Fate Of Warrenton Railroad Pondered
(Continued from page 1)
disadvantage. With one motor operating it was possible
to pull one loaded car. More than one would have to be
pushed up the hill at the crossing near George Willis
Shearin's, so coasting was possible to the depot.
Estimates were given for repairs to the diesel and the
motor for $3,000.
It was later learned tht the Naval Weapons Station at
Yorktown, Va., had excess locomotives which they were
trying to sell.
Upon inspection it was found they had a 1943 and 1942
General Electric diesel locomotive. A bid was placed for
$2800 for both. With the help of Congressman Fountain
and Senator Ervin the bid was accepted. Through the
courtesy of C&O Railroad the locomotives were
delivered to Richmond, Va., and later transported free to
Warrenton.
With further help of Congressman Fountain, Senator
Ervin and the National Railroad Historical Society, the
Warrenton Railroad was able to obtain a tool car, two
box cars, two flat cars, a hopper, two gondolas and six
coaches. These were from the deactivated Army
transportation center at Ft. Eustis, Va.
Locomotive No. 7 has been painted in centennial and
bi-centennial colors and has received some publicity for
the railroad.
The Warrenton Railroad was featured on the cover of
in uur hirst issue,
RR Rated Front Page
.. The first issue of The Record was published November
17,1892, and on that date train service from Warrenton to
Warren Plains, where passengers could be transferred to
the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad cars, was front page
news.
..W. J. White, president of the Warrenton Railroad,
advised readers of the first issue of this newspaper that a
train would depart Warrenton at 6:50 a. m., 12:50 p. m.
and 6:40 p. m., connecting with all passenger trains on
the Raleigh & Gaston.
. .An accompanying schedule of the Raleigh and Gaston
showed trains moving through Warren Plains four times
daily. Two of the trains were northbound, two
southbound.
..Leaving Weldon, en route to Raleigh, a passenger
would have a chance to stop at Boiling, Gaston, Summit,
Littleton, Vaughan, Macon, Warren Plains, Ridgeway,
Manson, Middleburg, Greystone, Henderson, Kittrell,
Franklinton, Youngsville, Wake Forest, Forestville,
Wyatt, Neuse, Mill Brook and Johnston Street before
arriving in Raleigh 3 hours and 55 minutes later.
The World Of Books
In The Warren County Memorial Library
NEW BOOKS: "The Immigrants," Fast; "Nine Black
Poets," Shuman; "Deep River," Dowd-historical novel
of the Cape Fear Region prior to Revolution; "Fishbait,"
Leighton;'"Starring Mfcs foaiplfef"CHtMieV^Queefi's
Royal," Quigley-sequel to "King's Royal;" "Six Men,"
Cooke; "The Second Deadly Sin," Sanders; "The Lonely
Furrow," Lofts; four Gothics.
For the Children's Room we have 17 new books for the
reading enrichment program. These books are for
grades K through second. Also several for pre-K through
second grade, once again depending on reading level.
We had a most enjoyable visit from a second grade last
week. We welcome these, and only ask that you make
arrangements ahead of time, as this teacher did.
MEMORIALS - "Norma," Zimmer, biography for
Mrs. Ruby Kidd from Mr. and Mrs. Scott Gardner;
"Carolina Country Reader," Chaney, for Walter
Gardner from Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Roberts; "North
Carolina Miscellany," Walser, for Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Serls, from Mrs. Charles P. Allen and Charles P. Allen,
Jr.; For Walter Gardner-"The Fifties," from Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Banzet; "House of Christiana," Haas, for
Mrs. Mary H. Hawks and "Fishless Days and Angling
Nights," Hackle, for C. W. (Coon) Currin, both from J. B.
Thompson; "Faith, Hope and Hilarity" (The child's eye
view of religion), Dick Van Dyke, for Mrs. Elizabeth H.
Weston from Mr. and Mrs. Bob Traylor; "Plants Under
Lights," Kraemer for Mrs. Ruby Kidd from Mr. and Mrs.
Jimmy Roberts; "Music is My Mistress," Duke
Ellington, for Robert Macon Davis, from Tom and Rosa
Rodwell; and for Ellen T. Lynch- "The A to Z no-Cook
Cook Book," and "Better Homes and Gardens Money
Saving Dinners," from Mr. and Mrs. Claude T. Weldon.
We have several more memorials to purchase. Books
should not be bought in a hasty manner. We appreciate
the generosity and interest of all who give these to our
Library.
We hope that more and more citizens of Warren County
will make the Library one of their habits by reading
more. It's yours; it's FREE; use it!
