Polar Express

The 3rd Annual Polar Express was held on December 13, 2008

NEW PASSANGER CAR ARE ON THE HE TRACK

THE HORSEHEADS STATION

The Horseheads Station was moved from Chemung St. (Behind Grand Central Plaza) near Railroad tracks to Old Ithaca Rd in 1969. The building was used as a office for Horseheads Auto auction, the interior was set up as it is now with two ticket windows. It was moved by George and Art Sullivan and their Irish Indians as helper on a Sunday Morning. The building was jack up and placed on a lowboy trailer and move down the road. The owner wanted the building burnt down for Fire Dept training but Chief George Sullivan took off his fire helmet put on his railroad cap and made it a train station.

The station was originally white and painted yellow, green, gray. Last year Joe Hillyard (Darlene's Nephew) and his father Bill Hillyard added front canopy and sided building with tan siding with green trim. Removed all windows and replace with new wood and glass. A platform was added last year for the Polar Bear Express, built by Pat Sullivan and Artie Sullivan.

The Horseheads Sign on north end of building was from the Pennsylvania Station on John St. in Horseheads. The "American Railway Express" sign is from Erie Depot in Elmira, NY. The "Kilgour" station sign is from the Erie Railway, the town is located east of Susquehanna, PA on the Erie main line. A new roof was put on by Dudley Rice and Art Sullivan in 1970's and put in a small pot belly stove.

Horseheads Station 10-08-2008

1913 CASE TRACTION ENGINE

Engine and cars

No. 1 with coaches and PRR Derick and flat car on Horseheads Trestle.

Switcher painted as Le high Valley 323, passing N0 1 in sidling.

PRR Derick clearing derailment at Horseheads, NY 1970's

Switcher painted as Erie Lackawanna 464, Dick Sullivan engineer with the Olympic Torch



Arthur E. Sullivan with #1 1902 4-4-0 Cagney at East Smithfield, PA in back ground switcher 8504

REBUILDING THE RAILROAD 2008

Rebuilding Sullivan Railroad

In late May of this year, I started repairing the railroad track, I knew we had had some trouble from the Polar Bear Express in December of 2007, so I started near the tunnel and moved in the direction of normal route. I replaced 20 ties, moved past the station and found before the crossing (Ithaca Rd) that I had to replace 30-40 ties! I moved past the crossing towards the trestle and found that some of trestle's large timbers were in need of total replacement. After cleaning the brush away, I replaced two horizontal timbers and one vertical timber then leveled out the top timbers and replaced all ties. I painted the entire trestle one Saturday (with Michelle's help!) and kept moving forward. Now I am at the Main St. Crossing. I have replaced 423 ties and spread 44 tons of # 2 stone. I repaired, painted, and placed two railroad crossing sings and two whistle signs for the Main St. crossing. When I started I wanted to be able to run the train for Methodist Church preschool and St. Mary Our Mother's in late June, by the end of this week we will be able run a complete circle. I do not think that the track has been ever rebuilt as much as it has been this year. I would also like to thank Kevin for his assistance. I am not done, but will finish this season.