Share: 

Riding the rails in support of Toys for Tots

Final motorcar run into Lewes in memory of Michael Herholdt Sr.
North American Railcar Operators Association cars motor along the track near Georgetown at the start of a ride to Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Ron MacArthur
November 15, 2017
Motorcars are in line in Georgetown and ready for the Michael Herholdt Sr. Memorial Toys for Tots Run.
The early-morning sun highlights fall colors on the Georgetown-to-Lewes rail line.
This view of a train on the tracks in Lewes will only be repeated one more time when a train returns to pick up tank cars. The rail line is being decommissioned.
An era of railroad transportation in Lewes will soon come to an end as the line is decommissioned and the tracks are removed.
Rylley, 5, and Jax Spencer, 3, of Lewes place toys in the Toys for Tots collection box.
Cameron Frampton, 6, of Bear is styling as he sits in one of the motorcars.
The restored Delaware Coast Line Railroad caboose and engine stop at the Lewes library.
Brianna Porter of Lewes has the best view from a window in the Delaware Coast Line Railroad restored caboose.
Decorated motorcars are lining up to take place in the Toys for Tots run.
Motorcar owners traveled hundreds of miles to take part in the event.
Roberta Ness and Ernest Buyok of Lancaster, Pa., push their motorcar complete with a large Santa hat along the tracks.
Blair Slaughter of West Chester, Pa., adds some glitter to his motorcar.
Dan Herholdt Jr. is owner of Delaware Coast Line Railroad and helped organize the Toys for Tots event in memory of his father.
The Delaware Coast Line Railroad has been in business since the 1980s.
U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots representatives present members of the North American Railcar Operators Association a certificate in appreciation of their donations. From left are Dean Grote and John “Boomer” Schmidt, representing the association, and Ted Bennicoff and Neil Corley, representing Toys for Tots.
Motorcars cross the Route 9 intersection in Cool Spring.
The line passes under the Nassau bridge.
The line of motorcars crosses the Kings Highway intersection in Lewes near the library.

It may not be the last Toys for Tots motorcar run in Sussex County, but it will definitely be the final one from Georgetown to Lewes.

A section of Delaware Coast Line Railroad track is being decommissioned, and the rails and ties will eventually be removed, making way for the Lewes-to-Georgetown pedestrian and bicycle trail. Organizers said while it's the last trip to Lewes, a section of track to Milton could be used for another run.

Railroad owner Dan Herholdt Jr. teamed up with members of the North American Railcar Operators Association Nov. 4 for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots event in memory of his father, Michael Herholdt Sr., who saved the railroad from abandonment in the 1980s.

The run ended at the Lewes library, where children were attending a special Saturday story time. In addition, The Shoreline Garden Railroad Club displayed large-scale train models inside the library.

Motorcar owners went north the following day for a run on the Wilmington & Western rail line. They collected numerous toys and $1,685 in cash for Sussex County Toys for Tots and $1,275 for the Wilmington-area toy drive, said John “Boomer” Schmidt, association member and event organizer.

Hobbyists are saving motorcars

In the past, small motorcars were used to inspect sections of track, while larger cars were used to provide track maintenance. Motorcars were replaced in the 1990s by pickup truck road-rail vehicles that have a separate set of wheels that can he lowered onto tracks.

It's now up to hobbyists to find discarded motorcars and restore them back to use. Most of the motorcars are 5 to 10 feet in length, seat two to four people and run with a lawnmower-like engine.

Motorcars have hydraulic lifts so they can be turned around on the tracks for out-and-back rides.

Most Popular

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter

Most Popular