Last year I attended a meeting of the Engineering Standards Committee. This is the group responsible for writing and placing into effect the new steam rules (49CFR Part 230) as well as a number of other projects related to steam.

During the meeting, the general attendees at the meeting (the meetings are public meetings) were asked by the panel members what it will take to get the youth involved in steam. My reply was something as follows;

I grew up under the shadow of the all mighty Steve Lee. Steve, in my book was, and to a great extent still is my ultimate steam hero. As a young 16 year old, I worked as a steam engineer for a large amusement park in Utah. As engineer, I would dress in a black t-shirt as Steve and his crew often did. I would suck on sticks of beef jerky as if smoking a big Steve Lee cigar and I tried to be ruff and gruff as I thought Steve always was. I even had a name badge on my hat that said “I wish I were Steve Lee” (I still have the badge).

After serving a mission for my church in 1993-1995, I returned home with a new vision of myself and what I could become. I realized that I will never be Steve Lee. I will however, be John Rimmasch. I will be John for the rest of my life. I had a decision to make. Live in the shadow of my hero, or become what I am today.

Having read the postings on what it will take to include the youth, I offer the following questions and ask with all of my heart, that the next time you see a young man looking at you as if you were a hero, that you would apply these simple questions to the way you act. I was impressionable, so are the youth to follow me.

READ THIS IF NOTHING ELSE:

When you see a young person, do you go out of your way to say nothing more than Hello? If notÂ…. Why not?

When a young person asks you a question, do you answer the question as if it were the most important question you had ever been asked? If not, why not?

Do you conduct yourself in a manner that invites a young person to be around you? If notÂ….are you part of the good olÂ’ boys clubÂ…..if so, why?

Do you treat others the way you want to be treated? If not, why not?

If you had a chance to ask Steve Lee any question in the world, how would you like Steve to treat youÂ…Â….remember that feeling when you growl at a young person.

The youth of the world view you as the Steve Lee in their life. You make the impression not by a program you run, or the size of engine you operate or the number of passengers you haul. You make the impression by being youÂ…Â…Â…An older person that a younger person wants to become. Be a good example and treat others with respect.

In closing, Thank you Steve Lee, Doyle M, Lyn and all the rest for being my hero. I still look up to you and always willÂ…Â…..

In twenty years from now, will some young eight year old say the same of me and you? I sure hope he will.

John E. Rimmasch
CMO
Ohio Central Steam


jrimmasch@yahoo.com

John, I have not yet met you, but I can already tell that you are my kind of guy. I have a soft spot in my heart for children of all ages and a strong belief in the Almighty and the Golden Rule.

I am looking forward to meeting you in Dennison next week.

Rich Melvin
NKP 765 Crew


NKP 765's Web Site
rich@765.org

I'm actually a few years older than John, but I can attest that on a couple of occasions that I encountered him at Heber Valley RR, he treated me just as he's described below, age notwithstanding. Thanks, John, and good luck in Ohio!

> Last year I attended a meeting of the
> Engineering Standards Committee. This is the
> group responsible for writing and placing
> into effect the new steam rules (49CFR Part
> 230) as well as a number of other projects
> related to steam.

> During the meeting, the general attendees at
> the meeting (the meetings are public
> meetings) were asked by the panel members
> what it will take to get the youth involved
> in steam. My reply was something as follows;

> I grew up under the shadow of the all mighty
> Steve Lee. Steve, in my book was, and to a
> great extent still is my ultimate steam
> hero. As a young 16 year old, I worked as a
> steam engineer for a large amusement park in
> Utah. As engineer, I would dress in a black
> t-shirt as Steve and his crew often did. I
> would suck on sticks of beef jerky as if
> smoking a big Steve Lee cigar and I tried to
> be ruff and gruff as I thought Steve always
> was. I even had a name badge on my hat that
> said “I wish I were Steve Lee” (I still have
> the badge).

> After serving a mission for my church in
> 1993-1995, I returned home with a new vision
> of myself and what I could become. I
> realized that I will never be Steve Lee. I
> will however, be John Rimmasch. I will be
> John for the rest of my life. I had a
> decision to make. Live in the shadow of my
> hero, or become what I am today.

> Having read the postings on what it will
> take to include the youth, I offer the
> following questions and ask with all of my
> heart, that the next time you see a young
> man looking at you as if you were a hero,
> that you would apply these simple questions
> to the way you act. I was impressionable, so
> are the youth to follow me.

> READ THIS IF NOTHING ELSE:

> When you see a young person, do you go out
> of your way to say nothing more than Hello?
> If notÂ…. Why not?

> When a young person asks you a question, do
> you answer the question as if it were the
> most important question you had ever been
> asked? If not, why not?

> Do you conduct yourself in a manner that
> invites a young person to be around you? If
> notÂ….are you part of the good olÂ’ boys
> clubÂ…..if so, why?

> Do you treat others the way you want to be
> treated? If not, why not?

> If you had a chance to ask Steve Lee any
> question in the world, how would you like
> Steve to treat youÂ…Â….remember that feeling
> when you growl at a young person.

> The youth of the world view you as the Steve
> Lee in their life. You make the impression
> not by a program you run, or the size of
> engine you operate or the number of
> passengers you haul. You make the impression
> by being youÂ…Â…Â…An older person that a
> younger person wants to become. Be a good
> example and treat others with respect.

> In closing, Thank you Steve Lee, Doyle M,
> Lyn and all the rest for being my hero. I
> still look up to you and always willÂ…Â…..

> In twenty years from now, will some young
> eight year old say the same of me and you? I
> sure hope he will.

