Any mention of Rural Retreat, takes me automatically to this audio track... which I listen to every Christmas Eve. I know I am not the only one here that does that, though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbzAJoW34DM

Here's the annual replay of N&W 42 Eng 603 stopping at Rural Retreat VA on 12-27-1957.

Recording and photo are by O. Winston Link.

https://roanokehistory.org/historical-s ... main-page/

42 was The Pelican, New Orleans-Washington via Southern-Bristol-N&W-Lynchburg-Southern, with through Pullmans to New York via PRR. This train was heavy with mail and express and a good match for a J's horsepower. N&W J's worked the train Bristol to Monroe; SR diesels otherwise. Shortly after the recording, SR diesels began working through from Bristol to Monroe and on to Washington.

Merry Christmas

Phil Mulligan

Thanks for noting the actual recording date of 12-27, not Christmas Eve. That was the writing of Ben Dulaney who was N&W PR guy who wrote the evocative notes for Links recordings. Link recorded on Christmas Eve, but was not satisfied with the recording due to noise.

Ken Miller