The official publication of the Western Kentucky Chapter, NRHS. NRHS National NOVEMBER, 1997 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 10 News ELECTION All incumbent national Chapter Western Kentucky Chapter, NRHS officers of the NRHS were re-elected at the 111 Reed Place Fall BOD Meeting in Madisonville, KY 42431 Dearborn, Michigan. The Board of Directors * * * * * also considered a series NOVEMBER MEETING of bylaw changes that BADGETT CENTER (L&N DEPOT) President will be voted on at the Bob McCracken Spring BOD Meeting in MADISONVILLE, KENTUCKY Roanoke, Virginia. The MONDAY NOVEMBER, 24 7:00 PM Vice President budget for the next year Ricky Bivins was discussed and approved. The NRHS is PROGRAM Sect. Treas. in stable financial Wally Watts condition but there is Wally Watts will present the program - a video of no fat in the budget 4449 on Stampede Pass if it arrives in time or National Director and no surplus funds. another steam video. Chuck Hinrichs will provide the Chuck Hinrichs refreshments. Membership continues on a gradual decrease with no significant CHAPTER ELECTIONS ————- All current officers were nominated for re-election. Nominees are: President, Bob McCracken; Vice “PENNYRAIL” is the President, Ricky Bivins; Secretary/Treasurer, Wally official publication of Watts and National Director, Chuck Hinrichs. the Western Kentucky Election will be held at the November meeting. Chapter, NRHS. Send news notes, CLAYTON’S OPEN HOUSE historical notes and other rail information to: Some 40 guests gathered at the Clayton house on a cold and clear Saturday evening for Don’s annual open house. The table was loaded with a superb Editor Chuck Hinrichs selection of food and a variety of liquid refreshment change projected. The was dispensed. The C&W railroad was up and lease on the 112 Windsor Drive running and all the guests visited the train room Philadelphia office was between trips to the buffet. Bill Grady brought a tray Hopkinsville, KY 42240 extended with a modest of slides depicting his trip west this spring - great 502-886-2849 stuff. Though the crowd was down a little from last decrease in rental fees. year it did not lack for appetite or railroad e-mail The extension allows [email protected] the search for a enthusiasm. Everyone had a great time. Thanks Don! permanent home to continue without (Continued on page 2) 1 PENNYRAIL Chapter News TRACKSIDE WITH (Continued from page 1) THE OLD GOAT CHRISTMAS Dennis Carnal BANQUET The Annual Christmas Greetings and Happy are running daily on the Banquet of the Western Kentucky Turkey Day from The Old Henderson Sub, some with Chapter will be held at Cody’s Goat, Hope everyone has a one or two Wisconsin Central Restaurant in Madisonville on great Turkey Day. Lot's of SD45s along with one or two Monday evening, December 8. family, friends and food. CSX units. Also, unit trains of The festivities will get under way Speaking of food, remember to coke, phosphate, potash and with a happy hour at 6 PM and cook your turkey till it's nice molten sulphur operate dinner at 7 PM. We will adjourn and dry. The Old Goat likes several times per week. Add to the Badgett Center (the old his turkey so dry, he can hear these trains to the manifest, L&N Depot) for a program it while he chews. This year piggyback, grain, coal, military following dinner. Mark your try your turkey very dry, you and locals and it is not calendar now and don’t miss this can thank me later. unusual to see twenty to holiday get-together. Remember drier is better!! thirty trains per day on the Have a great day! Let's see Henderson Sub. what railroad news we have to MEMBER NOTES report this month. Also, the past few weeks the Henderson Sub has seen Wallace Henderson’s photo of CSX Henderson Sub it's first automotive unit train. IC steam at Princeton, KY made News...... Starting in mid- The train is the Q229/L 229. the cover of the January 1998 October and running till the This train had been running issue of “RAILFAN & RAILROAD”. end of December, the from Portsmouth, Virginia to The photo ties into a feature Henderson Sub is under a six Nashville via Hamlet, Atlanta article on the last days of IC hour per day curfew six days and Chattanooga. The train steam written by former Chapter per week. The reason for the now runs between Atlanta and member Cliff Downey. curfew is work on Baker East St. Louis via Nashville, Congratulations to both Wallace Tunnel, at Ridgetop, TN. CSX Evansville and Vincennes. and Cliff. runs five or six early morning This has been a Monday northbound trains toward through Saturday train with Joe Wirth has been Evansville, then let's the no train on