The winners and entries from the chapter’s 2023 Photo Contest! Our next contest runs from March 1-31, 2023. Each member may submit two entries as JPGs and deadline for your entries is April 7th, 2023. Your entries must be shot during the March 1-31st time frame.

First Place January 2023 West KY NRHS Photo Contest – RJ Corman locomotive 3803 eastbound, pulling a local freight between Russellville and Auburn, Kentucky. – Photo by William Farrell
Norfolk Southern Intermodal #218 has taken the siding at Buechel, KY to wait for a Kentucky Utilities Coal Train #76J to charge the hill towards Danville, KY. NS #218 has no work this day and will be at the home terminal in Louisville in short order. Buechel, KY on January 27, 2023. – Photo by Bill Grady

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — George Walker, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum general manager, passenger operations, died Jan. 4, 2023, following an accident at the organization’s shop facility in the early afternoon hours, according to Penelope Soule Gault, museum marketing and public relations director, and a statement posted on their website. 

The museum’s statement reads: “The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum family is heartbroken by the passing of long-time employee George Walker. He was involved in a tragic accident at the shop. At this time no other details are available. Please keep Mary, Andrew, Aaron, and Charlie in your prayers as they deal with this tragic loss.”

Walker began his involvement with the museum as a teenager in 1981. He spent a brief period with Norfolk Southern steam program in which he worked on both Nos. 611 and 1218. He then returned to the museum on a full-time basis, where he has worked for nearly 30 years. Walker was a dynamic advocate for steam locomotive restoration. He wrote the business plan: “Steam for the 21st Century,” which became a model for numerous locomotive restorations.

By Bob Lettenburger, Trains Associate Editor, January 4, 2023

WKNRHS Photo Contest 1st Place October 2022 – With nothing but High Green Signals in sight, CSX I029 has his train up to track speed at the old L&N location of Rankin, KY on October 28, 2022. Photo by Bill Grady
WKNRHS Photo Contest 2nd Place October 2022 – October 19, 2022 – CSX I025 SB at Mortons Gap KY. – Photo by Rick Bivins
WKNRHS Photo Contest 3rd Place October 2022 – Amtrak locomotive 106 pulling an east bound commuter from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, PA. at Cresson, PA. Photo by William Farrell
1st Place WKNRHS Photo Contest – September 2022 – Trains operate in any weather conditions and today is just another day on the NS Louisville District as NS #279 (8129 West) waits for NS #219(East) to clear the switch at Buechel, KY in a downpour that would last about 10 minutes. – Photo by Bill Grady 9/11/2022
2nd Place WKNRHS Photo Contest – September 2022 – CSX geometry train with EMD GP40-2, travels south on the Henderson Sub at Poor House signal between Hanson and Madisonville, KY, September 26, 2022. According to information from a post by Jim Pearson in 2021, the first car in the train is a former Southern Pacific 10-6 sleeper built in 1971. Photo by Bill Thomas, taken from Brown Badgett Loop with an iPhone 10.
3rd Place WKNRHS Photo Contest – September 2022 – A BNSF crew member conducts a rollby inspection at the Big 10 Curve outside Denver, CO. on 9-14-22. – Photo by Will King

If you recall my article earlier this year about my Hook Line & Singer RR, well here are pictures of the historic line senza rails and ties.  Sad but true.  Plans are in the works to relocate the trackage at a higher elevation where crews can access the line more easily. – Bill Thomas

“Like an ancient fossil, the imprint of a fallen leaf on a rusty rail preserves its image until the next train comes along.”    That is a direct quote from the regular feature Final Frame  in Railfan and Railroad Magazine, September 200l.  No location is listed, and I don’t know Bradley McClelland the photographer.  But, I’ll bet both are well east of the Mississippi.   One of you horticulturists may ID the leaf.

I have to differ with the caption, in that the next train has already appeared.  That shiny edge is the inside of the rail,  probably on a curve to the left.   Pretty much only the flange of the wheels made  contact with the rail.   On straight track more of the leaf image would have disappeared.

This is jointed rail, probably the typical 39′ length, as you can see one of the four rail bolts, with the nut showing.  Just thought this was a neat twist to toss in a little of Mother Nature’s artwork this “Fall” week.

Gary