Rick Johnson-2 brings us the May program for the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS.  He’ll be showing us images recently captured along the CSX Alleghany Sub-Division.  Pictured in photo is a GCFX SD40-2 #3099 on a westbound at Moore’s Tunnel at milepost CA 301.2 near Backbone, VA, in June 2003. 

Come on out for a phine evening of phun, phood, phellowship, and PHOTOS!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008.      6:00 p.m.

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The Montour Railroad - Bob Ciminel

The Montour Railroad was a 42-mile-long coal-hauling railroad that operated for over a century in the coal fields southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Using a stable of SW-9 switchers, the Montour moved tons of black diamonds from the world-famous Pittsburgh coal seam to interchanges with the P&LE, PRR, P&WV, B&O, and Union railroads.  During World War II, Montour 2-8-2 Mikado serviced 27 mines along the railroad’s main track and three branches.  Abandoned and scrapped in 1983, the Montour right-of-way survives as the Montour Trail, a popular hiking and biking venue for Pittsburgh’s growing suburban population.

Trackside Video Memories - Steve Hutchison

The 1980’s were “boom” times for railfans in the southeast. The NS Steam Program was in it’s heyday with multiple engines running through-out the system. In the mid 80’s you could find Southern 4501, FP7’s and N&W 611 in our area on a regular basis. You could also still find solid consists of Southern freight diesels on the head end of TOF trains. The Seaboard System was also running F units on special trains. While just to the north of us, Chessie was running steam on the former C&O New River and Alleghany divisions. Presentation is a compiled DVD of both steam and diesel in locations you’re sure to recognize, reliving the sights, sounds and fond memories of a past time that many of us shared.

A Review of 2007

In 2007, Skip “Groundhog” Hansberry traveled in all directions, sometimes thousands of miles, to assemble a program that features something for every taste. In addition to lots of mainline freight action he’ll show us commuters, Amtrak, short lines, and an obscure museum he stumbled across. He spent time at Hancock Tower the week before its closure and he’s even thrown in a couple of steam engines. He’s even gotten into the Wayback Machine to visit Illinois in the 60's. Finally, for Ed Fielding, a shot of the only railroad bus Skip’s ever seen. Make sure you’ve made time on your calendar for this great program!

The Georgia Northeastern Railroad (GNRR) was created in 1987 when CSXT spun off many of its branch lines.  Originally known as the L&N Atlanta Division “Old Line,” and locally as the “Hook & Eye,” the GNRR provides freight service between its interchange on the CSX Atlanta-Chattanooga main line in Marietta, GA, northward to the Georgia state line at McCaysville, GA.  Bob Cimenel has been involved with the BRSR since its startup in 1998, as a car host, trainman, and conductor.  His presentation will focus on the log trains and other freight operations on the north end of the GNRR.

Between Steam and Diesel

Fred Mayer presents the December program for the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS. “Between Steam and Diesel” will feature railroading other than traditional steam and modern diesel. Fred will be exploring electric, experimental steam, gas turbines, and early diesels such as Sharks and Centipedes in the transition era.

Photography by Bob

Kurt Reisweber will present the November BRC program in tribute to his late father Bob Reisweber, drawing from Bob's slides shot in many locations and on many dates.  This shot is one taken by him at Thurmond, WV in October, 1991.

NYSW Video

Ed Fielding is at the throttle of the October program for the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS. He has in mind a DVD presentation of action on the New York, Susquehanna, and Western. Pictured at left is one of the NYSW’s GE units at Charlottesville taken about eight years ago. Come learn about this fascinating railroad at the next regular Chapter meeting.

Bridge 5 and Other Stories

Amtrak train #54, The Mountaineer, crosses Bridge 5 over the Elizabeth River and will complete its run from Chicago to Norfolk shortly.  Chapter member Brad Dobbins will be presenting the September show for the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS.  He is calling his show "Bridge 5 and Other Stories".  This should be a great walk down memory lane as most images will be more than 30 years old!  Brad will document his transition from Navy life to civilian life in 1975.  Included will be many pictures between Tidewater and Roanoke, some electrics and narrow-gauge in Pennsylvania, and some action in western New York state, and the Shaker Heights (Ohio) Rapid Transit.

Monochrome Machines

It is September of 1960, and Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp #11 sits hot on a siding in Saltville, Virginia, while townsfolk gather around to inspect the 1892 Roanoke 2-8-0. Chapter member Ralph Hawkins' latest railfan project has been making digital scans of his father's large 120 negative collection.  The photo of #11 above is an example of a recent scan. From 1948 to 1990, Ralph's father shot copious 120 film rolls of shortlines and mainline action all over the southeast, first in black & white and later in color.  For the August program, Ralph will offer a sampling of scans from the black & white collection, with special emphasis on shortline steam from the 1950s and 60s.

Trains, Boats, and Planes - Part 1

A colorful pair of BNSF GE's near Kyune, Utah, lugs westbound tonnage toward Soldier Summit using trackage rights over the former D&RGW main on Sep. 28, 2006.  Attend the June Blue Ridge Chapter meeting to view this and other wanderings of the "Groundhog," also known as Skip Hansberry.

Kurt Reisweber will present action photos of the following shortlines: Aberdeen, Carolina & Western, Aberdeen & Rockfish, Buckingham Branch, Carolina Coastal, Conemaugh & Black Lick, Delaware Coast Line, Eastern Shore, Laurinburg & Southern, Maryland & Delaware, Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line, North Carolina & Virginia, Southwest Pennsylvania, Virginia & Maryland, Virginia Southern, Winchester & Western, and Yadkin Valley.  Roster shots representing additional lines will be included as well.

About ten years after this photo was taken, this type of locomotive would be history and railroading would be undergoing dramatic changes in motive power, equipment, operation, and corporate structure. At the February meeting of the Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS, Fred Mayer will take a nostalgic look at “Railroading before Diesels”.  Edwin Olsen photo. Fred Mayer collection.

Member Kurt Reisweber introduces us to the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, an 88-mile coal hauling shortline in western Pennsylvania.  Slides will show the railroad in the 1970s and the again in the 1990s.  Here a trio of northbound Pittsburg & Shawmut locomotives bursts forth from a tunnel near Mauk, Pa., in October of 1973.