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[[Category:People]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:IBLS Secretary]]
[[Category:IBLS Secretaries]]


Austin Barr began constructing locomotive #6568, an 1½" scale Little Engines Pacific, in 1965 while living in White Hall, Arkansas.
== Secretary ==
[[File:IBLS Secretaries LiveSteam 1984 Feb.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The IBLS Secretaries as of February 1984]]
* Region: Midwest
* Term: - February 1984
* Predecessor: [[Brenton Barnfather]]
* Successor: [[Ralph Tucker]]


{|
* Austin Barr represented the [[IBLS|International Brotherhood of Live Steamers]] at the Golden Spike ceremony of [[William Fitt]]'s <i>Lake Meauwataka & Wildwood Railway</i> in October 1983.
  [[File:Austin Barr Photos 1.jpeg|left|thumb|300px|Austin Barr at his track in White Hall, Arkansas, April 1968. Photo by Joe Ed Gaddes, one of Mid South Live Steamers Charter Members. Scanned by Greg Glos.]]
 
|
[[Bob Hornsby]] wrote:
  [[File:Austin Barr Pacific Whitehall Ark Apr 1968.jpg|center|thumb|300px|Austin Barr's #6568 LE Pacific, April 1968, White Hall, Arkansas]]
 
|
: As for other BLS-IBLS secretaries, I know [[Austin Barr]] was secretary for the southern area which was an unofficial area. This happened because [[Brenton Barnfather|Barney]] said something that upset many in the south so they elected [[Austin Barr]]. He retired from that position after I became secretary.
  [[File:Austin Barr Photos 2.jpeg|right|thumb|300px|Austin Barr and his #6568 LE Pacific, April 1968, White Hall, Arkansas. Photo by Joe Ed Gaddes, scanned by Greg Glos.]]
 
  |}
=== Retirement ===
 
[[Austin Barr]] wrote the following which appeared in the May 1984 edition of [[Modeltec]]:
 
: Dear Live Steamers:
: It is with much regret that I am resigning my [[IBLS]] Secretary position. This is due to pressing business and lack of time to accomplish my many responsibilities that seem to grow more numerous each year.
: [[Ralph Tucker]] was chosen and has agreed to take the Mid-West Secretary's duties. He is now publishing <i>The Midwest Interchange</i>, is an able man and will make us a good man. His address is:
 
:: Ralph Tucker
:: 822 Streamwood Boulevard
:: Streamwood, Illinois 60103
 
: Good Steaming!
: (s) Austin F. Barr, Jr.
 
[[Ralph Tucker]] wrote the following which appeared in [[Modeltec]], May 1984:
 
: [[Austin Barr|Austin]] surprised everyone at the Florida Live Steam Meet in February when he announced his intention to retire as [[IBLS]] Mid-West Secretary. He had asked me earlier in the day if I would be willing to take over as Secretary and I was honored to be asked and felt it will be a privilege to represent the Brotherhood.
 
== Biography ==
 
Austin Barr began constructing locomotive #6568, an 1½" scale Pacific, in 1965 while living in White Hall, Arkansas.
 
<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px">
File:Austin Barr Photos 1.jpeg|Austin Barr at his track in White Hall, Arkansas, April 1968. Photo by Joe Ed Gaddes, one of Mid South Live Steamers Charter Members. Scanned by [[Greg Glos]].
File:Austin Barr Pacific Whitehall Ark Apr 1968.jpg|Austin Barr's #6568 LE Pacific, April 1968, White Hall, Arkansas
File:Austin Barr Photos 2.jpeg|Austin Barr and his #6568 LE Pacific, April 1968, White Hall, Arkansas. Photo by Joe Ed Gaddes, scanned by [[Greg Glos]].
File:SRR-1401ng-Whitehall-AR-5-72-1.jpg|There was a gathering of live steam engines at the plantation of [[Austin Barr]], south of Jonesboro, AR in a community called Whitehall. There was a large loop of track for the beautiful engines to run around. May 1972.  Photo by Mike Condren, from http://condrenrails.com/20th-Century-Steam-p2.html
File:Jenny-Whitehall-AR-5-72.jpg|Another photo of the May 1972 meet. That may be [[Austin Barr]] walking the background.
File:Atlantic-Whitehall-AR-5-72-1.jpg|May 1972 meet.
</gallery>


