There was nothing dull about Fenner Stevenson

The tourist railroad and railroad museum world lost a great family member this week. Fenner Stevenson was the heart and soul of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad deep in Iowa. As general manager, Fenner nurtured and developed this tourist line near the famous Kate Shelley Bridge, complete with steam, diesel, and electric railroading. He worked tirelessly to create a railroad museum at Boone that everyone could be proud of. He and his son, Travis, also on the railroad staff, were a great father and son team.

Fenner Stevenson

Sadly, Fenner passed away unexpectedly Monday at age 71. It saddened those of us who knew him, but we have many fond memories, and this one is about his incredible sense of humor.

The industrial grade file Fenner gave me as a gag gift.

I met Fenner years ago at the Tourist Railway Association meetings. He was a regular fixture at these gatherings, and I soon found out, was a lot of fun. Fenner never let an opportunity for a good laugh pass, even if it was at his expense. A few years ago, when the tourist railroad meeting was in Tennessee, I found myself in a bit of a jam and Fenner made sure that I got a good ribbing about it to the delight of all.

I’d arrived at the destination airport in Chattanooga late, and the rental car counter had two vehicles left, a mini-van and a red sports car. I just couldn’t bring myself to book the mini-fan, so I took the sports car, immediately recognizing this as the sure fire way to a quick speeding ticket. The next day, while my travel buddy Dave Crosby and I were following Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Southern Railway 2-8-0 No. 630 on the main line, a Cleveland, Tenn., law enforcement officer decided to stop me for taking liberties with the city’s posted speed limits. I got off with a warning, but Fenner decided that wasn’t enough.

Somehow during the course of the multi-day meeting, Fenner found the time to steal away to a hardware store and buy an industrial grade file. He presented the file at the association’s annual dinner as a “get out of jail free” card in case I ever found myself on the wrong side of the law again and needed this essential tool to make a break for it. It was classic Fenner humor.

For the last few years, the file has been on a shelf in my office, a souvenir of that day and a token of the friendship with my friend Fenner. Safe travels, my friend. We will miss you, but think often of you, sharp right to the end.