Category: Rick Bivins
Hello Western Kentucky Chapter NRHS Members. My oh my, another month has come and gone… Where does the time go? I hope this August addition of the E-news Letter finds everyone well. With the recent high temperatures and allergens in the air, some of even the healthiest of people are down with ailments.
I was very impressed with Our Man Thomas Bryan and his attentive report on his time at Rail Camp. This young man has overcome what for some people would be a life challenging impairment. As a result he has come about in life with a confidence and stamina for knowledge, respect and an intelligent repose. I am proud of him and that he represented our Chapter (the first ever from our region) at Rail Camp. Well Done Thomas.
The last three weeks of the “month between the meetings” have been a productive and fun one for some of us. The most recent event our Chapter participated in was the August 12th version of Madisonville’s Friday Night Live. Wally, Thomas and Jim Bryan, Steve Miller, my Wife Kathy and I were on hand from 5:15PM until well after dark. We were set up next to the Illinois Central Railroad Centennial marker on the North side of the Court House, in the grass. We had shade, a grand view of the car show and we were easily accessible. Wally and Thomas ran several of Wally’s steam engines as visitors came and went. I gabbed with the one’s that appeared to be keenly interested or had little one’s that were. While the Chapter may or may not see a direct benefit from the time spent and brochures handed out, I feel we as a Chapter have upheld an obligation to the National Organization and the Community. Next year will provide us the same opportunity to share and spread the news of our Chapter and further promote the same. I would like to say “Many thanks to all those whom found time to attend and help out”.
Last month I suggested a work session at our meeting place, the former Louisville & Nashville Railroad Station to clean and remove weeds from the facility. Being as I did not get a robust and overwhelming amount of input from the members present that night, I took it upon myself to “organize” an impromptu work session on the following Saturday, July 30th. Kathy and I were at the Station by 7:50 AM to beat some of the heat of the day. Wally joined in just after 9:00 AM (our original planned time) and helped out with picking up what turned out to be a Ranger Pickup load of weeds and trash. We finished up by 9:30 and the place looked a lot better. I wish to say “Thank You” to Wally, whom at 79 years of age (soon to turn 80) can still work circles around a lot of punk kids I know! And wouldn’t you know it, only Wally ended up with a bad case of Poison Ivy!
Following Thomas’ report on Rail Camp, I presented a video from O Gauge Railroading Magazine. In the video was a nice story by and about Tony Lash’s three rail model train layout. I had several members comment on Mr. Lash…oddly enough, not on his fabulous layout but of his comments pertaining to his business and that he (a black man) never took advantage of government subsidy or contract, he made his business a success in the private sector. I point this out as I seem to notice the fact that this hobby and trains fans in general tend to be of a stronger moral and intelligent back ground. We can point out several of our own members that fit that moniker. Let me close by saying “I am proud to be a member and acquainted with this Chapter. Thank You.”
As we come to the end of July, the 7th month of the year perhaps it is time to reflect on a few things. The second Friday Night Live is history. Wally Watts, Thomas Bryan, Steve Miller and I had an enjoyable time entertaining passing guests during the event. Next month will be the last one for the year. Perhaps a few more members could attend and talk with people as they take a look at the display. Next month’s Friday Night Live will be held on August 12th from 6:00PM to 10:00PM. The months of June/July were also months of hosting. Bill Thomas had us as guests at his home on June 16. This was covered in our last newsletter. Keith Kittinger hosted guests at his home on Thursday July 16. Keith has a nice start to his HO Scale model train layout in his work shop. With numerous coal trains and motive power his plans to operate trains prototypically will be very doable and enjoyable.
Our Chapter has taken the reins this year so to speak. We have been getting out and getting the word out about our Chapter. Results are slow but none the less, if we do nothing we can expect nothing in return. Speaking of returns, I still believe our Photo Archive is a very strong attribute that we are not taking advantage of. Steve Miller is working on the photo disk(s) he has of the Archive. Once he has them up and running we can decide how to use and benefit from the many photo’s stored, at this point in time, just out of reach. The Archive could be our “signature” contribution to maintaining rail related history.
With even more events coming up, the year is, and has been full of opportunities to promote our local rail history. The annual Crofton Picnic hosted by our Hopkinsville KY Members, The Clayton/Watts Open House, one more Friday Night Live and possibly other visits to members homes.
