by Ricky Bivins, Chapter President
Hello Friends, here we are in the Month of November, 2012 nearing the end of what seems to have been a whirlwind year of activity. As we look back over the year we see several highlights. Our monthly programs have been of considerable interest, meeting content has be very good, club activity has been better and each month we relish the fact that we can gather, share in the camaraderie of trains and eat!
Our trip to Mayfield and Paducah is still in limbo (to quote Wally Watts) due to a number of factors. Foremost being that, our contact person at Progress Rail is not a Chapter member, yet he has tried diligently to keep us informed. His contact at Progress Rail has left the company or moved to a new location as the case may be. Now we have to reestablish contact with Progress Rail which may take time. So, do not give up, this will be a great trip when it does come about. Additionally, we have a standing invitation to the NRHS Chapter in Paducah and to tour their museum. Thomas Bryan has information on the Evansville IN museum which would be a nice trip. To this end I again say: “Someone step up to the plate and make the arrangements”. Several will get on board if told the particulars.
As noted in the Minutes of the last Meeting, our meeting time stays at 7:00 PM. As simple as this idea was (to change meeting time) I was pleased at how the Chapter handled the discussion and selection process. We were focused and performed, so to speak. I would like to see more business handled this way at our meetings. I feel we would grow as a result.
November brings us to elections. At this point following the October meeting, no one has challenged the current officers. However, I will open the floor again for nominations for officers. Speak up, be heard, nominate someone if you would like. And remember, one can even nominate themselves.
Kudos goes out again to Tom, Wally and Bill for updating the membership roster. Speak up for a copy if you do not have one.
Matt Gentry is working on our calling card file; I gave him the “basics” of what I felt we need to say. Matt will have a report soon I am sure.
Bill and Angela Thomas have graciously volunteered to host our Christmas Dinner at their home in Madisonville. The date is December 21, 2012 at 6:00 PM. Details will be forth coming Monday November 26, 2012 during the Chapter Meeting. Please make plans to attend both and feel free to bring a guest. Their address is 1025 Lakewood Drive, Madisonville.
In 2008, R.J. Corman purchased QJ 2-10-2 #7040 from China, built in 1986. The locomotive was renumbered 2008 and is kept in Lexington on Corman’s Central Kentucky Lines (ex-L&N Winchester to Anchorage with CSX trackage rights into Louisville plus a couple of short branch lines. This includes the first railroad in Kentucky: Lexington thru Midway to Frankfort.) This locomotive is rarely operated and CSX will not allow it to run into Louisville. So when I learned that it would be at a festival in Midway on September 15th, I made plans to drive up to see it and asked former chapter member Cliff Downey to go along.
After lunch at one of the many vendors, we drove into Lexington to visit the new Corman locomotive facilities and yard. Overlooking these on the northeast side is a display of two former Helm SD40M-3 “shells” (no prime movers) rebuilt from ACL/SCL SD45s plus two cabooses. To the east the former L&N yard is now a parking lot for Rupp Arena while the new well ballasted Corman yard is the best looking yard I’ve ever seen. In the distance is the NS former Southern Railway mainline overpass. Around the locomotive facility we found a new Corman RailPower RP1500BD switcher, a GP9, a ex-D&RGW SD40T-2 tunnel motor, five GP38s and three GP-16s.