Author: Jim Pearson

St. Charles, Ky Switchers Get the Torch

April 24, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Pennyrail Stories

Keith Kittinger

Those of us fortunate enough to wander down to St. Charles, KY, on the old IC main between Dawson Springs and Nortonville, in the last few years got a treat of which many railfans only dream.  We were granted permission to operate an EMD SW9 on the Charolais Coal Prep Plant yard tracks which paralleled the afore mentioned IC line.  Owner Don Bowles allowed us access as long as we took care of the property.  But time, land-locked trackage, and high scrap prices have won the battle and sent the three units into our memories.  Doyle Massey and Keith Kittinger (pictured) got some night shots of these beasts of burden as scrappers removed usable engine parts before being cut up.

I personally thank Don, Keith, Ricky, and others who made it possible for us to “play” with the real thing for a while.  I have photos of my son Liam and friends operating the machines on a mile of real track.  It was fun while it lasted!   Bill Thomas, editor

 

Summerail at C.U.T

April 24, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Regional Rail Notes

Saturday, August 13, 2011, 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Railroad Show and Sale in the Rotunda 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Cincinnati Union Terminal, 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio

Join us at this historic art deco railroad terminal to escape the summer heat and enjoy a day of high quality railroad photography. There will be twelve multimedia digital and dual-projector slide presentations, all set to music. The programs will run from 1:00 – 10:00 pm, with a break for dinner (on your own) approximately from 4:30 – 7:00 pm. Admission is $20.

More info on the web at http://cincinnatirrclub.org/Summerail/index.shtml

 

Hook Line & Singer Railway

April 24, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas, Photo Section
East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (Tweetsie) RR 10-Wheeler No. 12 makes its way through the new spring growth with the mixed train to Fern Gap. The crew did the 5 passengers a favor by putting the stock car behind the combine. Creeping Phlox, Vinca Minor (Periwinkle), Monkey Grass, Stone Crop, Day Lilies, and pesky onions make track maintenance an every-day chore on Bill Thomas’s Hook Line & Singer Railway. Photograph and track work by Bill Thomas

National Train Day

April 24, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Chapter News

Amtrak is calling “all kids—young and old” to join the coast-to-coast celebration of train love. On Saturday, May 7th, hundreds of National Train Day festivities are taking place across the country including four major events in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago. At each you can enjoy: Free live entertainment, Interactive and educational exhibits, Kids activities, Model train displays, Tours of Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains, and of notable private railroad cars, and much more.  You can attend an event near you, host one of your own, or participate online. Start the celebration today at http://www.nationaltrainday.com

 

April 2011 Ricky’s Replies

April 24, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Ricky's Replies

by President, Ricky Bivins

Hello once again railfans. I hope everyone enjoyed the March meeting and found it informative. Wally picked a good video with the Upper Mississippi Railroads. That area looks to be a Railfans Mecca.  Did you know the “term” railfan was coined by the late David P. Morgan, long time editor of Trains Magazine? I have been giving some thought to “Railfanning” lately and remembering many outings taken by local members of our chapter. Some of these events I was surprised to recall were more that 20 years ago. High speed runs in a van with the side door open while photographing one of Southern Railways many steam powered fan trips. And many jaunts up to Southern Indiana to catch a glimpse of the former Yankeetown Dock Corporation’s EMD SD-38’s hauling coal and of course their little Fairbanks Morris opposed piston switchers chugging around. Not to mention the ALCO Alligators!

Several of our members past and present and a few that have passed on made many MANY trips to Southern Illinois to see the MoPac, BN (Frisco) and of course UPRR around Chaffee, Scott City and Gorham. And of course local trips that never took us out of Hopkins County.  And how about Central City KY…back when the Illinois Central and later ICG railroad ruled the roost?

So what is the point, (You knew I had a point to make didn’t You)? How many of us have photo’s, video, audio or slides of those many trips? Where are they? Would you want to share them? I would like to take up the cause as mentioned before of growing and managing the archive of Western Kentucky rail scenes we have managed to preserve. Steve Miller has agreed to take on the task of managing the archive in Jim Pearson’s place. I will have to leave it up to them as I am not at all versed on photo management via computer. But I know it will be in capable hands.

