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Lloyd Stagner
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
April 29, 2006--Not many remember the days when steam locomotives ruled the rails, but this man does. Lloyd Stagner of Newton is a prolific writer about these old steam engines and he just can’t stop remembering.
“They have to be fired up, the whistle blowing and the bell ringing and running 60 miles an hour.” |
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That’s when Lloyd Stagner gets interested.
“Yes, that’s very true, I’d say that’s true.”
Lloyd has probably written more books on steam locomotives than anyone else….at least 27 that he can remember.
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“Well I guess there is a certain amount of satisfaction to being able to say I wrote this book and so forth. That fact that you are doing something you like to do is the primary thing.”
“I think when someone retires you ought to have something to do and instead of going fishing or hunting, well, this is what I do.” |
Many across the world, find these old steam engines marvels of engineering. We love watching those giant wheels turn….the smoke pouring from the stack…and like kids we would all love to sit behind the throttle of these iron monsters just once.
“I like and admired the guys who did it, but to me it wasn’t a great life especially if you had a family.”
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Lloyd worked for the rail road all his life…but never as an engineer…he always worked in the stations…but he was fascinated about these old steamers and had a knack for writing….that was the beginning of his book career.
“Quite often people will write me and want me to dig up something so, I do spend some time helping them out.”
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In Newton, Lloyd sometimes visits the static display of one historic steam locomotive on display in a local park….and while he’s glad it’s there….it is seeing them in action that is his forte.
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“Well I guess I have two feelings, sad that it isn’t running any more and happy that it has been preserved.”
As the old Santa Fe railroad clock ticks off the minutes of our lives, Lloyd Stagner of Newton is content pounding out the history of these giants of the rails. They are of another time. And for Lloyd…those days ended much too soon. |
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“Times change and the railroads had to change too.”
(whistle blows out) |
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