Oct. 23, 2006
 
Weather Cooperates with 2006 Railroad Days Closing Weekend
 
By David M. Kinchen
Editor, Huntington News Network
 
Hinton, WV (HNN) – The weather was perfect for the opening last weekend of the 2006 edition of Railroad Days and the weather continued to cooperate with the organizers on the closing weekend, with ideal weather for fall in the historic railroad town. Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006 looked threatening from time to time, but the clouds just helped make photos more interesting.
 
Railroad Days, commemorating Hinton’s heritage as a railroad town since its development in the early 1870s, featured about 60 craft and food vendors on the four days of the annual event, which is highlighted by an excursion train from Huntington to Hinton and back to Huntington, arriving at 1 p.m. each day, departing about 4 p.m. All four excursion runs were sold out weeks ago, event organizers said. Displays included wine tasting from Mountain State wineries, food of all kinds and a wide variety of crafts and holiday gift items.
 
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About 4,000 of the event’s attendees arrived on the excursion train from Huntington over the run of Railroad Days, says coordinator Dorothy Jean Boley. Thousands more arrived by other means, including many returning from out of state to their scenic hometown to attend the popular festival. The Hinton Railroad Museum on Temple Street and the city of Hinton sponsor the annual event.
 
Free entertainment this year included magician Bobby Lilly; West Virginia Bluegrass Connection; Jubilation Barbershop Quartet/Blueridge Blend; The Hartwells; The Hinton Area Elementary (HAE) Kids; the Talcott Drama Club; Jesse Ratcliffe; The Young Trio, and the Pretenders.
 
Steve Lilly of Staunton, VA. joined his dad, Hinton native V.E. Lilly with a display of silver rings made from coins. The younger Lilly learned how to make the rings about a dozen years ago using simple tools in a secret process that he won’t give away. His 79-year-old dad makes sure of that! Full disclosure: V.E. made a ring for this reporter’s wife’s birthday earlier this month. It cost $30 and is worth every penny.