Volume 65 – Issue 6 June 1, 2025
From the Brass Hat
We hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend. On May 17th we celebrating Armed Forces Day. The weather cooperated and it was good event. A special thank you goes out to Harold Boettcher for organizing the American Legion Post 116 color guard and to all who put the decorations together. A reminder was recently sent out about the special board election. The ballots are due June 5th. If you have voted thanks, but if not, you still have a chance, so please help us fill these two seats.
With a wet spring, our right-of-way is greening and the vegetation growing, maybe a bit too much. The Wednesday crew has started to cut back branches impacting the train, however there is a lot of clearing yet to do along the ballast. Saturday workdays are being organized to help clear brush. Look for announcements of dates and times. This is a large, but necessary project. Please help out on a Wednesday or Saturday work day. Even if you can only spare an hour or two, we can definitely use the help with either raking the pine straw, or doing some weed whacking or lopping. That’s all for this month. Thanks for keeping our museum rolling.
-John
John Morck
President, NCRM
Don’t Forget! The Annual NRHS convention is in Lansing, MI from 12-17 July this year. Click here to get more information. Book by 11 June for early bird discounted prices.
Get to Know a Member
by Tom Hutchinson
Name: Dave Chasco
How long have you been a member? Since March 2006
Where are you originally from? Wisconsin, but went to school in Illinois, lived in Missouri, back to Wisconsin then in Minnesota and, now in North Carolina for the last 26 years
What was your job in real life? I started as an aeronautical engineer in 1969, but found the industry not to be very stable and moved into die design for a local forge shop, then into the electro-mechanical testing field and finished up working in the design of operating Toy trains. Where do you live now (City & State only)? Cary, NC
Family? Married to Carmen going on 56 years; two kids: Paul and Jill; and 3 grandkids: Ben, Logan and Morgan. All have been out at the railroad.
How did you become interested in trains? I was the eldest grandchild on both sides and had a grandfather (Car knocker), Father (switchman) and 3 uncles (conductor, switchman and brakeman) who worked for the CNW. At the time paychecks had to be picked up in person, so I got many trips to the yard office and got many rides in the engines and cabooses, shop tours, etc. I also was familiar with a local train layout in a taproom called Chokel’s (it was in Wisconsin!). I was mesmerized by it. I also received a Lionel 2046 steam engine set for Christmas in 1954. Later I joined the Local train club (Lionel Railroad club of Milwaukee) and ultimately became the club’s president. Still later I found a hobby shop (III Rail supply) whose owner was really into trains and sponsored my membership in both TCA and TTOS.
How did you find about NHVR? Carmen found out about cab rides at the NHV and booked one for me in 1999. She saw a small ad in the paper for things to do and got it as a birthday present. The engineer was Gene Ezzell. Ultimately, I connected with Robert Middour, who was a sales rep for K-Line and worked for K-Line. I actually worked for K-Line Trains for 3 years to finish my career. It was Robert who got me to send in my application in late 2005.
What is your favorite activity at the New Hope Valley Railway? I like numbers and currently do the monthly FRA ridership report. I particularly enjoyed car hosting as I got to interface with hundreds, likely over 10,000, customers who rode in my car during my tenure. Additionally, we have a great staff, and I enjoy talking with and emailing each and every one. In my early years with the NHV, I teamed with Ray Albers and we assisted Jim Meade and Chris Boli doing track work every spring. I also worked on the construction of Car 200 and did the design as well on car 201.
Armed Forces Day: Colors, a Payload, and a VIP
by Velinda Chapman
Armed Forces Day 2025 is in the books! Starting off as overcast and grey skies, Armed Forces Day 2025 at the North Carolina Railway Museum turned into a beautiful, warm and sunny summer day. The railyard and excursion cars were accented in red, white, and blue and John T. kept the air filled with festive patriotic band music. The Honor Guard from American Legion Post 116 presented colors at 10am followed by a few, heart-felt remarks from our own Veteran, Harold B (photos below courtesy of Kevin E.).
