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Riding the Rails
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See page 13
Vol. 7, No. 7
A Shoreline Community^ Pine Knoll Shores^ N.C.
February 2011
A Different Variety of Farm
By Charlie McBriarty
Having spent several years in the
Midwest states of Illinois and Indiana, I was
somewhat conversant with what farming
involved. In this part of the country, the
land is flat and the summers are hot,
humid and conducive to farming, growing
acres upon acres of corn and soybeans.
Wheat fields intermittently broke up the
monotony. Occasionally, while driving
along Midwest state byways you might
also see a dairy farm where Guernseys
roamed. For me farming was defined as
producing food for the marketplace.
During this past holiday season
driving north on Indiana Interstate 65,
I became aware of a recently introduced
phenomenon that has modified my
definition of farming. As we drove north
of Indianapolis toward Chicago, on both
sides of the highway for about 10 miles,
we encountered a stretch of wind farms
or wind plants. Towering high, their three
blades slowly turning, these modern-day
windmills, or wind turbines, stood in
sharp contrast to the snow covered land
that bordered the highway. There were
rows and rows as far as I could see of these
giant towers, their blades moving at what
might be considered a hypnotic pace.
(Fortunately, I was not driving during this
portion of the trip.)
This experience caused me to do a little
Internet research about wind farming.
Surprisingly, I found that 10 of Indiana’s
counties have or are constructing wind
farms. Even more startling was that these
(Continued on page 3)
Riding the Rails
By Tom Powers
Once the thrill of riding a train
becomes a passion, you will be hooked on
it for life. So it has been for Dick and Linda
Cumberland. They have ridden on many
of the scenic railroads around the country,
and Dick has even owned and cruised the
rails in a “Speeder” car, which is a railroad
maintenance vehicle that is popular with
rail enthusiasts.
Recently, they have become a train
host and hostess on the North Carolina
passenger train the Piedmont, which runs
from Raleigh to Charlotte and back. The
Piedmont train, owned by the state of
North Carolina, zips along tracks leased
from Amtrak at speeds up to 75 mph.
Becoming a train host isn’t difficult, you
need to be recommended and go through
one day of training, but most of all, you
need to have a love of train travel because
you’re required to volunteer to make a run
at least once every 60 days. There is no pay
and are no benefits to the job other than
the thrill of the ride. The Cumberlands
enjoy taking the early train to Charlotte,
spending the day in the city and returning
on the evening train.
(Continued on page 3)
. The Pine Knoll Shores Radio Station broadcasts 24 hours a day
with weather and emergency info.
EMERGENCY- CALL 911
SHERIFFS OFFICE 504-4S00 • PUBUG SAFETY 247-2474
Standard
Pre-Sort
Permit #35
Atlantic Beach, NC 28512