Steam & Excursion > Very Sad News Indeed For Steam Fans- Karl Koenig Passed Away.

We have lost one of the greats in the world of steam preservation.  Karl Koenig has passed away.

Karl was known to many as the editor of PACIFIC NEWS magazine since the early 1960's.  Many of us cut our Railfan teeth on that publication.

Karl was also one of the 6 founding fathers of the Pacific Locomotive Association.

Here is a photo of Karl along with others on the Klamath & Hoppow Valley RR in 1968.

Karl published the very my first photos I ever had published.  I still have that copy of Pacific News.

Karl was a friend and will be missed by many of us.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/16 03:44 by LoggerHogger.

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Met him at Burlingame at the Pacific rail news headquarters back in the 70's. A real true blue railfan.

Karl had a neat sense of humor.

Some time around 1968 or '69 the Castro Point Railway ran a contest for a logo design. I won for a turn of the century look incorporating the letters PRY intertwined, with the C as a circling element. Karl's design was a classic. it featured a cartoon face of cigar smoking Fidel Castro encircled top and bottom. The words Castro Point Railway arced over the top while the bottom arc contained the slogan "The Line of Fidelity"!

My condolences to to his family. He will be remembered.

Jack



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/16 08:08 by africansteam.

I don't think that is Karl.  In 1968, he would have been in his 30's and that gent isn't.  Plus I never saw him in a cab without his trademark black shirt and I have seen him in a lot of cabs.

Well Martin, now that you have change the photo, Karl is on the left (in his black shirt) on the #17.

Howard



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/16 04:32 by sp5623.

That's definitely not Karl Koenig.

Here's Karl in the cab at Castro Point.

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SierraRail Wrote:
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> Here's Karl in the cab at Castro Point.

Good grief Brian, that was one of our very first public operations.  It looks like the one we operated in conjunction with the Richmond Lyons Club.
Great photo!
Howard

Many years ago when Karl was not answering calls on his legendary green phone, he gave me a couple of HO Varney ore cars in their original boxes. I think they came in sets of 3 or 4, each individually boxed inside a larger box. He bought them as a boy or perhaps a teen. I ended up scrapping one as it was filled too high with heavy rock hard white plaster. I know, I know - I should have saved it. Here's the little box end.

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Sad to hear. Karl helped me with my photography when I was a teenager hanging around Burlingame. God bless

Sad news. I considered Karl to be a mentor to me
in all things steam locomotives. I had the pleasure of working
for/with him at Railtown 1897 SHP in its first year of operation
for the State by the PLA. I also served as a fireman/hostler
for him on SP 1269 at Sacramento...I can't begin to list all
I learned from him. We took a trip to Soap Creek camp on the
Pickering...he showed me the Peeled Onion...stood on what was
left of the bridge there...instilled a love of Shay locomotives, and
all things Pickering and the Sierra (the Sigh era...as he put it).
Will have a shot of "Uncle Jack" to his memory...Highball Karl,
the woods are calling....

Very sad news to hear, another great gentlman gone. Anyone know what will happen to his wonderful photo collection?

Dave