(erielack) EL Diner Project

[Jjbchian_@_cs.com]

To all Listers:

In June, Tim Stuy and myself will be inspecting one of the Erie 940-947 
series Diner/Lounges that is available. The EL number would be 740-747 
series.  The price for the car, as is, is under $10,000. We believe this car 
is in fair shape, and has the most potential for restoration. The interior of 
the car has not been altered from its EL days, but needs restoration. 

-From what I can see from the pictures that the owners have sent me, the car 
is in fair mechanical shape. However, we will know for certain after we make 
a personal, on site, mechanical inspection. We must ascertain, that the car 
can be interchanged, and prepared for movement to the Delaware - Lackawanna 
Railroad at Scranton, Pa.

Our goal is to have the car restored, and operated as a working EL Diner. 
Right down to the EL pencils in the DL&W menu holders! We plan on operating 
the car exactly as the EL did. Utilizing Erie china, with a mix of Erie and 
EL flatware. Coffee pots, tea pots, sugar bowls, and water pitchers would be 
both Erie and DL&W patterns. The menu holders were DL&W.  

Paper items such as menus, place mats, napkins, coasters, Chef's hats, 
individually wrapped toothpicks, and of course, those famous EL mints, will 
be duplicated from the original items in our personal collections.

We have been in contact with the original manufacturer of the Linens, and we 
will use a mix of Erie and DL&W tablecloths, napkins, etc.     

All reproduction items will have ELDCPS on it someplace, to differentiate it 
-From the originals that are in private collections. 
 
A goal of our organization, The Erie Lackawanna Diner Preservation Society, 
is to operate out of Hoboken on the original schedule, a recreation of EL's 
long distance train, The Lake Cities. We have discussed this with the URRHS, 
and they are very supportive of accomplishing this. The Lake Cities would be 
fairly easy to do. The E-8's are available and can be painted EL. Several EL 
baggage cars are out there, and we could utilize several of the coaches in 
the URRHS collection. Many times 5 & 6 carried 10/6 Pullmans from the "Pool". 
We could operate over NJT to Port Jervis, NS to Binghamton, then down to 
Scranton via CP. All have agreed that this is very "doable." 

Remember, The Lake Cities did operate as an EL train for a short duration 
over the Erie, before it was switched to the Lackawanna side. Another 
opportunity would be the Erie Lackawanna Limited. 

If the "cut-off" is restored, then that would allow us to do something 
"Lackawanna," perhaps "The Westerner," or "The Twilight." 

We have agreed that the Diner will first carry GMY. However, we are committed 
to return it to Erie "two-tone" green for a period of time.

The car will be based and operated out of Scranton, Pa. The 
Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad wishes to use the car, and Steamtown has 
expressed an interest also.   

But it is going to take money, and your support.

I believe in this project and I have personally pledged $1,000 to support 
this effort. No doubt I will be donating more later, because I want to see an 
EL diner in service again. I believe many of you would like to see this also, 
and will support us. 

I am now going to ask all of you who have voiced support for this project to 
now send in the $200 that you have pledged.  Donations should be made payable 
to the: New Jersey Midland Railroad Historical Society. NJMRHS is 501c3, and 
the donations are fully tax deductible. The checks will not be deposited 
until after the inspection, and we have decided to make the purchase. If the 
inspection fails, then all checks will be returned. If the inspection is 
successful, then the NJMRHS will forward the proceeds to the ELDCPS for the 
purchase, moving the car to Scranton, and any immediate repairs.

Tim has asked NJMRHS to handle the donations for us. ELDCPS is a non profit 
entity, but Tim has not yet finished the paper work for the IRS. The Diner 
will be owned by the ELDCPS. 

Anyone who donates $200 or more will become a lifetime member of the ELDCPS. 
As an additional incentive, the following premiums will be give for the 
following thresholds:

$300 or more: A piece of Morristown & Erie dining car china.

$400 or more: A piece of Morristown & Erie dining car china, and an M&E water 
glass.

$1,000 or more: A 5 piece setting of M&E dining car china, plus M&E water 
glass. 
 
The NJMRHS has agreed to donate these pieces for the project.

The donations should be mailed to:

EL Diner Project
c/o NJMRHS
PO Box 6125
Parsippany, NJ   07054 

Please include your e-mail address with your donation, if applicable.

This is a great opportunity to acquire, restore and operate a historic piece 
of equipment from this great railroad.  By your generous donation, you will 
not just help to ensure that this project succeeds, but you will also ensure 
that EL fans, their families, and the general public, will have the 
opportunity to ride in the Diner, and fully experience EL dining car service, 
the way it was. You will be directly contributing to the EL legacy. With a 
lot of work, we can recreate what was lost January 5, 1970. 

Some of us were able to experience EL Dining service. For those of you who 
did, and for those of you who never had the chance, this is a golden 
opportunity to recreate the past.  All of us will have a sense of pride and 
accomplishment if we can again walk down a platform in Hoboken, past this 
working treasure.

We hope to have enough funds to be able to make the purchase, and move the 
car to Scranton in time for the 150th Birthday celebrations that are being 
sponsored by the Delaware-Lackawanna in August 10, 11, and 12.

Can we count on your help? I know we can!

John Boehner
VP, ELDCPS    

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