Jeff Schmid was an unusually versatile railroader. Over more than a half a century with BNSF and two of its predecessor railroads, he moved from track worker to locomotive engineer to safety officer, the latter bringing him special satisfaction. If that wasn’t enough, along the way he mastered the art and craft of running one of the most successful mainline steam locomotives of the 1980s and ’90s, Frisco 4-8-2 No. 1522.
Schmid died Feb. 8 in hospice in Lincoln, Neb., after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 74.
Much of the success of the operation of No. 1522 was due to Schmid’s leadership as a prime mover in the St. Louis Steam Train Association (SLSTA), which operated the 4-8-2 via an arrangement with its owner, the National Museum of Transport. Schmid frequently ran the engine and helped supervise operations across several states and numerous railroads in the Midwest. The engine was retired for the second time in 2002.
Much of the SLSTA’s success was due to Schmid’s experience and reputation as a career railroader, a key strength for a volunteer organization in an era when Class I railroads keep steam at arm’s length. This was especially true given the 1522’s vintage: Baldwin, 1926.
A native Missourian, Schmid hired out with the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway — the Frisco — in 1969 as a summer track-gang laborer while a student at the University of Missouri. Three years later he transferred into engine service and quickly began hostling engines around Lindenwood Yard in St. Louis.
Before long he was running trains between St. Louis and Springfield, including after the 1980 merger of Frisco into Burlington Northern. He ended up working as an engineer for 15 years and became active in the affairs of his Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers local.
Later, after he moved into management, Schmid got heavily involved in safety for both BN and successor BNSF. He managed a variety of programs, including working on safety education for law enforcement and the closing of thousands of railroad crossings. As a BNSF employee, he was active in the industry’s grade-crossing safety program Operation Lifesaver and continued to work with the Nebraska OL organization after his retirement.
Schmid’s skills also came into play during his management of several BNSF Employee Appreciation Specials, a special train that visited terminals across the entire system, offering train rides to employees and their families. An early version was hauled by the 1522.
Schmid’s interest in railroading wasn’t confined to either his job or his work with 1522. He was a frequent participant in meetings of the Lexington Group in Transportation History, the Center for Railroad Photography & Art, and the Railroad Passenger Car Alliance, among other organizations. When he lived in the St. Louis area, he served on the Webster Groves Historic Preservation Commission and was president of the Northeast Webster Community Improvement Association.
Schmid also found time to write on occasion, including two memorable stories for Trains magazine, both featuring his famously dry wit. One detailed his experiences running Frisco SD45s, published in the September 1997 all-EMD issue; he wrote again about his life on the Frisco, recalling the railroad’s cantankerous U25B diesels, in the September 1999 all-GE issue.
Jeff Schmid is survived by his wife, Judy Koepke, who often accompanied him at various railroad conferences and events. Memorial services were held in Lincoln and St. Louis. The family asks that donations be made to the National Museum of Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station Road, St. Louis, MO 63122, or to Nebraska Operation Lifesaver, c/o Director Deb Ashworth, 52 Kuester Lake, Grand Island, NE 68801.
Never got to ride with #1522 but saw her a few times coming or going on excursions. I did see the last one pass at Webster Groves station and I cried when I got back to the car as seeing her running made me think of my parents who took advantage of Dad’s free pass and traveled all over the US Mom had to quit working when they got married , no married woman was allowed to work. Jeff was a very pleasant man and made my dream come true to climb into the cab of #1522. I wrote his wife, and got a nice note back from her, I often visit our NMOT and always have to stop and see #1522.
I never worked for Frisco because they were moving office staff to Springfield, MO and I did not want to leave home, parents and friends . Sorry that I could not, Dad was dead by time BN took over and my godfather said it was never the same lost the family feeling that Frisco had. Mom did not like to see the name removed from office where Dad worked , BNSF has kept Lindenwood Yard open and running, so I can still hear train horns and diesel growls and drive past there to see trains moving. Dad and I used to go down often after supper and train watch, sit on steps of office, “bulls” would see us and wave and come to talk sometime when they were not busy. I even got up in the yard tower a couple of times, I don’t like heights but made it, Dad would go first and knock on door, everyone knew him and let us in. Great view from there. Tower is gone now and different office that the one Dad worked in.
