Steam & Excursion > WES CAMP

A very close professional and personal friend of mine for the past 60 years has died this Easter morning. Wes was my mentor and guide for the 80 steam trips we ran for the High Iron Company. We were both VIP's Locomotive and he was also Chief Mechanical Officer. At the very beginning, we were the "Dynamic Duo", the 2 man locomotive crew. The photo attached is in my book and Wes is to the left. Taken in 2023 at the New Hope RR, it show the only remaining officers of the 13 originals. Now only 2 remain, Ross Rowland and me, Hank Webber.

I'll surely miss Wes. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/25 11:10 by scoopdejour.

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I've very sorry to hear that.  We all lost a great TO friend.

Did Wes ever tell you how he got started in the business?

Kirk

I was wondering last night why he hadn't been on TO for a while and hoped this wasn't the reason.
He will be missed.

I meet him last year on Reading and Northern steam trip. His posts here explained a lot of things in a way you could understand. He will be missed

I never met Wes but always have enjoyed reading is informing posts concerning his steam operations, current and past.  He certainly met the title of Chief Mechanical Officer through his detailed information.  No doubt, he certainly will be missed and hopefully his information will somehow become documented in dedication to he and his service.  May he now Rest in Peace with his Maker.

Wes was one of my best friends and someone I shared many great steam adventures with. I will miss him a lot. May he RIP. Ross Rowland 

Wes was, hands down, one of the great TO members. So sorry to hear of his passing.
I've never seen someone give so much of their knowledge, unselfishly, to this board. Such an amazing individual. Every post was an engineering tutorial.

I, unfortunately, never met Wes, but through his very informative posts I felt a closeness to him.
I have learned so much from his gracious giving of information.I will miss him and his posts here on TO very much.

-Fred-

Indeed a very very sad day with his loss. Great sadness. B

Sorry to hear, Wes was a walking encyclopedia when it came to steam. Getting fewer and fewer experts like him with years of experience left.

I am truly sorry to hear of Wes's passing. He was a friend and I learned a lot from him, over the years.  I got to know him when I moved east to Maryland and he was still in Northern Virgina.  We met on occasion through the local chapter NKPHTS.  I also enjoyed messaging back and forth over his many thoughtful submissions to Trainorders.com.  His many friends, including those at the NKPHTS, will most certainly mourn his passing and remember him fondly.  Condolences to his family and friends.

G.F.Payne
B'more MD

A generous person, he will be deeply missed.

Yes Kirt. Wes started out with George Hart and his CP pacifics in York, PA in the early 60's. Started out as a gopher and became an expert, an expert that helped me and many others.

Rest In Peace Wes.  We thank you for your well written and exhaustive explanations of the nuances involving the steam locomotives we hold so dear.  May your heavenly home have great access to the tracks. 

Wes was TRULY "one of the greatest" steam experts. I'm very sad to hear this.

Posted from Android

I am very sorry to learn of the passing of Wes!  I had known him for many years and I am sorry that I missed him last February on the R&N winter trip.  I saw Ross and Hank.  These people are a link back to an era that we will never see again.  We were spoiled by all of the steam trips that we used to have during the High Iron era.  It was great to be involved for a time.  Wes used to call us "pineapples" as he was trying to teach us the basics of maintaining a locomotive.  I will also remember the September 1970 trip around Horsehoe Curve.  Wes was firing and he had all the pops lifting on the 759 as we crawled around the curve!  I can remember that like it was yesterday!

Ron

Rip... he always had great knowledge!

Posted from Android

Sorry to hear of the passing of Wes.  I met him at the American Freedom Train reunion a few years ago.  I got him to pose with Doyle and #4449.

God's speed Wes.

Martin

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Thanks, Martin, for sharing your image ot the trio with SP 4449 in recent years.

LoggerHogger Wrote:
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> Sorry to hear of the passing of Wes.  I met him
> at the American Freedom Train reunion a few years
> ago.  I got him to pose with Doyle and #4449.
 

Darn! Never met Wes but have throughly enjoyed his lessons on TO about steam engines over the years. My sincere condolences to his family and his friends.

Bruce Cutter
Columbia MO