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Yesterday’s Trains Across the Commonwealth by Dale W. Diacont
Yesterdays Trains Across the Commonwealth by Dale W. Diacont
Hard cover with dust jacket
Copyright 2012
118 pgs
Index
Contents:
Foreword
The Enablers
Introduction
Mentors and a Military Railroad
Bend in the River
Remnants of the Richmond and Danville .
Short Lines in the Shenandoah
The Late Great RF&P
The Route 58 Route
Virginia Vignettes
Glossary
Index
Forward:
The famous American railway photographer and author Lucius Beebe once exclaimed, "of the making of railroad books there can be no end!" and we are glad it is so. Railroads are an appealing and dynamic subject, attracting writers and photographers for as long as wheels on rails have existed. Each image and each paragraph brings another perspective to the experience of railroads and preserves those views and reminiscences for generations of rail enthusiasts into the future. From the dramatic mainlines to quaint branches and exotic shortlines, rails are a source of wonder and inspiration to young boys and old men alike, and this volume celebrates Virginia's rail diversity in a manner that would please the great Beebe.
The 1950s were an exciting time to be introduced to the railroads in Virginia. There was still steam out on the road, but the knowledge that it was chugging toward extinction brought urgency to the gathering of photographs and experiences along the right of way. There was another revolution underway as photography experienced new technology in the form of faster film emulsions and more compact cameras, better able to capture the speeding trains. Back then railfans were more welcome along the lines, but that was before corporate concerns over increased liability and terror attacks brought suspicion and restrictions that diminished the pleasure of just watching the trains go by.
This volume captures the old feeling of train watching as author Dale Diacont recounts his own experiences from not only railside, but from the engineer's seat, because he has made his love of trains into a career with Virginia's CSX. Dale has selected experiences and images that trace his early exposure to the steam and diesel menagerie at Fort Eustis, the memorable scenery on excursions up the James River, the fast, polished RF&P double track out of Richmond and the rambles along the old Richmond & Danville, dating back to Virginia's antebellum railroad era. From Virginia's Eastern Shore to the undulating grades of Shenandoah Valley shortlines and down along the Southside there are memorable tales of engines and cars and the men and women who ran them. Dale spent little time with the N&W or Virginian or even the little Interstate, other volumes have tilled those fields; instead, this book captures vignettes of the Commonwealth's railroads that many have never experienced.
Using black and white film, until Kodak made digital images imperative, Dale recorded all that he saw, and for what he missed he has included images taken by friends met along the way. This is a fine journey along the mainlines and branches of Virginia's remarkable railroads, so enjoy the trip. All aboard!
Tom Ledford
All pictures are of the actual item. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.
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