KVRR / History / KV Hosts NRHS Excursion

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	Members of the National Railway Historical Society congregate in front of the station, shortly after arriving in Belleville. (Robert G. Lewis collection) Click an Image to Enlarge


	It was originally agreed by the Society that there would be no cab riding, but Getter responded that the train "boys" were all "hecked-up" over the group coming, and that they would be pleased to have members in the cab with them. (Robert G. Lewis collection)

	Photographic proof that the KV was on the north end of the PRR's Milroy Branch - the excursion train seen beside the rock bins at the Naginey quarries near Milroy. (Robert G. Lewis collection)

KV Hosts NRHS Excursion

Dr. Getter enjoyed handing out passes to railfans interested in the KV. One of these was Robert G. Lewis, a PRR employee from Philadelphia. After a couple of rides across the scenic road, Lewis, a member of the National Railway Historical Society, got the doctor interested in hosting his club for a tour. The two organized what would become the KV's only railfan excursion trip.

Sunday, August 1,1937, was the day of the big excursion. At 7:05 that morning 80 club members boarded a westbound train from Philadelphia. For the trip, Pennsy generously provided the railfans with their own observation car. Around 12:30 the train arrived at Lewistown Junction, where the KV train was waiting. The fans climbed aboard, distributing themselves all over the pilot, in-side the engine cab, in the vestibules and even on top of the coaches - every-where they could indulge in the railroad "feel." The interiors of the coaches were reported by The Sentinel to be practically vacant, since "a real bonafide member would rather sit on a lump of coal in the tender any old time than ride on a plush seat."

An hour later, they reached their destination and sat down to a plain country meal at the Belleville Community Hall. Dr. Getter, the president of the KV at that time, gave a small speech of welcome, and the Gibboney sisters, Jane and Betty, sang several selections, two of which, "Casey Jones" and "We are Working on the Railroad," were said to have "brought down the house."

On the return trip, the society took the opportunity to tour the northern extension of the Pennsy's Milroy Branch, but aboard the KV train. This was the only recorded instance in which the proud KV traveled to Milroy. Its purpose was to show the railfans the Bethlehem quarries in Naginey, a trip they thoroughly enjoyed.

Although the train saved switching time by turning on the wye at Milroy, it was still running about a half-hour late. The Pennsy express was to leave Lewistown at 5:04 p.m. and would not wait. The fans' schedule was met by the KV, with credit due to engineer Bruce Harshbarger. He pulled open the throttle and is said to have made record time back to Lewistown.

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