullman – The History of Pullman

Dining Service, 1866 – 1968

Following up on his successful sleeping “hotel” cars of the 1860s, George Pullman invented the first railroad dining car, starting a century-long tradition of the Pullman Company providing its passengers with restaurant-quality meals on rails. This is the first telling of the story of Pullman’s dining service, with colorful menus, tasteful china and silver, popular recipes, and extensive interviews with retired Pullman chefs and waiters who served opera singers, actors, businessmen, and even the President of the United States. Authors Mulligan, Tilp, and Zimmermann explore the history, equipment, food, and people that made this unique era of travel possible. Tilp also covers the story of his company’s 1968 purchase of the Pullman restaurant-sleeper Lotos Club and the subsequent restoration and operation of what remains the most authentically restored Pullman car in the United States. Recipes for numerous classic Pullman meals and a selection of complete, historic Pullman menus round out this definitive volume on Pullman’s culinary legacy.

Paperback – 172 Pages

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The first article for this quarter’s edition is from Steve Lasher, who shares the “Modeling an NYC Derrick & Wreck Train” that has no NYC prototype. Thomas Lange returns with ”A Scratchbuilt NYC Pacemaker Caboose”. Bob Shaw “Enlivens Layout Dead Space with a Plasticville Farm” in his “O-Gauge Model Railroading” regular feature. Chuck Beargie continues his series on “A Small Midwestern Town Along a NYC Branchline – Part 3”. Tom Long details “Modeling 2600 Coaches in N-Scale”.  “The NYCentral Modeler Tool Shop”, by Larry Faulkner is a regular series of articles on tools for model railroading.  In his first article in a long time, Dave Staplin returns with “Upgrading and Air Conditioning A Branchline Coach – Part 1”.

And you also get all of the regular features with “NYCSHS RPO,” “Extra Board,” “What’s New,” and “The Observation Car.” All in the October 2021 edition.

If you haven’t been reading this NYCSHS magazine, you have been missing out on a lot of NYCS action.  Each edition contains five to seven articles covering different scales of NYCS modeling, a section reviewing all new NYCS models being offered by manufacturers for the quarter, letters and emails from members and readers, the latest news on models being offered by the NYCSHS at 20% discounts, and a variety of other information about modeling and happenings at the NYCSHS.

The magazine is free, and all you need to do to read or download it is go to the NYCSHS website. To do that, go to www.NYCSHS.org. Then put your curser on the “Modeling Resources” button and drop down to the “NYCentral Modeler” tab.  Then just follow the instruction on the page.   ENJOY!!

4^th Qtr. 2021 Edition
 

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3rd Qtr. 2021 Central Headlight is in

the Mail Today

For those you have added the subscription for the

digital Central Headlight, you digital version

has been sent to you today!!!!

Enjoy and thanks for being a member.  If you haven’t already, be sure to renew for 2022. 

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The NYCSHS proudly presents the first in a series of layout tours featuring the modeling skills of NYCSHS members recreating the New York Central System in miniature. NYCS modeling is one of the ways that we can honor the memory of the New York Central over 50 years after it ceased to exist.  Our membership consists of many retired NYCS employees, people who rode or watched the railroad in its glory days and more and more by those too young to have even seen it when it ran. 

Our members model in every scale and in many ways, but many recreate portions of the railroad as it existed by realistically modeling a certain section of it and at specific time period. Rich Stoving has done this for a portion of the Hudson Division in the 1940s.

Some Scenes From Rich’s Layout Video

Rich’s Layout Drawing

Layout Drawing by Frank Knight

To view this first in the series of

NYCSHS Layout Tours

on YouTube

Click Here!!

The lead article for this quarter’s edition is from Steve Bratina, who tells us about “Rebuilding a ¾-Scale Niagara”. Robert vonBehr explains “Motive Power for 1919”, and “A Paper Retaining Wall in 3 Easy Steps” continues Bob Shaw’s “O-Gauge Model Railroading” regular feature. Joe Rothwell begins a series on “O-Scale Live Steam NYCS Hudson Chassis “.  Chuck Beargie continues his series on “A Small Midwestern Town Along a NYC Branchline”. “The NYCentral Modeler Tool Shop” begins a new series of articles on tools for model railroading.  Larry Faulkner shares Ed Sussi’s “NYC Woodlawn Station in HO-Scale”. In his first article in a long time, Paul Pickard explains his “HO-Scale LS&MS Watchman’s Tower – An Adventure in 3D Printing.” And you also get all of the regular features with “NYCSHS RPO,” “Extra Board,” “What’s New,” and “The Observation Car.” All in the July 2021 edition.

If you haven’t been reading this NYCSHS magazine, you have been missing out on a lot of NYCS action.  Each edition contains five to seven articles covering different scales of NYCS modeling, a section reviewing all new NYCS models being offered by manufacturers for the quarter, letters and emails from members and readers, the latest news on models being offered by the NYCSHS at 20% discounts, and a variety of other information about modeling and happenings at the NYCSHS.

The magazine is free, and all you need to do to read or download it is go to the NYCSHS website. To do that, go to www.NYCSHS.org. Then put your curser on the “Modeling Resources” button and drop down to the “NYCentral Modeler” tab.  Then just follow the instruction on the page.   ENJOY!!

3^rd Qtr. 2021 Edition
 

Click Here To Read