Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410310041
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
NS announced Friday afternoon that it will discontinue its steam-train excursion program after the close of its 1994 season. The news was greeted with sadness by those who have been connected with the railroad's steam trips in Roanoke, and it prompted a letter of protest from Roanoke Mayor David Bowers to NS Chairman David Goode.
An NS steam excursion from Bristol will arrive in Roanoke around 1 p.m. and return to Bristol later in the afternoon. Another excursion from Bristol to Knoxville, Tenn., and back follows Sunday. NS' last steam excursion will be Nov. 13 from Greenville, S.C., to Asheville, N.C.
Bob Fort, a spokesman at NS' Norfolk headquarters, said the steam excursions don't fit with the operation of a modern railroad. Many of their costs, such as security, were not directly associated with their operation, Fort said.
"As much as we love the history and tradition that attach to steam excursions, steam operations have become incompatible with our total commitment to customer service," Goode said in a statement. "We can no longer justify the program in terms of the physical, financial and human resources that it demands."
Fort said no NS employees are expected to be laid off. The excursion program was conducted in large part with volunteer labor. The railroad scheduled 50 excursions from April through November this year.
The 611 steam engine, which the railroad gave to Roanoke after commercial steam operations ceased in 1959, will be returned to Roanoke, probably to the Virginia Museum of Transportation, Fort said. NS had been using the refurbished engine for excursions under an agreement with the city since 1982. The engine was built in the Roanoke shops in 1950.
Bowers faxed a letter to Goode saying he was disappointed NS had not consulted with city officials and asking Goode for a chance to discuss the decision. Bowers reminded Goode that the city has been promoting tourism centered on the transportation museum.
Excursions are a big part of the city's plans, Bowers said. "We would like you to know our sincere interest in continuing them."
"It's very sad to me that this is what it's come to," said Kay Houck, the museum's executive director. The museum hosted NS steam excursions for children in the spring and other excursions each October as part of the Roanoke Railway Festival.
"It was very special to children to experience a little of the past," she said of the steam trips. "It was such a great gift to our community."
Gary Gray, president of the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, said he was disappointed but grateful NS allowed the excursions as long as it did.
"We've had 25 good years of doing it," he said. "I'm sorry to see it come to an end."
The 300-member society sponsored steam excursions and leased to the railroad restored passenger cars that were used in the trips. The society used the money from those leases to maintain and restore historic rail cars.
by CNB