Past Chapter Activities
2009 ACTIVITIES REPORTOur chapter members have been very busy this year.
The Watauga Valley Chapter of the NRHS sponsored an excursion on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in March. This trip was a tremendous success with seven busloads of passengers, more than 350, traveling from Johnson City, Tenn., to Bryson City, N.C. At Bryson City, the passengers enjoyed visiting the railroad museum and gift shop. Afterward, they boarded the train for a scenic trip to the Nantahala Gorge and back. The Nantahala Gorge is an absolutely beautiful site to see and worth the trip.
The Watauga Valley Chapter NRHS was invited to participate in the grand opening of the Bristol Train Station on July 4. The chapter cars were moved to Bristol, Va., Norfolk Southern yard, and placed on the engine track near the Bristol Train Station. The event started on July 2 with “Dinner in the Moultrie” for special guests. On Friday, July 3, the chapter displayed the No. 1317 live steamer in the main room of the station for the reception given to all who were involved in restoring the station. After the reception, guests were treated to a special meal in the Moultrie.
On July 4, the grand opening of the station was held, and hundreds toured the station and the chapter’s cars, the Clinchfield and Moultrie. The final day of the event featured “Lunch and Dinner in the Moultrie” provided by the world famous Troutdale Restaurant of Bristol.
Our members hosted another excursion via motor coaches to Etowah, Tenn., in July. At Etowah, we rode the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum train along the Hiawassee River into the beautiful gorge. There were more than 150 passengers for this trip.
The Watauga Valley NRHS was happy to have another fall excursion on the Amtrak line, and to have been a partner with the North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation. On Halloween, the two groups sponsored the Virginia Autumn Excursion on the Norfolk Southern Amtrak route from Spencer, NC, to Charlottesville, Va., and back. We also stopped again this year in Greensboro, N.C. to pick up passengers.
We were privileged to be able, on November 1, for the second day of the excursion to travel to Asheville, N.C. for the Blue Ridge Special train. This exciting train trip meandered through the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, and we were thrilled to view the Andrew’s Geyser at Dendron. These excursions were sell-outs both days. It was a great trip, and all our 50-plus volunteer-members worked very hard during this enjoyable event.
Every December, we have a Christmas dinner on the Moultrie Diner, but since it was in Spencer awaiting the January meeting of the RPCA, we had the meal and fellowship at the Jonesborough Visitor Center. Thanks to Helen Calhoun who headed the committee, for the dinner, we had a wonderful meal in a beautifully decorated conference hall. Thank you, Helen, and all your hard-working helpers.
The chapter’s mechanical crew and volunteers have been hard at work with the continued restoration of the Crescent Harbor. The trucks are now back under the car and have passed the Amtrak inspection. Re-wiring is progressing, and the interior painting preparation is underway. The crew worked on Tuesdays and Saturdays and often extra days, staying occupied with keeping our cars running and up to Amtrak specifications for rail travel. The marker lights systems on the No. 500 (Clinchfield coach) and No. 539 Powhatan Arrow coach) have been reworked and work on the refrigeration system on the No. 400 (Moultrie Diner) was done.
The chapter sadly lost one member, Withrow E. Jones, in 2009.
The chapter wants to congratulate three of our members — James Hutchinson, Chris Harman, and Louis Modica — who received their 25-year pins and certificates.
Our chapter members would like to commend our board of directors for their continued dedication to preserving railroad history. In addition, the chapter recognizes the hard work by the mechanical crew in maintaining and restoring the chapter’s cars.
The chapter office telephone and FAX number is 423-753-5797. Email contact is wataugavalley@embarqmail.com.