From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Mon Aug 3 09:41:18 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 09:41:18 -0400 (EDT) Subject: O. Winston Link Museum Exhibit Message-ID: <1102653950805.1102037581941.652.8.120940FF@scheduler> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Passengers. 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Few Things I've Seen a photographic exhibit by George Warner Open Now! July 30-October 22 Robert Kulp Trackside Gallery This exhibit brings the visitor close to the eye of this Roanoke photographer, George Warner, for color and detail and gives insight into a one man's exploration in aesthetic value. Join us for the brightly colored lights and tones of this local photographer's vision, including portraits, botanical macro images, and night landscapes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shop the Museum Store [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102653950805&s=652&e=001491umxb3ZmlYvzfnn5wPT-B5yMTKyey4_oELpqt1WikUsFszVllHtC2OaPHg0hpx8yB-RFzntOOnZVaUpD9bY_1l3E4hf1zc5Sk_diM1Nn1yVCR6bN2NiQ==] www.linkmuseum.org [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102653950805&s=652&e=001491umxb3Zml_l2M25YooVnRze9mhTC3-W6ecrM8E656-JD8DqJf6oZApZXnxtF4ljFsV7w7kVEHC0esm9QvvDUKOLri2U_cJyHjAmm4CTuIoj3ByaIdQ-g==] Find Us on Facebook [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102653950805&s=652&e=001491umxb3ZmnqHmY-Fi1LDmAz2WI3XhKST_1YIgq9o1Vjav5ykVDLTDDjPGwf0cU5OTIMSMGCcpDOTLdw_0A4iEOboD5bLnXyGldKTgy3M980gmUzuwo87AvPnPYPVRkqEmQZKvjlyOQon3g-iwY-dOyKHXQE5MwY7zR5zihACUTThUt4ZaHWCwOtlFroLv8iGGeTNp_X9co=] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ O. Winston Link Museum 101 Shenandoah Ave Roanoke, Virginia 24016 540-982-5465 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forward email http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1102037581941&ea=nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org&a=1102653950805 This email was sent to nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org by programs at linkmuseum.org. Update Profile/Email Address http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=0016kgdmuAR3nDd10OkCRJamFipq861sxHcS_lRlnasjNBDnf6gRVvR5FK7POI1gaq1&p=oo Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe(TM) http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=0016kgdmuAR3nDd10OkCRJamFipq861sxHcS_lRlnasjNBDnf6gRVvR5FK7POI1gaq1&p=un Privacy Policy: http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp Email Marketing by Constant Contact(R) www.constantcontact.com O. Winston Link Museum | 101 Shenandoah Ave | Roanoke | VA | 24016 From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Mon Aug 3 16:15:46 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:15:46 -0400 Subject: Patrick Henry Hotel In-Reply-To: <20090725011548.MWMI4885.eastrmmtao107.cox.net@eastrmimpo01.cox.net> References: <20090725011548.MWMI4885.eastrmmtao107.cox.net@eastrmimpo01.cox.net> Message-ID: <8CBE28E51FB33E4-460-289@WEBMAIL-DZ25.sysops.aol.com> From AOL news item; the 125 room Patrick Henry Hotel in Roanoke VA will be sold at auction this Wednesday, August 5. The property is assessed at $ 3.7 million. Jerome Crosson From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Mon Aug 3 16:53:01 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 16:53:01 -0400 Subject: N&W in 1909--Derrick car Message-ID: <5F34544A56A14CB19E4B4D0ED2DCEC42@DellVostro> Bluefield Daily Telegraph December 18, 1909 IN CITY AND COALFIELD ------ New Derrick Wreck Car The Norfolk and Western received last night a new derrick wreck car and the big derrick makes the former ones used by the company here look like dwarfs by the side of the one just received. The new wrecker has a capacity of 125 tons and was purchased for the purpose of retracking the big engines now in use in the event one of them falls off the track somewhere. The old derrick will be sent to Vivian where it will make headquarters and the new one will be kept at Bluefield so as to be available for either three divisions running out of here.* ------ [*As explained in my "Nuggets" article titled, "N&W's Division of Divisions" in the April--June 2008 issue of The Arrow, prior to 6/10/1897 the Clinch Valley was shown as a separate division from the Pocahontas Division. Apparently that is why several BDT articles in subsequent years continue to refer to the "Clinch Valley division" and why this article counts it as a third division--after the Radford and Pocahontas divisions.] Gordon Hamilton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Mon Aug 3 17:49:38 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 17:49:38 -0400 Subject: N&W in 1909--Various Message-ID: Bluefield Daily Telegraph December 19, 1909 IN CITY AND COALFIELD ------ Three Cars Overturned Three battleship*(1) coal cars were overturned yesterday afternoon at Ruth*(2) and Train No. 10 had to take the high grade*(3) at that point in order to make Bluefield on time. The wreck was cleared away by night. New Interlocking Plant The new interlocking plant at Welch, which has been under construction for some time, is completed and in use. The plant is a modern one, operated by electricity, with occasional motors along the track which give the Norfolk and Western the latest and most approved method of automatic signals at that point. The system is in use at both ends of the tunnel at Welch and is used to prevent trouble when trains are on both tunnel track and the station track. Railroad Payday Monday The Norfolk and Western checks arrived in the city last night and Monday will be payday on this end of the division. Turkey Gap was the only plant in the immediate field which paid off yesterday and the other plants will follow their custom of paying off on the day before Christmas. Narrowly Escapes Death Everett Buchanan, of this city, who is employed as a car repairer was brought to Bluefield last night on train No. 3 in an unconscious condition.