In March 2004, I wrote a letter to you describing the Norfolk & Southern Historical Society, which has been formed to preserve and disseminate historical information on the original Norfolk & Southern Railroad.

That railroad ran from Norfolk through Elizabeth City and Raleigh to Charlotte, with branches to Virginia Beach, Suffolk, New Bern, Morehead City, Elizabeth City, Fayetteville, Durham, Aberdeen and Asheboro.

In my letter, I invited your readers to join the society, and offered them the opportunity to attend our annual meeting in Raleigh on April 17, 2004. I also sent similar lettters to all the local newspapers in the area covered by the original NS lines. I am happy to report that the letters published in these newspapers led to several new members joining the society and attending the meeting. We thank you and the other newspapers for helping us to publicize the meeting.

The society will hold its 2005 annual meeting April 16 in the depot building in Jackson Springs on the former NS Western District. Other activities planned for the society that day include an inspection train trip on the Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway, today’s operating company for most of the former NS Western District. The inspection trip will operate from Star to Candor and return. There will also be a group luncheon at Cafe Mediterraneo, a restaurant now occupying the former NS freight depot in Pinehurst.

We would like to encourage anyone interested to join the society and attend that meeting. Any such persons can write to me at 4729 Bristol Circle, Williamsburg, Va. 23185-2477 for an application form to join the society and additional information about the society, the original NS Railroad, and the April 16 meeting.

Robert C. Reisweber

President, N&S Historical Society