After an 18-month battle with cancer, Earle Richard Henriquez-Gill passed away on June 8, 2007.

Earle was born on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1928 in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, to Carlos and Dorthea Henriquez-Gil, the 7th of 7 children. His father, Carlos Henriquez-Gil was born in Madrid, Spain and was said to have been a brilliant individual...having graduated college at the age of 16. As an adult, Carlos was employed as the Export Manager for the A.C. Gilbert Co., the makers of the legendary American Flyer model trains and the equally famous Erector Sets.

Several years after Earle's birth, the family moved to "Thornwood Farms" at number 4 Whippany Road, Morristown, NJ. The 28-room farmhouse with its 11 fireplaces was on an idyllic setting where the family raised horses, chickens and sheep. From all accounts the family lived comfortably, even during the darkest days of the Great Depression. Photos still exist of a young Earle sitting at the controls of his extensive American Flyer layout set up in a large room of the farmhouse.

Destined to become a life-long aficionado of railroads and steam locomotives, Earle, through his efforts and self-taught talents, became one of a unique band of visionaires who set out to preserve the image of steam railroading in the United States. His early-1960's restoration and operation of 1907 Baldwin-built, Southern Railway 2-8-0 No. 385, and former U.S. Army 0-6-0 No. 4039 (ALCO 1942) became a cause of celebration for "steam-starved" fans not only in New Jersey, but from all across the country.

Gil was the founder and president of the Morrs County Central Railroad (MCC)...one of the first steam preservation railroads in the U.S. Originally located on the Morristown & Erie Railroad at Whippany, NJ, the MCC made its first revenue run on Sunday, May 9, 1965. On that day, Locomotive No. 385 proudly led a string of restsored ex-Jersey Central RR commuter coaches of 1915 vintage, trailed by a 1923 wooden, ex-Pennsylvania RR N6b Cabin Car. By the end of the day nearly 1,500 passengers had climbed aboard for a nostalgic journey into the past. The melodic whistle and dinstinctive "stack talk" brought back the sounds of a fondly remembered era to not only those who rode the train, but to the throngs of people witnessing the event from trackside.

The MCC's reputation became established in Whippany as a wonderful place for people of all ages to visit. The clean, family-friendly atmosphere reflected Gil's leadership and characteristics. With the assistance of his loyal crew of company directors, employees and volunteers, the Morris County Central continually grew, amassing a fine collection of locomotives and rolling stock. Each year, returning visitors would see something different at the site...whether a newly acquired piece of equipment or some improvement to the property or in the type of entertainment provided to the public.

After 9 years at the Whippany location, Gil and his officers made the decision to relocate the entire operation 25 miles to the northwest at Newfoundland, NJ on an unused (at the time) section of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad. In December 1973, every piece of rolling stock owned by the MCC was prepared for the move and gathered together as one train. Engines 385 and 4039 were fired up and assisted diesels in leading the vintage collection of freight and passenger equipment over the Erie Lackawanna Railway and the Lehigh & Hudson River Railway to the new location. After a 3-month winter lay-over in Sparta, NJ both steam locomotives powered the train over Sparta Mountain and down into Newfoundland. On July 4, 1974 the Morris County Central Railroad reopened to the public at the new location.

Though the future looked promising for the MCC at Newfoundland, the economics and the recurring gasoline shortages of the late-1970's brought an end to the Morris County Central. Earle Gil's dream and consuming passion ended its days as an operating excursion railroad on December 14, 1980.

Though the MCC had come to a close, Earle did not sit idle. He was a founder, Charter Member and Trustee of the Whippany (NJ) Railway Museum http://www.WhippanyRailwayMuseum.net where he could be found on weekends, lending his talents and expertise. He was equally at home working onboard the train, conversing with passengers, selling tickets, or most of the time, busily working to restore or repair a car or engine in the Museum's collection.

Extremely gifted, he was one of those individuals that could create nearly anything that he set his mind to. He became an expert at wood crafting and found the work relaxing and profitable...selling many of his creations at local crafts shows and markets.

Earle could produce nearly any number of items from lumber. He built full-size, "four-poster" Victorian-style beds for friends and acquaintances, rebuilt sofas, chairs and desks, along with a wide variety of other unique items...all in his fully equipped home machine shop. For the Whippany Railway Museum, his talents were immeasurable. In late-2003, using early-20th Century diagrams from the Pennsylvania Railroad, Earle first built a recreation of a 1911 Railroad Crossing Watchbox. This was followed in 2004 by a wonderful replica of a 1905 PRR Scale House, which serves as the Museum's Ticket Office. A 1909 PRR lineside Telephone Booth (for train crew use) was also built in 2004. In September 2006, while in the midst of a grueling six-month round of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Earle kept active by building a garage for the Museum's 1948 International Coal Delivery Truck. The garage perfectly compliments the Museum's 1904 Frieght House in style and construction.

For the better part of 2004-2006, Earle led a group of capable volunteers in a renewed effort to complete the interior restoration of the wood work on the Museum's former Central Railroad of New Jersey Commuter Club Car, "Jersey Coast". This work involved selecting the proper materials to match what remained of the original,but heavily damaged inlaid-wood that is a feature of the car. Earle selected the types and grades of lumber required to replace what had been destroyed by vandals and the elements. Through Earle's efforts, the remainder of the restoration crew was able to work behind him, and replicate the original 1927 interior paint and stain tints. All 40 window frames in the car were fashioned from mahogany by Gil in his home workshop.

As if his passion for railroading were not enough, late in life, Earle discovered yet another interest and started to amass a fine collection of vintage farm equipment, including tractors, Amish buggies, buck board wagons and a restored, operating, antique pick-up truck.

But it is the Morris County Central Railroad that will be his legacy. Though the Railroad and its creator are no longer with us, the MCC is remembered as a highly-respected example of what a conscientious group of individuals, led by a true visionary could accomplish with moderate resources and good taste in the effort to preserve historic railroad equipment and present to the public a bit of bygone Americana.

Rest In Peace, Earle. We miss you so very much.

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Steve Hepler

Thank you Steve for writing such a fine tribute to Earl. He did so much to help preserve and promote our railroad heritage!! May he rest in peace.
Ross Rowland

Ross, thanks for your kind words. Earle will be deeply missed by all that knew him. The was a real sadness at the Museum today in Whippany, for sure.

Some years back, Earle gave the offhand remark that when his time came, he was sure that no one would come to see him. Regardless of what Earle thought, I know there will be a large turnout tomorrow evening for people to pay their respects.

Par-Troy Funeral Home, 95 Parsippany Road, Parsippany, NJ
(973) 887-3235 http://www.partroyfuneralhome.com

Monday evening, June 11th 6 - 9 PM EST

Steve Hepler

My thoughts exactly, Ross--Steve, you have written an very appropos and reflective tribute to Earle. May he rest in peace.

Earle's passing is a stark reminder that many of the first generation of railway preservationists are fast disappearing from the scene. Remember, it's never too late to do oral histories of your museums' founders. They are the bearers of your institutional histories.

K.R. Bell

Kurt, I think Earle would be somewhat amused, but very pleased with all of the attention. There has been an electronic "reunion" of sorts of all the former Morris County Central people. I imagine that many will be on hand for the wake.

It's too bad that the timing didn't work out for you a couple of years back when you wanted to meet up with Earle and interview him. He was more than happy to talk with anyone about the MCC and his interest in railroading and historic preservation. He was certainly a unique individual. He was actively working and doing things up until 3 weeks ago. What a sad time this is for all of us that knew him.

Steve Hepler