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From: SHARENS1 AT aol DOT com
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:21:57 EDT
Subject: Re: DL&W F3 Volunteer -- 6/20/2010 -- Red Letter day in Scranton
"Tri-StateF3Scranton6-20-2010025.jpg" - image/jpeg, 597x339 (24bit)

Well??? Did it get finished up as the Gray Ghost yesterday? Just
wondering...
Sharen


In a message dated 6/20/2010 11:31:01 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
mdelvec952@aol.com writes:


After a successful day Saturday that saw the entirety of the F3 primed,
and then maroon paint applied where the lettering and numerals would be
applied, Sunday was a day of lettering. Model railroaders would call this
decaling. First, many thanks to Tom Kelcec for leading the work day yesterday
while I tended to an ailing auto and an appliance delivery. Thanks, too, to
the volunteers who showed Saturday; Dave Lindstrum, Sharen Miterko-Rawes and
Gary Kazin. Dave took home our portholes to drill and tap new holes that
will allow us to mount them.

Lettering is critical work as the slightest mistake will be there forever,
usually in contrasting colors. It all went well. The nose medalion and
lettering are straight and centered. The medalion was painted white today,
while the skirts and pilot and other details were painted black.

Monday we paint gray over the entire carbody, then remove the vinyl letters
that will reveal the maroon paint behind them.

For those not familiar with the nuances of Lackawanna F-unit history, the
Lackawanna faithful are already smiling. So are the Convention hosts
Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Chapter and several of the Park Rangers who see
what's materializing. Railpace editor Tom Nemeth stopped by today and he saw
what was happening, and was thrilled. The Conventioneers already on the
property also saw what's taking shape.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are presenting at the NRHS Convention a rare
Lackawanna "gray ghost." During the later 1950s as a cost- and time-saving
measure the DL&W began repainting F-units without any stripes, only lettering,
nose herald and a solid gray body. The idea was a huge flop. Customers,
railroaders and company officials almost universally hated the bland scheme,
and letters to 140 Cedar Street helped put an end to the Gray Ghosts, as
dubbed by the railfans. This also put an end to the freight paint scheme on
the DL&W, as the railroad standardized on the passenger scheme on future
freight unit repaints. The definitive accountings of the gray ghosts has yet
to be written, but reports say up to nine units, including B-units, had been
painted gray.

The L&WV Chapter is especially excited as the gray ghost will be unique to
their Convention -- folks wanting to see it will have to visit this week
or weekend. I would encourage everyone to see it soon. We'll be putting the
freight stripes on 663 beginning the weekend following the Convention.

Presenting a Ghost will also help the news value of the project -- one
more paint scheme and another item to raise excitement. When the freight paint
is finished, we'll get more press coverage and the Lackawanna Railfest in
September will be a bigger hit.

Why are we doing this, when our plan from the beginning was to overlook
the gray ghosts for the sake of time? Our DL&W 663 went out onto the paint
pad last Thursday just a few days ago. The roof needed a full day of prep
work Thursday. Friday we started priming, Saturday we finished priming. The
Convention starts Tuesday and our first scheduled events for the F3s could
be Thursday. It's just impossible to get all of the colors on in the
remaining time. So, we are painting a gray ghost for one of the same reason the
DL&W conceived the idea to begin with -- time.

Let me assure everyone here, and especially the contributors, that we will
complete the freight paint scheme after the Convention. All of the paint
and supplies are bought. None of the painting we've done will compromise or
increase the cost finishing the freight paint as planned.

The excitement for the gray ghost in Scranton is great to see. Meanwhile,
some photos of gray ghosts in service appear below, along with some photos
of today's work party.

....Mike Del Vecchio


Below, DL&W 656 Jersey City, ca. 1959, Gene Collora photo.





Below, the 605 is wearing gray about 1959 in Buffalo, while the two
freight units behind it are in the new passenger colors on freight. Photo: Matt
Wronski.





Below is the 656 again trundling through the Water Gap ca. 1959. We will
not be adding the yellow grab irons and stirrups as that would delay and
add expense to the initial project. Photo from the Hawk Mountain Chapter
slide.





Our goal remains to see Lackawanna F3s in the colors below











Tri-StateF3Scranton6-20-2010025.jpg

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