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Author, historian Jim Scribbins dies
Mr. Scribbins was a gentleman in the true sense of the word, who gave of himself without remainder, and with whom one wished to be able keep on talking forever. The story is told that David P. Morgan, perhaps in search of conversation, would walk over from Kalmbach to the old Milwaukee depot when he knew Jim Scribbins was working. Did those conversations ever “Slow to 90”?
While I can’t be positive, I believe it was Jim Scribbens who made it possible for my friend and I to connect with one of the Burlington Steam specials in the late 1950s. We lived in Milwaukee and had secured tickets to ride behind CB&Q 5632 out of Chicago. To get there we needed to board a Milwaukee Road train in Milwaukee to connect with the excursion train at Chicago Union Station. When we went to the ticket window in Milwaukee we found out the Milwaukee train was running late and would not get into Chicago until after the departure of #5632. To say that we were disappointed would be an understatement. At the time I didn’t know who Jim Scribbins was. The Gentlemen at the ticket window (Jim?) was very reassuring and sold us the tickets to Chicago with the guidance that we really hustle to get from the Milwaukee tracks at the north end of the station to the Burlington tracks at the south end. We boarded the Milw Rd train with much apprehension. Well we arrived in Chicago about a half hour after the advertised departure of #5632. Well…something happened in Chicago that was well beyond the power and imagination of two train loving teenagers. When we got into CUS a uniformed Burlington employee met us at the Milwaukee train and escorted us to the waiting #5632 train. Burlington held their train for the late train from Milwaukee. Clearly, the agent in Milwaukee had significant power and knowledge on how to make things happen in Chicago. In later years, after reading Jim’s books and hearing of the many accolades sent his way by all those who knew him, I can only conclude that he is who made it all happen that day in Chicago. The trip behind #5632 with open vestibule door high speed running a cross northern Illinois was wonderful. It was my hope that one day I would meet Jim and compare notes. Alas, that is not to be. As I reflect on the experience, something tells me that pretty often Jim Scribbins made magic happen for lots of Milwaukee passengers. Thank you Jim for all the lives you touc
To comment upon Mr. Smith’s speculation regarding the role of Jim Scribbin’s saving his 5632 fan trip…yes it may have been, but more importantly, Jim Scribbins represented a long-departed concept, that of doing the gesture to make a customer happy…a small thing for the ticket agent (a quick call, telegraph, telex, etc. in the dark ages), but a thing looming large for the customer. One must not forget the fact that Jim Scribbins represented a fine road indeed, but one of many who served many. And the CB&Q, perhaps the Milwaukee’s most formidable competitor, ran the fan trips which the Milw. could have and should have, had she saved some of the goods. So, that makes the scrapping of 5632 even more absurd.
Having read Mr. Scibbons books on the Hiawatha and the 400, I was very pleased when UW-Washington County in West Bend offered a special program on the history of Wisconsin railroads featuring Jim Scribbons. I attended along with my young seven year old son, and we were both amazed at the information and photos offered. Mr. Scribbons then invited us to visit his retirement community to see the model railroad that was built by several of the residents. Very fond memories of a walking encyclopedia of railroad history who reached out to a railfan and his young son, who twenty plus years later still accompanies me chasing trains. We both are looking forward to witnessing an operable Big Boy #4014.
I, and indeed my whole family are indebted to Jim. We lived in Chicago from 1973-74, and in February 1974 I took the early morning St Louis train to Joliet to watch the trains there. I met Jim on the station platform. The temperature was mid 20s at best but we engaged in animated conversation. He was eager to give me a grounding in US railroading in general, and its passenger trains in particular. Most memorable event was a westbound RI freight led by an F7 lurching across the dilapidated diamonds. I got a soft spot for the RI. I’m sure we talked about proper F7s (the Milwaukee type), but I don’t remember a word. I asked him where it would be good to travel. He took my Amtrak timetable and marked the portions of the routes that he said were of high scenic interest. We rode back to Chicago together on the Southwest Limited, a transformative experience in itself-the old ATSF style was still there. He sent me some old pre Amtrak timetables unbidden. That changed the course of our stay in the US. By the end we had visited 37 states, most all by train, and developed a lifelong attachment to long distance US Rail Passenger travel, shared with our children. We are still planning to come back for more. It’s odd how chance meetings and small personal contacts can change your life. I would like to think that his example of generous sharing and enthusiasm has encouraged me to do the same.
I can just here Jim, with his somewhat monotone voice, reciting statistics about the Milwaukee Road. He “was” a walking encyclopedia. The Hiawatha Story was one of the first railroad books in my collection, and I remember devouring it from cover to cover.
After receiving my copy of “The Hiawatha Story” upon its publication in 1970, it was always my opinion that Jim Scribbins raised significantly the quality standards for books about railroad history and operations.