Vol. 15 June 2008 No. 6 June Program: The Montour Railroad presented by Bob Ciminel The Montour Railroad was a 42-mile-long coal-hauling railroad that operated for over a century in the coal fields southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Using a stable of SW -9 switchers, the Montour moved tons of black diamonds from the world-famous Pittsburgh coal seam to interchanges with the P&LE, PRR, P&W V, B&O, and Union railroads. During W orld W ar II, Montour 2-8-2 Mikado serviced 27 mines along the railroad’s main track and three branches. Abandoned and scrapped in 1983, the Montour right-of-way survives as the Montour Trail, a popular hiking and biking venue for Pittsburgh’s growing suburban population. Come to the June meeting of the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS, and learn more about this fallen short line. Wednesday, June 11, 2008. 6:00 p.m. Charley’s Restaurant. 707 Graves Mill Rd. Lynchburg, VA. Blue Ridge Chapter, National Railway Historical Society Minutes of Meeting - May 14, 2008 President Rick Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. at Charley’s Restaurant and welcomed 19 members and 7 guests. The minutes of the April meeting were approved as corrected. Treasurer John Tanner then reported on the financial health of the Chapter. Warren Middleton announced that member Gene Campbell has suffered a mild heart attack but is recovering and hopes to attend the next meeting. Norris Deyerle’s daughter Jacky had a little girl named Victoria Grace who weighed 7 pounds and is 20 inches long with coal black hair. Congratulations were offered to Victoria and her family. It was announced the member Tom Ledford had been named Interim Director of the Historical Society of Western Virginia in Roanoke, which includes the O. Winston Link Museum. It was also noted that former member Wayne Kendrick had passed away. There was no old business. Under new business Dr. Earl Guthrow sought assistance for Jim Wright who is dispersing his father’s Norfolk and Western collection. Member Lee Hawkins offered to coordinate a field trip to the East Broad Top Railroad this summer. There was no Vice-president’s report nor was there a National Director’s report, but Norris thanked Kim Parker of the O. Winston Link Museum for providing a table for the chapter at their annual “Celebration” event and thanked Charlie Long and Tom Ledford for their help. He thanked member Gary Quale and his wife Kathy who also participated with an operating display of antique Lionel Standard Gauge electric trains. Norris noted the Rail Day announcement in the Roanoke Chapter’s “Time Table News” and on the N&W Historical Society’s webpage. Rick thanked newsletter editor Garland Harper for another fine edition of the Blue Ridge Dispatcher and Webmaster John Siegle reported that everything had transitioned smoothly and hits were about what they were in 2007. Rick also announced that Lloyd Lipscomb would serve as secretary while Tom Ledford is away. The Fun Meeting on May 28 will be video. Member Charles Saunders reported on the new NS hoppers equipped with electric brakes and Rick reminded members about the June 11th meeting with Bob Ciminel’s program on the Montour Railroad. Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Rick Johnson Dash- 2 presented a comprehensive survey of the CSX Alleghany Sub-division with shots taken over the last 10 years. Tom Ledford, Secretary 2 THE BLUE RIDGE CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS The 30th Annual LYNCHBURG RAIL DAY 2008 SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2008 BOONSBORO RURITAN CLUB, LYNCHBURG, VA. 9 am – 4 pm Admission: $5.00, children 12 and under free with paying adult Special Guest: Jim Revell, Founder of Trains Unlimited Rail Day Bargain Train Mart with Vendors from around the Region Tables available for rent to the general public. Advance Registration and payment required. Contact us for details. Exhibits and Operating Model Railroad Layouts on Display Model & Photography Contest/Awards, entries open to everyone Model Railroad Clinics by NMRA Master Model Railroaders Door Prizes, Raffle, Freshly Prepared Food/Beverages White Elephant Table Train Slide Shows Presented by Steve Hutchison, Photographer of “Welch by N&W” Kurt Reisweber, “Virginian Rails” author For more info, please contact the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS, P.O. Box 11731, Lynchburg, Va. 24506-1731 www.blueridgenrhs.org Norris Deyerle {434-237-4912}, [email protected] John Tanner{434-525-1318}, [email protected] Model & Photography Contest Information: Fred Mayer {434-384-2773} or {434-384-4684} Thanks to our sponsor George Riley of Carstens Publications! 