Railroad Richie of Rhode Island Operation Lifesaver speaks to young children about railroad safety!
The Friends of Kingston Station, and Rhode Island Operation Lifesaver volunteers, annually assist in the holiday rush at Thanksgiving by opening museum Room of the Rhode Island Railroad Museum at Kingston Station, serving refreshments and coffee, answering questions and helping the travelers and visitors relax while awaiting trains.
The kiosks are a big help in keeping passengers informed on the train status as well as a form of entertainment.
Unlike the first bike rack, that was installed near the the stairway to the overpass, this shining new unit is placed where bikes can been seen from most vista's both inside and outside of the northeast part of the station grounds.
Our first bike rack was seldom used in it's lonely distant location. It didn't last long there before it was run over by an elderly driver who hit her gas peddle instead of her brakes one day pulling up to the parking spaces.
During the construction of the overpass four years ago, the remaining pieces were removed and we have been without a proper bike rack for the last five years. The Friends are hoping that bike users will now refrain from leaning bikes up against the stations new paint job, or laying bikes down in front of the door ways and sidewalks in front of the exits. A long time amicable relationship with the South County Tourism directors has been fruitful on this an other projects to support passengers and visitors.
It may be possible to install additional bike racks at other locations near the station in the future as needed. Most of the bike riders coming to the station currently are those using the O'Neil bike path. We have less than a half dozen passengers of Amtrak using bikes on a regular basis, but this may also change as the rack is discovered.
5. We have two newly approved slides for Presenters to use regarding electrification and third rail issues, which at this point occur mostly in the Northeast.
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TO: Region 1 Coordinators / RIOL Team
This is a redirect to update you on Progress of RIOL's request for an electrification presentation slide.
We have been making a case for this slide as part of a critical trespass danger for over five years now.
This is a very important trespass aspect for us, and with every city, town, and state along an electrified line.
I submitted sample photographs I have taken of engine panagraph and overhead catenary power structures, as well as some sample scripts. The photograph shown here is one I took at Kingston Rhode Island. I inserted the warning sign with photoshop and cropped the entire image to focus on the panagraph and catenary wire.
Other OL contributors mentioned below have since contributed specifically to improving on the scripts and also the third rail images.
Some of you may recall that our new president promised, at our most recent Vermont Regional 2007 SC luncheon, to follow up on this for us.
Andy Davis of the PDC contacted me directly after the PDC met and immediately began working on this with us.
I have also received continued support from Charlie Anlonge, Patrick Corcoran, Rich Neff, Nancy Hudson, Terry Ludban, Alvin Richardson, Vivian Speight-Bridges, and others.
Your support as Region 1 state leaders is appreciated as we move forward, and I hope using this slide soon!
I suspect many of us will find this slide one of our top choices in most presentations on railroad right of way trespass dangers, especially in Region 1!
We are hoping to have this slide available for use in this coming year [2008].
Sincerely,
Jack McCabe
SC RIOL
A portion of the exhibition will be mounted in the Historic Kingston Train Station, Amtrak Waiting Room, beginning January 16. Partners for the complementary “town and gown” program are the Friends of the Kingston Station and Amtrak. Available at both sites, a Program Guide accompanies the exhibitions. Complementing the video exhibition, the Corridor Gallery showcases staged photographs by a leading photographer from the Slovak Republic, Pavel Pecha (see below).
The special exhibition is guest curated by Independent Curator Viera Levitt, a native Slovakian now living in Rhode Island. From 1997-2005 Levitt was director/curator of the contemporary art showcase, Jan Koniarek Gallery, located in the historic town of Trnava. She was the youngest director ever in a public art museum in the Slovak Republic.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Central European Video Art
from the Czech and Slovak Republics,
Poland, and Hungary
Main GALLERY
Fine Arts Center Galleries, University of Rhode Island
January 24—February 10, 2008
Guest-curated by VIERA LEVITT
Kingston Train Station
Shown in a continuous loop within a bay window in the Kingston Train Station, the meditative character of Pavel Mrkus’ Seagull, 2005 (with music composed and played by Aziza Sadikova) will intrigue and calm travelers. Mrkus is an international digital media and glass artist represented by a gallery in Dresden. He has also taught at RISD as a Visiting Professor. This video combines a romanticized historical interior with a 3D animation of a flying golden seagull. The ambience of the video setting, its mirrors and shining chandelier, strangely echoes the décor of the Kingston Waiting Room.
Public Closing Reception & Remarks by Curator
On Sunday afternoon, February 10, 2-4 pm, a Reception will be held in the Main Gallery, Fine Arts Center Galleries. The Guest Curator will speak about the exhibition at that time.
Main Gallery hours are T – F, 12 noon – 4 pm & Sat. – Sun. 1 – 4 pm.
All Galleries are handicapped accessible.
Classes and other groups are encouraged to visit after hours;
please call 401.874.2775 to make arrangements.
The Fine Arts Center Galleries are open to the public without charge.
Contributions are gratefully accepted.
