Category: Bill Thomas

Sad news on Dennis Carnal

September 13, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas, Condolences, Dennis Carnal
We're sad to report that Dennis Carnal passed away this morning at Regional Medical Center here in Madisonville. Funeral arrangements and further details will be posted as they become available. We'll all miss the "Old Goat."
Photo by Bill Thomas

Greetings all.  It is with sadness that I pass word to you that Dennis J. Carnal passed away last night (Monday, September 12) around midnight, at Regional Medical Center, from what appears to have been an embolism brought on by unknown circumstances.  Dennis had been suffering from occasional seizures for a couple of weeks.  Keith Kittinger and I carried him home from my house Saturday.  He saw a Dr. at Multicare Monday, suffered another seizure while there, was admitted to RMC, then died that evening.

His cousin Peggy, Keith and I met with Reid Walters funeral home this morning.  Dennis will be cremated and buried in the Earlington Cemetery alongside his mother and father.

At Dennis’ request there will be no public service of remembrance.  I suggest as a chapter we collect a donation for one of Dennis’ passions.  Disaster Relief/Emergency Management or American Red Cross Disaster relief.  I’ll not make the next meeting due to a conflict at the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts.

I’d like to host a Thursday night get-together sometime soon at the house, build a roaring campfire (Dennis hated the fire pit) and roast some hotdogs while we give a memory roasting to the Old Goat!

Take care guys! – Bill Thomas

July 2011 Pickin’ the Points

July 23, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas, Pickin' the points

I think it is great that Thomas Bryan was able to go to Rail Camp this year.  I also think it’s great that our Chapter helped with his expenses.  In a day and time when most kids are stuck to a video game of some sort, (my kids included) we still have a few who don’t mind getting their hands dirty.

This is why it is important to be part of something bigger that our local group.  There is no way we could have made an experience like Rail Camp a reality with our limited resources.  But, when we pool our efforts with other chapters, we can accomplish great things.

Due to my son Joe having surgery next Monday, I will not be here Monday night to hear Thomas tell about his experiences at Rail Camp.  I hope you will be unless providentially hindered.  We should be happy that a young person has shown the interest. – Bill Thomas

 

 

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

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.)

There’s an App for That!

March 26, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas

While in a meeting with some friends this week at a local dive, we got into a discussion of comparing apps (application software) for smart phones such as the i-Phone, Blackberry, Droid, etc.  I was introduced to 5-O Radio.  It’s a web-based scanner app that pulls audio feed from scanners directed to internet sites.  Although it does not allow you to simply input scanner frequencies, the $1.99 version (Pro)  does allow you to do a search for particular sources.  I came across several railroad subdivisions, but only one CSX sub – in Michigan.  But, I can now listen in to local police, fire, EMS, and public safety calls on my i-Phone.  If you have an App suggestion, drop me a line via phone, or email, bill@fbcmadisonville.com.  My mailing address is Bill Thomas, 1025 Lakewood Drive, Madisonville, KY 42431.  I look forward to hearing from you.

P&L’s U of L jeep

March 3, 2011 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas, Photo Section
Every now and then I grab a lunch to go, and head over to the Fitness Formula parking lot overlooking Atkinson Yard, Madisonville. Tuesday, Feb 22, I was greeted by P&L’s U of L jeep with a green sister. The units were shoving a cut of interchange traffic into one of the yard tracks. - Photo by Bill Thomas

Any info on Billy Byrd?

November 20, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas

I received the following email from Billy Byrd’s granddaughter a few weeks back:

Hello Mr. Thomas,my name is Billi Jean Rayner. My grandfather was Billy Byrd. I am sure you remember him. I am writing to ask about your website. Jim Pearson told me about it and gave me the email address. What I was wanting to know is if there are any pictures or articles about my grandfather on this site.If there are not,could you tell me where to find some? I really do not have much of a collection,I am trying to start one. I am very proud of my grandfather and feel so blessed to have been named after him and my grandmother. I hope to hear back from you when you can. Thanks in advance.

If you have any information about Billi Byrd you can send to his granddaughter, I invite and encourage you to do so.  Her email address is billirayner@hotmail.com.

News Flash!

November 20, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas

Beginning January, 2011, we will discontinue the paper printing of our monthly newsletter, The PennyRail.  The publication will be available in Portable Document Format (pdf,  Adobe Reader) via email and  on the chapter’s website (as presently available there).  Adobe Reader is available as a free download to any computer.  The chapter is striving to be a good steward of our resources thus the decision made in the July meeting.

As editor of this work, I do not wish this to be a hardship on any of our members who do not have internet/email access.  If you do not have access to the internet or email, we will make arrangements for you to receive a paper copy in black and white print.  Just let us know.  All we ask is that members not take advantage of this offer and use the electronic medium if possible.  If you do not have a computer, many free public libraries offer computers with internet access as part of their services.

