FW: N&W Soutehrn passenger trains

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

-----Original Message-----
From: Smoot, Ray
Sent: Sun 6/25/2006 10:06 PM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: N&W Soutehrn passenger trains
 

As one who hung out at Kemper Street Station with Aubrey Wiley in the early 1960's, I can add the following.

No. 46 had from two to six mail cars (from points west on the N&W) attached to the end at Roanoke (I am curious as to  how they got to Roanoke). The cars were taken off at Monroe and put on Southern No. 19 (a mail only train) that departed Monroe at 6pm.

I do not know how these cars were handled in reserve order but do know they were NOT placed on No. 45 nor No. 17, so they must have been attached to No. 41 at Monroe and taken back to Roanoke.

If anyone can shed any additional light on this, it will clear up a longstanding mystery for me.

Other observations from Kemper Street Station in the early 1960's:

No. 18 handled the fewest passengers of the three NW/Southern northbound trains and usually had about 10- 12 cars.

No. 46 ran habitually late, often had alot of "box mail" cars on the headend and usually had about 12- 15 cars including the ones referenced above. At certain times of the year around holidays, passenger traffic was very heary and up to nine passenger cars (3 were typical) would swell the consist to 18-19 cars.

No.42 ran 12- 16 cars

No. 45 ran 10- 12 cars

No. 17 ran 14- 18 cars

No. 41 ran 10- 13 cars.

I hope this is helpful.

                              Raymond Smoot

-----Original Message-----
From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org on behalf of nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Sent: Sun 6/25/2006 9:02 PM
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject: N&W Soutehrn passenger trains
 
Frank,
 
Living in Lynchburg, I can't say with absolute certainty that mail cars  were 
NOT added or taken off of the N&W/Southern passenger trains here.   These 
trains left the Southern station and after leaving it behind for a few  miles, 
they switched over to N&W at the north leg of the Montview  wye.  They then went 
to the west leg of the Kinney (N&W) wye. As a  youngster, I spent much time 
at that Southern (Kemper Street) station.  I  saw many trains drop or pick up 
mail storage cars and I will have to say, some  might have been the N&W bound 
trains.
 
I have some conductor record books from the 1960s kept by an N&W  conductor 
while he worked from Lynchburg or Roanoke to Bristol.  These  books tell the 
crew names, train times, engine numbers, and complete consist  data.  Contact me 
off list and tell me exactly what information you are  needing.  I hope I can 
help!
 
Aubrey  Wiley
_VgnRy43 at aol.com_ (mailto:VgnRy43 at aol.com)