Harold Borovec, a significant figure in steam preservation in the Pacific Northwest, died June 10 at age 96.
Borovec, born in 1927 in Chehalis, Wash., served as an engineer and mechanical officer for several steam tourist operations in Washington state, including the Puget Sound & Snoqualmie Railroad, the Camp 6 logging exhibit in Tacoma, the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad, and the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum. He led the restoration of Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade Railway 2-8-2 No. 15, a 1916 Baldwin locomotive; his lengthy relationship with that engine was featured in Trains Magazine article [“1 man, 1 locomotive, 70 years together,” April 2007]. He continued to operate the locomotive until age 92.
The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum is recognizing Borovec as “father and founder of our railroad” on its Facebook page, heralding his role as a mentor for others in preservation, and inviting people to post photos and memories of Borovec. The organization’s volunteer of the year award is named for Borovec and his late wife, Alberta.
Information on a memorial service is pending.
I saw Harold and his family visit the Snoqualmie steam train around 55 years ago, and they soon became my friends. Meeting and marrying my wife made us very good friends. I had a blue polka dot cap, and Harold became a modern steam railroader with the red polka dot cap. We will miss Harold, but we are thankful for our many good decades with him.
Thanks to people like Mr. Borovec, railroad history is preserved for future generations. He’s wearing the classic Kromer cap.