, I saw #1522at NRHS convention in 1990 in St. Louis, and talked to some of the crew about my family history and they were not set up for viewing the cab, but if Jeff gave them the OK they would pull me up into the cab. They pointed Jeff out and I told him a short version of my Frisco family and he gave the OK. He recognized my Dad’s name Gene Stahl, had heard about him from others and what a hard worker he was and well liked. So the crew pulled me up the steps, one man got on ground and guided my feet to steps on side of engine and others reached down from cab and pulled me up and I made it. What a thrill to stand there and take pics. We talked for a while and then they helped me back down. Mom was pleased that I got to do this. My parents both worked for Frisco, Mom was 3rd generation in her family, her grandpa came from Ireland and laid the tracks building the RR in MO. His 5 sons went to work for them and Mom’s father was a conductor, freight and later passenger. She used to help him with the paperwork as passenger conductor. Dad started at 16 when neighbor who worked for Frisco was getting son a job and asked Dad if he wanted one too. He did, quit high school and never looked back. He worked at the freight house and later at Lindenwood Yard checking car seals for tampering on 3rd trick, it was very dark as they did not the bright tower lights like today. All steam engines added to the smoke so he had to swing his lantern when he walked around paid spec attention to cars hauling cigs and booze, had to tell “yard bulls” when he found a broken seal. Then he got enough seniority to work in yard office where he stayed, last job was go-between with customers and sales dept. Never retired as he died at 61 of viral pneumonia. I saw Jeff a couple of times after that at NRHS picnic and when I rode the employee appreciation special. Have a FB friend who works at the yard and he got me ticket from someone who not going to use it. So I got to ride thru the yard where Dad has worked and wore one of my Frisco shirts. That is why my name on here is Sunnyland, my first train ride was on that going to Memphis.
I first met Jeff when I was a newly-licensed MIssouri driver and the Frisco Lindenwood Yard was one of my “haunts.” I soon met Jeff—the friendly hostler who invited me to ride around the yard on one of the railroad’s “cantankerous U25Bs.” One of the “good guys” of railroading who will be missed by all who knew him.
Very sorry to hear of Mr. Schmid’s passing. I enjoyed reading those articles he wrote for Trains.
I met Jeff at Ft Knox, KY while we were both going through U S Army basic training February-June 1972.
Once we discovered our mutual rail interests we explored the local rail scene such as the Ft Knox utility railway, which had a pair of Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 switchers that kept busy mainly at the base coal yard. Later we got a weekend pass and explored the L&N operations in the area which included pacing a freight IIRC that had a GP9 and a trailing F7. We went to the Kentucky Railway Museum and on a later weekend pass he took me to St Louis where we visited Union Station and the NMoT where we saw the 1522 – all exotic places for a New Englander! While I don’t remember Jeff mentioning any hopes for eventually steaming the 1522 during that weekend we visited the local Frisco engine terminal where he already knew many of the employees, and after we departed he did mention that he was fully expecting to work there after his Army active duty ended.
My condolences to Judy and the rest of his family and friends. Going through basic with Jeff made the experience far more enjoyable than it was for most who were there. My rail horizons were vastly expanded during that time thanks to Jeff.
Thank your for publishing this rememberance. I was lucky enough to know him and Judy a little bit as I joined the St. Louis Chapter NRHS in 1990. I was blessed enough to be a car host with them during the 1990 and 2000 NRHS conventions in St.Louis. The former was during the hey day of the 1522 restoration operations. I thus was amongst the 10s of thousands who had memories made by Jeff Judy and their crew of volunteers with Frisco 1522. In his safety role he no doubt saved the lives or prevented injury of many people.
Hopefully he is having fun in the roundhouse in the sky. RIP.
I’m sorry to hear of Jeff’s passing. Jeff and I attended grade school together, and both of us worked summer jobs at a shoe warehouse in St. Louis during high school and college. When the shoe company wasn’t hiring the summer of 1969, we applied for the track worker positions at the Frisco Railroad. Jeff was offered a position in St. Louis, and I got an offer to work out of Newburg, MO. I didn’t accept that job offer as Newburg was 100 miles from home.
I never saw Jeff after that. He had an impressive career with BNSF, and I enjoyed reading his articles in Trains Magazine. My condolences to his family and friends.