And of course, Christmas is less than six months away! That’s right, we need to look ahead for our December meeting and start the decision process as to what we would like to do for the meeting, program and dinner.
To recap, the Photo Archive needs to be discussed, the final Friday Night Live event as well as the up coming events just mentioned. Jump in here people, this is a group effort. So make an effort to attend the meeting and events. One never knows just who will show up or what will be discussed.
by Ricky Bivins, Chapter President
Once again another month has rapidly slipped by and now we meet again. The May meeting was a BIG, no, HUGE success. Our Hopkinsville Hosts were most generous and provided a program that was second to none. Stan White, former President of the Cadiz Railroad was the guest speaker along with Thomas Harper and William Turner. The “point” of the program was the up coming book about the Cadiz Railroad being authored by Mr. Thomas Harper. The book promises to be both insightful as to the Cadiz Railroad and railroading in general. It is easy to forget how a small railroad or even a large railroad for that matter relies and depends on local business to survive. Stan White is I believe a third generation officer and stock holder of the Cadiz Railroad….at 89 years young! He is a delight to talk too and listen too. A grand time was had by all.
By the time this hits the Chapter Website, the up coming June edition of Madisonville KY’s annual Friday Night Live event downtown will be history. The Chapter made a commitment to set up a kiosk on the grounds of the Court House and “entertain” event goers. That entertainment was in the hands of our own Wally Watts and his Miniature Steam Engines. Wally along with our very own Thomas Bryan and I set up two of Wally’s steam engines along Main Street and I must say we had a blast….of steam! Event goers of all ages stopped by to see, hear and best of all, blow the whistle on Wally’s big Wilesco twin cylinder unit. Thomas managed the smaller but appealing Vertical unit while I conversed with on lookers. A special thanks to Danny Koeber for helping break down the display afterwards. I feel even though the Chapter turnout was three plus one, we had a successful display. Next month we will expand with an outdoor train display. Next month’s Friday Night Live will be July 8th from 6:00PM ending at 9:00PM. Please plan to attend and help out.
So month six of my tenure as Chapter President is upon us. The Chapter has been hosted by a radio station, entertained in Hopkinsville and now taken part in Madisonville Friday Night Live event. While member involvement is still low I feel we as a Chapter can hold our heads high and say “success”. But we should not stop now. There is more on the horizon folks. Two more Friday Night Live events, the Chapter Pic-nic, Clayton-Watts open house and the Christmas Dinner. Not to mention our photo archive project and of course our first time ever Rail Camper, Thomas Bryan. We are an active Chapter indeed. If I were to bring one thing to light, it would be; our Chapter needs more input from you, the membership. Attend the meeting this month and get involved.
by Chapter President, Ricky Bivins
Hello Everyone. April Showers will Drown May Flowers…WHAT. That is not how the little ditty goes but it seems to be the case. Those same “showers” have changed a lot of travel plans of late. Some of those plans were in place for our very own members. The Rare Mileage Trips over the Illinois Central i.e. Canadian National via Paducah KY and to Princeton KY across the new Tennessee River Bridge at Kentucky Dam being one of them. Many freight trains are being diverted as well. I have seen a lot of Tri-level Auto-rack cars on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap KY. These normally run on the Texas Line between Henderson KY and Louisville KY. Not to mention some BNSF traffic. But fear not, the rains will abate, rivers will subside and rail traffic will resume.
The April meeting was very informative if you missed it. There is a lot going on at the National level of our organization. Many changes have taken place and more to come. Wallace Henderson reported many of the changes are being brought on by simple economics. The NRHS national level officers and representatives have been faced with rising cost of travel to attend the Spring and Fall board meeting and the National Convention. If left un-addressed, these rising cost will undermine the streighnth and effectiveness of said board meetings. This will weaken our National Organization and eventually affect our local Chapter as well. Wallace pointed out that he has over the years spent an average of $10,000 per year OUT OF HIS POCKET to attend these very same meetings. I was shocked by this yet it is easy to see. This years Convention is on the West Coast….The cost from our mid-west location would be staggering. These costs and continued effectiveness is the very things out National Officers are reviewing and making changes too. Wallace will have a very in-depth review in the coming months. Please make it a point to pay attention. It IS important to our Chapter and the over all health of our National Organization.