The railway crew provided three safe and enjoyable rides, including the unexpected mitigation of a fallen tree across the tracks during the first ride. Thanks to our onboard lumberjacks for free tree removal services! Jim W. reported that across all three rides, 22 military tickets were issued. Tom S. kept a running score for military services on his excursion car and the Air Force, Navy, Army, Coast Guard, and Marines were all represented. Among these were two Navy quartermasters and one cartographer.
The NCRM was fully staffed with Cindy running the Gift Shop, Jim M. managing the signals, John T. working as dispatcher, and Doc Majors manning the RPO. Linda K. and Sharon E. ticketed our passengers while Jim W. drove the limo and took care of the flags on the pedestrian bridge. The train crew worked seamlessly together, including some musical chairs between the engineers Harold B., Gene E., and Rob G, and the Head-End Brakemen (Rob G., John C., John M., and Dennis W.). Excursion car and caboose brakemen also provided excellent customer service in their typically friendly manner: Tom S., Patrick C., Jim J. and Brandt W. Conductor Kevin E. kept the crew in sync and on time. Garden railroad operations were performed by Scott G., Tom H., Velinda C., and the newest G-scale railroader, Hayden R. (welcome!). And once again, Paul D., Larry G., and Tom K. performed perfect NASCAR pit crew maneuvers in the parking lot.
Superintendent John M. and Conductor Kevin E. expanded railway payload beyond passengers to include a vintage USAF Jeep securely anchored to the flatcar. It also enjoyed two rides under blue skies and a warm summer sun. [This paragraph (before photos were received) almost gave Chris T. a stroke]
The third ride of the day at 1:30pm had only 33 passengers and also included one special VIP. Hailing all the way from San Diego, CA, Lem Waggoner is a 102-year-old World War II Veteran and US Navy Gunner’s Mate Petty Officer First Class. He was given the red-carpet treatment by our Navy Veteran Tom K. and our Army Veteran Tom S. A special train ride for this World War II Veteran turned into a real honor for our own Veterans. The Grand Finale to a great NCRM day! [see additional story in this edition – ed]
Several North Carolina Railway Museum volunteers pose with the American Legion Post 116 Honor Guard on Armed Forces Day 2025. Left to right: Kevin Edwards, Harold Boettcher, John Morck, Brandt “Squiggy” Wilkus, John Cummings, Honor Guard members, Dennis Winchell, Velinda Chapman, Patrick Cook., Jim Jatko, Tom Snyder, and Bob “Doc” Majors.
Special Board Election Reminder: Ballots due by 5 June 2025
You have received the ballots by now, along with a recent minor correction to the bio sent by Kevin Edwards on behalf of the Nominating Committee. You can print your ballot from the last newsletter or the email from Kevin, or you can pick one up at the yard office. You may mail or drop off your ballots at the yard office.
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western (AC&W) Railway Shop Tour
by Victor Varney
The Norfolk Southern Historical Society held its annual member meeting on August 25-26. On Saturday August 26 there was a special visit to AC&W’s shop in Candor, NC. After a brief welcome by Robert Menzies (who owns the AC&W) the NSHS annual member meeting was held in one of AC&W’s dining cars and then we were all were invited to see inside the shop building.
The shop building is huge, maybe as long as the NHVR excursion train. There
are 4 tracks in the building with wide spacing in between for servicing rail equipment. At the end of the building there is an extension for one rail line into the paint shop. One side of the building is for storing lots of replacement parts for their fleet of locomotives and rail equipment. While the shop building is where the AC&W services their locos, it is also where several passenger cars and other rail equipment have been preserved or are currently being restored. Much of this equipment was also open for the NSHS members to go inside. Some of the beautifully restored passenger cars are used for AC&W client only train rides but some are also now being used in their growing train ride schedule for the public.
