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

[NW Mailing List]

Last night I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with eight of the Brethren 
and Friends of the Virginian Railway. Visiting with us from Norfolk, VA was 
Robert "Little Abner" Glass, retired Cargo Co-Ordinator. "Abner" told us 
about the new light-rail line, "Tide", that is now in service in Norfolk 
and uses a portion of the old VGN mainline between Harbor Park and Military 
Highway. He started with the VGN in Roanoke 2-14-44 as a Messenger at the 
Freight Station. He worked in Roanoke as a call boy and clerk and 
transferred to Sewell's Point in 1958. As Cargo Co-Ordinator, he dealt with 
the ship captains who brought the coal hauling ships into Norfolk to get 
the VGN and N&W black gold. Robert, now 82, retired from NS in 1989 with 45 
years service.

Russell McDaniel told of getting to Phenix with "Slick" Inge right after 
the big wreck there and described incidents leading up to the big fire at 
the wreck site that required "every fire department in the area to 
control". Robert Glass said his father worked for American Bridge in 
Roanoke at the time and was called in to start fabricating a new section 
for the Phenix bridge that fell, working around the clock to complete it.

Thanks to Delbert K. Whitlow of Kelleysville, WV who reminded me that I 
left out the Mountain State in the list of passengers on last weekend's 
trains to Bristol and Bluefield. Nobody should ever leave out West Virginia...

Landon Gregory reported that between 70-75 attended the October Gathering 
of VGN Veterans in Victoria. Ronald Mattox was the MC and read the list of 
Brethren who have "taken the west bound" since the last Gathering. Author 
Jeane Hall was there selling her new book "Victoria Stories".

I told the Brethren about "Trains" magazine's annual $10,000 preservation 
Award this year going to the Virginia Museum of Transportation for the 
cosmetic restoration of the N&W Bicentennial #1776. VMT is trying to finish 
this project by July 4, 2012 Celebration under the Graham cover, now 
protecting the 611 and 1218. Plans are to expand the cover to include the 
1776 and other precious retired rolling stock. Congratulations to VMT for 
getting this award. This will pay for the needed paint and supplies, but 
other funds are needed to finish the display.

For Show and Tell I took a VGN December, 1939 Schedule (Public Timetable) 
and another of Greely Wyatt's donated books. This one is a December 1, 1918 
USRA "Virginian Railroad Rules and Regulations of the Operating 
Department". On page 13 under "Signals, colors" lists purple is to indicate 
STOP as night indication for a dwarf signal".

The ebay report this time includes the following VGN items sold: Ex-VGN New 
Haven slide of EL-C for $34.99; Deal of the year...a first edition of H. 
Reid's book "VGN RWY" for $15.00; One VGN match cover for $4.75; Slide of 
VGN #248 in Roanoke in 1955 for $16.29; VGN Builders Plate off Squarehead 
#105 for $860.00; and a VGN Operating Rules Book for $50.00.

I told the Brethren about meeting last week with 15 interested contractors 
at the Roanoke Station for a question and answer session. Bids for Phase I 
(asbestos abatement, shoring up the walls and a new roof) are due in 
December 1, for the beginning of the restoration.

Frank B., please check e-mail for response to your challenge...

The Jewel from the Past is from August 4, 2005: "I asked the Brethren what 
was the most unusual thing they had ever seen on the old VGN, going down 
the tracks. Jimmy Whittaker said he once saw a barrel proceeding at a high 
rate of speed. 'Slick' Inge recalled the circus trains as the most unusual, 
and Wis Sowder remembered watching the elephants move wagons through the 
mud at the Fair Grounds across Reserve Ave from the VGN Yard. Inge also 
recalled during WWII, seeing trains come in with armed guards, not knowing 
what was in the box cars. 'Cornbread' Victory said his most unusual train 
was the 'Hadecall Train'. Hadecall was an elixir, which was about 50 proof, 
and was suppose to cure almost anything, and the 4-car train was a 
traveling medicine show. Note: Hadecall was a cousin to Geratol and was 
named this because 'they had to call it something'. 'Cornbread' said 
someone told him about a man who took Hadecall and had a wooden leg. Seems 
he had to quit taking it because 'his leg kept sprouting'".

Time to pull the pin on this one!

Departing Now from V248,

Skip Salmon

CCCXCIV