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| Obit-CM Smith https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28073 |
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| Author: | NH0401 [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Obit-CM Smith |
Another professional railroader whose efforts crossed over into the preservation front. There ain't that many of 'em- It is with great sadness that we announce that Charles Morse Smith, 76, a resident of Strafford Wayne, PA, passed away on October 4, 2008, at Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, PA, after an extended illness. “Charlie” as we all knew him, was a long-time friend and colleague to many in the railroad industry. Charlie impressed everyone as a rather private person who volunteered very little about his past career, although he was not secretive and would readily answer questions. Charlie was born on October 1, 1932, and grew up in Wareham, MA, near Cape Cod. He graduated from Wareham High School in 1950, entered MIT in 1950 and graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at MIT he became president of the Model Railroad Club in his senior year, and was Secretary/Treasurer of a student chapter of the Electric Railroaders Association in his junior and senior years. Shortly after graduating he entered service with the New York Central Railroad in the Engineering Department. His career at the New York Central was interrupted by two years in the Army, during which he was stationed in Japan. By 1960, he had become the New York Central’s Mechanical Engineer- Locomotives, with system-wide responsibilities. After the merger forming Penn Central, he was transferred to the Philadelphia area and became Penn Central’s Senior Mechanical Engineer-Locomotives. As has often been related, the Penn Central in reorganizing the merged railroads adopted a policy of intermixing ex-New York Central and ex-Pennsylvania RR people in the same departments, and there ensued a cultural split referred to as the “Red Team (ex-PRR) versus the “Green Team” (ex-NYC), with many ex-PRR people adopting a condescending attitude toward ex-NYC people. Charlie once said this did not concern him, and he took pride that an ex-PRR official once said to him “You think like a PRR man.” Following the demise of Penn Central, he continued to work for Conrail, leaving in 1980 to join LTK Engineering Services, where he became a Senior Engineer. He was involved with locomotives, cars, subway equipment, light rail vehicles and various activities associated therewith. Charlie was still active at LTK Consulting Services, Inc. as Senior Consultant. He joined Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (R&LHS) in1952 and became active in the New York Chapter, becoming its Secretary and then Chairman. As chair of the New York Chapter, Charlie published a monthly newsletter, which included very thorough summaries of the New York area and national rail industry news, and no doubt was a major factor in maintaining a high membership level in the Chapter across the country. Charlie was one of three people who in 1970 formed the New York Central System Historical Society. He became president of the organization in 1974 and served until 2002. He also edited the organization’s quarterly publication the “Headlight” from 1982 until his death. He joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1962 and became a Life Member. He chaired ASME’s Design Progress Committee in 1990- 1991, and served the Rail Transportation Division as Chair of the History and Heritage Committee from 2001 until his death. . Charlie was a wealth of railroad lore and regularly contributed interesting history articles to the ASME Rail Transportation Division newsletter. We express our sincere condolences FROM: ASME RTD Newsletter |
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| Author: | Les Beckman [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Obit-CM Smith |
I am very sad to hear of the passing of Charlie Smith. I had some correspondence with him in years past, concerning some of the equipment at our museum (and elsewhere). He was always very helpful, writing out his replies in longhand. I also believe that he was instumental in saving New York Central 0-6-0 #6894, which is now down at Whitewater Valley. Hopefully the WV will one day get the 0-6-0 operational again, and those of us who like New York Central steam will hopefully remember Mr. Smith for his part in the effort. Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana) |
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| Author: | J.David [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Obit-CM Smith |
Greetings: Charlie was willing to share his knowledge and resources. In 1993, when I was restoring the No.999 for Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry, one of my challenges was the cab and cowcatcher. Both were exceptionally crude reproductions made from cheap lumber yard materials which was rotten and in many areas non-existant. I had virtually no original wood to work with to determin the species, types of joinery used, etc. I contacted NYC Historical Society, hoping to get some advice. Charlie was pleased that the No.999 was to be restored (and placed inside the museum) AND he had the original drawings for the cab and cowcatcher that the locomotive had by the 1930s (goal of the restoration was to have the locomotive and tender appear as they had at the Worlds Fair in Chicago in 1932). Charlie told me that when the NYC was disposing of stuff during the merger, he saved everything he could find for the 999, and these drawing were among the items that he got for the NYC Historical Society. The drawings showed not only the dimensions and joinery but there was a note as to species of wood to be used: white ash.Charlie saved me an enormous amount of time and insured that the restoration would be as accurate as possible. J.David |
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