THE  BEST  FRIEND  NEWSLETTERS 

January 1967 to Present

            This collection of Chapter newsletters from January 1967 is presented herein for their preservation.   Copies are available through
             www.bfoc1830@yahoo.com


DATE                                                                                   CONTENTS

1967

Charter Ceremony on May 20, 1967.

                                                Copy of Charter.

                                                “The Cradle of Railroading”.                                                

January                               Welcome.

                                                First Board of Trustees.

                                                Display of relics:

                                                                 100 yr old locomotive  bell

                                                                 American Flag draped over FDR train

                                                                 Original rail from Chas-Hamburg Railroad

                                                                 Whistle from narrow gauge logging

                                                                 Early steam pressure gauge

                                                                 Working patent model of couplings

                                                                 Coach markers and lamps.

February                            Charter members:

                                                                 Mendel Rivers                                 Ernest Hollings.

                                                Antique coach owned by ACL to be restored.

                                                Conductor’s caps donated by A Jones.

March                                  Mayor J. Palmer Gaillard is 100th member.

                                                Gov Robt McNair is 150th member.

                                                Southern donated stainless steel coach. 

April                                      Membership Roster.

May                                       Pullman Car Bizet donated.

                                                204 members.

June                                      Bizet is member of Opera Series of Pullmans.

July                                       The LeCatos become new members.

                                                Letter from Sgt. TR Carroll, USMC, asking for info about Hunley for book.

August

September

October

November                          CCNRHS is youngest and second largest chapter in US.

                                                 A.Langley Railroad artifacts from steam era described.

December                         “Porter” engine gets new brake system. 

1968

January                               Old Union Station clock moved.

February

March                                  “Railroad Slanguage”.

April                                      Book on railway maintenance, 1926, donated.

                                                Crossing tenders hand “stop” sign donated by C. Montgomery.

                                                Southern Railway No. 630 in Chapter excursion.

May                                       C&MW No. 1 has steam dome shroud painted ”Southern Passenger En Green”                         

                                                Stainless steel coach, “South Carolina”.

                                                No. 800 being repaired.

                                                “Two Days Behind a 2-8-0”.

   June

   July

   August                              Baggage car no. 6450 rewired.

                                                Chapter given 5 - 40 seat coaches:

                                                                No. 1052             Charleston        No. 1063             Aiken

                                                                No. 1054             Summerville     No. 1090             Hamburg

                                                                No. 1062             Branchville       (towns along 1830 Best Friend route). 

September                        Southern Railway donated to Chapter:

                                                                1 Baggage Car                                1 Heavy Weight Coach with a/c

                                                                1 RPO Car                                          1 Light                                   Bristol” a/c.

                                                Central of Ga donated:

                                                                Antique “Jordan” Spreader      Steam Derrick – 50-ton capacity.

                                                3 generations of Norrises rode Azalea Special No. 2 out of Chas-Branchville.

October                               

November                          22 foot trailer built to resemble red caboose for $2750.

Robt Kennedy casket was transported in only car his brother, Jack, used while President.

Ray Kroc of McDonalds paid $63,000 for a 43-year-old Pullman.

                                                Scale model of “BF” built for Chas Museum.

December                         Picture of “BF”.

1969

May                                       L. Jones donated conductor caps and switch key.

                                                Down payment of $500 made on Engine No. 44, leaving balance of $14,500.

                                                $1000 donated for chairs for the diner.

November                          “Spirit of St Louis” passengers lie on tracks until a/c repaired.

1970

August                                 Museum reopened. 

1972

January                              Photos of RR Stations…Harvin, Alcolu, Mullins, Savannah & Ga, SAL Freight in
                                               Ga Central of Ga, Passenger Shed in Ga.

April 25, 1972                  List of members

May                                       Mr. and Mrs. ID Smith join Chapter.

                                                BF Enginehouse dedicated, with Graham Claytor making dedication speech.

