Chapter Equipment The Official Newsletter of the Roanoke Chapter, National At long, long last, we can report that the UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS Railway Historical Society, Inc. Chapter’s six passenger cars and Alco T6 August 21, 2003 – Regular Meeting locomoitve have left the West Virginia Volume 35, Number 7/8 Central. After what seems like an inter- September 2, 2003 – Board Meeting July/August 2003 minable delay, CSX picked up the cars on September 18, 2003 – General Meeting July 15th and took them to Grafton, they arrived at Cumberland on the 30th and October 7, 2003 – Board Meeting were interechanged to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad who will be doing October 11, 2003 - Chapter Outing some repair work to the equipment to make October 16, 2003 – General Meeting it safe for the trip on to Roanoke, or wher- ever they may go for their next use. November 4, 2003 – Board Meeting Chapter members are prohibited from accessing or visiting the equipment without November 20, 2003 – Annual Meeting direct permission and clearance from Ken December 2, 2003 – Board Meeting Miller or Carl Jensen. Holiday Gathering - Stay Tuned!

http://community.roanoke.com/RoanokeChapterNationalRailwayHistoricalSociety

Turntable Times is published monthly as the newsletter of the Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, Inc. Opinions and points of view expressed herein are those of the staff members of the Turntable Times and not necessarily reflect those of the members, officers or directors of the Chapter. Items of interest should be sent to Editor Kenny Kirkman, 590 Murphy Road, Collinsville, VA 24078-2128.

Non-Profit Editor, Turntable Times Organization Roanoke Chapter NRHS U.S. Postage P.O. Box 13222 PAID Roanoke, VA Roanoke, VA 24032-1322 Permit No. 89 Dated Material Please do not delay On the first of August the DMV began Roanoke Chapter Operations Meeting Notice mailing out the first of the 611 license by Ken Miller plates. The custom plates are taking a bit The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society o, not a trip type of operations! Sorry, we longer to be made, as the regular orders are will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 7:30 only wish it was so. To keep the mem- pm. The meeting will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on being filled first. N I want to thank all the folks who have bership informed of the Board’s actions a the corner of McClanahan and Crystal Spring Avenue in Roanoke. new policy was enacted at the August Board Program for August will be Great Scenic Railway Journeys by been involved in this project, I’ll name a few, meeting to copy railroad practice and post RVC Video Productions. Visit thirteen of the greatest scenic rail- but there are more: Norris Deyerle, Galen ways the eastern United States has to offer. From Maine to North Wright, Ward Armstrong, Kay Strickland, all operating bulletins at the 9th Street Facility and Gift Shop, a brief synopsis will also be Volume 35, Number 7/8 Carolina, experience the history and beauty of railroading's gold- the other folks at the Blue Ridge Chapter en days. Plus a behind the scenes look at the filming of the train who kept the fires burning, Steve Barry of periodically published here as well. Please July/August 2003 wreck in the film "The Fugitive." Railroads included are the Railfan who gave us a nice plug with an arti- check out the bulletins at those locations. Conway Scenic, Potomac Eagle, Great Smokey Mountains and cle and photo, NRHS National who put it on Operations Bulletin 1 EDITOR many more. Thanks goes to Skip Salmon for the June program, the website during the process and, as they Due to poor track conditions at our 9th Kenney Kirkman The August program is the holdover from July. say, a cast of thousands. Street Facility, the board has decided to ban [email protected] One person needs to be singled out any operation or movement with any form of From The Head End though, and that is Bill Arnold, who took the motive power of equipment until conditions MIXED FREIGHT project in hand, organized, begged, pleaded have been repaired to the board’s satisfac- Robin R. Shavers Cards and Flowers and cajoled until we finally managed to make tion. If you know of a Chapter Member who is sick, lost a loved one the goal. It was appropriate that Bill received Operations Bulleting 2 SMALL RAILS or has a new birth in the family, please contact Bonnie Molinary. the first plate number 1001, since that is In order to control spending, a old policy Dave Meashey Bonnie is responsible for Chapter cards and flowers and can be where they started. has been reinstated, the use of purchase orders is now required on all purchases over [email protected] reached at 362-0273. For those who did not order early, it is now available via the DMV itself on the web at: $25. The purchase order must be written out, and submitted to either the President or HISTORIAN Deadline for Turntable Times http://www.dmv.state.va.us/exec/vehicle/sp Treasurer before any purchase is made. The deadline for the next issue of Turntable Times is Monday, lates/info.asp?idnm=JLOC Kenneth L. Miller Operations Bulleting 3 August 18, 2003. Please send articles, information and all exchange Wear your plate proudly, it has been a [email protected] Due to ongoing inflation, it has been newsletters to: Kenney Kirkman, Editor,Turntable Times, 590 major task and great accomplishment for the decided to raise dues by $3 across the board. Murphy Road, Collinsville, Va. 24078-2128. Roanoke Chapter NRHS. All materials should be This is the first Chapter dues increase in sent directly to the Editor: Material for Turntable Times over ten years. National has gone up in that Kenney Kirkman Virginia Musuem of time, but none of that comes to the Chapter. 590 Murphy Road We are always in need of articles, photos or news items for the Transportation We hope these bulletins will keep the Collinsville, VA Turntable Times. Due to copyright restrictions, we cannot reprint membership informed of activities, and 24078-2128 ith a major success in the return of the articles from most newspapers; a condensed rewritten article actions so that everyone can follow what is crediting the source, however, is acceptable. W1218 to the Musuem, good things are Turntable Times is published happening there, however the beginning of going on. monthly as the newsletter of We love having articles of news, of a historical nature, the staff the Roanoke Chapter, National will be glad to assist in finding information or illustrations if you August brings the announcement that Railway Historical Society, Inc. Director Kay Strickland is leaving her post Opinions and points of view do not have any available. Nominating Committee after 12 years to accept a position at Hollins expressed herein are those of Chad Jordan will be heading up the nomi- the staff members of the Cover Photos College. nating committee for 2003. The election will Turntable Times and not nec- The Musuem has taken some great strides essarily reflect those of the Editor Kenney Kirkman provides us with a look at he 1218 both be held in November. members, officers or directors on its way and on final placement at Virginia Musuem of under Kay’s leadership, and we wish her the of the Chapter. Tranportation on June 11, 2003. See his story in this issue. best in her new endeavor. 1 12 Link was not – and is not – just a local phe- Chapter Outing Turntable Times dreary 'n' rainy weather. Saturday and nomenon, nor relegated to the historical Sunday were rainfree. The Altoona Police by Paul Howell past. Unfortunately, this months Turntable were busy but the former Conrail property t is time to get ready for an outing! This Gallery Five houses the open storage area, Times is running a bit off schedule due to was obviously not high on their agenda. year we have opted for a single day out a closely hung auto dimmed collection of I the holiday, and late arrival of some materi- Common criminals were. Ironically the last approximately half of the Link prints in the and back trip. Our date is October 11, a al. Rather than push the mailing due to late train I saw before I departed at 8:07 pm., Museum’s collection. Here, visitors may gain Saturday. We’ll be leaving town via the arrival from the printer, we decided to com- was an eastbound coal train complete with 3 a more completed experience of the steam Abbott bus, somewhere in the vicinity of 8 bine July with the August issue, to simplify Conrail blue SD40-2s on the point and 4 locomotive. The gallery will be equipped am, headed for Lynchburg and a brief stop the mailing process as well. The good news more like machines helping out on the rear. with interactive stations to view Winston’s at the recently completed Kemper Street is that we have a considerable amount of The Blue Ridge Live Steamers were unable entire collection of images and chose to lis- Amtrak station. If you have not seen the fin- material already on hand for the next issue, to have their Memorial Day weekend run as ten to several different recordings of the ished product, you should! We’ll put some including an article on some preserved sta- scheduled due to the property being over sounds of steam. box lunches onboard and head east for out tions by Gary Ballard Having articles on saturated with water from all of the rain the One leaves the museum as one entered, train ride on the Buckingham Branch rail- hand is wonderful! However, that is not state has been experiencing. It was moved by taking the stairs or elevator back to the road on the Old Dominion Chapter’s excur- often the case, and material is always need- to the following weekend despite very rain Passenger Level. The Museum Gift Shop will sions. After the trip, we turn homeward ed. saturated grounds. No steam was operated. be in the location of the old N&W coffee stopping somewhere along the way to eat Maybe one quarter of the membership shop, a spot Winston Link frequented and socialize, Arriving back in Roanoke at a