Warbird Information Exchange

Hello everyone - I am a new member from Boston, MA, USA. I am primarily a model airplane builder, and I am hoping some knowledgeable persons here on WIX will be able to point me to some information regarding a B-25 Mitchell that was owned and operated by the New York Central railroad during the late 1950's and early 1960's. I have only seen oblique references to this a/c in some railfan magazines, and would really love to learn more about this aircraft with an eye towards building a model of it. I know that the NYC's pilot was named Don Wetzel, a USMC-trained pilot who worked for the railroad's Cleveland Technical Center. Mr. Wetzel was also the engineer of the NYC's famous experimental "Jet train", with 2 turbojets mounted (surplus off a B-36!) on the roof of a Budd RDC car. Mr. Wetzel drove this to a US speed record of 183mph in 1966.

If there are any of you warbird experts out there with any knowledge of this interesting civil B-25, I would be very appreciative of any links, pointers, or any other info.

thanks in advance,
Bob Hottin
Boston, MA

Bob I think I have a few photos of your B-25. I'll post them shortly. Thanks for the post. Very interesting story about Don Wetzel and his 'jet' train. The link below was fascinating. The video's great.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/building ... as-kellner

Thanks again

Mark

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Thanks Mark. I knew this was the right place to ask this question. The link was very interesting - Don Wetzel sounds like a fascinating guy.
bob Hottin

Bob,
You got curious about this from that article in this month's Railfan magazine, didn't you?
I read that recently and was wondering the same thing...

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

Ha ha! Absolutely correct, P51. I had heard of the jet train before, but never that the NYC had a B-25. It would be very cool to build a model of it...
bob Hottin

Referencing my ever-increasingly-dog-eared copy of Scott Thompson's, B-25 Mitchell in Civil Service; Appendix 2, Listing of Registered Owners, I find no reference for the New York Central. Any chance it was owned by another entity associated with NYCRR?

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Cheers,

Craig

Facebook Groups:

U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky HRS / CH-19 Helicopter Database
U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky HO4S / HH-19 Helicopter Database

Thanks Craig - Yeah, it's certainly possible it was registered to an affiliated company; the NYC owned a dizzying variety of businesses. The most likely to yield a response is probably "Cleveland Technical Center" - this was an engineering facility wholly owned by NYC, and it was there that the "Jet Train" project was based. So maybe "CTC" or "Cleveland Technical Center" might produce a hit.

I'll keep checking with some other sources as well - an interesting mystery!
Thanks to all who have responded so far.

bob Hottin

Strike two. Happy to check any other possibilities you come up with. Then too, perhaps Mister Civil B-25 himself, Scott Thompson, will chime in.

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Cheers,

Craig

Facebook Groups:

U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky HRS / CH-19 Helicopter Database
U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky HO4S / HH-19 Helicopter Database

A cursory look in my records shows nothing connected to the railroad. Wetzel was based in Cleveland...perhaps a connection there but nothing seems to tie up in the civil records I have on the B-25s. Perhaps a photo or two will surface?

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Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
WIX Subscriber Since July 2017

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

For those hunting for the NYCRR B-25, be careful not to be lead astray by the B-26's the bought for the war effort.
http://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2016/ ... t-bombers/

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."