"Taking Twenty" with the Virginian Brethren

[NW Mailing List]

Tonight I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with seven of the Brethren 
and Friends of the Virginian Railway. We signed a Happy Birthday card for 
Virginian steam locomotive hostler Ronald "Scotty" Hunter who turned 82 
today. Scotty began his career with the VGN in 1945 at Elmore and tells 
many accounts of the steam era. He is an avid HO modeler and works with the 
group that has their layout in the Virginia Museum of Transportation and 
can be seen at almost all of the rail events in our area.

The response from our "first 100 days of this current Administration in 
Washington" poll was more that I predicted but showed that most of you 
agree with the Brethren.

Past around was the June 2009 "Trains" magazine that had a chart that 
reflects our current economic conditions entitled "Stored Class 1 
locomotives". UP topped the list with 1,300 of their 8,500 units stored; 
BNSF has 700 of their fleet of 6,750 idle. The Brethren found the CSX-NS 
comparison the most interesting: CSX has 495 of their 4,000 stored but NS 
with a 4,000 locomotive fleet also has only 110 stored. Wonder if the VGN 
ever stored any...

Landon Gregory brought a recent "yard sale" item for "Show and Tell". It 
was an early brass switch lock with V A R Y stamped on it complete with a 
key marked the same. The yard sale was on his block near VGN Milepost 238 
(Niagara).

The DVD shown was one I got off the Internet of the Norfolk Southern 
Kentucky Derby Special with "F" ABBAs pulling 15 coaches going through 
Summerhill, PA heading for Louisville. One of the Brethren commented 
"Wonder how many Mint Juleps are on that train?"

The ebay report includes: VGN 1920 Estimates Record Ledger for $19.99; a 
Matchbox Model A van marked with VGN logos for $31.00; a 1935 VGN Stock 
Certificate for $20.49 and a black and white photo of Square Head 104 in 
Roanoke with coal tipple and hoppers above it for $20.52.

I told the Brethren about Rail Days and Celebration at the Station at O. 
Winston Link Museum this Saturday from 10-2. The A Class 1218 will be on 
display with part of Kentucky Derby Train shown in the DVD. Other 
activities and reasons to attend this event on Saturday include night photo 
shoot (for a fee) on Saturday Night. This is a joint event by OWL and VMT 
with assistance from the Roanoke Chapter NRHS and N&W HS.

Wis Sowder told the Brethren about a sale he made recently of a big rock in 
the middle of his creek. He sold the rock for $200 to a fellow who was 
furnishing a lawyer's rock garden. He also told the Brethren that for the 
past several years, he has not seen a copper head snake on his farm. He 
attributes this to the increase in numbers of wild turkeys seen on his 
property.

Ruf recalled helping a fellow VGN employee make a visit to Florida in his 
old age after the friend agreed to pay for everything. Ruf said that the 
fellow got sick on the trip and he had to wait on him hand and foot there. 
Raymond asked Ruf if he got anything for his efforts and Ruf replied "I got 
doodily squat". After a few questions about what he had to do to get the 
fellow back to VA, Glen McLain said "Ruf, looks like you got the doodily 
and the squat".

John McDaniel a friend of mine who is an avid VGN fan and lives beside the 
old VGN main line in Wabun (Sears on old Timetables) told of visiting VGN 
engineer Bruce M. Bohon shortly before his death. Ruf Wingfield remember 
Mr. Bohon and that his son was a brakeman on the VGN. Bruce was "up in his 
nineties" and was asked by John if he covered much of the New River 
Division. His answer was: "Son I've spit on every cross tie between Roanoke 
and Deepwater!".

Time to pull the pin on this one!

Departing Now from V248,

Skip Salmon



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