RNRH Newsletter - Roanoke Chapter NRHS

morning trip was slightly marred whensome nare do wells paintballed the northsideof the train ten minutes into its trip.Along with the NS police, the Altoona FireDepartment was alerted to be on hand towash the mess off upon the train's return toAltoona. To my knowledge, no one wasapprehended. The remaining excursionsproceeded unblemished. Many fans speculatedthat senseless act may cause NorfolkSouthern to cease future excursion cooperation.I sure hope not.The Railfest appeared to be well attendedby railfans and civilians alike. For therecord, there were other activities going onwhile the excursion trains rolled including amodel railroad display and flea market.Long Time Agent at Prince WestVirginia RetiresMarvin Plumley, longtime station agentat Prince, West Virginia, has recentlyretired. Plumley, a familiar face to numerousarea railfans including several RoanokeChapter members, was scheduled to leavehis post on July 29 and said his future timewould include hunting and fishing as wellas trying to become an artist.Plumley was born a short distance fromthe Prince station where he worked as aticket agent for the Chesapeake & OhioRailroad and then for Amtrak. Plumely followedin the footsteps of both his fatherand grandfather, who were also railroademployees.Plumley recalled that back when he startedhis career the C&0 adhered very closelyto its train schedules, and that one couldalmost set his watch by the arrivals anddepartures. The station at Prince is the thirddepot there, with the first one being openedabout 1880.In his early days it cost about $3.00 to rideto Cincinnati. Now the fare is anywherefrom $35 to $70 depending on when thereservation is made.Plumley does not recall his first train ride,but noted that given the smoke, whistles,clatter of the wheels and the idea of rollingalong a set of parallel rails, the train offereda form of magic that no other form of transportationcould duplicate.(Above excerpted from an article in theRegister-Herald by Mannix Porterfield, viaThe Gondola, Newsletter of the HuntingtonChapter).Mayo River Trailby Kenney KirkmanAbout 100 people, including yourTurntable Times Editor, were invited togather on the banks of the Mayo River inthe town of Stuart in Patrick County onMonday night July 23, 2007 to celebrate thekickoff of the Mayo River Trail Project.The three-mile paved walking and bikingMayo River Trail will be built along the railbed of the Danville and Western Railway, or"Dick and Willie" which ran from Danvillethrough Martinsville and on to the town ofStuart from 1884 until July 31, 1942. Onthat date, 26 miles of the line were removedfrom the town of Fieldale in Henry County,westward to Stuart.The Mayo River Trail will begin at a pointin downtown Stuart at the intersection ofRoute 8 and Commerce Street near the formerClark Brothers Warehouse. Planners arelooking for a caboose to place at the beginningof the trail, which would serve as a visitorand information center.From the Route 8, Commerce Street area,the trail will proceed eastward along theMayo River crossing that stream twicebefore ending behind the newly constructedWal-Mart which is located on Route 58 justeast of Stuart.Another portion of the old "Dick and4