Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
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Sunday, June 17, 2012
FRIDAY’S WORD was mandarin (MAN-drin). It means a problem for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule; also: an illogical, unreasonable, or senseless situation; marked by polished ornate complexity of language. “Paradoxically, given his intense intellectuality and mandarin prose, Updike wrote his best work about ordinary life, especially in his tetralogy about Harry ‘Rabbit’ Angstrom.” — From an obituary by Andrew Rosenheim in The Independent (London), Jan. 29, 2009 (Source: Merriam-Webster)
SUNDAY’S WORD is exigent (EK-suh-junt). “Except in exigent circumstances, citizens are supposed to call the police — not take the law into their own hands.” — From an editorial by Owen Courrèges in Uptown Messenger, May 14, 2012 (Source: Merriam-Webster)
On Sunday, June 24, Norfolk Southern Corp., the railroad serving Henry County and Martinsville, will sponsor a steam locomotive-powered excursion train from Winston-Salem, N.C., to Roanoke. This is the rail line commonly referred to as “the punkin’ vine” because of its many curves. The train is scheduled to leave Winston-Salem at 10 a.m. and arrive in Roanoke at 3 p.m. The trip is operated in conjunction with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Ward Armstrong of Henry County, a train enthusiast and member of the Roanoke Chapter, Railway Historical Society, said while the train trip is one-way from Winston-Salem to Roanoke, return bus transportation will be provided back to Winston-Salem. (Roanoke passengers can take a bus at 7 a.m. from Roanoke to Winston-Salem.) Tickets for the excursion are $95 per person which includes the train ride, bus transportation and a box lunch. Seats are limited so people interested in riding the train are encouraged to purchase their ticket soon. Tickets may be purchased online from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum website at www.tvrail.com and then clicking on the 21st Century Steam link.
Armstrong provided the following information on the steam locomotive: The steam locomotive pulling the train is former Southern Railway engine 630. The engine has Virginia ties as it was built by the Richmond Works of the American Locomotive Company in 1904. The locomotive was in regular service with the Southern until it was retired in 1952. In 1999 the engine was donated by Southern Railway’s successor, Norfolk Southern Corp., to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum which restored the engine for excursion service. For those who want to see the train but not take the ride, it should pass through Ridgeway, Martinsville, Fieldale and Bassett areas on the Norfolk Southern main line between 11:30 a.m. and noon June 24. Armstrong wrote that this is the first steam-powered excursion through the area in more than a decade. Regular passenger service ended on the line in the early 1960s.
Martinsville and other groups are holding a contest to rename the Uptown Spur Trail and Park in connection with improvements being made to that area. Submit nominations along with your name, address and phone number by 5 p.m. July 6. The top selections will then be announced for voting by the public. The top three winners will each receive a MHC Prize Pack and one grand prize winner will receive a basket of local products. Submit nominations to: City of Martinsville, Attn: Spur Trail Renaming Contest, P.O. Box 1112, Martinsville, Va. 24114; or by email to SMCCULLOCH@ci.martinsville.va.us.
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