*(4) Buchanan had gone to Oakvale to do some work and was returning to Bluefield on a freight train when he put his head out too far from between two freight cars as the train was passing the standpipe at that point. His head was badly injured and he was rendered unconscious. He had a very narrow escape from death. If when he fell from the car, he had tumbled underneath he could hardly have escaped being crushed under the train. Buchanan was taken to the Bluefield Sanitarium for treatment. He has no relatives here, his home being in North Carolina. [*(1) Another use of the term "Battleship" coal cars. *(2) Ruth was at the east end of Elkhorn Tunnel where the double track from the east became single through the tunnel. *(3) The high grade was the newer westward track through Cooper Tunnel that avoided the sharp curves of the original single-track main line that was still being used at the eastward track. *(4) Another case of a train being used as an ambulance in those days.] Gordon Hamilton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Mon Aug 3 21:46:24 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 20:46:24 -0500 Subject: Jedediah Hotchkiss In-Reply-To: <540e48700907281434i76d3038fx3b860cc2a4feafb7@mail.gmail.com> References: <540e48700907281434i76d3038fx3b860cc2a4feafb7@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: For a biography of Hotchkiss take a look at "Jedediah Hotchkiss Rebel Mapmaker and Virginia Businessman" by Peter Roper (1992, White Mane Publishing Co.). It is an easy read and most of the book deals with his post-Civil War life. Hotchkiss was friends with Frederick Kimball and did some of the initial exploration for what became the Ohio Extension. >From 1880 to 1884 he published a journal called "The Virginias" to promote development of Virginia and West Virginia resources. Besides scientific reports on coal, timber, etc there are also stories and news briefs on railroad development. Four of five volumes of "The Virginias" are available full text on Google Books" 1880 http://books.google.com/books?id=eeIQAAAAIAAJ 1881 http://books.google.com/books?id=puIQAAAAIAAJ (1882 is not full text on Google Books) 1883 http://books.google.com/books?id=-OEQAAAAIAAJ 1884 http://books.google.com/books?id=DeAQAAAAIAAJ If you're interested in Hotchkiss' Civil War service see "Make Me a Map of the Valley; the Civil War Journal of Stonewall Jackson's Topographer" edited by Archie McDonald (1973, Southern Methodist University Press). David Adams > -----Original Message----- > From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org [mailto:nw-mailing-list- > bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List > Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 4:34 PM > To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org > Subject: Jedediah Hotchkiss > > Gordon: > > You are so right when you attribute Jackson's success to Hotchkiss > during the "Late Unpleasantness" and that is an understatement to say > the least. Little know or at least long-forgotten was the fact that he > was involved in a number of railroad projects in his beloved > Shenandoah Valley after said War and in other areas as well. > > Among the projects he was involved were the WCC&St.L in the early > 1870's along with some of the Valley RR, I think some of the C&O west > of Staunton and what became the Fredericksburg & Orange RR. I am going > from memory on these but they are just a few. > > Bob Cohen > > He lived a long and enriched life and was truly missed when he died I > think it was in the late 1890's > > Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:14:35 -0400 > From: NW Mailing List > Subject: N&W in 1909--Princeton > > In my comments on the message below I should have pointed out to those > who might not be familiar with Jedediah (Jed) Hotchkiss the > significance of the Jed Hotchkiss 1880 and 1881 maps in the NWHS > Archives. Jed Hotchkiss was Stonewall Jackson's cartographer in the > Civil War. Among other things, historians attribute the success of > Jackson's valley campaign directly to him. > From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Mon Aug 3 22:11:01 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 22:11:01 -0400 (EDT) Subject: N&W in 1909--Derrick car-- transfered from Weller? Message-ID: <24165899.1249351861229.JavaMail.root@wamui-june.atl.sa.earthlink.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Tue Aug 4 08:31:33 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 08:31:33 -0400 Subject: O. Winston Link Museum Exhibit In-Reply-To: <1102653950805.1102037581941.652.8.120940FF@scheduler> References: <1102653950805.1102037581941.652.8.120940FF@scheduler> Message-ID: Over the weekend I was at both VMT and the OWL museum. It was the first time I'd been there on a Friday, but I was amazed to see several volunteers working at VMT doing all sorts of things. The grounds have also been cleaned up quite a bit from what they were a couple years ago. I liked what I saw and hope this is a sign of the future. Of course, being a signal guru, I checked out the collection of PL-2 color position signals in the back of the yard. They are now neatly stacked instead of being in a heap like I remember from times past. I also noticed several S-2 foundations which I assume NS donated for these signals. I just wonder what their plans are for them. Ben Blevins On 8/3/09, NW Mailing List wrote: > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Passengers. 