For those who knew my brother, Brian Fritz and his many friends in the Pacific Northwest, he died suddenly and unexpectedly last week from natural causes.

He was the web master for the "Washington State Steam Railroads and Engines" site, a frequent volunteer at Northwest Railway Museum and Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. He also posted here at RyPN under the screen names "Crewcaller" and "brianf."

A memorial service is planned and when finalized, I'll post the information.

Mr Fritz, I for one am very saddened for your family's loss.
I didn't know Brian but I was aware of his work very well, spent a lot of time on his website and as a newcomer to the area, it was instrumental in my initiation to WA state railroads. I met him once at Mt Rainier Scenic and told him what I thought of his efforts.

He will be missed very much in this part of the country. I'm sure I speak for most of the railfans in this area who are equally shocked and saddened by his passing.

Wow, I am stunned. I have communicated with Brian for several years and met him at Mt. Rainier a few years ago and again just last summer in Vancouver. My condolences to your family during this time of loss.

Regards,
Jeff Badger

Brian was a regular at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie-North Bend, WA. His sense of humor, wit, incredible knowledge, hard work, and just all 'round great personality will be missed beyond words. If there were a model of an ideal railway museum volunteer, it would be Brian. Locomotive fireman one day, planting grass seed the next, unloading wood the next, and then helping construct new track. In other words, he worked for the mission of a museum and had his eyes firmly set on specific objectives.

Some of his most recent involvement centered on the rehabilitation of former Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway coach 218, a 1912-built Barney and Smith wood coach. Just two weeks ago he helped construct two rolling racks to temporarily house the coach's windows. He took that work just as seriously as being a brakeman.

Rail preservation has lost a great asset and society as a whole has lost a truly remarkable individual.

--Richard

Brian was also a tremendous help in documenting steam pumps in the Washington state area; he even went to Gasworks Park and took a bunch of pictures for me (I hope I saved them on my hard drive now.)

We communicated back and forth several times over the years; I am very sorry to hear of his passing; my condolences as well to you and your family.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

Some of you may have heard, but to others this may the first you've heard of Brian's sudden passing. He suffered a fatal heart attack on March 1st, 2007. He died peacefully at home.

His family would like his friends and colleagues to join with us in celebrating his life on Saturday, March 10th, at 6:00 p.m. at Flintoft's Funeral home in Issaquah (http://www.flintofts.com/). Please visit the website and sign the guest book. Please take a moment to share your memories and photos.

There will also be a memorial mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday at 3 p.m. The church is located at 1614 Farralley Street in Enumclaw WA 98022.

The crew of the Mt Rainier Scenic RR was shocked and greatly saddened to hear this news.

Brian was heavily involved in the Mt Rainier Scenic and worked on quite a few projects. He was talented in many areas of preservation, and was extremely well liked and respected. He will be missed by those of us in the industry who had the pleasure of working with him.

Brian's "Washington State Steam Railroads and Engines" website was the original inspiration for me to launch a similar site for locomotives in New England, which grew to become parkengines.railfan.net. Brian and I e-mailed back and forth a few times over the years, and although I never met him personally, I am very saddened by his passing.

Ed, I am very sorry to hear about Brian's passing. We hadn't communicated the last couple of years but between 1998 and 2004 we were regular correspondents.

Brian's contributions to RyPN are greatly appreciated.

My deepest sympathies and condolences.

I attended the services for Brian, as did many members of the Northwest Railway Museum. I spoke with the family and found out that they have had at least two offers from folks interested in keeping Brian's website active.

I'm pretty certain the individual who offered to take it over will follow through, which is fine with me since he's quite capable of doing a nice job of it, and I've already got too much work to do, but should things not work out I told them I would be happy to host the site.

Years ago I was planning on doing one of my own, but Brian did such a good job of it that there was no need to duplicate his efforts. I frequently reffered to the site, and sent many others there as well. I also provided Brian with any news and updates I found.

So I appears that this very useful resource will survive and be maintained. It would be a fitting memorial to somebody who was very active in railway preservation.

Awhile back, Brian took pictures of Gas Works Park in Seattle for the Steam Lizards Group, and placed them on his photo site (http://homepage.mac.com/brianfri)

When his site disappeared, I found them on local drive, and have uploaded them to the Steam Lizards Gallery in his memory and with our thanks from the Group:

http://www.survivingworldsteam.com/gallery/album70

The other pictures he took for the Project (both rail and non-rail related) will also live on, both in the Gallery and on the CDs:

http://www.survivingworldsteam.com/gall ... ring=Fritz

I am also glad to here that Brian's "Washington State Steam Railroads and Engines" website will go on; I also used it, talked with Brian about it, and referred it to others.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project