So, If one has something of interests in the way of photo’s, maps, history, audio, video, slides or “GASP” FILM make it known and make it available. Who knows, some day our very own archive could benefit the next group of “Railfans” as to “how it was back then”!

 

Pickin’ the points Editorial

March 26, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas, Pickin' the points

Comments by Anyone Interested

I had the great opportunity to attend a Rotary Club President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) in Nashville, TN, last weekend.  Rotary, like many other service/civic and non-profit special interest groups are designed to tap into local individuals through a club or chapter while all the while supporting a more broad-thinking and influential  national or international body of work.  In the case of Rotary, our world-wide humanitarian goal is the eradication of polio from the planet.  You might be interested to know we are almost there.  There are only a few hundred cases of Polio known to exist at this time.  We press on.

At PETS I was astonished to find a discussion group titled “My Club Doesn’t Care About Rotary International (RI)”.  What?!!! Unbelievable!  But then I began to recall comments, rolling of eyes, etc. when RI was mentioned on the local level.  “They just want money!  What have they done for us?”  You know the drill.

I want to encourage you to make yourself aware of the goals and work of the NRHS and its ability to do things that individual chapters like ours cannot possibly  accomplish.  As one of my seminar leaders put so well, “Like a tree, grow your roots locally, but branch out and think globally.

One way to stay connected to our national work is to read The Bulletin, published four or five times a year by our National Office.  I hope your have taken time to read through the last couple of issues.  I especially would point you in the direction of the Fall 2010 issue with a great article “Temples to a Forgotten Religion: The American Railway Depot” By Alexander B. Craghead.  It is deep reading, but excellent in its ability to draw the big picture in regard to the birth, life, and near death of the subject and the depot’s relationship to our society and culture.  Read on and know what’s up!

Your editor, Bill Thomas
(Your short articles are needed.  Email them to me 2 weeks before each monthly meeting.)

March 2011, Ricky’s Replies

March 26, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Rick Bivins, Ricky's Replies

by President, Ricky Bivins

Hello Western Kentucky Chapter members.

Well, it is time once again for our monthly Chapter meeting of the National Railway Historical Society. I was about to allow the meeting to “sneak up on me” when Chuck Hinrichs dropped me an email asking about the March program and refreshments so he could send the information to the Hopkinsville News Paper. Thank You Chuck for taking time to do so and for having the desire as well. I have contacted the Madisonville Messenger so as to post an announcement in the Town Crier section of our paper. These are free community services offered by these publications. If anyone else knows of such an opportunity to “spread the word” feel free to take up the effort and contact same.

I hope those present for the February meeting enjoyed them selves. I know I did. Of course I am just slightly biased toward anything New York Central. Not to mention just about any Herron Rail presentation. As an aside, sign up for a program and/or refreshment this month. These meetings are “for the chapter, by the chapter”. Everyone has something to share. If not a program, bring a “show and tell” item instead. Get Involved.

It is funny odd how things come about sometimes. I have been “searching” for an employee to work opposite me at the airport since December of last year. Several have interviewed most of which I said “no” too. Then, Ted walks in. Retired Army, dressed for an interview as opposed to a rock concert as some of the others were. We stroll around the grounds of the Airport when he spots one of my Lionel Trains on a shelf. I comment about same and he says, “We are going to get along just fine”. As it turns out, Ted has model trains, trains he bought in Germany while stationed there. LGB Trains that is. Not to mention a few Lionel’s as well. The man served our Nation, seven tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and he likes Trains. God I love this Country.

As everyone is well aware, many people are hurting in Japan. Ted has a brother there; the Tsunami snatched his brother’s five year old son right out of his hands. That is the last they saw of him. My point here, the events in Japan can be a lot closer to someone here than we might expect. Carry any conversation about the events there with respect. We just never know how “close” world events can be.

I hope to see “you” at the March meeting. We will gather in the former L&N RR Station on West Arch Street, right behind City Hall. Join in and bring a guest. – Rick Bivins