This was somewhere around 10 years ago on a hot summer day; 2000 or '01. Me and a friend were venturing around our hometown of Manchester, as we often did. This particular day's exploration was to be west down the LV (yes ONCT, I know) as we were always around the roundhouse and had seen everything there was to see over the years. I figured covering the stretch between Rt 96 and County Rd. 28 would be a nice change. We walked down and back, checked out a culvert under the track along that stretch. Didn't really have much to look at as I expected. It was a fine day just the same. I think I spent a lot of it trying to comprehend how many thousands of tons of freight and passengers rolled over this now quiet space for so many decades. Anyway, we started back toward town and I hit the jackpot - Look there in the weeds! A metal sign laying there all rusty! Well I had to have it. The marking was cutout-style similar to that mentioned in LV Whistle Post http://railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.ph ... le#p843200 It was an "A" and under that "51" I believe. Im not sure about the number but I am positive about the "A". I would guess that was for "Auburn" and the distance seems about right - I'm sure someone could pin that down. So why don't I go check my prized find and double-check that number? Well after a minute or two walking along with that rusty hunk, bees started pouring out of the end and I got it good on the ear. I grew up allergic and although I'd developed immunity through injections, I figured it best not to take a chance and abandoned my sign for a better pace getting home. Of course I intended to go back for it, but those teenage days get the best of us and it just never happened. I was 14 or 15 at the time. So there's the story... Did I get the "Auburn" part right? And for the opportunity: I won't tell the railfan community as a whole to walk right by the sign which declares that this is private property. I tend to avoid that these days, especially on busy lines or in populous areas. But... I may go back one of these days and look for it. And I would encourage anyone that thinks they could obtain permission to do so - go for it. If it hasn't already been claimed, I believe it would be east of that culvert and definately on the north side of the track. Not way down in the swamp but not right out on the flat either. I personally would donate it to a worthy display home if I ever found it (how about Shortsville...). That would be a good approach if you were to ask FGLK to let you wander their line. But watch those bees!
Evan J. West
Evan J. West