If you missed the April meeting, you also missed the conclusion of Dr. Fred Ripley’s 1980’s era slide coverage of the former Pennsylvania Railroad in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. I find this type of program to be very informative and very one on one. I like the idea of asking questions of the author and/or photographer about the location, time or element of the program. It is not very rewarding to ask the DVD player!
This, as you might expect, brings me to make a point…again! There should be one or two dates left for the year to sign up for a program or refreshments. SO…it is not too late to do so.
The May meeting is in Hopkinsville KY, hosted by our Hop’town members. Try to find time to be there, I assure everyone of a good time of trains, rail history and fellowship.
Rick Bivins
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
Hello Everyone.
I hope those in attendance of the January meeting found it to be enjoyable and informative. I apologize for my divided attention. Having an inexperienced man tending to the airport was playing heavily on my mind at the time. As it were, he handled the situation well and all was taken care of.
As a result of my inattentiveness, I allowed a motion to pass with out a vote. That being the dollar figure placed before the Chapter in regards to sending “our” rail camper to Scranton PA. I will bring this up as old business in February.
Two members have come to me, each with an idea, that I think will bring substance and growth to our Chapter. My response too both was to bring it up before the members and if need be, entertain a motion. Keep in mind; many ideas do not need a vote. For example, our Hopkinsville members host our meeting every year in May. This is almost taken for granted as we always “ask” them to confirm same. The same goes for the fall picnic in Crofton. If you have an idea for a function or event that does not require Chapter funds then take up the idea and sponsor same. If the Chapter chooses to embrace the idea, then we may need to vote on the level of participation as a Chapter.
Two things I plan to bring before the Chapter in February are: The Chapter Archives and Chapter participation in The City of Madisonville’s Friday Night Live events. These two items I feel are important to the Chapter as a whole. The archive needs our attention right away. The Friday Night Live events would be a way to get our name out there with out cost to the Chapter. It will however require participation from the membership. We will discuss both the Archive and Friday Night Live during the business meeting February 28th.
Wally will have the program and refreshment sign up sheet at the February meeting. If you are not on the list, please give thought to signing up for one or the other if not both. I can think of several regular members whom have not given a program in recent years. We need diversity and involvement from the membership. Please, step up and give support to our/YOUR Chapter.
So everyone try to make the meeting, join in the fun, bring a friend and we will promote our love of trains and everything railroading.
Rick Bivins
First, let me say Thank You. Thank You for your vote of confidence. As I stated at the October 2010 meeting, after being nominated, “Remember, I can be out spoken sometimes”! I often am and I will be. But please understand that my outspoken nature comes from a desire to move forward or to improve something. I do not think that I speak out against something but rather speak out in favor of something. Perhaps too harshly at times. If I speak out and someone does not agree or like it…TELL ME!
Second. I title this as Rick’s Reply’s because; I searched the definition of President: One who presides, sits in leadership… How can one lead or preside over something that has zero input. How can I lead a group of rail enthusiast if I do not listen to them or have some idea of their likes, dislikes and objectives? The way I see it, I can not “lead” if I do not “reply” to You, NRHS Members!
Rich Hane led our group for, I believe Five Years. His easy going, kind nature gave our Chapter a “gentlemanly” feel. Even when disrupted, he held his composure, dealing with our objections as he did our combined positive ness. As the gentleman he is.
Rich followed Bob McCracken whom led us in much the same manor for many years.
I am afraid the Chapter will find me to be a bit different. I would like to see our Chapter set and achieve a few goals, to retain the “gentlemanly” nature, but with a forward moving posture. I will put ideas and goals “on the table” so to speak, but the membership will ultimately decide our Chapter’s direction.
One of my customers at the Airport told me that our U. S. President can not make or change law in this Country. He is the face of a nation, he “SETS THE TONE” of this country. That is true as research shows. This customer is a native of The Netherlands, a legal U.S. Citizen.
As Chapter President, I hope to set a tone, a positive tone. I hope we can combine our knowledge and energy’s to accomplish something, to move forward. Whether one is laying floor tile for the first time or making a photo archive available to several people, positive movement is needed. Even if we make a mistake, moving is always much better than standing still and looking at something.
I look forward to seeing you and hearing from you as we attend the first meeting of 2011 on January 24th at The L&N RR Station, Down town Madisonville at 7:00PM.