                                                The “One Spot” diner is fired up and a fish fry ensued.

                                                Photo of Manchester Locomotive Works No. 494.

                                                Photo of Vernon Scarborough, “Red” Bennett, Kit Darby and Katie Darby in
                                                dining car No.3157.

                                                Membership roster of  April 25, 1972.

                                                Letter to Editor by Le Cato regarding new Charleston Music Hall.

1973                                   

October

November                          Elloree Depot (ACL) of 1880, now a restaurant.

                                                Le Catos make donation for No. 44 repair.

                                                Aiken House mantel disappears.

1974

December                         Pullman Car “Bizet”, discussion of Pullman Green color.

January

February                            Composer, Dovorak, “New World” was rail fan.

                                                H. Truman favorite RR joke.                     

March                                  Remaining Jordan Spreader parts moved from Seven Mile Yard to storage lot 
                         
                      at SCE&G’s Charlotte Street facility.

                                                Photo of No. 750 Chas Chapter Drum on rear of “Lookout Mountain”.

April                                      Photos of Chapter Activities (Kurek, Park, Le Cato, Nelson, Pegram, Rohl).

                                                 Photo “BF” at AF Base.

May                                        Photos of Chapter activities.

June                                      News article about S. Spencer, First President of Southern, and death in train 
                       
                         wreck in 1906.

July                                       Name caboose comes from “kabuyse” which means galley (kitchen).

September                        Photos of stations in Middleton, Ohio in early 1900’s, Landrum, SC,
                                                 and  Hudson, NY.

                                                Photos of members Kurek, Varner, Pegram, Elting, Scarborough, Le Cato and Nelson.

                                                Dispatcher telephone, telegraph key, ticket stamp acquired.                                   

October                              Graham County RR near Robbinville, NC to have “Railfan Weekend”.

                                                Photos of Haluk Junction, Ontario and No. 44, Bamburg and Bizet.

November                          Kids day at Charleston AF Base with “BF” running.

                                                Ex ACL coach  and ex SAL RPO car photos.

1975

March                                  Jordan Spreader is ready for cutting torch.

                                                Lehman reports on trip to Tokyo.

April                                      Movie, “Snow on the Run” shown in diner                                             

May                                       AAR film, “The Right To Compete” (1956) shown.

                                                Record, “People, Trains & Things in Blue Grass”.

                                                Depot has runaway train.

                                                “Liar of the Year Award”…trains huddle together in winter.

June                                      Copy of letter regarding Mr. Little’s funeral in 1891.

August

September                        Editorial about railfans.

                                                Excerpt from “Commissary Instructions” by Pullman Company.

October                              November is model train month.

November

December

1976

January                              

February                            Origin of Savannah and Atlanta Railroads.

                                                Notes on Charleston RR of Civil War by Ken Sexton.

March                                  Chapter receives 4 diesel engines from Cummins Carolina Diesel Co.

                                                List of items needed for maintenance…steam crane, locomotive 44, office car, “Norfolk”,
                                                diner maintenance motor car No. 508, battery changing generator set, concession car, scrap
                                                car, all other cars.

April                                      1949 message from Charleston to ACL in Wilmington, NC … trouble with 14 cars piled up.

May                                        Notes, records and blue prints obtained by which history of “Norfolk” (once called the
 “Charleston”) may be traced.1975.

June

July

August                                 1853 SCRR car shop bldg saved by Preservation Society of Charleston.

December                         American Freedom Train.

1977

March                                  Southern gave Chapter two rare transfer cabooses:

                                                             Cab XC-5                                            CabXC-6.

                                             Elting family donates 8 place settings of stainless steel flatware.

                                             Watercolor of No. 44 on display at Virginia Bolton Art Gallery.

                                             Story of “Crescent”.

May                                       Chapter hosts Senior Citizen Excursion.

                                             East Cooper Pilot publication remembers Charleston Chapter.

                                             Southern “Crescent” remembered.

