Year: 2011
Hello again Chapter Members. Well we start October on a sad note just as we did September! Former Member Jim Findley passed away earlier this month after a long illness. Jim was only 48 years young! In fact, I am 9 days older than Jim was. I met Jim in grade school at the 4-H Camp in Dawson Springs KY many years ago. We became friends when we learned through “round table discussion’s” at camp that we both liked trains. Jim and I were “in touch” off and on through the years. It is so sad that such a talented individual passed so young. In hind sight, Jim accomplished more than most will do in a long lifetime. Just as with Dennis’ passing, we never realize what we have in a friend until it is much too late!
Well, October has been a very good month otherwise. The Annual and much anticipated Picnic at Crofton KY was held on October 8th and it was a blast. I attended this year as it has been three years since my last visit to Crofton. As Steve Miller reports, attendance was low but the weather was perfect and CSX was very cooperative in sending trains our way.
Also in October, three members (Thomas, Wally & Myself) and one guest, Phil Randall aka Nortonville Phil, made a trip to Southern Illinois for some rail fanning. On Thursday October 13th, Phil and I left his house in Nortonville at 4:30 AM and headed West through Paducah and then to Ware Illinois. Wally and Thomas met up with us later in Gorham Illinois where we were greeted with overcast skies and damp surroundings. The objective of course was to see trains on the ex-Missouri Pacific line along the Mississippi River. The River Line as it is called. We were treated to about 15 trains total for a fun day of railroading that ended with sunny skies and a good breeze.
The October Meeting will see the first of two calls for nominations for Chapter Officers. The elections are to be held the following month. If you want to run for office, stand up and be heard. If you know of someone you would like to see in office, nominate them. This is YOUR CHAPTER, you can make a difference only if you take action!
At the young age of 48, Jim Findley lost his battle with cancer this month. Also please remember Tony Clark’s family. His wife Mary, passed away Friday, October 21.
Editorial by Bill Thomas
Some say if you have three good friends in your life, you’re a lucky man. I must say that my luck has been abundant. When my family and I moved to Madisonville just a bit over eight years ago, we went through the normal new-in-town steps of finding a physician, dentist, hair dresser, barber, and other necessary people for living. I make friends pretty quickly, guess it comes with the territory of ministry. Not long after our arrival, someone at church told me, “You need to meet Don Clayton and that bunch of guys in the train club.” You see, I included my fascination of trains in my bio that went out to my church – why not?
That was the beginning of what is still a wonderful relationship I have with those of you in our chapter. Outside the chapter meetings we gathered at the Clayton home and while Wally smoked up the basement with lamp oil, several of us sat around the table, on the fireplace hearth, and floor to ramble about railroading, women, taxes, and several other topics. Dennis Carnal was always in the seat on the north side of the room or at least it seemed that way. With his bowl of peanut M&Ms he’d munch away, sharing his colorful treats with me and Liam, who was then only 4 or 5.
Liam is now 12! He and I were both fortunate enough to see Dennis at our house the Saturday before he passed. He had a way of popping in and carrying on a conversation with you while you continued to whatever odd job you may be in the middle of. This was the case on that Saturday afternoon. I’m in the pool (74 degree water) painting the deck and Dennis is sitting at the patio table. We talked about everything under the sun.
That was the beauty of my friendship with Dennis. We could talk about anything, while doing anything, and enjoy it. Dennis could appear a little rough around the edges at times, but he had a soft spot for my kids. A few Christmases ago he dropped by with a nice stuffed Santa for them and even that Saturday around the pool, he gave Joe a dollar because the cheap-o tooth fairy only left him a quarter the night before.
I admired the way he cared for his mother in her last days. I was privileged to officiate the grave-side burial service for her. I know Dennis had a love for his dogs. Not so much for cats, but deep down I think he took to mine ok.
As Ricky as already stated in his column, Dennis had a remarkable gift for recalling railroad information, especially when it came to locomotives on the L&N.
