Retired L&N Enginner Billy M. Byrd is being laid to rest today in his hometown of Madisonville, KY. Mr. Byrd passed away Sunday morning. After retiring from the L&N, Billy continued to chase his passion for steam by operating steam locomotives on the Crab Orchard & Egyptian (as documented by Charles Kuralt's "On the Road" series). Billy was also an engineer at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum for the last 18 years. Billy also loved to play with his steam traction engine and was a favorite at many thresher shows.

For those who knew Billy, his smile and endless tales of life on the L&N will be sorely missed.

G. Mark Ray, TVRM

aw90h@cs.com

The Master Above has called another true craftsman home. I was reading about Billy Byrd in Iron man Album back when I was a kid, and it has seemed that whereever there was steam in the south, therewas Billy. All of us, not just TVRM, have lost a treasure.

Our condolensces.

In 1991 we shot and rode the cab of 4501 from Asheville to Knoxville, and the engine headed to Chattanooga (one-way deadhead move).
The next day we shot the 610 at the TVRM on a couple of runs, and were preparing to start the long drive home. I talked to Billy a few times and he was very fun to talk to about steam in general. He invited me to ride in the cab on the next run, but I declined since the wife and daughter were ready to head north, and it had been a long 4 days already.
I'll remember his hospitality toward me, and his enthusiasm for what he did and loved most!
If I see him in the after life, I won't turn down the next cab ride with him. Farewell Billy.
Greg Scholl

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