Andy,
You are 38. Wow!!! I didn't picture you a day younger than 45. Haha.

You may not be considered a "young gun" anymore, but your experience speaks for itself. You have done much for the industry and aided in keeping steam alive back in the 80s with the 4070 and today with the Ohio Central.

I believe one of Mr. Zahart's greatest memories of the OC is you running the CP 1293 between Coshocton and Columbus during Trainfest. I only wish I had recording gear with me to record the show you put on. What a trip!

You certainly could tell some stories. Thank you for all that you did for me at the Ohio Central. Keep up that amazing work.

Keep Steaming,
Greg Udolph

PS - Please join our Steam's Young Guns group. You have much you can offer!

Oh and... if you can read this flip me over

I must agree with TJ. I owe my introduction to working on steam to Jason. He allowed me to join the volunteers at the Ohio Central and then offered me a summer job working on the engines. I enjoyed working there and made some great friends.

Jason, you have done much for steam. You certainly belong on the list. Thank you for helping me break into this industry.

I came away from reading Eriks article encouraged that the torch is being passed to a capable, dedicated core of folks who are committed to keeping it burning for the next generation. I was also delighted to learn that there are far more "youngsters" out there than I thought. I'm personally familiar with a good half dozen whose work would qualify them for inclusion( I fully understand the limited number based on space etc.),and thus realize that nationally there's a healthy total number in the ranks!
I was also thinking how much fun it might be if we were able to organize an annual get-together where we could have some sort of good natured contest between the "old-farts" vs. the "young guns"? I don't know- maybe best story teller?,Most unbelievable true steam on the road happenning? Best liar?Most miraculous on the road emergency repair job? Just a thought.
I was also pleased to note that most of those chosen to be featured in the article were shown dressed appropriately. Please remember that the general public is where the overwhelming majority of our support comes from and dressing the part is integral to the overall customer impression. Imagine your reaction if the Captain on your next flight should appear from the cockpit in a t-shirt,bermuda shorts&sneakers,or your waiter at a nice restaurant comes up to your table in a dirty sweat shirt and cut-offs. Like it or not-we're in show business and looking the part is a critical part of the show!! Being bear-headed,bare-fisted and in ragamuffin street clothes won't cut it!
IMHO-Ross Rowland....no s please.....

Well, Chris , spears have advantages over guns - they don't shoot off as quickly, and don't make as much noise!

While this thread has given some of us an opportunity to share some stories and memories let us not forget what it really represents. It is becoming the responsibility of the "young guns" to hold this knowledge and prepare to pass it along. 20 years goes by much faster than I would have every believed and you will see the same thing.

I cannot believe at only 38 years old I can honestly say I have been involved in some aspect of preservation and/or operation of railroads for 25 years but I have. This was all made possible because my father was willing to drive me long before I could drive myself to a roundhouse in Cleveland almost every Saturday. In spite of his other family obligations to my brothers, sister and his wife away we went. While he did enjoy working on the coaches and interaction with the passengers it was his time to give me and help me get to where I am today. Thank You Dad.

I look back at the many people that I have learned from, most of whom I have the priveledge of also calling friends, Ted Krumreich, Rick DeMattia, Dave Thomas, Ross Ballard, Jerry Ballard, George Hockaday, Harold Crouch and a list that would fill the server. Without this group of people I could not look back and have the memory of running a Grand Trunk 4-8-4. A 167 car general frieght train. Three week old NS units on run through service over the old Pennsy Panhandle. To those listed and those not Thank You.

The "young guns" the people that I have been able to pass some of my meger knowledge to, whether it is burning down a badly coked over fired or just how to keep the slack from running in through Pataskala. You have endured many stories and songs while putting in time in the cab with me. Also had to listen to some rants and raves as things don't go so well. You have chosen what those on the outside may question as a good career path. The choice to be out with a flashligt in the rain, or the feeling of "didn't I just leave here" and let's not forget pushing the yellow pick up to the gas station the morning of steamfestival because we stopped at Dairymart before getting gas! Chris Zahrt, Mike Manwiller, Greg Udolph and again too many to list Thank You.

A person whom I was much closer with many years ago once a made a statement I did comprehend at the time. He said "the steam engine is the easy part". After many years of scraped knuckles, cut elbows sore backs and many other such feelings I finally understand him. The steam engine is only an ingredient in our pie. Without the other ingredients and proper baking we only have crumbs which will be swept away and forgotten. So to the many people both paid and volunteer that choose not to be in the cab of a steam engine, the people that find their spot keeping an RS3 with a 244 prime mover running, replacing side panels on coaches, mopping floors, mowing lawns, keeping books and countless other tasks I say Thank You.

It is our responsibility to keep the history of railroading alive, while some of us are also lucky enough to work in the modern day field if we choose to preserve history on our time we need to do it right and safely. We need to insure we pass down the knowledge not only of what to do but what not to do. How to handle the situation we hope may never come. Having been on an engine some 16 years ago when the threads on a water pump check failed and it let go with 120lbs of steam while firing up that morning. It was the discussions held many nights of "what would you do in this situation" that I was able to call upon and do the right thing to get the fire out and water in. To the people that had the insight to hold what seemed like such ridiculous conversation I say Thank You.

I apologize if this is long winded or to anyone I did not name and to those who know me for being so out of character and serious. Let us all just take a step back and see what we can bring to kitchen to help bake this pie. 20 years from now you will be sitting with just as many memories and hopefully a list of people too long to show to which you will be saying Thank You.

"3 blocks and 1 yard O K at 10:14, that's one-zero-one-four, AMN"

Andy,

You are most correct. I have shared the followings sentiment with a few young guns, but I feel its true for all of us.

