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UPCOMINGWB&AEVENTS July19,2015ǦDz dz Ƭ ǡǨ Ǥ̷Ǥ ǯ Ǥ October31,2015ȂƬ ǡ ̷ Ǥ ̷Ǥ 3 November7,2015ǦƬǦ ȀͻǦͳǤǤ ǡͺ ǡǡʹͳʹͲ͸ǡ ̷Ǥȋ ȌǤ TWOyesTWO2015WB&ADrawingItems ʹͲͳ͸ ǡ ͻȀƬǡ ͹ ͹ ǡ ͵ͳǤ ȋȌǤ ǣ͸ͻͲͺǡǡʹʹͳͷʹ ͳǤ ʹͲǦ͵ͷ͹ͶǦͳͶǦͺǦͶ Ƭ ǣ̈́ͳǡ͵ͶͻǤͻͷǤȋͳ ̈́ͷ͸̈́ʹͷȌǤ ʹǤ Ǧ ͓͵ͺ ǡ͓ͳͳʹ ǡ͓ͳͳ͵Ǣ͓ͳͳ͸ ͓ͳͳ͹Ǣ ǢǤ ̈́͵ͲͲǤȋͳ ̈́ͷ͸̈́ʹͲȌǤ WB&AMEMBERSHIP 4 Ǥ ǯ ʹͲͳ͸ȋʹͲͳ͸Ȍǡǯ ̈́ͳͲͲǨ ȋǣȀȀǤ ǤȀΨʹͲȀ̴ ̴ʹͲͳͶǤȌ REQUIREMENTSFORAMEET Ƭǡ Ǥ̷Ǥ ǡǯ Ǥ WEBSITES/LINKSOFINTEREST/THINGSTO DO/BOOKS ǣ Ǣ ǢǢ Ƭ Ǣ ǤǤ ̵͸ͳͳ Ǥ ǫ ǤǤǤǨ ͸ͳͳ̵ ͵Ǥ ǣȀȀǤ ǤȀ ǤǫαͳͲͻ͹ͳʹǢ Ǣ Ǣ Ƭȋ ǤȌǢ ǣȀȀǤǤ Ȁ̴̴Ȁ 5 Ȁ͸ͳͳȀǢǣȀȀǤǤ Ȁ͸ͳͳǦ Ǣ ǣȀȀǤ͹Ǥ ȀȀ ȀǦ͸ͳͳǦ ǦǦǦǦ Ȁ͵͵͵ͳͷͷ͸ͶǫαͳǢǣȀȀǤǤ ȀǢ EXTRAEXTRAREADABOUTITANDLETUSKNOW ǡ Ƭ͓͸ͳͳǫ ǡǡ ̷ǤǤ ǣǣȀȀǤǤ ȀǦ ȀǦ ȀʹͲͳͷȀͲ͸ȀǦǦǦ Ƭǡ ̷Ǥ Ǥ 6 UPCOMINGCALENDAREVENTS(pleasesendme itemstoincludeonthecalendar)–ifyouliketosee someotherdatesfromaroundthecountry,check out: ͳǤ ǣǣȀȀǤ Ȁȋ ǯ ȀƬȌǤ ǣ ̷Ǥ ʹǤ Ǥ ǣ ǣȀȀ ǤǤ ȀǤǫαƬ αͳƬ α ͵Ǥ ʹͲͳͷ ǣ Ǥ Ǥ 7 ͶǤ ̶̶ Ǧ ǣȀȀǤǤȀ Ȁ ͷǤ ʹͲͳͷ ǯ ǣǣȀȀǤǤ ȀǤ ͸Ǥ ʹͲͳͷ ǯƬ ǣ ǣȀȀǤǤ Ȁ Ǥ ͹Ǥ ǣ ǣȀȀǤǤ Ȁ ǣȀȀ Ǥ ǣȀȀǤǤ Ȁ ǣȀȀǤǤ ȀȀ̴ Ǥ ǣȀȀǤ ǤȀǤ ͺǤ ͳ͵ǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǣȀȀǤ Ȁȋ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ ǡ ̵ȋ ȌǤ ͳͺͺͲ̵Ǥ ̶Ǥ ̵̶ǡ 8 ǤȌ ǡ Ǩ ͻǤ ʹͲǦʹͳǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǯ Ǩ ȂǤͻǦ ͷȀǤͳͲǦͶ ǡ ʹʹͲͲǡǡʹͳͲͻ͵ ǣȀȀǤ Ȁ ͳͲǤ ʹͲǡʹͳƬ ͳͺǡͳͻƬʹʹǡʹ͵ǡʹͲͳͷȂ ͳͲǦ͵ Ǥ Ǥ̷Ǥ͵ͲͳǦͺͲͲǦͻͺʹͻ ǤǤ ǡ ʹͳ͹ͺʹ ͳͳǤ ͳͺǡʹͲͳͷǦ ǡͳǦͷ ǤǤǤǤ ͳʹǤ ʹͲǦʹ͸ǡʹͲͳͷȂͳʹ ǣȀȀ ǤǤ Ȁ͓͵ ͳ ͳ͵Ǥ ʹ͸ǡʹͲͳͷǦͻǦͳǤǤ ǡ Ȃ ǡ ǡ ͳͶǤ ͳǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǯ͵ͺͻ Ǥ Ǥ 9 ͳͷǤ ͺǡʹͲͳͷȂ ʹͲͳͷ ǣǡ ̷Ǥ ǡ ̷Ǥ ǡ ǤǤǤ ͳ͸Ǥ ͹ǡʹͲͳͷȂͳ͸ ǣȀȀǤ ǤȀ ͳ͹Ǥ ͳʹǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǡͳǦͷ ǤǤǤǤ ͳͺǤ ͳʹǡʹͲͳͷ ǡ ǤʹͲͳͷ ǣ ͹͵ͳ͵ ͻǦʹǤǤ ǣǣ ̷ ǤǢǣ͵ͲͳǦͺͲͲǦͻͺʹͻǢ ǣǤǤ ͳͻǤ ͳʹǡʹͲͳͷǦ ǡ ǡ Ǧ ̷ ǤǤ Ǥ ʹͲǤ ͳ͵ǡʹͲͳͷȂͻǦͳǤǤ ǡ Ȃǡ ǡ ʹͳǤ ͳͺǦʹͲǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǡ ǤǤ ʹʹǤ ʹͲǡʹͲͳͷǦ ǡͳͶͷͶǤ ǡ ǡͳͻͷʹͷ 10 ʹ͵Ǥ ʹ͹ǡʹͲͳͷǦͻǦͳ ʹͶǤ ʹǦͶǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǣ ǣȀȀǤ Ǥ ȀǤ ʹͷǤ ͶǡʹͲͳͷǦ Ȃ Ǧ Ͷ͸ ǡ ͳͺͻ͵ͺ̈́ͷǤͲͲǡͳʹ ʹ͸Ǥ ͳ͹ǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǡͳǦͷ ǤǤǤǤ ʹ͹Ǥ ʹͶǦʹͷǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǯ Ǩ Ȃ ǤͻǦͷȀǤͳͲǦͶ ǡʹʹͲͲǡǡ ʹͳͲͻ͵ǣȀȀǤ Ȁ ʹͺǤ ͵ͳǡʹͲͳͷȂƬ ǡ ̷ Ǥ ̷Ǥ ʹͻǤ ͹ǡʹͲͳͷǦƬǦ ȀͻǦͳ ǤǤ ǡͺ ǡǡʹͳʹͲ͸ǡ ̷Ǥ ȋ ȌǤ 11 ͵ͲǤ ͳͶǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǡͳǦͷ ǤǤǤǤ ͵ͳǤ ʹͳǡʹͲͳͷǦ ǡ ̷ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ ͵ʹǤ ʹͺǡʹͲͳͷǦ ǡ ǤʹͲͳͷ ǣ ͹͵ͳ͵ ͻǦʹǤǤ ǣǣ ̷ ǤǢǣ͵ͲͳǦͺͲͲǦͻͺʹͻǢ ǣǤǤ ͵͵Ǥ ͵ͲǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǡͳǦͷ ǤǤǤǤ ͵ͶǤ ͳʹǡʹͲͳͷȂ ǡͳǦͷ ǤǤǤǤ ͵ͷǤ ͳ͵ǡʹͲͳͷȂ ͻǦʹ ͵͸Ǥ ͳͻǡʹͲͳͷǦ ͻǦͳ Asalways,ifyouprefernottoreceivetheseemails, pleaseletmeknow. ǡ 12 Asaremindertoall,Igathermyinformationfromall sources,lotsofitcomesfromthemembershipwho includesmeontheiremails.Irespecteveryone’s intellectualpropertyrightsanddomyupmostbestnot toinfringeonanyone’sandtogivecreditwhenIam awareofwhomtogivethecreditto.Thiseblastisan informationalnewsletterandmyintentistosharewith youinformationyoumayfindofuseorinterest. 