The video was produced by Kelly Lynch, who is also a member of the 765's crew.
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Loved the video and the "765" cap. Like to get a cap some day if I can make it up there.
Excellent story and video!
What a great video! Thanks.
It's funny to see someone so young explain what hooked her into trains. But....I can understand it! It truly is timeless.
NTS. =note to self
(now I don't need another steamer! think diesel. Man that thing is beautiful......)
Way to go! Here is Rikki during a runaround on Chehalis & Centralia No. 15
Hi Rich,
In the video of Rachael, which by the way was really good, there is a guy in the video in the shop or engingehouse, who I recognized, standing/teaching with Rachael. It looked like Jason Z., who once worked at the New Hope & Ivyland R.R. in New Hope PA. Jason was steam mechanic there and a mighty fine one at that. Could you verify that as being him. I was a fireman on # 40, a consolidation, and I think Jason would remember me.
John J. Giuliano
Very cool! It's great to see young people getting involved in activities that empower them and connect them with history. Great job by the society.
Jay in Ottawa
Great Story!!
Yep, that was Jason.
One of the best on the SP Golden Gate Railroad Museums Steam engine. Don
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Great story.
Some of you might know that the Explorers Post 1225 out of the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso also have several girls on their crew. They are restoring the old Mississippian no. 76. They are even learning to fire and run the 1225!
Great to see young kids, boys and girls get involved in trains!
Here is one of the female Explorers oiling the Flagg Coal #75
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great story, and great to see any young person catch the love of trains.
I was thinking it would be great to have a girl like her for a girlfriend, share the love of trains, then I read the part about the pythons!
Another well done video, Rich.
Was that the FWRHS machine shop where Jason and Rachel were filmed?
Terrific video; and, it was a pleasure to see and listen to such a composed and well-spoken youth.
Rachel is obviously a great crew member, but really, THREE pythons?
She's still very young and, to some degree, still trying to find herself, I suspect.
But if she didn't think "outside of the box" or was afraid to be "different", she probably would not have joined the FWRHS.
Apparently, with this free thinking spirit, comes three pythons......
She is definitely one unique chick.
Originally Posted by Tinplate Art:
Rachel is obviously a great crew member, but really, THREE pythons?
What a great story. I had many talks with my now 21 year old daughter while growing up that no one can ever tell her she couldn't do something because she's a girl.
Great story! Good for her!
A great story for sure. It's wonderful to see her getting involved in something she clearly loves. And what a great group to be a part of.
Great story good luck to her!!!
Awesome story and video. Best of luck and wishes to Rachel! 
I rode the Little River tourist train in Coldwater MIch. The time I rode, both the engineer and fireman were girls. The loco was a small hand-fired pacific.
Originally Posted by Pingman:
Terrific video; and, it was a pleasure to see and listen to such a composed and well-spoken youth.
and not a cell phone in sight...
One LUCKY GAL!!!! Thank you, Well done!
for it.Originally Posted by ReadingFan:
Way to go! Here is Rikki during a runaround on Chehalis & Centralia No. 15
Also a great Video. She's doing a great job and seems to have a great feel for it. I like the hogger , just taking it all in with no worries.
Great video & story.
Originally Posted by Berkshire President:
Another well done video, Rich.
Was that the FWRHS machine shop where Jason and Rachel were filmed?
Yes, that is the 765's shop.
The video was produced by Kelly Lynch, also a member of the 765's crew.
Always great to see younger people take an interest, and having women get involved is even better, as it offers a chance to help double the pool of people involved whether it be hands on, or just as watchers and riders. She seems like she is a very good role model for others to follow. The more people that love 765 and the railroad preservation movement as a whole, and the more broad that interest is, the better.
Great video and a nice story to go along with it. I applaud Rachel for pursuing her interest in trains that, as she mentioned, began as a 2 year old. It is refreshing to see a young person excited and energized about what they do. The smile on her face and the way she articulates her involvement says it all. She is a role model to girls that anything can be accomplished if you work hard to achieve it. Kudos as well to the FWRHS for providing Rachel with the opportunity to grow her knowledge and contribution to 765.
Originally Posted by ReadingFan:
Way to go! Here is Rikki during a runaround on Chehalis & Centralia No. 15
I've ridden the cab a couple of times when she was running and she's a perfect example of how the demographics of someone in the cab has no bearing on anything as long as they know what they're doing. She's the daughter of a regular crew volunteer who runs # 15 (he's in the fireman's seat in that video). I wasn't there to see it, but I know she's run at least a few times with Brian, a very young African-American man (who's one of the nicest RR volunteers you'll ever meet). I'm certain that sight turned some heads for those who expected to see the normal "older white guy" crew in the cab as 15 and train went by at grade crossings!
I'm very lucky to live relatively close to this operation and can't wait for it to get running again next month.
BTW, I also heard she was at the throttle of 4449 for at least the photo run-by portion of the Stampede Pass trip at the 2011 NRHS Tacoma convention...
Nice video. Thanks for posting Rich.
My grandpa would approve highly. To quote him, "You better get that girl a train. There's nothing wrong with it, and for all you know she'll grow up and run one."
Kelly did a video with period correct clothing that used one of my bands songs. Rich, would you happen to have a copy of that? Feel free to post if you like.
Sorry for the hijack...
Dave
My girls fell in love with 765 after riding behind her in an open window car on the CVSR. My oldest still wears her 765 T shirt and can't wait to see her this summer. I plan on showing them (and my wife!) this video about Rachel this weekend. I'm sure they will be VERY happy to see it.
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What's really cool is SHE GETS IT...........
I have friends that just do not understand my infatuation with trains.....steam trains the most. THANKS
Hi Rachel • Congrats on your work on the 765.
First class YT video by Kelly Lynch, from the 765's crew.
• Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway
Gary
Saw this on AOL today Female railroad workers, 1943
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Rich,
Great stuff, really nice to see the younger generation taking a big interest in what we love so much. The 765 is definitely helping to shape this young ladies look at life, glad to see it.
Pennsy Fan,
Great old 40's picture of the girls running the RR, many of our small mountain railroads here in Pa were operated by the ladies during WWII, they actually rotated thru each week, my Grandmother's turn was on the early Wednesday morning run down thru the Pa Grand Canyon up thru the small towns of NY.
PCRR/Dave
Great video, I'm definitely going to show the video to my daughter Sara!
