Year: 2018
Several chapter members wave to CSX crews Saturday, May 19, as they gather in Morton’s Gap, KY, for Trains in the Gap Day!
Kathy and I celebrated our 18th anniversary the weekend of April 8 by going to Bardstown KY and a ride on “My Old Kentucky Dinner Train” for the noon meal trip on April 7.
Our trip started out with snow and icy roads. My drive to Bardstown from Mortons Gap was, at times, white knuckle! Once we arrived and redeemed our vouchers, I walked around the old ex-L&N depot, looked over the model trains on display, took in the many prints on the wall and admired the remaining antique scale.
Once on board the train and seated in car number 003, we chatted with our table mates Tyrell and NaTosha. No, I am not making this up! This newly wed couple had never ridden a train and seem to enjoy the event. Tyrell and I had some common ground and interests. 
The ride was nice. The track was surprisingly uneven for RJ Corman Railroad standards. But slow speed made the ride “real”! Kathy had a first time experience of walking on a moving train and laughed the whole time! The aforementioned snow made the view outside our window most pleasant.
On the return trip we were having dessert when I felt the generator change tone, vibrate…(l looked at Tyrell and he had the same look on his face I did. His experience as a mechanic told him what I felt to be as well) then…it died. Out went the lights, the AC and the noise was…no noise!
Even though it was about 38 degrees outside by this time, with 60 plus people in our car it began to heat up quickly! Our train came to a stop, crew members arrived outside our window with tools. With in minutes we were on our way with lights and AC….and generator noise!
A high light for me was seeing the RJ Corman Railroad EMD F units run around our train at each end of the run.
The trip back was over in a flash it seamed. We left out passenger car for the open road…well, hi-ways 150 and 68 to Wilmore KY. and the Potters Inn B&B.
As for the meal…we ordered the Kentucky Hot Brown. Now, I grew up with Mom and Kathy’s KY Hot Brown served with brown gravy! I did not know the traditional KY Hot Brown has creamy cheesy… stuff on it! The quality was excellent. I did not like the meal which is no reflection on the cook or the train. The Apple Dumpling though…beyond good!
I doubt I will do the dinner train again unless for a really special occasion. I do however recommend same for anyone whom enjoys trains.
So the question becomes, “why paint up a fancy new locomotive and leave the wheels and coupler all rusty..?” Very simply put, the wheels and couplers take a horrendous beating. Hairline cracks occasionally form, and if painted are difficult to detect. Broken couplers and chipped wheels cause nasty derailments. Rail managers feel that a little rust isn’t going to hurt anything, and maintenance forces can easily stay ahead of the problems. Submitted by Gary Ostlund.
Former chapter member Fred Ripley sent me this for my birthday back in April! Great present. Bill
Louisville & Nashville 4-8-2 No. 407 on Cincinnati–Birmingham train 7 passes 2-8-0 No. 1212 on a northbound freight on double track 10 miles south of Louisville in November 1948. – C. William Streit photo
At 70 miles per hour, this Kansas City bound Piggybacker will disappear across the Oklahoma prairie as quickly as the sky darkens in the vivid sunset. You probably have never heard of Avard, but to a railfan, this is a “hot spot.” This line in northwestern Oklahoma was the Santa Fe mainline. Now as the Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s “Transcon,” these rails see more action than ever, over a hundred trains a day. Gary Ostlund
Chapter members enjoy “Holy Train Night” at Steve Miller’s in April. Photos by Rick Bivins
As you may of heard Amtrak has announced a new policy for private passenger cars and special trips. This change will effect many of our members and I would like you to read it. You can find the Amtrak Policy at https://admin.nrhs.com/public/AmtrakPolicyChanges.pdf
I would like you to contact your congressmen and women expressing your thoughts on this Amtrak policy change. You can find the committees and the contacts at http://rpca.com/webpages/Gov_Contacts.html
It would be nice if you also contacted your Senators and Representatives about this expressing your views on the policy change. The link to find them and their contacts is at the bottom of the RPCA Gov_Contact page.
Thanks, Al Weber
May 10, 2018 – From Carol McCracken Keating, daughter of Bob and Jackie McCracken. As the mist was rising on the fields around the hospice house and the light was peaking through the morning sky Mom’s spirit took flight and joined the choir of angels. She is at peace. We are heartbroken, but know that she is safe at home with God. We cling to the promises of our faith and to each other knowing that in both life and death God is faithful always.
The family will hold a memorial service for Jackie in Leesburg, Fla and hey will also be scheduling a memorial event here in Madisonville some time in early June. More details as they come.
Congratulations to Bill Grady and and Ricky Bivins!! Our next contest runs from May 1-15, 2018 Submission Deadline: May 22, 2018. Your entries must be taken during this time periord and submitted to Jim Pearson by the deadline. Email your entries to: jim@jimpearsonphotography.com
Westbound #201, exiting tunnel 48, just west of Easton and about to cross the Yakima River. The river is entering Lake Easton. The Tunnel is only a hundred feet or so out of the picture to the right. I once drove my motor home through that tunnel. The bridges had been removed and I did a spectacular u-turn. Lots of maneuvering. As I exited the other end leaving I stopped short of the portal, got out and took a pix. A few weeks later they built a impassable berm, so the fun was over. The electrics ended here in 1972, 1974 in the Rockies. That is the former NP mainline leading up to Stampede Pass in the right coming under the Milwaukee.
All this right-of-way from Seattle to the Columbia River is State Parks trail system now. Obviously one must detour the bridge scene, but it’s easy because the MILW crossed back to the west side of the river in about another mile. So all you need to do is trespass on the BNSF. (I didn’t say that….) The BNSF (formerly NP) begins the 2.2 percent climb up to Stampede not far to the left out of the picture. Warren Wing, photographer, was a close friend of mine, he passed a few years ago. Enjoy.
Gary Ostlund again has sent me a fantastic shot from the old Milwaukee Road. A westbound #22.
April 6, 2018 – With permission, I was able to get this shot of Respondek Railroad Corporation’s 415 and 2425 sitting in the old engine service facility at CSX’s Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision. Last word I got was that these two units are going to be servicing industry in the Henderson, Ky area.
My major Seminary Professor, Dr. Doug Smith poses in front of the Dollywood Express in Pigeon Forge, TN, with his daughter Lara and his sister Marilyn. Knowing I am a train nut, he always thinks of me when near a train. I guess that’s the way I’d want to be remembered. – Bill Thomas