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Last week I attended the 'Streamliners at Spencer' event hosted at the NC Transportation Museum and its 37 stall roundhouse. What a job everyone did in coordinating this, led by Trains editor Jim Wrinn, a NC native and longtime volunteer at the museum. This couldn't have happened without the extensive involvement and support of the NS. At the ceremonial turning of the first bolt on the restoration of N&W 611 was NS Chairman, Wick Moorman, Jim Wrinn, Preston Claytor (son of Bob and nephew of Graham Clayor) heading up the restoration effort, the Directors of the NC and VA Transportation Museums, and the NC Secretary of Cultural Affairs.
The pictures don't do it justice. A lot of work had gone into preparing the tracks for for all the activity. In addition to the 26 locomotives on display, on the property was a set of equipment from NC sponsored Piedmont train, the Amtrak exhibit train, the NS Office car train, and Bennett Levin's Juniata Terminal/PRR train. NS engine crews volunteered for hostling duties.
At the evening program an NS mechanical officer talked of the challenge of moving antique locomotives each with unique braking and drawbar systems. In addition to 611, the star of the show was the sole remaining (in the U.S.) Alco PA. It is being restored in Oregon and so moved in tow as they still need to repair the traction motors, but the cosmetic work was certainly magnificent.
I had a chance for a few words with Wrinn. He hinted that in another two years they would have another event, perhaps steam oriented. Lots of fun imagining what that might be like.
And, if you want to see more, here is a link to the very less than professional video I took of the event. Jim Wrinn is the first speaker, next is Wick Moorman - edited out the others.
Finally, to make this sort of Amtrak related, we took the Piedmont over to Greensboro one day to see a ball game. Those reconditioned cars are so much better than anything else Amtrak has; the service was great, and the stations were as good as new. If all states could do it as well as NC, we wouldn't need Amtrak for other than truly LD trains and centralized services like reservations.
I spoke briefly with the State's representative (Secretary of Cultural Affairs) who said she and her husband both use the Piedmont for frequent commutes to Raleigh (she was former mayor of Salisbury and still resides there).
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Thanks for the pictures - wish I could have been there. You were really fortunate.
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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palmland -- Thank you for those pretty photos and for that nice video of Jim Wrinn's speech and part of Wick Moorman's speech -- and for recording him removing that ceremonial first bolt.
What a great event Streamliners at Spencer was! I really wish I could have been there.
FYI -- a reporter with a local TV station during their news clip about the event said people came from 41 states, the district of Columbia, and 5 foreign countries to attend that event. wow.....
Posts: 211 | From: California | Registered: Dec 2004
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Thanks for that; the NH FL-9 in those colors really does it for me, as well as the ACL "Champion" in silver and purple. Just amazing to see that lineup of iconic power all in one place like that.
-------------------- Ocala Mike Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Is there a compilation somewhere of those locomotives' current ownership, e.g. PRR E-8; Juniata Terminal.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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GBN- Here it is.But, many were just cosmetic changes to units with different heritages. Still extremely impressive.
Margaret- it was an impressive turnout with a reported attendance at near 10,000, far exceeding the NS Heritage painted modern units on display a couple years ago. I was impressed by two things: - All events were very organized and imagine the logistics of getting these units in from all over the country - There were no officious 'attendants' telling you where you could and couldn't go - it was all wide open including the various trains that arrived for the event.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Great report and photos Palmland. Thanks also for the kind words about my train. (as a North Carolina Taxpayer, I'm a part owner of the Piedmont) I love the windows in those refurbished 1960's coaches...... and the NC stations are showplaces.
I was fortunate to attend the streamliner event at Spencer on Saturday ad noticed that the modular HO guys in the backshop were pretty much going through the same motions as the 'real' railroaders outside the doors. A super event. The folks at Spencer are tremendous and we are fortunate to have Jim Wrinn in the NC Transportaton Museum's corner.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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David - glad you could make it. While this will have limited interest, as an NC resident, thought you might. We saw the small town of Thomasville on one of Wrinn's webcam 611 chases. Stopped there for breakfast and can highly recommend the S&S Cafe. It's a real mom and pop except more like mom and daughter with a great view of the double track main through that park like setting in the old town. Also, after the ball game, we recovered at Natty Greens pub in Greensboro, good food and drink and, at the outdoor tables, a fine view of the elevated main line through town.
By the way, your tax dollars are certainly well spent on the Piedmont. Wish SC could be so enlightened.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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