Farewell to Marina Linke, Golden Eagle’s powerhouse of Russian steam
THE heritage sector worldwide has been in mourning following the sudden passing of Marina Linke, managing director of Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, who had been credited with sparking off a Russian ‘steam revolution’.
Russia-born Marina, along with founder Tim Littler, played a pivotal role in the growth and development of the international railtour firm from its early days to the successful travel business that it is today.
She died while they were taking their dogs out for a walk near their Cheshire homes on January 4. She was 53.
“Russian steam preservation would be where it us today without Marina. She was the catalyst from the beginning,” said Tim.
“On our first trip to the North Caucasus in 1992, she was working for Russian Railways. In 1995, they fired her, saying she was too far on my side. Then she came to work for us.
“Without her input in those early days, most of the steam locomotives we have today would have been scrapped, and there would not be the regular main line steam trips that run today.
Passion
“In 2012, Russian Railways signed an order that a minimum of 81 locomotives should be kept and restored to working order. Now 100 are available to run on the main line.
“Marina’s passion for travel was unbridled and infectious. Her desire to provide unique travel experiences for the thousands of our guests was always at the forefront of her mind.”
A Golden Eagle statement said: “At this difficult time the resolve of Tim and the rest of the Golden
Eagle family is to continue in our quest to grow and develop the business to new levels that recognises the spirit and legacy of Marina.”
A service of remembrance was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Moscow on January 12.
Numerous figures in the heritage sector and Golden Eagle customers posted messages of condolence on the firm’s website.
Steam Traction Ltd founder Nigel Sill said: “We met Marina at the very beginning, as the Soviet Union was changing into the Russian Railways we know today, and we thought it was complicated then.
“We would like to place on record that we had so much help and support from the Russian railway staff and Marina’s arrival, we know, helped make Tim’s undertakings and plans all over the world into the great company we know today.
“It was always a pleasure to see her on the trains and she was more than a reassuring presence as we all know that if it can go wrong, it will go wrong.
“She could always be relied on to find a solution; sometimes the passengers knew about, often they didn’t, and few understood just how much work took place in the months and sometimes years before the departure dates.
“She will be a great loss.”