Barr was a charter member of the Mid-South Live Steamers, organized on 17 December 1966.
Barr was a charter member of the Mid-South Live Steamers, organized on 17 December 1966.
Line 22: Line 57:
::I knew Austin Barr quite well, but not as well as some of the older members now deceased of course. When we first met I was kind of the "kid" of the club. See photo - I am in front. Austin is first row left. Shortly after that picture I went to college, then to sea (Navy) for a while, and then back to college so I rarely saw him after that. He had a 14,000 acre rice & soy bean plantation in Weiner, Arkansas (yes Weiner, as in Oscar Meyer) and built a large track on it where he hosted annual meets. He eventually lost the farm, his shop, and track in a divorce. I don't recall when he passed away but I don't think I saw him more than half a dozen times the last 20 years of his life. He was a very friendly and helpful guy and would help you in any way he could. I'm not sure he had a direct involvement in the development of the BLS standards, which may have already been established before he became Secretary, but he certainly helped promulgate and promote their usage.
::I knew Austin Barr quite well, but not as well as some of the older members now deceased of course. When we first met I was kind of the "kid" of the club. See photo - I am in front. Austin is first row left. Shortly after that picture I went to college, then to sea (Navy) for a while, and then back to college so I rarely saw him after that. He had a 14,000 acre rice & soy bean plantation in Weiner, Arkansas (yes Weiner, as in Oscar Meyer) and built a large track on it where he hosted annual meets. He eventually lost the farm, his shop, and track in a divorce. I don't recall when he passed away but I don't think I saw him more than half a dozen times the last 20 years of his life. He was a very friendly and helpful guy and would help you in any way he could. I'm not sure he had a direct involvement in the development of the BLS standards, which may have already been established before he became Secretary, but he certainly helped promulgate and promote their usage.


[[File:IBLS Meet 1970 LALS.jpg|center|thumb|300px|Bill Fitt, Leo Meyers, Harry Dixon, Austin Bar, and Gordon Sherwood at 1970 IBLS Meet hosted by LALS]]
<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px">
 
File:IBLS Meet 1970 LALS.jpg|Bill Fitt, [[Leo Meyers]], [[Harry Dixon]], [[Austin Barr]], and [[Gordon Sherwood]] at 1970 IBLS Meet hosted by LALS
[[File:IBLS Meet 1970 LALS RRS.jpg|center|thumb|300px|Some of the "Older Heads" in the Brotherhood of Live Steam Fraternity. Left to right: Bill Fitt, publisher of 'Modeltec' magazine; Leo Myers, St Louis, Mo; Harry Dixon, past Western Region B.L.S. Secretary; Austin Barr, Midwest Region B.L.S. Secretary; Gordon Sherwood, Past President, LALS.]]
File:IBLS Meet 1970 LALS RRS.jpg|Some of the "Older Heads" in the [[IBLS|Brotherhood of Live Steam]] Fraternity. Left to right: [[William Fitt|Bill Fitt]], publisher of [[Modeltec]] magazine; [[Leo Myers]], St Louis, Mo; [[Harry Dixon]], past Western Region B.L.S. Secretary; [[Austin Barr]], Midwest Region B.L.S. Secretary; [[Gordon Sherwood]], Past President, [[Los Angeles Live Steamers|LALS]].
 
File:Snub Pollard and Austin Barr.jpg|Here is photo of [[Austin Barr]] from Cary Nettles. Austin is on the right and Snub Pollard is on the left. Cary is the senior member of Mid-South Live Steamers at 97 years old! (as of 2013).
[[File:Snub Pollard and Austin Barr.jpg|center|thumb|300px|Here is photo of Austin Barr from Cary Nettles. Austin is on the right and Snub Pollard is on the left. Cary is the senior member of Mid-South Live Steamers at 97 years old! (as of 2013).]]
File:AustinBarr FloridaLiveSteamersYearbook1975 010.jpg|[[Austin Barr]], from Florida Live Steamers Yearbook 1975. Photo by [[Bill Koster]].
File:AustinBarr BlowdownValve-1.jpeg|Blowdown valve manufactured by Austin Barr.
</gallery>


== Bibliography ==
== Bibliography ==
Line 35: Line 72:
* "Gold Spike Ceremony on Austin Barr’s Weiner & Western", [[William C. Fitt]], <i>Modeltec Magazine</i>, Sept 1986
* "Gold Spike Ceremony on Austin Barr’s Weiner & Western", [[William C. Fitt]], <i>Modeltec Magazine</i>, Sept 1986
* "The Other Guy’s Shop: Austin Barr", William C. Fitt, <i>Modeltec Magazine</i>, Sept 1986
* "The Other Guy’s Shop: Austin Barr", William C. Fitt, <i>Modeltec Magazine</i>, Sept 1986
* "Mid South Live Steamers presents Leo Myers with the 'General' Happy Birthday Leo!", Austin F. Barr, <i>Modeltec Magazine</i>, Aug 1987
* "Mid South Live Steamers presents [[Leo Myers]] with the 'General' Happy Birthday Leo!", Austin F. Barr, <i>Modeltec Magazine</i>, Aug 1987


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 10:05, 14 August 2025


Secretary

The IBLS Secretaries as of February 1984

Bob Hornsby wrote:

As for other BLS-IBLS secretaries, I know Austin Barr was secretary for the southern area which was an unofficial area. This happened because Barney said something that upset many in the south so they elected Austin Barr. He retired from that position after I became secretary.

