January 2026 
President's Report
Presidents Message
Happy New Year! Happy New Year Fort Pitt Division members and families! Can you believe it’s 2026? I definitely cannot! I hope you had some beautiful time with family and friends. For our family, the Christmas season is a wonderful time as siblings and cousins gather from Delaware, Boston, Portland, and across Pittsburgh region to share stories over a marvelous Chinese dinner. What a joyous time!
Did you know that during the holiday season, your vice president and I have an additional day to party? George and I both celebrate our birthday on December 26th. Happy birthday George!
My objectives
When I began my term as your president, I had three important goals in mind. The first was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Fort Pitt Division. In 2027, the Fort Pitt Division will observe its 50th anniversary. What began as a chapter of the Eastern Division in 1973 became a Division in 1977 with Jim Burke as the first president. Along with committee chairs, Sam and Jayne Merando, a banquet is being planned for May of 2027.
My second major goal is to increase membership in the Fort Pitt Division. There are many people across the United States that belong to the TCA but for whatever reason, choose not to belong to a division. I believe that in the Fort Pitt, we have one of the strongest of the 20 TCA divisions across the country. Just look at our meets! We have summer outings, a Christmas party and tinplate talks. We have a newsletter, a website and a FaceBook page. If you are a TCA member but not a Fort Pitt Division member, consider this your invitation. I have included an application for Fort Pitt Division membership in this issue of the Lockon. Remember, you must first be a national TCA member.
Goal #3: Our TCA, both locally and nationally needs new leaders. The Fort Pitt Division has always been led by strong volunteers who loved the organization and gave willingly of their time and talent. As has been previously stated, we need help at the day-of-show registration desk. We lost our friend, Duane Schulte who was our print advertising person. Can someone/will someone fill those shoes?
Our Fort Pitt Division leadership team consists of four officers, president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, who each serve a two year term. We also have a board of directors consisting of five members who serve four year terms. We meet on average, five times per year. 2026 will be a National election year but not a local election year. The next local election will be 2027. Consider becoming involved.
President 
In Memorium
Duane Schulte was a member of the Fort Pitt Division for nearly forty years. He was a member of the Board of Directors for several terms and served as the official photographer for the past several years. Many of the photos that have appeared in the Lockon were his work. In addition, Duane was the advertising point person for Fort Pitt Division train shows, a job which he took very seriously. From his hospital bed, he arranged the print advertisements in the Post Gazette and Tribune Review for our December 14th show, a show he sadly did not live to see.
Duane was a man of many passions including baseball. Like me, he was a season ticket holder of the Pittsburgh Pirates for many years. He was a strong proponent of the use of bunting as an offensive strategy. And of course, we had numerous discussions about Pirates management. How sad it is that he did not live to see the Pirates’ acquisitions of talent this off season.
Duane was also very much involved in his community. He served as a Councilman-at-Large for the Borough of Homestead and contributed 31 years on the Homestead Borough Civil Service Commission. He was also involved in the Enterprise Zone as well as volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
Duane Schulte was a loyal friend and a dedicated servant of the Fort Pitt Division. He will be in my thoughts on opening day of the baseball season and any time the situation lends itself to a sacrifice bunt. Let’s Go Bucs!
Regional Railroad News
NARCOA’s (North American Railcar Operators Association)annual speeder car trip
A favorite holiday tradition for my wife and I is the Westmoreland County NARCOA’s (North American Railcar Operators Association) Toys for Tots speeder parade. We pack a lunch and head for Youngwood to watch as approximately 30 railcar operators descend on Western Pennsylvania. The speeders are beautifully decorated for the Christmas season with Santa, the Grinch, Rudolph, and more. Every year, many toys are collected to help the less fortunate children of Westmoreland County.
The parade begins at the Savage intermodal in Mount Pleasant and proceeds through Bridgeport, Everson, Scottdale and Hunker on its way to South Greensburg. We like to see the parade at the Youngwood Train Museum where there is always fresh popcorn and the drivers deboard to chat with the crowd. We have met drivers from Michigan, West Virginia and Bellefonte, PA.
