Best wishes, Rich!

George

OK, hypothetical question:

Assuming that the Ft Wayne group workout the details for next year's Galesburg Railroad Days excursions from Chicago to Galesburg, would Rich NOT want to be at the throttle of 765 on the 79 MPH Burlington main line??????????

Jack,

That is up to Rich.  He will still be around helping out.  As far as I'm concerned, we will always have a spot for Rich on the crew roster whenever he wants to run. 

If you're really hanging it up, Rich, let me extend my best wishes and express my admiration of your years of skillful and safe operation of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as of the way you represented both the Fort Wayne group and the craft of Locomotive Engineer.  

Policy is that no more than ten merits may be awarded at one time.  However, by a special exception granted by the Vice President - Mechanical, your personal record is hereby awarded fifteen merits for your exemplary representation of railroading's finest traditions. 

I'll still be Riding That New River Train with you just as I have since I got my VHS way back when! 

Saturday my wife and i rode the 11 am ride south. Nothing out of the ordinary .Rich took the throttle for the 3pm run i noticed the whistle blew differently right away as Rich played it like an instrument...767 came to life for a quick station run by. The engine stood up like a race horse when Rich grabbed a hold of the throttle. It was very cool and i sensed the moment....well done Rich............a credit to the craft......conrail john

Learned about it at the end of the run to Akron, today, Rich.  Don't say that!  You're too much a part of the #765 program, AND you need to have that operation/privilege/escape/responsibility not as part of your life.  Back off; take it easier, spend a bit less time but ALWAYS stay a part of the Ft Wayne RR Hist program.  

Paul Fischer

A legend in steam locomotive preservation and operation released the brakes and opened the throttle for the last time over the weekend. Rich Melvin can be credited as being the one who encouraged me to get involved in rail preservation & operation with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and the NKP 765. While my involvement and hands on has been limited so far, its been a great experience and without Rich's encouragement would never have happened. ��

Just read the Fort Wayne announcement on face book.  For one I'm on shock and two I wish the best for Rich.

all the best Rich, have a long and happy retirement. Hope we're not loosing you here too!

Glad I got to see you in action and meet you at Trainfest 2004.

Good Luck!

"Retiring" ?  I expect he has other irons in the fire !   

Rich,

 If it's true you are retiring from this part of your life, good luck for whatever else is down the track.

Tom 

sad day for the 765!!!

hope you stay involved.

Rich:  A heart felt "Thank You" for all that you have done.....for the O Scale Hobby, the print magazine and website, and the 765/FWRHS.  You've positively impacted a great many people.

Hope to find you behind the wheel of one of your Hemis some day while I'm cruising in my Chevelle between Cleveland and Youngstown.

All the best!

Thank you and good luck!

Hot Water posted:

Assuming that the Ft Wayne group workout the details for next year's Galesburg Railroad Days excursions from Chicago to Galesburg, would Rich NOT want to be at the throttle of 765 on the 79 MPH Burlington main line??????????

Jack, I might WANT to be running on that trip, but I won't.

Number 90 posted:

If you're really hanging it up, Rich, let me extend my best wishes and express my admiration of your years of skillful and safe operation of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as of the way you represented both the Fort Wayne group and the craft of Locomotive Engineer.  

Policy is that no more than ten merits may be awarded at one time.  However, by a special exception granted by the Vice President - Mechanical, your personal record is hereby awarded fifteen merits for your exemplary representation of railroading's finest traditions. 

Coming from you, a man whom I greatly respect for what YOU did in YOUR railroad career, I am deeply honored.

And I get FIFTEEN MERITS? Wow! Maybe I can parlay that into a few extra vacation days! 

fisch330 posted:

Learned about it at the end of the run to Akron, today, Rich.  Don't say that!  You're too much a part of the #765 program, AND you need to have that operation/privilege/escape/responsibility not as part of your life.  Back off; take it easier, spend a bit less time but ALWAYS stay a part of the Ft Wayne RR Hist program. 

Paul, you were the 2nd person that I shook hands with when I got off the engine in Akron at the end of my last trip. Interestingly, the first person I shook hands with was a young man who is in training to become a 765 engineer...the oldest and the youngest meeting, so to speak.

I will still be involved in some of the planning for 2017.

Ace posted:

"Retiring" ?  I expect he has other irons in the fire !   

Sure do...many trips around the country in the motor home with The Lovely and Gracious Linda!

bigdodgetrain posted:

sad day for the 765!!!

I appreciate the sentiment, but it's not really a sad day for the 765. It's our "Succession Plan" in action.

