Its work almost done, RF&P's southbound No. 503, the Acca Local was leaving Doswell, VA on a cold Jan. 11, 1988, led by GP35 No. 131. In tow are eight cars of newsprint from Bear Island Paper Co., two loads of pulpwood from the Westvaco Woodyard, and caboose No. 903, recently repainted red. RF&P Agent Tommy Boyd had temporarily left the warmth of his office to hand up some waybills to the conductor on the cab. I started out my railroad career working in the Transportation Center at Acca on the 12-8 shift with Tommy, him as train dispatcher and me as a very green operator. Eventually, he gave up the rag tag hours of a train dispatcher for the more sensible hours of a station agent. He was a true gentleman. As many railfans can attest, you were always welcome in the station and he offered any assistance he could, frequently calling the dispatcher to see if anything was close.
