C&OHS mailbag

Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Magazine, Jul/Aug 2002

Letters to the Editors are welcome, and will appear in the Magazine as space permits. Letters may be edited for space and content.

Stapleton, and a Question

The article by Chris Wiley on the Stapleton, Va., depot [April 2001] is outstanding not only for its historical interest but for its thorough documentation.

Does anyone know what happened to the depot at Walkerford? The last time I saw it, in the early 1970s, the structure was being used as a residence.

E. R. Conner III

Service, C&OHS Style

In preparing for an Amtrak trip to Washington, D.C., for a model railroad event, I realized that I was missing the C&O track charts for the Alleghany and Mountain Subdivisions, over which I would be traveling on the CardinaL They are great for keeping track of where you are, what's coming next, and for pinpointing photo locations.

It was Saturday. Departure was Tuesday. There was no way the charts could be ordered from the C&OHS, shipped, and received in time.Then I had an ideal

On Monday morning I phoned Crystal at the Society's office in Clifton Forge and ordered the charts I needed, along with the new 1950 Industrial Directory. I explained my time constraints and the fact that I would be passing through Clifton Forge on Wednesday aboard the CardinaL Would she mind making a personal delivery to me, at the depot, when the train pulled in?

After a pause, Crystal asked, "How will I recognize you?"

"Just put the items in the usual white shipping box," I replied, "and I'll look for you and holler!"

Following a second pause, Crystal asked, "Do you have a cell phone? That train is always late, but if you can call ahead and let me know when you'll be here, I can be at the depot with the package."

Bingo! The train crew liked my story and were aware of the C&OHS. As we pulled out of Hinton, I asked the assistant conductor about timing. He radioed the engineer, who replied that we would be at Clifton Forge about 2:40 pm.

We stopped at the depot at 2:39. The rest, as they say, is history.

Dave Vos