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

[NW Mailing List]

Last night I had the honor of "Takin' Twenty" with seven of the Brethren
and Friends of the Virginian Railway. The big news of the night was the
return of the N&W J-class #611 to Roanoke last Saturday.  Landon Gregory
and I had the privilege of riding this train from Lynchburg to Roanoke.  I
have never seen as many people lining every possible viewing point along
the route than this train had.  Someone said they bet there were over a
million photos taken during the triumphant return of the Queen of Steam
locomotives back to her birthplace. When we got back into Roanoke and the
train was spotted for de-boarding, I got off and heard loud cheers behind
me.  It was almost all of Landon Gregory's family cheering his deboarding.
I told him I thought maybe Elvis had sneaked on the train and was coming
back to Roanoke again!


 I showed the Brethren a photo I got on Sunday at the Virginia Museum of
Transportation of the N&W Big Three of Steam posing together.  About noon,
NS finally spotted the Y6a #2156 next to the J #611 and A #1218 for this,
yet again historic photo.  There were thousands attending this event
showing that rail history is still a big part of our society and it is up
to folks like us to keep it alive, especially the part about the VGN!


 For Show and Tell I took the Summer 2015 "Classic Trains".  Page 8 has a
photo that brought back memories from 1977.  This is when a blizzard
crippled Buffalo and Bellevue.  I was on a special train "The Snowbird
Special" sent to Bellevue to help keep the railroad moving.  The photo
showed a long line of open gondolas and hopper cars full of snow that was
being moved south to help get rid of it.  Perhaps Boston should have used
this method of moving snow this year.  Page 69 shows a March 1953 photo at
Walton, VA of an N&W Y6a #2144 on the Bristol line with freight.


 I showed the Brethren a photo of a special VGN RWY "rattle" that my
youngest son Josh had made for my grandson namesake CESIII.  I have posted
this photo on this site under "Skip's Photos"


 I also told the Brethren about finding out that the Glen Lyn AEP power
plant that was serviced by the VGN RWY for years was shut down May 29th and
the doors welded shut.


 The Jewel from the past is from August 21, 2008:  "In response to an email
from one of this site's members, Delbert Whitlow, I asked the Brethren if
they knew any of the VGN personnel mentioned.  The only one they knew was
Harry "Cub" Reed, Conductor.  Bob Rowland said he remembered calling him
for road assignments. Cornbread said he worked with another famous VGN
Conductor, Major Wood.  He recalled once Major and "Cub" were cooking on
their cab and 'someone got the corn meal mixed up with the flour and ruined
the gravy.'"


 I showed the Brethren a Clearance Card and "19" train orders sent to me by
Jeff Hensley from Pikeville, KY who "Took Twenty" with us several weeks
ago.  These showed N&W using VGN tracks in 1956. Landon Gregory explained
to us the "ins and outs of such a movement"


 Then there's this:  Jeff also sent a list of "Railroad Daffynitions"
These were the favorites:  'CREW CALLER':  Sadistic character who takes
fiendish delight in making calls too short for time to eat.  Sheds
crocodile tears for rawhide crew.  A friendless soul. 'FIREMAN': A mental
midget who's hero is the Engineer.  Is usually found talking to a beanery
queen or trying to figure his time.  Also coaches student brakemen. and
'CONCUCTOR': Grouchy.  A dour soul.  Big head and flat feet.  Continually
giving rear brakemen sage advice about women, farming and how to run an
engine."


 Time to pull the pin on this one!


 Departing Now from V248,


 Skip Salmon


 DLXI
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