February 12, 2015

Episode 003: Nickel Plate Road #765 Senior Engineer Rich Melvin

1 hour

Nickel Plate Road #765 steams along the Cuyahoga River while visiting the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Photo by Nick Ozorak.

Nickel Plate Road #765 has become a steam celebrity in the railroad and railfan community. What is it like to be this locomotive’s engineer? Rich Melvin shares his experience as Senior Engineer of NKP 765, as well as being CEO and Publisher of O Gauge Railroading Magazine.

Related Episodes

Joliet Rocket – NKP 765 to Chicago

NKP 765 Cab Ride

News

The Roundhouse is now on iTunes. Click this link to subscribe, and leave a review of the show while you’re there. Our goal is to have the show featured on the front Podcasting page of the iTunes store (wouldn’t that be cool?).

Iowa Interstate Railroad has released a new Rock Island-inspired heritage unit. I’m not a huge fan, but what do you think of it?

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (owners of NKP 765) have announced a new project in conjunction with the City of Fort Wayne and SWA Group. Headwaters Junction will include a roundhouse, turntable, community interactive elements, educational programming, and departure point for excursions. You have to read the press release for the full details, but I am absolutely excited about what this means for rail preservation. I think it is particuarly important that the group will use the facility for training the new generation about steam preservation and maintenance, since the youth of today will be the keepers of these artifacts tomorrow.

Rich Melvin Interview (3:12)

Starting his railroad career on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad, Rich eventually worked his way up to being the Superintendant of Operations for the Youngstown Division of the Ohio Central Railroad. He joined the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (FWRHS) because he saw the professional attitude its organization had. Rich has several stories from over thirty years of operating Nickel Plate Road #765 and shares them with us here, including the filming of ‘Matewan’ in 1987 and joining the 21st Century Steam program with Norfolk Southern.

As CEO and Publisher of O Gauge Railroading Magazine, Rich has seen and filmed many different O scale train layouts. He provides insight as to why so many modelers choose this gauge as well as how the company has embraced technology moving into the Digital Age.

Question of the Day (48:48)

I read some responses from the questions I asked in Episode 002 and provide you with a new one: If you could be the engineer of any steam locomotive past or present, which would you choose and why? Let me know and I will select answers to share on the next episode. Subscribe on iTunes, and be sure to share this episode with at least one person today!

The post Episode 003: Nickel Plate Road #765 Senior Engineer Rich Melvin appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

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