Question for Rich regarding 765

I joined the Fort Wayne RR Historical Society and the 765 crew during the winter of 1982-83.

 

I was given an opportunity to fire the locomotive a few times during the 1983 operating season. I enjoyed it, did OK and was promoted to a fireman's slot during that season.

 

I started running the 765 in 1985. I also assumed the position of Operations Manager in 1985...30 years ago!

 

Starting around 1987, Tom Stephens and I shared all the running responsibilities on the 765. Tom is a few years older than I am, and he retired from the crew when we put the engine away for her overhaul in 1993.

 

Fast forward to today, and I have had the honor and privilege of running the 765 somewhere around 40,000 miles, all over the eastern USA.

 

When we are on the road, I get a lot of the attention because I sit in the right-hand seat. But I am just one member of a truly great team. The unsung heroes on the team are guys like Steve Winicker, our Chief Mechanical Officer, who I think spends more time at the shop than he does at home! Or Joe Knapke, our crew chief. He has the crew so well organized when we are on the road that servicing the loco looks like a NASCAR pit crew in action. Or Wayne York, our Excursion Manager. Wayne is one of the original founders of the Society, having been one of the four men that formed the organization in 1972. Even after all these years, he brings a terrific level of enthusiasm to his excursion planning.

 

There are about 30 other guys and gals who put in hundreds - even thousands of hours every year at the shop to keep the 765 in top shape. THEY are the ones who should get the "Atta boys" and other kudos because without people like them, the 765 would still be stuffed and mounted on static display in Lawton Park in downtown Fort Wayne.

 

Thanks for asking this question, Sam. I always enjoy telling people about the 765 and our team.

Thank you! I enjoyed reading that.

Since you have had the opportunity to do this for 30 years, you plan on passing the "keys" over to someone else? It would be nice for younger generation to make memories with the loco too! Just a question and thought, not meant to jam you up!

Absolutely! The 765 currently has four qualified engineers. The other three guys are all much younger than I am. We share the running responsibilities among the four of us.

Are you going to be at the throttle on the Lehigh Valley trips? Looking forward to the trip. I never rode the rails south of Jim Thorpe before. I missed the trips with 2102 in the 1980's when they went that way to Jin Thorpe via Allentown, and of course your 1988 trips that went through Allentown from Bound Brook, NJ to Reading, PA that you hated so much.

Yes, I'll be running on those trips. However, the trips are long enough to require 2 crews, so there will be two engineers running each day. We'll change crews during the layover in Jim Thorpe.

Whats the fastest you had the loco up to?

79 mph on a deadhead move between Willard and Alron, Ohio in 1993. Didn't stay up there very long, however. This was before the running gear overhaul and I didn't like how the engine felt at that speed. We dropped back to 60 mph and she was very happy there.

I have a question for you Rich. First off I just want to say thanks to you and the entire crew for all your involvement in keeping 765 alive & well. Probably my favorite steam engine. My question is ever since you guys rebuilt her the 2nd time her whistle is significantly different sounding. Is this the same whistle that was on her during her career in the 80's to 1993? The way it sounded then was incredibly high pitched and awesome!!! I've heard it's tuned differently? Is there anyway it can be tuned back to how it once was?  Also have you guys rebuilt her water car yet? I heard it needed axles I believe?

Thanks,
Matt

The whistle did sound different the first couple of years out of the overhaul. When it was reassembled after the overhaul, it was put together slightly differently than it should have been. However, we found what was different about the whistle assembly and corrected it. The last couple of seasons she sounds just like she used to.

 

The 765's A-Tank is actually a tender from an L&N "Big Emma" Berk. We've been working on it and may have it back on the road towards the end of this year. It doesn't need axles...it needs wheels. They can be pressed on to the existing axles.

 

We have not needed it because we have been using the VMT A-tank (the one that is currently behind the 611.) We'll use that tank again this year for most and maybe all of our trips.

 

 

Speaking of whistles and bells rich, who sounds them you or the fireman?

The bell control is on the right side, so only the engineer can sound it.

 

Normally the engineer blows the whistle for grade crossings, however we also have a lever and rope on the fireman's side for the whistle. If we're in a left-hand curve, the engineer's view ahead is limited. In that scenario, the fireman may sound the whistle for a grade crossing because he can see it coming from a greater distance where the engineer cannot.

Thanks for the reply Rich. One last question. Is 765 gonna have it's mars light back on? Or are we just gonna have to wait & see? I swear I remember reading somewhere you weren't much of a fan of it.

No MARS light.

 

It is broken and since the vast majority of the crew prefer the look of the engine WITHOUT the Mars light, it's not going to get fixed any time soon.