First, the man's name was Richard Jensen. Locomotives he owned included CB&Q 4-8-4 5632, CB&Q 2-8-2 4963, NKP 2-8-2 965, GTW 4-6-2 5629 (his first locomotive), at least one small ("short-line-sized") 4-6-0, and perhaps others. The NKP locomotive also met its fate in the same scrapyard that reduced 5632 to #1 heavy melting steel.

Hopefully, some of the people who worked with and knew Jensen (they read and occasionally post on this board) will someday write the real story about this quixotic, interesting man and his locomotive collection. I have been told many parts of the story by some of those people, and much of it is at once fascinating, exhilarating, exasperating, and ultimately tragic. A New England freight railroad executive was (long ago) one of Jensen's volunteer workers, and he photographed on color slides the behind-the-scenes activities of the Jensen collection. The photos show the complete new firebox tack-welded in place on CB&Q 4-8-4 5632; all the tough work was already done by CB&Q's shopmen, and the finish welding and staybolt installation was about all that was left to do. There were crates and crates of brand-new staybolts stacked in the cab-- the last order of staybolts Flannery Bolt Co. made before going out of business.

There is a real history to the story of steam locomotive preservation after 1960; some of it is good, some is bad, all of it is fascinating (in my opinion) and it all should be documented and written before it is lost.

Please understand I am not passing judgement on Jensen or the way he managed his collection. I am simply saying it is and incredible story (the REAL story), and deserves to be told in full someday. He did things 99% of steam fans in 1960-70 dreamed and talked about, but he "walked the walk".

hpincus@mindspring.com

> First, the man's name was Richard Jensen.
> Locomotives he owned included CB&Q 4-8-4
> 5632, CB&Q 2-8-2 4963, NKP 2-8-2 965,
> GTW 4-6-2 5629 (his first locomotive), at
> least one small
> ("short-line-sized") 4-6-0, and
> perhaps others. The NKP locomotive also met
> its fate in the same scrapyard that reduced
> 5632 to #1 heavy melting steel.

> Hopefully, some of the people who worked
> with and knew Jensen (they read and
> occasionally post on this board) will
> someday write the real story about this
> quixotic, interesting man and his locomotive
> collection. I have been told many parts of
> the story by some of those people, and much
> of it is at once fascinating, exhilarating,
> exasperating, and ultimately tragic. A New
> England freight railroad executive was (long
> ago) one of Jensen's volunteer workers, and
> he photographed on color slides the
> behind-the-scenes activities of the Jensen
> collection. The photos show the complete new
> firebox tack-welded in place on CB&Q
> 4-8-4 5632; all the tough work was already
> done by CB&Q's shopmen, and the finish
> welding and staybolt installation was about
> all that was left to do. There were crates
> and crates of brand-new staybolts stacked in
> the cab-- the last order of staybolts
> Flannery Bolt Co. made before going out of
> business.

> There is a real history to the story of
> steam locomotive preservation after 1960;
> some of it is good, some is bad, all of it
> is fascinating (in my opinion) and it all
> should be documented and written before it
> is lost.

> Please understand I am not passing judgement
> on Jensen or the way he managed his
> collection. I am simply saying it is and
> incredible story (the REAL story), and
> deserves to be told in full someday. He did
> things 99% of steam fans in 1960-70 dreamed
> and talked about, but he "walked the
> walk".

Howard:

I agree with you. Jensen WAS different. And what happened to the O5b and GTW 5629 was tragic. But the 4963 was saved as was the Ten-Wheeler (now up at the End-O-Track museum in Minnesota I believe.) They would not have existed at all if not for Jensen.

And I agree the story deserves to be written about. Jensen, Keller, Blount, Link, Spence and others, that saved one locomotive or many. Who is going to write it? Sign me up for a copy!

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

> Hopefully, some of the people who worked
> with and knew Jensen (they read and
> occasionally post on this board) will
> someday write the real story about this
> quixotic, interesting man and his locomotive
> collection. I have been told many parts of
> the story by some of those people, and much
> of it is at once fascinating, exhilarating,
> exasperating, and ultimately tragic......

Actually, a person who does post on this board and others and did in fact work closely with Mr. Jensen, wrote at least a very large portion of the meat of the story on another board. This was roughly two or three years ago, but all he got for his efforts at the time was a bunch of flaming from some Jensen haters. Being new to the subject at the time, this was the first I'd heard of Mr. Jensen and his locomotives.
I would really like to meet the individual who actually consigned those engines to scrap. Just for a few minutes.
Mark D.

Howard makes an interesting point. I am fascinated with the Blount's, Jensen's and Hart's of the world. We've touched on the subject before, and what is missing are the unbiased biographies.

I was born in '68, so I missed the first decade or so of the "preservation era" for steam.

Now, as some of you know, railfan circles are apt to spread gossip before fact, and often that gossip is about the good work being done. So, I grew up hearing about the more infamous side of the Jensen story. The Internet has allowed me to communicate with people who know more of the story. I agree with Howard: the whole saga deserves to be told.

