Frederick G. Bailey (center), born on March 21, 1948 and a major figure in the history of Steamtown, U.S.A and New England railroading, passed away Thursday, December 15 at age 74.
Steve Carlson writes: “Fred was great friend to many, including a personal family friend for decades. Fred was a fan of steam for years, he worked for Steamtown, U.S.A. in Bellows Falls and also when they relocated to Scranton, PA. Fred was the voice of the Green Mountain Railroad as their chief dispatcher and safety officer. Fred was always trackside on the GMRC and VTR, always offering help and information. He was a true gentleman, and will be missed greatly.”
Fred was truly one of the last people who knew Nelson Blount closely and was involved with the early days of Steamtown in a major way. He was a laborer at Steamtown, U.S.A. from 1963 to 1966; Audio Visual Manager in 1970; Summer General Manager from 1970 to 1972; Assistant to the Director 1972 to 1980; and Director of Operations from 1980 to 1987. Fred helped oversee the move of equipment to the new location in Scranton, PA and the development of the facilities there. He was interviewed by the Park Service in the 1990s, sharing much of his knowledge of the history and workings of Steamtown.
Steamtown Historical Collective 