Sadly I must notify the members of the passing of Joe Collias. Joe passed yesterday, Apr 30, following a heart attack on Monday April 27, 2015. He had celebrated his 87th birthday on Saturday April 25. Most of you know Joe as the author of several excellent railroad books, including Frisco Power. He was also an excellent modeler. His building and detailing of brass HO steam models are insurpassable. He modeled principally the Missouri Pacific, but had also built some excellent Frisco models over the years. His arrangements will be posted on Kutis Funeral Homes web site. Visitation will be at the Kutis on Gravois, near Laclede Station Rd on Sunday, May 3 from 3 until 8PM, with funeral Monday, May 4 at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on Sappington Rd. at Noon, interment at Jefferson Barracks.
I never had the pleasure of Meeting Mr. Collias, but I have sure enjoyed his books. Rest in Peace Joe.
I did know Joe, and while he had a reputation for being just the tiniest bit prickly, he was a good guy who did help me with a couple of my early projects, especially Route of the Eagles. I enjoyed seeing him at the TRRA annual meeting and have several of his books. He will be missed. GS
This is sad to hear. I had the privilege of a fine chat with him at the launching party for Rails Around Missouri. He told some good railfanning stories.
I received the word of Joe's passing late last night and was greatly saddened. I was an early fan of his excellent books and photographs, and was thrilled later on, around 1982, to meet him through my friend Don Wirth. Joe was helpful to me on several things Frisco and, of course, also on things MoPac. I remember how excited I was when he started his "Frisco Power" book, and was very glad to help him on it in a very minor way. I recall how nice he was to my son Kurt when we met at Newburg together with Don and others, and when we happened to meet trackside a couple of times to watch SLSF 1522 steam by on some of its trips. Joe very kindly agreed to be the feature speaker at three Frisco meetings I organized here in St Louis - his presence on the agenda assured they were a success. I recall a line he used in most of his presentations - "the steam locomotive was man's most noble invention". Joe was very kind and helpful to me. He will be greatly missed, though he will live on via his books, photos, and his sharing of his great knowledge. Thanks for everything Joe. Ken
Truly a sad day, I had the pleasure of knowing Joe for many years and he was always very approachable and a gentleman in every way. In my opinion he was a pioneer in many respects in that he was one of the early railfans, taking photos back when the west was still a little wild. Authoring prototype books when the standard was coffee table novelty books. We have lost one of our historical anchors, he was a lion in winter and a reminder to learn as much as we can while we still have the folks around that were there. Brad Slone
I'm sorry to hear of Mr. Collias' passing. I met Joe while working a a clerk at the Post Office where he ran his publishing company out of. At first, only his wife would come in to send out books and gather the mail, but once I got her as a customer, I mentioned my interest in Joe's books. Soon he started to come in with her, and, once he knew that I was a fan, signed the title pages of his books that I kept on hand. One time he gave me a stack of 8" by 10" photographs of Frisco steam locomotives, that he claimed were "rejects" though I was hard pressed to find anything wrong with them. Another time I came back from lunch to find out that he had been there to show me his Speed Graphic camera, but unfortunately, I missed it. Eventually, I moved on to other Post Offices and Joe shut down his publishing business, but he will remain a fond memory for me. He seemed very generous with his time, knowledge and photographs and will be missed by many people. Rich
Add me to the list of those saddened by the passing of Joe Collias. Unfortunately, we can't keep them here forever. All of us are only passing through.
I echo the sentiments of all here. I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Collias at the Railroad Prototype Modelers meet in Collinsville a couple of years ago. I have the honor of owning one of his Frisco brass locomotives, a PFM Toby 1522 class 4-8-2. It will roll on my layout in honor and remembrance of a fine gentleman and excellent historian.
