It is with a heavy heart that I pass along the news that Greg Dodd, former NS Steam Program employee, passed away earlier today at his home in North Carolina. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. He was 49 years old.
Many of you may not know his name, but you know his work. He began with the steam program in the late 70's and played a key role in the restoration and upkeep of many of the engines used on the program, including the 611 and 1218. His specialty was boiler work, but he was what I consider to be an expert when it came to a steam locomotive. After leaving the NS program, he went to the Great Smoky Mountain Railway in North Carolina for a number of years, where his upgrades greatly improved the performance and reliability of their 2-8-0, #1702. Most recently, he ran a machine shop business in Dillsboro, NC, with Steve Webb, another veteren of the NS program. When you step back and look at the engines he had a role in restoring, what he did is even more impressive.
I was lucky enough to know Greg personally and I credit him with teaching me many of the things that I know about steam locomotives. I will remember Greg as a guy that enjoyed picking with or on you, requiring you to have a thick skin to hang out with him, but mostly as a person that I knew I could always ask a question to and get a straight forward, honest answer. I am grateful I had a chance to meet him and call him a friend.
Will Sadler
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