Mixed Freight - July showed. Most of the people whom came to because he could enjoy a cup of coffee while reasonable 9 pm. ride were members of a baptist church locat- by Mr. Robin R. Shavers watching so many trains passing by the sta- The trips on the Buckingham Branch usu- ed in Bedford. They were invited guest of need to make a correction to an item I tion. The original corrugated ceiling in this ally sell out quickly, but we have gotten 40 one of our members. They showed their reported on a few months back.Norfolk space is being restored. Books, videos, sound tickets for members and friends, we expect I appreciation by preparing and serving one Southern GP59 # 4610 was repainted in it's recordings, other railroad and historical this to be sell out trip for the Chapter as heck of a lunch. Having a small breakfast I memorabilia will be available. well, so come to the September meeting Southern Railway green cream and gold really took on some tonnage and almost All Museum Shop proceeds will support with money in hand! The cost? An amazing trim, not Norfolk Southern black and white. required pusher assistance to leave the the operation of the Museum. A small con- $40 per person, everything but your evening I made my traditional adventure to table. It was a one day run and everybody ference room will be adjacent to the shop. meal included! Altoona, PA and environs for Memorial Day had packed up and departed by 7:00 pm. We Here Winston’s original, limited edition Dorr Tucker will have a sign up sheet at weekend. Traffic was reasonable but not like have made a change in respect to our Open estate prints will be exhibited and offered the Chapter meeting in August and we’ll it was back in the days of Conrail. Very few To The Public weekends. The public is for sale. have a firm schedule on the board in the Conrail painted locomotives were seen pow- encouraged to come out on Saturday only. The visitor will exit the Museum Shop next issue. ering the freights. There were still a com- Sunday will be employed for members to do through the South Lobby, all that which mendable number of all blue pusher sets in some private running and to prepare for remains of the Station’s concourse, and see operation. The new Norfolk Southern logo loading up and headin' it out. If members of and hear today’s freight trains that frequent- License Plates that incorporates the horses head into the N the public do appear, they will probably be ly rumble by the station. In the South by Ken Miller of NS with speed bars was quite present on accommodated up til 1:00 pm. Our next Lobby, the Station’s schedule board is being t long last, a three plus year dream has a number of locomotives that I observed. I public run will be Saturday July 19th. Time restored, arranged as Winston photographed Abecome a reality. With a heavy last refer to it as The Thorobread logo. will be from 10:00 am. til 4:00 pm. it in June 1955. It will be a wonderful place minute push for orders, Bill Arnold deliv- Normally Memorial Day weekend brings The Manassas Railway Festival was sched- out more railfans than normal to the for train watching. These spaces, open to ered a grand total of 457 applications to the uled to occur on Saturday June 7th. With Altoona area. There was a significant the public, will be managed by the O. DMV in Richmond on June 24th ahead of heavy rain scheduled to happen the same decrease in the number of fans out and Winston Link Museum with programming the deadline by days. We needed 350 and it day, I called the festivals toll free informa- on related topics and themes. about during my four day visit. Maybe it tion number to verify if the festival was to took a lot of begging and pleading to get the was the Code Orange for national security or orders in hand. happen rain or shine. The pleasant voice at 11 2 festival HQ said it would occur despite the Mixed Freight - August gallery will provide a very general introduc- including steam motive power during the heavy rain forecast. When I arose Saturday tion to the museum that has three general ‘50’s are covered in depth, along with when by Mr. Robin R. Shavers am., at 6, it was pouring like no tomorrow. I themes: O. Winston Link, the photographer: coal was king in the Appalachians. he Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor SERIOUSLY debated about going and after steam locomotives, their unique Norfolk About halfway down this long gallery, the project continues to make progress. The contemplating the less than acceptable T and Western legacy; and the Norfolk and theme switches to Winston Link. The Friday night, I decided to go. Anything that organization has been holding a series of Western Railway, a railroad and a way of chronology Winston’s life is featured, along involves railroading will usually cure per- public hearings which commenced on July life. There will be a limited number of large with some of his non-rail photographs. A sonal blues. When I arrived at the former 10 in Dinwiddie, VA and will end on August photos, map of the route of the N&W visitor will soon learn both why and how, Southern Railway passenger depot, festival 7th at Alberta, VA. For those of you whom Railway and an introductory video program Winston took these complex photographs, HQ, it was obvious that the festival had may have forgotten or never knew, this pro- encouraging visitors to see and experience primarily at night using flash photography. been canceled. Sad faces decorated the festi- ject hopes to rebuild the former Seaboard the unique world and photographs of O. Several additional large blow-ups of Link’s val grounds. I traveled 108 miles one way Air Line high iron from Petersburg, VA to Winston Link. photos are featured, including the famed for no festival. The staff apologized and to Norlina, N.C. The trackage was removed by Taking the stairs or elevator to the Track photo “Sometimes the Electricity Fails”, consider myself lucky. With the festival out CSX back in the late eighties. Freight that (lower) Level, one passes a window looking along with the actual gas pumps in the of the picture, I turned on the scanner hop- would normally travel the former SAL route out on the active mainline tracks of Norfolk photo itself. In order to provide a more ing Norfolk Southern would come thru. IT to Raleigh travels the former Atantic Coast Southern to the east. Also along the grand learning experience on both N&W steam and DID. Four trains in roughly 90 minutes. Line via Rocky Mount now. This is just part stairway, the first large artifact; a large Winston himself, several short videos will Afterwards the balance of the rainy day was of the route that proponents envision carry- restored sign the N&W herald, which hung be available at the touch of a screen. spent with CSX at Doswell. ing passengers between Washington D.C. on the station’s concourse. The concourse Additionally, several full-length video pro- Those of you whom could not attend the and Charlotte, N.C. The project is undergo- was demolished more than ten years ago to grams will be presented on a rotating basis official welcoming of Class A No. 1218 to ing a second environmental impact study accommodate NS double-stacked trains. At in a Lecture Hall/Theater nearby to Gallery The Virginia Museum of Transportation which should be completed by the end of the bottom of the stairs, the visitor arrives One. Leaving Gallery One, the visitor will under the newly completed Claytor Pavilion 2005. At the earliest, service would not start at one end of a long gallery, Gallery One, enter in a series of galleries which feature truly indeed missed out on a great occasion. rolling til 2010. Many of the small commu- and looks down a vista more than 100 feet approximately two hundred and seventy- Even Mother Nature cooperated. I arrived nities that are located along the proposed long. The north wall is the exterior red brick five (275) photos Winston created shortly after 9:30 am., that beautiful route are looking forward to the return of of what had been a station wall. On the In Galleries Two, Three and Four, the pho- Saturday to insure myself a close and legal south wall will be a photographic panel, 48 tos are installed thematically, drawing on train service. These communities were hit parking spot. I was joined in line by feet long, of a Class S1 steam locomotive. such themes as The Communities, The twice by the powers that be in transporta- Roanoke Chapter member Lawanda Ely. I Exhibits and photographic panels will be Landscape, The People, The Abingdon tion. Highway U.S. 1 lost traffic to parallel commented that it was too bad Mr. O. arranged along both walls. Openings, where Branch, The Machinery etc. Here his equip- Winston Link did not live to see this day. I Interstate 85 in addition to the removal of windows or doors had been, will now ment and ephemera of the project – such as said likewise for the Claytor brothers. the former SAL track. Many are allocating become niches for exhibition of smaller his actual custom-made reflectors holding Lawanda quickly corrected me on the sec- funds to give their respective communities a objects. up to 18 flashbulbs, the power supply to fire ond statement. If Robert Claytor were still much needed facelift. Some freight service Gallery One contains the majority of the them are featured. A diorama will present alive, 1218 would be out on the high iron would return and many hope this will artifacts in the Museum. The spaces begin how Winston actually set-up the lights for and the rest of us along with her.I couldn't attract industry in an area that has and still with the story of Big Lick, Roanoke’s prior several night scenes, showing the impact of agree more. is experiencing a depressed employment name, followed by N&W Railway itself. Text each individual lighting device. Gallery Four The event was well attended and was like market. For more info, log onto panels and photos will transport viewers will display a tribute to Winston and his a reunion for everyone involved with 1218 www.sehsr.org back in time to the railroad as it existed in works and will include an array of books, and or the now gone Norfolk Southern A few months ago, I reported on an N&W Winston’s day and several cases built into magazines and other publications from US Steam Program. I saw folks I hadn't seen wooden caboose located in the community the window spaces contain railroad artifacts and various other countries, showing the since the last excursion turned a wheel. of Carson, VA a few miles south of of the time in which Winston photographed. wide appeal of Winston’s photos throughout Petersburg. The caboose is located on a piece N&W passenger and freight operations, the world. The visitor sees that Winston