1978

January                               H. Salmons donates Brown Hoist Steam Crane.

February

May

June                                      Amtrak clearance sale…list of cars purchased.

                                                National Museum of Science and Tech in Washington, DC has new locomotive “Olomana”,
                                                Baldwin 1883, built for three gauge in Hawaii.

October

September                        Chapter sold surplus baggage car No. 355 to B. Frazier.

                                                for use in “End of the Line” retail market on Market Street.

                                                Report on National Convention in Roanoke.

1979

March                                  Transfer caboose XC-5 has new interior.

                                                 Max Davis model train collection donated.

September                        Bell on locomotive No. 44 disappears.

November                          Washington Convention.

1980

April                                      Chapter given Gulf Oil Vintage 6078 Gal Tank car, WRNX 14520. 

November

1982

April

May                                       Savannah Field trip.

                                                Seaboard business  car, “Norfolk”, in possession of Charleston Chapter. 

1983

November –

December                         Le Cato elected curator

                                                Dinner in the Diner

 1984

August                                 Photo of Chapter’s No. 76 pulling two coaches in Nov’76.

1985

May                                       Chapter and Chas Police Athletic League sponsor steam powered excursion on Southern
Locomotive No. 4501.

1986

January                              Cmdr Moale railroad memorabilia retrieved from trash by young neighbor.

                                                Photo of No. 44 and No. 1 in 1939.

1987

January/                             Photos of Trinidad, Panama, No. 1483 and Toledo Locomotives.

February

April                                     F. Moore asks for assistance in sorting through old RR papers that have accumulated.  Pictures of 1940’s cars at either Southern Shops or near old Union Station.

December                         Chapter Maintenance Equiupment list.

1988

February                           

March                                  Member contributions recognized.

July                                       Schedule of ticket stamp patterns from 1895 ad.

August                                Chapter attention shifted to the Ann Street Museum now that financial matters
remove possibility of maintaining aging cars.

                                                J. Heard completes Preservation Society and National Trust study of the Ann Street area. 
Assistance was furnished by F. Moore and Le Cato.

October                              AMTRAK Station visited by private cars, “Pocahontas”, and “New Line Valley”.

November                          Annual meeting.

                                               Chapter invited to attend groundbreaking for Visitor Center.  Gil Baldwin and Frank Moore
recognized for their work.

1989

February                            Discussion on cost of newsletter.

March                                  A. Pandy shows slides of New Ga RR excursion.

                                                Chapter has copy of handwritten letter from Ezra Miller to Patent Office.

April                                      Publishers, Houghton, Mifflin ask Chapter for photo of “Flying Dutchman”.

May                                       National proposes video library.

June                                      A. McIntosh is presented mug by Post Master in recognition of “BF” contribution to
mail delivery.

                                                F. Manigault shares RR memories.

July                                       Suggestion made for quarterly meeting as social events to include families.

                                                Museum patch collection includes Mt Washington, Western Maryland, Pullman and N&W.

                                                T. Fetters corrects use of SC Canal and Rail Road Company name.

August                                 Aiken House area undergoing renovation – oldest bldg in America, 1808.

                                                Captain shares memories of rail trip to beach in 1924.

September                        City studies plan for commuter rail to Summerville.

November                          Museum untouched by Hugo.

December                         Officers elected

1990

May                                       Two longs, a short and a long on a steam whistle.

                                                Photo of N&W 2-6-6 & R/N 1218 in 1989.

                                                List of railroad nicknames.

                                                Recognition of Black inventors.

June                                      F. Moore donates “The Great Book of Trains”.

                                                Copies of “Reports of the Railroad Commissioners of the State of SC from 1880 to 1936”.

                                                Univ of SC has twenty-two cabooses to be set out at Williams-Brice Stadium for parties.

July                                       Joint meeting with Savannah and Jacksonville at Crossing Restaurant in old Central of Ga train shed.