OVERDUE BOOKS: Please return all overdue books
so that others may enjoy them.
"Short Line" magazine's Jan.-Feb., 1976 issue. It was
also in "2200 South," the Locomotive Newsmagazine in
the Bicentennial Feature issue.
And it should be lauded. For the Warrenton Railroad is
one of only 14 North Carolina based short-line railroads.
It is one of three of the shortest operating railroads in
North Carolina, spanning 2.7776 miles. As of 1976, it was
one of only nine short line railroads in the state operating
its own locomotive bearing its own corporate name.
The Warrenton Railroad is the second oldest railroad
in North Carolina and probably the oldest active railroad
still operating independently.
And active it is. Howard Oakley, engineer, makes runs
regularly from the depot to the Warren Plains SCL
tracks to bring carloads of materials to Pteck
Manufacturing, Cochrane Furniture, FCX, Warren
Cotton & Fertilizer Co., General Box, Kerr-McGee Farm
Center, and Frank Newell.
Last week a tour of the buildings surrounding the
Warrenton Depot showed considerable need for repair.
A New Jersey businessman, Walter A. Martin, has
requested to buy controlling interest of the railroad to set
up a diesel repair station in the roundhouse at the depot.
Oakley would like to see the railroad continue to
operate. Like the 1884 Warrenton Gazette, he hopes "that
it is the dawn of a returning and continuing prosperity."
Chance To Broaden Education
Available To Area Residents
priaays ana baturaays
may soon involve a new
chance for area residents
who want to work toward a
college degree, but who
don't have time to attend
regular classes.
The College Transfer
Department at Vance-Granville
Community College is
considering offering basic
college credit courses on
Friday evenings and during
the day on Saturdays.
"So far, this is just an idea
which could become a
reality if enough people
register by September 26
and 27," said Dr. Nannette
Henderson, a Warrenton
resident who heads the
College Transfer Department.
"We don't know how
many people will take
advantage of this opportunity
to devote their spare
time toward achieving their
goal of going back to
college."
Dr. Henderson said the
Friday and Saturday courses
would be very flexible,
with final plans and schedules
to be completed after
those who want to take
college courses have registered
and discussed their
scheduling needs.
"If enough interest is
generated, we will offer
college courses this fall,"
Dr. Henderson said. "We
will try to work around the
schedules students have.
"Also, if responses show
that many students are
having trouble finding child
care, we will make efforts to
have babysitting services
available."
The College Transfer
Program at VGCC includes
freshman and sophomore
work. Students can then
transfer to four-year colleges
or universities to
complete requirements for
bachelor's degrees. VGCC's
program includes the basics
in these areas: Liberal Arts,
Business Administration,
Business Education and
Primary and Secondary
Education.
Courses offered on Fridays
and Saturdays would
begin in such areas as math,
English composition, history,
science, social sciences
and humanities.^
"There are many people
in our community who
attended college for a short
time, dropping out before
attaining a degree," Dr.
Henderson said. "These
Friday and Saturday classes
would be an ideal way for
them to get back to finish
their first two years of
college."
Dr. Henderson urged all
prospective students to
contact the office of Student
Attairs at 4y2-206i or
693-4088 as soon as possible.
Final registration is September
26 and 27 and
students should begin admission
procedures within
the next week.
WORKING ON THE RAILROAD — Howard Oakley, driving force behind the
Warrenton Railroad, is shown positioning a railroad tie aboard a car hooked to the
diesel locomotive which now hauls freight to and from Warren Plains. Hundreds of rail
ties have been replaced this year by Oakley and a railroad crew. (Staff Photo)
Open House Is
Slated At Plant
John Andrews, manager
)f Carolina Sportswear, anlounced
this week that
)lans are under way for a
;hird open house at the
facility. The open house is
scheduled for October 9
rom 1:30 p. m. to 5 p. m.
Andrews said the open
nouse would give citizens a
chance to see what is done at
the factory and how it Is
done. He noted that the plant
had been in operation for
Dver 20 years and that some
Df the first employees are
still working.
A photograph display of
the second open house will
also be exhibited.
Refreshments will be
served following a tour of
the facility. Andrews extends
an invitation to the
public to attend.
Norlina Ruritans
Planning Supper
The Norlina Ruritan Club
will sponsor a fried chicken
supper at the Norlina
Woman's Clubhouse on
Saturday, Sept. 24, from 5 to
8 p.m. Tickets are available
from any Ruritan at $2.50
per plate.