Friday, February 16, 2007
Waste Line Express train still rolls along
Tom Angleberger
The New River Valley-based reporter answers your questions Mondays in his column, What's on Your Mind?
Recent columns
Q: Does the Roanoke trash train still run? How do you recognize it?
-- Ortie Boyd, Salem
A: It's early evening near Smith Gap in Roanoke County. A distant roar comes from down the track, and a thrill goes through a gaggle of barefoot children shooting marbles and rolling hoops. They drop their toys and rush to climb the old white gate for a better view.
"Trash train's coming," one shouts and, sure enough, here it comes, the proud engine pulling a short string of tall green cars. The paint's wearing away in some places, but the kids know what the yellow letters say. They know it by heart. This isn't just any train. It's "The Waste Line Express."
The children return to their games. All except one boy. Still balanced on the gate, he watches until the last car rattles out of view.
That night, after dark, he lies awake listening as the Express rolls by again, making its return trip to Roanoke, hauling empty cars.
Go on to sleep, little fellow, the train will be back tomorrow. And for a thousand tomorrows.
(Disclosure: This is a fictionalized account based on information supplied by the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority. In reality, the train, which hauls the Roanoke Valley's garbage the 33 miles from the Tinker Creek Transfer Station in Southeast Roanoke to the Smith Gap Landfill off Bradshaw Road in Roanoke County, doesn't run on weekends, and the children were inside playing video games.)
Q: I have an economically deprived friend who is in need of a lawyer or lawyering firm that provides pro bono assistance. Are these available in the Roanoke area?
-- Robert F. Boyd, Daleville
A: Yes, they are available, assuming your friend qualifies and depending on what sort of help he needs.
The first step is to call Blue Ridge Legal Services.
"We're kind of like the triage," said Susan Proctor, managing attorney of BRLS, describing how her organization takes applications over the phone and then finds someone to help.
Eligibility for pro bono legal help is based on household size and income, she said.
BRLS does not work with criminal or traffic cases, she noted, but can help with civil matters such as landlord/tenant disputes, divorce, custody and wills.
To apply, call BRLS at 344-2080 from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays.
Q: Regarding radio station call letters. Is it true that east of the Mississippi they use the W before the letters? Why?
-- Merle and Gene White
A: Yes, it's true, mostly. It's all part of a complex system of call letters managed by the Federal Communications Commission governing commercial, government, military and maritime radio signals.
According to the FCC, an agreement was reached in the 1920s to give different countries different letters. The U.S. got N, K, W and A. (We have to share A.) The Army and Air Force use A, the Navy and Coast Guard use N and other stations use the W and K.
The very first commercial radio station, in Pittsburgh, was given the letters KDKA in 1920. According to KDKA, which still broadcasts using those letters, the call letters were not chosen but were taken from a list for maritime stations.
Instead of sticking to this precedent, the government eventually decided to use W in the East and K in the West. They also allowed radio stations to request call letters of their own choosing.
Commercial radio stations use just one of the many types of call letters. There are also categories for things such as aircraft telephones, buoys and ship radar, as set down in the Code of Federal Regulations.
Readers, I'm always interested in all your questions, but right now I'm also collecting for my next edition of Ask The Readers. If you have questions about local history, hard-to-find products, vague memories, half-forgotten pop culture or even funny smells, another one of my readers may have the answer.
Got a question? Got an answer? Call Tom Angleberger at 777-6476 or send an e-mail to tomangleberger@yahoo.com. Don't forget to provide your full name, its proper spelling and your hometown. Look for Tom Angleberger's column on Fridays.
