Saturday, November 13 train night at Boyce, VA - NS MP H46.1

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

November 7, 2004

Hello!

This is your welcome to a N&W/NS "train night" at
Boyce, Virginia, on Saturday, November 13 starting
around 5 PM.  You may arrive earlier, though, in case
you'd like to spend the day railfanning in the
vicinity.  For example, the Winchester Model Railroad
Club has its  operating layout at the former B&O
freight station.  They are hosting a display plus
railroadiana and model rail sale between 9 AM and 2 PM
that day.  Please contact Larry Sullivan at
<larry_e_sullivan at yahoo.com> if you want more
information about that event which is seven miles
away.


VENUE

The former N&W station in Boyce is at milepost H46.1. 
It was built in 1913 with local private funding and
ceased operations as an N&W agency in 1956.


DIRECTIONS FROM THE NORTH, WEST, AND SOUTH:
 
Visitors from Front Royal, Winchester, or Berryville
will come to Boyce via US Highway 340.  At the blinker
light, please turn east and go 300 yards to the
railroad crossing on East Main Street, Virginia route
723.


DIRECTIONS FROM THE EAST:

If you are coming from the east, follow Interstate 66
to exit 23, which is US Highway 17 north at Delaplane.
 Proceed 7.5 miles on Highway 17 through the scenic
Crooked Run valley to the intersection of US Highway
50 adjacent to Paris, Virginia.  Make a left onto US
Highway 50, John Mosby Highway, and make the climb and
descent over Ashby Gap.  After crossing the Shenandoah
River and going about a mile, Virginia Route 723 turns
off on the right.  The road is marked for Millwood and
Boyce.  It's about three miles to Millwood, then two
more miles past that community to Boyce.  Make a left
into the parking lot adjacent to the NS Railway
crossing.


LODGING:

The Best Western Lee-Jackson Motel is 15 minutes away
and at Exit 312 along Interstate 312.  That is the US
Highway 50 East exit, with a plethora of other motels
and eateries in sight.  Most rooms range from $45 to
$60 per night with some specials occasionally
available.  Reservations probably aren't needed if you
check in prior to dark.

In the event you want to camp out on a cold --but
probably not freezing-- November night, there are
several options.  If you have a camper, it can be
parked behind the station and an extension cord can be
provided for an electric hook-up.  If you have a tent,
it can be erected south of the station in a grassy
area adjacent to the station platform.  Finally, if
you only have a sleeping bag and cushion, you may
sleep on the main waiting room floor.  For all, there
is an inside one-stall toilet and sink  accessible if
I know you are staying over.


PARKING:

Once at the station, please park between Main Street
and the building.  I recommend that you leave your
vehicle a little away from the track and not up
against the north side of the station.   This is just
in case someone desires to take pictures of trains
passing the station.


PRESENTATIONS AND THEME:

Please let me know if you will be attending and if you
have material to present.  Peter Furnee has a
multimedia presentation that he plans to show as a
featured event.  It is about the Chicago Union
Station.  In keeping with that theme my preference is
that when possible, presenters sprinkle their slide
shows with occasional scenes of interesting railroad
structures, or trains passing towers and stations. 
The video programs will begin at dark --around 5:30
PM-- since the main waiting room windows cannot be
covered to make the room dark during daylight hours. 


EQUIPMENT:

I will have a digital projector and laptop.  I also
have a screen, television, and VHS VCR.  A 35 mm Kodak
carosel slide projector that takes either regular or
large capacity tray.  Just in case the bulb burns out,
I ask that someone who has a known-to-be-operable
slide projector bring their's along just in case.  You
won't need to get it out of your car unless there is a
crisis.


ATCS:

There is also Advanced Train Control System monitoring
of the north end of the Hagerstown District.  George
Paine will make a digital presentation about ATCS.


COMMUNICATIONS:

The phone numbers of importance -- prior to Saturday,
please call my office phone at (202) 268-2121.  The
phone number at the station is (540) 837-9090, which
you can provide to others as an emergency point of
contact.  My cell phone if all else fails: (202)
320-3050.

If you have a laptop with wireless connectivity, you
can reach the Internet using the Boyce station
wireless network.  If you don't have a wireless card
but can connect using an ethernet cable, a hard-wire
connection can be made to the router.


CHAIRS:

Chairs are available on a first-come, first-served
basis.  Just in case there are more attendees than
chairs or if you require special seating, please bring
something suitable with you.


FOOD:

There will be complimentary hot dogs and beef burgers
on a grill starting at 5 PM.  Some pizza will likewise
be served with my compliments.  If you'd like to bring
your own or want to share pot-luck, please plan
accordingly.  There is a refrigerator with a sampling
of soft drinks and a microwave oven if needed.  No
"Rule G" infractions are allowed while on Norfolk
Southern leased land. Smoking is okay outside the
building.


ACCESS:

Entry to the large waiting room is by ramp, the
equivalent of two steps up from ground level.  The
toilet is not handicapped equipped but can be used
with assistance.  It is off the small waiting room
which is about a 40-feet walk on the same level and
should be wide enough for wheelchair passage.


QUESTIONS?

Please get me off line at f_scheer at yahoo.com.  I will
provide you answers within 24 hours since I check
email daily but not hourly.


Good night and good morning,



=====
Dr. Frank R. Scheer, Curator
Railway Mail Service Library, Inc.
f_scheer at yahoo.com
(202) 268-2121 - weekday office
(540) 837-9090 - weekend afternoons 
in the former N&W station on VA rte 723 
117 East Main Street 
Boyce  VA  22620-9639