July 2016 – Page 2 – The Pennyrail Online Edition

Quarterly Photo Contest Winners

July 13, 2016 Jim Pearson No Comments Chapter Photo Contest, General Post

Results of the June 2016 Chapter Photo Contest by Jim Pearson. There were a total of 8 entries for this contest from four different members. While all the photos were of great quality our judge, Jim Pearson, has narrowed down the field to the top three winning photographs.

First place goes to Bill Grady for his black and white photograph of Norfolk Southern train #891 at Paducah and Louisville Railways Oak Street Yard in Louisville, KY with 4 brand-new GE ES44TH’s on the lead. Later in the day 2 of the units were placed on the South end of the consist for the trip over the PAL to the Warrior Mine just west of Madisonville, Ky. “I like how Bill has used the leading lines of the track in the foreground to help draw your eye into this photograph. Also the decision to make this a black and white photograph really makes it stand out with the clouds in the sky. Also, the fact that it was the first revenue run for these engines helps to make it a bit news worthy! Good job Bill!” – Jim Pearson, Judge

Second Place goes to Rick Bivins for his shot of CSX X186-07, an empty intermodal with BNSF power, as it heads south under the bridge at Barnsley, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision. “Rick did a great job on his composition with this photograph! Good use of leading lines and placement of the engines make for a dynamic picture. Shot with iPhone also! Goes to show, it’s not the camera that makes the photo, but the person that is behind it! Also, the best camera to use is always the one you have with you!” – Jim Pearson, Judge

Third place goes to Blair Terry with his photograph of NS 611 at the station in Manassas, Virginia. “A great shot Blair! I think it would have been much better if you were a bit further back from the train to show a bit more of the environment and perhaps allow the viewer to see a bit more steam or smoke coming from the stack of 611.” – Jim Pearson, Judge

June 2016 Pickin’ the Points with Bill Thomas

July 13, 2016 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas, Pickin' the points

Greetings all! I hope you will join us Monday, June 20, 7pm, here at our home at 1025 Lakewood Dr, Madisonville. As President Bill stated above, Blair’s family will be supplying the burgers for my grill Monday so come hungry. Just bring a lawn chair and all the other stuff will be provided. If you’d like to take a dip in the pool, feel free to come early at 6. I believe happy hour will begin at that point as well.

Informal Program: If you have any G gauge equipment you’d like to run on the garden tracks, feel free to bring it along. Bob McCracken is scheduled to have his live-steam Shay here and it’s always a treat to see it chugging among the flora. Keep in mind the track work can be like a maintenance-deferred short line so no guarantees we’ll be derailment free. RJ Corman is on standby.

Directions if needed: From South Main St (Hwy 41 S), take SR 70/McLaughlin/Princeton Rd west. Turn right on Lakewood Dr., just past the Elks Club. Take the first left (which remains Lakewood Dr.). Go right as the road elbows, our drive way is the first on the right. Blue house with a yellow front door, RR crossing sign in the back yard.

Hope to see you here!

Bill

June 2016 – The Spill with President Bill Farrell

July 13, 2016 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Farrell

It seems like we were just meeting in Hopkinsville yesterday and here it is– we have a meeting in just a few days. Talking about the meeting, I hope everyone remembers that we are meeting at Bill Thomas’s home this month. Blair’s mom has informed him that he will be pressing out half pound hamburgers for Bill Thomas to grill. This is one meeting I don’t want to miss. Our new member Will Kling as stepped forward and will have the program for this month. Way to go Will.

I hope everyone had an opportunity to get out with a camera and get some pictures of trains or railroad related items for the photo contest we had last week. Each member can enter two (2) pictures of his or her choosing. All photos have to be turned in to Jim Pearson no later than Thursday June the 16^th.

I know Blair Terry and myself had a very special opportunity to get some photos of a locomotive in Virginia last week end. I hope all of our membership had a chance to get out and take pictures of railroading in general. Remember the top three pictures from each contest will go toward making up a club calendar for 2017. Our next photo contest is August 6-13, this gives you time to get out and find a good location.

We are still looking for members to sponsor “Railfanning” events for June, July and August. I you think you know of an area with food and facilities close by you might want to sponsor. These are great events and it gives our membership a chance for relaxation and have fellowship close to a railroad environment.

We have not had a raffle for the last two meeting because of the lack of things to raffle. I need for the membership to dig around in their store of railroad memorabilia for things to raffle in the June meeting.

Bill Farrell, President