I just recieved word that a good friend of mine and an aset to the steam railroading industry was found dead in his home yesterday. Dave is well known in the railroading industry for his great documentaion by video of world-wide steam railroading and his organization of photo charters.

This completely un-expected news was very surprising. My understanding is that he suffered a major heart-attack.

He will be missed


Jason Johnson
Ohio Central

Says it all - basking in the joy of a just-completed runby on a photo special he organized in January 2003. (Hard to say which railroad he enjoyed more, the Western Maryland Scenic or the Ohio Central.)

Unfortunately, Jason, it wasn't completely unexpected - Dave's dad, and his uncle, both suffered heart attacks while relatively young (Dave was in his mid-50s), and Dave occasionally expressed a worry that it would be his fate as well. But it didn't stop him from enjoying his life to the fullest.

And yes, we'll miss him - be it picking me up at 5am in Eisenach, Germany; enjoying a cigar trackside on Blue Ridge; or digging into the Copper River Salmon at Jake's in Portland, he was a good friend.

JAC

Or from sharing the passion and the fun with a lot of lucky friends, like this very happy crowd in 2001.

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Truely a great man! A man who loved the sights and sounds of steam a locomotive. David Goodheart did so much for the steam locomotive industry, largely only to see good things come about and the vast majority of which always went unoticed. Because of his efforts in organizing numerous trips and charters over the years on the Western Maryland Scenic, I was givin the privilage of meeting and making many many new friends that I have to this day. This community has lost a great friend. I hope he can still enjoy one his cigars where ever he is now. We will never forget you Dave!

I am also sorry to hear of Dave's passing. He was a bear of a man, and did a lot to promote the cause of steam locomotives and events in the last 15 or so years. I will miss his visits to Steamtown to film the progress of PRR 1361 and B&M 3713. I was hoping his company would be the videographer of the 3713 restoration and first fire-up. I'm certain the MILW 261 crew will miss him, also.

As a fellow video producer, I admired the accomplishments of Dave Goodheart. We talked a few times on the phone and trackside in various places, usually sharing some amusing or intriguiging stories about some of the other video guys. I'm sorry to hear of his passing.
-Jim Herron

Dave with his trademark cigar and Betacam - Ohio Central 10-18-03

I just spent the past weekend with Dave on a photo freight he organized with Soo Line 2-8-2 No. 1003. As always, we had a great time and good fellowship. I'm still a bit in shock as I write this, it's hard to believe he is gone.

As John said, he was a good friend and I already miss him.

I only got to know him over the past year or so, but one example/ my sense of who he was:

While working Trainfest, he saw my son (all of four years old) constantly coming back to view his videos: many joking comments of "your son has great taste" were said, and the usual upcoming thought of filming #33's debut were had. Upon closing up on Sunday, he walked over to me, and handed me a copy of the video he did on Jerry --- and said "This is for him. Make sure he doesn't lose interest, or you'll hear from me."

Neat guy, wicked sense of of humor. Wished I could have known him better.

TJG

I also met Dave at TrainFest '04.

While on a break, I walked over and struck up a conversation. Noticing my overalls, he asked if I was on the OC Crew. I said yes, though I'm quite new to the whole thing. He talked to me about the engines for a while, as well as college and my future plans. Then reached under his table and produced a copy of his Ohio Central DVD. I'll never forget the statement he made as he handed it to me...

(points to a simmering #6325) "Without kids like you, 20 years from now people won't know what that is. Keep it up, and next time bring your friends."

Thanks Dave.