Re: NNG - White Mountain Scenic doubleheader July 4, 1968

Thanks, Jeff, for the original post and pics, And everyone else for your comments and pics. Having lived in Phoenix now for the past 29 years, I always thought how cool it would have been had the White Mountain survived. I first met Reed Hatch in 1980 when I started working on the Heber Creeper Tourist Line in Utah while attending college. He had sold 36 and 100 to the Heber Creeper a few years earlier. Part of the deal was that that he could come up from Arizona during the summers and run the engines as much as he wanted. I had the opportunity to fire for him many times in 1981 and 1982. He even let me run quite a few times. He was quite the character, but a class act. He told me just before he shut down his operation the Arizona Governor pleaded with him to keep going. But we felt it wasn't possible with the line being cut back due to the Apache Tribe. Here I am in 1980 guiding Reed and 36 around the wye in Heber City, Utah. And firing for him in 1981 in Provo Canyon. I feel privileged to have known him and to have worked with him. I was glad to hear 100 is getting restored on the V&T. I hope 36 can find a good home.

Randy in PHX