ROC News
2004 July - December

• July 3, 2004:

  Linda and I set-on at Lumber Bridge around 11:00am today. Hollis was there and we chatted a bit before he had to turn back and meet up with his family that is visiting. We rode on to Parkton, caught the trash train blistering through town as we got there. We grabbed a snack, sat a while, watched another freight blister through town, and headed back to Red Springs. We clipped some tree limbs along the way. I must say, we finally have a pretty good hand hold on the weeds. Now we need to concentrate on the limbs growing in.
  

  Thanks to Rick Tufts for this report.

• August 7, 2004:

  Five motorcars with a dozen riders met at Red Springs on a (relatively) cool clear Saturday morning.  Participants included:

  • A5  Bob Rhew and daughter Deb
  • A3  Bob Youngblood and Carey Boney, as mentor
  • M19 Earl Barber
  • M19 Hollis Batchelor
  • M19 Phil Gandy and Bill Barrett
  Bucky Elks and Alana Norris rode in the A5. Chelsea and Victoria Hallock (guests) rode with Earl and in the A3. Jimmy and Barbara Hill visited with us (her birthday surprise), flagged for us (thanks), and left, no doubt, for continued birthday celebration surprises.

  We conducted a detailed safety meeting, including closely inspecting all motorcars for adherence to NARCOA safety requirements.  B. Youngblood and R. Rhew officially joined RO-C for the 2004 NARCOA insurance year. All motorcars performed satisfactorily. There was a tree down on the second bridge; no one brought logging equipment on a motorcar.  Bucky (now and forever referred to as BuckyBeaver) made fairly quick work of the tree using Hollis' pruning shears, and brute strength. We continued on to Parkton, encountering another problem at the Mountainaire entrance crossing, which I will elaborate on shortly.  A nice lunch was enjoyed at 'Vee's' cafe in Parkton, while a late Amtrak 88 and two CSX trains passed.  Our young guests rode back to Lumber Bridge after their mother quite willingly signed their lives away via the required NARCOA and RO-C documents. I expect to see these gals again at Parkton; I am certain they still have huge grins on their faces, even as they sleep.  

  The chicken plant crossing was refurbished last month due to deterioration from the heavy truck traffic.  The steel rectangle used to contain asphalt between the rails, and provide a flangeway inside the railheads, has come apart at the southeast corner, resulting in a shift toward the east rail.  There is no flangeway at that corner, and heavy steel is above and adjacent to the railhead.  Motorcars must be walked across it until repairs are made.  We talked with a plant maintenance employee who had previously noticed the problem, and came out when he saw us. He told us they would have satisfactory repairs made in a few days. Be very cautious there until we are certain things again are safe for running.  

  At set-off we discussed assigning segments of track to RO-C members for maintenance responsibility in 2005.  That is, a specific section of track would be assigned to each member. BuckyBeaver has volunteered to serve as maintenance coordinator;  he has done an great job on projects requiring cutting since he came on board.  I think we need input from the membership, and some discussion before setting policy on this.  As to the condition of the right-of-way today, it is in the best condition it has ever been in since we began running. 

  Click here for some photos by Robert Youngblood.
  Click here for some photos by Alana Norris.

  Thanks to Phil Gandy for this report.

• August 8, 2004:

     Linda and I set-on at Lumber Bridge this afternoon and cruised down to Parkton. We stopped along the way to cut back a few limbs here and there. Once in Parkton, we caught 4 fast moving trains within 50 minutes! We didn't go back towards Red Springs, just back to Lumber Bridge. Hopefully the Mountaire crossing will be fixed soon. It was a great weekend to ride!
  

  Thanks to Rick Tufts for this report.

• September 7, 2004:

     Carey Boney and his M-19 set on in Lumber Bridge and headed to Parkton and returned, cutting brush as he went along. On his return, just south of highway 20, he came upon Bob Youngblood in his A-3. Bob had been cutting brush and cleaning out crossing flangeways on his way north. After both had lunch in Parkton, they went south cleaning out more crossing flangeways on the way back to Lumber Bridge. Weather was like an Autumn day.
  

  Thanks to Carey Boney for this report.

• October 2, 2004:

     Hollis Batchelor in his open M-19 and Bob Youngblood in his A-3 set on in Red Springs. Earl Barber and Rodney Bowen on Earl's S-2 and Carey Boney in his open M-19 set on in Lumber Bridge. Earl, Rodney, and Carey marked off all but one milepost, then time ran out for Earl. To mark mile posts on the rails, Carey sprayed rail plates yellow. To find those posts not there, they used a measuring wheel. Rodney, riding in the S-2, held the wheel on top of the rail head for 5,280 feet. They found one milepost right on the money at 5,280 feet from a known post, concealed by growth. All made one round trip and Bob did two trips before leaving.
  

  Thanks to Carey Boney for this report.

• October 16, 2004:

  Today was a picture perfect day to ride on the Red Springs. A little breezy, but just right as far as the temperature. Rick Tufts and Bob Youngblood did a lot of tree trimming along the way... as well as piddling. Jimmy Cobb, Hollis Batchelor and Tim Parnell came out to ride as well. Tim and Jimmy said the RS&N car ran like brand new. There were two guests today, that met Jimmy and Tim in Parkton for a look over the track. Douglas Golden and Virgil Holman rode with Jimmy and Tim. I think they had a perfect day for it. The line is looking pretty good as far as the weeds are concerned and I think if Bob and I keep at it, we will have most of the trees cut back for next year.
  

  Thanks to Rick Tufts for this report.

