It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of my good friend Tom Stephens of Arcanum, OH.
Tom was 86.
Tom contributed in no small way to my detail knowledge about steam, particularly NKP 700’s.
Tom was an engineer and CMO on 765 for many years and I soon learned that while hanging around Tom that it was probably best that I keep quiet and let Tom talk as I was usually going to walk away having learned something.
Tom did it all; piloting 765 on the mainline at speed, welding a patch in a badly cinder eroded petticoat pipe, repairing superheater units, manning that heavy rivet gun while doing firebox work, and even climbing into a hot firebox during a weekend run to do repair welding with a fire still on a good portion of the grates.
I had a lot of nice times with Tom and Liz. Tom was best man at my wedding and we met annually in Las Vegas until recent health issues precluded Tom from doing so. Tom had a good memory and it was fun listening to him recall happenings with the associated dates and people.
Jim Kreider