Here's a list of Joe G. Collias's books: The Last of Steam (Howell-North, 1960) The Search for Steam (Heimburger House, 1972) Mopac Power, Missouri Pacific Lines Locomotives and Trains, 1905-1955 (Howell-North, 1980) Frisco Power, Locomotives and Trains of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, 1903-1953 (MM Books, 1984) (second edition, Frisco Railroad Museum, 1997) Katy Power, Locomotives and Trains of The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, 1912-1985, with Raymond B. George, Jr. (MM Books, 1986) The Texas & Pacific Railway, Super-Power to Streamliners, 1925-1975 (MM Books, 1989) The Missouri Pacific Lines in Color (MM Books, 1993) He had also written articles for both modeling and railfaning magazines. His photo credits appear in many other books besides his own. Rich
A sad day indeed. I only met Joe once, in 1954 when Dick Wallin took me to his house. His books filled a big void concerning the railroads in which I was, and am, interested. He will be greatly missed. gordon
I, too, am very sad to hear of his passing. I own both editions of Frisco Power and two editions of The Search for Steam. Charlie
Thanks for letting us know, Don. My Frisco steam knowledge is - such as it is - much deeper thanks to Frisco Power than it would otherwise be.
The obit from the Post-Dispatch. Joe was alsways quick to respond to my steam queries, and I enjoyed my correspondance with him. Hoc est verum. Wir sind alle bettler. [h=1]Joe G. Collias [/h] 1928 - 2015 | Obituary| Condolences| Gallery Collias, Joe G. Joe was called home to the Lord on April 30, 2015. Joe G. Collias, the son of George and Martha (nee Van Buskirk) Collias was born on April 25, 1928 in East St. Louis, IL and was received into the Kingdom of God through the Sacraments of Holy Baptism administered by the Rev. Edwin J. Fritze on the 14th day of August, 1960. Joe was also received as a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church on the same day. Joe worked in the traffic department of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and a short time later he went to work at Bemis Bag where he utilized his engineering degree to design printing presses and paper mill machinery. When Bemis Bag moved its operations to Minneapolis, MN in 1961, Joe decided to remain in St. Louis and sought other employment that also resulted in a career change in his becoming the Art Director of a family-owned business known as RC Can. This company was purchased by Boise Cascade and later by Sonoco where Joe remained until his retirement. Joe's avocation included photographing a much-loved subject, that of steam locomotives, which he did in earnest, driving hundreds of thousands of miles to capture his subject. Later he authored seven hard-bound books, namely: ¢IºThe Last of Steam; The Search for Steam; MOPAC Power; Frisco Power; The Missouri Pacific Lines in Color; The Texas and Pacific; ¢/Iºand¢Iº Katy Power ¢/Iºwhich was co-authored, that displayed many of his photographs. Joe has also held memberships in the following railroad historical and technical societies: Burlington; Chicago and Northwestern; Gulf, Mobile and Ohio; Illinois Central; Pennsylvania Railroad; Rock Island; Terminal Railroad; Wabash and the Missouri Pacific in which he was bestowed life membership having written many articles and supplying photographs from his vast collection. Joe was united in holy marriage with Marjorie (nee Piel) at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO on October 1, 1960 until they transferred their membership to Timothy Lutheran Church and in 1990 to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. Joe was the brother of the late Gene (Geraldine) Collias, half-brother of William (Nylahmae) O'Donnell. He leaves to mourn his passing from this world nieces, nephews, other relatives and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, brother, half-brother and sisters in law. Services: Visitation will be held at KUTIS AFFTON CHAPEL, 10151 Gravois on Sunday, May 3, 3-8 p.m. Then taken to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 9907 Sappington Rd. 63128 for visitation on Monday, May 4, 11:30 a.m. until time of service at 12 noon. Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection General Fund or the Museum of Transportation, 3015 Barrett Station Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/st...=lifestory&pid=174773350#sthash.w49q7Il6.dpuf
If you're only familiar with Joe's Frisco Power, I'd urge you to have a look at his other books (Whether via purchases or through a library). I'd especially recommend MoPac Power, it's excellent! I sure hope some of the modeling and railfan magazines will feature some of Joe's modeling and photography in the near future. Tom G.
Building on Tom's excellent point above - early on, before Joe's "Power" books, I was fascinated by his first two books - The Last of Steam and The Search for Steam. These were both sort of updated picture books of mainly steam power like the earlier classic Lucius Beebe books (which I also loved). I particularly enjoyed Joe's witty captions. Both books contain a healthy amount of Frisco photos, which made them even more attractive to me. I really liked the Howard Fogg color print of SLSF 4209 in the "Search" book. Joe had it printed on the cover of the book's dust jacket as well. I first saw the book in the St Louis County Library around 1979 when we came back to St Louis from Cincinnati, and immediately went out and ordered a copy, as well as the "Last" book, around 1980, about the time I first met Joe. He kindly signed my copies. Ken
