"Takin' Twenty" with the Virginian Brethren by Skip Salmon

NW Mailing List nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Thu Nov 17 07:04:51 EST 2011


Last night I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with eight of the Brethren
and Friends of the Virginian Railway. Visiting with us from Norfolk, VA was
Robert "Little Abner" Glass, retired Cargo Co-Ordinator. "Abner" told us
about the new light-rail line, "Tide", that is now in service in Norfolk
and uses a portion of the old VGN mainline between Harbor Park and Military
Highway. He started with the VGN in Roanoke 2-14-44 as a Messenger at the
Freight Station. He worked in Roanoke as a call boy and clerk and
transferred to Sewell's Point in 1958. As Cargo Co-Ordinator, he dealt with
the ship captains who brought the coal hauling ships into Norfolk to get
the VGN and N&W black gold. Robert, now 82, retired from NS in 1989 with 45
years service.

Russell McDaniel told of getting to Phenix with "Slick" Inge right after
the big wreck there and described incidents leading up to the big fire at
the wreck site that required "every fire department in the area to
control". Robert Glass said his father worked for American Bridge in
Roanoke at the time and was called in to start fabricating a new section
for the Phenix bridge that fell, working around the clock to complete it.

Thanks to Delbert K. Whitlow of Kelleysville, WV who reminded me that I
left out the Mountain State in the list of passengers on last weekend's
trains to Bristol and Bluefield. Nobody should ever leave out West Virginia...

Landon Gregory reported that between 70-75 attended the October Gathering
of VGN Veterans in Victoria. Ronald Mattox was the MC and read the list of
Brethren who have "taken the west bound" since the last Gathering. Author
Jeane Hall was there selling her new book "Victoria Stories".

I told the Brethren about "Trains" magazine's annual $10,000 preservation
Award this year going to the Virginia Museum of Transportation for the
cosmetic restoration of the N&W Bicentennial #1776. VMT is trying to finish
this project by July 4, 2012 Celebration under the Graham cover, now
protecting the 611 and 1218. Plans are to expand the cover to include the
1776 and other precious retired rolling stock. Congratulations to VMT for
getting this award. This will pay for the needed paint and supplies, but
other funds are needed to finish the display.

For Show and Tell I took a VGN December, 1939 Schedule (Public Timetable)
and another of Greely Wyatt's donated books. This one is a December 1, 1918
USRA "Virginian Railroad Rules and Regulations of the Operating
Department". On page 13 under "Signals, colors" lists purple is to indicate
STOP as night indication for a dwarf signal".

The ebay report this time includes the following VGN items sold: Ex-VGN New
Haven slide of EL-C for $34.99; Deal of the year...a first edition of H.
Reid's book "VGN RWY" for $15.00; One VGN match cover for $4.75; Slide of
VGN #248 in Roanoke in 1955 for $16.29; VGN Builders Plate off Squarehead
#105 for $860.00; and a VGN Operating Rules Book for $50.00.

I told the Brethren about meeting last week with 15 interested contractors
at the Roanoke Station for a question and answer session. Bids for Phase I
(asbestos abatement, shoring up the walls and a new roof) are due in
December 1, for the beginning of the restoration.

Frank B., please check e-mail for response to your challenge...

The Jewel from the Past is from August 4, 2005: "I asked the Brethren what
was the most unusual thing they had ever seen on the old VGN, going down
the tracks. Jimmy Whittaker said he once saw a barrel proceeding at a high
rate of speed. 'Slick' Inge recalled the circus trains as the most unusual,
and Wis Sowder remembered watching the elephants move wagons through the
mud at the Fair Grounds across Reserve Ave from the VGN Yard. Inge also
recalled during WWII, seeing trains come in with armed guards, not knowing
what was in the box cars. 'Cornbread' Victory said his most unusual train
was the 'Hadecall Train'. Hadecall was an elixir, which was about 50 proof,
and was suppose to cure almost anything, and the 4-car train was a
traveling medicine show. Note: Hadecall was a cousin to Geratol and was
named this because 'they had to call it something'. 'Cornbread' said
someone told him about a man who took Hadecall and had a wooden leg. Seems
he had to quit taking it because 'his leg kept sprouting'".

Time to pull the pin on this one!

Departing Now from V248,

Skip Salmon

CCCXCIV




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