13 Vol. 22 June 2015 No. 6 Derek Wimberley will present the show at the June meeting of the Blue Ridge Chapter. He'll present a DVD reviewing Streamliners at Spencer event that took place at the North Carolina Transportation Museum last spring. Rather appropriate since one of the streamliners that was featured there, the N&W 611 pictured above, was dead as a doornail last year, but is alive and roaming all over the Commonwealth of Virginia this year. Come and see the show Top. Derek Wimberley. Bottom: G. Harper Wednesday, June 10, 2015. 6:00 p.m. Charley's Restaurant. 707 Graves Mill Rd. Lynchburg, VA. Minutes from the May 13, 2015 Meeting of The Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS The regularly scheduled meeting of the Blue Ridge Chapter for May 2015 commenced at Charley’s Restaurant two minutes late; at 7:32 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th. Among others, President Johnson welcomed new member Steve Layman; along with five guests – Dorr Tucker, Dona Duval, Mary Guthrow, Hal Franklin, and Peggy Deyerle. Twenty-five members in good standing were accounted for. Minutes from the April 2015 were approved as printed in the Blue Ridge Dispatcher. Jerry Hampton announced that two tickets were available for an upcoming excursion featuring N&W No. 611 between Lynchburg and Petersburg. Going rate of the two tickets is as advertised at $149. Fred Mayer suffered a heart attack in March and remains a bit under the weather. He underwent a four way bypass and valve replacement. Lee Gillis, who was active in the Blue Ridge Chapter in the 1970’s, passed away in Florida. Norris Deyerle shared with us that Chuck Hladik fell out in his trailer minutes before our meeting. A neighbor helped him up and we’re concerned that this has happened more than once. Perhaps seek assisted living status with the VA. Old Business: None Vice President: No report New Business: New Virginia Highway Historical Marker scheduled to be unveiled at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 @ Thaxton. Michael Jones, author of the book Lost at Thaxton is scheduled to present his program to the BRC. Virginia Blue Ridge Caboose No. 2 is scheduled to return to Piney River from Rapidan in the near future. That which remains of the caboose will be trucked back to Piney River. It’s scheduled for restoration upon its return to VBR right-of-way. National Representative: Advisory council meeting was recently held @ York, PA. President Al Weber thanked everyone for their patience as the NRHS redefines itself. All of 2014’s bills are paid and 2015 is paid to date. A mailing is forthcoming that will include a membership card. Weber suggested more mini-conventions be held. By-laws, including term limits, was updated – two four-year terms and you’re out. 2016 convention is scheduled to be held in Denver, CO. Garp’s Blue Ridge Dispatcher: On time! Webmaster Siegle: Improvements have been made to BRC website that will make it easier to access. Tours by Railhawk: Ride Amtrak’s Regional train to the 21st annual Manassas Rail Days. Leave Lynchburg @ 10:00 a.m. and return 7:30 p.m. From our treasurer: Vendor registration for Lynchburg Rail Days has gone out. Need help with set up on Friday and take down Saturday after the show. No slideshow, no model or photo contest! Get those flyers out, boys. Kurt Reisweber marked off sick so Jean Raas did tonight’s program. 