The Western Kentucky Chapter, NRHS was well represented on the TCRM rail excursion from Nashville to Monterey, TN and return on Saturday October 11, 2008. Sixteen Chapter members and eighteen family members and friends took the all day adventure in excellent accommodations in a 1953 ex Santa Fe coach. The train, with 11 passenger cars, a private car and a private caboose plus 4 auxiliary cars left Nashville at 8:00 AM behind a TC E8, two L&N F7Bs and an AmtrakF40. The roadbed from Nashville to Lebanon is exceptional and is the route used by the Music City Star commuter line. The line from Lebanon on to Cookeville is also in excellent shape and the line from Cookeville to Monterey is the ‘rare mileage’ portion of the trip and has just been recently re-opened to freight business. Our trip is the first public passenger run over the line since it’s re-opening and likely the first passenger run over this portion of the old Tennessee Central trackage since the early to mid 50s.
We arrived in Monterey about 12:45 PM and the city was ready for us as they were having a “Standing Stone Day’ celebration with a car show, a civil war re-enactment and lots of trade booths in the downtown area. We had plenty of time to visit the attractions and get some lunch. Our train took a couple of cars of locals to the end of the line at the quarry where they also switched the power for the return to Nashville. There was a problem with the switching and we were about an hour behind schedule leaving Monterey. We arrived back at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum a bit before 9:00 PM – a long but very enjoyable trip. The equipment was perfect and the staff most helpful. Chuck Hinrichs
Monterey WelcomeOn The Head End photo by Wes Ross
all photos by Chuck Hinrichs except as noted
Monterey Welcome
On The Head End photo by Wes Ross
Chuck and Shirley Hinrichs
Pam and Dan Westphal
Robert Hill and Larry Levin
Rich and Karen Hane
Larry, Bill and Rich
Steve, Maralyn and Shirley
The Knight’s Children and Grandchild. Jason, Paula and Katy Jones
The Bowling Green Museum’s L&N E8 – 796 – was back in Kentucky today. Chuck Hinrichs caught the unit as it passed through Hopkinsville on CSX’s manifest freight Q645 at about 9:20 am. The E8 was tucked in behind the road power on Q645. An early afternoon trip to Guthrie did not turn up the E8 so it is assumed to be on it’s way to Bowling Green via R J Corman. Chuck Hinrichs
L&N E8 on CSX Q645 10/8/08 Chuck Hinrichs L&N E8 on CSX Q645 10/8/08 Chuck Hinrichs L&N E8 on CSX Q645 10/8/08 Chuck Hinrichs
Some 30 Chapter members, spouses and guests gathered at Veterans Memorial Park in Cofton on Saturday, October 4. The occasion was the third annual Chapter Picnic. The weather was perfect and CSX provided 5 trains for the enjoyment of the train watchers and the photographers. Wally Watts brought several steam engines and Steve Gentry brought a beautiful 1/32 scale Nickle Plate Berkshire 2-8-4 live steamer. The Hopkinsville crew provided the liquid refreshments and most of the attendees visited the Country Cupboard for some of their great sandwiches. All in all a really delightful day. Chuck Hinrichs
Wally and Hunter
The shelter
Crossing Mill St
One of 5 CSX northbounders.
Keith and Trevor, a proud grandpa.
Steve’s Nickle Plate live steamer.
Thomas, Steve Miller and Birk checking Steve’s computer train tracker.
Wallace
Dennis
Maralyn
Rich and Karen
Trevor and Hunter with one of Wally’s steam engines
Genset 1302 Atkinson Yard 9/27/08 photo by Chuck Hinrichs
The second pair of Gensets from NRE’s Paducah shops wwas delivered to CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville on Saturday, September 27, 2008. 1300 and 1301 were delivered to CSX in March of this year and 1302 and 1303 were photographed by Jim Pearson and myself last Saturday. Final destination of the pair is uncertain though I have heard Chicago mentioned. Chuck Hinrichs
CSX Genset 1302Atkinson Yard 9/27/08 photo by Chuck Hinrichs
Jim recording the Gensets Atkinson Yard 9/27/08 photo by Chuck Hinrichs
Railfans check out the Gensets Atkinson Yard 9/27/08 photo by Chuck Hinrichs
Genset from the rear quarter Atkinson Yard 9/27/08 photo by Chuck Hinrichs
Genset 1302 Atkinson Yard 9/27/08 photo by Chuck Hinrichs
The 2008 Convention of the L&N Historical Society was a weekend to savor for months, and maybe even years, to come. The first indication that this might be something special was in the registration packet. The Convention headquarters was to be the Grand Vista Hotel and Suites in Vanore, TN. The accommodations were to include a complimentary breakfast – real cooked stuff like eggs, sausage, biscuits, bacon, etc. – and a managers complimentary beer in the evening with seconds at only $2, and all this for only $69 per night. When Shirley and I arrived Thursday afternoon (September 18) we were pleased to see a nearly new facility with spacious and comfortable rooms and a separate but very convenient conference center for Convention activities.
Our Chapter was well represented. In addition to Shirley and I, Keith Kittinger, David Millen, Bill Grady and Al and Cheryl Fraser were in attendance. A surprise was a complimentary buffet meal along with the free beer on Thursday evening. Model clinics and slide shows completed the evening activities.
Friday was the featured event of the Convention, a rail trip over the L&N old line from just south of Etowah, TN over the “eye” portion of the “Hook and Eye” line to Copper Hill on the Tennessee Georgia border. The line follows the Hiwassee River to Bald Mountain where the line makes nearly two complete circles around the mountain and crosses over itself as it gains to summit at Farner. The scenery on the line is spectacular. Our three car train was pulled by a TVRM GP10 in red and gold NC&StL paint. We enjoyed a 90 minute layover at Copper Hil with plenty of time for a bit of shopping and lunch. The trip offered several good photo stops for both static display and photo runbys. Perfect weather and an unhurried schedule made for a near perfect day. In the evening more clinics and historical slide presentations completed the days activities.
TVRM 710 with three car train at TVA power plant at Apalachia. (Photo by Chuck HIinrichs)
Saturday activities included Model exhibits and swap meet, some free time for railfanning and more clinics and slide shows. The evening banquet was excellent and the program was a superb Ron Flanary digital show on the L&N in the Appalachians. The evening continued with a couple of multi-media presentations and members slides.
The regular Sunday program featured only a Board of Directors meeting but arrangements had been made for a charter trip at the Southern Appalachian Railway Museum at Oak Ridge, TN. The trip used 3 cars, a coach, a diner and baggage car (refreshments and souiviniers) and pulled by the suprise of the day – a beautifully restored L&N ALCO C-420 1315 in fresh grey and yellow paint. There were several photo runbys as the train went from the Wheat station at the Heritage Center to the NS (Southern) connection at Blair, TN. and return. An unrestored L&N GP30 also assisted in the trip. The ALCO performed beautifully and the crew goosed the engine on the runbys to provide the typical ALCO smoke. The guys were pinching themselves to make sure they were really alive and not back some 40 years in a dream world. Some of the troops stayed for a short photo freight and possibly some night shooting. Shirley and I left after the regular trip and headed home with a head full of fond memories and a camera filled with some 200 digital images. All in all a perfect weekend. A special thanks to Dave Oroszi, Scott Lindsey and Keith Kittinger for all the arrangements – GREAT JOB GUYS!!
L&N 1315 at Oak Ridge, TN. (Photo by Chuck Hinrichs)
Fresh paint on restored ALCO C-420, (Photo by Chuck HInrichs)
