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Bennington Curve

Our first encounter with Benny, its rock out cropping, and signal bridge, was made in 1975. Myself, and Bill Strassner, set out for Bennington Curve one weekend, where we were to meet up with Snuffy Smith, Tinker Bonscher, and Switzy.

Well Bill, and I arrived around 1 am. Saturday morning after chasing the then Penn Central downgraded version of the Broadway from Harrisburg. We saw it at Lewistown, and Tyrone.

As we drove down the row down from Gallitzin, down the RR access road, we eventually came upon Snuff, Tinker, and Switzy. They already hacked out a clearing to park the vans. (Mine & Snuffy's, which had no spare tire, another story) As we back in, I get hung up on a tree stump, Bill says, Lemmie put on my glasses, and see what is blocking us.

After much jocking for position, we get into position, over comes Snuffy. Bill yells out "Snuffy Pressure feather!!!" (Referring to the pressure cooker incident which was one reason why Snuff was divorced. (Another story.) Tinker says, "You want a cold one?" referring to a Coke, which flowed in Stevie's veins. Bill Says, no thanks "Were cold from cold ones!"

About then, a westbound freight's helper come into view and hearing. The SD-45, of a two unit helper combination was howling up a storm! Burping! Shooting bursts of flames from the stack! Seems the SD-45 blew a turbo earlier in the day, but the PC in their infinite wisdom, chose to let her continue to run, and destroy herself! Sure was a great show for all of us, the sound was unreal! Like a giant vacuum cleaner!

Every once in a while we would get the engineer to sound the horn for us, which was usually a well worn Leslie S-3L. God I hated them! Sometimes only one bell out of the three would sound, this even carried over to the Conrail days. Pitifully!

When the Broadway came through with E units, at least these had Nathan M-3's on them, love that C#, E, A. That's music!

Many of great times were spent at this location, with many great fans. Charlie Smith, Steve Bonscher, Paula Bonscher, Bill Strassner, Barry Trogu, and his son, Paul Wilson, Walter Switz, Jim Boyle, Mike and Lorraine Wikman, Myself, and my boys, and many others. Soon there after, an article describing this spot appeared in Bob Reid's PC Railroader. The rest of railfandom discovered Benny.

Bill Strassner, Myself, Steve Bonscher, Charles Smith, Walter Switz, like to think we discovered Benny, or at least, made a suitable rail/camp site there back in 1975. I would think now in NS. Days if one dared venture there, you would be spending many White Christmas's in some Federal pen!

Ed K. cp. Laurel Run