Author: Jim Pearson

Ricky’s Replies for April 2012

April 22, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Rick Bivins, Ricky's Replies

Hello Railfan friends. Here we are at the April meeting. If you missed the March meeting, a great time was had by those in attendance. The business portion was short, the refreshments were good and the program was GREAT. Our guest program presenter, Gary Ostlund or GOO as he is known on the internet, had some absolutely fabulous photos of Milwaukee Road electrics that he took while residing in the Pacific North West. While not a long program, Gary showed us images of the locomotives and general area as he explained each scene in detail. I was totally absorbed by it. If you missed it, well shame on you!

There is not a lot to discuss this month; the officer will meet again prior to meeting night to iron out any details of the meeting. I will be purchasing the banner for our table at the upcoming Friday Night Live events which will be held in Down Town Madisonville. Bill Thomas plans to have an Out Door style layout built on his trailer to deliver at the event to go along with a TV/DVD playing train videos. These activities should make for a good time. Now, one point to make here. We need to have members present on the three nights. Our planned activities will be taxing for a couple of us to manage. Wally will have his steam engines going as well. So Members, please take time out for at least one of the event nights.

Bill needs material for the newsletter. He needs things such as photos, stories, historical notes and research etc. I am convinced our Chapter has an abundance of knowledge and history right on tap; one only has to let us know about. Remember, what seems to be a mundane story to you may be very interesting to the rest of us.

Looking ahead, we will have a very special program/tour of the Hopkinsville L&N RR Freight Depot for our May meeting. Make plans to attend.

Tom Johnson has refreshments and program this month. Tom plans to give us a choice of Illinois Central Steam Finale or Illinois Railway Museum DVD’s. Either will be very entertaining I am sure.

SO…Members, come on out Monday April 23rd at 7:00 PM and join in the fun and camaraderie. After all, this is “Your” Chapter.

Chattanooga & Chickamauga

March 22, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas

child1

Great classic lines here on this EMD GP38 at LaFayette, GA, December 2011.  In Georgia the accent falls on “Fay” in LaFayette.

As a child and teen I often traveled the route from Chattanooga, down along the southern slope of Lookout Mountain to Kensington, GA, in Walker County, where my Aunt and Uncle Mary and Perry Jordan farmed dairy cattle in the Cedar Grove community.  Nestled in the cove formed by Lookout and Pigeon Mountains, are many great family memories of thanksgiving meals, flying kites over cow herds, and the sounds and smells of the farm.  No wonder my mother had great roses – all that fertilizer brought home in paper grocery sacks.

This was the route we took if going from my grandparents’ home in Chattanooga to the farm.  It practically paralleled the Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railroad (TAG) for almost the entire trip.  The TAG veered due south about five miles before reaching the cove.  What was great is that when traveling from our home in Ellijay, Georgia to the farm, we encountered the line as it continued through the mountainous terrain, skirting the town of LaFayette.  At the time, from there I had no idea where the line went.  For years I thought it joined the former Central of Georgia somewhere south of LaFayette.  After all, that’s the way my eyes saw it through the big windows of my parents’ Oldsmobile.

I am fortunate to have remembrances of Southern Railway Geeps working the line along GA route 136.  Seeing those black hulks striped in aluminum white sneak through the pines is an image I will never forget.

The photos above were taken this past Christmas season as I took my family on their annual trip through Northwest Georgia to see Aunt Mary and Uncle Perry.  The Chattanooga & Chickamauga  (former Central of Georgia) is the closest operating rail line to the farm now.  Driving on to Kensington, I still kept one eye on the old roadbed where the Geeps once rolled.  I still tried to figure out exactly where that tunnel portal is as we negotiate the switchback highway across the ridge, peering into the valley to catch a glimpse of the right-of-way through the naked trees of a cool Georgia winter.  It’s such a melancholy experience.

The TAG from Chattanooga to Kensington is all but abandoned.  This last trip left me saddened to see small bridges falling apart, washouts, and fresh pavement over the rails where the crossing gates have been amputated from their cross buck bodies.

My dream would be that the Tennessee Valley Railway Museum could somehow pull a rabbit out of their hat and restore the line. What a beautiful ride it would be through the scenic southern Chattanooga Valley.  If not, and the ties silently return to dirt, maybe I can model it and bring back some of those childhood memories onto which I so strongly hold.    Bill Thomas, editor

child2

 Former Columbus & Greenville GP7 seemed to be in operable condition the same day at LaFayette.

