Touring the Brandywine & Benedictine Railroad
Norm StenzelDescription
The tour of Norm Stenzel’s Brandywine and Benedictine model railroad begins with a group of notorious railfans waiting for train 119 to arrive at Alleghany. The southbound ridge runner appears out of the Alleghany Tunnel. After some discussion with the authorities, the adventurers are allowed on board with no resistance by the police. At Crow, West Virginia the 847 passes Wishbone Mine Number 2, the biggest on the division.
There train 119 moves by the Attaway Furniture Company while fans take pictures. The railroad keeps an eye on them. A police car continues to follow the cash van as the ridge runner heads into the north end of Ashwood Tunnel. There another cameraman gets photos of the north fork of Barbour’s Creek at State Line Tunnel on the border of Virginia and West Virginia.
The train is now in Virginia and the steel truss bridge gets 119 over Barbour’s Creek. The Pocahontas Coal Company operates out of Beatrice, with the Lodge Woods Products Company in the foreground. Next through Natural Tunnel which was etched by millions of years of water flowing from cracks in the limestone. Next it travels by Pioneer Coal, another busy spot and then to the north end of Barry Knob Tunnel with the Alleghany viaduct above.
Next it’s on to New Castle, Virginia where the camera man stops again, blocking traffic. 119 ducks out between the a publishing house and mill works. Since the sun is going down, the rail fans will stop for the night if they have any sense. The police seem to be closing in on them. The sun sets as the 282 and 482 head into Virginia. Salem roundhouse is a busy spot where all running repairs are made, most passengers will get off here and a welcoming party waits for them. After servicing, the ridge runner heads out for Winston Salem. It’s dark as the train heads into the staging yard.
A group of notorious rail fans waits for train 119 to arrive in Allegheny. Before long, we hear the sounds of a southbound Ridge Runner working its way out of Allegheny Tunnel. After some discussion with the authorities, the adventurers are allowed onboard. Even the police offer no resistance. At Crow, West Virginia, the Mikado and Mountain pass Wishbone mine umber two, the biggest on the division. At Wishbone, train 119 moves by the Attaway Furniture Company and Krauss has taken his camera to the platform. The notoriety of these rail fans has preceded them. The railroad has decided to keep an eye on them. That police guard continues to follow the chase van. That's the Big Mike coal tower. The Ridge Runner heads into the north end of Ashwood Tunnel. Exiting the tunnel, Mikado number 847 leads the train through Ashwood Passing siding. Krauss has managed to get off the train in order to capture this spectacular shot. This is the north fork of Barbers Creek at state line tunnel on the border of Virginia and West Virginia. We're now in Virginia. The steel truss bridge gets train 119 over Barbers Creek. The Pocahontas Coal Company operates out of Beatrice. In the foreground is the Lodgewood Products Company. Natural Tunnel was etched by millions of years of water flowing from limestone cracks. Pioneer Coal is another busy spot on the line. This is the north end of Barry Knob Tunnel. Above is the Allegheny viaduct. This tactic won't win any friends in Newcastle, Virginia. Coming out of Barry Knob Tunnel, the Ridge Runner passes the Power and Light and the Willer Wire Winders. New Castle has come to a stop because of the blockage at the grade crossing. Number 119 ducks out of sight between Burke Publishing and Jenkins Millworks. Since the sun is going down, these rail fans will stop chasing this train if they have any sense. The police seem to be closing in on them. The sun sets as the 282 and 482 head into Salem, Virginia The Salem roundhouse is a busy spot. All of the running repairs are done here. Most passengers will get off here in Salem. In fact, there's already a welcoming committee. These guys sure get around. After servicing, the Ridge Runner heads out for Winston-Salem. It's gotten darker as the passengers watch Gandon yard fade away. It's getting too dark to continue this chase as the Ridge Runner heads into Clearbrook Tunnel and the hidden staging yard.
That was a hilarious video with the notorious rail fans.