Retirement

Austin Barr wrote the following which appeared in the May 1984 edition of Modeltec:

Dear Live Steamers:
It is with much regret that I am resigning my IBLS Secretary position. This is due to pressing business and lack of time to accomplish my many responsibilities that seem to grow more numerous each year.
Ralph Tucker was chosen and has agreed to take the Mid-West Secretary's duties. He is now publishing The Midwest Interchange, is an able man and will make us a good man. His address is:
Ralph Tucker
822 Streamwood Boulevard
Streamwood, Illinois 60103
Good Steaming!
(s) Austin F. Barr, Jr.

Ralph Tucker wrote the following which appeared in Modeltec, May 1984:

Austin surprised everyone at the Florida Live Steam Meet in February when he announced his intention to retire as IBLS Mid-West Secretary. He had asked me earlier in the day if I would be willing to take over as Secretary and I was honored to be asked and felt it will be a privilege to represent the Brotherhood.

Biography

Austin Barr began constructing locomotive #6568, an 1½" scale Pacific, in 1965 while living in White Hall, Arkansas.

  • Austin Barr at his track in White Hall, Arkansas, April 1968. Photo by Joe Ed Gaddes, one of Mid South Live Steamers Charter Members. Scanned by Greg Glos.

    Austin Barr at his track in White Hall, Arkansas, April 1968. Photo by Joe Ed Gaddes, one of Mid South Live Steamers Charter Members. Scanned by Greg Glos.

  • Austin Barr's #6568 LE Pacific, April 1968, White Hall, Arkansas

    Austin Barr's #6568 LE Pacific, April 1968, White Hall, Arkansas

  • Austin Barr and his #6568 LE Pacific, April 1968, White Hall, Arkansas. Photo by Joe Ed Gaddes, scanned by Greg Glos.

    Austin Barr and his #6568 LE Pacific, April 1968, White Hall, Arkansas. Photo by Joe Ed Gaddes, scanned by Greg Glos.

  • There was a gathering of live steam engines at the plantation of Austin Barr, south of Jonesboro, AR in a community called Whitehall. There was a large loop of track for the beautiful engines to run around. May 1972. Photo by Mike Condren, from http://condrenrails.com/20th-Century-Steam-p2.html

    There was a gathering of live steam engines at the plantation of Austin Barr, south of Jonesboro, AR in a community called Whitehall. There was a large loop of track for the beautiful engines to run around. May 1972. Photo by Mike Condren, from http://condrenrails.com/20th-Century-Steam-p2.html

  • Another photo of the May 1972 meet. That may be Austin Barr walking the background.

    Another photo of the May 1972 meet. That may be Austin Barr walking the background.

  • May 1972 meet.

    May 1972 meet.

Barr was a charter member of the Mid-South Live Steamers, organized on 17 December 1966.

Austin Barr, far left, attending charter meeting of Mid-South Live Steamers at Bud Bartholomew's residence in Nashville on December 17, 1966. Harry Wade is the young man at front and center.

Barr finished #6568, along with his track at White Hall, Arkansas, for the first annual spring meet of the Mid-South Live Steamers. Austin continued to host Spring Meets from 1968 through 1973.

Harry Wade, who also attended the inaugural meeting of the Mid-South Live Steamers, provided the following about Austin Bar.

I knew Austin Barr quite well, but not as well as some of the older members now deceased of course. When we first met I was kind of the "kid" of the club. See photo - I am in front. Austin is first row left. Shortly after that picture I went to college, then to sea (Navy) for a while, and then back to college so I rarely saw him after that. He had a 14,000 acre rice & soy bean plantation in Weiner, Arkansas (yes Weiner, as in Oscar Meyer) and built a large track on it where he hosted annual meets. He eventually lost the farm, his shop, and track in a divorce. I don't recall when he passed away but I don't think I saw him more than half a dozen times the last 20 years of his life. He was a very friendly and helpful guy and would help you in any way he could. I'm not sure he had a direct involvement in the development of the BLS standards, which may have already been established before he became Secretary, but he certainly helped promulgate and promote their usage.

Bibliography

  • "Mid-South Live Steamers", Austin F. barr, Live Steam Magazine, Apr 1969
  • "Weed Control", Austin F. barr, Live Steam Magazine, Mar 1974
  • "A Change to report in IBLS Doings", Austin F. Barr, Jr. and Ralph Tucker, Modeltec Magazine, May 1984
  • "Gold Spike Ceremony on Austin Barr’s Weiner & Western", William C. Fitt, Modeltec Magazine, Sept 1986
  • "The Other Guy’s Shop: Austin Barr", William C. Fitt, Modeltec Magazine, Sept 1986
  • "Mid South Live Steamers presents Leo Myers with the 'General' Happy Birthday Leo!", Austin F. Barr, Modeltec Magazine, Aug 1987

References

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