The parade is held in November, shortly before Thanksgiving. It is a wonderful event for the children and grandchildren, and best of all, it helps local families in need. Bring a toy or two and I hope to see you in Youngwood in 2026!
Fort Pitt Division Activities
2025 Fort Pitt Division Holiday Party
The Fort Pitt Division held its annual Holiday Celebration on Sunday, December 28th at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in West Mifflin. Sam and Jayne were our hosts for a lovely afternoon of cookies, pizza, and of course, trains. They have been involved with the Christmas party since 2004 when then Vice President, Matt Irvin asked them to take charge of the kids and door prizes. Thank you, Sam and Jayne.
It was a wonderful afternoon for families.
And of course, trains!
2025 Fort Pitt Division Holiday Train Show
On December 14th, the Fort Pitt Division held its Holiday Train Show at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Cheswick. The theme of the show became the show must go on! Indeed, despite 5 inches of snow, we had a highly successful show with more than 600 in total attendance. Sprits were bright as folks purchased gifts of trains and accessories for the Christmas layout.
Caedmon Christner, son of Rheanna and grandson of Shriner member, Bruce Hartman was the December Kids Raffle winner. Caedmon was so enthralled with the trains, he didn’t want to stop to pose for a photo. As train people, we all understand!
Live from the Fort Pitt Train Show w/SodanoTrains!
Mike DeCaro of Mad_Trains did a live stream from the show. If you would like to watch the video, here is a link: https://youtube.com/live/vMdFdT4GFfk?si=8GjbCtXBuRO9D_Cs
Member Feature
Member Spotlight: Neal Schorr
2026 National Model Railroad Association Jamboree
Division Two of the NMRA Mid-Central Region is pleased to announce that our annual Jamboree will be held on April 18th of this year. The event will be held at the Boyce Campus of Community College of Allegheny County in Monroeville. The Jamboree is a full day of seminars, displays, contests, and a white elephant sale. As during the past few years, we are offering the NMRA admission fee to members of the TCA in appreciation for the assistance that the Ft. Pitt Division has given us in promoting the event.
The Jamboree begins at 9 AM and includes breakfast and lunch. There is also an optional banquet including an after dinner speaker.
Registration information is available using the image of the front of the Jamboree Flyer or this link:
https://www.keystonedivision.org/jamboree_2026/jamboree_folder/2026%20Jamboree%20Flyer.pdf
If you do register, simply use your TCA number in place of the NMRA number and you need only include the NMRA member registration fee. And please note that the image used on the flyer is that of George Pandelios’s three rail layout! Hope to see you there!
Book Review
The Railroad That Never Was, by Herbert H. Harwood
Introduction
As railfans, we are well acquainted with the major 19th century eastern railroads. We know the Pennsylvania, the New York Central, the Baltimore and Ohio, even the Philadelphia and Reading, and the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie. But do you know about the South Pennsylvania Railroad? In his book, The Railroad That Never Was, Herbert H. Harwood, Jr. gives us a detailed look into plan of William H. Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, Franklin Benjamin McGowen and others to build a railroad across Pennsylvania to compete with the Pennsylvania Railroad. This book, published in 2010 by Indiana University Press is a detailed reference manual. Harwood has carefully researched the material and provides extensive documentation for his findings.
Summary
After the Civil War, railroads rapidly reshaped the country’s economy. The Pennsylvania, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt’s New York Central, and the Baltimore and Ohio emerged as “the big three.” Each had connections in eastern port cities, the Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, the New York Central in New York and the B&O in Baltimore. The three competed for business to midwestern cities like Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis.
By 1873, the Pennsy, led by President J. Edgar Thomson and Vice President Thomas A. Scott became the most powerful business in the country developing a system that reached New York, Washington, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Louisville.
But new leadership was coming soon. Thomson died in 1874 and Scott in 1881. George Brooke Roberts was selected to replaced them. When Cornelius Vanderbilt died in 1877 at age 82, he was succeeded by his eldest son, William H. Vanderbilt. John W. Garrett was president of the B&O from 1858 until his passing in 1884 when he was succeeded by his son, Robert.
