“The legacy of Dirt the railroad cat continues,” is just one of many Dirt-related articles that highlights the importance of animals in railroading and how they can make an everlasting impact on those around them.
Dirt, also known as Nevada Northern Railway’s Boss Shop Cat, died on Jan.10, 2023. With the anniversary of his death right around the corner, I thought it pertinent to highlight a few people still giving Dirt a voice in railroading today. NNRy volunteer (and now author) Jennifer Fowler has written a children’s book entitled, “Dirt, King of the Shop.”
Published in May 2024, this book is about a railroad cat born in Nevada Northern’s engine house that became an invaluable crew member. As “Head of Rodent and Pest Control,” Fowler tells Dirt’s story of how he kept the mice population down and eventually worked his way up to greeting guests. What initially began as a poem Fowler wrote a few years ago, has now flourished into a successful avenue for introducing younger generations to railroading.
According to Mark Bassett, president of the NNRy for the last 22 years, the railroad has sold over 200 copies so far and has hosted two book signings as well. “I love all aspects of the book. Jennifer wrote a cute story and Dan and Dustie [Condo] did a great job of illustrating it,” says Bassett. “The story of Dirt opens a whole new market for us and it gives kids a great introduction to the railroad.”
The influence
Back in February 2019, Fowler started writing a poem while driving back to Salt Lake City from a winter photoshoot weekend at the railroad in Ely. What started out as just something to pass the time on the 3.5-hour journey home, turned into a new pursuit for her.
In her book, Fowler engages your child’s imagination and encourages them to explore the topic of railroads and trains in an uncomplicated manner. For instance, she gives reference to the stars to represent Ely’s breathtaking dark skies, as well as describes a locomotive as if it were alive because of a conversation she once had with a 14-year-old volunteer that compared a steam locomotive to a sleeping dragon.
As a volunteer since 2016, Fowler and her partner Ben primarily help out with running the winter photography weekends. They set up lighting for night photo shoots, take marketing photos for the railroad, staff special event weekends, and help out in the archive department. Ben will also put in train crew hours as a brakeman and student fireman, explains Fowler.
While out at the railroad, they often made it a point to visit Dirt in the machine shop or engine house. “[Dirt] was notorious for interrupting tour groups,” says Fowler. “When it was quiet in the machine shop, we could often find him hiding under machinery or sleeping near his custom caboose. He would crawl out from his spot, rub against my leg, and if I sat down, I’d sometimes get a lap cuddle.”
The execution
After mentioning her poem/story to Mark Bassett — who loved the idea as noted above — Bassett showed Fowler some illustrations from a previous intern named Dan Condo. This set the wheels in motion. She reached out to Condo and they began collaborating on the book.
“I was on board immediately!” says Condo. He admits, however, that the illustrations took longer than anticipated — the originals were all previously done with pencil and paper. In order to speed up the process, he asked his wife Dustie to do the color work as she is more familiar with creating digital art. Condo had multiple interactions with Dirt during his internship at the railroad. “By the time I had to leave, [Dirt] hadn’t quite warmed up to me to the point where he might approach me, but he certainly stopped running away from me; he was always sort of aloof, a genuine cat,” he says.
The response
According to Fowler, the public response to this book has become the most rewarding part of the process. “Within the first few weeks of the book being published, I was receiving photos on social media of kids curled up with their parents reading the book or of teachers reading the book to their class,” she notes. At the book signing event, she was told how much people — both young and old — enjoyed reading it, especially since it commemorates Dirt’s life.
“The book with the illustrations brings the railroad down to young children’s size,” says Bassett, He feels that steam locomotives can be overpowering for young kids. The book acts as kind of a guide for them as they walk through the engine house and machine shop with its illustrations.
“She has very successfully tied together steam locomotives and an orphaned cat…,” Bassett continues, “Dirt literally put us on the map.” Dirt was loved and renowned by people all over the world. After he passed, Bassett notes that the Facebook post alone reached over two million people. There were newspapers, magazines, and television shows reaching out to the railroad looking to do an interview regarding Dirt’s life.
“In Dirt’s passing, he has transformed from being our Boss Shop Cat to becoming an ambassador for Heritage Railroading across the country and around the world. Dirt’s physical presence has left us, but his spirit is still with us and will be for as long as steam locomotives operate,” explains Bassett. Dirt has also become instrumental in teaching railroad safety to children. He is an icon for the railroad. “How many cats do you know have a gravestone and not one but three statues!”
Note: Jennifer Fowler is currently working with the railroad on a second book for Christmas on Santa’s Reindeer Flyer holiday train ride. “I am happy to report the story is complete and the illustrators are working their magic to bring it to life,” says Fowler.
Book is available on Amazon.