Sunday. Note, hospitalized in Owensboro with a workers have the line. These this is a northbound train kidney infection. Our prayers are trains pass through the from Nashville, but has an with Joe and his family and for Madisonville area around 9:00 odd train number. Also seen his quick and complete recovery. AM. Evansville will start recently on the Henderson letting southbound trains Sub is Q553. This train Bob Vittitow was re-appointed leave Howell Yard around normally runs from St. Louis as NRHS Program Director for 11:00 AM. These trains run to to Louisville via Vincennes, Operation Lifesaver. near Baker Tunnel. Then, as Evansville and Owensboro. Congratulations Bob and keep up soon as the workers clear, the The reason for the diversion the good work. In addition to his trains can proceed on to through Nashville is not NRHS Operation Lifesaver Nashville. Most days six to known. activities, Bob also serves as eight trains are waiting in the Kentucky State Coordinator for Baker Tunnel area. The fall Paducah & Louisville Operation Lifesaver. and winter grain rush has Railroad News .....Starting in started on the Henderson Sub. early October loaded CSX unit Owensboro Chapter Most days, Howell Yard in coal trains have been running Christmas Banquet The annual Evansville will be holding six on P&L tracks from Louisville Christmas banquet of the to ten southbound grain to the Vulcan Materials Barge Owensboro Chapter will be held trains. These trains are to Rail Transfer (BRT) on on Saturday, December 13, at the waiting for crews and/or Kentucky Lake near Grand Shady Rest Restaurant in locomotives. Most days, six or Rivers. The coal is then Owensboro at 7:00 PM. NRHS more empty northbound grain shipped to various TVA power President, Gregg Malloy will be trains move north from plants in the area. A few of the the speaker. Dinner is $14 per Nashville. The Chicago to (Continued on page 4) person. Call Eddie James for Birmingham iron ore trains 2 Milwaukee) tracks to Franklin PENNYRAIL Park and on Wisconsin Ohio State Limited Central (ex SOO) tracks to Antioch. The route features Michigan Fall Colors Amtrak Style new stations on the 50 mile Don Clayton (one way) run and the trip takes an hour and twenty five Trip 10 for 1997 began on In order to boost AMTRAK’s minutes (again one way). The one way fare is $5.80. This Friday, October 3 with a 3:36 AM revenues, a group of departure from Carbondale on Superliner coaches and a pair route sees ten trains per day and runs only on weekdays. I AMTRAK’s #58, “The City of New of new P42 GE locomotives are Orleans” for Chicago. Before I available for charter service. am back at Union Station in plenty of time to board the even got to the Carbondale waiting This fall, many NRHS room I was flagged down in the Chapters and other rail “Lake Shore Limited” for Cleveland. I am in room #10 parking lot by Fred Wetzel and groups are chartering and Pam Wilson from Owensboro. AMTRAK train for fund raising of “Gulf View” one of They too were “AMTRAKing” this outings. AMTRAK’s new viewliner weekend. After a short nap I had sleepers (there are three on a good breakfast in the Superliner The Mad River and Nickel this train) plus coaches, diner, Plate Railroad Society of lounge and baggage and mail dining car. Upon arrival in Bellvue, OH chartered such a cars. The room features two Chicago, Fred, Pam and I walked train for the weekend of movie channels, 3 music around the Loop and met two September 20-21. The route - channels, private wash basin other instructors from Owensboro mostly Big Four (NYC) - would and toilet, bunk beds and Community College, Steve Walton give me over 200 new miles of super efficient air conditioning and Jim Johnson. Steve and Jim passenger travel on a (burrr!!). Following a delicious had flown (traitors) from Louisville. Cleveland-Cincinnati trip. dinner I sleep until a few The five of us had lunch at my minutes before arrival in favorite Chicago restaurant, The On Thursday my bags are Cleveland. A quick cab trip to Berghoff. I rushed back to Union packed and Ron Stubblefield the hotel lets me finish my Station to catch the 2:05 PM and Chris Dees drive me to sleep. departure of train #352 “Lake Newbern, TN to catch the Cities” for Ann Arbor. The northbound ‘City.’ We are a Bright and early Saturday ‘Michigan Corridor’ is a delight - 4 little early and spend the time morning, I'm back at the trains each way between Chicago chatting on the benches in the station for the 8:30 departure and Battle Creek. Three each way town square. #58 is ‘on the of the “Ohio State Limited” - a continue on the Ann Arbor, advertised’ with 4 p42s and an name borrowed from the NYC.