Outside the building in the back there are several other “future” locomotive projects being stored including a recently acquired exFrisco Railroad #1352 ALCO 2-8-2 steam loco awaiting assessment for restoration. Throughout the nearly 2-hour visit Robert Menzies was on hand to answer countless questions from all the NSHS members. A number of years ago some of our NCRM members had a chance to visit AC&W’s shop building in Candor.
The AC&W now offers 2-hour public tours of their shop on the first Friday of each month between 1-3 pm limited to 30 people. Price is $25 per person. Here is where you can get tickets. For more info about the AC&W and the passenger train schedule, click here:
Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway Shop Tours | Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway
For more information about the NSHS and how to become a member see their website by clicking here. If you do not receive the operating crew calls, please contact the crew caller here if you are interested in participating in train operations! We need all the help we can get to keep the trains running safely.
AC&W’s “Different” Kind of Operate-A-Loco
by Victor Varney
If you have already read my story in this Telegrapher about visiting AC&W’s shop, you might be a little surprised about one of their more “unexpected” projects. The story starts with an ex-CSX #666 GE AC6000CW diesel locomotive acquired by the AC&W. It was planned to be scrapped. Robert Menzies (owner of the AC&W) and his inspired shop crew decided to give this old locomotive a new lease on life by converting it into a bar. That’s right, a bar! Except for the cab and rear end, much of everything else in the middle of this loco was removed to re-imagine it as the “Engine Room 87” locomotive bar. Where the engines once were located is now a covered open air seating area with a restroom.
There is also a person there that will give you a special ID card that you can use to dispense from one of several nearby self-pour taps for beer, wine, or other beverages. The ID card is tied to your credit card and you are billed like a gasoline pump by how much you pour into your very nice large size aluminum recyclable cup. At the end of your visit, you turn in the ID card and they will give you a credit card receipt. Above the bar area on both ends of the loco are nice, covered seating areas where there are more taps. You can still go into the cab which is air-conditioned with the engineer’s seat and many of the controls still in place plus a nice, curved couch seating area. Rule G no longer applies in this cab.
The original cab restroom down below is still functional, too. The work that went into this project is awe inspiring from not only how this loco was re-imagined, but the level of skill and quality workmanship to make this all blend seamlessly into what remains of the old locomotive. The color scheme and paint finish are beautiful and flawless, too.
But wait, there’s more!
Coupled behind the locomotive is what used to be a tender caboose that inside has been remodeled into a very nice air-conditioned, carpeted lounge with big bay windows, comfy seating, more taps, and a tiny restroom. Above, there is another covered seating area reached by a small spiral staircase with more taps. On the day I visited there was a converted flat car that now serves as another outdoor seating area and space for playing cornhole. And yes, more taps. I visited this “train” during the NSHS annual meeting last month when it was parked on a siding along the fairways at the Pinehurst Country Club. (It is also a nice place to sit on top and watch AC&W trains go by!) Its open Mon-Wed 11 am to 5 pm, and Thur-Sun 11 am to 7 pm. If you want to visit Engine Room 87 it is not always parked in Pinehurst. It does move around sometimes to other locations on the AC&W. For the latest info see the AC&W Facebook page.
Here is a video walkthrough of Engine Room 87 and the remodeled tender caboose.
Here is a video showing Engine Room 87 moving along the AC&W in a special guest train. [first runby is at 2:17 in the video clip. – ed]
NHVR Passenger Spotlight
All aboard! One passenger catching a train ride on Armed Forces Day was Lem Waggoner. Accompanying Lem was Teresa DePuy, his daughter, and son-in-law SP4 Mark DePuy, an Army Veteran. SP4 DePuy served from 1975 to 1978 as a clerk typist. He was stationed at Frankfurt, Germany under General Alexander Haig and then at Wiesbaden, Germany. Hooah!