2009 > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > A Few Things > > I've Seen > a photographic exhibit by > George Warner > Open Now! > July 30-October 22 > Robert Kulp Trackside Gallery > This exhibit brings the visitor close to the eye of this Roanoke > photographer, George > Warner, for color and detail and gives insight into a one man's exploration > in aesthetic > value. Join us for the brightly colored lights and tones of this local > photographer's > vision, including portraits, botanical macro images, and night landscapes. > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Shop the Museum Store > [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102653950805&s=652&e=001491umxb3ZmlYvzfnn5wPT-B5yMTKyey4_oELpqt1WikUsFszVllHtC2OaPHg0hpx8yB-RFzntOOnZVaUpD9bY_1l3E4hf1zc5Sk_diM1Nn1yVCR6bN2NiQ==] > www.linkmuseum.org > [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102653950805&s=652&e=001491umxb3Zml_l2M25YooVnRze9mhTC3-W6ecrM8E656-JD8DqJf6oZApZXnxtF4ljFsV7w7kVEHC0esm9QvvDUKOLri2U_cJyHjAmm4CTuIoj3ByaIdQ-g==] > Find Us on Facebook > [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102653950805&s=652&e=001491umxb3ZmnqHmY-Fi1LDmAz2WI3XhKST_1YIgq9o1Vjav5ykVDLTDDjPGwf0cU5OTIMSMGCcpDOTLdw_0A4iEOboD5bLnXyGldKTgy3M980gmUzuwo87AvPnPYPVRkqEmQZKvjlyOQon3g-iwY-dOyKHXQE5MwY7zR5zihACUTThUt4ZaHWCwOtlFroLv8iGGeTNp_X9co=] > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > O. Winston Link Museum > > 101 Shenandoah Ave > > Roanoke, Virginia 24016 > 540-982-5465 > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Forward email > http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1102037581941&ea=nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org&a=1102653950805 > > > This email was sent to nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org by programs at linkmuseum.org. > > Update Profile/Email Address > http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=0016kgdmuAR3nDd10OkCRJamFipq861sxHcS_lRlnasjNBDnf6gRVvR5FK7POI1gaq1&p=oo > > Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe(TM) > http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=0016kgdmuAR3nDd10OkCRJamFipq861sxHcS_lRlnasjNBDnf6gRVvR5FK7POI1gaq1&p=un > > Privacy Policy: > http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp > > > Email Marketing by > Constant Contact(R) > www.constantcontact.com > > > O. Winston Link Museum | 101 Shenandoah Ave | Roanoke | VA | 24016 > ________________________________________ > NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org > To change your subscription go to > http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list > Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at > http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/ > From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Tue Aug 4 16:37:52 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:37:52 -0400 Subject: N&W in 1909--Various Message-ID: <4A789C20.8050104@vt.edu> The Hinton News (?) newspaper in 1905 or 1906 referred to a string of the C&O's new 50-ton steel hopper cars coming into the yard as "Battleships" and that they had to be segregated from their wooden cars to avoid destroying their wooden FB and HB gondola cars. Al Kresse > Bluefield Daily Telegraph > December 19, 1909 > > IN CITY AND COALFIELD > ------ > Three Cars Overturned > Three battleship*(1) coal cars were overturned yesterday afternoon at Ruth*(2) and Train No. 10 had to take the high grade*(3) at that point in order to make Bluefield on time. The wreck was cleared away by night. > > New Interlocking Plant > The new interlocking plant at Welch, which has been under construction for some time, is completed and in use. The plant is a modern one, operated by electricity, with occasional motors along the track which give the Norfolk and Western the latest and most approved method of automatic signals at that point. The system is in use at both ends of the tunnel at Welch and is used to prevent trouble when trains are on both tunnel track and the station track. > > Railroad Payday Monday > The Norfolk and Western checks arrived in the city last night and Monday will be payday on this end of the division. Turkey Gap was the only plant in the immediate field which paid off yesterday and the other plants will follow their custom of paying off on the day before Christmas. > > Narrowly Escapes Death > Everett Buchanan, of this city, who is employed as a car repairer was brought to Bluefield last night on train No. 3 in an unconscious condition.*(4) Buchanan had gone to Oakvale to do some work and was returning to Bluefield on a freight train when he put his head out too far from between two freight cars as the train was passing the standpipe at that point. His head was badly injured and he was rendered unconscious. He had a very narrow escape from death. If when he fell from the car, he had tumbled underneath he could hardly have escaped being crushed under the train. Buchanan was taken to the Bluefield Sanitarium for treatment. He has no relatives here, his home being in North Carolina. > > [*(1) Another use of the term "Battleship" coal cars. *(2) Ruth was at the east end of Elkhorn Tunnel where the double track from the east became single through the tunnel. *(3) The high grade was the newer westward track through Cooper Tunnel that avoided the sharp curves of the original single-track main line that was still being used at the eastward track. *(4) Another case of a train being used as an ambulance in those days.] > > Gordon Hamilton From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Tue Aug 4 21:59:00 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2009 21:59:00 -0400 Subject: Virginian in 1909--Inspection Message-ID: <6526E72581EF4C2BAB5787DA4CE62FBC@DellVostro> Bluefield Daily Telegraph December 19, 1909 ROAD NOT FOR SALE, BUT FOR