Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 6

6a COURIER-POST, Wednesday May 24, 1989 Railroad buffs witness history in first run of Gamblers Express 1 -vitrei rwfXt in 1982. A brother, James, is an assistant conductor on the new line. "This is a tough little run because it has so many grade crossings. As we get the kinks out, it will be even smoother," he said. Some of the 50 members of the West Jersey Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society who i were aboard kept track of the progress of the tram, checking their watches at each signal area against an official Amtrak schedule that they had somehow obtained.

(These signal schedules are normally available only to Amtrak employees.) They rattled off dates, names and statistics about, railroading that boggled the mind of the average rider, the train's long and short whistle toots at crossings and its bellringing at stations were like masterpieces of music to their ears. Society historian Frank Kozempel, of Cinnamin-son, raised himself out of his coach seat to point to the exact spot west of River Road in Pennsauken where the Nellie Bly, an early predecessor, had crashed 46 years ago. He and seatmate Paul Schopp of Riverton, chapter secretary, were delighted at the restoration of service. "We feel there is a need. We can't just keep building highways." By CAROL COMEGNO Courier-Post Staff ABOARD THE ATLANTIC CITY EXPRESS Amtrak conductor J.J.

Lese peered down the football field-length platform and signaled the flagman at the rear with a roaring "All 'board!" Without so much as a jolt or a screech, the first Amtrak Atlantic City Express diesel train glided out of Philadelphia on its first daily revenue run to Atlantic City. The engine didn't belch black smoke or steam like the locomotives of early railroading, the train had no catchy name like the Broadwalk Flyer or the Nellie Bly and its wheels did not make that familiar, monotonous clickety-clack as they passed over the rails. None of that mattered, however, to Lese or to his passengers, many of whom were railroad enthusiasts along for a history-making first ride. "Trains have changed, but there is still a romanticism, a fascination about them," said Lese, who lives in Delran and who is assigned to work the new line. "We don't have brakemen any more, but we still call 'all each in our own style and we have better cars and air conditioning." Lese is from a family of railroad men, beginning with his father, who spent 46 years on the old Atlantic City Line and worked until the last Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Line service to Atlantic City ended SI AccnriatAH PrPCQ Maiden trip: Amtrak's new Atlantic City leaves Atlantic City.

The route links the Shore to Express known as the Gamblers Express Northeast corridor service. Casino passengers get a run for their money on new Gamblers Express day did not bother traveler Doris Clemens, of Philadelphia, who said she would rather take the train because it is "safer than driving, more peaceful and comfortable." Timothy P. Gardener, vice presi-, dent of passenger marketing for Amtrak, said that casino packages with two hotels are being explored for passengers who stay overnight. "We are trying to appeal to a broader market. Rail is not the cheapest way to travel nor is it the fastest, but we believe it is the most civilized for the value.

The cost of a round-trip ticket is $25 from Philadelphia, $46 from New York and $49 from Continued from Page 1A By coincidence, yesterday's initiation of public rail service came on the same day that a seashore train from Atlantic City crashed on the same line in the Delair section of Pennsauken in 1943, killing 13 people. The wreck of the Nellie Bly, one of several famous trains to provide service to Atlantic City in its earlier heyday, was attributed to poor track conditions and excessive speed. Train No. 678, the first Atlantic City Express to arrive yesterday, originated in Philadelphia and left on time at 9:30 a.m. but did not roll into the station until 11:02 a.m.

15 minutes late. The train engineer said continuing delays are being experienced on and on bridges. Steam locomotives like the Nellie Bly that once used the line regularly reached speeds of more than 100 mph in the open stretches between Egg Harbor and Atlantic City. All of the gates on the 42 grade crossings the most of any Amtrak line in the Northeast were operating yesterday. Amtrak officials said they have had to repair several already hit by vehicles and that they are adjusting some that are not being lowered at least 30 seconds before the train arrives at a crossing.

Local train service from Linden-wold to Atlantic City was discontinued in 1982 by the then Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Line, and no direct service from ping pictures of its historic passage. At the new train station here, Eassengers became confused ecause construction is still under way. No exits signs directed passengers to the main entrance, which is one level below the station floor, and only a few of 200 seats had been installed. At 30th Street station in Philadelphia, a vendor was selling passengers a limited number of T-shirts for the Gamblers Express, a nickname given the line by South Jersey groups protesting the speed of the train at grade-level crossings through densely populated communities. The express trains reach speeds of 80 to 90 mph but slow to under 35 mph at several bends in the line the Conrail-owned railroad bridge over the Delaware River in Delair, where the train is forced to either stop or slow to a crawl because of work on the bridge and communications problems with Conrail dispatchers that Amtrak is trying to resolve.

Other trains from New York and Washington arrived afterward and were also late because of speed restrictions along other sections of the Northeast corridor and on the Delair bridge. On board the train, there was much talk of railroad lore and excitement at being on the first train. Outside along the route, rail workers, store owners and homeowners stopped their routine to greet the train, waving and snap Philadelphia or New York has been available for almost two decades. Lindenwold is the only New Jersey stop to Atlantic City until the state initiates its own commuter rail service on the same line. An announcement by state trans-portaton officials yesterday said the delayed commuter service may begin by September.

Amtrak officials hold hopes for growth of the line, which is aimed at attracting the overnight tourist rather than the car or bus day tripper. Consquently, Amtrak and the casinos are not offering a daily gambling package with food vouchers like the bus lines. The lack of a casino offer yester T7 iBm IREliS Visit any Utosenblutfi location by une 2 fordetaibl no purchase necessary) Jfte More You Buy The More You Save 0 IRELAND ROSENBLUTH EXCLUSIVE Sdbf Our cashiers will deduct S20J00 6 Nights From $739 Daily Departures through October 31. 1989 Roundtrip air on AerLingus ft from Philadelphia Accommodations at your choice of hotels and country houses Rental car with unlimited mileage All rates are per person, double occupancy. Price valid through 614.

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