 

 

Rail Flicks

March 22, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Rail Flicks

By Tommy Johnson

Title Trains on the Montana Rail Link
Producer Plets Express
Format Full Screen
Playing Time 1:46
Purchased From RailFanDepot
Date Purchased 1/4/2010
Price Paid $31.34

Montana Rail Link is a Class II regional railroad serving southern and western Montana since 1987.  Its eastern terminus is Huntley, MT, and the western terminus is Spokane, WA.  The MRL connects with the BNSF on both ends and has 939 miles of trackage, most of which was originally built by the Northern Pacific.

The MRL runs through some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States.  A printed map showing the route is included with the DVD but an on screen map would have been nice.

The producer selected some very good points along the route from which to shoot video footage and he did a great job of capturing the trains from interesting camera angles.

The narrator tells us about specific locomotives seen in the video, identifying their type, the year they were built, and which railroad originally purchased them.

We see trains struggling over Bozeman pass with the benefit of helper locomotives and later we are treated to scenes of westbound trains climbing the 2.2% grade up to Mullan Pass.

I found this video to be very informative and entertaining.  The scenery is gorgeous and the RR action is great with good background info provided by the narrator.  I recommend this one.

 

March 2012 Ricky’s Replies

March 22, 2012 Jim Pearson No Comments Ricky's Replies

by Ricky Bivins, President

OK NRHS Members, where does the time go? There is an old saying that goes: “Time is fun when you are having flies”. Wait, Kermit the Frog said that! “Time flies when you are having fun”. That’s it! Well, I have been having fun with my model train layout. The recent warm weather has sent me outside as I am sure many others have done. CSX keeps my neck in shape with all the trains running past the house, and of course March Madness ya’know. Anyhow, here we are coming up on the March Chapter meeting yet it seems like only a few days ago we were at the Depot for the February meeting. My oh my time does fly indeed. (Can an airport manager get away with saying that?)

As for the February meeting, I for one think we had a good turnout, a productive evening and an excellent program. Keith’s munchies were spot on and the video “Chicago Odyssey” from our late friend Dennis Carnal’s estate was very good. In fact, I have only seen the video briefly since the meeting night as members have been passing it around for another look. Dennis would be proud to know we are taking advantage of him! R.I.P. Dennis.

At one point during the past two meetings I expressed a need for a Program Director. Our Rail Camper Thomas Bryan has decided to take on that challenge. I “versed” Thomas to talk to the members, find out what the Chapter would like to do, where we would like to go etc. Thomas has some ideas on his plate already and I encouraged him to move forward and “to make plans”. He will be in touch with Chuck and Rich about the previously discussed trip to Paducah KY and Mayfield KY for a day of rail fanning. Of course we have the three Friday Night Live events coming up and the annual Pick Nick at the Crofton KY Veterans Memorial. Not to mention the C&W Railroad open house and a revised Christmas event. Thomas has a plate full indeed. Give him your support and encouragement Members; he has taken on a big job for the Chapter.

As viewed by the Members at the February meeting, Steve Miller has been working on the photo archive in full force. Great job Steve, keep up the good work. This is no easy task even for a computer whiz such as Steve. Kudos again Steve.

As I am sure everyone can see, we have a full year ahead of us. The only point to make now is Member Participation. Our overall Member involvement is good if one looks at the number of Members we have and the number of members present at our events. But that is a ratio of numbers. I want those not in attendance to feel as though they have missed something. That is to say, when one finds out what is going on, they resolve to “join in” the festivities. That will grow our Chapter and improve our overall effectiveness to preserve our local rail history. That is after all what we as Members resolve to do, preserve our Rail History.

We will have a guest program this month. Gary Ostland from Murray KY will present a program of slides. Gary or “GOO” as he signs his email, is very much in the know of all things Milwaukee Road. I am sure we will see much of the railroad and its territory. I met GOO last fall at Gorham IL while rail fanning the old MoPac line while in the company of Wally, Thomas and Phil Randall. Gary travels a lot in his motor home and bright red VW. The good life I would dare say. And he is willing to share with us his experiences!

I will see you “NRHS Member” on March 26, 2012.