ROC News
2001 July - December

• July 2001 - Website news:

  For the past two years, this website has stored its photographs on a free image hosting offering provided by the Photopoint company (www.photopoint.com). However, Photopoint has recently changed its terms and conditions which precludes us from placing new photos on the Photopoint servers. While we are searching for a new photo repository, new photos will not appear on this website. ROC apologizes for this inconvenience.

• July 7-8, 2001:

  ROC members rode both days on this holiday weekend and welcomed several long-distance visitors. Two cars rode on Saturday:

  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Tim Parnell's M-19
  Tim's family rode along on Saturday. More cars turned out on Sunday, but the weather did not cooperate:
  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Carey Boney's open M-19
  • Phil Gandy's open M-9
  • Tom Stallings' open S-2
  Sunday riders included Pam and Jerry Logan from California (MOW members), Bill Holdren from Charleston, SC, and Phil Kennedy from Tazewell, VA. Unfortunately, it started raining at the end of the line. Hollis fashioned raincoats from plastic trash bags, but everyone still got soaked.

• July 22, 2001:

  Several ROC members rode this beautiful summer Sunday:

  • Earl Barber's S-2
  • Hollis Batchelor's M-19
  • Andy Dingsor's M-19
  Andy blew a temporary head gasket and again had to be towed in.

• August 4, 2001:

  Saturday was another light day at RSN, with two cars riding: Hollis Batchelor's M-19 and Andy Dingsor's M-19.

• September 1-3, 2001:

  ROC members rode on Saturday and Monday of this Labor Day holiday weekend and welcomed several visitors. Saturday's cars included:

  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Phil Gandy's open M-9, with friend Don Weimann
  • Tim Parnell's M-19
  • Tom Stallings' open S-2
  The weather was overcast much of the day, with patchy rain in the afternoon. We ran two laps to Parkton and back, and did some brush cutting at Shannon around the battery box at the set-on, and at several other spots along the line where brush was almost to the rails. Amtrak #90 came through Parkton as we had our mid-day snack at the depot. We had a slight uneasy situation at the dirt road just north of Shannon when we met a few small girls with rocks in one hand and a bird on the other, as if ready to attack and run home to a nearby mobile home. After loading up, three of us had a seafood dinner at Gore's and Hollis had his usual steak dinner at lady friend's house near the set-on. All in all, it was a very nice day to enjoy friends and machines on the track. Thanks to Phil for this report.

  Monday's cars included:

  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Carey Boney's open M-19, with friends Kathy and Joe Quinn
  • Tim Parnell's M-19
  Carey went to McDonald's restaurant for breakfast before the ride and met Hollis there. Hollis quickly went home and got his railcar. The two railcars were on the track around 11:00am and headed north. We came up on Tim, headed south, at the nursery north of Lumber Bridge. Tim backed up to Parkton, with the other two cars following. After turning the cars, the group headed back south. At the Croft aluminum plant, Tim turned and headed back north because of the threat of rain. We did get into a mist at times, and only rode one lap because of the weather. Thanks to Carey and Hollis for this report.

• September 15, 2001:

  Five cars, a two laps, and zero breakdowns. The weather was beautiful, with the coolest temperatures since summer. We saw deer, turtles, and snakes on the right-of-way, and even looked for alligators in the swamps. Robert Rhew brought his portable turntable, and turned all the cars at Parkton. Everyone enjoys when Robert comes to ride. Cars included:

  • Earl Barber's open S-2
  • Hollis Batchelor's open M-19
  • Andy and Nanci Dingsor on their open M-19
  • Tim Parnell's open M-19, with Scott
  • Robert Rhew on his A-5, with Ed Morris
  We returned to the 'real world' when we came upon the Parkton fire department collecting donations for the families of fallen Washington and New York firefighters. Several members contributed to their efforts.