There is no submission for this feature this month. If you have a “spot” you’d like to submit, please do so. Get a photo that does not reveal the location. If you have an old photo but it contains the location, drop it off at Coldwell Banker Terry & Associates, 1096 North Main St, Madisonville, and I will scan it, then return the photo to you. I can “fuzz” out the identity if necessary. Please put your photo in an envelop clearly marked with my name, your name, phone number, email, etc. Mona Forker, our receptionist will put it in my mail box. You can email me a JPG of the photo also at: billtrainthomas@gmail.com
Author: Jim Pearson
From Rick Bivins
Western Kentucky Chapter,
NRHS Chapter Representative.
Greetings Chapter Members,
As members of NRHS we have chosen to uphold the Charter requirements and by-laws of membership, both National by-laws and our own Chapter by-laws. The National by-laws can be found on the National web-site….not easily but they can be found. Wally Watts should have a copy or can produce a copy of the Chapter by-laws if requested. Our Charter was let in early 1985 and is still in effect even though the National organization has struggled. I was a member of NRHS before the Western Kentucky Chapter was formed….I chose to remain a member through thick and thin. I want my 50 year pin!
I begin with the above as much talk has been made of dropping our National Affiliation. Some members have voiced lack of return for their money….not true! For the money, via the National web-site, Facebook, Twitter, other forms of media and good old fashioned pen and paper, much can be obtained from National. The NRHS Bulletin has been on line for many years. Recently, the Bulletin has been published (again) in magazine form. The NRHS video library is extensive as well as the photo archive. One must put forth some effort to make use of these resources but they are worthy of time and postage. Or just browsing on-line!
So please, if you as a member are discouraged or dissatisfied with the NRHS and feel there isn’t enough “bang for the buck”….take time to see if you are missing something. You may be surprised to learn that, indeed, you are.
The easiest way to access NRHS via the internet is to open a web based browser and type NRHS. Ignore the North Rochelle High School page!!!!! And choose the second offering!
Explore and enjoy.
Rick Bivins
By Chapter President, Bill Farrell
Western Kentucky Chapter/NRHS
Well, for those who didn’t know Bill Thomas has stepped forward and volunteered to become the news letter editor. We need to thank Matt for the great job he did while assuming the duties as editor of the “Pennyrail”. Any information you may have concerning the club or club business needs to be forwarded to Bill Thomas in the future. I’m sure Bill will have more information at the next meeting.
In the February meeting we had fair attendance considering the weather conditions. I hope we have better weather for the March 21 meeting. In the February meeting we passed out the new club cards to those members who were current on their dues. The membership cards that are remaining will be mailed to those members who are not present after the March meeting.
Under new business, we discussed the progress of the modular layout and set a work day. The layout construction phase is within two or three hours of being finished. All we have left is some plaster cloth and laying track on each module. Then those members who wanted a module can take them home. I received an email from Ricky Bivins concerning the layout and what are the rules for construction. At this time we do not have any rules and it will be necessary to have those individuals working on the layout to set up some structure to follow. The problem is we need to get all those interested individuals together to write the rules.
We also discussed the possibility of a trip to KRM (Kentucky Railroad Museum) sometime in April. The most logical date for the trip is Saturday April 9th. It will coincide with a model train show at St. Catherine’s Junior College, not far from KRM.
We also talked about doing a Toy Train Christmas display at the Parkway Plaza Mall in Madisonville. Jim Kemp had stepped forward and volunteered to chair this event. This will not be a one or two man show but in fact will require several members to help. So if Jim calls you to help please say yes as this will be a club effort.
By Ricky Bivins
Our Friend Bill Heaton recently won awards for his O Scale modeling efforts while attending the O Scale meet in Indianapolis. Bill took “Best of Show” and First Place both in Steam Locomotive category. Congratulations Bill, well done.
Our Friend in Texas, Phil Randall reports seeing new GE Locomotives rolling out of the Fort Worth plant, An ALCo PA is being restored at the Museum of American Railroading and a new switch (turnout) with “jump frog capability” has been installed there as well.
The annual Clayton/Watts Open House was held on November 7, 2015 and was well attended with 19 people present. Food, Friends and Trains makes this a fun evening. Special Thanks to homeowner Don Clayton for his hospitality.
Keith Kittinger seems to be enjoying his retirement from CSX. I find it really neat in that he has pay stubs from: L&N RR, Family Lines, Seaboard Systems and CSX….congratulations Keith.
Keith and I are starting a “Round Robin Group” to enjoy model trains as “group therapy” so to speak. We plan to schedule regular “meetings” at member’s homes to help and encourage each other’s model railroads. Ask me for details if interested.
By Ricky Bivins
Greetings Chapter Members, This is my first (and you may decide, last) attempt as Editor of the Chapter Newsletter. I am sure you noticed immediately I did not call it “Pennyrail”. The Pennyrail is the Chapter Publication and I have no intention (or ability) to uphold the standards Matt Gentry set forth.
