Greetings:
I'm sorry to report the Bob Carlson has gone off to work at that big roundhouse in the sky.
I was informed that he had not returned phone calls or responded to emails for a couple of weeks, so I tried calling and emailing without success.
This morning I drove up to where he lived and found his vehicle in the driveway and no footprints in the snow. I banged on the front and back doors for a while and then checked with his next door neighbor who had not seen him lately.
We called the police who found him laying peacefully in his bed.
He had a sister who I met once many decades ago. Bob hadn't mentioned her to me in nearly that long. If anyone has any knowledge of her name or any other relatives, please let me know.
I first met Bob about 1970 at a gathering organized by The Steam Passenger Service Directory at Buffalo, New York which eventually led to the formation of Tourist Railroad Association, Inc. (TRAIN) which now has become Heritage Railway Association, our industry trade organization.
When we met, Bob was doing business as Locomotive Services, manufacturing, importing and selling parts and tools for steam locomotives, specializing in boiler tools and staybolts. He was trained as a welder and worked at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. He had an encyclopedic memory for most any aspect of the steam locomotive: a true student of the locomotive.
He did excellent welding for me when I was CMO at Steamtown and later at Valley Railroad Co. He will be missed.
Be well, stay safe,
J.David

I never met him but am aware of his contribution to preservation. May he rest in peace.

That's too bad. Bob was a good friend of mine. I have really fond memories of him especially when he taught me how to build and weld the boiler on my live steam locomotive, getting thengine running with his help as well as driving all over to different places with him.

Between the pandemic and becoming a father I hadn't seen Bob for a while at his usual locations. His old cell phone had stopped working for quite some time as did his "tubeit" email. So finally back in maybe September I finally decided to make a similar trip to the one you describe fearing there whose albeit i had far better results on my trip.

I pounded away at his door for a good 5mins both the front and back one till finally to my relief Bob came out. We talked for a good hour or so and I got his new working cell number. If anyone wondered about how they lost touch with Bob it seems like when his old cell phone died he lost the number and all of his contacts.

At any rate I sure am glad now that I stopped by when I did. If anyone out there knows of old friends you haven't heard from let this be a reminder to stop by and reach out. I was really hoping when I first started reading this thread that he just didn't hear you as my trip to his house back in September sounded just like yours. Sadly it sounds as though it's confirmed.

Looking at my cellphone records it looks like we last spoke back on January 5th and he sounded like he was going strong as recently as two weeks ago. Heck he was all excited to get involved with another steam restoration project right here in Connecticut. Did the Police offer any hints as to about how long it's been? Anyone else hear from Bob more recently than Jan 5th?

Does anyone know if there will be any funeral arrangements or sendoff of any sort for Bob? If anything I am thinking that the 113 would be the best location for any such ceremony.

Please keep us informed, by the way please check your private messages.

Jd, thanks for the update on Bob, I first meet him while a Volunteer at Steamtown VT. one night as was usual practice was to walk the grounds at night, I can across David and Bob working on CP 2317. he was welding up stay bolt sleeves at 7:30 at night under a droplight. Last last Saw him was at the Amherst Railway Show almost a year to date. he was having difficulty walking then. so sorry to hear.

AL P.

Greetings Al:
Thanks for your recollection which has jogged my memory.

The FRA was due the next day to witness the hydro for an annual inspection. Timing was tight because Steamtown's annual Railfan Weekend began in a couple of days.

There were threaded flexible staybolt sleeves weeping on the right side of the cab behind air brake piping and in line with and/or under the floor. I couldn't get at them to caulk them tight.

Bob had recently told me about the "mirror" welding that he had been doing inside compartments and behind bulkheads that obstructed vision inside the hull of whatever submarine he was working on. A mirror on a magnetic stand would be set up and aimed at the area to be welded. The welder would look at the mirror to position the electrode, strike the arc and make the weld looking at the mirror, which meant that your movements had to be backwards (try doing it sometime, it's tough).

I called Bob, told him about my situation and asked him to come up to Bellows Falls, right away and to bring his mirror. He whined about what time it was, he hadn't had dinner, how long the drive was, what time he had to be a work in the morning, etc. I told him that I'd buy him dinner and he agreed to come.

When he arrived, he took one look at the sleeves and said: "Oh, that's easy, I don't need no mirror" and proceeded to weld them by the "feel" and sound of the arc. When I went to the Hobart Welding School there was an instructor there who could weld behind his back (show off). Bob said when you had burned as much rod as he had you could tell if the weld was any good without looking at it. Bob was right, all of the welds sealed the weeps. The FRA was happy with the hydro and Steamtown's event went as planned.

