Yesterday the Three Rivers Rambler hosted Southern Railway Master Mechanic - Steam William J. Purdie. "Dad" brought a Southern whistle which sounded great on no. 203.

Since Bill retired in 1982, I didn't expect to ever see him at the throttle again - the last time I had the pleasure was at the SRHA convention in Chattanooga in 1998, when Bill ran 4501 on a photo runby.

To Donald Purdie, Greg Dodd, and all the good folks at the Three Rivers Rambler / Knoxville & Holston River who set this up: I hope Santa is especially good to you this year. You deserve it.

JAC