Harry Grimes, an ex-Reading engineer taught Bill Moedinger, Huber Leath and Bud Swearer when steam returned to Strasburg rails in 1960. Harry was running 1223 during its first revenue runs. By all accounts he was quite a good runner. He rode with me when I started firing. He told me it wasn't worth the effort to operate #90 above 150 psi even though she has a 200 psi boiler. He felt she had plenty of power at the lower pressure.

Gene Steffy, an active Pennsy engineer with steam experience, worked our line on occasion in the beginning as well.

Strasburg Rail Road
linnwm@supernet.com

> However, I digress.......Most of NS's steam
> crew was regular, union-member, long-time NS
> employees, though their shop crew was mostly
> contractors, IIRC.

In the beginning (1966-73, let's say), the "Steam Program" was Walter Dove and Bill Purdie overseeing regular employees called for the trip, and/or volunteers. Shop work was largely contracted out - they had space in Irondale, but no machines, no men, and little budget.

Doug Karhan was hired as General Foreman in '73 if I remember correctly. That's about the time the "shop crew" under Gene Pool came into being.

From '77 to '82, while using 610, 2839 and 2716, road crews were almost all casual labor volunteers paid a small per diem. Bill Purdie continued to be the only railroad employee out with the trains.

When 611 went out, it was the first example of a dedicated, all-paid crew: Don Purdie, Chuck Jensen, and Preston Claytor. In 1984 Frank Collins came on, and Jack Taylor showed up when 1218's return to service was planned.

When Frank retired Bob Saxtan left the shop and took over the road crew.

But even to the end full-time paid employees were the minority on an NS excursion locomotive. And I may be wrong, but I don't think any of them were union members.

JAC

The late Billy Byrd, who had 43 years of service on the L&N with some that steam, was a volunteer engineer at TVRM until his recent passing. All of us at TVRM feel grateful to have had our skills honed by a true master of the throttle and power reverse.

G. Mark - TVRM.

TVRM Shop Updates by Steve Freer
aw90@comcast.net

> Since steam was gone by the late 1950's, any
> engineer working today would have to be 70+
> to have had ANY revenue steam experience.

> Is there anybody working today who ran steam
> in revenue service today?

> If such an individual exists it would
> interesting to note when that last person
> finally hangs it up.

> Alternately, if this event already occurred,
> was it noted?

There is an Amtrak engineer still working out of Lincoln, NE, who started on the CB&Q in 1957, I believe, who fired O5 4-8-4s for his father in revenue service. Don't believe that he ever ran them in revenue service, though.

Don C.


http://www.261.com
milw261@sbcglobal.net

John,

Way back when (late 70's to the beginning of the 611 days), the "called" crew on the Southern Steam Specials would often include an engineer with enough seniority to have had some steam experience. There were also a few Road Foreman of Engines on the Kentucky Division that had had steam experience. A few notables that I can remember include Bob Kinney, Jack Anderson, and Henry Bettis. But the one I remember the best was Charlie Case. His dad was the man who ran the 6330 into Chattanooga on the then last run of steam powered freight train on the Southern. I ran into Jack Anderson when we were filming October Sky in Harriman, TN and he still looked well. The others however have passed on.

G. Mark

TVRM Shop Updates by Steve Freer
aw90@comcast.net

> The late Billy Byrd, who had 43 years of
> service on the L&N with some that steam,
> was a volunteer engineer at TVRM until his
> recent passing. All of us at TVRM feel
> grateful to have had our skills honed by a
> true master of the throttle and power
> reverse.

> G. Mark - TVRM.

Not attempting to cast any aspersions on the late Mr. Byrd, but he was never a steam engineer for L&N. He wasn't promoted from fireman to engineer in 1964, long after the end of L&N steam. He did, however, fire steam on the L&N, and certainly learned a lot from the egnineers he fired for.

> He wasn't promoted from fireman to engineer in 1964, long after the end of L&N steam.

I should have proofread that. It should read "He wasn't promoted from fireman to engineer UNTIL 1964, long after the end of L&N steam."

While not retiring from or working for the PRR very long, I believe that it is worth mentioning that Tom Holder from the EBT was a fireman for the PRR. Tom is also an Engineer for Strasburg and the one who got me started with steam. Thanks a million Tom!!!

asholley@hotmail.com

I fired ex-SP 1744 (now in New Orleans) on the Heber Valley Railroad (then Deer Creek Scenic RR) in 1985 with a gentleman named Gerry Germann, who ran cab-forwards and helpers over Donner. He had lots of tricks about steam and always was telling stories about the glory days. Wish I had taped some of the conversations!