He always told me I wasn’t a normal minister and I usually questioned him about that statement. As I grew to know and love Dennis as a friend, I guess I figured I kind of knew what he meant in a positive way. I look forward to seeing him again some day and if your theology allows you to believe that, I’m glad. Feel free to join us!
If I can find a free Thursday evening in the near future, I’d like to have Dennis’ friends over to the back yard just to give the Old Goat a roast in memoriam. I’ll be in touch. I think it would do us all good.
Greetings, fellow members of the Western Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. I hope that I can provide information through my monthly reviews that will be useful to you in your search for entertaining and informative RR videos. I have eighty-four different RR videos at this time and plan to continue adding to my collection as time goes by.
Thank you, Bill Thomas, for allocating some space in the Pennyrail for my reviews.
As we kick off this monthly feature, I would like to share with you my favorite on-line vendors for RR videos. I have found the following websites to be excellent sources of good videos and the vast majority of my collection has come from these sites:
I will try to rate the videos in an objective manner but we all have our favorite railroads and we all have connections to particular areas of the country. If I review a video that has special meaning to me, I will warn the reader that my review might not be entirely objective.
Let’s start this thing off with a 7idea Productions video entitled “Marias Pass, BNSF’s Hi Line Sub.”
| Title | Marias Pass, BNSF Railway’s Hi Line Sub |
| Producer | 7idea Productions |
| Format | Wide Screen DVD |
| Playing Time | 1 hr 52 Min |
| Time Period Covered | Fall 2009 |
| Geographic Area | Western Montana; Glacier Park area; Marias Pass, the northernmost crossing of the Continental Divide in the Lower 48 States by a RR (originally, the Great Northern RR). |
| Purchased From | TrainVideoDepot.com |
| Comments | I highly recommend this DVD. The scenery is magnificent, with beautiful fall colors and some fresh snow on the mountain peaks.The image quality is even better than Pentrex quality, and that says a lot. I have never been disappointed with a 7idea video. In every case where I have the same area covered by two or three producers, the 7idea video is always the best by far.There is good RR action, including the use of helper locomotives and even some footage of the Empire Builder. There are tunnels, snow sheds, and trestles included in the scenes. The sound quality is excellent. |
Greetings Everyone. This month is a bitter sweet month, September marks that time of year when the weather starts to change. We can experience cool temperatures at night and an occasional 90 degree day. For the most part though, very pleasant days, which are often, reflected in lower energy bills!
While this is the norm, the hurt-filled news of member and friend Dennis Carnal passing away at a young 53 years has really put a damper on the season. Our Chapter has lost more than a member with Dennis, we have lost an icon. I say that with sincere repose. Dennis could recall from memory, local history be it rail or coal mining or what ever…and then ensue a LONG discussion about same! For that alone he will be missed. At the September meeting, I will ask the Chapter to remember Dennis with a moment of silence.
I would like to use Dennis’ untimely passing as a reminder or a “wake up” call as to our Chapter Photo Archive. Steve is working on rescanning the photo’s provided us on disc and as I understand, they are of poor quality. Dennis was in possession of a large majority of the photos used in the first archive. Keith and I will be talking with his estate executor about obtaining them once again for photo coping purposes. As everyone recalls, I have “adopted” this project while I do not possess the skill or equipment necessary to properly see it through. I will rely heavily on Steve and Keith to see this through.
At the September meeting we will confirm details of the Clayton/Watts open house, the December Christmas Dinner and dare I say, ELECTIONS. That is correct folks, October will see our Chapter calling for nominations for officers and November will see the election results….that time will be upon us very soon.
Until then, remember to be safe when watching or photographing trains. Remain mindful of private property, be it the railroad of interest or land owners along the right of way. Living next to CSX’s Henderson Sub at Mortons Gap KY has opened my eyes to a problem I knew existed but had seen very little of. Motorist AND Pedestrians alike simply do not have time to wait for the train to pass…or so they think. I have not witnessed a collision as of yet (and hopefully I never will) but I have seen many close calls. One motorist was even verbal with me when I commented on her un-necessary haste…with two children in the car no less! Rick Bivins