                                                Chapter looked at ACL wooden coach in private yard in Port Royal.

                                                Visited temporary City Hall in old ACL Station in Ravenel.

August                                 Chapter’s saving account for No.44’s restoration transferred along with train to SCRM.

                                                Chas Museum featuring toy trains including our 1923 American Flyer train in O gauge tin plate.

                                                V. Roming visited “BF” Museum to prepare  a model of the “BF” for SC Museum in Columbia.

September                        Model train show at Northwoods Mall.

                                                Mrs. J. Scudlark of Delaware donated “Model Railroader” Magazines (1952-1988) belonging to
her late father, Dr. Stewart Le Cato.

Extra                                    Handwritten notes for Feb/Mar’90, Apr/Jul’91, and Jan’96.

October                              V. Roming donates 188 copies of “Railroad man’s Magazine” (1906-1917) and
“Popular Science”  of WWII era…Le Cato critique of magazines.
         

                                             Ann Street construction discussed with mention of Hugo damage.

                                             Sullivan Island burns playground caboose donated by NRHS due to Hugo.

                                             B. Hainstock announces for President of NRHS.  

November extra             Ann Street looks like avenue in Beirut with shell holes, earth works  and tracked
vehicles moving about.

                                             1915 Moncks Corner Depot sold and moved for reuse as restaurant.

December                         SC Public Railways Commission to beautify plot of land near old wye at E Bay and
Chapel Streets.

                                             Swiss Federal Railways to add two diners to be operated by McDonalds, golden arches and all.

1991

January                               Chapter railway diner on lease to Hart County Scenic Railroad until April ’92.

                                             Former CSX Line, The Buckingham Branch Railroad in Va, noted for scenery and
wildlife, carries cyanite, used in space crafts.

                                             R. Andrews to publish book on great train wrecks.

February                            J. Fisher of CSX tells of vandalism in news article.

                                             Norfolk and Southern Caboose, “End of the Line”, given to James Simons Elem School on
King Street.

                                             Holly Hill Lumber Co No. 15 sold to M. Buckner in Junction City, Ga.

                                             Le Catos attend ceremony and reception at Soviet Embassy in Washington.

                                             “Crusty old Graham Claytor”!! article.

April                                      Joint meeting with Savannah in converted ACL Pullman No. 5341.

                                             Mention of, as late as 1897, “Blue Line” horse drawn street cars on Broad Street, “Red line”
on Rutledge Ave and “Yellow Line” on Meeting Street.

                                             Le Cato talk at Bishop-Gadsden is attended by Loti Rhett Ball, descendant of
William Aiken…verified that Best Friend frightened his horse and caused death.

                                             Mention of RL Stevenson book, which tells of trans-continental train divided in the
three sections (men, women and children, and Chinamen).

Melfi requested info about LF Melfi who worked on Chas to Summ Train Route, 1903-1928.

“Southern Railway Cook Book and Dining Car Manual” being transcribed by G. Mooneyhan.

May                                       Report on Ann St construction and the thriving generation of pigeon life in the rafters that
has been undiminished by the steam and coal smoke.

                                             Photo of Western Maryland No. 301.

June                                      Opening ceremony of Visitor Center.

                                             G. Baldwin recognized for his part in arranging donation of “Best Friend”.

                                             Le Cato news article.

                                             Le Cato  b’day memories of train adventures.

July                                       Discussion of assets of Chapter.

                                             Chapter acquires “The Official Guide to Railroad Dining Cars in China”.

                                             I. Miller donates collection of postage stamps featuring trains.

                                             Hwy. 52 near Cades, SC has collection of old passenger cars visible off road.

August                                 No. 44 moved to Rion.

                                             I A Athearn obituary.

                                             Captain is given pewter and silver plate with “Best Friend” in Bas Relief for his assistance
with plate…he will display the plate at Museum on occasion.

                                             Father of actor, Robert Mitchum, was a brakeman at Navy Yard in 1919.

September