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| HARVEST HOLIDAY'S. | NOVEMBER 2011 |
| BURTON TRAIN FOR RAILROAD AWARENESS DAY | |
On October 28th more than 200 people heeded the conductor's call for "all aboard" Saturday morning at the former Laconia Train Station, as District 1 Executive Councilor Ray Burton, in conjunction with the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, again led the annual New Hampshire Railroad Promotion Marketing Day. Sponsored by Burton and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation's Bureau of Rail and Transit, the trip highlighted the feasibility of rail as a means of travel throughout the Granite State. Here from left to right are Brenda Clark, owner then Dave Smith our entertainment for the day beside Ray Burton and far right Ben Clark, also owner of the Plymouth and Lincoln Railroad.
 Returning from a long day, Locomotive 1008 passes over the Lakeport Drawbridge after leaving it's passengers at Laconia Station. The railroad was helping to celebrate NH Railroad Promotion and Marketing Day with Executive Councilor Ray Burton. Railroad employees volunteer their time along with the railroad's free contribution of a train to promote this annual event for railroad awareness. Mr Burton has always been a proud sponsor of the efforts of the Flying Yankee Group to fulfill their goal of restoration of the famous streamliner. |
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| SANTA TRAINS AND POLAR EXPRESS TRAINS | |
Are y our children making out their "Santa Lists" already? Visit the Ho Ho Hobo Santa Train where your children can personally give Santa and his Elves their letters. At the same time enjoy free cookies and hot chocolate while riding the Ho Ho Hobo Santa Train along the Pemi. About an hour and 20 minutes of great fun for all and 15 miles of beautiful seasonal scenery in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Santa and his Elves will be available: 11/25-27; 12/3-4; 12/10-11; and 12/17-18. Train leaves the Ho Ho Hobo Station at 1:00 PM.
Have you been trying to purchase tickets to the Polar Express Event? There are some tickets available for certain dates and times at the Believe in Books Foundation. For detailed information go here: http://www.polarexpress.org/ |
A DREAM
 I was 7 years old when I first saw it. This was no ordinary train - it was bright, shiny, and it was different. It was a whole new idea in railroading and also a first for the Boston/Maine Railroad. It was called the Flying Yankee and I always dreamed that I would one day ride in it.
When I was a young boy, my Dad was working for the B&M when they sent this "new train" all over their rail lines to show people the "future" of rail travel. Dad took my brother Charlie and I to see it for the first time at the Salem Depot, located in the namesake Massachusetts town where I was born and raised.
It was a beautiful sunny day and there was the Yankee on display upon the track normally reserved for the U.S. Mail Train. On the platform were me, Charlie, my Dad, and what seemed like hundreds of onlookers all standing in amazement at the sight before us as we anxiously waited to board and see if the inside was just as impressive.
As I looked around the inside of the cars, it was obvious they were different than other train cars I had seen before. The decor was simple yet rich looking in every way - every thing was brand new. We, unfortunately, never got to see the inside of the Engineer's car as it was off limits due to safety reasons.
I recall seeing the Yankee in operation a year or two later from my Aunt's front yard as it raced across the North River in Salem. It was a silver streak so fast that my eyes almost couldn't keep up with it. I don't think the train made stops in Salem - I believe it ran express between Boston and Bangor, Maine.
The Flying Yankee is now a distant but still fond memory to me and was almost lost to all of us. During a time when everyone was hoping for better days in their future, the Yankee seemed to symbolize movement in that direction.
Within my lifetime, so far, I never got to take a ride on the Flying Yankee but that one day in 1935 made quite a lasting impression on my 7 year-old self. I'm a model railroad enthusiast and the Flying Yankee is the centerpiece of my layout, still looking totally unique to any other engine before it or since.
The Good Lord willing and thanks to the folks up in New Hampshire at the Hobo Railroad and the Flying Yankee Restoration Group, Inc. who are currently hard at work restoring the Yankee to it's glory day, my dreams as a young boy may yet come true as I look forward to being able to ride on the Yankee just once before I make my last run.
"A DREAMER"
Thomas F. Pickett - 2011
Tom Pickett enjoying his Father's Day gift from his son, Matt Pickett at his side. |
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| FALL FOLIAGE TURKEY TRAIN REVIEW | |
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Fall Foliage aboard the Hobo Train complete with Hart's Turkey Farm Dinner, and an Alpine Accordianist. Is there any better way to spend a beautiful evening and with great friends? Steve and I ventured down to Meredith at the Winnipesaukee RR to take in one of the Hart's Turkey Farm catered complete meal, just like Thanksgiving at Grandma's with Roast Turkey carved at your table along with all the fixin's. Great service and a fantatstic lake side view out the window. |
 | | Flying Yankee, Nashua, NH 1935 |
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B&M Engine 1140 "Sacred Cow" North Station, Boston, MA 1935 |
Special thanks to the for the following people for forwarding information and additional pictures of the B&M Engine 1140 known as the "Sacred Cow": Jonelle DeFelice; Ron Hann; Francis Harrington; George Kenson; Glenn L; Curtis Moller; Merritt Mullen; J. Henry Priebe, Jr.; and, Ira Schreiber.
After all the information is complete and compiled, it will appear in a following newsletter. |
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| SOME REAL FLYING YANKEE FANS | |
 | | Allyssa at age 4 is one of the youngest Flying Yankee fans. |
 | | And yet another Flying Yankee fan.. |
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 The wheels are all done and ready for the Flying Yankee to be hoisted back on to them. Once back on its wheels, the Flying Yankee can be towed on the tracks to other locations in New Hampshire while continued work is done to procure the right power system(s). |
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The weatherizing is complete. As you see above, the wheels are done. Our project now is to raise the funds to complete the under carriage wiring for the air brakes and complete the plumbing in order to return the Yankee to its trucks. Once that is done the security cover can be removed and the Flying Yankee put on its wheels. |
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Gov. Exec. Councilor Burton, Raymond S. * Carlisle, Robert * Cosgro, Richard & Winifred * Daly, Mr. & Mrs. * Ellison, Mr. & Mrs Stanley * Gulli, Stephanie * Jacob, Norm * King, Mary * McDonald, Mr. & Mrs. Robert K. * Nute, Mr. & Mrs. * Parks, William * Pickett, Tom & Matt * Scholtz, Mr. & Mrs. * Sugar Tours, Vermont * Trains & Travel Int'l, Georgia * Vreeland, Craig & Carol * Wallace, David & June * Wallace, Gordon, Heidi, Nathanael & Jacob * Wallace, Margaret, Andrew, Leeanne, Gillan & Ian * Wallace, Dave & Vicki * Twome-Wilson, Eran * Way, Donald |
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SEAT HOLDERS | |
Adik, Steven * Albershardt, Donald * Amherst Railway Society * C annata, Mike * Clark, Gordon * Cosgro, Matthew *Dooks, Edward * Dooks, Karen * Emery, John H. * Fowler III, Gerard J. * Goodwin, Elgie E. * Greene, Michael * Hall, N. Terry * Hamel, Stanley A. * Harrington, Francis A. * Harvey, Karen * LeDuc, Nancy * Learned, David * Lincoln Zephyr
Owners Club * McNamara, John E. * Morrell, Miriam * Park, Stewart * Robichaud, Tom * Smith, Natalie * Stundis, Skip & Carol * Taylor, Clyde G. * Waller, Dave * Weinstein, Joan * Williamson, David * Young, Mark |
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