Beginning January, 2011, we will discontinue the paper printing of our monthly newsletter, The PennyRail.  The publication will be available in Portable Document Format (pdf,  Adobe Reader) via email and  on the chapter’s website (as presently available there).  Adobe Reader is available as a free download to any computer.  The chapter is striving to be a good steward of our resources thus the decision made in the July meeting.

As editor of this work, I do not wish this to be a hardship on any of our members who do not have internet/email access.  If you do not have access to the internet or email, we will make arrangements for you to receive a paper copy in black and white print.  Just let us know.  All we ask is that members not take advantage of this offer and use the electronic medium if possible.  If you do not have a computer, many free public libraries offer computers with internet access as part of their services.

I will need all chapter members to update your email addresses with me so that you receive your email with the newsletter pdf file attached.  You may also want to check with your internet service provider (ISP) to make sure attachments are not filtered and you are set up to receive emails sent out in distribution lists.

I am glad to offer any suggestions, help, etc. if you need it, but remember, most internet/email issues are best handled directly with your ISP.

You can email me at bill@fbcmadisonville.com, call 270-825-4623 (home), call or text me at 270-339-9482 (cell), or look me up on Facebook.

For those of you who do not have a computer at home, let me encourage you to secure one if possible.  You may have a relative or friend with a gently used machine that could be used for internet browsing, email, and light word processing.  There are many rail-related sites with information, videos, discussion groups, and sale items right at your finger tips.

Remember the basic requirements for receiving the PennyRail via email: 1) Internet/email account access; 2)  An internet service provider (ISP) which allows for attachments to emails; 3) Adobe Reader for opening the pdf file when it arrives. Adobe Reader is available for free download at www.adobe.com.

Copies of the new book Kentucky and the Illinois Central Railroad are now on sale at Walgreens Drug Stores in Madisonville, KY.  These 128-page soft-cover books contain around 200 photographs.  Some taken in Madisonville area including West Yard.  Books are priced at 21.95.  Save postage by buying one at Walgreens in Madisonville.

Copies of the new book Kentucky and the Illinois Central Railroad are now on sale at Walgreens Drug Stores in Madisonville, KY.  These 128-page soft-cover books contain around 200 photographs.  Some taken in Madisonville area including West Yard.  Books are priced at 21.95.  Save postage by buying one at Walgreens in Madisonville.

by President, Rich Hane

We had a great time at the meeting in September with a fine feast provided by Jim and Thomas Bryan and an interesting program by Wally Watts on how the Southern Pacific handled the snow problem in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Those folks really had to work hard to keep the trains rolling through sometimes dozens of feet of snow and snow slides.  An interesting sidebar was the group standing outside the 1929 train depot watching the International Space Station go by overhead with the smell of fresh fish cooking on the grill. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Many of us had a great time at the annual Crofton picnic the following Saturday and our thanks to Chuck Hinrichs for spearheading this fun event.  Many trains came by at speed which is always exciting and the weather was great.

During the upcoming October meeting we will be having the first call for nominations for the Chapter’s officers.  This is an annual event and I encourage everyone to consider offering their name for any of the offices.  We are a very friendly group and welcome the participation of all our members in helping to run the Chapter.  We presently have a vacancy for the office of Vice-President that I wish you would consider. We always consider all offices open so don’t be shy about running for an office, no one will be upset if we have two or more people’s name in the hat. It is always a good sign for any group to have interested members offering their help.  We will have a second call for nominations and the election at the November meeting.

I am sincerely looking forward to seeing all of your smiling faces at the next meeting on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 7 pm at The Center (the old L&N Railroad Depot) in beautiful downtown Madisonville.