David Mackie

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.

• 

  Wallace Z. Mackie, third son of live steamer David Mackie of Ashland, Wisconsin.

• 

  Phillip Scott Mackie, fourth son of live steamer David Mackie of Ashland, Wisconsin.

• 

  David Mackie's 3/4 inch scale backyard railroad in Ashland, Wisconsin.

• 

  Dave Mackie Jr's C&NW 2-8-2 locomotive.