NNG- Phil Kauke passes

We have lost another wonderful older rail. Phil Kauke of Modesto, CA and onetime ATSF steam engineer, has died. He was right around 95 yrs. old
and one of the most gracious, easy to get along with gents you'd ever have the pleasure to meet. He was most knowledgeable, but had no big ego.
Phil was also one of the early engineers when ATSF 3751 first ran after the rebuild.

While I did not know him well, I do remember our discussions on steam when he attended Winterail in Stockton for so many yrs. He rolled his eyes
when he recalled running 4-8-4s across the Mojave Desert while the ambient air temp was over 110 degrees F. Hard to imagine doing that on a daily
basis.

Phil was close friends with the late Guy Dunscomb and many other prominent railfans.