SCRANTON, Pa. - Mike Bischak works as a locomotive engineer for the Reading & Northern Railroad but took this week off to volunteer at the annual convention of the National Railway Historical Society in Scranton, the Times-Tribune reports.
"So I'm on my vacation and I'm doing it for free," Mr. Bischak said, adding he loves the history associated with trains. "I've been following trains since I was a kid."
Mr. Bischak is one of about 1,000 people participating in the weeklong convention, which is being hosted by the society's Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Chapter. It is the first time the society's convention is being held in Scranton, attracting people from all over the nation and world, including Japan.
The event features seminars and displays, as well as train trips to Honesdale and Jim Thorpe, among other places. Train displays are also located at the Steamtown National Historic Site, including a restored Pennsylvania Railroad caboose. In the trolley museum, Steamtown is showing miniature steam-powered model trains.
Tonight, the Lackawanna Historical Society at 232 Monroe Ave. is staying open until 8 p.m., showing train artifacts.
Event coordinator Dave Crosby said people were thrilled that Scranton is hosting the convention, given the city's rail history.
On Monday, Mr. Crosby, of Dunmore, shoveled coal and placed water in a boiler to maintain an 80-year-old steam engine.
"We're showing the engine as a kickoff," Mr. Crosby said. "I'm responsible for its upkeep."
The engine is owned by John Gramling of Ashley, Ind. Mr. Gramling's son, Barney Gramling, bought the engine in 1991.
"We worked on it, and it was 10 years before we got it restored," Mr. Gramling said. "Barney wanted to restore an engine, so he bought it from Rail City Museum in Sandy Creek, N.Y."
Mr. Gramling said his greatest satisfaction came when he and his son completed restoration of the engine.
Built in 1930 in Wilkes-Barre, the engine was initially used by the Avoca-based Flagg Coal Co. Eventually, Solvay Process Co. in Jamesville, N.Y., bought the engine for quarry operations. The Rail City Museum acquired the engine in 1953.
Instead of hauling material, the engine is now used by Mr. Gramling to teach people about the nation's rail heritage.
"We meet literally thousands of people," Mr. Gramling said. "I enjoy sharing it with people. The idea of parting with the engine has never occurred to me."
(This item appeared June 22, 2010, in the Times Tribune.)