Messers Bell, Pincus and so many others of us share this interest in mid-20th century steam preservation. Maybe there is a way that we can work together to build a clearer record?

Who would you include? My list begins with...

Blount
Jensen
Hart
Atwood
Showalter
Rowland
Clark (Clark's Trading Post)
Hubbard

Got more?

Rob

The 965 was scrapped at M.S. Kaplan's East Chicago yard while 5632 was scrapped at Erman Howell at 88th street Chicago. The Kaplan scrapping is a story in itself. The bigger loss, however was the collection of parts and tools lost to the preservation field. The sad part is the long list of well known and pedistalled persons,locomotive repair experts, and contracters, and rail buffs of doubious charcter, and railroad connected persons, and politicians who participated in Jensen's and revelled in Jensen's demise. Much of the documentation needed by Jensen's lawyers to defend him or by Jensen himself to protect his interests, has only turned up after his death. Eventually a book will be written. Additionally saved was Jensen's ex-CRI&P water car now used behind PM1225 and the York Southern 4-6-0 at Monticello, Ill.

rich-young@afbisinc.com

I would add the name of Ed Striegel the Baltimore scrap dealer who held onto B&O P-7 Pacific #5300 the "President Washington," and the original USRA 2-8-2 B&O Q-3 #4500, both of which are highly prized exhibits at the B&O Railroad Museum. He also held onto two RDG T-1's, #2100 and #2101. All of these locomotives are still around today because he was keenly aware of their historic importance.

Also, do not forget Nick Kovalchik of East Broad Top Fame.

kevin.r.gillespie@verizon.net

Rob,

I agree with what you stated in your post. I was born in 1964 and feel very much they way you do.

I was thinking the other day it would be great to hear Ross Rowland's thoughts on the different locomotives he ran and/or restored. What other engines he considered for operation etc.

The only person that I would add to your list would be Paul Spence.

-Alan Levy



alanl759@aol.com

> I was thinking the other day it would be
> great to hear Ross Rowland's thoughts on the
> different locomotives he ran and/or
> restored. What other engines he considered
> for operation etc.

Mark I Video has recently released an hour-long video documentary about Ross Rowland ("ROSS ROWLAND--GIANT OF STEAM") that covers his life story and all of the steam locomotive operations he has been involved with. Throughout the tape RER jr talks about (and compares) the various steam locomotives he has operated over the years. All are shown in action (mostly converted movie footage) along with some still photos.

The tape starts with his early exposure to steam, including running a steam locomotive for the first time when he was only 10 years old--hostling CNJ engines (I guess) "on the QT" and early experiences on NJ tourist lines Pine Creek and Black River & Western.

Then comes the story of the High Iron Company excursions and featured are scenes of Blount's 127 (CP 1278), Hart's CP 1238 and 1286, Strasburg's GW 90, Benson's RDG 2102, and Steamtown's 759 in action. The Golden Spike trip is covered and we learn that it was on this trip that actor John Wayne (riding with RER jr) was the one that first suggested the idea of the American Freedom Train.

A good deal of the program covers the creation and operation of the Freedom Train and "30 day miracle" overhaul of 2101 is highlighted. A lot of good (and now historic in its own right) footage of AFT is set to the backround of the Dolly Parton / Porter Wagoner version of "HERE COMES THE FREEDOM TRAIN".

Also there's a good deal of footage of 2101 running on Chessie Steam Special with a backround history of those excursions and RER jr's comments about the train's color scheme and his "front end" treatment of the '01. Also post-fire scenes of the '01 in Silver Grove, KY. and her return to AFT 1 for placement in Baltimore is included.

614's overhaul and Chessie Safety Express excursions are covered next. Followed by a fairly long segment concerning the development of the ACE3000 project and 614's winter coal train test runs. At this time the program cuts off somewhat short leaving the (uneducated) viewer without info on what happened to the ACE3000 project. There is a scene or two of RDG 2100 in action reflecting the time RER jr owned this engine (later as a partner). The tape very lightly covers the 614 trips to Port Jervis (Mark I has extensive coverage of these trips on an earlier tape) and concludes with RER jr operating Ohio Central's 6325.

In a bit of a surprise ending, the tape concludes with RER jr "taking on his critics" concerning the negative comments sometimes addressed about him--you'll have to buy the tape to find out his response!

All in all a good program with a lot of good "vintage preservation" information and movie footage.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

> Howard makes an interesting point. I am
> fascinated with the Blount's, Jensen's and
> Hart's of the world. We've touched on the
> subject before, and what is missing are the
> unbiased biographies.

> I was born in '68, so I missed the first
> decade or so of the "preservation
> era" for steam.

> Now, as some of you know, railfan circles
> are apt to spread gossip before fact, and
> often that gossip is about the good work
> being done. So, I grew up hearing about the
> more infamous side of the Jensen story. The
> Internet has allowed me to communicate with
> people who know more of the story. I agree
> with Howard: the whole saga deserves to be
> told.