3 10 loading diagrams for head-end cars. demise of RPOs when mail contracts migrat- of track behind the library and just a stone's We expect The first five chapters of the book suc- ed to airlines and trucks. During the war throw from the former ACL high iron. The to receive our cinctly relate the development of rail service the station employed 200 Red Caps, 200 caboose has been painted a rich red. There allotment of in Chicago, putting the many stations and ticket sellers, 100 information clerks, as well is no lettering yet. The inside has been calendars railroads in perspective. The planning and as building maintenance people, signal painted light green and thoroughly cleaned. arrived construction of the station is related in maintainers, switch tenders, etc. CUS had The lawn area is always kept cut. August 1, detail, including discussion of the trouble of two section gangs to maintain station tracks. The Blue Ridge Live Steamers were unable 2003. We will fitting it into the available site. By 1964 fewer than 20 information clerks to hold their July run and Open House due then immedi- Over half of the book constitutes Part II— remained from the wartime peak of 100. to an insurance snafu. Hopefully things will ately mail Operations, More Than Met the Eye. This The operations of all these (and others) are be ironed out in time for our August week- the advance delightful section is almost like being on a discussed in considerable detail. This book end run and Open House on August 30 & 31. purchase cal- guided tour with the station manager, really gives the complete picture of the Keep in mind, our new policy is to entertain endars to including discussions with many of the many functions of a major railroad station. the general public on Saturday only from individuals employees. The smooth-flowing narrative It also carefully delineates those functions 10:00 a.m til 4:00 p.m or organizations. (supplemented by illustrations and train performed by non-station employees (such The cost of the 2004 Calendar is $13 – IF schedules) does a thorough job of showing as concessionaires in the Harvey House PICKED UP AT OUR GIFT SHOP LOCATED how the station is organized and how it restaurant, and newsstands). It shows the 2004 Link Calender IN THE VIRGINIA MUSUEM OF TRANS- operates. CUS was a joint facility, but the cooperation between the railroads and the The Roanoke Chapter, National Railway PORTATION. The cost is $18 to mail the cal- individual railroads handled the movements station towers as trains arrive, depart, and Historical Society PROUDLY announces the endar directly to your home or business. (rather then a terminal railroad company). are made up or broken up. pre-sale of the 2004, O. Winston Link Checks payable to: Roanoke Chapter, NRHS The station employed up to three thousand The production values are uniformly very Calendar, “Steam and Steel”. attn 2004 O.W. Link Calender people directly (during the traffic peaks of high: heavy slick paper for good photo By the mid-1950’s The NORFOLK & WEST- P.O. Box 13222 World War II), including 1,500 mail and bag- reproduction; excellent editing, layout, ERN RAILWAY became the last American Roanoke, VA 24032-1322 gage handlers. The book goes into consider- typography and typesetting. The narrative railroad to abandon steam and covert to or vist our Gift Shop at the Virginia Musuem able detail on their activities, from team deftly provides all the facts, woven into a diesel. This event coincided with photogra- of Transportation! organization and operations, to floor-space "you are there" format that easily holds you pher O. Winston Link’s ten year dream to Contact Grace Helmer Roanoke Chapter layout, and placing and loading of head-end interest. I highly recommend this book, and document, AT NIGHT, the steam railroad NRHS (540) 982-3595 or (540-366-2169) cars. There is plenty of interesting nitty- look forward to the next issues in this new phenomena using synchronized flash.. Postage on a single calender is $5.00, each gritty detail here, even down to how cars series. With his passing in 2001, O. Winston Link additional calender is $2.50 each as long as were placarded: a mail storage car with a left behind a photographic legacy of a period all are shipped to the same address. Sales blue placard is a sealed Destination Car, not A Walk Through The O. Winston in American history that remains unrivaled. tax is included for all mail orders. worked en route; a white placard indicates a Link Museum The 2004 Calendar celebrates the photogra- Full Working Storage Car, with pouches and ave Helmer provides an advance look at pher’s legacy with some of his best known Small Rails-July parcels loaded and off-loaded during the run Dthe visitor’s experience with the forth- images, accompanied by a brief description. by Dave Meashey and perhaps taken into the RPO for work. coming O. Winston Link Musuem. Like any- While the calendar’s cover is the same as he Big Lick Big Train Operators helf their Destination Relay Cars (pink or salmon plac- thing in the consturction phase, this is all last years – ALL the pictures are different. TJune meeting at the home of Otto and ard) were partially loaded or unloaded at subject to minor changes. LAST YEAR’S CALENDER SOLD OUT QUICK- Imtraut Hartenstein in Blacksburg on intermediate stations; such cars often left One will enter the O. Winston Link LY AND WE COULD NOT SATISFY THE Sunday, June 1st. The day was sunny and Cincinnati full but arrived at CUS nearly Museum on the Passenger (upper) Level DEMAND. We expect the same this year. warm, perfect for garden railway activities. empty. through the lobby and ticketing hall of the This News Release is being sent EXCLU- We did have to endure some swarms of Mail handling (along with some baggage restored former N&W Railway Roanoke SIVELY to those customers who purchased gnats, but the trains ran despite the annoy- and express) continued to employ nearly Passenger Station, to begin the visitor’s trip 2003 O. Winston Link calendars from the ance the gnats caused. Otto had recently 1,500 people into the 1960s, until the back through time. The first (premier) ROANOKE CHAPTER N.R.H.S. converted his control system to LGBís ver-

9 4 sion of digital command control (DCC). tery powered locomotives pulling trains on completed in primer this year. Work began lashup of three N&W low hood 1600 series The system allows one train to run in Steveís layout. Two of the live steamers on it last year with part of one side being SD40-2's. Results from these tests will help “native mode,” that is, without a decoder. were also radio controlled. Most of the scaled and some into primer. This car will determine which manufacturer will get new Most guests were able to run their own equipment is either built from scratch or kit- need some metal work on the lower side orders and for how many units as the equipment on Otto’s excellent layout using bashed from cars or locomotives made for panels but is a priced addition to our collec- Research Department will evaluate tonnage this “native mode” feature. Tim Kelly had the other large scales. Many detail parts are tion of historical freight cars. ratings versus expected haulage and line brought his radio controlled battery pow- available, but currently the few kits available Work Sessions: Planned weekend work capacities for each line for the next few ered Mogul, so his locomotive could run are mostly for British industrial prototypes. sessions will be held on the first and third years. completely independent of the track pow- One attendee brought a standard gauge weekends of each month. The projects to be ered control system. For the sake of safety, boxcar to grace a short length of standard covered will be announced at the member- Book Review we only ran one train on each loop. After gauge track in Steveís freight yard. The size ship meetings and will be posted in the by John Austen all, with both DCC and battery power oper- of these models really is driven home when Turntable Times the month ahead. Rain will Chicago Union Station: A Look at Its History ating, it was possible to have a cornfield one sees a standard gauge car. After all, 7/8 usually just relocate work to the inside, as and Operations Before Amtrak, by Edward meet in miniature. inch scale is not that far from one inch there are plenty of small jobs that can be M. DeRouin; Pixels Publishing; P.O. Box 120, While a cornfield meet would not result in scale, which is used for ride on models. moved inside to work on. There is never a Elmhurst IL 60126-0120, 2003, softcover, loss of life in large scale, there are few oper- The Big Lick Big Train Operators held their lack of work to be done. Even sorting of pas- 8.5x11î, $29.95, 96 pp. ators that would enjoy watching several July meeting at my house on Sunday, July senger car parts can be done as we organize his is the first book by a promising new hundred dollars worth of prized equipment 20th. My track has fallen into disrepair, and the "1829" on shelves in one of the boxcars. Tpublisher, and the beginning of their get destroyed before their eyes. The variety due mostly to the weather I have not had Locomotive Test Train: Midwestern Rail Series. Many N&W cars ter- of motive power included vintage steam, time to work on it. Trains had to run on a minated at Cincinnati, but some continued early modern steam, European