Robert Willoughby Jones Program at Plymouth Draws Large Crowd — Many Arrive By Train
Robert Willoughby Jones spoke at Plymouth, N.H. on May 11, 2019. Staff photo.
Excursion train arrives at Plymouth, N.H. Many of the passengers entered the station for the B&MRRHS program featuring Robert Willoughby Jones. Staff photo
The audience awaits the start of the R.W. Jones program in the former dining hall at Plymouth, N.H. station. B&MRRHS program, May 11, 2019. Staff photo
Plymouth, N.H., May 11, 2019 — Noted railroad author Robert Willoughby Jones presented a program of slides from his collection at today’s meeting of the Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society, held at the former B&M depot here. The usual large crowd from Northern New England was augmented by the arrival of passengers from a Mass Bay RRE special operated by the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. Mr. Jones’ program included slides taken by Leon Onofri and other well known photographers from the early 1940s into the early 1970s. About half the program was comprised of representative images from around the country, the rest were from New England railroads featuring a variety of power in the era of transition from steam to diesel. Photos of B&M, Boston and Albany, and New Haven trains and stations were among the highlights. The excursion train was coordinated to arrive at Plymouth in time for the program, and many who formed the large audience of over 100 people were train passengers. The train originated in Meredith, first traveling south on the former White Mountain Division main line to Lakeport, before heading north to Plymouth. The passengers, many of whom chose to explore the quaint downtown of Plymouth, were summoned back to the train by the sound of the air horn. Refreshments in the form of bottled water and bags of snacks were furnished by the Society with donations going to the support of our Plymouth Regional Senior Center, our hosts, who once again made their delightful venue available to us.
B&MRRHS director James P. Nigzus, was the conductor of the Mass Bay RRE excursion train that arrived in Plymouth, N.H. on May 11, 2019. Staff photo
