10/17/2026
Farewell to Jared Bissen who passed away this week at the age of 39. Jared was a mechanical genius with a deep passion for short line railroads. Jared for many years served as the CMO for the Fillmore and Western Railway and later the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Both railroads would graciously let us borrow him out time to time as he worked on getting the 1801 to run, keeping the 3501 going, working on MOW equipment, performing mechanical repairs, serving as our extra board engineer, and completely reorganizing our shop.
There were times when we would call Andy Wilkinson at the F&W in a bind and needing help and Andy and Jared would be here by the next day getting us back on the road to service customers. Jared was a master mechanic with a deep knowledge of both diesel and steam locomotives. His recent stint with the V&T he was restoring the former Santa Maria Valley Railroad steam engine No. 100. The picture above is Jared accepting blueprints for No. 100 from Friends of the SMVRR director Gary See.
We want to thank Andy and Dave Wilkinson at the F&W and Tom Gray of the V&T for loaning Jared out to us from time to time. It was a privilege to have Jared on the SMVRR.
Our deepest condolences to Jared’s family, take heart that he was loved and treasured by all of us at the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and the short line railroad community. High ball to the heavens above.