steam, elec- track set up on my carport instead. rom June 2 through the12th, a test train on to Chicago Union Station (CUS) in trains tric, and diesel, all of which got their power Members brought new models to show, and Fran from the Silk Mill lead on the old of the Pennsylvania Railroad. from the track or batteries. I believe it will we all had fun watching them run. Virginian Railway line just east of JK tower Of the many stations in Chicago CUS is be only a matter of time before one of our Homemade ice cream was served along with south on the Winston-Salem line to Starkey. the newest. Opened in 1925, it replaced the group ventures into the realm of #1 gauge the other refreshments. The first week saw the newest from GE and earlier Chicago Union Passenger Depot. CUS live steam. The little live steamers should Memories of 1218 EMD fighting it out as a pair of GE C40-9w's was owned by three railroads (50% by PRR, really add some interest to the club operat- (9780 and 9783 both in primer gray) and and 25% each by CB&Q and the Milwaukee ing sessions. by Kenney Kirkman EMD SD70m's (2594 in the new horsehead Road). A forth railroad was a tenant at the n Wednesday morning, June 11, 2003, Small Rails-August paint scheme and 1598 still in primer but station (Chicago & Alton, absorbed into the Omy cousin David Doss and I traveled to both with flared radiator grills) took turns Gulf, Mobile & Ohio in 1947). Northern by Dave Meashey Roanoke to watch the movement of N&W pulling a train of 72 overloaded coal hoppers Pacific and Great Northern trains reached embers of the Big Lick Big Train Class A steam locomotive No. 1218 from and research 32 while the other two units Chicago on the CB&Q, and Union Pacific Operators attended Steve Kingís 7/8 M Norfolk Southern's East End Shop area to were on the rear in dynamic braking to sim- trains came on the Milwaukee Road for a inch scale gathering in Rocky Mount on June the Virginia Museum of Transportation. ulate additional loads. The test train would while. 21st. 7/8 inch scale is the largest of the About 30 to 40 other railfans were in atten- run south multiple times a day and switch The book is divided into nine chapters scales that commonly run on Number 1 dance. the motive power on each trip to test the and consists of free-flowing narrative nicely gauge track. The scale is used to represent Assisted by three NS diesel locomotives, units under near the same temperatures balanced with over 150 illustrations, a third the Maine two foot gauge common carriers, one of which was a slug engine, No. 1218 and rail adhesion conditions. At times the of which are in color. The illustrations and several forms of industrial railway. was slowly pulled out of the East End Shops include plenty of trackside action as well as loads were reduced to test with different Sometimes 7/8 inch scale is used with O area about 9:30 am. A short time later, No. several very useful maps and diagrams. tonnage for different uses. After the first gauge track to represent 18 inch gauge 1218 was moved westward before she halted There is a floor plan of the station, and week of tests the motive power varied to industrial track. briefly in front of the former N&W Roanoke track plans for the old and new stations and include two ex Southern SD50's and a There were many fine live steam and bat- passenger station. This would be the last several supporting yards. There are even 5 8 buried fiber optic cable along the right of four. In just a short time Bill Mason and time Engine 1218 would have her nose And how about the times 1218 would ways. Get your pictures of them now before Brian Crosier were able to align, gauge and pointed westward in front of the depot. power the short trips to places like Bluefield they are gone. spike over half of its two hundred plus feet Moments later, No. 1218 was pushed east- or on the long Independence Limited excur- Norfolk and Western 1218 was seen mak- of length. The goal is to have track two and ward, and then she was turned on the wye sions out to the midwestern United States? ing her way through downtown towards her Track Four completed within the next two that connects with the Winston-Salem line. It was fun working on these excursions new home at the Virginia Museum of months. Both tracks have less than ninety- After completing her move on the wye, powered by 1218 as well as 611, but it Transportation where she is on display with five feet left on each to place in new ties, Engine 1218 was moved westward in would be almost beyond description here to the Dynamometer car coupled to her tender. align and spike. Track two will also receive reverse past the Roanoke station for the try to explain all the thrills and excitement Pennsylvania Railroad Pullman Standard additional ballast to bring up level with final time. if you were one of those like me that got the built 40' boxcar is located about 7 tracks in track three and four. Between working on At approximately 1:30 pm., Engine 1218 opportunity several times to ride aboard the along Shenandoah Ave near 12th St. It along these two tracks, some serious repairs must was parked at the west end of the Virginia 1218 or 611. Those moments almost took with a large number of other old cars is be made to the main track entering our Museum of Transportation grounds. About my breath away, it was all so awesome. awaiting its final disposition as the end maintenance area with a stretch of roughly an hour later, after a lunch break, the So as I stood beside No. 1218 on draw near. It stands out since it still adorns forty feet needing replacement ties, and Norfolk Southern crew, using two of their Wednesday afternoon, June 11, 2003 its large PRR keystone herald on the right switch one and two needing roughly half of diesels, shoved No. 1218 beneath the roof of beneath the roof at the Virginia Museum of side. their ties replaced. The main track will the Claytor Pavilion. Transportation I noticed something else that NS 6174(N&W low nose SD40-2), 1591 require the removal of rail and old ties, grad- Just a moment or two after No. 1218 was came with all the memories just described (N&W SD40 high hood), and 3185 (Southern ing and replacement of the sub and primary placed beneath the roof, railfans in atten- above. No. 1218 was so quiet, so silent, not SD40) were seen in south yard prepared to roadbed, replacement ties and reinstallation dance were allowed to walk up to the loco- even a creak from the rails she had just head east with a coal drag. Unusual for solid of the rail. We will be announcing a week- motive for a closer look. As I stood beside been placed upon. Perhaps she was saying 40's lashup and two straight SD40's. end work session where we hope to accom- the giant locomotive, her wheels still warm something like, well, I'm here now, but CNO&TP 2874 GP38ac seen in south yard plish this. It is time consuming work but is from the day's activities, I began to recall maybe someday…Only time will tell for her with a rail train, starting to show southern not that difficult of work despite working many of the memories that she had present- and the 611. paint through her Norfolk Southern paint with bulky materials. ed to me over the years. (or lack thereof) Work will commence on the chapter's I remembered my dad wanting to go to Scanner Chatter: N&W cabooses 555000 and 555023 seen N&W caboose to complete the repaint that Danville to see the 1218 as she made her SD9m 56 seen at Shaffers Crossing on on rear of tie train in South Yard prepared to we were unable to fisish last fall. We have way to Roanoke after being restored in June 24, one of the rebuilt Central of head west. some minor body work to complete and will Birmingham. Normally, dad wasn't one to Georgia/ Southern units normally assigned have to scuff the exterior before two more follow trains that closely in his golden years to hump duty in Georgia or Ohio. coats of red may be applied. Then a retouch but on this particular day at Danville, I Long Island Railroad subway car seen Ninth St News. of the black and lettering can be reapplied. could tell my late father was reliving memo- loaded on a flatcar in a train on the hump in had Jordan has been utilizing some of We are also hoping to complete at least two ries, perhaps not only of 1218 itself maybe, Roanoke yard behind three units facing Cthe rainy days to complete the third freight cars this year,We already have the but perhaps of other giant N&W steam west. Car number was possibly the 2399. bunk for the N&W caboose. This will bring Virginian wheel gon in primer, though it engines that he used to take me to see at Union Pacific 4247 SD70M with Flared the interior back closer to its original will need two more coats before it gets Roanoke or on the Winston-Salem line when grills seen at Shaffers Crossing along with appearance. Originally it also had three painted, and then it will once again gleam in I was a youngster living in Martinsville. another UP unit on June 27 upper bunks that folded down above the its gray with black lettering that it wore in And how about the 1987 NRHS Signal lines along the Virginian near lower bunks but due to safety hazards and Maintenance of Way service forty years ago. Convention trip with 1218 and 611 "racing" Patterson Ave are just about gone. Poles still space constraints currently we do not plan If you recall the pictures we printed last each other up the mountain to stand sentry along part of the right of way on rebuilding these. year, as we needle scaled the car we were Christiansburg? There wouldn't be enough but not for much longer. What used to be Finally some sunlight allowed some out- able to trace most of the original lettering room in this newsletter to describe all the considered a nuisance to some photogra- door work to commence, with several of us for reference in creating new stencils. The thrills and thoughts that were evident that phers is still a major part of the history of making quite a bit of headway on new track Norfolk and Western B-6 boxcar will also be day. the railroad and is being quickly