I will need all chapter members to update your email addresses with me so that you receive your email with the newsletter pdf file attached.  You may also want to check with your internet service provider (ISP) to make sure attachments are not filtered and you are set up to receive emails sent out in distribution lists.

I am glad to offer any suggestions, help, etc. if you need it, but remember, most internet/email issues are best handled directly with your ISP.

You can email me at bill@fbcmadisonville.com, call 270-825-4623 (home), call or text me at 270-339-9482 (cell), or look me up on Facebook.

For those of you who do not have a computer at home, let me encourage you to secure one if possible.  You may have a relative or friend with a gently used machine that could be used for internet browsing, email, and light word processing.  There are many rail-related sites with information, videos, discussion groups, and sale items right at your finger tips.

Remember the basic requirements for receiving the PennyRail via email: 1) Internet/email account access; 2)  An internet service provider (ISP) which allows for attachments to emails; 3) Adobe Reader for opening the pdf file when it arrives. Adobe Reader is available for free download at www.adobe.com.

News Flash

October 20, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas, Chapter News

Beginning January, 2011, we will discontinue the paper printing of our monthly newsletter, The PennyRail.  The publication will be available in Portable Document Format (pdf,  Adobe Reader) via email and  on the chapter’s website (as presently available there).  Adobe Reader is available as a free download to any computer.  The chapter is striving to be a good steward of our resources thus the decision made in the July meeting.

As editor of this work, I do not wish this to be a hardship on any of our members who do not have internet/email access.  If you do not have access to the internet or email, we will make arrangements for you to receive a paper copy in black and white print.  Just let us know.  All we ask is that members not take advantage of this offer and use the electronic medium if possible.  If you do not have a computer, many free public libraries offer computers with internet access as part of their services.

I will need all chapter members to update your email addresses with me so that you receive your email with the newsletter pdf file attached.  You may also want to check with your internet service provider (ISP) to make sure attachments are not filtered and you are set up to receive emails sent out in distribution lists.

I am glad to offer any suggestions, help, etc. if you need it, but remember, most internet/email issues are best handled directly with your ISP.

You can email me at bill@fbcmadisonville.com, call 270-825-4623 (home), call or text me at 270-339-9482 (cell), or look me up on Facebook.

For those of you who do not have a computer at home, let me encourage you to secure one if possible.  You may have a relative or friend with a gently used machine that could be used for internet browsing, email, and light word processing.  There are many rail-related sites with information, videos, discussion groups, and sale items right at your finger tips.

Remember the basic requirements for receiving the PennyRail via email:

1) Internet/email account access;

2)  An internet service provider (ISP) which allows for attachments to emails;

3) Adobe Reader for opening the pdf file when it arrives.

Adobe Reader is available for free download at http://get.adobe.com/reader/

News Flash

August 18, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas, Chapter News

Beginning January, 2011, we will discontinue the paper printing of our monthly newsletter, The PennyRail.  The publication will be available in Portable Document Format (pdf,  Adobe Reader) via email and  on the chapter’s website (as presently available there).  Adobe Reader is available as a free download to any computer.  The chapter is striving to be a good steward of our resources thus the decision made in the July meeting.

As editor of this work, I do not wish this to be a hardship on any of our members who do not have internet/email access.  If you do not have access to the internet or email, we will make arrangements for you to receive a paper copy in black and white print.  Just let us know.  All we ask is that members not take advantage of this offer and use the electronic medium if possible.  If you do not have a computer, many free public libraries offer computers with internet access as part of their services.

I will need all chapter members to update your email addresses with me so that you receive your email with the newsletter pdf file attached.  You may also want to check with your internet service provider (ISP) to make sure attachments are not filtered and you are set up to receive emails sent out in distribution lists.

I am glad to offer any suggestions, help, etc. if you need it, but remember, most internet/email issues are best handled directly with your ISP.

You can email me at bill@fbcmadisonville.com, call 270-825-4623 (home), call or text me at 270-339-9482 (cell), or look me up on Facebook.

For those of you who do not have a computer at home, let me encourage you to secure one if possible.  You may have a relative or friend with a gently used machine that could be used for internet browsing, email, and light word processing.  There are many rail-related sites with information, videos, discussion groups, and sale items right at your finger tips.

Remember the basic requirements for receiving the PennyRail via email: 1) Internet/email account access; 2)  An internet service provider (ISP) which allows for attachments to emails; 3) Adobe Reader for opening the pdf file when it arrives. Adobe Reader is available for free download at www.adobe.com.

Looking for…

July 20, 2010 Jim Pearson No Comments Bill Thomas

Pictures and/or historical information on the Chattanooga Traction Company, predecessor line of Southern Railway’s Redbank or Signal Mountain branch in north Chattanooga, TN.  (have checked web) – Bill Thomas, bill@fbcmadisonville.com