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| Obit: S. Fla. steam guru Stephen Spreckelmeier https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34741 |
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| Author: | Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Obit: S. Fla. steam guru Stephen Spreckelmeier |
Lifted (incomplete) from Trains.com Newswire only because many here may appreciate the update: FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Steven L. Spreckelmeier, a longtime rail enthusiast and active leader in South Florida steam locomotive preservation efforts, died unexpectedly Monday. Spreckelmeier had long been known among South Florida steam locomotive preservationists for his expertise in assessing and overseeing repairs of historic locomotives and served as founder and CEO of the Steam Locomotive No. 253 Association. Spreckelmeier became active in steam locomotive preservation efforts at age 11 with the encouragement and tutelage of his father, who has also been a lifelong preservationist and is an expert in steam locomotive repair. Over the years, Spreckelmeier became an expert in locomotive renovation and conferred with steam locomotive enthusiasts across the nation, including preservationists at Steamtown in Scranton, Pa.; the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum; the Tweetsie Railroad in North Carolina; and Colorado's Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The last of these is operated by one of his mentors, Al Harper. Spreckelmeier's most recent effort resulted in the acquisition of No. 253 that in the 1920s pulled Florida East Coast Railway cars on tracks established by famed railroad entrepreneur Henry Flagler. He and his preservation group also were able to acquire many other cars, including a wreck train that is one of the few of its kind remaining in the nation. Most recently, Spreckelmeier and fellow historic train enthusiasts worked to restore No. 253, which dates back to 1928 and have also been working on preservation of other historic railroad cars. After working on steam train components for a number of years at a location in Hialeah, Spreckelmeier and the preservationist group were successful in finding a permanent home for the collection in downtown Fort Pierce. With cooperation and support from the Florida East Coast Railway and the city of Fort Pierce, plans are underway to begin operating the cars as a tourist attraction on FEC tracks between Fort Pierce and Lake Okeechobee. |
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