replaced by 7 6 buried fiber optic cable along the right of four. In just a short time Bill Mason and time Engine 1218 would have her nose And how about the times 1218 would ways. Get your pictures of them now before Brian Crosier were able to align, gauge and pointed westward in front of the depot. power the short trips to places like Bluefield they are gone. spike over half of its two hundred plus feet Moments later, No. 1218 was pushed east- or on the long Independence Limited excur- Norfolk and Western 1218 was seen mak- of length. The goal is to have track two and ward, and then she was turned on the wye sions out to the midwestern United States? ing her way through downtown towards her Track Four completed within the next two that connects with the Winston-Salem line. It was fun working on these excursions new home at the Virginia Museum of months. Both tracks have less than ninety- After completing her move on the wye, powered by 1218 as well as 611, but it Transportation where she is on display with five feet left on each to place in new ties, Engine 1218 was moved westward in would be almost beyond description here to the Dynamometer car coupled to her tender. align and spike. Track two will also receive reverse past the Roanoke station for the try to explain all the thrills and excitement Pennsylvania Railroad Pullman Standard additional ballast to bring up level with final time. if you were one of those like me that got the built 40' boxcar is located about 7 tracks in track three and four. Between working on At approximately 1:30 pm., Engine 1218 opportunity several times to ride aboard the along Shenandoah Ave near 12th St. It along these two tracks, some serious repairs must was parked at the west end of the Virginia 1218 or 611. Those moments almost took with a large number of other old cars is be made to the main track entering our Museum of Transportation grounds. About my breath away, it was all so awesome. awaiting its final disposition as the end maintenance area with a stretch of roughly an hour later, after a lunch break, the So as I stood beside No. 1218 on draw near. It stands out since it still adorns forty feet needing replacement ties, and Norfolk Southern crew, using two of their Wednesday afternoon, June 11, 2003 its large PRR keystone herald on the right switch one and two needing roughly half of diesels, shoved No. 1218 beneath the roof of beneath the roof at the Virginia Museum of side. their ties replaced. The main track will the Claytor Pavilion. Transportation I noticed something else that NS 6174(N&W low nose SD40-2), 1591 require the removal of rail and old ties, grad- Just a moment or two after No. 1218 was came with all the memories just described (N&W SD40 high hood), and 3185 (Southern ing and replacement of the sub and primary placed beneath the roof, railfans in atten- above. No. 1218 was so quiet, so silent, not SD40) were seen in south yard prepared to roadbed, replacement ties and reinstallation dance were allowed to walk up to the loco- even a creak from the rails she had just head east with a coal drag. Unusual for solid of the rail. We will be announcing a week- motive for a closer look. As I stood beside been placed upon. Perhaps she was saying 40's lashup and two straight SD40's. end work session where we hope to accom- the giant locomotive, her wheels still warm something like, well, I'm here now, but CNO&TP 2874 GP38ac seen in south yard plish this. It is time consuming work but is from the day's activities, I began to recall maybe someday…Only time will tell for her with a rail train, starting to show southern not that difficult of work despite working many of the memories that she had present- and the 611. paint through her Norfolk Southern paint with bulky materials. ed to me over the years. (or lack thereof) Work will commence on the chapter's I remembered my dad wanting to go to Scanner Chatter: N&W cabooses 555000 and 555023 seen N&W caboose to complete the repaint that Danville to see the 1218 as she made her SD9m 56 seen at Shaffers Crossing on on rear of tie train in South Yard prepared to we were unable to fisish last fall. We have way to Roanoke after being restored in June 24, one of the rebuilt Central of head west. some minor body work to complete and will Birmingham. Normally, dad wasn't one to Georgia/ Southern units normally assigned have to scuff the exterior before two more follow trains that closely in his golden years to hump duty in Georgia or Ohio. coats of red may be applied. Then a retouch but on this particular day at Danville, I Long Island Railroad subway car seen Ninth St News. of the black and lettering can be reapplied. could tell my late father was reliving memo- loaded on a flatcar in a train on the hump in had Jordan has been utilizing some of We are also hoping to complete at least two ries, perhaps not only of 1218 itself maybe, Roanoke yard behind three units facing Cthe rainy days to complete the third freight cars this year,We already have the but perhaps of other giant N&W steam west. Car number was possibly the 2399. bunk for the N&W caboose. This will bring Virginian wheel gon in primer, though it engines that he used to take me to see at Union Pacific 4247 SD70M with Flared the interior back closer to its original will need two more coats before it gets Roanoke or on the Winston-Salem line when grills seen at Shaffers Crossing along with appearance. Originally it also had three painted, and then it will once again gleam in I was a youngster living in Martinsville. another UP unit on June 27 upper bunks that folded down above the its gray with black lettering that it wore in And how about the 1987 NRHS Signal lines along the Virginian near lower bunks but due to safety hazards and Maintenance of Way service forty years ago. Convention trip with 1218 and 611 "racing" Patterson Ave are just about gone. Poles still space constraints currently we do not plan If you recall the pictures we printed last each other up the mountain to stand sentry along part of the right of way on rebuilding these. year, as we needle scaled the car we were Christiansburg? There wouldn't be enough but not for much longer. What used to be Finally some sunlight allowed some out- able to trace most of the original lettering room in this newsletter to describe all the considered a nuisance to some photogra- door work to commence, with several of us for reference in creating new stencils. The thrills and thoughts that were evident that phers is still a major part of the history of making quite a bit of headway on new track Norfolk and Western B-6 boxcar will also be day. the railroad and is being quickly replaced by 7 6 sion of digital command control (DCC). tery powered locomotives pulling trains on completed in primer this year. Work began lashup of three N&W low hood 1600 series The system allows one train to run in Steveís layout. Two of the live steamers on it last year with part of one side being SD40-2's. Results from these tests will help “native mode,” that is, without a decoder. were also radio controlled. Most of the scaled and some into primer. This car will determine which manufacturer will get new Most guests were able to run their own equipment is either built from scratch or kit- need some metal work on the lower side orders and for how many units as the equipment on Otto’s excellent layout using bashed from cars or locomotives made for panels but is a priced addition to our collec- Research Department will evaluate tonnage this “native mode” feature. Tim Kelly had the other large scales. Many detail parts are tion of historical freight cars. ratings versus expected haulage and line brought his radio controlled battery pow- available, but currently the few kits available Work Sessions: Planned weekend work capacities for each line for the next few ered Mogul, so his locomotive could run are mostly for British industrial prototypes. sessions will be held on the first and third years. completely independent of the track pow- One attendee brought a standard gauge weekends of each month. The projects to be ered control system. For the sake of safety, boxcar to grace a short length of standard covered will be announced at the member- Book Review we only ran one train on each loop. After gauge track in Steveís freight yard. The size ship meetings and will be posted in the by John Austen all, with both DCC and battery power oper- of these models really is driven home when Turntable Times the month ahead. Rain will Chicago Union Station: A Look at Its History ating, it was possible to have a cornfield one sees a standard gauge car. After all, 7/8 usually just relocate work to the inside, as and Operations Before Amtrak, by Edward meet in miniature. inch scale is not that far from one inch there are plenty of small jobs that can be M. DeRouin; Pixels Publishing; P.O. Box 120, While a cornfield meet would not result in scale, which is used for ride on models. moved inside to work on. There is never a Elmhurst IL 60126-0120, 2003, softcover, loss of life in large scale, there are few oper- The Big Lick Big Train Operators held their lack of work to be done. Even sorting of pas- 8.5x11î, $29.95, 96 pp. ators that would enjoy watching several July meeting at my house on Sunday, July senger car parts can be done as we organize his is the first book by a promising new hundred dollars worth of prized equipment 20th. My track has fallen into disrepair, and the "1829" on shelves in one of the boxcars. Tpublisher, and the beginning of their get destroyed before their eyes. The variety due mostly to the weather I have not had Locomotive Test Train: Midwestern Rail Series. Many N&W cars ter- of motive power included vintage steam, time to work on it. Trains had to run on a minated at Cincinnati, but some continued early modern steam, European steam, elec- track set up on my carport instead. rom June 2 through the12th, a test train on to Chicago Union Station (CUS) in trains tric, and diesel, all of which got their power Members brought new models to show, and