There are several young men in the FWRHS Operating Department ready to step forward and fill my shoes. The mark of a truly good team is that no one is indispensable, and that's the case here. My departure should be a very seamless transition.

I truly appreciate all the kind words expressed in this thread. Thank you all.

the truth can now be told...Rich is heading west to replace Ed Dickens........(tongue FIRMLY planted in cheek)

Steamer posted:

the truth can now be told...Rich is heading west to replace Ed Dickens........(tongue FIRMLY planted in cheek)

ROTFLMAO!

Now THAT'S funny right there.

There is an absolutely ZERO chance of that happening...

Congratulations on your retirement, enjoy I know I do.  Thanks for all the thrills.  Cheers Jim

Congratulations to you Rich, you and the FWRHS have put so many smiles on so many faces over the years and I can only imagine how excited you must be to begin this new chapter in your life.  Thanks for all of your hard work, your time and for the knowledge you share here with us.  Again congratulations and thank you.

Congratulations Rich for a job well done!  And watch the hydraulics before you and Linda hit the road.

So...you remember the little hydraulic problem I had in Schenectady, eh?  

All fixed now and working fine.

My congratulations anyway, in-spite of any potential operations on the Burlington main line in 2017. 

Basically Rich, is doing what Vin Scully and Dick Enberg are doing, retiring/ stepping down to keep the 765 going. Enjoy Retirement (Semi) Rich!

Do you have a layout in that land yacht?  

Rich Melvin is a rock star in steam railroading.

If Jagger can still do the occasional tour then Rich can too.

Enjoy your retirement, Rich.

I THINK YOU STILL HAVE THAT OCEAN SIDE LAND FOR SALE IN THE SOUTH YET DONT YOU.  NEED TO SELL IT CHEAP LIKE YOU SAID.

pennytrains posted:

Do you have a layout in that land yacht?  

LOL. 

No, there is no layout in the Mandalay Mobile Command Center.

Make sure to check out the camp grounds around san diego (santee lakes) and stop by the museum.  

If you let me or any other members who post here know when you are in town we will hook you up for a complementary visit to the museum and the 3 railers!

Thankful I got to ride with you once...Thanks and CONGRATS! 

PS Hate to inform you....but you will still be hard at work in my basement......

You can tell within minutes of meeting the man, what a genuine great person he is. I feel fortunate that I got the chance.

Rich, I wish you well and congrats! Now enjoy your time and have fun. You have a great sense of humor. It's an honor to us that you run this forum.

I hope that someday our paths might cross again. It was very rewarding for me. I've met a lot of rock stars and never felt that many were worthy of that title. I'm glad I left my music career. I wish I lived near the Fort Wayne group as they all seem like a great bunch. I think many RR guys have a more rounded and genuine appreciation for life.

My congratulations as well. Look forward to seeing you more "On the O-Gauge Rails."

Here's one of my favorite Rich Melvin photos. (I do not believe those who say it shows his good side.)

Congratulations,  Rich!

Peter

Congratulations on retirement and thanks for all the hard work over the years to keep 765 going.  It is the only steam engine I have seen move under it's own power and she (I assume she is a she) will always have a special place in my heart.

From steam engine engineer to captain of your own land yacht.  That is a sweet motor coach.  Here is to many years of enjoyment piloting it across the country.

Rich,  say it ain't so.  Well, good luck with retirement.  

Larry

O O O O

BANDOB posted:

Here's one of my favorite Rich Melvin photos. (I do not believe those who say it shows his good side.)

 

LOL! Many would say that my back side IS my best side. 

This shot was taken in Enola Yard in Harrisburg, PA on Friday May 24, 2013, the day before the Horseshoe Curve trips out of Lewistown, PA. Something had broken in the draft gear on that passenger car. The NS car knockers fixed it in short order so we could get it back into the train.

I will never forget my time with Rich in the cab of #765. It was an experience I will never forget. When we realized the locomotive was on the ground I was very frightened and I asked Rich if I did anything wrong. He said, "Absolutely not. If I was the engineer the same thing would have happened. Just be out of the state of Indiana before sundown." 

Rich, may the winds of retirement blow softly as you sip a glass of wine under the stars.

Eliot

OGR Webmaster posted:

 

 

 

LOL! Many would say that my back side IS my best side. 

This shot was taken in Enola Yard in Harrisburg, PA on Friday May 24, 2013, the day before the Horseshoe Curve trips out of Lewistown, PA. Something had broken in the draft gear on that passenger car. The NS car knockers fixed it in short order so we could get it back into the train.

That trip was on my list for a long time. Going over Horseshoe twice in a single day behind 765 was so great. Thanks for your work.