"Takin' Twenty" with the Virginian Brethren by Skip Salmon

[NW Mailing List]

Last night I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with ten of the Brethren 
and Friends of the Virginian Railway. Attending for the first time was 
Virginian Car Repairer L. C. Hall. "LC" started his career on the VGN in 
Princeton in 1937 and transferred to Roanoke in 1941. Several of the 
Brethren remembered working with "LC". He retired in 1976. Before working 
for the VGN "LC" mined coal in Keystone, WV. He said he could load 20 tons 
of coal a shift and got 59 cents for each ton he loaded with a shovel. Last 
night he wore a hat that said "Model 1915"...yes he was born in 1915, and 
turned 95 this September. His daughter Lois Wise rode the Bluefield 
excursion train and stopped at my "VIRGINIAN" table on the souvenir car and 
told me about him on Sunday. I invited her to bring him to take twenty with 
us and she did. "LC" brought several photos of the big VGN wreck at Phoenix 
and one great shot of VGN wreck car "B-19".

Also attending for the first time was my middle son Stephen. When he told 
the Brethren he repaired pocket watches as a hobby, he became an instant 
friend to several who have watches needing work.

Gibby Davis gave us a report on the Gathering in Victoria the last Saturday 
in October. He reported that there was a large presence of VGN retirees 
including our own Landon Gregory who made the trip shortly after heart 
surgery. Gibby was able to find the location of his Mother's original home 
in Victoria.

Princess, our waitress, placed a setting at Rufus Wingfield's seat with his 
regular iced tea, broccoli soup topped with American Cheese and a piece of 
corn bread. I added the last photo I took of him at home, and my tall globe 
VIRGINIAN lantern which remained lit during our meeting. I have posted a 
photo of this memorial setting on this site under "Memorial photos of 
people". Rufus took the west bound last Friday. He was 82...Farewell, 
Trainmaster!

I told the Brethren about a VGN caboose wall lamp that Bob Rowland's 
daughter gave me week before last, to put into the Depot in Roanoke when it 
is finished.

Bob Cohen reminded me from last week's report that Landon Gregory used 
"MORSE" code and not "MORRIS" code as I reported....that's right Morris was 
a cat and Morse invented the telegraph code!

The Jewel from the Past is from December 2, 2004: "We talked about why the 
Virginian chose black and yellow for the colors for the diesels. 'Slick' 
Inge said that perhaps one reason was that one of the Fairbanks Morse units 
that was sent to the VGN for testing was black and 'it looked real sharp'".

Passed around was the December 2010 "Trains" magazine. This issue is mostly 
about snow removing equipment. The VGN special snow moving car was NOT 
included. Also passed around was a photo that I have posted on this site 
under "Skip's photos" taken Monday. It's the Amtrak GE P42DC #2 lead unit 
on the Roanoke Chapter NRHS Excursion train to Danville on Saturday and 
return trip from Bluefield on Sunday. Proudly displayed on the nose is a 
VGN logo in orange, white, and blue with "The Virginian" above it. There 
were some heads turned early on Saturday morning when this unit first 
appeared at the Roanoke departing point near the O. Winston Link Museum!

Last night I recognized each of the Brethren who served in our Armed Forces 
and today I say to each of you who are Veterans: Thank you for your 
sacrifice and service.

Time to pull the pin on this one!

Departing Now from V248,

Skip Salmon

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