Conversations across the railyard led to the discovery that Lem is a 102-year-old World War II Veteran! He grew up in Canadian, Texas and joined the Navy in January 1942 just after turning 19 years old. Lem attended bootcamp in San Diego and then rate training school in Great Lakes, IL to become a gunner’s mate. His first duty station was in San Diego where he worked at the Navy training command drawing schematics for the students to learn about guns, specifically taking them apart and putting back together. During that time, he met his sweetheart, Marian, and they married in 1944. Subsequently, he deployed to the Philippines via a British transport ship where he again taught sailors how to service and use various types of guns. Within three years he achieved the rank of Gunner’s Mate First Class Petty Officer (E-6)! Although GM1 Waggoner enjoyed his time in the Navy, he opted for civilian life at the end of the war so he could return stateside to Marian and meet his newborn daughter, Theresa. He returned to San Diego aboard the USS General William Mitchell (AP-114), a troopship that served in WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War. GM1 Waggoner served 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days, and stated that “I did whatever I was told to do!”
Sadly, after almost 80 years of marriage, Marian passed away. Although Lem misses her every day, he enjoys good health, time with family, and gardening. He owns a 1939 Ford Deluxe and an interview by Duane Moore of Veterans Rides can be viewed here: Lem’s 1939 Ford. The North Carolina Railway Museum thanks GM1 Lem Waggoner for his military service (1942-1945) and for enjoying a relaxing ride on the New Hope Valley Railway with Theresa and Mark. Fair winds and following seas, shipmate!
ACL Baggage Car 1665 Update
by Tom Snyder
The new subfloor system has been completed. The widespread wood rot in the floor system has been eliminated. New closed-cell insulation board has replaced water-damaged insulation. Layers of new plywood have replaced rotted 5” x 1-1/2” decking boards. Damaged existing 3/4” wood flooring has been removed as well. Vinyl plank flooring will be installed later prior to the exhibits being installed. There will be a portion of the original flooring system as used in the express baggage section reproduced to show the special use it served.
Flaking and chipped paint continues to be removed from the ceiling overhead as repainting of the walls nears completion. Help would be appreciated with the paint removal. The next step is the removal and replacing of the existing overhead wiring and converting the fixtures to LED lights.
Thanks to all who worked on the subfloor project: Tom McGraw, Charles Stirewalt, Paul Williams, Jimmy Sumerell, John Wright, Joe Neidermuller, Ray from Michigan, Anita Hussey, Paul Del Bianco, Velinda Chapman, Larry Gustke, Jim Jatko and my apology to anyone I missed. Great effort by all.
Feel free any Wednesday to visit ACL 1665 to see the progress.
North Carolina Railway Museum Member Survey
All of our members have unique talents and backgrounds. At times, projects or activities may arise at the museum that require special skills, a particular background, or experience in a general area. To ensure that members with special skills are made aware of opportunities around the museum that may be a fit with their skills or background, we are developing a member skills database. By responding to the questions below, you will help us build this database. You can print it out and after answering it, either (1) scan it or (2) take a picture with your phone and email it to Tom Hutchinson.
Or after filling out the survey, you can mail it to: NCRM Survey, PO Box 40, New Hill, NC 27562 or you can drop it in the “Membership” mailbox in the Dispatcher’s office. Thanks!
Name:
Any Military Service-Active, former, National Guard, Reserves (Yes or No):
Do you have any of the following skills (Yes or No next to each item; add comments if needed): Accounting/Bookkeeping
Audio-Visual
Automotive repair
Carpentry Construction
Customer Service
Diesel Engine Repair
Electrical
Equipment Operator
Glass Repair
Grounds maintenance
IT/Internet/Tech-Savvy
Inventory Management-Tools, Hardware
Landscaping/Gardening
Marketing
Mechanical
Painting
Plumbing
Project Management
Retail operations
Scale modeling/indicate Scale
Small engine repair
Welding
Woodworking
Other (List)
