Just informed that Hugo Lackman, a gentlemanly Texan living in Colorado and an iconic figure in early steam tourist railroading passed away quietly under hospice care Thursday, July 23, at his home in Woodland Park, CO.

After serving in WW II, Hugo returned home to Texas, knowing he wanted to be a steam engineer on either marine or railroad applications. The MoPac was hiring and he joined up, working through the end of the steam era and into the diesel era in Texas.

After retirement, he moved with his wife, Elizabeth Buchanan, to Woodland Park, Colorado into a home they built. Hugo then began a second career training another generation in tourist steam railroading.

I knew him working at Georgetown Loop back in the early '90s. I was a transplanted easterner with coal fired flatland experience, and he taught me most of what I learned about firing oil burners and running trains on vertical railroads. He was always quietly suggestive, even when a direct loud comment might have been in order. Many of us profited substantially from our working with him - his generosity and encyclopedic knowledge of steam railroading from a historic and hands-on perspective was vast and openly shared with later generations.

His funeral was held Saturday, July 25 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Cripple Creek.

dave

Hugo Lackman was a hogger for Steamtown. He appears—but does not speak— in "Pennsylvania Short Lines," a video produced by Bill Kauffman of Kauffman Creative Services, Lebanon, PA. The fireman, Jim Pilidgen (sp? )did the talking.

Sloan

Hugo was very kind to me on a visit in 1992 to the Georgetown Loop, giving me all sorts of info and inviting me for a cab ride on No. 14. I have never forgotten his generosity. He will be missed.

Jim

Both engineer Hugo Lackman and fireman Bill Jenkins were filmed in the cab of "Lackawanna" 2317 during the 1986 operating season at Scranton. It sounds like both Hugo & Bill speak during the video. What was interesting is that both of these gentlemen came from the MoPac and came to Scranton to run steam.

The video previously mentioned has been posted in pieces on Youtube. The link should take you there. Pretty interesting to see Steamtown before the NPS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmd4XsapvSY

Hard to believe it was 23 years ago. Time sure does fly.

Rob