OPERATIONS ------ Virginian, After Only Four Months of Commercial Operations, is Already Beginning to Pay Roanoke World: President Broughton, Vice-President Rogers, General Manager Dupuy and Chief Engineer Fernstrom of the Virginian railway left for a trip over the line from Roanoke westward this morning after having spent the night in Roanoke. They came into Roanoke last evening in their special car attached to the regular train. President Broughton gave no word of contemplated improvements other than that the general operations [Word blurred. Best interpretation shown.] would continue. He said that the 120-car, mile-long coal train that was sent from Roanoke eastward to Norfolk yesterday was not meant for show, but for a test of operating efficiency. He said that train's operation must show the splendid construction of the Virginian. He also said that the Virginian was built for operation and not for sale, else it would have been constructed much cheaper. There is no burden, said he, and it is now, after only about four months of commercial operation paying. For years the tide was flowing toward the Virginian construction financially, but now the ebb has set in in substantial shape. President Broughton and Mr. Rogers appeared well pleased with the conditions. This is the first trip they have taken over the road since they were here with the late H. H. Rogers last May. They will proceed New Yorkward from the western end of the road. ------ [New Yorkward??] Gordon Hamilton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Wed Aug 5 14:54:00 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:54:00 -0400 Subject: Carson, VA N&W caboose Message-ID: <4A79D548.3090509@vt.edu> Anybody know what's going on with the (retired) N&W wooden caboose that's on display @ Carson, VA Public Library? The caboose is spotted beside what appears to be the ex-ACL depot about twelve miles south of Petersburg, VA. Circular N&W herald and lettering from the post-NKP/WAB era have been painted out. Red paint's somewhat faded but not in bad shape. Noticed this miscarriage of heritage while enroute south to Florence, SC yesterday afternoon on CSX Q17104. Thanks, Dale W Diacont From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Wed Aug 5 22:15:14 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 22:15:14 -0400 Subject: N&W in 1909--NRH&W Message-ID: <206EC78F8AA34EAA83BAB57BD4F56DCE@DellVostro> Bluefield Daily Telegraph December 22, 1909 NORFOLK AND WESTERN MAY BE ULTIMATE OWNERS ------ New River, Holston and Western is Still Three Months From Rocky Gap J. L. Boggess, a well known and prominent merchant of Narrows, is in the city and when asked last night by a Daily Telegraph man what progress has been made on the New River, Holston and Western extension said that there is still about three months work on the line to Rocky Gap. Forces of men are at work on the line and among the foremen is a son of Mr. Boggess'. When asked what he thought the road was being extended for he said it was probably the intention to build to Bland courthouse. The distance from Rocky Gap to the courthouse is eighteen miles. Mr. Bogess said that road in his estimation will follow Wolf Creek to Walker's Creek and from Sharon's Springs will go over to Bland courthouse. The road is also expected to pass through Ceres, in Bland county. The distance from Narrows to Bland is about thirty-nine miles and as soon as the road is finished to Rocky Gap twenty-one miles of the line will have been built. The road runs through some fine timber country and also taps rich mineral lands. Mr. Boggess says a road has already been surveyed from the New River, Holston and Western to the coal in Round mountain, but it thought that this road will not be built at present, although the coal in Round mountain is valuable. Mr. Boggess' son said that the coal from Round mountain had received a prize at the Chicago World's Fair on account of its excellent character. It is similar to the coals found in this region, although it is not known whether it is the Fire Creek or Pocahontas seam. The Fire Creek seam is the New River seam, which is now being mined along the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Young Mr. Boggess said that some of the plans of the engineers or the men higher up are being given out that the road is being built by phases into the country. The first seven miles of the road near Narrows are ?? on account of the age of the rails and roadbed, but further on the line has every appearance of a first class line. It is generally supposed that on account of traffic arrangements the Norfolk and Western will be the ultimate owners of the line. ------ [Some words were blurred on the microfilm. The best interpretation is shown except the word at "??" was indecipherable.] Gordon Hamilton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Thu Aug 6 08:51:13 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:51:13 -0400 Subject: "Taking Twenty" with the Virginian Brethren Message-ID: <4A7AD1C1.5070502@vt.edu> Last night I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with nine of the Brethren and Friends of the Virginian Railway. What a surprise! The Brethren presented me with an "official Virginian Railway Happy Birthday Cake" and a VGN Birdhouse, as well as a great card, signed by all. I became a member of the Senior Citizen Club on Tuesday and the Brethren helped me celebrate my 65th birthday last night. Still I am the "young whippersnapper" of the group. I have posted a photo of the "official VGN Birthday Cake" on this site under "Skip's Photos" #51. If you can not open it, email me at gkholine at cox.net and I will send the photo. I passed on to the Brethren the good news that 100 miners were called back to work