> John E. Rimmasch
> CMO
> Ohio Central Steam


davew833@yahoo.com

> I'm actually a few years older than John,
> but I can attest that on a couple of
> occasions that I encountered him at Heber
> Valley RR, he treated me just as he's
> described below, age notwithstanding.
> Thanks, John, and good luck in Ohio!

John-

Wonderful comments; many of your heros were mine, although I have to admit I didn't quite reach to the extent of the "I wish I were Steve Lee" button, but lord knows I thought it. I've mentioned this before, but many of the guys who now post here always seemed a bit bigger than life growing up, and it was a bit of a revalation that they, too, put their bib-overalls on one at a time. I found my nitch as a museum curator, and now try and mentor every chance I can, becuase I too remember what its like when someone you admire takes the time to talk and LISTEN to you.

I hope I get the chance to meet you next week during the winter photo charter. You've got a heck of a crew there in OC. Although for a while I bounced around to two or three different states, I've kept in touch and gotten to know Jason Johnson pretty well, and am proud to call him friend. Although I work and live in Michigan,
I hope to give you guys a hand in the future whenever your in need of a strong back and a weak mind. See you the 24th and 25th.

TJ

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

I would like to let all know that John "IS" exactly what you read here. I have a deep respect for what he has done and the freindship that I feel for John and his crew at Heber Valley and I hope one day, Ohio Central. John really does practice what he preachs. It was a treat to be part of the team that made the Olympic's work, but it truly was the vision that John had that "made" it work.
He will be successful where ever he goes, cause he has figured it out and he has the inner compass that makes it work.
I trully wish John the best in his new position. Ohio Central will be fortunate to have him and his family there.
Good luck John.
Art

artchase@hotmail.com

> I would like to let all know that John
> "IS" exactly what you read here.

John Rimmasch is proof that nice guys don't always finish last. I'm proud to know him and call him friend.

And as for Mike Manwiller, well, Heber Valley will be in good hands there, too.

JAC

I have a similar story about my fried Jack Taylor. In 1994, when NS Steam went away I was only 16 years old. So all of my time around NS Steam was when I was really young. In 1989, I encountered Jack Taylor for the first time. What a person! If you were ever around NS Steam you probably remember him. He always was wearing a smile and smoking a pipe and most of the time he could be found in the right hand seat of 611 or 1218. Jack showed me around the cab that day and everytime I would see him after that he called me by name. That really made a big impression on me--For someone who saw so many people during the year to take time to remember who I was and always say hi!

I miss that part of the NS Steam program more than I do the locomotives.

Goose Creek Railroad
gcrrmch@aol.com

I wonder what Steam REalist thinks of all this!

> I have a similar story about my fried Jack
> Taylor. In 1994, when NS Steam went away I
> was only 16 years old. So all of my time
> around NS Steam was when I was really young.
> In 1989, I encountered Jack Taylor for the
> first time. What a person! If you were ever
> around NS Steam you probably remember him.
> He always was wearing a smile and smoking a
> pipe and most of the time he could be found
> in the right hand seat of 611 or 1218. Jack
> showed me around the cab that day and
> everytime I would see him after that he
> called me by name. That really made a big
> impression on me--For someone who saw so
> many people during the year to take time to
> remember who I was and always say hi!

> I miss that part of the NS Steam program
> more than I do the locomotives.

Jack Taylor is indeed a fine gentleman and I think a real credit to the N&W steam program.
I was with him on the trips that he ran the 1522
and I even fired the engine for him one trip for a short while. A neat guy and I'm glad that I got to know him.


john_nansen@yahoo.com

John

Congrats on your new position, Ohio Central is lucky to have you. The few times I have met you, you have you have impressed me with your knowledge, professionalism and demeanor and lack of ego, and in hearing about and seeing your work, the quality of craftmanship that is not equated to your age nor how much you are being paid per hour. Your thoughts are some that certain people in the preservation industry should really take a look at and for that matter all professions and in daily life. And not just apply those thoughts to kids but persons of all ages, to involve and nurture and afford oportunities to persons of all ages to expand our circles of talent and future members.

S.A. Worthington

And BTW, John, Steve Lee is a hero to his contemporaries too.

TJ, don't be too impressed - most of us consider it a good day of we can find our glasses and brush our remaining teeth without any more falling out.

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

John's comments about involving youth are right on. As a onetime teacher, I really don't like kids much anymore, but I also well remember the friendly old C&S fireman who invited this lonely 10 year old up into the cab of his USRA Mikado for a look around. Life was never the same afterward.

As for Steve Lee, he is not so much a hero for his work repairing and operating 3985 and 844, but for his ability to sell his expensive steam program to the ax-wielders in top UP management. Doing that involves almost a talent from God.

ryarger@rypn.org

> And BTW, John, Steve Lee is a hero to his
> contemporaries too.

> TJ, don't be too impressed - most of us
> consider it a good day of we can find our
> glasses and brush our remaining teeth
> without any more falling out.

> dave

Well, with my folically-challenged genes, my guess is that by the time I'm in my 40's I will look like I belong to the Fransican Friar-hood, so sorry, even your your bi-focals and dentures don't dissuade the esteem I hold you guys in. Just trying to see how I can work Ogden into my budget in the fall AND do OC in the Summer.

TJ


tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

> I am looking forward to meeting you in
> Dennison next week.

> Rich Melvin
> NKP 765 Crew

So Rich, does this mean the rumors are probably true about the Berk coming to Dennison?


pww57@hotmail.com

A while back this museum was in desperate trouble, disputes in the courts, bills not paid, equipment ownership in doubt etc.

I have visited the site and they have the only international (with Mexico) train ride that I have ever heard about.

Several interesting and old pieces of equipment including some wooden passenger cars.

Any news from them? I guess the court case brought in new management?

Ted Miles


ted_miles@nps.gov