I just got word from Don Phillips that Jim Bistline passed away about 8:00am today.Jim, 90, was General Counsel for Southern Railway and for many years took care of the steam excursion program for Southern and Norfolk Southern.JAC

This is quite a loss to the railroad/railfan community. His expertise and worldly presence will surely be missed. I can't recall any of the Southern steam excursions where his name wasn't mentioned, or he wasn't quoted, etc. May he rest in peace knowing that he affected so many people.

In an ironic twist of fate, Jim was to travel on next week's Lexington Group excursion. As part of the 248 page route guide it was noted under the section written for MP 133.5 NEWPORT, CP PORT "MILEPOST 133.5 NEWPORT, CP PORTWe pass through the village of Newport, now a suburb of Harrisburg. The tower that controlled this interlocking was PORT and was the last active tower on the Middle Division. It was closed in 1986. The railroad line that joins us on the left was the original PRR line from the 1840’s that ran through the center of Newport. The 29 mile long narrow gauge Newport and Sherman’s Valley Railroad connected with the PRR at this point. It was abandoned in 1935. Newport is also known as the birthplace and boyhood home of rail icon and Lexington member Jim Bistline."Jim was a quiet gentleman who enriched this advocation far beyond what could be expected from any one person.RIP

Wow. He touched many lives and leaves a nice legacy.Wesley

I was very fortunate to meet Mr Bistline in the early 1970's. As a young pre-teen lad, he noticed my rapt attention at a fantrip, answered probably a half dozen or so childishly inane questions, and then bought me a Coke. At the time, I had no idea who he was, and only by great chance, did my father take a photograph of myself and Mr Bistline, post-Coca-Cola purchase. Several years later, a photo of Mr Bistline in an issue of Trains magazine made me stare, wondering where I knew that face from.The likes of Mr Bistline, Bill Purdie and others from the Southern steam program put a reality to all my father and his friend's talk of steam locomotives. Without these men, and their efforts, we'd all have missed out on so much. It's certainly worthy of debate whether we'd be enjoying the likes of such steam programs as the UP's, or even the 4449 or 261 programs without their efforts to "keep steam up".He leaves a great legacy, and will be missed by many.

Truly a big loss! He was a true gentleman and a pleasure to visit with. When we took the 1522 to Atlanta for the 1994 NRHS convention, I had the pleasure of a great visit with Jim. He had some great stories and was very complimentary of our group and locomotive. I got a chance to thank him for his great leadership of the SR steam program. He will be sorely missed.

I think I can speak for a lot of people by saying the following:My wife and I wouldn't have been involved in railroad history if it weren't for the SR steam program which would have been what it was if it weren't for people like Jim Bistline.Our lives are all better for having known him.Bob H