The official publication of the Western Kentucky Chapter, NRHS. IMHO Chuck Hinrichs Getting Together AUGUST 2004 VOLUME 8 NUMBER 8 Several recent events have reaffirmed my belief that the railroad hobby is, at Chapter Western Kentucky it’s best, a group Chapter, NRHS activity. The folks that gather at Don’s on 111 Reed Place Madisonville, KY 42431 Thursday night are there because they like trains and they like * * * * * CHAPTER MEETING being around others who like trains. The MONDAY, AUGUST 23 President Saturday night dinner Bob McCracken at Hog Heaven during 7:00 PM the Dennison Railfest Vice President was much more Badgett Center Rich Hane enjoyable as a group activity - there were 8 (Old L&N Depot) Sect. Treas. of us around the table - Wally Watts than it might have (Arch St and the Railroad) been had we all eaten National Director alone. The P&L shop Madisonville, KY Wallace H enderson tour and the recent ————- railfan trip to Illinois and Missouri were also PROGRAM activities that were better because they Jim Pearson will present a photo program for the “PENNYRAIL” is the were done in groups August Chapter meeting. Jim never disappoints with official publication of with a common interest his photography. This presentation will feature rail the Western Kentucky - trains and railroads. action in Ohio. Eric Travis will provide the Chapter, NRHS. We have discussed refreshments. This should be an excellent meeting Send news notes, Chapter activities and and perhaps our train coordinator, Dennis Carnal, historical notes and with the exception on can coax some action out of CSX to liven up the other rail information the lightly attended evening. to: P&L shop tour, not much has happened. JULY MEETING Editor We have discussed a Chuck Hinrichs picnic and thanks to Jim Finley (see Thirty-three members and guests were on hand to 112 Windsor Drive Regional Rail Notes on welcome NRHS National President, Greg Molloy to page 5) a location is Western Kentucky and the July Chapter meeting. Hopkinsville, KY 42240 270-886-2849 right here on the Following a short business meeting and refreshments Henderson Sub. provided by Rich Hane the crowd settled back to view e-mail Crofton has the a spectacular slide show provided by Molloy. He took facilities and the us on a visual tour of the decaying rail network in [email protected] railroad. All we need Guatemala and El Salvador are warm bodies and (Continued on page 2) ‘bring your own’ picnic (Continued on page 7) 1 PENNYRAIL Chapter News PHOTO SECTION (Continued from page 1) In attendance were three members of the Owensboro Chapter and the President and another member from Paducah. Bob Johnson, Paducah President , gave us a report on the Paducah Muumuu and it’s move to a new home. CSX put the only damper on the evening when they sent no trains past the depot. In spite of the lack of trains it was both an enjoyable and memorable evening. CHAPTER NEWS The Chapter was well represented at the National Convention in Minneapolis. Don Clayton, Wallace Henderson and Chuck and Shirley Hinrichs were there for the festivities. Rick Bivins will have another The gathering crowd is getting comfortable in the Badgett Center (L&N depot) and Greg REA truck work day on August 14. Molloy is setting up equipment for his slide presentation on rail activity in Guatemala and Unfortunately some of the El Salvador. The July meeting was the first time we have had a National NRHS officer visit our Chapter and we turned out some 33 members and guest for the special evening. members will be in Cincinnati for digital image by Chuck Summerail on that weekend. The Dennison, Ohio Trainfest turned out to be a Chapter event as seven members were on hand for a weekend of rail activity including a good measure of steam. Jim Pearson, Chris Dees, Wallace Henderson, Bob and Jackie McCracken and Chuck and Shirley Hinrichs were on hand as well as Jim’s nephew, Chris, and former Chapter members Jim Bengart and Jim Bergant. More on Dennison elsewhere in this issue. Jackie McCracken will undergo cataract surgery on August 10. Our prayers are with Jackie for a quick and complete recovery. Through the efforts of our webmaster, Jim Pearson, we have a photo gallery with over 500 images taken by Jim, Chuck Hinrichs, Ron Stubblefield, Tom Woodward. There is some great stuff just waiting to be viewed. Drop by and take a look and possibly post some of your work. Paducah Chapter President, Bob Johnson, our Western Kentucky Chapter President, Bob Also checkout the Chapter Forum McCracken and National NRHS President, Greg Molloy check out the depot platform at the Badgett Center prior to Greg’s slide