If you’ve spent a summer weekend on the porch, there’s a good chance you’ve met Dave Abeles. He’s been coming up the mountain longer than almost anyone on the shelf, and his group hasn’t missed a year since 1994.
At home in Lebanon, New Jersey, Dave is a manager at NJ Transit, where he oversees maintenance of rail stations. He and his wife, whom he describes as a lot of fun to hang out with, have three kids.
Trains have been part of his life for as long as he can remember. That means railfanning and photography close to home, and western trips to see what there is to see. It also means a layout of his own: Dave models in HO scale, and his Onondaga Cutoff recreates Conrail’s operations around Syracuse, New York, in 1994. Ask him about it. He’ll tell you.
First Trip: September 1994
Dave was 17. He loaded the family minivan with his 14-year-old brother and three close friends and drove west for his first big road trip: three nights atop the Allegheny Ridge, watching Conrail at what he calls its zenith.
“Busy, busy railroad,” he remembers. It was one of the most exciting weekends of his life to that point.
The timing turned out to be historic. By Dave’s account, it was the same weekend Conrail took down the Cresson Secondary flyover bridge at MO Interlocking, and the whole town came out to watch.
That trip became a tradition. The group has grown since then, and it keeps coming back.
In Dave’s Words
Why Trains?
“Railroads are intricate yet huge organizations moving heavy equipment through fascinating scenery. They’re the backbone that built this nation’s economy and tied it together. I love how vital they are: the continuity of operations, the history of the corporate cultures, the perseverance of the employees.”
“I love American railroading of the ’80s and ’90s, but I also love steam and history. At heart I’m an EMD 645 fan. Conrail is amazing, and the D&RGW is a favorite.”
Why We Come Back
“Locale, people, and traditions. Our group has grown, but we’ve never missed a year.”
Standing Orders
“Beer. Lots of it. Also railfanning at the Ledge, Benny (Bennington Curve), and Cassandra, at a minimum.”
Ask Dave About
Conrail in the ’80s and ’90s · The Onondaga Cutoff (HO) · EMD 645s · The D&RGW · September 1994 on the mountain