Fran from the Silk Mill lead on the old of the Pennsylvania Railroad. from the track or batteries. I believe it will we all had fun watching them run. Virginian Railway line just east of JK tower Of the many stations in Chicago CUS is be only a matter of time before one of our Homemade ice cream was served along with south on the Winston-Salem line to Starkey. the newest. Opened in 1925, it replaced the group ventures into the realm of #1 gauge the other refreshments. The first week saw the newest from GE and earlier Chicago Union Passenger Depot. CUS live steam. The little live steamers should Memories of 1218 EMD fighting it out as a pair of GE C40-9w's was owned by three railroads (50% by PRR, really add some interest to the club operat- (9780 and 9783 both in primer gray) and and 25% each by CB&Q and the Milwaukee ing sessions. by Kenney Kirkman EMD SD70m's (2594 in the new horsehead Road). A forth railroad was a tenant at the n Wednesday morning, June 11, 2003, Small Rails-August paint scheme and 1598 still in primer but station (Chicago & Alton, absorbed into the Omy cousin David Doss and I traveled to both with flared radiator grills) took turns Gulf, Mobile & Ohio in 1947). Northern by Dave Meashey Roanoke to watch the movement of N&W pulling a train of 72 overloaded coal hoppers Pacific and Great Northern trains reached embers of the Big Lick Big Train Class A steam locomotive No. 1218 from and research 32 while the other two units Chicago on the CB&Q, and Union Pacific Operators attended Steve Kingís 7/8 M Norfolk Southern's East End Shop area to were on the rear in dynamic braking to sim- trains came on the Milwaukee Road for a inch scale gathering in Rocky Mount on June the Virginia Museum of Transportation. ulate additional loads. The test train would while. 21st. 7/8 inch scale is the largest of the About 30 to 40 other railfans were in atten- run south multiple times a day and switch The book is divided into nine chapters scales that commonly run on Number 1 dance. the motive power on each trip to test the and consists of free-flowing narrative nicely gauge track. The scale is used to represent Assisted by three NS diesel locomotives, units under near the same temperatures balanced with over 150 illustrations, a third the Maine two foot gauge common carriers, one of which was a slug engine, No. 1218 and rail adhesion conditions. At times the of which are in color. The illustrations and several forms of industrial railway. was slowly pulled out of the East End Shops include plenty of trackside action as well as loads were reduced to test with different Sometimes 7/8 inch scale is used with O area about 9:30 am. A short time later, No. several very useful maps and diagrams. tonnage for different uses. After the first gauge track to represent 18 inch gauge 1218 was moved westward before she halted There is a floor plan of the station, and week of tests the motive power varied to industrial track. briefly in front of the former N&W Roanoke track plans for the old and new stations and include two ex Southern SD50's and a There were many fine live steam and bat- passenger station. This would be the last several supporting yards. There are even 5 8 loading diagrams for head-end cars. demise of RPOs when mail contracts migrat- of track behind the library and just a stone's We expect The first five chapters of the book suc- ed to airlines and trucks. During the war throw from the former ACL high iron. The to receive our cinctly relate the development of rail service the station employed 200 Red Caps, 200 caboose has been painted a rich red. There allotment of in Chicago, putting the many stations and ticket sellers, 100 information clerks, as well is no lettering yet. The inside has been calendars railroads in perspective. The planning and as building maintenance people, signal painted light green and thoroughly cleaned. arrived construction of the station is related in maintainers, switch tenders, etc. CUS had The lawn area is always kept cut. August 1, detail, including discussion of the trouble of two section gangs to maintain station tracks. The Blue Ridge Live Steamers were unable 2003. We will fitting it into the available site. By 1964 fewer than 20 information clerks to hold their July run and Open House due then immedi- Over half of the book constitutes Part II— remained from the wartime peak of 100. to an insurance snafu. Hopefully things will ately mail Operations, More Than Met the Eye. This The operations of all these (and others) are be ironed out in time for our August week- the advance delightful section is almost like being on a discussed in considerable detail. This book end run and Open House on August 30 & 31. purchase cal- guided tour with the station manager, really gives the complete picture of the Keep in mind, our new policy is to entertain endars to including discussions with many of the many functions of a major railroad station. the general public on Saturday only from individuals employees. The smooth-flowing narrative It also carefully delineates those functions 10:00 a.m til 4:00 p.m or organizations. (supplemented by illustrations and train performed by non-station employees (such The cost of the 2004 Calendar is $13 – IF schedules) does a thorough job of showing as concessionaires in the Harvey House PICKED UP AT OUR GIFT SHOP LOCATED how the station is organized and how it restaurant, and newsstands). It shows the 2004 Link Calender IN THE VIRGINIA MUSUEM OF TRANS- operates. CUS was a joint facility, but the cooperation between the railroads and the The Roanoke Chapter, National Railway PORTATION. The cost is $18 to mail the cal- individual railroads handled the movements station towers as trains arrive, depart, and Historical Society PROUDLY announces the endar directly to your home or business. (rather then a terminal railroad company). are made up or broken up. pre-sale of the 2004, O. Winston Link Checks payable to: Roanoke Chapter, NRHS The station employed up to three thousand The production values are uniformly very Calendar, “Steam and Steel”. attn 2004 O.W. Link Calender people directly (during the traffic peaks of high: heavy slick paper for good photo By the mid-1950’s The NORFOLK & WEST- P.O. Box 13222 World War II), including 1,500 mail and bag- reproduction; excellent editing, layout, ERN RAILWAY became the last American Roanoke, VA 24032-1322 gage handlers. The book goes into consider- typography and typesetting. The narrative railroad to abandon steam and covert to or vist our Gift Shop at the Virginia Musuem able detail on their activities, from team deftly provides all the facts, woven into a diesel. This event coincided with photogra- of Transportation! organization and operations, to floor-space "you are there" format that easily holds you pher O. Winston Link’s ten year dream to Contact Grace Helmer Roanoke Chapter layout, and placing and loading of head-end interest. I highly recommend this book, and document, AT NIGHT, the steam railroad NRHS (540) 982-3595 or (540-366-2169) cars. There is plenty of interesting nitty- look forward to the next issues in this new phenomena using synchronized flash.. Postage on a single calender is $5.00, each gritty detail here, even down to how cars series. With his passing in 2001, O. Winston Link additional calender is $2.50 each as long as were placarded: a mail storage car with a left behind a photographic legacy of a period all are shipped to the same address. Sales blue placard is a sealed Destination Car, not A Walk Through The O. Winston in American history that remains unrivaled. tax is included for all mail orders. worked en route; a white placard indicates a Link Museum The 2004 Calendar celebrates the photogra- Full Working Storage Car, with pouches and ave Helmer provides an advance look at pher’s legacy with some of his best known Small Rails-July parcels loaded and off-loaded during the run Dthe visitor’s experience with the forth- images, accompanied by a brief description. by Dave Meashey and perhaps taken into the RPO for work. coming O. Winston Link Musuem. Like any- While the calendar’s cover is the same as he Big Lick Big Train Operators helf their Destination Relay Cars (pink or salmon plac- thing in the consturction phase, this is all last years – ALL the pictures are different. TJune meeting at the home of Otto and ard) were partially loaded or unloaded at subject to minor changes. LAST YEAR’S CALENDER SOLD OUT QUICK- Imtraut Hartenstein in Blacksburg on intermediate stations; such cars often left One will enter the O. Winston Link LY AND WE COULD NOT SATISFY THE Sunday, June 1st. The day was sunny and Cincinnati full but arrived at CUS nearly Museum on the Passenger (upper) Level DEMAND. We expect the same this year. warm, perfect for garden railway activities. empty. through the lobby and ticketing hall of the This News Release is being sent EXCLU- We did have to endure some swarms of Mail handling (along with some baggage restored former N&W Railway Roanoke SIVELY to those customers who purchased gnats, but the trains ran despite the annoy- and express) continued to employ nearly Passenger Station, to begin the visitor’s trip 2003 O. Winston Link calendars from the ance the gnats caused. Otto had recently 1,500 people into the 1960s, until the back through time. The first (premier) ROANOKE CHAPTER N.R.H.S. converted his control system to LGBís ver-

