Pacific Locomotive Association founder Luna dies NEWSWIRE

Henry Luna, a founding member of the Pacific Locomotive Association, has died.

Luna, 76, died Sept. 22, 2018 after an extended period in hospice at home.

Born Nov. 18, 1941, as a child he lived in Burlingame, Calif., within earshot of the Southern Pacific’s Peninsula rail line, inspiring a lifelong interest in steam locomotives. He and five other college students started the Pacific Locomotive Association in a 1961 meeting in Luna’s backyard, with Luna serving as the organization’s first president. In 1962, the group “purchased 2-6-2T locomotive No. 6 from Howard Terminal in Oakland, Calif., with the provision that it would never be scrapped,” Luna said. “The PLA eventually acquired more equipment and operated the Castro Point Railway in Richmond, Calif., as a living museum.” In 1985, when the PLA’s lease with the Navy at Castro Point was not removed, the organization moved to Niles Canyon to build and operate the Niles Canyon Heritage Railway.

After many years of organizing rail excursions for the PLA, Henry started his professional career in the travel business working for Great Western Tours in San Francisco and was the first manager of Railtown 1897 for Sierra Railway.  In 1983, he started his own company, Key Tours (aka Key Holidays) in Walnut Creek, Calif., which soon became Amtrak’s largest tour operator west of the Mississippi. In the early 1990s, he landed the contract to run the Reno Fun Train and started the mid-week run (The Reno Snow Train).  He continued to organize and escort innumerable PLA excursions, from shortline steam operations in California to overseas trips in England, Ecuador, China and Cuba.

Described as “a master at operating steam locomotives,” he taught a generation of PLA engineers and firemen how to operate a steam engine.  he was so smooth with the controls that he made it look effortless.  He had an uncanny ability to operate a greasy, oily locomotive all day and typically get off with his overalls nearly as clean as when he arrived in the morning.  Henry was always there with a smile to teach and tutor those that wanted to learn about operating a steam locomotive.  A generation of PLA steam engineers and fireman have benefitted from his tutelage.

Luna, said friend and railfan Wes Swift, “really lived life and perhaps his greatest legacy is founding the PLA with his friends.  While many railfans are content to talk about what should be done, or even criticize efforts of others, Henry always dreamed the impossible, and then worked to accomplish it.  Always a pleasant demeanor, the world was a warmer place in his presence and will be emptier without it.  What a legend he left.”