Charleston Chapter NRHS

PHOTOS

OF

BEST FRIEND TRAIN

TAKEN IN 1943

We are indebted to the son of Carl W. Schmidt, Jr. for the photos displayed below.  When  Tom Schmidt of Smyrna, TN, read Kevin Keefe’s blog in Classic Trains about his visit to the Best Friend Train Museum, he contacted us to share the photos that his father took while he was assigned to the U. S. Coast Guard Base in Charleston from 1943 to 1947.  Tom and his 3 sisters were all born at the old Navy Yard Hospital during that time.

Carl Schmidt served in the USCG for 21 years and during his time in Tampa/St. Petersburg he was an NRHS member.  We are pleased to have these old photos and now the guessing game begins to decide where the train was housed in 1943.  Do the arches give anyone a clue?

___________________________________________

  PETER C. STABOVITZ, JR.

The Charleston Chapter NRHS will miss their long time Chapter Historian, Pete Stabovitz, who passed away on December 24, 2019.  Pete has been a member of NRHS since 1986 and he has supported our Chapter through its many projects over the years, including our campaign for the establishment of the Best Friend Train Museum to house our 1830’s steam locomotive.  Pete often gave talks at our gatherings in the Best Friend Park when we would place the train on display for public viewings.  He knew a lot about trains and even bought a passenger car in the mid 1900’s with dreams of using it as a residence.  Pete loved trains and the National Railway Historical Society and the South Carolina Railroad Museum.

Pete is responsible for bringing our Chapter into the computer age by establishing our current website www.BestFriendofCharleston.org.  He fought tirelessly to bring us up to date on things like jpeg and pdf and email.  At that time, we didn’t know .com from .net or .org.  We were bored by such concepts, but Pete won and we now think we are up to date but, with Pete gone, we may miss some of the new technology that comes along.  He will certainly be missed and he will be in our memories.

TRIBUTE FROM A FELLOW CHAPTER MEMBER

The end of the year, the end of the decade, the end of the line.  May his last signal be high green.  We’ve lost a wealth of rail (and Navy Yard) experience, history and knowledge.  Pete’s rambling rail memories will be missed.

______________________________________________

FETTERS’ NEW BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Great News.

Some of you will be interested in two new books on “Carolinas Short Lines In Color” Volume 1 and Volume 2.  They are by Gary Carlson of Pittsboro, NC and published by Morning Sun.  They are pricey at about $60, and $70, but they ship FREE in the USA.

I just got Volume 2 and was so impressed, I ordered Volume 1 this morning.  Morning Sun Books , Inc is in New Jersey and accessible with an internet search.

These are “Traditional Shortlines of the Carolinas 1950 to 1980”.

Vol 2 has Greenville & Northern Railway, Hampton & Branchville Railroad, High Point, Randleman, Asheboro & Southern RR, High Point, Thomasville & Denton, Lancaster & Chester Railway, Laurenburg & Southern, Pickens RR, Piedmont & Northern Rwy, Rockingham RR, Rockton -Rion Rwy, SC Public Railways, Virginia & Carolina Southern RR, Ware Shoals RR, Warrenton RR, Wilmington Terminal RR, Winston Salem Southbound RWY, Yadkin RR, and Yancey RR.  [N.C. lines]

While the color photos date to the period of 1950 to 1980, they are EXCELLENT and not to be found in any other publication.   I noted, however, that the text for each line drops back to the original line and in general discusses the railroad through the overall time from the 1880’s to near the current day.

Since the Transylvania RR was gone, the author did not include the Southern Railway branch from Hendersonville west to Rosman.  (A mistake, I think, but it is not included.)

Volume 1 has a similar listing of short lines from A to G.

The Greenville & Northern section is spread over 7 pages: with text back to the Greenville & Port Royal and on to the Greenville & Western to the G&N on Page 9.  Page 10 has a color photo of steam locomotive #15 in color, and diesel #70; Page 11 has #78, G&N 70 and 9; and 75 & 70. Page 12 has #9 and #70 in Travelers Rest, crossing the P&N; and an the engine house in Greenville;  Page 13 has G&N #9 at the shop, and #70 at Travelers Rest.   Page 14 has #9 at Travelers Rest, Engineer Bill Leo, and boxcar #8134 at a customers plant.  Page 15 has #70 leaving Greenville with boxcar #8014, G&N #1 in 1992 at Greenville; and G&N Rwy #704 at Travelers Rest (but actually South Carolina Central RR-Carolina Piedmont Division (new owner).

The Yancey may appeal to Transylvanians as it ran west from the Clinchfield RR at Kona to Micaville and Bowditch and west to Burnsville, Vixen, Pensacola, Murcheson and Eskota.  All of this east of Asheville and on west side of Mount Mitchell.  Three locomotive photos plus photos of freights and tourist trains,  a caboose and the final run in April of 1984.

All in all, impressive and informative material, outstanding considering the color photos of lines, nearly all gone.  The Lancaster & Chester is still active and added trackage North & South out of Lancaster to serve an area that was being abandoned, until saved by purchase.  Pages 121 to 127.

I have no connection with the publisher, but having had seven books released in Black & White by five publishers, I recognize a grandstand when I see one.   [My books predate color photography.)