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

[NW Mailing List]

Last night 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
former Virginian Railway Yard Brakeman James Economy. James worked mostly
in South Yard and will turn 86 on Monday.


The ebay report this time has several surprises:  Two VGN cast air brake
schematic plates sold, one for $21.75 and one for $17.72. (Note I recently
purchased the mold that the VGN RWY used to make these, two at a time, and
it will be displayed at the Roanoke Station). A 1955 Topps "Rails and
Sails" (similar to the famous baseball cards) card of VGN Squarehead #118
for $33.96; 1958 VGN RWY Bond for $7.00 and a "VGN RWY" marked and numbered
Adlake Kero short blue globe lantern sold for only $164.09.


The Jewel from the Past is from September 11, 2008:  "I passed around a
1959 Roanoke FW Woolworth Coca Cola menu of their sandwiches had 'fountain
treats' that a friend gave me.  This 'bill de faire' spotlighted 'for a
real treat' a deluxe Virginia Ham sandwich for 40 cents.  Of course several
of the Brethren showed our waitress this menu and 'ordered from it'.  This
menu prompted Rufus Wingfield to tell about having a girl friend who worked
in Kress's (pre-WalMart) downtown and about every day he would visit her
and ask for a dime's worth of penny candy.  'She would proceed to give me
about a dollar's worth'".


For Show and Tell I took the April/May/June Roanoke Chapter NRHS "Turntable
Times" newsletter with Ken Miller's photo on the cover of the J-Class 611
coming into Lynchburg on May 30 on her "maiden" voyage back to her
birthplace.


I got several comments about the photo posted last week of the NS VGN #1069
heritage unit posing under the Jefferson Street Bridge with the VGN Station
in the background.  "How appropriate for the remains of electrification to
be just above the majestic yellow and black beauty" was one.  Another saw
the auto rack train crossing the old VGN at JK in the background.  We
opened bids for Phase II to continue the restoration of the Station
yesterday and are back "on track" with this project.


Heads up for the trains that will run out of Roanoke this weekend Friday,
Saturday and Sunday.  Each morning we will travel, starting at 8A to
Lynchburg and return (about noon arrival in Roanoke) and at 1:30 PM head
west up Christiansburg Mountain to Walton and return about 5:30 PM.  Those
of you not riding, can pick your best shot location and you will NOT be
disappointed taking photos of this historic train.  Note:  On Wednesday,
the 611 traveled from Spencer via the Hurt connection on the old Virginian
Railway to Tinker Creek Connection back to Roanoke for these trips.  Hope
to see a lot of you on the trains or along the line...


Then  there's this oldie but goodie:  A hive of bees were being transported
by truck and were involved in an accident.  After the smoke cleared, about
100,000 of them flew off.  All but one (99,999) headed to a Texaco gas
station to start a new hive.  One made his way to an Esso station.  Moral
of this story:  In every group there is always one Esso bee...


Time to pull the pin on this one!


Departing Now from V248,


Skip Salmon


DLXV
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