50/50 won by Charley’s employees. Respectfully submitted, Dale W. Diacont, Secretary 2 The return (again) of the 611! We're going to devote much of this issue of the Blue Ridge Dispatcher to the return of the N&W Class J #611. Needless to say, the re-return of 611 to active excursion service is nothing short of miraculous. 611's boiler went cold on December 7, 1994, after it made a last run to Roanoke when Norfolk Southern ended the steam program which the Southern Ry. had begun in the mid- sisties. Soon after Norfolk Southern inaugurated its "21st Century Steam" program, the dream of reviving the 611 began to take hold. Thanks to the many individual and corporate donations generated by the Virginia Museum of Transportation's "Fire Up 611!" campaign, the "Queen of Steam" is now the queen of the fleet in Norfolk Southern's 21st Century Steam program. In late May of 2014 the 611 was taken out of the VMT in Roanoke and hauled dead-in-tow to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC, for restoration to operating condition. The cover photo shows the 611 on the turntable at Spencer during the "Streamliners at Spencer" event held over the Fourth of July weekend in 2014. On July 4 Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman removed a bolt from the jacket of the 611 as a ceremonial "ground breaking" of the 611's restoration. (G. Harper) A year later and the work was completed! A few pictures of the progress on 611 have been included in past issues of the Blue Ridge Dispatcher. A test run of the 611 was made on the main line between Spencer and Greensboro on May 21. Send-off celebrations were held at the NCTM and on May 30 the 611 and its train, a BIG train, about 20 cars, left Spencer and headed toward Roanoke, the place of its birth 65 years and 1 day earlier (Yes! 611 was placed into service on May 29, 1950.) for a greatly anticipated welcome home. The news of the return of the 611 was the leading story on the TV and newspapers and internet. Thousands were expected to line the right-of-way from Spencer to Lynchburg to Roanoke to see 611 in action. And they did. And they were not disappointed. One has to remember that in the twenty-two years that 611 has been silent nearly a whole generation has come along. It's almost like all the folks along the railroad were in some sort of railroad Jurassic Park. Quite awesome. 3 Invited guests were offered a ride on the inaugural trip on May 30. Among those were Blue Ridge Chapter member and BRC Chairman, Virginia Rail Heritage Region Partners Norris Deyerle and Peggy, seen below. (Denise Mays) On the left is Norris Deyerle's view out of the NS coach 47, "Louisiana" window as he steamed past the O.Winston Link Museum on the afternoon of Saturday May 30, 2015.