• October 18, 2004:

  Pete Wenk attended the meeting of the RS&N Foundation Board of Directors on October 18. Tim Parnell asked him to write this report. This was posted on the NARCOA and ACL/SAL newsgroups.

  Here's an update to let you know about the present situation at the Red Springs & Northern. This line is the remaining 12.5 mile portion of the original Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway line from Fayetteville, NC to Bennettsville, SC which was acquired by ACL, probably in 1894.

  The line, which is owned by Advancement, Inc., last saw regular freight traffic more than 10 years ago, but has been watched over and kept open by Railcar Operators of the Carolinas, a NARCOA sanctioned group of motorcar operators. They've kept the brush cut back and generally kept things in order.

  The idea of trying to save the line and develop it as a museum/tourist railroad emerged in the early months of 2000, and led to the formation of the Red Springs & Northern Foundation, Inc. The Foundation is comprised of a number of interested local folks, including civic leaders and railroad buffs. The Foundation was successful in negotiating a two year lease on the line in 2002.

  It now appears that, Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, RS&N Foundation, Inc., will acquire full ownership of the line, with closing taking place by the end of the year. Thus, the line will be saved from the scrapper.

  The line has an existing interchange with CSX at Parkton, "A" Line mp 227.6, where the city government has title to the original ACL depot. The hope is to develop an operating railroad museum on the site, using the depot and initially upgrading the trackage to Class 1 or better as far as Lumber Bridge, mp 231.8 (RS&N 4.2) (there's really not much difference between class 1 and class 2, except for a significant increase in allowable operating speed). Ultimately the track to Red Springs, mp 239.7 (RS&N 12.1) will also be improved. The line continues south to a stub end at mp 240.1. The line's four bridges are thought to be in good shape.

  There is the possibility of limited freight service on the line, probably involving extruded aluminum and/or propane gas. Wood chips and grain are also a possibility.

  The Foundation recently obtained a 128 ton FM switcher from the NC Ports Railway. The locomotive is located at Wilmington, but is on roller bearing trucks, and can thus be transported by rail. In addition, they have ownership of a GE 80 ton switcher located on the old B&MRR in Beaufort, NC. Various other equipment, including motorcars, trailers, rail lifters, a tie extractor/inserter, and lots of hand tools have been acquired.

  Insurance has been obtained to cover volunteers working on the restoration of the line, and a $10,000 private grant has been obtained for an initial purchase of ties.

  Volunteers are going to be needed. The Red Springs & Northern Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) organization.
  

  Thanks to Pete Wenk for this report.

• November 06, 2004:

  Eight motorcars with their riders enjoyed a truly beautiful fall day at Red Springs this Saturday. Those attending included:  

  • Tom Stallings, cabbed MT19
  • Carey Boney, open M19
  • Earl Barber, open S2
  • Phil Gandy, open M19
  • Rick Tufts,  cabbed M19
  • Hollis Batchelor, open M19
  • Tim Parnell, cabbed A4
  • Pete Wenk & Jennifer,  cabbed MT19
  Guests were Tom Smith, Lancaster, SC, and Mike DeCarter of Fayetteville, NC.  Tom recently acquired a "project" motorcar, which he hopes to have NARCOA-ready in the coming year.  This was his first opportunity to ride and be mentored on a motorcar.  Mike is beginning work with RS&N Foundation as a volunteer track inspector/adviser/helper/laborer.  He previously worked for CSX, and is currently employed as track inspector at US Government installations in the Southeast.

  Some brush cutting was accomplished, mostly done by Rick and Tom.  They worked starting at the small bridge just North of Lumber bridge and really opened it up. From there, they worked on the new growth at the fire tower crossing at Highway 71 just outside of Parkton. Finally, they worked on the straight stretch south of the long curve crossing at Mallory Road.

  Another dirt road was recently created over the track near the 'double dirt' roads north of Shannon;  this had to be cleared by shovels before motorcars could get through.   

  Most motorcars made one complete trip over the line;  others made two trips.  We came into Parkton in late morning just before Amtrak #90 sped by on CSX.
  

  Thanks to Phil Gandy and Rick Tufts for this report.

• November 07, 2004:

  John Cease and Jim Tweedy rode on yet another beautiful day at Red Springs this Sunday. They made two trips between Red Springs and Parkton in beautiful weather. During one trip, they had a meet with Jimmy Cobb on the RS&N Foundation motorcar at the siding for the aluminum plant. Then, while eating lunch in Parkton, they met Mike DeCarter and had a great conversation with him.

  The right-of-way looked great, with lots of fresh brush cutting evident from yesterday.
  

  Thanks to John Cease for this report.

• December 20, 2004:

  Ownership of the Red Springs and Northern Railroad was transferred from Advancement, Inc. to the Red Springs and Northern Foundation, Inc today. Carey Boney received a call from Robert Herring of Advancement, Inc to inform us of the transfer. Mr. Herring said he had enjoyed working with ROC over the years, and thanked all ROC members for their safe operations. In return, we sincerely thank Mr Herring and Advancement for their gracious permission for us to operate on the line.

  The RS&N Foundation is a 301(C)(3) tax-exempt corporation, with goals of revitalizing the line, restoring rail service, and continuing restoration of the depot at Parkton. A new website is being developed presently to describe activities of the Foundation, and updated information on joining and supporting the Foundation will be available soon. ROC looks forward to expanding its good relationship with the Foundation, as many ROC members are also members of the Foundation.
  

  Thanks to Carey Boney and Pete Wenk for this report.