Minutes from the Jan. 14, 2019 Meeting President Bernie Hanmore called the January 14, 2019 membership meeting to order at the Cambridge Springs Trolley Station, located off U.S. Routes 6 and 19 in Cambridge Springs, PA. Attending the meeting were Bernie Hanmore, Dennis Mead, Ed Cronin, Carl and Vanessa Timko, Bill McComas, Jack Sheets, John Snyder, Stan Niwa, John Nagurney, Ron Stafford, Nick Ozorak, Dave Ellis, Dan Higham, Terry and Maryann Martin, Jim Garfield, Robert Olson, Scott Ladner, Wayne Brown, Pete Gifford, Mike Shannon, and guests Jacob, Adam, and Ken Novosel. Treasurer's Report Treasurer Ed Cronin submitted his monthly summary of the organization's financial status. Included were balances, income, and expenses. Balances included current cash on hand, Restricted Funds (Meadville Model Railroad Club and Museum Funds), and Unrestricted Funds. Income was from donations, dues, sales from the model railroad layout display and the 50/50 raffle. Expenses were fundraising expenses, which included the fee for the store on Market Street, the Meadville Depot purchase, a Phase I environmental study, recording of deed and taxes, and a payment to the Meadville Farm and Garden trustee. A motion to approve the Treasurer's Report was made by Jack Sheets and seconded by John Snyder. The motion carried by an unanimous vote of attending members. Committee Reports Budget / Finance It was noted the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad did not charge for the rent of the snowplow for October and November 2018. They also sent a check back that was the cost of the rent for September 2018. With that news, Dennis Mead made a motion to set a portion of those funds aside to finish work on the snowplow that includes new glass and lettering. The motion was tabled until the next meeting. Nick Ozorak asked how much was made from the donation box during the layout display during the holiday season. He then made a motion to approve $100 to be forwarded to the Meadville Model Railroad Club. The motion was seconded by Ed Cronin and the motion carried. Nick also informed the board that the FCVRRHS's portion of the fee for the Davies student that is helping with the Model Railroad Club will be coming due. The FCVRRHS is responsible for 10 percent of the fee while Allegheny College is responsible for the remainder. Historical / Archives Dennis Mead and Ron Stafford are researching information that pertains to the Meadville Conneaut Lake & Linesville Railroad that became the Meadville Branch of the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad. Some of the information is from old newspapers found on the internet. One fact found was that the Bessemer and its predecessors ran six to eight passenger trains a day between Meadville and Linesville. Some of it even during the time trolley service ran between the two towns. Passenger service on the Bessemer to Meadville ceased in 1935. Information found is to be part of a lead story coming up in the near future in the "Valley Express" newsletter. Membership The French Creek Valley Railroad Historical Society welcomes five new members. Welcome aboard James Garfield, James Glover, Robert Olson, Maryann Martin, and Michael Shannon. James Garfield and James Glover joined at the holiday layout display, Robert joined just before last month's meeting, Maryann after the December meeting, and Michael joined shortly before the January 2019 meeting. A work session will be planned to rewrite the organization's by-laws. A committee was formed for that purpose. The committee will consist of Bernie Hanmore, Carl Timko, Jack Sheets, Ron Stafford, John Nagurney, and Scott Ladner. Terry Martin questioned whether the board members are the only ones that can vote on issues or the attending membership have a vote on the issues. It is likely to be established once the new bylaws are written. Model Railroad The Meadville Model Railroad Club has moved its layout back to the Parkside Commons, where the three students will continue with their progress on the HO layout. Nick Ozorak expects the layout to be completed in May or June. The last rent payment is expected to be at the end of June. Carl Timko called attention to a video of Scott Woods' layout that is airing on YouTube and Facebook. Videography is by Rob Bennett, who has posted an hour and a half video of Scott's B&LE HO layout. Carl informed the members that he has ordered ten can motors from NWSL that are not new, but are usable. These motors are to be attempted to be installed in older HO locomotives that are currently running poorly, if at all. These locomotives, if operating better, can be sold for a higher price than what they would have received if not upgraded. Museum Erie Federal Court has awarded the right to purchase the former Meadville Farm & Garden property to the French Creek Valley Railroad Historical Society. There were no other bidders. The deed was filed on January 11, 2019 in the name of the FCVRRHS. A steering committee was formed to oversee the release of information and progress of restoration. The steering committee will have its first meeting on January 18, 2019 at 789 Bessemer St., Meadville at 11 a.m The second meeting will be to meet with Nick Ozorak to coordinate a Power Point® presentation for the launch event. John Nagurney noted it is imperative that the building be turned into a museum quickly to take advantage of the property tax exemption. The electric will be turned on January 15. The electric is currently three phase. It may be possible to get a commercial rate for the building. A launch event will be planned and is to include community leaders, VIPs, area historical societies, the press and the general public. There will be a Power Point® presentation, as mentioned previously, by Nick Ozorak. A separate website may be started. Carl Timko advised that if that happened, it needed to be tied into the FCVRRHS's original website so that visitors to the websites know the FCVRRHS is not separate from the Meadville Depot. Suggestions ranged from initiating a CATA shuttle between the depot and Pomona Park, to starting a GoFundMe® fund raising site. Brochures and media materials will need to be available. Property / Equipment Once the spring weather arrives, it is expected that work will begin to replace the glass in the snowplow and apply the lettering. It will be lettered as Conrail #64568, its road number while serving Conrail. The flood lights at Pomona Park will have the bulbs replaced with LED units. Three flood lights have already burned out. The cost has more than doubled. The cost of LED units are a bit more expensive but will last thousands of hours. Public Relations / Education The 2018 Holiday Layout Display was the second best in sales, the best being the previous year at Kmart. The FCVRRHS thanks everyone who attended, volunteered and those involved in securing the store. The 2019 Holiday Layout Display is expected to be at the depot. Raffle winners were Andrew Geist, who won the HO train set; and Scott Ladner, who won the 50/50. Scott donated a majority of the winnings back to the FCVRRHS. Toys for Tots received a check from sales of the train set raffle tickets. Special Events/Programs Upcoming 2019 train shows are as listed: January 27 - Mid-Mon Valley Model Railroad Club Train Show & Sale at the New Eagle Volunteer Fire Department social hall, located at 156 Chess St., New Eagle, PA. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the admission is $4. January 27 - Train Collectors Association, Fort Pitt Division Train Collector's Show at the Syria Shriners Banquet and Meeting Conference Facility, located at 1877 Shriner's Way, Cheswick, PA. It will open to the public at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. Registrationis $5 for members, $6 for guests, $3 for seniors ages 65 an older. February 3 - Buffalo Snowball Train Show at the Polish Falcons, located at 4555 Columbia Ave., Depew, N.Y. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is unknown. February 17 - Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society Frosty Rails Train Show at the Shenango Township Volunteer Fire Department social hall, located at 2424 E. Washington St., New Castle, PA. It is advised to use the entrance on the Dunkin Donuts side. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $5. March 3 - Erie Train Show at Rainbow Gardens, Waldameer Park, Erie, PA. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5. Next Meeting: The next membership meeting will be Monday, February 11, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room of the U.S. Bronze Foundry & Machine, Inc., located at 18649 Brake Shoe Road, Meadville, PA. Those coming south from Saegertown and beyond, on U.S. Route 19 will have to find another route, as the bridge just north of Brake Shoe Road is closed due to damage. See you there!