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

[NW Mailing List]

Last night I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with six of the Brethren
and Friends of the Virginian Railway. We signed a Sympathy card for the
family of Hubert Edgar Tyler, who passed away last Thursday. "Eddie" Tyler
, as he was called by most of the Brethren was a Clerk on the Virginian and
served in South Yard and AltaVista. Some called him "Governor" because of
his sometimes fancy dress. He retired from NS with 41 years service was 86
when he took the last west bound.

We also signed a Happy Birthday Card for Robert "Little Abner" Glass, who
was a Virginian Railway Clerk and worked mostly at the coal piers at
Sewells Point. "Abner" still lives in Norfolk and "takes twenty" with us
when he can. He tell many stories about working after the merger at Pier 6
with the collier captains and "liquor is almost always present in the
meetings". He turns 86 this Saturday.

The discussion of the night was about the recent headlines in the "Roanoke
Times" "Celenese begins to modernize its facility" at Narrows, VA. The
large plant, by the New River, was served by the VGN over the years and is
making $150 Million modernization of their plant, including changing over
form coal fired to natural gas furnaces. The Brethren recalled memories of
"Slick" and others telling stories about switching in and near the big
plant that makes cigarette filters and other fibrous materials.

Thanks for those who corrected me last week when I referred to the old N&W
Magazine and called the pen pal club for boys and girls "Pocahontas"
instead of Pocalier". It was so named for the famous N&W trains the
"Pocahontas" and "Cavalier".

Passed around for the Brethren to peruse was the June 2013 "NRHS News"
which listed all of the rail attractions in the US that offer discounts to
NRHS members. Also there was an article about "Virginia Museum (VMT) plans
to return N&W 611 to the rails". Also passed was a photo of my youngest son
Josh, who attended a Baltimore Orioles game last Saturday, catching a home
run ball off the bat of Nate McLouth. He caught it with one hand, and was
featured on several of the ESPN sport shows on Saturday and Sunday.

Landon Gregory and I discussed the new Tuesday night show on the Discovery
Channel called "Tickle", an off shoot of the "Moonshiners" show. Tickle has
opened up a "Tickle's Bait and Tackle Shop" in "downtown" Gretna as a front
to sell white lightning. This is Landon's old "stomping grounds" and he
still has that twang in his voice just like "Tickle". Also Landon verified
that part of Danville, VA was once Schoolfield.

The Jewel from the Past, like those in a a Hamilton 974 17 jewel "Electric
Railway Special" with Montgomery Dial, is from July 26, 2007: "Ken McLain
had the best story of the night. He worked at Sewells Point and once heard
about a fellow who attended a tent revival in the area. The preacher asked
if anyone had a special need, he would pray for them. This one fellow
joined the line and when he got to the front told the preacher he needed
prayer for his hearing. After a prayer, the preacher asked if his hearing
was better. The follow replied, 'Don't know yet, I don't go to court 'til
Tuesday'".

Time to pull the pin on this one!

Departing Now from V248,

Skip Salmon

CDLXXXVI

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