"Taking Twenty" with the Virginian Brethren

[NW Mailing List]

Last night, on the eve of Christmas Eve, I had the pleasure of "Takin' 
Twenty" with eight of the Brethren and Friends of the Virginian Railway. We 
signed Happy Birthday cards for Gibson "Gibby" Davis and William "Scotty" 
Scott. Gibby's grandfather was a machinist in the VGN Roundhouse in 
Roanoke. Gibby will be 73 on the 29th. Scotty, retired NS yard engineer, is 
70 today. Our long time waitress, Princess, presented each of the Brethren 
with a festive Christmas bag filled with baked "goodies". I presented each 
of the Brethren a N&W/VGN pin with each RR's logo and "Building to a 
Vision" underneath. These pins can be purchased at the N&W Historical 
Society Commissary, Stock Number 132.08.

I received several corrections from last weeks "Takin' Twenty" Report. The 
Roanoke Chapter NRHS EJ Lavino #34 tank engine was traded for the 1118 
which is a Mastodon (12 wheeler 4-8-0)and NOT a Mikado (MIKE 2-8-0). Thanks 
to Bud Jeffries of Radford and Ed Burnett of Lynchburg for pointing this 
out to me.

The ebay report this time includes: One Mullens Motor Barn Slide with FM 
Trainmasters, Squareheads, EL-2Bs and EL-Cs all in the same photo for 
$36.00; VGN EL-C Instruction Manual $64.97 and a 1940 VGN Conductor's log 
book for $37.89.

I had the pleasure of helping Santa assemble a dune buggy for my 14 year 
old grandson. I was asked by my oldest son if I could store the package, 
when Santa delivered it. I didn't know that he got it in China and it came 
in a tractor trailer in a 6' by 8' metal skid. We assembled it in two days. 
I shared with the Brethren some of the instructions listed on the "Hang tag 
for manual". "Please circumgyrate 180 degrees of rear turn lite"; "This 
vehicle is only using for amusement and lying fallow"; "The young man who 
is under the age of 18 can't operate this vehicle"; and my favorite "This 
marker can't remove before SALING". The full size dune buggy complete with 
a full roll cage and racing type seat belts had all fluids already applied 
except antifreeze. The battery acid had to be added to the battery. When we 
got it assembled, we of course had one box left over..a set of tools to put 
it together.

I told the Brethren that Norfolk Southern invoked "FORCE MAJEURE" effective 
12:01 AM 12/19/09 during our big snow that dumped several feet on NC, VA, 
WV, MD and eastern PA. This causes the line to be relieved of some contract 
and regulation requirements to handle an "Act of God" emergency. Landon 
Gregory said that he remembered using this as Chief Dispatcher, Virginia 
Division, Norfolk Southern, to clear up disasters and emergencies. This 
allows a crew to continue past the "hog law", for example,, to clear road 
crossings in an emergency, etc.

Glen McLain, VGN Clerk, brings jokes to our session every week and we enjoy 
passing them around. You can tell who has them by the circulation of 
laughter. This week's favorite: A man took his wife to the doctor. After a 
short examination, the doctor said "Your wife's mind has completely gone!". 
To which the man replied "I'm not surprised, she's been giving a piece of 
it to me every day for the past 25 years".

Time to pull the pin on this one!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL from V248,

Skip Salmon

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