Eng 2180 at Radford, 1954

[NW Mailing List]

Mr. Burnett,
I always enjoy your entries and I thank you for personal responses that you have provided in the past.
I also enjoy your missives regarding turnip culture.  in fact, to answer your question, I have eaten a turnip sandwich.  More than once.
One of my fondest childhood memories is working in the garden with Dad when he decided that we needed a snack.  He plucked two turnips out of the dirt, pulled out his pocket knife and we enjoyed two turnips that could not have been fresher.  I still have that pocket knife 60 years later along with that wonderful memory.
Thanks to help bubbling that memory to the top.
Keep up the good work.
Rick Huddle
Delaware, OH

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From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> on behalf of NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 10:34 AM
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Eng 2180 at Radford, 1954

The link given below leads to a photo (apparently) now held in the Rahway NJ NRHS collection.  The caption location says "Radford."

It has been a half-Century since I worked the jobs at Radford, so I will have to take a guess at this one.  Guess:  The photo was taken in the curve between Plum Creek and East Radford, looking westwardly, and the engine is likely a Walton Pusher engine headed back to Radford to be turned in after a day's work on the Mountain.

The bridge in the background will be the key to determining location.  I think that is the bridge over to the railroad's tie treating plant, on what was then called "the island."

Did I get that part right?  If so, I walked across that bridge one day 60 years ago, to go over to "the island" and do some pistol target practice.  I recall that the north abutment of the bridge was modern concrete work and had a date of somewhere around 1950 (+/- a year or two) cast into it... if my memory is correct.  The tie plant was all gone by that time and brush was beginning to choke the area.  (But the Clean Out Hole at Payne was the best place for target practice... It featured living, moving targets:  rats ! )

 https://nrhs.com/gallery-item/rahway-valley-railroad-kenilworth-new-jersey-class-2-8-0-15-consolidation-steam-locomotive-may-17-1953-r-l-liong-photograph-west-jersey-chapter-nrhs-collection-2/

While we are talking Radford things, can anyone tell me about a part of the Yard/Round House area at East Radford which was referred to as "The Meadow" ?  I recall Yardmaster Deyerle talking about tracks "over in the Meadow," but I never understood what that term really meant.  (Chalk that up to being new and young, and reluctant to expose my ignorance by asking a supervisor for an explanation...)

Be Well, Drive Safely !

-- abram burnett
Ever Eat a Turnip Sam'mich ?

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