Paul Brock, long-time member of TVRM and respected steam engineer and fireman, passed away last week. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Brock on a number of occasions as both certified fireman and engineer trainee aboard both SR 630 and SR 722, especially during the summer of 1984.
Paul was an excellent steam man, as well as a warm and friendly mentor to those of us learning the trade!
My condolences to his family.
RIP Paul - you will be missed!
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Art, sorry to hear this. Very well written by you. God bless, Joe
I should mention that Paul was a US Marine veteran, and will be interred in the National Cemetery in Chattanooga.
Tinplate Art -
Paul was indeed one of the nicest guys around any steam program; he worked for Bill Purdie years ago and was a pillar at the TVRM.
Can you provide particulars? Age? Date of passing?
He will, indeed, be missed.
EdKing
Ed:
According to the obituary in the Chattanooga Free Press, Paul was 87. He died on Wednesday, June 6. Paul retired from the US Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant, and he had served in the South Pacific during WW II, where he received several medals and honors.
I now understand why his railroad cap was always perfectly blocked! 
Thanks, T. A.
Not only one of the worlds nice guys, but a good man on an engine . . .
EdKing
I well remember riding in the cab of 4501 between Murfreesboro, TN and Nashville, TN with Bill Purdie as engineer and Paul as fireman on the then-Seaboard System (EX-NC&StL) mainline in 1980.
At track speed, the firebox seemed almost "white-hot", and the engine kind of "hunted" (swerving from left to right)! A very different experience from riding in the cab of 4501 from Emory Gap to Crossville in the mid-seventies!
Paul and Bill Purdie made a good "steam team" along with many other volunteers, and together, they kept things running in Graham Claytor's wonderful steam program. 
In honor of Mr. Brock, the 630 had his name under the cab for this past weekend's trips out of Spencer, NC.
To add to Zac's pic, the engineer in this shot is David Pugh of TVRM. I have known David since 1993 and he is one of many that learned much of this trade. He once gave me a picture taken on his qualifying run for engineer on the 'TVRM to ChooChoo' trips they ran then. In the picture, looking over him, is Paul Brock and they were on the 630. I think it was very fitting to have David running this engine on this particular weekend.
I was lucky enough to have met Paul in the past. A very kind and friendly guy who was full of knowledge and a few good stories.
Back in 1984 when David was still a teenager, Paul's nickname for him was "Pee-Wee". David very quickly outgrew that nickname, and later became one of TVRM's fine steam engineers!
I certainly hope to see Paul's name on the cab this Saturday!
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