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| 1946 was a momentous year for the Buffalo
Chapter. The war was over, the members were back from the service,
railroads could run charter trips, and the year was marred by the sudden
death of founder Russell Shapely, in October. Fan trips were run often
and the Chapter hosted it's first National NRHS Convention. |
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| The Officers of the Chpater in 1946 were: |
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President |
Russell H. Shapely |
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Vice President |
John Clark |
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Vice President-Publicity |
William Kessel |
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Recording Secretary |
John Prophet |
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Corresponding Secretary |
Roy Cross |
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National Director |
Roy Cross |
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| Russell Shapely continued as National Vice
President - Field Trips |
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| A planned and advertised fantrip on the New York
Central Lines from Buffalo to Dunkirk and then on the Valley Branch to
Titusville, PA, had to be cancelled when the railroad claimed that passenger
cars could not operate on the branch. A substitute trip on the NYC
"Peanut Branch" was run, and in years to follow it was suddenly found that
trips could be run on the Valley Branch as well! This excursion was
recorded in the Buffalo Courier Express in the week following the July
21st excursion. The Courier Express article has been recreated - click
on the Courier Express banner to view:
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| Suddenly, on October 16, 1946, Chapter President
Russell H. Shapely died of a heart attack at his home. A letter which
Russell wrote to the members in late July, less than 3 months before his
death, illustrates his personality and his dedication to the Chapter:
The obituary printed in the Courier Express newspaper has been
recreated here: |
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