New Issue- Rudy Kouhopt Article

[Rich Carlstedt]

Clover
I was Impressed with the Article about Rudy in the new Issue of Live Steam..
Yes, I know you want me to comment on the Magazines new look, but I was more impacted by the "last page "
Rudy was a friend...no... a Dear Friend.
Like you, I spent evenings at his home and your description of entering his home returned as vivid images in my brain.
I charish the many modeling talks we had, and the visits to his shop, even though my height(6-2)meant hitting his ceiling lights with my head every now and then.The deep intensity of our mechanical disscussions blinding my brain from recognizing physical obstructions
After hearing of his passing,I went back to reread some of the personal letters I still have from him. Amazingly, they are as composed as if they were one of Rudy's articles..he had a tremendous gift of writting and drawing skills, probably only matched by an insatiable appetite to build steam and hot air engines.

Many folks would look forward to talk to Rudy at NAMES ,Cabin Fever etc. Please know that this man did not put on a show..he was as gracious,kind and humble in his personal life as he was in public...
this is a great loss to our steam community and truely a friend that will be missed.
Rich

[andypullen]

Rich, Clover,

I will admit I wasn't a huge fan of Rudy until I actually met him. His writing was clear and concise and his drawings were always good. Even though I never built anything of his.

I met Rudy at one of the New Jersey Live Steamers spring meets. I showed him some pics of my locomotive under construction and he told me that I do nice work. I apologized for my messy shop, but he told me his shop was only neat because he made a special effort to keep it clean, and that his house looked a bit rough on the outside. He came off as very genuine. Very much like my friend Bruce Hamilton.

He will be missed....

Andy Pullen

[PolskiFran]

Nice look to the new cover on Live Steam Magazine. At first I thought I had received someone else's magazine by mistake...until I looked a little harder. Great job Clover and staff.

I was also impressed with the article about Rudy. I usually got to meet and talk with Rudy at a few shows during the year. I spoke with him last on Labor Day weekend. We were all expecting him and his friend Ed at a show in the Pocono's in Oct. The following week I received a call that he had passed away. He will be greatly missed. He has always been a source of information and inspiration.

Frank

[Clover McKinley]

Thank you for your kind remarks regarding our friend Rudy Kouhoupt. I excerpted from each of your comments to print in the March/April 2005 issue. Folks who aren't online will benefit, in this way.

And subscribers who DO have online capabilities may be encouraged to visit The Steaming Bay to join in your conversations.