Again, Thank You.
Rick Bivins
Having been track side more lately, what building a house in Mortons Gap, I have seen a few interesting things go by on CSX. My new house under construction is right in Mortons Gap at Walnut & Railroad Streets. This is right by the old L&N Mainline just a few yards south of Morton Junction or South Mortons as it is called. This is where the line from downtown Madisonville joins back in with the line around town by the Parkway Plaza Mall. I spend a lot of time here now as I am building the house myself.
CSX provides me with several excuses to take a break every time I am here. In so doing I “witness” quite a few odd things on the railroad. Perhaps odd is not the correct word to use but it will do. I have seen a lot of lease power mixed with CSX’s stable of locomotives. Some of these are in lease company colors while several wear their former owner’s paint. Most that are still in their previous owner paint have had a rectangle decal or painted box applied over the former road number and a new number applied. Most do not match the faded paint or are a different color all together. Most that are still in former railroad paint will have the railroad name painted over and the lease name or usually just the initials painted or decal applied. Some are very well done while others are crude and hurriedly applied. I guess a locomotive is not earning revenue sitting in a paint shop.
A model railroader could use this to his advantage. There are so many ready to run locomotives on the market in all scales that could have a decal applied right over the road name and still be appropriate, even if the old name is legible beneath the new name. And that lease name could be anything or any one for that mater.
The same goes for rail cars. I have not taken time to count but it seems about one in three cars have had the owner marking changed at some point. I am sure some of these are the result of mergers in the finance world as most cars are owned by a trust company and leased to a corporation or railroad. Some are old and have been rebuilt and sold to new owners thus a change in nomenclature. One interesting note is old fallen flag railroads that have had their name re-applied to freight cars. CSX ended up with the paper assets of the old New York Central Railroad. A lot of CSX cars are lettered NYC or NYCX. Norfolk Southern has the Pennsylvania Railroad holdings thus a lot of cars are around with PRR on them. It seems odd to see a brand new rail car with NYC markings.
And of course it seams as though foreign railroad motive power shows up on just about every other train. This is my favorite, to see a UP or BNSF units on a train, NS too but very few others. I have yet to see an ICRR or KCS locomotive on the line. I am sure it has happened but not while I am watching. I do see a lot more “old” CSX locomotives than I would have thought. There are still a lot of SD-40-2 units on the railroad. I remember about twenty or so years ago several guys went to eastern Kentucky to seek out the then new SD-50’s. These units were only in the coal fields of Eastern Kentucky. Then they started to make their way over the railroad and could be seen here quite often. Now they seem to be rare. GE’s are every where it seems but EMD MP15’s must be in use everywhere too. I see these little guys in consist with their big brothers every so often. They are always last in consist and in tow. But I see them going both ways seemingly on regular bases.
Odd freight cars show up too. Do not look away from a seemingly boring train, you will miss something or see a strange sight after it has past you, leaving you to want for more info. I have seen strange flatcar loads, farm machinery being my favorite. Odd specialty cars such as tank cars for strange gases seem to be odd shaped things or overly large. One recent sighting was a low slung, quite long flat car with two four wheel trucks under each end. The lettering was very small making it impossible to read and get a look at the car too. The bogie was a casting and unusual it seems. It was not a D.O.D. car for military loads and was empty. What was it and who owns it?
I have seen dangerous sights too though not too many. Shifted loads on flat cars. Dangling straps and plastic streamers are common. I have not seen any riders…yet, but I am sure they are there somewhere. And of course there is the ever present graffiti on cars. Some of those guys do have talent just wrongly applied.
The next time you are track side watching trains or watching for a train take a look at the road bed. Chances are you will find something that was or is supposed to be on a car or even a locomotive. Case in point. Do not get too close to the track when a train is approaching. You could end up with an unpleasant surprise.
So, if you need something else to keep up with in this hobby, start a list or a photo album of “odds” on the railroads. Could be a fun hobby with a hobby.
