Marvelous! What a fine look at this wonderful man who did so much for the preservation of railroad history and whose legacy lives at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive. Thank you, and thank you, JMF!
I have been a fan of Jim`s for years. I attended a slide show he did at the main branch library about 20 years ago. His photos have been invaluable to me.
Rest in peace, Jim. His work with Charles Wood using his photographs of Northern Pacific. I got the pleasure of meeting him 5 years ago. His knowledge was beyond amazing.
Jim Fredrickson passed on to an eternal ride on the NORTH COAST LIMITED late last week. Throughout the 1990s and into the first decade of the new century Jim honored me by escorting rail tours all over the United States and Canada for my tour company, Rail Travel Center and much more by his friendship and boundless kindness. Jim possessed a deep passion for trains, of course, but also for American history, beautiful scenery and for never forgetting a friend or colleague. His vast photography archive (over 11,000 images are cataloged by the NP Railway Historical Society), will serve as his most lasting monument. Jim had a poet's eye not only for trains, but for the place of the railroad in nature and for eloquently memorializing the people who worked on the trains and the passengers who rode them. The basement of his home in Tacoma contained an astonishing record of the late 20th century in the Pacific Northwest. Never forgetting his college training at the University of Washington, Jim meticulously catalogued his vast collection not only of timetables, company documents, photography and such treasures as the original plans for Tacoma Union Station, but also recollections of FDR's secret trips in WWII to the northwest and of the evolution of the region. This remarkable treasure has happily been preserved in the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives. But I remember Jim the most for his wonderful work as a tour escort. Here he got to share his passions with nice folks from all over the world, to relive the days of railway organized group travel to the national parks and to show new friends his deep love for history, the rail industry and his country. Jim always carried a loose-leaf notebook, carefully organized with details to share for each day of the trips he led. He brought along appropriate examples of his superb photography, copies of NP (and other railway) timetables, route guides and shared these notes in cogent, well delivered talks and more importantly in person to person chats with each member of his tour groups. If there was a problem (a late train, a hotel with slow bag handling), Jim simply quietly handled it. He was the best, always and above all else he honored me by being a friend. I will miss him every time I see or ride a train, every time I visit a national park and most of all when I view his wonderful legacy of photographs and revisit his lovely books of recollections of a life with the rails. A giant has passed and we are all diminished when such a wonderful person leaves us, but Jim Fredrickson will live on in the books he wrote, the photos he took that so exquisitely encapsulated his life and most of all in the memory of his co-workers, colleagues and his vast legion of friends. Carl Fowler President (Retired) Rail Travel Center/Rail Travel Adventures
I had the unforgettable opportunity to ride the Northern Pacific passenger line from Fargo, ND to Seattle in August, 1965. It took about 36 hours and it was a great way to see great scenery and meet total strangers and strike up friendships. I took many slides during the trip but sadly, they've gotten lost.
Do join the NPRHA and receive its quarterly magazine. Also consider getting involved with the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives. Jim and others like him are main reason both groups exist. And some of what you see here lives on as a result. I hope the person asking about locomotive 2626 got his answer. The NPRHA or the PNRA both have, or have access to these type answers. This is an awesome video of an awsome guy
Being an avid NP fan, I well know Mr. Fredrickson's work in preserving the NP, and really, the way railroading was -- what a great piece! Who did the video?
The headquarters of the Northern Pacific were actually in St.Paul, Mn where the railroad started and they would have division points and the Tacoma depot was used for there Washington operations.. but not there General offices.
I really need to join the NP Historical Society...but does anyone know why the Timken Four Aces was scarpped if the Timken Company was trying to purchase it?
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Marvelous! What a fine look at this wonderful man who did so much for the preservation of railroad history and whose legacy lives at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive. Thank you, and thank you, JMF!
What a wonderful man, and a treasure when it comes to all things Northern Pacific. Rest in peace, sir...