program on Central American rail action. CSX for up-to-date information on failed to polish the rail behind the leaders during the evenings festivities. (Continued on page 3) digital image by Chuck 2 PENNYRAIL Minneapolis Chapter News of locomotives and equipment, one Convention of the finest in the country. (Continued from page 2) Activities Among the gems in this collection Chapter activities. The website are GN (St. Paul & Pacific) 4-4-0 URL is on the bottom of page 6. Wallace Henderson "William Crooks" and NP 0-4-OST #1 "Minnetonka" as well as NEW MEMBERS This is a little different slant on Milwaukee Road 2-unit box cab Convention activities other than the electric #10200 (GE-1915), one reported last month by your DM&IR "Yellowstone" 2-8-8-4 We have picked up a pair of editor. #227 (Baldwin-1941), rare NG family members that were not The convention began with a NW-S #192 (EMD-1946), several earlier reported. Steve Gentry’s trip on the Minnesota Zephyr other steam locomotives, various son, Matt has been a member Dinner Train on Tuesday snow plows, wooden cabooses and for a couple of months. Matt evening. Buses departed the passenger cars. After a couple of lives in Newburg, IN. Jim Hilton Hotel at 4:30 for hours in the museum, we boarded Bryan’s son Thomas is also a Stillwater, the departure time a special up the shore line to Two member and he is a regular necessitating an early hotel Harbors, pulled by Erie Mining visitor to the C&W RR on check in. I was able to secure a F9A #4211 and Soo Line FP7A Thursday evenings. A belated reservation in the full length #2500. I rode first class in the welcome to both Matt and Grand Dome, a former S.P. former DM&IR business car Thomas. rebuilt Pullman, which added "Northland", the very first all steel Dr. Harry Dolph and his wife to the ambience of the trip. The Pullman car built (in 1916). In Linda are new Chapter train is pulled by F units on Two Harbors, "Yellowstone #229 members. The Dolphs are both ends and, although very and Duluth & Iron Range 2-6-0 #3 neighbors of Rich Hane. slow, the food is excellent and were on display at the nicely the equipment is first-rate. preserved two story DM&IR Dr Harry and Linda Dolph The Big Trip of the station. Photo runs going and 525 Threadneedle Dr convention was Wednesday's coming back topped off this very Madisonville, KY 42431 bus trip up to Duluth to visit fine day in spite of the long bus 1-270-825-8416 the very fine Lake Superior rides. Museum of Transportation and Thursday morning I toured the Linda and Harry retired to then ride their North Shore James J. Hill mansion in St. Paul. Madisonville in 2002 from Scenic line (ex-DM&IR) along It is a grand house and, when central New York. Linda was an the shore of Lake Superior to completed in 1891, was the Electrical Engineer with GE Two Harbors. largest and most expensive home prior to managing Harry’s The museum is in downtown in Minnesota. The afternoon tour Orthodontic practice. Linda Duluth's former Union Station went first to the restored Como- enjoys singing and is busy and houses a eclectic collection Harriet streetcar line with three doing family genealogy. Harry cars, one a PCC, shuttling us all enjoys gardening, snow skiing back and forth over a mile or so of and traveling. Harry's Dad was RAILROAD track. Next stop was the a school teacher in New York Minnesota Transportation City and moonlighted moving EMERGENCY Museum’s large ex-GN Jackson mailbags around Grand Central PHONE NUMBERS Street Roundhouse in St. Paul. Terminal on the weekends. The The star attraction there was GN Dolphs were at the July meeting SD-45 #400 "Hustle Muscle" and we hope to see them at AS RAILFANS WE ARE which provided cab rides back many more Chapter events. OFTEN AT TRACKSIDE AND IN and forth through the yard. Other POSITION TO OBSERVE pieces of interesting equipment (Continued on page 5) EMERGENCY CONDITIONS included gas-electric locomotive THAT COULD AFFECT #100 of the Dan Patch Lines RAILROAD SAFETY OR (MN&S), and a Westinghouse built SECURITY. KEEP THESE (1929) Armco box cab electric. A NUMBERS HANDY TO couple of NP steam locomotives SUBSCRIPTION REPORT INCIDENTS. were in various stages of RATES rebuilding in the roundhouse, but BNSF 800-832-5452 I was generally disappointed in CN/IC 800-465-9239 what was there and the condition PENNYRAIL of most of it, especially after 11 issues CSX 800-232-0144 Duluth. $12 PER YEAR NS 800-453-2530 (Continued on page 4) 3 PENNYRAIL Minneapolis What it is? (Continued from page 3) I attended the night photo session, conducted by Steve Barry, Several years ago, more than twenty, I was on one of many back at the roundhouse.