ROC News
2000 July - December

• July 2-4, 2000:

  Two groups of railcar hobbyists enjoyed the RS&N this Independence Day holiday weekend. Sunday, July 2, included:

  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Phil Gandy's open M-19
  • and Bill Holdren
  Hollis installed a new Gandy Dancer drive belt on his railcar, and it now runs great.

  Tuesday, July 4, included:

  • Earl Barber's S-2
  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Tom Stallings' S-2
  • and Jack Ammends
  On Tuesday, the group enjoyed a great small town celebration in Parkton. It included a parade, live bands, singing, food, and the usual things. Best of all, Amtrack passed through town at about 65 mph!

• July 15-16, 2000:
  
  Again two groups of ROCers rode the RS&N on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Saturday, July 15, included:
  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19, riding visitors from Charlotte, Jim Fetchero and Lindsay Abee.
  • Andy Dingsor's open M-19, riding his wife, Nanci, and Bill Holdren.
  Now that most of the brush has been cleared from the mileposts at the RS&N, the group started painting them white today. The group packed up midafternoon when dark skies threatened thunderstorms. Click here for a few photos of Saturday.

  Bill Holdren stayed overnight so he could enjoy a second beautiful day at RS&N. Sunday, July 16, included:

  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19 with Bill Holdren
  • Carey Boney's open M-19
  • Tom Stallings' S-2

• August 5, 2000:
  
  Ten adults, four boys, and five railcars made their way slowly down the RS&N today in a rainy mist.
  • Earl Barber's enclosed M-19 with Hugh Sterling
  • Danny and Mrs. Beck with their enclosed MT-19
  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Andy and Nanci Dingsor's open M-19
  • Carey Boney's open M-19
  Four special friends of ROC and their grandfathers rode with us today. Click here for a photo. Each car took its turn breaking down throughout the morning, so our passengers got a taste of the real railcar hobby. Hopefully they can ride again on a drier day.

  The cars ran better in the afternoon, after we watched three CSX freights of 100+ cars each roar through Parkton about 15 minutes apart.

• August 19-22, 2000:
  
  A large group of ROC members, their families, and friends enjoyed a great long weekend in West Virginia. They ran on two terrific excursions hosted by the Ohio Valley Railcars organization. The weather was crisp and clear, the scenery was spectacular, and the tracks were in great shape. On Monday, some of the group enjoyed a ride on the Cass Scenic Railway. Finally, on Tuesday, some visited the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

  On Saturday, August 19, we rode our railcars about 75 miles on the West Virginia Central Railroad, starting at Elkins, WV. Cars included:

  • John Cease and family with two of their cars
  • Andy Dingsor and Tony Sears on Andy's open M-19
  • Tom Stallings and Phil Gandy on Tom's enclosed MT-19
  • Hugh and Sylvia Sterling on their enclosed M-19
  Click here for a large group of photos (from a disposable camera).

  On Sunday, August 20, we rode our railcars about 100 miles on the South Branch Valley Railroad, starting in Petersburg, WV. Cars included:

  • Earl and Sybil Barber on their enclosed M-19
  • Andy Dingsor and Tony Sears on Andy's open M-19
  • Robert Rhew and Ed Marsh on Robert's open A-5
  • Tom Stallings and Phil Gandy on Tom's enclosed MT-19
  • Hugh and Sylvia Sterling on their enclosed M-19
  Click here for another group of photos.

  On Monday, August 21, some of the group rode the logging tourist train on an 11 percent grade at the Cass Scenic Railway, a state park in WV.
  Click here for a few photos, focusing on the railcars owned by the Cass railroad. Visit the Cass website, www.neumedia.net/~cassrr/.

  On Tuesday, August 22, some of the group stopped at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, in Roanoke, VA. (This weekend just wouldn't end!)
  Click here for a few photos of railcars at the museum. Visit the museum website, www.vmt.org.

• Sept 16, 2000:
  
  A fine group of ROC members enjoyed riding the RS&N today under a beautiful Carolina blue sky. We welcomed new members Pete Wenk and Jennifer Lang, from Beaufort, NC, along with their immaculate MT-14. Tom Stallings and Andy Dingsor took turns riding with Pete and Jennifer, introducing them to the fine points of the RS&N. We also welcomed visitor Kyle Morris, from Camp Lejeune. Kyle rode with Carey Boney, who began teaching him how to drive a railcar.

  Cars included:

  • Earl Barber and Tom Stallings on Earl's enclosed M-19
  • Hollis Batchelor on his open M-19
  • Carey Boney brought two cars: an open M-19 and an enclosed MT-19
  • Andy Dingsor and his open M-19
  • Pete Wenk and Jennifer Lang and their MT-14

  We made two round trips to Parkton and back, enjoyed watching a CSX freight race through Parkton, with Conrail motive power up front. We had a leisurely ride, thanks to the usual breakdowns, and stopped along the way to do some pruning and weed whacking.

  It was nice for many members to back on their "home track" after having ridden on several long distance excursions recently.

  Click here for a few photos of Saturday.

• October 21-22, 2000, at RS&N:

  Two railcars rode and four folks worked both Saturday and Sunday on the RS&N this weekend. Carey Boney and Hollis Batchelor cleaned crossing flangeways all day Saturday. On Sunday, Carey also brought along two friends; the group of four cut brush around mileposts, picked up trash at the crossings, and enjoyed riding in the beautiful fall weather.

• October 21-22, 2000, in Georgia:
  
  Several ROC members and friends travelled to Georgia and rode about 150 miles on on the Georgia Northeastern Railroad. The weather was perfect, scenery was beautiful, and the fall leaf colors just past their peak. We thank excursion coordinator Bobby Moreman, his team from the Southeastern Railcar Operators (SERO), and the management of the railroad for a great weekend ride. Click here for a few photos of the weekend.

• November 4, 2000:

  Today turned out to be a 'pop car day' at RS&N. Five 2-cycle railcars enjoyed a warm and cloudy day and took two trips to Parkton and back. Cars included:

  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Carey Boney's open M-19
  • Phil Gandy's open M-19 with Ernest Haddock
  • Andy and Nanci Dingsor's open M-19
  • Tom Stallings' open S-2 with Bill Holdren
  There was little preparation work to do on the first lap, because it had not rained in several weeks and the flangeways were still clear from the last ride. We did some pruning at a few mileposts and grade crossings along the way, but mostly just enjoyed the ride. After loading up, the regulars enjoyed dinner at Gore's Seafood Restaurant in Red Springs.

• November 23-26, 2000:

  Several ROC members enjoyed riding the RS&N on three days this Thanksgiving weekend. They included Earl Barber, Hollis Batchelor, Phil Gandy and his friend Sam Melton, and Rick Tufts.

  On Thanksgiving Day, 11/23, Hollis rode solo. On Friday 11/24, Earl and Hollis rode. On Saturday 11/25, it rained all day, and no one rode. And finally, on a very cold Sunday 11/26, Hollis, Rick, and Phil and Sam rode. Rick mentioned that when he met up with the other operators on their open cars, they were so bundled up that he didn't recognize them!

• December 2, 2000:

  Today was a light day at RS&N, with Hollis Batchelor riding solo from the south, and Rick Tufts riding from the north. Neither one saw the other. Hollis managed to paint a few signal boxes in Shannon with silver paint before a light rain started. Thanks, Hollis!