After settling in Bessemer, Mack left his job as a track foreman to work for Tennessee Coal & Iron’s Bessemer Rolling Mill until his retirement in 1931. You can see his pocket watch chain against his dark suit. My Mama has a photograph, one of only two we have of Mack, in which he stands with some of the men who worked for him by a handcar. My grandmother, Margaret Frances (Muzzie to me), was born in Bessemer, Alabama on January 31, 1916. Aunt Sol arrived in Ensley, Alabama in 1910. Uncle Bud joined the family in 1908 at Pell City, Alabama. Aunt Louise arrived three years later while the family was living in Potts Camp, Mississippi. Aunt Edna was born in Horn Lake, Mississippi in 1903. Little Talmadge died somewhere along the way his existence known only from family lore neither birth certificate nor death certificate ever located. If you view an atlas that shows rail-lines, you can chart the growing family’s progress as they moved along with the tracks running through Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. Thornton,” and he called her “Hon.” Babies soon followed. He has a good job with the railroad and a solid gold pocket watch.” So, Lantie, age 22, married, Mack, age 39. The widow Smith told daughter, Lantie Elizabeth, “You marry that man. When he reached Columbia, Tennessee, he boarded at the home of a widow with three daughters. Mack Daniel Thornton, son of a Confederate cavalryman and great-grandson of a Revolutionary War soldier, left Blackshear, Georgia to work for the “steam railroad.” His first wife died, leaving him with four children the youngest, Talmadge, being just a baby. My maternal grandmother was the daughter of a railroad man. I have no explanation for this effect, other than to say that it is in my blood. And to see one – headlight beaming, chugging down the tracks, rushing past, going… somewhere, just thrills me. “Listen, did you hear that? It’s a train!” I’ll say to anyone within earshot as if I’ve identified the call of a rare bird. Hank Williams concurred, “That midnight train is whining low, I’m so lonesome I could cry.” And some think the sound bears evil forebodings – “Watch out, brother, for that long black train,” so sayeth Josh Turner. I know some folks think the sound of a train whistle at night is lonely. The train tracks are a long way off from my house, but through the dark the sound travels to my ears and down into my soul. And now I raise my eyes from the page and strain my ears to listen to the whistle of the passing train. I’ve been waiting for it, somewhat distracted from the story. In my bed, in the still quiet of the night, with a good book in hand, I hear the sound. KXRI Fox Reno Channel 11 ran a story on their website as well.Before I go to sleep, I read.
JOHNNY WORKS ON RAILROAD STORY TV
They ran a 2 minute news story on TV but I can’t find that they posted it on their site.
Reno’s KRNV Channel 4 sent a news crew to cover the event. Thanks to all who made this possible good work!Īs of the day I posted this, the WCRG website has photos of Victor as well as other work they have done through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Save Protect Foundation, West Coast Railroaders Group and the V&T went all out to make Victor’s visit memorable for everyone involved.
Right in the middle of dinner Ken called Johnny! They began to craft the plan that culminated in Victor’s wonderful visit to the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. We were at a BBQ one evening and I described the situation to Ken. At Tom Gray’s direction I talked to Ken about Johnny Larkins’ call and Victor’s needs. Ken Marty of the West Coast Railroaders Group (WCRG) jumped into action. At the same time I assured him we could make a very special day for Victor. I explained to him that the Thomas 2017 Friendship Tour wasn’t coming around until October. Larkins told me that Victor was a big Thomas the Train fan and hoped he could ride the Thomas train in Virginia City. He was handling the case of Victor Sciarrotta, a six year old who is battling terminal cancer. I was delighted to respond to a message from Johnny Larkins of the Save Protect Foundation in Dayton, NV. I was at the V&T Railroad answering phones one day, something I normally don’t do. Victor Sciarrotta of Minden wanted to ride a train, his wish came true in a big way!
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