3 Sightings May 14 - BNSF #’s 4924 & 5489, Train #203, southbound double stack at Kemper Street Station, Lynchburg. (Norris Deyerle and Charlie Long) May 14 - NS #9673, NS #9428, UP #4206 & Conrail #6770, Train #233, westbound intermodal at Phoebe. (Norris Deyerle and Charlie Long) May 15 – Brookville Equipment Corp Locomotive No 259 spotted on the NS Forest to Halsey Line. This is a Genset type loco being tested by NS. The loco is a GP38, EX-Maine Central NO. 259. (Fred Mayer, Chris Schieck) May 28 – Large CSX coal train derailment just east of Walkerford resulted in two CSX grain trains being detoured over the NS between Lynchburg and Petersburg. (G. Harper, Rick Johnson, Roy Evans) Jun. 5 – CSX office car train seen eastbound through Lynchburg. Consist CSX 9999, CSX 9993, Kentucky, Youngstown, Mississippi, Florida, Waycross, North Carolina, Baltimore, New York, Alabama. (G. Harper, Rick Johnson, Roy Evans) What we were doing 50 years ago This month! 4 Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS 50th Anniversary “Blue Ridge Dispatcher” Special Issue The September 2008 issue of the “Blue Ridge Dispatcher” newsletter will be dedicated to the past 50 years of the Blue Ridge Chapter. I would like to include chapter historical happenings as well as individual’s recollections of their favorite times in the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS. The issue will be the biggest ever published with YOUR help. I chose September for several reasons. It will give everyone a chance to write up something special for the issue. It will be after the 30th . Anniversary of Lynchburg Rail Day train show. It will also be after the 50th. Anniversary NRHS award presentation to our chapter from our National President Greg Malloy. Please send any articles in W ORD format to our editor Garland Harper. Garland will keep everything in a file marked for the special September 2008 issue. More than one submission is fine. I really want everyone to participate that would like to. This offer is also extended to former BRC members and friends of the chapter. After all you were part of our history. Photos are encouraged. Email Garland and let him know what you have. If there’s too many for the September BRD then W ebmaster John Siegle will put them on the BRC website if there’s enough room. Thanks, Norris Deyerle, National Director, Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS BRC, NRHS Officers and Editor of the BRD contact info: www.blueridgenrhs.org National Director’s Page By Norris Deyerle May 11, 2008 was a unique Mother’s Day for my family as well as other families across the country. As families were celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Mother’s Day, my wife Peggy and I welcomed our second grandchild into the world. Victoria “Grace” Johnson was born at 7:35 pm. at Lynchburg General Hospital. She was 7 lbs. and 20 inches long. She’s a cute little girl with blue eyes and lots of black hair. Her Mom and Dad, our daughter Jacky and her husband Patrick Johnson are very proud parents. Her little brother “Little Pat” will have a new playmate when she gets a little older. When she was twelve days old we all had a huge scare. Grace developed MRSA. For those of you that are not familiar with MRSA, it’s a form of staph infection. She was rushed to UVA Hospital in Charlottesville where she had two drainage tubes inserted in her chest. She stayed in the hospital for seven days. I’m happy to report that Grace and her parents are back safe at home in Lynchburg. All of us owe a great deal of praise and a big thanks to the UVA doctors. Peggy and I would like to thank all of you for your kind words and prayers. In the past month I’m glad to report that I didn’t hear of any Blue Ridge Chapter members that are ill. Every month I try to keep everyone informed about any members or their family members that are ill. Please continue to contact me if you hear of anyone that is ill so I can get the word out. I would like to thank the following BRC members that are helping me distribute 1000 Lynchburg Rail Day 2008 fliers: Tom Ledford, Robin Shavers, John Tanner, Rick Johnson and Fred Mayer. I owe a big thanks to our Webmaster John Siegle for getting the fliers printed and for John Tanner arranging the “Hot Tip Deal” on the printing costs. In the May 2008 issue of the “NRHS News” there’s a very nice write up on Lynchburg Rail Day 2008. I would like to thank “NRHS News” Editor Charles Williams for getting the announcement that I sent him in that issue. Every NRHS member gets a copy! 5 Several other railroad historical societies are also promoting our train show. Thanks! And last but not least, I want to thank George Riley of Carstens Publications for getting the LRD 2008 Train Show announcements in “Model Railroad Craftsman” and “Railfan & Railroad”.