RESEARCH IS A WONDERFUL TREASURE HUNT, best enjoyed with others. My wife, Marilee C. Jones, suggests I have “B&L on the brain” as I toot for imaginary trains when passing through B&L territory in our travels. For several decades, Jerry Fox and I have shared “B&L Brunches” to swap rail tales of our favorite phantom. We collaborated on the DVD documentary fourteen years ago—and the lonesome whistle for its book companion has grown louder with the passage of time. This publication, long a dream of Jerry and his wife, Jean, gained traction in April of 2025 when I accepted his collection of photos, notes, newspaper clippings and a college thesis. The 88-year-old historian’s confession to be “running out of steam and I don’t want this stuff to end up in a dumpster” struck a nerve. It was time to merge my words, collection and oral histories with his treasures before the proverbial roundhouse in the sky called either of us to the afterlife.

JIM JONES AND JERRY FOX ARE ALL SMILES ON B&L BOOK DELIVERY DAY (10/16/25)

​Me: "Gerald B. Fox!"

Jerry: "Hello, Jim Jones!"

Me: "What Does the "B" stand for?"

Jerry: "Barton"

Me: "Today it stands for "BOOK." Congratulations, Gerald BOOK Fox. After 57 years of research, many articles, and sharing material with my dad and others for their publications, you are now a published author. Folks have been hearing about your upcoming book since 1968. Gerald BOOK Fox, the Burlington & Lamoille Railroad has arrived!
​
Jerry: "Thanks for taking it to the finish line."

CENTRAL VERMONT'S Burlington & Lamoille Railroad: Queen City to Cambridge Junction covers this 34-mile phantom railroad from its Burlington terminal, through South Burlington and Winooski, Essex Junction, Essex Center, Jericho, Riverside, Underhill, North Underhill, Cloverdale, Westford, Cambridge village, Jeffersonville, to Cambridge Junction, Vermont from its 1875 origin to 1938 abandonment and beyond. Jim Jones's additional two chapters in this colorful 222-page chronicle transport us to the present. This limited edition softbound can also be purchased with a companion documentrary DVD at www.vermontmadevideos.com, Bondcliff Books, Rons Books, Club Train Direct (Canada), Eloquent Pages (of St. Albans,VT) and a growing list of other on-line and local outlets.

THANKS FOR THE HEARTWARMING RECEPTION at train shows, our growing number of live presentations, and e-mails. Marilee was touched by your kind words upon the recent passing of her mother, Bev Chiarella, who I affectionately refer to as 'Rock Star" following her appearance in our RUTLAND REMNANTS 6 Corkscrew Division documentary. Bev's father, Walt Bowman, was railroad man on the Boston & Albany for a number of years and their family home was within earshot of the Canaan, NY stop. 

Our wonderful webmaster and friend, Pete Land, has dutifully added several shopping carts to the Tell-Tale Productions website. The new B&L book and its Central Vermont Railway branch line "trilogy" mates are now available in a money-saving theme pack and with companion DVDs at a fraction of their original price. As always, we pay the ever-increasing shipping costs and appreciate your multi-unit orders whenever possible. Our shipping department of three (me, myself and I!) has mailed all pre-pub orders and we're keeping pace with current orders. Expect about five days U. S. MEDIA MAIL shipping times. Becasue we receive occasional requests from CANADIANS none too happy to learn of our U.S. only shipping, we have partnered with [email protected] (Club Train Direct) and the well-known and regarded Ron's Books at ronsbooks.com who have a long-standing tradition carrying books and videos created by both me and my father, Robert C. Jones. 

VERMONT'S AUTUMN LEAVES peaked last weekend as Marilee and I enjoyed a pretty drive along the Burlington & Lamoille's route, delivering books to contributors along the way. It was an emotional moment handing Jerry his copy after 57 years of hearing him speak of an upcoming book since 1968! Just the other day, he quietly sald: "Jim, you may keep all the proceeds. Thanks for taking this to the finish line." I nodded, chuckled and shared how I'd be grateful to cover the $4,981.00 check just written to the printers. Actually, my pockets have never been lined with "proceeds" from our forty DVDs and dozen publications. However, intangible rewards have been many, including Vermont Historical Society's identification of our documentary videos as "essential," thanks to the mix of interviews, then and now footage organized in a Ken Burns style presentation. It has been very cool receiving the recognition and digitization of these works I expect will provide "infotainment" for future generations.       

Tell-Tale Productions remains an obsession that now spans more than 22 years. Marilee, for the most part, has been understanding and embraces many friendships made through my relentless pursuit of railroads less traveled. Perhaps you have heard her exclaim: "At least I know who the other woman is......... A TRAIN!"        
                  

With warm wishes,

Jim and Marilee Jones
(and our orange and white feline mascot Percy Lincoln)