March In???

[dixieflyer]

OK, I've got a wild hair. I'm going to be walking a good bit this summer to lose weight and get in better shape. It's just under 15 miles from the square in Russellville to South Union, and I was thinking, IF I get in good enough shape, to make the hike in.

Anybody else think this would be fun?

[dixieflyer]

Re: March In???

Pards, I have no details worked out on this yet. It's just an idea for something I thought of doing on my own for its own sake, and just didn't know if anyone would be interested in doing it also. Why keep all the joy to myself?

[Boucher42]

Re: March In???

Why walk when you can run?

[dixieflyer]

Re: March In???

Ummm, no thank you. I do not voluntarily run. :)

[JordanRicketts]

Re: March In???

What road would it be on?

[dixieflyer]

Re: March In???

Jordan, the modern version of US 68/Stte 80 is laid on top of the old road from Russellville to Bowling Green as best I can tell. (There are early 19tyh c. homes built alongside of it and an early church was relocated when they four-laned it. Not the most authentic route, to be sure, BUT it is the only road from Russellville to Bowling Green, and therefore South Union. (And it IS very rural once you hit the Russellville city limits.) The railroad line the runs from BG to Russellville, and thence on to Clarksville (owned now or leased by R.J. Corman and is the old L&N "Memphis LIne*) is along the same right of way as the original MC&L from war time and would have been the route taken by the men we are portraying as they journeyed from BG to South Union and then on to Russellville and beyond.
Like I said, it's just a thought. The men we are portraying went to BG first and then took the train to South Union if I read my history right, so we won't necessarily be portraying something they did just before South Union, although I am wondering how they assembled in BG without walking there first?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Becky Morgan]

Re: March In???

This is another wild idea, perhaps a bad one but you never know: if you contacted R.J. Corman's local office, you *might* be able to get permission to walk that way. If they're busy on the day you want to go, etc. it wouldn't work, and of course do NOT try going around the tracks without permission--that gets expensive and arresty. If you explain why you wantto do it (and perhaps that you have insurance for reenactor activities) they might say yes.

[dixieflyer]

Re: March In???

Becky,
I used to deal with R.J. coman on a daily basis for almost ten years at my old job. There is only one local each day, runs both ways. Not a busy line, which is why L&N shut it down years back. (I've got a funny story on that one.) Like any railroad, they are extremely leery of any kind of liability. However, it's kind of like asking someone to prom: the worst they can do is say no, right? ;)

[Becky Morgan]

Re: March In???

Since you used to deal with them, they might be more receptive to the idea than they would if it came from a complete stranger. You're right--asking can't hurt, and it also signals that you're trying to do things in a safe and legitimate way.

[dixieflyer]

Re: March In???

Well Becky, the folks I would be asking would not be the ones I used to deal with. Also, and on further reflection, walking down a RR right of way is no fun. The rocks that make up the ballast are many times larger than what one would want to walk on (ballast is for holding the rails and ties together and in line, not walking) and the shoulders on the side are a pain.

IF I do this, and at this point it is a big if, I think I will just walk down the shoulder of the highway as it is easier for a number of reasons in terms of various safety considerations, etc.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: March In???

Hmm, forgot that detail. (Of course, with permission you could walk down the gauge and step on the ties, which are usually spaced about right.) Ballast was a rather new concept in the period, but I don't think RJC would be receptive to taking most of it up and putting in period-correct rail :D When the war was on, odds are there was almost no shoulder to what ballast might have been there.

The road is your best bet...I'm just a sucker for rails. I took a Google Earth tour of the area and see what you mean--it's up the road, along the rails or across fields, with a couple of spots where you could use the old road alignment instead of the four-lane. Darn.