Tri-State Railway Historical Society

05/14/2026

Ride the Rockaway Loop

05/12/2026

REMINDER: Join us this Thursday for "Ride the Rockaway Loop," a detailed look at the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad's unique rail line through Rockaway, NJ. Presented by Richie King, the program utilizes some of the extensive holdings of the Mike Del Vecchio Library & Archive. The program will be available virtually. Register today! Attendance is free and all are welcome.

Ride the Rockaway Loop Presented by Richard King Many of New Jersey’s earliest railroads followed crooked, circuitous routes that were later straightened or bypassed in the name of efficiency. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad was a leading proponent of such improvements, and one

04/07/2026

REMINDER! Join us this Thursday night for a look at the Merci Train, its relationship to New Jersey, and the rediscovery of New Jersey's Merci Boxcar. This meeting will be offered virtually on Zoom. Attendance is free and all are welcome. Register today!

Trains Across the Sea: New Jersey and the Merci Train Presented by Kevin Phalon In 1947, popular and controversial journalist Drew Pearson challenged Americans to do their part to aid a starving postwar Europe. In doing so, individual Americans would loudly proc

03/26/2026

The Block Line is headed to the printer. This special issue examines the Rockaway Loop of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, using material drawn almost entirely from the holdings of the Mike Del Vecchio Library & Archive in Boonton, New Jersey. Inside is a detailed look at this distinctive section of the DL&W, including a tour of the line, its quirks and oddities, information on the last station agent, and its final day of operation. Copies are being mailed to members paid through 2026.

03/05/2026

REMINDER: Join us next week on Zoom for a look at the Reading with Dale Woodland. Attendance is free and all are welcome! Register today.

Pursuing the Reading: One Man’s Obsession Presented by Dale Woodland

03/02/2026

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to yesterday’s JCRHS Train Show! Your enthusiasm and generous support helped us raise funds for the Mike Del Vecchio Library & Archive, and that makes a real difference in preserving our shared railroad history.

Special thanks to Bill, Frank, Khoji, and Kevin for manning the sales tables and keeping everything running smoothly throughout the day. We couldn’t have done it without you!

📸 Alan Zelazo

02/05/2026

REMINDER: Join us next week for a look at the Erie Lackawanna's Gladstone Branch with Tom Nemeth. The meeting will be available virtually on Zoom. Attendance is free and all are welcome. Register today!

The EL Gladstone Branch Presented by Tom Nemeth Tom Nemeth, Editor of Railpace Newsmagazine and longtime friend of Tri-State will be taking us on a tour of the EL Gladstone Branch. Nemeth has been a prolific photographer and his presentation will feature unusual and quirky subjects on the Gladston

02/01/2026

We continue to make steady progress at the Mike Del Vecchio Library & Archive, including the ongoing development of our online catalog. We now have more than 3,500 entries, primarily covering our extensive book and magazine collections, all of which are searchable at tristatearchive.org.

01/08/2026

REMINDER: Join us tonight at 7:30 PM for “The Race to the Water Gap” with Mike Helbing. This presentation will be available on Zoom. Attendance is free and all are welcome. Register now!

The Race to the Water Gap Presented by Mike Helbing Early railroading in northwest New Jersey was shaped by terrain and the race to be able to expand westward. Mike traces the history of the the original railroads, who won the race and how the railroads were able to realize their westward expansio

12/15/2025

A huge thank-you to the 2,500+ riders who joined us for Ride With Santa! - Santa Train in Wayne, NJ! Your holiday spirit and enthusiasm made the event truly special!

We are deeply grateful to NJ TRANSIT for their continued support and dedicated staff who make the safe and efficient operation of the Santa Train possible, and to all of our hard working volunteers who helped to make the day such a success.

Thank you for celebrating the season with the Tri-State Railway Historical Society—we wish you a joyous holiday! 🎅🏻 🎄

📸 Joey DeLuccia, Amanda Ellmer