As cute as being called a 'Young Gun' may be, it is a reminder of the work left to be done, and that there is much to be responsible for. If anything, it's a badge of responsibility. This business is not one famous for its publicity or public figures, which leaves those of us who work away inside tenders and boilers before there's even a hint of coal smoke in the air do so without attention. This is a special time where its important that the ones just starting out, honing their skills, are given attention not necessarily by the media, but by our own respective groups and family of working bretheren so that instead of simply needle scaling on a syphon or sweeping out trash, we're learning much, much more.

Like Greg joked to me, "now that you're officially a young gun, you need to go out and do some work!" And in a tongue-in-cheek way, he's right. Getting your name on the internet or in a magazine only puts more pressure on one to get the job done and done well, but that's just some added inspiration and invigoration, like smelling that coal smoke after enhaling grease and scale dust for weeks. Jim Wrinn told me at the conclusion of the article, "the only reward for hard work is more hard work!"

amen.

Kelly Lynch

Chris, you forget I may have a story or two from BW's in Zanesville as well! For those intersted just ask and we can see how much we can scare Mr. Zahrt!

Just kidding Chris, what happens in the Sportzone stays in the Sportzone!
-Andy

That may be true, but let's face it: they're antiquated technology that fell from favor CENTURIES ago.
-Zahrt

I myself am simply an observer of the industry. While I fully realize that virtually everyone must get there start as a volunteer, I intended only to convey my opinion that it may have been more efective for those already in the industry(employed full time) to have been listed so that maybe others out there getting a start in the volunteer rhelm could be introduced to individuals whom may one day have the desire to bring on some new and young blood.
Call it a means of introduction of the established to the up and coming.

Thank you guys for the kind words. I never wanted to gain any fame for what I did, I gauged success by sitting back and watching the young guys, Zahrt, Udolph, Gaffney, Lynch, Mike Muldowney and many others meet individual goals from shooting the rods to firing a 4-8-4 on the mainline. When they succeeded, I felt like I had succeeded.

I learned early on that no one was going to do it for me. If you are a young guy out there wanting to get ahead in the small world of steam remember two things, work hard and keep your mouth shut and listen. If you listen, surround yourself with people more knowledgeable than yourself, and ask questions, you will advance very quickly. I had the opportunity to work closely with many that know much more than I with many years in the business, Jacobson, Sposato, Geist, Novak, Lindsey, Bensman, Melvin, Manwiller, Franzen, Rowland and many more. I can say I learned something different from each and everyone of them and I was never afraid to ask a question. They always gave me a straight answer and always helped me understand why, how or when. For that I thank them.

With just the short list of "Young Guns" in the article and some of the names listed here, I am confident my kids will have a place to take their kids to see steam run, breathe in coal smoke, smell pin grease, and enjoy the bark of the stack.

Jason Johnson

I would like to bring two errors in May’s “Young Guns of Steam” article to attention. On page 45, André Chapelon's name is missing its acute accent. Also, “Daniel Porta” is, in fact, Livio Dante Porta , best referred to by this group as L.D. Porta or Mr. Porta.

It is a dishonor to "The World's Most Active Advocate," as quoted from the final edition of RYPN, to misname the man who has done the most to not only preserve, but advance steam technology.

Matt Janssen,
Portaist

I understand that the space for this (and any article) is finite. Perhaps then, Mr. Ledbetter should have titled his article “Young Guns of Steam in the Cab,” as that appeared to be its primary focus. While this article started out with the impression that it would cover those “who will keep steam alive for the next generation,” it merely showcased its young operators. While I am in no way disappointed with his selections, I feel that they are merely the tip of the iceberg. It is important to remember that for every “young gun” in the cab, there were countless others working to make that happen. And, chances are, they were young, too. Also, there are many people, such as myself, who are experienced primarily with work on static locomotive displays. While I’ll agree this lacks the luster of live steam operations, I believe it is still paramount to “keeping steam alive in the 21st Century” as we all know that what is out of sight is easily out of mind.

Jessica Janssen, 27

Jessica,

As high profile as being in the cab is, I know a lot of us are rarely there. We're on the shop floors, inside fireboxes, or surrounded by piles of engineering manuals and diagrams of locomotive lubrication systems from 1923 (Chris!) or even in front of a computer. You are most right that there are many out there working to preserve static displays and work within museums--I know a few of the friends I've made working at Steamtown are now helping to salvage park displays and get jobs to save park engines that have been neglected.

And you make a good point. Live steam is one thing to attract someone, but a park display or museum site requires an extra bit of imagination and caretaking. I know there's a few young guns working to preserve the NKP Roundhouse in Frankfort, Indiana and an NKP Mikado in Hammond.

Wasatch's work on static displays has been incredible to see unfold and it's heartening to see that the restoration work on the locomotives is done in such a way that not only ensures the locomotives presence for YEARS to come, but that it's vital components are saved for future use. It's an extremely viable game plan worthy of adoption, and I'd reckon that the preservation of static displays can be taught by those like yourself who are excelling at keeping steam alive.

-Kelly

I did not include the acute accent for Chapelon's first name in the copy I filed, and I apologize for the error.

Dante Porta's name was correct in the final copy I filed. An error was introduced when the article was laid out by the designers, and regrettably, none of us caught it when reading the proofs. I saw it immediately the first time I read the article as printed and winced. I have asked Jim to run a correction as soon as possible.

I greatly regret the error, and I hope people will understand that it was an accident not an intentional slight.

Thank you, Kelly. Well put! It has been great fun working with Wasatch, especially on Omaha's Kenefick Park project.

Jessica