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

[NW Mailing List]

Last night I had the pleasure of "Takin' Twenty" with four of the Brethren
and Friends of the Virginian Railway. I told the Brethren about the recent
surgeries of our good friend in Lynchburg, Norris Deyerle and that I had
sent hem a Get Well Card from us.  As of today the report on Norris is that
he is making progress.


 For Show and Tell Landon Gregory brought a 1949 AAR booklet "Names and
Nicknames of Freight Trains of the US and Canada".  We were amused at some
listed for the N&W such four "Punkin Vine" trains on the Winston-Salem to
Roanoke district:  #85 was the "Zipper"; #86 was the "Camel Special" and
another was called the "Tom Cat". On the Cincinnati-Norfolk trains #84 was
"Skipper"; #85 was "Nomad". A Portsmouth to Williamson Poky run #94 was the
"Bull Dog".  From the Southern side a Potomac Yard to Jacksonville special
was the "Jackpot" and a Cincinnati to Atlanta auto train was the "Spark
Plug".  None were listed in the booklet for the Virginian.  We surmised "no
thrills or frills on the VGN...just weigh-bills".


 The ebay report this time includes a set of three VGN trainman buttons for
$35.01; July 25, 1955 VGN Timetable for $14.99; EL-2b Operator's Manual for
$89.90; and a Certificate of Insurance Travelers Insurance for Virginian
Railway employees for $10.  I asked the Brethren about the insurance
brochure from Travelers and all three agreed that Travelers did provide
some insurance.  Wis Sowder said he purchased Blue Cross through his
Yardmaster, and not the company.  Landon recalled Providence insurance and
Raymond East said he remembered the Travelers.


 I took a downloaded copy of NS Casey Thompson's photo of the recently
painted AC44C6M #4002 in the new "horse head" paint scheme with the horse's
mane painted tuscan red.  The red mane indicates that the loco was modified
from DC to AC in Roanoke Shops and the same version (#4004) with the
Conrail blue mane was modified in Juniatta Shops.


 The Jewel from the Past is from 4-30-2009:  "Raymond East said he knew a
Brakeman who did not have a watch but carried a large washer tied on to a
shoe string and pretended to read the time holding the washer in his hand.
Rufus  Wingfield recalled a VGN Brakeman who was asked by his Conductor
'Where's your watch?" The brakeman replied 'in the shop...Pawn Shop'".


 Then there's this:  A father and mother send their son to a special tutor
because he's falling behind in school.  After weeks of personal classes and
hundreds of dollars, the parents ask the tutor for a progress report.
"Good news," the tutor tells them over the phone, "your son is getting
straight As."  "That's outstanding!" says the father.  "I'll say," the
tutor replies.  "I think we're finally ready to move on to the letter B".


 Time to pull the pin on this one!


 Departing Now from V248,


 Skip Salmon


 DCXIX






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