Richard Hendrickson
1931-2014.
Dr. Richard Hendrickson, prolific author, noted historian, and long-time
promoter of prototype modeling passed away unexpectedly on June 28.
Hendrickson died of a heart attack and subsequent fall at his home in Ashland,
Oregon. He was 83 years old.
A native of Glendale, Calif, Hendrickson developed an early fascination
for trains in general and more specifically the Santa Fe. As a teenager
summering with family in Oceanside, Calif., he gained the confidence of a Santa
Fe crew who allowed him to drive a 2-8-2 on the branch line to Escondido.
Decades later he was still remembering the fun of that seminal experience.
Hendrickson amassed a huge library of photographs and information about
American railroads which he willingly shared with manufacturers as well as
like-minded hobbyists. In addition to serving as an inspiration to railroad
prototype modeling at meets around the nation, Hendrickson was an active
technical consultant to authors and numerous manufacturers of model railroad
equipment. A partial list includes Balboa Scale Models, Train Miniature,
Life-Like Proto 2000, Walthers, Atlas, Branchline, Kadee, Tangent, and others.
Hendrickson was a marvelously well-informed historian and modeler who
authored more than 400 magazine articles on freight car history and modeling.
For five years he wrote a column critiquing commercial models in Rail Line
News. He authored or co-authored four books about the freight cars of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and co-authored 'Billboard
Refrigerator Cars' with Ed Kaminski. He figured prominently in the creation and
development of the current Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society
and its
predecessor organizations.
Arrangements have been made for his railroad library, photographs, and
collection of reference material to be donated to the California State
Railroad Museum at Sacramento.
In addition to a compelling interest in railroads, Hendrickson pursued
other activities with equal vigor, including fine food, wine, travel, skiing,
hiking, bicycling, sailing, and the theater – particularly Shakespeare. He
also loved flying and occasionally performed aerobatics in his classic
Citabria airplane. He remained interested in sports cars which he raced
competitively as a young man.
Hendrickson served his nation during the Korean War as an electronic
technician aboard a destroyer.
Following his service in the U. S. Navy, he studied at the University of
Connecticut where he earned his Ph.D. in English linguistics. His 31 years
of teaching at the university level included time at San Diego State before
transferring to Sonoma State University where he and his wife made their
home in Cotati, California.
In addition to his wife, Sandra, Richard is survived by his three
children, Graham, Kimberly, and Karin; plus grandchildren, Blake and Camile.
Richard Bale, News Editor
Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine