About The Author
Capt. Bill has been a life-long NJ transport historian and preservationist, writer, author, publisher, bookseller, lecturer, canal study tour leader, and philanthropist. He was employed as an independent loss control consultant: railroad - rapid transit - light rail from 1996-1998. Prior to that he worked for CIGNA Property & Casualty Insurance Companies, Loss Control Services as a senior railroad specialist. McKelvey wrote the following books: Delaware & Raritan Canal: A Photographic History - 1975, Champlain to Chesapeake: A Canal Era Pictorial Cruise - 1978, Lehigh Valley Transit Company's Liberty Bell Route - 1989, The Transportation History of Boonton, NJ - 2018 and published "The Old Raging Erie... There Have Been Several Changes" by Harry L. Rinker -1984, and The Schuylkill Navigation: A Photographic History by Harry L. Rinker - 1991. His achievements include: Advocates for New Jersey History: 2012 Dwyer Award for outstanding achievement in journalism related to or supporting New Jersey History; American Canal Society: Life Member / Vice President / Director Emeritus; American Society of Safety Engineers, New Jersey Chapter: Professional Member / Past President 1965-1995; Canal Society of New Jersey: Life Member / Director / Consultant 1975 - present; Canal Study Tour Leader / Historian: US, Canada; Champlain / Delaware & Raritan Canals 1988, 1990; Erie Canal; England / Wales: 1973, 1974, 1982, 1987, 1990, 1998, 2005, 2010; Holland: 1995; Ireland: 1991, 2001; South France: 1993; Certified Safety Professional: 1973 - Retired 1998; Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center, Inc.: 1989-2011 / Founding Member / Director / President Emeritus / Curator / Collections Manager / Editor, New Jersey Transport Heritage 1991- 2011 / Annual Symposium Coordinator 1990 - 2011 / Book Sales Manager / Facility Manager: Rail Storage Yard; Pump House / 2011 "Public Service" Award in Recognition of the Contributions of Capt. Bill McKelvey; Liberty Historic Railway, Inc.: 2010+ Founder / Chairman Emeritus / Treasurer / Site Search Leader; New Jersey General Assembly: Recipient of Legislative Proclamations: 2009 & 2011; New Jersey Historical Commission: Award of Recognition for Outstanding Service to Public Knowledge and Preservation of the History of New Jersey 1984; Rutgers University, Bloustein School of Planning: Liberty State Park Rail Access Feasibility Study: Advisor & Part Time Lecturer 2008-2009; Society for Industrial Archeology, Roebling Chapter: 2004 John Augustus Roebling Award for "dedication to preserving the transportation heritage of New Jersey in all its watered and wheeled forms"; Tri-State Railway Historical Society: Lifetime Membership Awarded 2017; Annual Thomas Taber Service Award 2018; United Railroad Historical Society of NJ: 1989 – Delegate / Site Committee Chair. Upsala College, Business Administration Major - 1962. US Army, Served in Korea and as Post Engineer Assistant, El Paso, TX 1957-1960, Honorably Discharged 1963. Bloomfield, NJ Senior High School 1957.
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