Huntsville - May 19-20, 2006

Once again, it was a great NC&StL weekend!  A special thank you to all who worked so hard to make the Huntsville Reunion a success.

May 19 found us setting up at the Knights of Columbus Hall with numerous tables for memorabilia and display items, and space for the "Favorite Train" competition.

A light buffet was served, so people had plenty of time to look at the memoriabilia tables, chat with old friends and meet some new people.  As usual, our former NC employees were a big hit with everyone.

Steve Johnson gave a great presentation on his deeply researched and archived subject: freight cars.

Terry Coats offered us a sneak preview of his upcoming book on NC&StL Depots, including pictures and floor plans.

Bill Carroll and Mark Womack entertained the crowd as we tried to "Stump the Experts".  It's amazing what these two remember!

Saturday morning started off with a tour of the ancient, but mostly restored Huntsville (Southern Ry.) Depot. 

We then headed out to Chase, Ala. for a ride on old NC&StL trackage and a tour of the depot there. Box lunches were served trackside.

Next was a trip out to Guntersville...there is a wonderful NC station there that the city has gone to considerable expense to restore, actually reverting to original wood milling techniques for authentic tongue and groove interior wall boards.

Late afternoon back at Huntsville featured a modeling clinic with Reverend John Urban who kitbashed the HO version of #576 that lead to the OMI J3 models.

The Annual Business Meeting was held Saturday evening, and included the election of officers.

Dinner was followed by an awards and door prize ceremony with plenty of time left for everyone to visit with other NC&StL fans before we have to leave.

Curtis Hixon graciously donated 2 lithograph prints of “The General” for use as door prizes. One went to Rich Bass for “Best in Show”, and the other was won by Mark Womack in the drawing. Hard to believe he did not already own a copy!

More names were drawn from the “hat” for genuine period copies of the NC&StL Bulletin, and continued until everyone had at least a small prize to take home.

Rich Bass once again stole the show with Best in Show of "My Favorite Train".  First place awards also went to: Tommy Johns, Tom Knowles, Charles Dick and Henry Hill.  Second and third place ribbons went to: Rich Bass, Terry Coats, John Arnold, Dain Schult, Tommy Johns, Tom Knowles, Charles Dick, Henry Hill and Harry Batey.  View the Winners Here.

The fellowship and camaraderie are so special we can’t call it a convention, but once a year we gather to celebrate and commemorate all things pertaining to the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, thus the "NCPS Reunion".

Plan now to join us next year in Chattanooga.

Additional links of interest:

• North Alabama Railroad Museum at Chase
• Huntsville Depot - Old Southern Depot at Huntsville
• Guntersville Railroad Museum