Trains.com

RIP Deggesty

4668 views
37 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 6:42 PM

I remember he sent me a PM once and said that his name was the same as the last 5 letters of, or rhymed with, "ham and eggs".

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 2:54 PM

Overmod

Think "Degges T.Y." 


That's already what I've thought, but he wasn't a "Junior", so I'm not sure wheher he and his dad (or brother?) were needing to be distinguished somewhere.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Calgary AB. Canada
  • 2,298 posts
Posted by AgentKid on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 11:39 AM

Oh, this is so very sad. My condolences to the family.

JoeKoh
No doubt he has found Ed and Mookie and are talking about trains.

Joe, thank you for mentioning them.

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Sunday, August 16, 2020 1:56 PM

Think "Degges T.Y."

I still have no words.

I still have none for Jen so it may be a while...

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, August 13, 2020 12:56 AM

Flintlock76
Johnny got a mention here, with a nice photo and an upbeat comment from a family member. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/08/04/utahs-new-covid-cases/  



That picture is so typical of Johnny!

For the record, his Forum name translated to "Degges The Younger".  I can't remember the particulars.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • 189 posts
Posted by northeaster on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 12:08 PM

Deggesty will be sorely missed by this reader, he passed on such great experiences of his rail travels and his knowledge of the industry. A near age peer to me, his passing means so much of the way rail travel was (and could be were our society's priorities different.) Condolences to his family and circle of close friends.

  • Member since
    October 2013
  • 75 posts
Posted by spsffan on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 5:06 PM
Wow! I've been away from the site for a while. I am so sorry to hear this. Johnny was one of the greatest sources of how passenger travel was in the pre-Amtrak ear. Such a great guy, always polite. You could just tell he was real and genuine, and a class act. All Pullman, Extra Fare.
  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 3:04 PM

diningcar

Let us all keep it polite and civil about trains and railroading as Johnny would want it.

 

Amen!

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,754 posts
Posted by diningcar on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 2:59 PM

Let us all keep it polite and civil about trains and railroading as Johnny would want it.

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: La Grange Illinois USA
  • 131 posts
Posted by 16-567D3A on Monday, August 10, 2020 4:00 PM

Just learned of this sad news.Although i am not a regular poster He was kind enough to respond last year to a question i sent him about 50s-60s passenger consists and routing.i always found his replys and remeninces informitive.he will be missed.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MP CF161.6 NS's New Castle District in NE Indiana
  • 2,148 posts
Posted by rrnut282 on Monday, August 10, 2020 12:50 PM

RIP Johnny,

May all your signals on the railroad in heaven be green.  

Mike (2-8-2)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, August 10, 2020 10:37 AM

Sorry for his and our trains family loss.No doubt he has found Ed and Mookie and are talking about trains.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 5:17 PM

I had to dig back into my PMs to be sure - memory can be a funny thing.

I had the honor to host this fine gentleman on our railroad a few years ago.  He made a trip east and included the railroad in his plans.  We also enjoyed dinner later in the day.  

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Saturday, August 8, 2020 3:22 PM

Terribly sad to read this news.  

hope his spirit will live on and rest upon the existing railroad operation, from tiny tourist to Class I, that best receives his blessing and in return blesses his spirit.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Sunny (mostly) San Diego
  • 1,920 posts
Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Saturday, August 8, 2020 3:09 PM

Personally, a bad year for deaths in my world, though Johnny was our first Covid-19 casualty. Some folks just radiate charm and "gentleman" in their writings; I am glad I got the chance to enjoy another unseen person of that quality for some time. I won't be the only one missing him and his observations, that's for sure.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, August 8, 2020 1:27 PM

Johnny got a mention here, with a nice photo and an upbeat comment from a family member.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/08/04/utahs-new-covid-cases/  

I should have added this sooner, but you can leave a condolance message for the family through the Stark Funeral Parlor website, it's easy to do.  Start with "Obituaries," scroll down to Johnny's picture, then click on that. 

http://www.starksfuneral.com  

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Saturday, August 8, 2020 10:43 AM

!#$%#!@! virus!  Sigh

Rest in Peace Johnny.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,269 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Saturday, August 8, 2020 9:29 AM

I always enjoyed his stories about the way the world was.  