at Pinnacle Mining at Pineville, WV recently. Tom Marshall says that the mine produces metallurgical coal used in steel production. Pineville is on the 3rd Sub-Division of the Guyandot River Branch (Elmore to Gilbert), 386.5 miles from Norfolk in the Virginian New River Timetables. There is only one item to report this time from ebay: A Virginian Railway Police gold Lieutenant's badge was sold for $360.08. Does anyone out there know anything about this badge or to whom it might have been issued? It has the West Virginia Seal on it. Tuesday I was doing some follow-up for my video series, and met Kendal Johnson, NS carpenter working on the high trestle over the Roanoke River east of the Yateman's Viaduct. Seems that the cross tie people supplied NS some non-oak ties that did not last on the bridge and the gang was replacing them. Mr. Johnson told me that his grandfather, James H. Johnson, was an engineer on the old Virginian. James was given the Harriman award and $1,000 in 1913 for rescuing a baby from the tracks. Kendal is a railroad pin collector but did not have a VGN "Safety First" pin so I gave him one. He promised to bring his grandfather's Harriman award and "take twenty" with the Brethren some Wednesday night. Passed around were the latest "Trains" magazine and July-August "NS BIZ". The September "Trains" had almost no mention of Norfolk Southern and the "NS BIZ" is almost entirely about NS winning the twentieth Harriman Award for Safety. Also passed was a photo I got of NS 9587 and an eastbound coal train coming off the Yateman's Viaduct with several insulators from the Virginian Railway electric locomotive period still attached to the bridge. Ruf Wingfield told the Brethren about always using a #3 VGN pencil (with no eraser) for car reports. These report forms required five copies, so there were four carbon papers used and a very hard lead pencil. Ruf said that "VGN Clerk Wallace Brinkley would use the carbon papers over and over until you could read a newspaper through them". Ruf also shared some of his "ugly" tomatoes with us. My wife Judi says that Rufus produces the "ugliest but best tomatoes that she ever tasted". Our resident golfer, Yard Engineer William "Scotty" Scott told us about "really hitting the links" this week. He normally shoots in the low 80s but yesterday when he shot a 97 in Blacksburg, he said that he "played goof instead of golf". Time to pull the pin on this one! Departing Now from V248, Skip Salmon ============= From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Thu Aug 6 13:17:06 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 13:17:06 -0400 Subject: Summerail 2009 Show at Cincinnati Union Terminal, Saturday August 8th Message-ID: <48775717A7D54F198230B891D3B96A1F@071927350f> For all of our members in Southern Ohio, Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky 14th Annual Summerail Railroadania and Slide Show at Cincinnati Union Terminal/ Cincinnati Museum Center Saturday August 8, 2009 Opening at 10:00 am to 5:00 pm 40 dealers/ 100 tables in railroadania and model trains. No admission fee. Sponsored by the Cincinnati Railroad Club and Miami Valley Railfans If you are interested in outstanding railroad photography, there are a few tickets left for the Slide show portion of the show. Also, Tower A at the terminal is open. Special slide programs will be presented in Tower A on Thursday, August 6th after the Railroad club business meeting and on Friday, August 7th after 8:00 pm (and sunset) as part of the Summerail Program. Visitors are welcome. Go to the Cincinnati Railroad Club website at www.cincinnatirrclub.org for details of the show, the slide programs and directions. The Museum Center/Cincinnati Union Terminal is off of I-75 near downtown off of Ezzard Charles Drive. You can see it from I-75. Gary Rolih Cincinnati, Ohio -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Thu Aug 6 21:11:42 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 21:11:42 -0400 Subject: N&W in 1909--Christmas rush Message-ID: Bluefield Daily Telegraph December 22, 1909 IN CITY AND COALFIELD ------ Expressmen Busy A well known passenger conductor was asked how the rush was on the clinch Valley yesterday and said the express business was unusually heavy. When asked whether the shipments were heavy on eastern or western traffic he said that both were active. Liquor going west and turkeys coming east kept the expressmen busy all day. ------ Gordon Hamilton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Fri Aug 7 11:23:32 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 10:23:32 -0500 Subject: "Battleship" gons Message-ID: <380-22009857152332890@mindspring.com> Pocahontas crews referred to the N&W 120-ton gons as "Titanics" and the trainmen I've talked with were unaware of the term "Battleship" regarding any coal cars. Grant Carpenter > The Hinton News (?) newspaper in 1905 or 1906 referred to a string of the > C&O's new 50-ton steel hopper cars coming into the yard as "Battleships" > and that they had to be segregated from their wooden cars to avoid > destroying their wooden FB and HB gondola cars. > > Al Kresse > > > Bluefield Daily Telegraph > > December 19, 1909 > > > > IN CITY AND COALFIELD > > ------ > > Three Cars Overturned > > Three battleship*(1) coal cars were overturned yesterday afternoon at Ruth*(2) and Train No. 10 had to take the high grade*(3) at that point in order to make Bluefield on time. The wreck was cleared away by night. > > > > New Interlocking Plant > > The new interlocking plant at Welch, which has been under construction for some time, is completed and in use. The plant is a modern one, operated by electricity, with occasional motors along the track which give the Norfolk and Western the latest and most approved method of automatic signals at that point. The system is in use at both ends of the tunnel at Welch and is used to prevent trouble when trains are on both tunnel track and the station track. > > > > Railroad Payday Monday > > The Norfolk and Western checks arrived in the city last night and Monday will be payday on this end of the division. Turkey Gap was the only plant in the immediate field which paid off yesterday and the other plants will follow their custom of paying off on the day before Christmas. > > > > Narrowly Escapes Death > > Everett Buchanan, of this city, who is employed as a car repairer was brought to Bluefield last night on train No. 3 in an unconscious condition.*(4) Buchanan had gone to Oakvale to do some work and was returning to Bluefield on a freight train when he put his head out too far from between two freight cars as the train was passing the standpipe at that point. His head was badly injured and he was rendered unconscious. He had a very narrow escape from death. If when he fell from the car, he had tumbled underneath he could hardly have escaped being crushed under the train. Buchanan was taken to the Bluefield Sanitarium for treatment. He has no relatives here, his home being in North Carolina. > > > > [*(1) Another use of the term "Battleship" coal cars. *(2) Ruth was at the east end of Elkhorn Tunnel where the double track from the east became single through the tunnel. *(3) The high grade was the newer westward track through Cooper Tunnel that avoided the sharp curves of the original single-track main line that was still being used at the eastward track. *(4) Another case of a train being used as an ambulance in those days.] > > > > Gordon Hamilton From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Fri Aug 7 11:50:08 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 10:50:08 -0500 Subject: "Battleship" gons In-Reply-To: <380-22009857152332890@mindspring.com> References: <380-22009857152332890@mindspring.com> Message-ID: <001301ca1776$bdc981c0$395c8540$@net> So that means "battleship gon" is the wrong term for both Vgn and N&W heavy gons. Anyway, neither existed in 1909, so "battleship" was a reference to something else. All my life I have been thinking they were "battleship gons," and recently I have learned that the railroaders did not use that term. Live and learn! Jim Nichols -----Original Message----- From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 10:24 AM To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Subject: RE: "Battleship" gons Pocahontas crews referred to the N&W 120-ton gons as "Titanics" and the trainmen I've talked with were unaware of the term "Battleship" regarding any coal cars. Grant Carpenter > The Hinton News (?) newspaper in 1905 or 1906 referred to a string of the > C&O's new 50-ton steel hopper cars coming into the yard as "Battleships" > and that they had to be segregated from their wooden cars to avoid > destroying their wooden FB and HB gondola cars. > > Al Kresse > > > Bluefield Daily Telegraph > > December 19, 1909 > > > > IN CITY AND COALFIELD > > ------ > > Three Cars Overturned > > Three battleship*(1) coal cars were overturned yesterday afternoon at Ruth*(2) and Train No. 10 had to take the high grade*(3) at that point in order to make Bluefield on time. The wreck was cleared away by night. From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Fri Aug 7 14:31:10 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 14:31:10 -0400 Subject: N&W in 1909--Various Message-ID: <949D65E5A7C7495293C6B27110CF7D01@DellVostro> Bluefield Daily Telegraph December 25, 1909 IN CITY AND COALFIELD ------ Much Coal to be Moved During the past few days the Norfolk and Western has devoted so much attention to passenger traffic that it was reported last night that there are about 4000 loads of coal in the field which will be moved today and Sunday. The miners were kept at work up to a late hour yesterday before they were paid off. Every company which had the cars loaded them to capacity and will wait for removal. ------ Killed by Train J. B. Morgan, aged 28 of Elk, was run over and killed at Iaeger on Friday morning by an extra. The man lay down on the track and went to sleep and the engineer did not see him until too late to stop. ------ No Passengers Injured Superintendent W. S. Becker said last night that he had not received a report on the wreck of the passenger train which connects with train No. 15 at Portsmouth, but he had learned unofficially that there were no passengers injured. The engine and tank turned over and several of the cars left the track, but there was no serious damage done. ------ Gordon Hamilton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sat Aug 8 06:44:53 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2009 06:44:53 -0400 Subject: Fwd: Fall Train Excursion Press Release Message-ID: <4A7D5725.6090709@vt.edu> Attached is the official press release for the NCTM/WVC N.R.H.S. fall Amtrak excursions to be operated out of Spencer, NC. Among the vintage coaches will be former Norfolk and Western coach #539 that has been restored to it's original appearance by the Watauga Valley Chapter N.R.H.S. Gary Price Keeping the ole' N&W safe...one tie at a time. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2009 Fall Excursion Press Release -09Revised.