> Messers Bell, Pincus and so many others of
> us share this interest in mid-20th century
> steam preservation. Maybe there is a way
> that we can work together to build a clearer
> record?

> Who would you include? My list begins
> with...

> Blount
> Jensen
> Hart
> Atwood
> Showalter
> Rowland
> Clark (Clark's Trading Post)
> Hubbard

> Got more?

> Rob

Rob:

I think if you're going to do justice to this story, you have to include persons who saved one locomotive, in addition to those who saved many.
My list would include:

Keller (IC 2-8-0 #790 now at Steamtown)
Merriman (SRR 2-8-2 #4501 now at TVRM)
Thompson (The "Thompson Winery" collection with

locomotives at various locations.)
Fickling (CofG 4-4-0 #349 now at TVRM)

There are probably others.

Les Beckman (HVRM)


midlandblb@cs.com

For any of you that would like to know what happened to the ACE 3000 project, please check out the section of my page linked below.

Regards,
Hugh Odom

> 614's overhaul and Chessie Safety Express
> excursions are covered next. Followed by a
> fairly long segment concerning the
> development of the ACE3000 project and 614's
> winter coal train test runs. At this time
> the program cuts off somewhat short leaving
> the (uneducated) viewer without info on what
> happened to the ACE3000 project.
> Regards,
> Jim Robinson


The ACE 3000
whodom2001@yahoo.com

While we are on the subject of telling the stories... And yes, I'm nagging a little here. Every museum, every historic operation, no matter how small today, has a story to tell. The early history of many preservation groups is in real danger of being lost. The challenge isn't to just collect the artifacts and past newsletters, but to find a way to present and interpret them. And find a way to do that without pulling resources away from the back shop and train crews.
~end of nag, for now~


that other (lately neglected) Chattanooga website
mail@steamvalley.com

Preach the gospel, brother Rob! I wholeheartedly agree that the stories of the first generation of the railway preservation movement (trains and trolleys) needs to be captured NOW--many of them are elderly and are starting to fade from the scene. Here's my short list of the young and young at heart alike worthy of oral history:

Carl Conover (BR&W, No. 60)
J. Huber Leath (SRC)*
Linn W. Moedinger (SRC)*
Lawrence H. Myers (Saved 1533, 37, 3, 9 for NH&I, W&C)*
Wendell Dillinger (M&H, No. 91 + trolleys)*
Ed Blossom (East Penn Traction Club, trolleys)
Stanley Hall and Nick Kovalchick (EBT)
George M. Hart (saved 972, 13, 14, 1098, 1238, 1286)*
Thomas C. Marshall, Jr. (W&W, No. 92, No. 98)

Many, many more too numerous to mention.

Individuals marked with an asterix (*) have either been formally or informally interviewed by me already. I did a five-part formal oral history interview with George M. Hart in 1997 which has been transcribed into a 60-page transcript.

We also need to assemble a national database of preserved locomotives and rolling stock--a task not impossible with the use of the internet. We need to know what we have saved in order to continue the cause.

K.R. Bell

> Howard makes an interesting point. I am
> fascinated with the Blount's, Jensen's and
> Hart's of the world. We've touched on the
> subject before, and what is missing are the
> unbiased biographies.

> I was born in '68, so I missed the first
> decade or so of the "preservation
> era" for steam.

> Now, as some of you know, railfan circles
> are apt to spread gossip before fact, and
> often that gossip is about the good work
> being done. So, I grew up hearing about the
> more infamous side of the Jensen story. The
> Internet has allowed me to communicate with
> people who know more of the story. I agree
> with Howard: the whole saga deserves to be
> told.

> Messers Bell, Pincus and so many others of
> us share this interest in mid-20th century
> steam preservation. Maybe there is a way
> that we can work together to build a clearer
> record?

> Who would you include? My list begins
> with...

> Blount
> Jensen
> Hart
> Atwood
> Showalter
> Rowland
> Clark (Clark's Trading Post)
> Hubbard

> Got more?

> Rob

The
> bigger loss, however was the collection of
> parts and tools lost to the preservation
> field.

I recall hearing that most if not all the gons and boxcars and baggage cars full of parts, tools, machines, were sold by the scrappers to Northwest Steel & Wire, for their use in keeping the fleet of 0-8-0s running. I seem to remember that when IRM got the NSW collection, they also got thr remaining parts supply.

Dr. Chooch, where are you? You know all this stuff. Inquiring minds want to know!!

hpincus@mindspring.com

I would add Sloan Cornell to the list. He has been in the tourist railroad biz for a long time and is still at it. When it comes to railroad history, especially in Pennsylvania, Sloan has both more knowledge and more artifacts than many people realize.

Alan Maples

AMaples@aol.com

> George M. Hart (saved 972, 13, 14, 1098,
> 1238, 1286)*

Kurt: you forgot 1251!!

K4s1361@hotmail.com