Be well, stay safe,
J.David

Sad to hear that. I last saw him early Dec when he visited us.

Bob was a fixture in Connecticut, New England, and Northeastern steam railroad circles since the mid-1960s. He was the main force behind the "Steam Department" at Connecticut Trolley Museum (Warehouse Point) in the 1964-66 period, with making 0-4-0T #5 operational; that "steam team" became the group that operated Steve Bogen's 2-8-0 #97 on the New Haven in 1966-68, and went on to get the Valley Railroad started at Essex.

Bob also purchased BLW 0-4-0T #10 at the 1970 auction of Wickwire-Spencer Steel at Palmer, Mass. He always regretted not purchasing the other locomotive there: a Heisler diesel (yes, built that way new, not converted).

He was very involved with the CNJ #113 boiler work and taught his skills to a new generation of steam guys.

He worked briefly at the end of steam as a fireman on the CPR in Maine, later as a stationary engineer at papermills in Holyoke, Mass., and went on to a long career and retirement as a welder at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.

I have known him since 1971. In recent times, Bob dropped by RMNE's Thomaston Shop on a regular basis, mostly to hang out. A couple of years ago, he took on the small project of separating #103's front coupler from a bolt-on pocket, that had proved to be very stubborn to remove. His solution was to drill it out with one of his many air motors and huge drills. This photo (March 2019) shows him clowning for my camera.

A sad end to a great, interesting, eccentric, knowledgeable, opinionated guy. "Benevolent Buddy Bob" (one of his own phrases), you'll be missed for a long time.

Howard P.

Boiler Bob will be missed. He did a ton of work for Bob Kimmel of Railway Restoration
Project 113. He was a very interesting individual, but one I am thankful for the lessons learned working with him at a few locations in Pennsylvania, and at Pioneer Tunnel.

-Tyler Fenderson

I am sorry to hear of this. I met Bob at the Amherst show in Springfield several years ago. He was very interested in our 470 project and wanted to come up and help us. I will miss seeing and talking with him, as he was very knowledgeable.
Leverett Fernald]

Bob was an amazing person. I remember once we were talking and he fell asleep talking. 10 minutes later he woke up and continued the story where he left off. His knowledge and friendship will be missed.

Never had the privilege of meeting this Soul. These accounts caused an immediate emotion of fondness to well up ...

Held the mirror several times for Linn in compromised situations ... The old Soul is correct about the sound ...

Requiescat in pace ...

Long time friend. Had many long conversations with him over the years. With much mutual respect, that led to some real in-depth talks that provided me with addition information not available any more as few if any real life locomotive experience people are still alive. Took seriously his work and knowledge of locomotives, materials and repair practices. Yes, an unusual individual and yet you needed to take him as he was because he was very smart under that rather rough exterior.
Chris

Hi All

For anyone who's looking to say their final goodbyes we will be taking Bob for one last ride on the CNJ 113 on Saturday June 19th. See the other thread here for further details. I am not sure if we will have any formal ceremony but if anyone wants to participate in making such a thing happen please let either myself or Bob Kimmel with the 113 group know.

For the record if anyone goes looking for what happened to Bob in the future. Half of Bob was laid to rest along side his parents in the famiy plot. The other half a box of Bob is currently resting peacefully in my garage in the tender of the live steam locomotive we built together.

So the plan is to take half of him out for one last trip on the 113 and and let the locomotive propel him off to the big roundhouse in the sky. Hopefully it will be a fitting send off for a well missed friend.

Greetings:
Bob took his final ride on a steam locomotive (and his final venture into a firebox) yesterday on an excursion from Minersville to Port Clinton pulled by former CNJ #113. Somewhere along the way one half of his ashes were thrown into the firebox. The other half his sister has for burial in the family plot (my lawyer was able to track her down).
I'm not sure who besides Howard Pincus, Adam Milner and myself were in attendance.
To the best of my knowledge, there is still no decision as to the disposition of his tools and library.
Be well & stay safe,
J.David

I used to tell my wife that when I kicked the bucket to have me cremated and sand 1522's flues with me working up Rolla Hill.
Well, 1522 has been retired since 2002, my wife passed 2 months ago, so I'll have to settle for a conventional farewell.
At my age, I'm seeing far too many old classmates, railroad buddies and friends leaving. It is sad, but it is inevitable.
Wife and I had been together since 1957 and a couple of my RR pals since maybe 1960. Its getting pretty damned lonesome.