“Tracks to the Golden Triangle” is the theme for the 2024 Railway & Locomotive Historical Society’s annual meeting, to be held in Pittsburgh on May 15-18. The host will be R&LHS’s Steel City Chapter. Event headquarters will be the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square. Station Square is a shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment complex that is based in and around the former Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad’s 1901 passenger station, general office, and freight house. Room rate for R&LHS attendees is $175/night + tax. Book reservations directly with the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square, 300 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, Pa., 412-261-2000. “Steel City Chapter-Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Inc.” will appear at the top of the page. The R&LHS rate is good through April 17 and parking costs $30/day and is handled by a vendor, ABM Parking, 412-261-1993.
Click here to access the registration form (adobe reader required). The cost is $400 each for member and member guest(s) and $430 for non-members which includes a one year membership in the R&LHS.
Among the activities planned are:
Wednesday, May 15
● Afternoon, 3 to 5 p.m., registration at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square, followed by meet-and greet. Dinner on your own. Annual R&LHS meeting, 8 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, May 16
● Morning, a ride on an LRV car of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s light-rail system, ending with a tour of PRT’s South Hills Maintenance Facility.
● Afternoon, bus transfer to visit the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, Pa., which offers a four-mile ride on a portion of a former interurban route. PTM recently opened a $15 million visitor and education center with interpretive exhibits, interactive kiosks, a theater, and a gift shop.
● Evening, railroad-theme dinner and showing of “The General” film with piano and brass band accompaniment by Tom Roberts at the Teutonia Männerchor German Club.
Friday, May 17
● Morning/Afternoon, Trip on Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian passenger train via Norfolk Southern’s Pittsburgh Line and the landmark Horseshoe Curve to Huntingdon, Pa., for bus transfer to the narrow-gauge East Broad Top (EBT) Railroad at Rockhill Furnace, Pa. At EBT, a National Historic Landmark, members will ride the steam train, tour the circa-1900 shops and roundhouse, and take a ride on a car of the Rockhill Trolley Museum.
● Evening, stop for dinner en route on the bus trip back to Pittsburgh.
Saturday, May 18
● Morning, Bus trip for inspection of the Union Railroad shops at Hall, Pa.
● Afternoon, Bus trip to Norfolk Southern’s Conway Yard at Conway, Pa.
● Evening, annual R&LHS banquet.
NOTE: Final schedule for meals is pending arrangements.
Important Considerations:
1. Long pants and closed-toe shoes or work boots are required for shop tours. No shorts or sandals.
2. Amtrak, East Broad Top, and light-rail vehicles are ADA-accessible. Not all historic trolley equipment is accessible.
3. No refund of R&LHS registration fee after April 30.
4. Attendees with dietary needs must contact the R&LHS Steel City Chapter in writing at 222 Waugaman Road, Harrison City, PA 15636-1403 at least two weeks prior to the event.