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 19587 bytes Desc: not available Url : From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sat Aug 8 07:58:22 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 07:58:22 EDT Subject: NS Development Message-ID: This news from the Hagerstown, MD Herald-Mail newspaper. Greencastle is about a dozen miles north of Hagerstown (& Vardo). Regards, Terry Marshall Pennsylvania Rail facility planned for Antrim Township By KATE S. ALEXANDER August 7, 2009 _kate.alexander at herald-mail.com_ (mailto:kate.alexander at herald-mail.com) GREENCASTLE, Pa. ? Years of planning a second major rail facility in Franklin County will go public next week when Norfolk Southern unveils plans for building near Exit 3 of Interstate 81 in Antrim Township, a company spokesman said Friday. Norfolk Southern will announce its Franklin County Regional Intermodal Facility during a press conference Wednesday at the Mason-Dixon Auto Auction. Details of the announcement will not be made public before that day, despite media reports, Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband said. The facility will be an anchor for Norfolk Southern?s Crescent Corridor rail route, according to an invitation to the event. Husband said invitations were sent to about 300 people. Among those invited were Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who has proposed $45 million for upgrades to the company?s railroad system in the Commonwealth, and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., who recently announced $3.4 million in federal funding for Exit 3. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sat Aug 8 09:59:43 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:59:43 -0400 Subject: Fall Train Excursion Press Release In-Reply-To: <4A7D5725.6090709@vt.edu> References: <4A7D5725.6090709@vt.edu> Message-ID: <8CBE6479D97BA45-E4-260A@webmail-mf09.sysops.aol.com> Hey Gary- Not about the?fall excursion, but since you keep the ole' N&W safe - - - one tie at a time, I need to axe you a question.? Knowing you have a lot of territory to cover, I'm not sure you remember the track arrangement at the 239 mile post - it's?the east end of double track from Roanoke on the Blue Ridge District.? There HAD been an equilateral turnout there - good for 70 MPH.? One railroader noted that it was lowered to 50 MPH (through either #1 or #2 track) after the occupant of a business car turned a drink over as it threaded through the turnout.? Now I notice the equalateral turnout has been replaced with what I'd guess is a #20 - 60 MPH if straight-railed for #1 track, and 40 MPH if routed to #2 track.? What's the theory?of removing the equilateral turnout ??? Harry Bundy ? ?? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sat Aug 8 10:14:56 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 10:14:56 -0400 Subject: N&W and VGN in 1909--Long trains Message-ID: Bluefield Daily Telegraph December 31, 1909 NOTHING UNUSUAL IN HUNDRED CAR TRAINS ------ Eighty-five Cars the Average Load on the Lower End of the Pocahontas Division Assistant Grand Chief Harley, of the B. of L. E., of Cleveland, Ohio, said last night that there is nothing unusual in the long trains which are being hauled over the Virginian. He said that he has seen many trains with over 100 cars and was going to explain that eighty-five cars was an average load when Engineers John Mastin and T. F. Weaver spoke up and said that the Norfolk and Western has many times hauled over 100 cars on the lower end of the Pocahontas division. Eighty-five cars, said these gentlemen, is an average load for the Williamson end of the division. The Virginian Railway does not haul such heavy cars as does the Norfolk and Western, their cars being much smaller than the big Pennsylvania and Norfolk and Western battleships which are hauled on the local road. As far as railroad men are concerned the only objection that they could have to the long trains would be a violation of the safety appliance law. Nowadays, though, the railroads equip their engines with double pumps and on this account are able to take care of longer trains. The greatest danger from long trains is the possibility of their breaking on curves, thereby making it possible for a smash-up in the train by the cars coming together. As this is expensive to the railroads there is no danger of their hauling too long trains. It is the general opinion that the Virginian is testing the heavy type of engines which they are using and if they find that they are able to satisfactorily carry the loads given them they will be continued without objection. ------ [Here is another instance of the use of "battleship" in reference to large N&W coal cars of that time period.] Gordon Hamilton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sat Aug 8 10:20:30 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 10:20:30 -0400 Subject: "Battleship" gons In-Reply-To: <001301ca1776$bdc981c0$395c8540$@net> References: <380-22009857152332890@mindspring.com> <001301ca1776$bdc981c0$395c8540$@net> Message-ID: Ahh, Jim. Perhaps you were there when I gave my slideshow on the High Capacity Gons of the three roads. In researching this project, Al Kresse, Steve Summers, and I have a reasonable belief (meaning that if anybody out there has additional or better information, please let us know)that: "battleship" was a term used for steel hoppers in advertising and informal use, even prior to the advent of the HCG's on N&W. "battleship" was, as near as we can tell, not commonly used by railroaders themselves. However, we have some records that, after the N&W/VGN merger, for the very brief period of time that they survived, some of the N&W men referred to the VGN HCG's as "them durn battleships". At various times, and possibly at various locations, the terms "Titanics" and "holy rollers" were also used, It appears that "battleships" as a common term for the HCG's is a railfan/model railroader creation. Research continues. Frank Bongiovanni On Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 11:50 AM, NW Mailing List wrote: > So that means "battleship gon" is the wrong term for both Vgn and N&W