9 4 festival HQ said it would occur despite the Mixed Freight - August gallery will provide a very general introduc- including steam motive power during the heavy rain forecast. When I arose Saturday tion to the museum that has three general ‘50’s are covered in depth, along with when by Mr. Robin R. Shavers am., at 6, it was pouring like no tomorrow. I themes: O. Winston Link, the photographer: coal was king in the Appalachians. he Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor SERIOUSLY debated about going and after steam locomotives, their unique Norfolk About halfway down this long gallery, the project continues to make progress. The contemplating the less than acceptable T and Western legacy; and the Norfolk and theme switches to Winston Link. The Friday night, I decided to go. Anything that organization has been holding a series of Western Railway, a railroad and a way of chronology Winston’s life is featured, along involves railroading will usually cure per- public hearings which commenced on July life. There will be a limited number of large with some of his non-rail photographs. A sonal blues. When I arrived at the former 10 in Dinwiddie, VA and will end on August photos, map of the route of the N&W visitor will soon learn both why and how, Southern Railway passenger depot, festival 7th at Alberta, VA. For those of you whom Railway and an introductory video program Winston took these complex photographs, HQ, it was obvious that the festival had may have forgotten or never knew, this pro- encouraging visitors to see and experience primarily at night using flash photography. been canceled. Sad faces decorated the festi- ject hopes to rebuild the former Seaboard the unique world and photographs of O. Several additional large blow-ups of Link’s val grounds. I traveled 108 miles one way Air Line high iron from Petersburg, VA to Winston Link. photos are featured, including the famed for no festival. The staff apologized and to Norlina, N.C. The trackage was removed by Taking the stairs or elevator to the Track photo “Sometimes the Electricity Fails”, consider myself lucky. With the festival out CSX back in the late eighties. Freight that (lower) Level, one passes a window looking along with the actual gas pumps in the of the picture, I turned on the scanner hop- would normally travel the former SAL route out on the active mainline tracks of Norfolk photo itself. In order to provide a more ing Norfolk Southern would come thru. IT to Raleigh travels the former Atantic Coast Southern to the east. Also along the grand learning experience on both N&W steam and DID. Four trains in roughly 90 minutes. Line via Rocky Mount now. This is just part stairway, the first large artifact; a large Winston himself, several short videos will Afterwards the balance of the rainy day was of the route that proponents envision carry- restored sign the N&W herald, which hung be available at the touch of a screen. spent with CSX at Doswell. ing passengers between Washington D.C. on the station’s concourse. The concourse Additionally, several full-length video pro- Those of you whom could not attend the and Charlotte, N.C. The project is undergo- was demolished more than ten years ago to grams will be presented on a rotating basis official welcoming of Class A No. 1218 to ing a second environmental impact study accommodate NS double-stacked trains. At in a Lecture Hall/Theater nearby to Gallery The Virginia Museum of Transportation which should be completed by the end of the bottom of the stairs, the visitor arrives One. Leaving Gallery One, the visitor will under the newly completed Claytor Pavilion 2005. At the earliest, service would not start at one end of a long gallery, Gallery One, enter in a series of galleries which feature truly indeed missed out on a great occasion. rolling til 2010. Many of the small commu- and looks down a vista more than 100 feet approximately two hundred and seventy- Even Mother Nature cooperated. I arrived nities that are located along the proposed long. The north wall is the exterior red brick five (275) photos Winston created shortly after 9:30 am., that beautiful route are looking forward to the return of of what had been a station wall. On the In Galleries Two, Three and Four, the pho- Saturday to insure myself a close and legal south wall will be a photographic panel, 48 tos are installed thematically, drawing on train service. These communities were hit parking spot. I was joined in line by feet long, of a Class S1 steam locomotive. such themes as The Communities, The twice by the powers that be in transporta- Roanoke Chapter member Lawanda Ely. I Exhibits and photographic panels will be Landscape, The People, The Abingdon tion. Highway U.S. 1 lost traffic to parallel commented that it was too bad Mr. O. arranged along both walls. Openings, where Branch, The Machinery etc. Here his equip- Winston Link did not live to see this day. I Interstate 85 in addition to the removal of windows or doors had been, will now ment and ephemera of the project – such as said likewise for the Claytor brothers. the former SAL track. Many are allocating become niches for exhibition of smaller his actual custom-made reflectors holding Lawanda quickly corrected me on the sec- funds to give their respective communities a objects. up to 18 flashbulbs, the power supply to fire ond statement. If Robert Claytor were still much needed facelift. Some freight service Gallery One contains the majority of the them are featured. A diorama will present alive, 1218 would be out on the high iron would return and many hope this will artifacts in the Museum. The spaces begin how Winston actually set-up the lights for and the rest of us along with her.I couldn't attract industry in an area that has and still with the story of Big Lick, Roanoke’s prior several night scenes, showing the impact of agree more. is experiencing a depressed employment name, followed by N&W Railway itself. Text each individual lighting device. Gallery Four The event was well attended and was like market. For more info, log onto panels and photos will transport viewers will display a tribute to Winston and his a reunion for everyone involved with 1218 www.sehsr.org back in time to the railroad as it existed in works and will include an array of books, and or the now gone Norfolk Southern A few months ago, I reported on an N&W Winston’s day and several cases built into magazines and other publications from US Steam Program. I saw folks I hadn't seen wooden caboose located in the community the window spaces contain railroad artifacts and various other countries, showing the since the last excursion turned a wheel. of Carson, VA a few miles south of of the time in which Winston photographed. wide appeal of Winston’s photos throughout Petersburg. The caboose is located on a piece N&W passenger and freight operations, the world. The visitor sees that Winston

3 10 Link was not – and is not – just a local phe- Chapter Outing Turntable Times dreary 'n' rainy weather. Saturday and nomenon, nor relegated to the historical Sunday were rainfree. The Altoona Police by Paul Howell past. Unfortunately, this months Turntable were busy but the former Conrail property t is time to get ready for an outing! This Gallery Five houses the open storage area, Times is running a bit off schedule due to was obviously not high on their agenda. year we have opted for a single day out a closely hung auto dimmed collection of I the holiday, and late arrival of some materi- Common criminals were. Ironically the last approximately half of the Link prints in the and back trip. Our date is October 11, a al. Rather than push the mailing due to late train I saw before I departed at 8:07 pm., Museum’s collection. Here, visitors may gain Saturday. We’ll be leaving town via the arrival from the printer, we decided to com- was an eastbound coal train complete with 3 a more completed experience of the steam Abbott bus, somewhere in the vicinity of 8 bine July with the August issue, to simplify Conrail blue SD40-2s on the point and 4 locomotive. The gallery will be equipped am, headed for Lynchburg and a brief stop the mailing process as well. The good news more like machines helping out on the rear. with interactive stations to view Winston’s at the recently completed Kemper Street is that we have a considerable amount of The Blue Ridge Live Steamers were unable entire collection of images and chose to lis- Amtrak station. If you have not seen the fin- material already on hand for the next issue, to have their Memorial Day weekend run as ten to several different recordings of the ished product, you should! We’ll put some including an article on some preserved sta- scheduled due to the property being over sounds of steam. box lunches onboard and head east for out tions by Gary Ballard Having articles on saturated with water from all of the rain the One leaves the museum as one entered, train ride on the Buckingham Branch rail- hand is wonderful! However, that is not state has been experiencing. It was moved by taking the stairs or elevator back to the road on the Old Dominion Chapter’s excur- often the case, and material is always need- to the following weekend despite very rain Passenger Level. The Museum Gift Shop will sions. After the trip, we turn homeward ed. saturated grounds. No steam was operated. be in the location of the old N&W coffee stopping somewhere along the way to eat Maybe one quarter of the membership shop, a spot Winston Link frequented and socialize, Arriving back in Roanoke at a Mixed Freight - July showed. Most of the people whom came to because he could enjoy a cup of coffee while reasonable 9 pm. ride were members of a baptist church locat- by Mr. Robin R. Shavers watching so many trains passing by the sta- The trips on the Buckingham Branch usu- ed in Bedford. They were invited guest of need to make a correction to an item I tion. The original corrugated ceiling in this ally sell out quickly, but we have gotten 40 one of our members. They showed their reported on a few months back.Norfolk space is being restored. Books, videos, sound tickets for members and friends, we expect I appreciation by preparing and serving one Southern GP59 # 4610 was repainted in it's recordings, other railroad and historical this to be sell out trip for the Chapter as heck of a lunch. Having a small breakfast I memorabilia will be available. well, so come to the September meeting Southern Railway green cream and gold really took on some tonnage and almost All Museum Shop proceeds will support with money in hand! The cost? An amazing trim, not Norfolk Southern black and white. required pusher assistance to leave the the operation of the