Re: Bob Richardson Birthday Steam-Up

Bob could also be very patent with his "moppets" as he referred to us. There was one nice fine day where we needed to place the idler car from the back to the front of the "Pee Wee" to do this we ran the little engine up the center track of the three way switch, and the flat up the rip (south) track. We pulled it with a chain. At last we ran out of room with the flat still fouling the center track and decided to pull from the rear, east, truck and at a pre arranged spot pull the pin on Pee Wee and let the flat roll gently by.. I was running the engine and a volunteer, who shall remain nameless, since he is still there, was to pull the pin.

With a mighty roar the whole mess went westbound up the slight grade. At the appointed spot I stopped. The flat rolled by. The pin would not come up. no matter how hard the conductor pulled. at it. The slack ran out of the chain . With a large thump "Pee Wee was spun around ever so slightly coming to rest with all four wheels sitting on ties. Left rear to the south, right front to the north and the other two in between the rails.

My first reaction was to get the jacks, and blocks. My partners first reaction was to get the camera. It turned out to be a very time consuming re-railing, since the poor little engines frame was sitting on the rail.

Bob returned a little later and came out with that "Now what" look. At first he thought that we were trying to turn Pee Wee around. When told of the facts, he just shook his head and went back into his office.

Bob could be very patent. He could also be pretty tough on us, when needed. He would get upset over avoidable things. Like an empty crackley wackley box put up on the pantry shelf.

There are many stories about Bob. A good portion of them i have lost to time.