I have been a fan of Jim`s for years. I attended a slide show he did at the main branch library about 20 years ago. His photos have been invaluable to me.
Rest in peace, Jim. His work with Charles Wood using his photographs of Northern Pacific. I got the pleasure of meeting him 5 years ago. His knowledge was beyond amazing.
Jim Fredrickson passed on to an eternal ride on the NORTH
COAST LIMITED late last week. Throughout the 1990s and into the first decade of
the new century Jim honored me by escorting rail tours all over the United
States and Canada for my tour company, Rail Travel Center and much more by his
friendship and boundless kindness.
Jim possessed a deep passion for trains, of course, but also for American
history, beautiful scenery and for never forgetting a friend or colleague. His
vast photography archive (over 11,000 images are cataloged by the NP Railway
Historical Society), will serve as his most lasting monument. Jim had a poet's
eye not only for trains, but for the place of the railroad in nature and for
eloquently memorializing the people who worked on the trains and the passengers
who rode them.
The basement of his home in Tacoma contained an astonishing record of the late
20th century in the Pacific Northwest. Never forgetting his college training at
the University of Washington, Jim meticulously catalogued his vast collection
not only of timetables, company documents, photography and such treasures as
the original plans for Tacoma Union Station, but also recollections of FDR's
secret trips in WWII to the northwest and of the evolution of the region. This
remarkable treasure has happily been preserved in the Pacific Northwest
Railroad Archives.
But I remember Jim the most for his wonderful work as a tour escort. Here he
got to share his passions with nice folks from all over the world, to relive
the days of railway organized group travel to the national parks and to show
new friends his deep love for history, the rail industry and his country. Jim
always carried a loose-leaf notebook, carefully organized with details to share
for each day of the trips he led. He brought along appropriate examples of his
superb photography, copies of NP (and other railway) timetables, route guides
and shared these notes in cogent, well delivered talks and more importantly in
person to person chats with each member of his tour groups. If there was a
problem (a late train, a hotel with slow bag handling), Jim simply quietly
handled it. He was the best, always and above all else he honored me by being a
friend. I will miss him every time I see or ride a train, every time I visit a
national park and most of all when I view his wonderful legacy of photographs
and revisit his lovely books of recollections of a life with the rails.
A giant has passed and we are all diminished when such a wonderful person
leaves us, but Jim Fredrickson will live on in the books he wrote, the photos
he took that so exquisitely encapsulated his life and most of all in the memory
of his co-workers, colleagues and his vast legion of friends.
Carl Fowler
President (Retired)
Rail Travel Center/Rail Travel Adventures
I had the unforgettable opportunity to ride the Northern Pacific passenger line from Fargo, ND to Seattle in August, 1965. It took about 36 hours and it was a great way to see great scenery and meet total strangers and strike up friendships. I took many slides during the trip but sadly, they've gotten lost.
this is one awesome video. this is the person to talk to about Northern Pacific
Thank you, this has been added to our playlists...
Wonderful video. Talk about the job of your dreams!
This guy IS Tacoma.I am glad to see this!
Do join the NPRHA and receive its quarterly magazine. Also consider getting involved with the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives. Jim and others like him are main reason both groups exist. And some of what you see here lives on as a result.
I hope the person asking about locomotive 2626 got his answer. The NPRHA or the PNRA both have, or have access to these type answers.
This is an awesome video of an awsome guy
My great grandfather worked for the company for many years. Ralph Martin Towner.
Being an avid NP fan, I well know Mr. Fredrickson's work in preserving the NP, and really, the way railroading was -- what a great piece! Who did the video?
The headquarters of the Northern Pacific were actually in St.Paul, Mn where the railroad started and they would have division points and the Tacoma depot was used for there Washington operations.. but not there General offices.
I really need to join the NP Historical Society...but does anyone know why the Timken Four Aces was scarpped if the Timken Company was trying to purchase it?