Railroad History Recalled at Antique Powerland Great Oregon Steam-Up

The former engineer became a very active member of the Willow Creek Railroad at Antique Powerland in Brooks because he needed a place to run the model engines he built while living in Napa Valley.

(SALEM, Ore.) - History is lived by men, and Ralph Jenkins of Stayton is one of those who is part of it. "I loved railroading since I was a baby," he said.

"I was lucky to get on after high school." Jenkins started working for the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1951 as a fireman after graduating from high school in San Francisco: "It was the first big job I ever had."

It was his responsibility as a fireman to maintain steam pressure in trains’ water boilers.

The draft interrupted his civilian career the following year; however he was able to stay in his chosen profession since the Army sent him to its locomotive engineer school at Fort Eustus, Virginia.

Jenkins eventually made sergeant there and was assigned as an instructor until his hitch was up in 1955. He married his first wife, Margorie, who was from Napa Valley, just before leaving the Army.

He described the base at that time as a transportation center for the military: "It had trucks, railroads, boats, and airplanes," Jenkins said.

He returned to the Southern Pacific and got his job back as a fireman, and in 1963 was promoted to engineer. "I worked my way up to other jobs," he continued, “such as working with yard engines and mainline freight in Oakland.”

Jenkins eventually qualified for passenger trains as well. They had two children: Howard and Debbie, before Margorie died in 1972. His second wife, Cheryl, brought her two daughters from a previous marriage into the family when they married the following year in Napa Valley.

Jenkins retired from the Southern Pacific as a road foreman of engines, but continued on railroading with the Napa Valley wine train in 1990. He rose to the position of Superintendent of Operations by the early 1990s, but voluntarily stepped down to become an engineer again before calling it quits in 2003.

Jenkins had the thrill of a lifetime when he met Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife during the wine train years.

"They had a special rented train that crossed the U.S.," he said. They rode to Napa Valley on it, and left from there after completing the trip.

Jenkins described the software giant as a "regular guy." He was the engineer that took it from Napa Valley to the train’s final destination of St. Helena.

Luckily, Jenkins has more than memories of his railroading life in the form of his photography hobby: "I must have about 10,000 (photographic) locomotive slides. I‘ve gone through several (film) cameras but decided it go digital."

Jenkins and his wife have traveled across the U.S. five times to see family members over the years with their fifth-wheeler, visiting all but three states in the "Lower 48": "I hate to sit around, so we’re always into something."

He and Cheryl moved to Oregon in 2004. His wife had relatives in the area whom they often visited: "We liked it and moved here."

The former engineer became a very active member of the Willow Creek Railroad at Antique Powerland in Brooks because he needed a place to run the model engines he built while living in Napa Valley.

"It’s been a lot of fun," Jenkins added. "I’ve built two (model diesel) locomotives for myself and keep both of them at Brooks."

Jenkins keeps himself busy at the Brooks railroad repairing track, cleaning up and maintaining the grounds, hauling passengers when its open to the public, and working on the miniature buildings. "I joined about 2005 and in the summer I spend as much time there as I can."

He’s also building an HO scale train set in what used to be a horse barn on his property. "It’s just roughed out right now," Jenkins said.

"It got set aside while I was building a 1 ½-inch scale (steam) locomotive," also in the barn. He’s spent about two years working on it off and on. "Most of it is scratch-built with some purchased parts."

Not only does he like working on scale model locomotives, but full-size machinery as well.

"I just finished rebuilding the family WWII-era jeep to military specifications. It took about a year and a half on and off."

This particular model was made by the Ford Motor Company in 1942, instead of by Willy’s, which made most of this type of military vehicle.

Another project that has kept him busy over the years is refurbishing a 1928 Ford Double-A truck that has also been in the family.

Jenkins explained that that all of the parts are original except for the radiator, and the mahogany that has replaced the oak side panels. "It’s never been out of Napa County till I brought it here."

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2009 Great Oregon Steam-Up
July 25 and 26, and August 1 and 2

Location: Antique Powerland is located in Brooks Oregon. 1/4 mile west off of Exit 263 on I-5 (about 8 miles north of Salem) Take I-5 to exit 263. Go west 2 blocks on Brooklake Rd and you will see us on the north side of the road.

Gerry Villani has been a resident of Salem, Oregon since 1964, and he has watched the capitol city grow and change significantly over the years. After graduating from Mount Hood Community College in Oregon with an AA in journalism, Gerry traveled the world as a photojournalist for the U.S. government from 1974-1986, then worked for state government and then put his communication skills to work for companies in Salem, Tualatin, and Beaverton before joining Salem-News.com.

Among other accomplishments, Gerry has taken thousands of photographs and is developing a photo stock company that will be marketed through Salem-News.com. Gerry's skills in technology are ever increasing, and he holds a Certificate in Computer Operations from Chemeketa Community College which he earned in 1986. To learn more about Gerry's photography, visit his site: villaniphoto.com. You can write to Gerry at this address: villaniphoto@yahoo.com