January 2019 Article

January 2019

Update to the May 2013 article - In Search of Steam! - PLEASE SEE THE AUGUST 2019 ARTICLE WHICH IDENTIFIES THE ACTUAL TRAIN - FROM THE HARDWICK & WOODBURY RAILROAD IN NORTHERN VERMONT!

Back in 2013 we were excited to report that after 9 articles of "In Search of..." (either Steam, Diesel, or Motorcars), steam locomotive #8 was found. It was noted that 'around 1905 according to at least one prepared roster, the N&A secured a used locomotive rumored to have a tender rather than be configured as most engines on the N&A. The Virginia Alberene Corporation stock certificate that was found but not bid on, never provided a quality image from the certificate - so detail on the image was not captured well. Come forward five years to 2018 and another certificate was available and purchased. This certificate was real and not cancelled! It belonged to Grant Huntley and represented 14 shares. When it arrived, amazingly, the detail was extremely sharp! And it's not #8, but #2. If this is actually an indication of the ownership of what appears to be a 'Forney' engine with small tender.

When the last image was enlarged (under a high-power microscope) the #2 is extremely evident. While this doesn't clearly identify the builder it does give testament to the type (appearing to be a Forney-type) and it does show a small tender behind the tank engine which may have been made necessary by the need for coal and/or water along the line where it was not readily available. More research will be needed to be sure if this is actually a representation of the real railroad locomotive and soapstone blocks on flat cars from the N&A, but it is one step close to understanding the history of the railroad and the soapstone company. - AND later (see August 2019 Article) we find that this photograph was a stock image of a Vermont marble quarry railroad. Sadly, no hidden locomotive, just a poor choice of a photograph that would have been beneficial to have used one that actually depicted the N&A.

We continue to look for diagrams of the railway track at Rockfish for our Nelson & Albemarle Railway map. If you have something to share, please write to us at the email address above. Copyright 2019 - Nelson & Albemarle Railway Historical Society.