By Russ Jackson
Some of my favorite Photos (and a special one)

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Is there a rail fan or rail advocate who didn’t know Art Lloyd? We are all sad beyond words to learn that Art passed away on December 4 after a lifetime devoted to furthering the cause that we all support, “passenger rail.” All his life Art devoted his total energy and expertise to his family, and the rail family, for which his place in the history of “greats” is assured. Pictured here is Art with his beloved wife Eleanor in a place that Art loved, riding in one of the California Zephyr dome cars, in 1955. Art was a p.r. official for the Western Pacific at that time and helped set up the film for Cinerama featuring the CZ. (This is the Special Photo, from Dream Trains in 2003)

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Art loved to talk to railroaders, rail employees, railfans, and the train riders, and that big smile and warm greeting were always appreciated by those who came in contact with him, whether it was on business, seeing him on a platform, or riding a train with him. This photo was taken on the platform at Fresno on a trip to a San Joaquin Committee meeting. I loved traveling with Art; he was always so interesting!

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Art was Western p.r. Director for Amtrak from its inception in 1971 until he retired, but you’d never know he was retired as he kept his hand in the promotion of passenger railroading by serving on boards of directors for countless organizations. He attended frequent meetings of these and other organizations, whether he was on the board or not, because that was where his friends were and they looked forward to seeing and learning from him. In this photo Art, center, is with Gene Skoropowski (left) who had that day taken over as Executive Director of the Capitol Corridor from Bill Fleischer (right), in September, 1999, at a Capitol JPA meeting in Suisun. If there was an important rail meeting somewhere in California, you would find Art Lloyd there.

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One of Art’s favorite places was the California State Rail Museum in Old Sacramento, and he served on their board for many years. He also was VP North of RailPAC, the Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada, for many years, and we all benefited from his counsel and guidance. He knew everyone, and at the Rail Museum Art could be found talking to everyone. Here he is with former U.S. Presidential candidate Michael Dukakis who was an Amtrak board member. Behind them is another Art Lloyd memory, a Western Pacific locomotive that is on display at the Museum thanks to Art.

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Whether it was speaking one-on-one, to a group, or being interviewed Art was the voice you wanted to speak on behalf of passenger rail. Here he is being interviewed by a Sacramento TV station at the ACE station in Stockton. Art appeared in several promotion films, including Huell Howser’s 1995 “California Gold” show about the CZ for California Public TV.

There will be countless well-deserved tributes to his life. I will miss you, Art. Thank you for your great life. RIP