RIP.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: East Coast
  • 1,199 posts
Posted by D.Carleton on Saturday, August 8, 2020 6:19 AM

There is knowledge. And when we pass some of that may be recorded for posterity if the individual has distinguished oneself. But then there is experience. That is the sole possession of the one who traversed those experiences. If one is eloquent enough those experiences may be passed along as knowledge but it's not the same as being there. Our dearly departed colleague Deggesty was chock full of experiences and allocuted them brilliantly for our edification. These missives will be missed and our collective noticeably dims.

Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Saturday, August 8, 2020 3:39 AM

I had no words, and I find now that I still don't.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 1,688 posts
Posted by Erik_Mag on Saturday, August 8, 2020 12:44 AM

Very sad to hear after nearly 15 years of interacting with him on this forum. Always fun to read his tales of the days of yore.

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 1,139 posts
Posted by Gramp on Friday, August 7, 2020 11:18 PM

Sad to hear this. Always enjoyed his posts. 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, August 7, 2020 11:04 PM

I am stunned to hear this.  Although I couldn't always go to meet him, he would inform me of his travels and his willingness to spend some time with me during his layovers.  There was also a time that he and Rikki came out to Lombard...Rikki was already losing her mobility, and we got a wheelchair so we could walk through Lilacia Park.  He had a lot of experiences in railroad travel in the Southeast that made him a very knowledgeable person.

And purely a class act, a throwback to the day when train travel was done in suits--I never saw him dressed in anything but.

On his trips between Utah and Chicago, he'd never fail to let Mookie know about the trains he'd be on, and where he'd be when passing through or stopping at Lincoln.  Finally, he and Jen will get to meet!

I am, however, frustrated and angered by the disease that felled him.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: South Central,Ks
  • 7,170 posts
Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, August 7, 2020 10:51 PM

blue streak 1

This hits home as he went to King college in Bristol, Tn just 1-1/2 mile from where I grew up.  Enjoyed exchanging RR items we both observed there.  He especially was fond of the N&W steam operation and its demise.  God bless you Deggestry.

 

 
Johnny Degges [Deggesty] was  all the nice things others have said here, about him.   He'll be sorely missed.  In the last twenty+ years, I was fortunate to have had a number of conversations with him.  Truly, a real gentleman, his knowledge and experiences as a railfan and Christian; always made for interesting conversations.  God Bless, him, and R.I.P. Johnny.
 

 

 


 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, August 7, 2020 10:08 PM

This hits home as he went to King college in Bristol, Tn just 1-1/2 mile from where I grew up.  Enjoyed exchanging RR items we both observed there.  He especially was fond of the N&W steam operation and its demise.  God bless you Deggesty.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Friday, August 7, 2020 9:52 PM

Electroliner 1935

 

 
Lithonia Operator
 This makes me quite sad. I always enjoyed his posts, and he was a perfect gentleman. And Johnny had a wealth of information about trains. He was one of my favorite people here, and I'll miss him. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Damn.

RIP, Deggesty.

 

 

You said it well. As I am just two months older, it causes some angst for me to see a gentleman like him to be felled by the virus. Hope everyone out there takes this pandemic seriously and masks up. 

 

 

Had the pleasure of meeting him twice coming through Denver. A class act. He most certainly will be missed.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    December 2018
  • 865 posts
Posted by JPS1 on Friday, August 7, 2020 9:39 PM

charlie hebdo
 A very nice man who shared many first hand accounts of his rail experiences, many occurring long ago. 

I agree!

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • 2,515 posts
Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, August 7, 2020 9:27 PM

Lithonia Operator
 This makes me quite sad. I always enjoyed his posts, and he was a perfect gentleman. And Johnny had a wealth of information about trains. He was one of my favorite people here, and I'll miss him. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Damn.

RIP, Deggesty.

You said it well. As I am just two months older, it causes some angst for me to see a gentleman like him to be felled by the virus. Hope everyone out there takes this pandemic seriously and masks up. 

 

  • Member since
    May 2019
  • 1,768 posts
Posted by MMLDelete on Friday, August 7, 2020 8:53 PM

This makes me quite sad. I always enjoyed his posts, and he was a perfect gentleman. And Johnny had a wealth of information about trains. He was one of my favorite people here, and I'll miss him. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

Damn.

RIP, Deggesty.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy