Remembering the Rutland
Rutland Railroad Photo Gallery:
Exchange Club Specials
Exchange Club Specials
Each autumn from 1948 through 1951 the Rutland Railroad would revive passenger service for one day on the "Corkscrew Division" by hosting an excursion for the Exchange Club of Greater Chatham, New York. The trips would feature Rutland steam power and a virtual museum of wooden passenger cars and cabooses. With the exception of the first trip in 1948, all the trips ran from Chatham to Rutland, Vermont and return. The 1948 trip only ventured as far as Manchester, Vermont. That year's trip featured a stop at North Bennington, Vermont to allow viewing and photographing the classic station there which had been recently featured in a Norman Rockwell cover of The Saturday Evening Post. Two views of the photo stop at North Bennington are shown below. The trips always drew crowds, both riders and spectators.
Those who would like to know more about the Exchange Club Specials are directed to the Spring, 1997 issue of the Rutland Newsliner which features two excellent, first-hand accounts of these trips, one by Paul W. Hackett and the other by Reverend Walter F. Smith. Both articles make for enjoyable reading about an era that is remembered fondly.
The 1948 Exchange Club Special at North Bennington, Vermont
Photograper Unknown. Collection of James R. Dufour
The 1948 Exchange Club Special at North Bennington, Vermont.
Engine #77 and combine #255 are shown.
Photograper Unknown. Collection of James R. Dufour