David Mackie

Track Description
The North American Live Steamer, Volume 1, Number 9, 1956

Whether or not the response to your request for pictures and articles is adequate, I wouldn't know, but am enclosing a few pictures which I hope may be of use to you. Will also attempt something for the shop department. As to doing something to help increase your circulation, will do what I can but, to my knowledge, I am the only live steamer in this vicinity, so there isn't much to work on. I envy the fellows who can have a club and get together regularly for jam sessions. It isn't too bad, though, as I have attended meets in various parts of the U.S. and Canada and during the summer I have had visitors here with their engines and run them on my 300 feet of 3-1/2 inch track. I have two engines, a 2-8-2 Mikado and an Atlantic. The Atlantic isn't quite finished yet, but I have had it fired up and running several times.

Live Steam has been more than a hobby with me, it has been my bread and butter for 52 years, but the past 1-1/2 years I have been enjoying retirement. Fortunately, my health is good and, during the summer months, if the fish aren't biting or the mosquitoes are, and I am caught up on my garden and lawn work, I shove the old 2599 out of the garage and fire up. There won't be a kid in sight but, in a very short time there are plenty of youngsters and grownups too, waiting their turn for a ride.

Brother Live Steamers are always welcome, especially if they have their engines with them. It's nice to know, though, in advance if anyone is planning to stop here, then I can make it my business to be at home.


 * Dave Mackie
 * 821 3rd Ave East
 * Ashland, Wisconsin

The Mackies
Don Jaskowiak of Ashland, Wisconsin wrote:


 * As a kid I remember this guy having a steam engine with a round track set up in his yard. Well, I was copying some 8mm film for a friend and here in the movie is this guy's train. I started to look up some info on the person and came across some newspaper articles. His name is David Mackie. He passed away in 1964, wife passed in 1957 and all 5 sons have since passed. I’ve been trying to hunt down some old pictures and or written information about Mr. Mackie. Appreciate any info you can give me.

Ken Shattock replied:


 * To answer a few of your questions regarding David Mackie, Jr. of Ashland, Wisconsin...


 * David Mackie, Jr. and his wife Johanna (Zilisch) did indeed have FIVE (5) sons.  They were:
 * Frederick D.
 * Donald J.
 * Wallace Z.
 * Phillip S.
 * David L.


 * David, Jr. was a locomotive engineer on the Chicago & North Western railroad. His close personal friend and fellow Live Steamer was William Alfred Dundas.


 * David used no castings at all to build the C&NW 2-8-2 locomotive and he had a 300 foot, 3-1/2 inch gauge track at his house in Ashland. He was in the process of building an Atlantic-type locomotive as well.


 * I have attached four photographs to enhance our story. The first photo is Dave's third son, the late Wallace Z. Mackie.  The second photo is Dave's fourth son, the late Phillip S. Mackie.  The third photo is the Mackie backyard railroad in Ashland, WI.  The fourth photo is Dave Mackie Jr.s  C&NW 2-8-2 locomotive.

David attended the 1953 BLS Meet in Toronto, Ontario.

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