heavy > gons. Anyway, neither existed in 1909, so "battleship" was a reference to > something else. All my life I have been thinking they were "battleship > gons," and recently I have learned that the railroaders did not use that > term. Live and learn! Jim Nichols > > -----Original Message----- > From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org > [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List > Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 10:24 AM > To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org > Subject: RE: "Battleship" gons > > Pocahontas crews referred to the N&W 120-ton gons as "Titanics" and the > trainmen I've talked with were unaware of the term "Battleship" regarding > any coal cars. > > Grant Carpenter > > > The Hinton News (?) newspaper in 1905 or 1906 referred to a string of the > > C&O's new 50-ton steel hopper cars coming into the yard as "Battleships" > > and that they had to be segregated from their wooden cars to avoid > > destroying their wooden FB and HB gondola cars. > > > > Al Kresse > > > > > Bluefield Daily Telegraph > > > December 19, 1909 > > > > > > IN CITY AND COALFIELD > > > ------ > > > Three Cars Overturned > > > Three battleship*(1) coal cars were overturned yesterday afternoon > at Ruth*(2) and Train No. 10 had to take the high grade*(3) at that point > in order to make Bluefield on time. The wreck was cleared away by night. > > > ________________________________________ > NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org > To change your subscription go to > http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list > Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at > http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/ > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sun Aug 9 12:19:25 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 12:19:25 -0400 Subject: Virginian in 1910 -- Unlikely territory Message-ID: Bluefield Daily Telegraph January 4, 1910 VIRGINIAN TO BLAND ------ May Go Over Tracks of New River, Holston and Western The Hardwood Lumber and Mining Company, which has about 6,000 acres of timber near Rocky Gap, expects to market the standing timber in a short time. In addition to having some good timber the company claims to have a fine deposit of iron found in Potts Creek. The property is near the New River, Holston and Western terminal at Rocky Gap and on account of being accessible to the railroad is a desirable property. The railroad, which is said to be the property of the Lees-McVitty Tannery Company, is perhaps a real solution of the Virginian question, as it may be possible that the Virginian will go up that route into the timber, coal and iron deposits of Bland county. If this should be done the railroad could get plenty of water and would have a territory which at the present time is practically untouched. This plan would not help Bluefield as it would take the railroad on the side of the East River mountain opposite to Bluefield. ------ [The reason for the reference to Potts Creek is puzzling because Potts Creek lies generally east (VGN side) of New River whereas the NR, H&W follows Wolf Creek, which is generally west (N&W side) of New River. This is the last BDT article to be posted until I return home this coming Thursday.] Gordon Hamilton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sun Aug 9 13:35:34 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 10:35:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Montvale Message-ID: <322988.23430.qm@web31406.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Harry, ? ?I assume that you are talking about the switch at Montvale, I have not been there in a few years, and didn't know about it's replacement, however, I would assume that it is purely a maintenance decision as a high speed equilateral turnout requires a lot of weekly maintenance, and observation, as well as yearly tie replacements due to excessive wear. We are normally on a 5 year cycle?in a particular location, and a #20 switch only gets worked every 5 years as well, so it fits the schedule better. I'll ask around a see if I can get any other clarification for you. ? ?Roanoke Material yard has been turning out a lot of #20 switches lately, They might be planning on re-placing even more high-speed switches. Gary Price Keeping the ole' N&W safe...one tie at a time. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sun Aug 9 16:07:39 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:07:39 -0400 Subject: "Battleship" gonds Message-ID: <002201ca192d$0c15d2e0$e430fea9@lmnewton> In The Pocahontas Division operating timetables dating back at least to 1911 and continuing at least through 1930, under "Special Instructions" headed "FIGURES TO BE USED IN COMPUTING TONNAGE FOR CARS OF DIFFERENT CAPACITY AND LOADING," references are made to "Battleships" of 100,000-pound capacity. When loaded with coal they were to be computed (estimated gross weight) at 78 tons, and when loaded with coke at 67 tons. Louis Newton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org Sun Aug 9 22:44:56 2009 From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org (NW Mailing List) Date: Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:44:56 -0400 Subject: Train show in Chantilly, Va. - Dulles Expo Center August 22-23, 2009 Message-ID: <20090810024504.BDTY22890.eastrmmtao102.cox.net@eastrmimpo02.cox.net> All: Just a little reminder that it is NOT too early to keep in mind the next Chantilly, Virginia train show in less than 2 weeks. It will be held at the Dulles Expo Center which is located at Willard Rd. and Route 28, near the intersection with US Route 50 on Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23. See you there. Bob Cohen