Memories of TMR (Alan Yanofsky)

The great Erie Railroad, now a short line for CSX, still winds its way up the Delaware River from Jersey City through Port Jervis passing TMR, over Erie Bridge #9 past old Canoe Outpost on its way to Binghamton. Runs freight exclusively with consists no longer than 60 cars.  Speed limit no more than 40 MPH.  Averages 3 trains a week usually between 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM.  This stretch does not require horn service except to scatter deer and bear. Main customer in Narrowsburg sill Narrowsburg Lumber and occasionally Narrowsburg Feed (FKA Honor Brand Feed). Still one of those romantic parts of TMR hearing trains rumbling up and down its roadbed that reverberates soundly along with the TMR river properties. The romance with Scouting, camping and trains can be experienced from a bunk in a lean-to in the wilds of Divisions 1,2,3 &4 or the Delaware Division. Still a wonderment of TMR. John Romanovich  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taps, the last bugle call of the day.  The only one usually not ending with the few extra notes added after all of the other bugle calls which identified the Division of the bugler.   One had just 3 notes while another had 6.  After Taps, I stayed awake in my leanto bunk awaiting the plaintive sound of the Erie Railroad horn, usually around 10:30 PM as it echoed up from the Delaware valley.  That was my "Day is done..." Morty ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All,  As I remember it, the song was based on the nostalgic World War I song, "Till We Meet Again", but with different words. To close the Council Fire, the four divisions stood up and sang,   "Round the burning council fire's light, We have met in comradeship tonight. Round about the whispering trees, guard our golden memories. And so, before we close our eyes in sleep, Let us pledge each other that we'll keep, Scouting friendships strong and deep, Till we meet again." We remained standing while the bugler of the division that was hosting that period's council fire, sounded taps. We then silently filed out of the ring to begin our walk back to our respective divisions. At least, this is how I remember it. And come to think of it, our Arrowhead Group is living up to that pledge. Till we meet again. Ahoalton. Neil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day is done, Gone the Sun, From the lakes, From the hills, From the skies, All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  I refer to my first "All Brooklyn Tahlequah Council Fire" in 1946.  Many hundreds of Scouts and guests sat in the bleachers surrounding the stone seats as the flames waned near the end of the program.  One of the last songs that we sung was: "Our paddles keen and bright,  Flashing like silver. Swift as the pale moonlight,  Dip, dip and swing..." I recall the event as if it happened last evening. M We remained standing while the bugler of the division that was hosting that period's council fire, sounded taps. We then silently filed out of the ring to begin our walk back to our respective divisions. At least, this is how I remember it. And come to think of it, our Arrowhead Group is living up to that pledge. Till we meet again. Ahoalton. Neil ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day is done, Gone the Sun, From the lakes, From the hills, From the skies, All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  I refer to my first "All Brooklyn Tahlequah Council Fire" in 1946.  Many hundreds of Scouts and guests sat in the bleachers surrounding the stone seats as the flames waned near the end of the program.  One of the last songs that we sung was:  "Our paddles keen and bright,  Flashing like silver. Swift as the pale moonlight,  Dip, dip and swing..." I recall the event as if it happened last evening. M