March of 1986 was a moment of great expectation for me. Madisonville KY at that time had a Honda Motorcycle store on East Center St. For several months I had been going to Madisonville Honda to make payments on my new, not yet ridden motorcycle, a Honda VF 500F Interceptor. I opted for the smaller 500cc motorcycle as opposed to the much larger (read that as faster) VF 1100 F. I new I would come closer to killing myself on the “big” bike than I would on a smaller one. This really does not make any sense…a crash at 80 mph is deadly regardless the size motorcycle. However, my reasoning was sound: the 1100cc bike would “do” 180mph off the show room floor, faster if one pulls the leads from the rpm limiter. As for the 500cc bike, well only 135mph!!!
It was 27 degrees when I pick up the bike and rode it home…cold. The salesman said if I change the oil every 1000 miles and leave the rpm limiter hooked up, it would last forever. I did, some weeks during the summers I changed the oil twice, I rode it that much.
The little bike was quick, nimble and a blast to ride. I was often times riding in and out of the dashed lines of a two way road…at 80 mph, any faster and I could not cut each line. And of course the back wheel was on the ground a lot more than the front. Soon I tired of “just tooling” around town and began to make a few long trips. One was on hwy 62 from Nortonville to Louisville KY. I made it as far east as Leitchfield KY when I came upon a derailed IC/P&L train at the viaduct just east of town. I stopped to photograph and soon realized it was late. I needed to get home. It was about dark when I hit the West Kentucky Parkway westbound. For once I was not prepared. I always had a few tools, camera and a jacket in my tank bag. That day I left the jacket behind for some reason. Needless to say after the sun went down it was cool, very cool and I do not like to be cold. Well my theory was: the sooner I get home the sooner I will be warm again. From the Leitchfield exit to the Dawson Springs exit…27 minutes.
I have many stories such as that trip to tell but the one to tell is the great Nebraska trip.
In 1989 I was still working for Cimarron Coal Company in their parts department as a parts chaser. A great job it was. I had a new Ford one ton truck every two years and I drove around town picking up parts for the coal company. My hours were 4:00 AM to 12:00 noon on day shift, 12:00 noon to 8:00 PM on nights. I rotated shifts every two weeks. Now those are some great hours. The best part was ever other two weeks I worked off at noon on Friday, and returned at noon on Monday.
It was on one of these long weekends in 1989 that I decided to go to Nebraska and see my buddy Kelly Martin. I have written about Kelly before, we met on a Frisco 1522 trip in 1988. He lived in Kearny NE and I visited him several times. Well I set out for Nebraska with Kearney as my destination. After one rides long enough his butt becomes numb as does his brain! At Kearney I find Kelly is not home and I wasn’t about to just “sit”. I headed west on U.S. 30. Hwy 30 across Nebraska is the railroader’s dream as most of the highway parallels the Union Pacific Mainline from Columbus NE to Cheyenne Wyoming. After leaving Kearney I began to build an idea in my head. (Danger signs for sure). I calculated how much time I had before I had to be at work, how far I had ridden, and at what time I would have to turn around. With this formula in my head I decided I could make it to Cheyenne. Well best made plans be as they are I forgot to include the intake of fuel, food and the obligatory calls of nature. Thirty minutes before my turn around time I was in Chappell Nebraska 126 miles east of my goal of Cheyenne, at a road side picnic table watching UP trains go by. At the magic thirty minute mark I turned east to retrace my steps. More times and figures in my head. If I ride fast enough on U.S. 30 which again is a two lane road, I will get home and stay off the I-80 four lane. The goal of all this, I will see more trains. If I get behind I can jump over on to the parallel I-80 and “go”.
Then it happened, possibly the dumbest idea to date, (very little sleep and a very tired butt/brain did not help this). If I do this not only will I make up time, but I will be able to stay on U.S. 30 the whole way to Lincoln NE. Lincoln is where Highway 30 turns north east and I-80 continues due east to Omaha NE. At Lincoln I would have change roads and start my southerly trek to Kansas City. This idea was: to ride 100mph for 100 miles.
I did just that. I had to slow down for a few towns but as soon as I was on the “other side” I pulled the wick back on the bike and right to 100mph again. I honestly do not remember much else of that trip. I did stop at a DQ in Ogallala NE for a bite to eat. I remember watching for the Cozad NE. passenger station and the big grain elevator with COZAD spelled out across the bins, but little else. I did make it to work and I proved to my coworkers once again: when I get on a motorcycle, I get a bad case of “Super Stupid”. Unlike a few friends and acquaintances, I managed to see a lot of what I wanted to see, trains AND stay alive.