J. Cash tribute video

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:04 pm

Quick loading and about 6 minutes long. Some old footage with Luther and Marshall, plus some later stuff, including some trains. Said to be shown at the Johnny Cash funeral. We know that he owned a couple of steam locomotives at least briefly, but does anyone have details of why he never pursued operations further?

http://www.johnnycash.com/memorial/index.html

Mike LaBouliere · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:06 pm

Which or what type of steamers did he own?

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:14 pm

It looks like the footage is from "Riding the Rails", a TV special that aired in 1974. It was filmed on the old SR Steam Program, with 4501, 630, and S&A 750. Johnny Cash owned BC&G #4, now at Spencer, along with several Reading & CNJ cars, also at Spencer. The train operated briefly on old V&SW (Southern) trackage in far southwest Virginia, near the Carter family home. It is a beautiful area, but not easily accesible, so I'm sure a lack of ridership contributed to the line's demise.

gcrr · **Posted:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:28 am

I'm not sure that this is exactly correct. There was a group of people involved with the Southwest Virginia Scenic RR that included my friend Kenny Fannon. This operation lasted just a couple of seasons in the mid-70's with BC&G #4. Later, Cadillac & Lake City Ry 0-4-0T No. 11 operated on the line with homebuilt coaches and a tender. This operation was known as the Lonesome Pine Scenic Ry and, to my knowledge, was primarily run by Gail Bellamy. This train set went to the Deadwood Central in South Dakota sometime in the 1980's and is now at Prarie Village.

Matt Helton

Jim Robinson · **Posted:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:27 am

Johnny Cash and his family did own ex-BC&G 2-8-0 4 (and some of the ex-Quakertown & Eastern, nee-Reading and CNJ coaches) for several years during the early 1970's. I believe the equipment was stored at Appalachia, VA during their ownership. As I recall the Southwest Virginia Scenic RR acquired the locomotive and cars around 1974 or so. I don't believe the Carter-Cash family had a direct connection with the SVSR. The SVSR operated during 1975 out of Hiltons, VA on about 10 miles of the Bristol Line.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:18 am

Matt & Jim, Thanks for the corrections to my recollections, I'm finding that my CRS is getting worse with age. I remeber meeting Mr. Bellamy in 1980, he was looking for employees, and a mutual friend got us together. I decided, however that I didn't want to move to Hiltons from Roanoke.