Then there was the Philadelphia and Reading, better known as the Reading Railroad. It connected those two cities and had regional lines throughout Pennsylvania’s anthracite region. Through the Central Railroad of New Jersey, it had import and export markets. However, while the Reading had a strong presence in Philadelphia, it was effectively blocked beyond Harrisburg and Williamsport and was looking for outlets to the west.
Some Pittsburgh industrialists had become frustrated with high transportation rates and lack of competition. In 1875, a group of businessmen incorporated the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad to run from Pittsburgh to Youngstown via the Ohio and Beaver River valleys. At Youngstown, the P&LE could connect with the Atlantic & Great Western and the West Shore and Michigan Southern Railroads. Struggling early, the P&LE approached Vanderbilt for financial support, and in 1877, he bought a large block of stock. In 1879, the railroad was finished to Youngstown and Connellsville, and with Vanderbilt’s encouragement, extended up the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers to Connellsville. By 1883, Vanderbilt was a major stock holder in the P&LE.
Vanderbilt had now breached Pennsy territory in the west and desired to go from Pittsburgh to the east. In 1881, he began to explore a route west from Philadelphia toward Pittsburgh. A Vanderbilt agent acquired an inactive company called the South Pennsylvania Railroad. And so, the saga begins…
Analysis and Evaluation
- Strengths
Harwood gives the reader a clear description of the legion of players involved in the arduous process of planning this railroad. For example, he describes Franklin B. Gowen as “tall, handsome, and youthful looking, a gifted orator and dynamic personality.” Hamilton McK. Twombly is grave, sober, a very correct Bostonian and Harvard graduate, with a keen financial mind and deft money management skills.”
The complicated negotiations required to plan a railroad are detailed. For example, in describing the connections the South Penn would require, he writes, “and even before any firm financing had been established – the South Penn set up a traffic agreement with its connecting railroads… This was an essential legal first step that committed all the railroads involved – the Reading, the South Penn, and the P&LE and its PMcK&Y subsidiary, and the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern to preferential relationships with one another.”
Railroad maps are an integral component of this story, and Harwood provides many from source material.
- Weaknesses
While the use of maps is a strength, it is also sometimes problematic. Some of the maps are small, and the print can be difficult to read. While this is totally understandable as Harwood is relying on source material, it does make some of the details a challenge.
- Key Aspects
Harwood’s research is impeccable and well documented. He gives you a clear insight into the personalities of the industrialists involved.
I appreciate that he clearly differentiates speculation versus fact. For example, when William Vanderbilt decides to enter Pennsylvania Railroad stronghold, he writes, “So whatever possessed Vanderbilt to take on this kind of challenge? The common story is that he became enraged at what he thought was the Pennsylvania Railroad’s support of the New York, West Shore & Buffalo Railway, a projected new line directly paralleling his New York Central’s main line between New York Harbor and Buffalo. Perhaps. Or maybe not.”
And when Vanderbilt’s interest in southern Pennsylvania became serious, “several similar projects miraculously materialized… Their real motives probably will never be known; perhaps they were truly legitimate enterprises, perhaps cooperate blackmailers, hoping to be bought out, or possibly Pennsylvania Railroad surrogates aiming to block him.”
- Conclusion
The Railroad That Never Was is a fascinating read for anyone who is interested in the history of eastern railroading or the development of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It might also be a good study of late 19th century business practices. We are introduced to J.P. Morgan very early in his career and witness his growth in influence. I highly recommend this book. As I read, I found myself constantly thinking about traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
David Matthews
Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh
Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 15, 2026
Fort Pitt Division Train Show: Spring Train Show
Washington County Fairgrounds,
Saturday, April 11th, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Eastern Division Train Show: York Train Show
York Fairgrounds, 334 Carlisle Avenue, York, PA 17404
Purple Hall Show: April 20 – 22; Full Meet Schedule: April 23 – 25, 2026
72nd National TCA Convention
Grapevine/Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas,
Fort Pitt Division Train Show: Fall Train Show
Washington County Fairgrounds,
Saturday, September 26th, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Eastern Division Train Show: York Train Show
York Fairgrounds, 334 Carlisle Avenue, York, PA 17404,