This Newsletter will suffice as merely….news! Matt as we have learned (and I think anyone could imagine) is challenged by time, time needed to put together the outstanding publication for our Chapter as he has in the past. A new job, new employer and 2000+ mile relocation effort is certainly enough. Throw in learning a new environment (yeah, finding one’s way to Cajon Pass is a challenge…blah blah blah), Matt has a lot going on. So upon his behalf, I will give it a go…for now.
Photos by Matt Gentry
As luck would have it, I was given the opportunity to attend the NMRA National Train Show, which was held in Portland Oregon this year. The actual show was held August 28, 29 & 30. But with a set-up day on Thursday the 27th, that meant that a travel day was Wednesday the 26th. So my boss, Craig, and I decided to just take a few vacation days and travel around the Pacific Northwest, with some fellow railfan friends from Southern California, and left Saturday, August 22.
Not being one to watch the news, I had no idea the severity of the drought or wildfires in Oregon and Washington. I was told that the drought is worse up north than it is in Southern California, and it shows. Most of Southern California is concrete so you can’t see all the dead grass! But upon landing in Portland, the wildfires were evident as the atmosphere was smoky. Little did I know it would become much worse as we made our way towards Spokane Washington on Sunday, August 23.
For now, I will let my photos tell the tale of my travels. I have plenty to share, so look forward to more next month.
by Bill Farrell, President
Western Kentucky Chapter/NRHS
Well, now that school has started, everything in Western Kentucky seems to be getting back to an even grind. I hope most of you had a good, enjoyable summer, I know we did at the Farrell, Terry house hold.
I would like to thank Tom Johnson for pulling double duty last month on the program and the refreshments. The post of President is easy when you have a membership that will step up to bat and help out. The remainder of our year is down hill now with the club picnic on October 3rd in Crofton, Ky., the Fall Photo Contest on October 17th to the 24th, election of officers on November 16 and our annual Christmas party on December 8th at Brothers BBQ. I have contacted the Crofton City Hall, and have the pavilion for the club picnic. We still have the modular layout to work on but the weather needs to be cooler. I plan on picking a Saturday, and those who can work on the module will come to Hopkinsville and assemble the project.
Blair Terry and I plan on hosting a Railfanning event on Saturday, September 19th in Hopkinsville at the former L&N Depot. We plan on having everything set up by 9:00 am for those who want to attend. Just bring your lawn chair, a camera and enjoy the CSX next to a vintage railroad station. We plan on having a cooler of drinks and maybe a little food, so come one come all.
A reminder to the membership, we have promised Brothers BBQ that we would have twenty five members to attend the Christmas party this year. This means bring the family so we can have the numbers we promised. Brothers have forgone the usual $100.00 fee for the use of their meeting room. So it is important to have the numbers in attendance for the party that night. Brothers has excellent food and more choices then just BBQ. Almost forgot, December 8, 2015, we are also going to have an operating layout at the party.
If any member has railroad pictures or artwork they would like to display in the Depot in Madisonville, please bring it to our next meeting. We have several pieces on display at the present time but, we can use more. Look around and see what you might have in storage. I might add anything you bring should be framed, ready to display.
We will start to issue Western Kentucky Chapter club cards in January 2016. This month program and refreshment will be hosted by Thomas and Jim Bryan. Well this is just more than refreshments; it is the Bryan’s Annual Fish Fry. This is one meeting you don’t want to miss.
| Title | Cascade Snow Fighters |
| Producer | 7 Idea Productions |
| Format | DVD |
| Playing Time | 1 hr. 5 min. |
| Purchased From | Trainvideodepot.com |
| Date Purchased | 8/17/15 |
| Price Paid | $26.95 |
We get the usual high quality videography that 7 Idea Productions is known for in this DVD. The video was shot in widescreen format which makes the scenery even more impressive as we watch snow removal activities on the Union Pacific’s Cascade Sub in Oregon. Some of the scenes go back as far as 2004 and some are as recent as this 2013.
We see Nordco M7 snow fighters, flangers, and Jordan spreaders in operation. The Nordco M7 has a blade on one end and a snow blower on the opposite end. It is powered by a supercharged Cummins six cylinder diesel engine. There are 16.5 feet blades on either side to push the snow away from the tracks.
Flangers, of course, are similar to cabooses with belly blades to remove the snow from between the rails. There are some nice scenes from a nighttime cab ride in a locomotive pulling a flanger.
Jordan spreaders are the last line of defense on the Cascade Sub and are put to use when the snow is too deep for the M7s or the flangers. There is some very good spreader action and we even get a cab ride.
The excellent snow removal action, the beautiful scenery, and the high quality widescreen image make this video a keeper.