Museum. A small con- $40 per person, everything but your evening I made my traditional adventure to table. It was a one day run and everybody ference room will be adjacent to the shop. meal included! Altoona, PA and environs for Memorial Day had packed up and departed by 7:00 pm. We Here Winston’s original, limited edition Dorr Tucker will have a sign up sheet at weekend. Traffic was reasonable but not like have made a change in respect to our Open estate prints will be exhibited and offered the Chapter meeting in August and we’ll it was back in the days of Conrail. Very few To The Public weekends. The public is for sale. have a firm schedule on the board in the Conrail painted locomotives were seen pow- encouraged to come out on Saturday only. The visitor will exit the Museum Shop next issue. ering the freights. There were still a com- Sunday will be employed for members to do through the South Lobby, all that which mendable number of all blue pusher sets in some private running and to prepare for remains of the Station’s concourse, and see operation. The new Norfolk Southern logo loading up and headin' it out. If members of and hear today’s freight trains that frequent- License Plates that incorporates the horses head into the N the public do appear, they will probably be ly rumble by the station. In the South by Ken Miller of NS with speed bars was quite present on accommodated up til 1:00 pm. Our next Lobby, the Station’s schedule board is being t long last, a three plus year dream has a number of locomotives that I observed. I public run will be Saturday July 19th. Time restored, arranged as Winston photographed Abecome a reality. With a heavy last refer to it as The Thorobread logo. will be from 10:00 am. til 4:00 pm. it in June 1955. It will be a wonderful place minute push for orders, Bill Arnold deliv- Normally Memorial Day weekend brings The Manassas Railway Festival was sched- out more railfans than normal to the for train watching. These spaces, open to ered a grand total of 457 applications to the uled to occur on Saturday June 7th. With Altoona area. There was a significant the public, will be managed by the O. DMV in Richmond on June 24th ahead of heavy rain scheduled to happen the same decrease in the number of fans out and Winston Link Museum with programming the deadline by days. We needed 350 and it day, I called the festivals toll free informa- on related topics and themes. about during my four day visit. Maybe it tion number to verify if the festival was to took a lot of begging and pleading to get the was the Code Orange for national security or orders in hand. happen rain or shine. The pleasant voice at 11 2 On the first of August the DMV began Roanoke Chapter Operations Meeting Notice mailing out the first of the 611 license by Ken Miller plates. The custom plates are taking a bit The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society o, not a trip type of operations! Sorry, we longer to be made, as the regular orders are will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 7:30 only wish it was so. To keep the mem- pm. The meeting will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on being filled first. N I want to thank all the folks who have bership informed of the Board’s actions a the corner of McClanahan and Crystal Spring Avenue in Roanoke. new policy was enacted at the August Board Program for August will be Great Scenic Railway Journeys by been involved in this project, I’ll name a few, meeting to copy railroad practice and post RVC Video Productions. Visit thirteen of the greatest scenic rail- but there are more: Norris Deyerle, Galen ways the eastern United States has to offer. From Maine to North Wright, Ward Armstrong, Kay Strickland, all operating bulletins at the 9th Street Facility and Gift Shop, a brief synopsis will also be Volume 35, Number 7/8 Carolina, experience the history and beauty of railroading's gold- the other folks at the Blue Ridge Chapter en days. Plus a behind the scenes look at the filming of the train who kept the fires burning, Steve Barry of periodically published here as well. Please July/August 2003 wreck in the film "The Fugitive." Railroads included are the Railfan who gave us a nice plug with an arti- check out the bulletins at those locations. Conway Scenic, Potomac Eagle, Great Smokey Mountains and cle and photo, NRHS National who put it on Operations Bulletin 1 EDITOR many more. Thanks goes to Skip Salmon for the June program, the website during the process and, as they Due to poor track conditions at our 9th Kenney Kirkman The August program is the holdover from July. say, a cast of thousands. Street Facility, the board has decided to ban [email protected] One person needs to be singled out any operation or movement with any form of From The Head End though, and that is Bill Arnold, who took the motive power of equipment until conditions MIXED FREIGHT project in hand, organized, begged, pleaded have been repaired to the board’s satisfac- Robin R. Shavers Cards and Flowers and cajoled until we finally managed to make tion. If you know of a Chapter Member who is sick, lost a loved one the goal. It was appropriate that Bill received Operations Bulleting 2 SMALL RAILS or has a new birth in the family, please contact Bonnie Molinary. the first plate number 1001, since that is In order to control spending, a old policy Dave Meashey Bonnie is responsible for Chapter cards and flowers and can be where they started. has been reinstated, the use of purchase orders is now required on all purchases over [email protected] reached at 362-0273. For those who did not order early, it is now available via the DMV itself on the web at: $25. The purchase order must be written out, and submitted to either the President or HISTORIAN Deadline for Turntable Times http://www.dmv.state.va.us/exec/vehicle/sp Treasurer before any purchase is made. The deadline for the next issue of Turntable Times is Monday, lates/info.asp?idnm=JLOC Kenneth L. Miller Operations Bulleting 3 August 18, 2003. Please send articles, information and all exchange Wear your plate proudly, it has been a [email protected] Due to ongoing inflation, it has been newsletters to: Kenney Kirkman, Editor,Turntable Times, 590 major task and great accomplishment for the decided to raise dues by $3 across the board. Murphy Road, Collinsville, Va. 24078-2128. Roanoke Chapter NRHS. All materials should be This is the first Chapter dues increase in sent directly to the Editor: Material for Turntable Times over ten years. National has gone up in that Kenney Kirkman Virginia Musuem of time, but none of that comes to the Chapter. 590 Murphy Road We are always in need of articles, photos or news items for the Transportation We hope these bulletins will keep the Collinsville, VA Turntable Times. Due to copyright restrictions, we cannot reprint membership informed of activities, and 24078-2128 ith a major success in the return of the articles from most newspapers; a condensed rewritten article actions so that everyone can follow what is crediting the source, however, is acceptable. W1218 to the Musuem, good things are Turntable Times is published happening there, however the beginning of going on. monthly as the newsletter of We love having articles of news, of a historical nature, the staff the Roanoke Chapter, National will be glad to assist in finding information or illustrations if you August brings the announcement that Railway Historical Society, Inc. Director Kay Strickland is leaving her post Opinions and points of view do not have any available. Nominating Committee after 12 years to accept a position at Hollins expressed herein are those of Chad Jordan will be heading up the nomi- the staff members of the Cover Photos College. nating committee for 2003. The election will Turntable Times and not nec- The Musuem has taken some great strides essarily reflect those of the Editor Kenney Kirkman provides us with a look at he 1218 both be held in November. members, officers or directors on its way and on final placement at Virginia Musuem of under Kay’s leadership, and we wish her the of the Chapter. Tranportation on June 11, 2003. See his story in this issue. best in her new endeavor. 1 12 Chapter Equipment The Official Newsletter of the Roanoke Chapter, National At long, long last, we can report that the UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS Railway Historical Society, Inc. Chapter’s six passenger cars and Alco T6 August 21, 2003 – Regular Meeting locomoitve have left the West Virginia Volume 35, Number 7/8 Central. After what seems like an inter- September 2, 2003 – Board Meeting July/August 2003 minable delay, CSX picked up the cars on September 18, 2003 – General Meeting July 15th and took them to Grafton, they arrived at Cumberland on the 30th and October 7, 2003 – Board Meeting were interechanged to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad who will be doing October 11, 2003 - Chapter Outing some repair work to the equipment to make October 16, 2003 – General Meeting it safe for the trip on to Roanoke, or wher- ever they may go for their next use. November 4, 2003 – Board Meeting Chapter members are prohibited from accessing or visiting the equipment without November 20, 2003 – Annual Meeting direct permission and clearance from Ken December 2, 2003 – Board Meeting Miller or Carl Jensen. Holiday Gathering - Stay Tuned!

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Turntable Times is published monthly as the newsletter of the Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, Inc. Opinions and points of view expressed herein are those of the staff members of the Turntable Times and not necessarily reflect those of the members, officers or directors of the Chapter. Items of interest should be sent to Editor Kenny Kirkman, 590 Murphy Road, Collinsville, VA 24078-2128.

Non-Profit Editor, Turntable Times Organization Roanoke Chapter NRHS U.S. Postage P.O. Box 13222 PAID Roanoke, VA Roanoke, VA 24032-1322 Permit No. 89 Dated Material Please do not delay