THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 21, 1994 TAG: 9408190243
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Janelle La Bouve
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
THERE'S A KNACK to keeping the fire in a steam locomotive burning clean and free of clinkers, and Steve Gibson of Chesapeake has it.
In January 1947, Gibson went to work for the Virginian Railroad. He started out as a steam engine fireman, shoveling coal and keeping the firebox hot.
``Even in a 16-hour day, that's about all we had time to do,'' he said.
As the coal burns, he explained, ashes build up.
``You had to shake the grates to clean the fire,'' said Gibson, describing how he wore heavy gloves to grasp a 3 1/2-foot-long grate lever outside the firebox.
``You also had to pull out the clinkers (lumps of coal that didn't burn),'' he said. ``Then you'd break them up and throw them off the train.''
Gibson is proud of a photo that shows him atop a car making the connection between a water tower and the engine's tender. It was taken in 1951.
That is the year he was promoted to engineer.
``It was thrilling when you got out on the main line and could run that thing as hard as you could run it,'' he said.
He had one serious accident that occurred while he was an engineer.
``Around 1962, I hit an automobile dead center on the passengers side,'' he said. The accident occurred at Berkley Avenue.
``The driver ignored the whistle and the red light,'' he said. ``He came up on the crossing, and I hit him. I was only doing about 20 or 25 mph.''
The car hung on the front of the engine.
``In my mind I could see people rolling out of that car,'' he said. ``But we found only the driver, and he never said a word.''
Later Gibson learned that the driver of the car had several broken ribs and some internal injuries.
``It gives you a bad feeling, but there is nothing you can do,'' he said. ``You just hold your breath and hope they make it.''
Since he had bypass surgery in 1988, the retired trainman has changed his lifestyle.
He stopped smoking and started walking six to seven miles a day for exercise.
``I want to live, and I don't want to be an invalid,'' he said. ``My doctor told me that if I didn't start walking I would probably lose my right leg.''
Full name: Steve Gibson Jr.
Birthdate: July 24, 1927
Grew up: ``Until I was 15, I grew up in the coal fields of West Virginia. Then we came to Norfolk.''
Childhood memories: ``The Depression and hobos riding freight trains. I lived in Itmann, W.Va. At 6 p.m. every evening, a coal train left Elmore, W.Va., going to Gilbert, W.Va. Back then they had a lot of big lump coal. Everybody in these coal camps burned coal for cooking and heating. I used to get on this coal train while it was sitting still. I would line up lumps of coal on what was called the coping rail of these cars. When the train pulled out, I'd run along the coal inside the car and kick off the coal I had lined up. Then I'd jump off the train, go back and pick up the coal in burlap bags. Then I'd sell 100 pounds for 10 cents. That was a lot of money back then. Later on, I went to work for that same company.''
Spouse: ``Joyce. We've been married almost 49 years.''
Retired from: ``Norfolk Southern Corp. I was a locomotive engineer.''
Hobbies: ``I'm an amateur photographer. I still go to railroads to make pictures. I collect railroad memorabilia. I have some rare Virginian stuff. The most rare thing I have is a breast-pocket-type leather wallet issued by the City of Norfolk in 1908 as an invitation to a dinner at the Monticello Hotel in honor of H.H. Rogers, who built the Virginian Railroad.''
Last book read: `` `A Christmas Memory,' by Truman Capote. I read a lot of magazines and the newspaper.''
Favorite song: ``Patsy Cline had a lot of songs out, and I fell in love with almost everything she sang. One favorite is `Crazy.' ''
Can't resist: ``Ice cream or sherbet every night.''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``Maybe to be more tolerant of other people.''
Greatest accomplishment: ``Overcoming all these physical problems I've had and regaining my health.''
Favorite TV program: ``Are You Being Served?''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: ``Black-Eyed Pea. I love that chicken-fried steak they have.''
Biggest problem facing Chesapeake: ``Uncontrolled growth.''
Favorite way to spend a day: ``Going off to take pictures. I took my first photo of a train in 1949.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Steve Gibson enjoys taking photographs of trains, and he also
collects railroad memorabilia.
by CNB