Just got a report from my reliable source indicating CSX is planning to pick up all Showalter equipment EXCEPT the steamers tomorrow morning (Dec. 16th) at 8 AM for movement.

No information on whether it moves to--a half mile, to Clifton Forge, or wherever.

Same "reliable source":

"Verona, on the Shenadoah Valley RR, (Eastern Shore RR operated). Steamers to be moved after Christmas by Buckingham branch, new operator of the CSX locals. Last chance to buy a railroad (without track) less one turntable and drop table."

Verona is the next town/I-81 exit north of Staunton; they can just shove the stuff on to the interchange track near the station.

Ah, pleasant summer memories of riding the cab, watching Sally fire, helping to rerail the Black Hawk (whatever happened to it anyway?) after it went over a derail, all oh so long ago and yet not that far away either. I hope for a good future for this fine set of equipment. Jim

Ditto to Jim's comments. I have similar fond memories of this trainset, including occasionally firing or helping as a brakeman, a trip over the old "Alleghany Central" on a WWI vintage handcar, and most recently, helping out in Staunton to prepare for the move. I wasn't around when the "Blackhawk" derailed, but did ride it a few times. I think it was sold in the early 1980's.

What was/is the "Blackhawk" referred to here?

Wesley

Sorry, Wes, I should have explained. It was an ex-CB&Q heavyweight office car. I swear I saw something like it in LaCrosse, Wisc., last summer.

Anybody know what happened to her? Jim

Alex and everyone
Everything except the steam Locomotives was moved today, Dec 16, to the Shenandoah valley line.
Andrew Martin

Jim-
A bit off topic, but how are things at TRAINS so far? Feel free to email off board.

TJ

Well, Jim, now you have started something......

I went back to the BRHS Bulletin No. 17 which deals with the CB&Q office cars to attempt to answer your questions. I'll do the easy part first.

The car at the Freight House restaurant in La Crosse, WI (the favorite place to dine for the #261 crew when we are in town) is #99. The car was sold to Clint Jones upon retirement from the "Q" and has since ended up in La Crosse.

Now for the confusing part........ There are two cars in existence at were named "Black Hawk" on the "Q". The car that you had the pleasure to assist with rerailing also carrried #92. It was renamed "Burlington" in 1922 and changed back to #92 in 1952. It was initially sold to William F. Howes in 1966. After passing through several other owners, it was sold to Robert Snow in 1986 for use at the Remington Station in Las Vegas, NV.

The second "Black Hawk" was built as private car "Robert Peary" in 1927. The "Q" purchased it in 1944 and named it "Black Hawk" (the second car with this name). It was rebuilt at Aurora, IL, in 1951 and subsequently carried the name "Victoria" after being sold into private ownership. The car is presently owned by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association at Campo, CA.

If you go to MOT in St. Louis you can see "Aleutian" which was Copper River and Northwestern #300. I believe that the car is displayed as the "Barretts Station". #96 is at CRRM in Golden, CO, the second #98 is in Vonachen's Junction restaurant in Peoria, IL, the #94 is in private ownership in Virginia, the "Round Up" is in private ownership in Canada, #100 is located in Riley, WI and the second "Burlington" is in service on the BNSF as the "Mississippi River." As this "Burlington Bulletin" authored by F. Hol Wagner was published in 1987, the information was correct as of that date. The may have been subsequent changes.

Don C.

Gosh, TJ, thanks for asking. So far so good. I'm really impressed with Kalmbach. It's privately held, well-run locally controlled company that believes in itself and treats its employees well.

But that wasn't what you wanted to know, was it?

As to the work, it's demanding, but the staff is great, the contributors are plentiful and among the best (yesterday, I would have gone to he car and smashed the Nikon on the ground if was in the trunk like usual, after having gone through several hundred Joel Jensen prints).

We've got some preservation pieces in the works that I hope will stimulate some discussion here and in roundhouses all over the country, and as we can we'll try and get a tad more room for John Gruber's preservation column. There are some great days ahead in American railway preservation and Trains will be there to cover them. Count on it! Jim

Good to hear Jim --- when I saw you were the new guy there, I just about jumped for joy. Nothing against those there or have been there, but what a great addition to the Kalmback crew.

Small steps on the expanding preservation thing --- we want to see you working there for quite a while to come ; -) All kidding aside, what we have now is a vast improvement over not having anything at all before John; I'm sure any addition to that would please all of us.

Good luck, and darn it, one of these days we will actually meet each other face to face. We've come close to many times!

TJG

Hi,

This goes back to an earlier round of posts on the Showalter equipment move.

John D. said, "A lumber yard in Goshen, VA (near Staunton) has a caboose and Shay."

Does anyone know the railroad and number of the Goshen caboose mentioned?

Thanks, Roger

Don, I betcha the one on the AC was Howes' as he was a Chessie official at the time.

I just about called you last night.. there was a CB&Q question here at the office and I told Kathi Kube: Not to worry, I have a CB&Q expert standing by 24 hours a day!

Keep it shinny side up, y'all! Jim