Congratulations to the winners in our May 2021 Chapter Photo Contest! They were, 1st Place, Bill Grady, 2nd Place, Cooper Smith and 3rd Place Bill Grady. Our next contest will run from July 15 -31st, 2021 and your entries need to be submitted no later than August 7th to jim@jimpearsonphotography.com. Each dues paying member may submit two JPGs.
Past Chapter presidents Rich Hane and Rick Bivins joined our current Chapter President Keith Kittinger for an impromptu clean up day at Kentucky Innovation Station (Old L&N Depot in Madisonville, Ky) where we hold our monthly meetings of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS.
The grounds were much in need of mowing, weeding and the bushes were unruly. Rich did a fabulous job of bringing them back to form while Keith maned the weed eater and leaf blower. Ricky mowed and trimmed.
We all three cleaned up the resulting debris. It feels good to give back a little to our gracious host, Kentucky Innovation Station on June 9, 2021.
Photography by Dr. Frederick J. Ripley, PO Box 21491, Columbus, OH 43221, 614-949-2056fjripley68@gmail.com
Entitled ’20 ’20 VISIONS: 100 YEARS OF WEST VIRGINIA RAILROADING, it features 27 of Ripley’s photographs
April 30 – October 30, 2021, at the West Virginia Railroad Museum in Elkins West Virginia Railroad Museum 2 Railroad Avenue Elkins, WV 26241 304-637-4810
OPEN 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, & SUNDAYS STARTING APRIL 30
The West Virginia Railroad Museum is pleased to present the work of nationally acclaimed railroad photographer Dr. Frederick J. Ripley as the centerpiece of their exhibit for the 2021 season. Entitled ’20 ’20 VISIONS: 100 YEARS OF WEST VIRGINIA RAILROADING, it features 27 of Ripley’s dramatic images taken throughout West Virginia and the surrounding region, all enlarged to 20” x 30” and framed under glass, accompanied by detailed caption information. All of Ripley’s photos are for sale, and all sales benefit the West Virginia Railroad Museum. The exhibit also includes a fascinating selection of older photos, maps from various eras, and detailed interpretive text panels. The museum is on the upper level of the historic Darden Mill building, a beautifully restored venue in this former railroad town. Staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to create a safe environment, with frequent cleaning and sanitizing. Don’t miss this exciting exhibit about railroading in the Mountain State!
In bankruptcy since late 1977, the Milwaukee Road elected in 1980 to slim the railroad down to what they hoped to be an economically viable core in the upper Midwest. Eliminated from the system was their hard-won Pacific Extension, completed in 1909. Placed up for sale to other railroads, only a few short segments of the Pacific Extension were deemed useful, the rest was scrapped out.
Most of the line segments that survived were bits of terminal trackage and branch-lines with viable shippers, thus the mainline was essentially abandoned in its entirety except for a few segments that were sold to new short-lines. Oddly one major piece remained: the line over Snoqualmie Pass in Washington’s Cascade Range.
This, one of the most spectacular mountain crossings in North America, was purchased by Burlington Northern in 1980. Some 50 miles in length, it reached from Maple Valley, Washington eastward to near Easton, WA. There, Burlington Northern’s ex-Northern Pacific mainline over Stampede Pass is barely 50 yards away, at a point near Cabin Creek.
The Milwaukee’s line over Snoqualmie Pass remained intact, except for the extensively damaged Hull Creek trestle, where one span of a long-curved steel trestle was knocked out. The BN never made clear their intentions. The Milwaukee’s 11,789’ tunnel under the pass and routeto eastern destinations was shorter and faster. Updating the right-of-way, signaling and ribbon-rail would cost a fortune. Their nearby Stevens Pass line of the former Great Northern was no doubt a consideration.
As the two pictures make clear, the rails were taken out, and an easement sold to communications concerns. The State of Washington purchased the right-of-way and developed a state-wide hiking, biking and equestrian trail. (the gap was bridged in the damaged trestle)
Credits: Snowshed scene by Robert Johnson, east portal by Casey Adams. Some text verbatim from CTC Board Magazine
Mr. Jon T. Futrell, age 50, of Mayfield, KY passed away at 2:31 PM Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at Mercy Health – Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, KY. Jon was a graduate of Mayfield High School and Murray State University and Jon was a staff writer for the Paducah Sun for nearly 25 years. His passion for local sports and love of movies will be remembered by all who knew him.
Jon is survived by his father & step-mother – Jim & Myra Futrell of Mayfield, KY; his brother – Andrew (Monica) Futrell and nieces – Maggie, Grace & Nora of Mokena, IL; step-sister – Heather Hilton, niece – Lynsey & nephew – Taylor all of Dyersburg, TN; aunt – Evelyne Futrell; cousins – Amy (Jerry) Norman, Matt (Stephanie) Futrell and Shelley Futrell.
He was preceded in death by his mother – Carol Price Futrell; grand-parents – James & Doris Futrell, Jim & Peggy Price and an uncle – Bill Futrell.
Visitation for Jon [was] held at the Brown Funeral Home in Mayfield, KY on Friday, June 4, 2021 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Private family services will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made in the form of a donation to your favorite local high school organization or charity.