Dear Curve Fans,

I would like to start this letter by saying thank you from the bottom of my locomotive heart.

It is with deep sadness that I write this letter. As many of you have seen, I received a bit of an injury a couple of weeks ago. I tripped over my own feet running down stairs to see my new ATV and broke my left wrist. During my recovery,

I have had some time to sit back and think and as much as it saddens me, I've decided that the 2015 season will be my last as the mascot for the Altoona Curve.

The opportunity to cheer on the Curve for the last 16 years has truly been a dream come true for me. After every game I head back to my parking spot in the bowels of the stadium and as I put on my pajamas I think about how truly lucky I am to have called this place my home.

Throughout these 16 seasons I've focused on achieving two goals: putting on the best show for Curve fans and bringing smiles to all the faces I meet. That means that every waking moment of my life, my actions have been to accomplish those goals, and now its time to create a new goal.

This injury has brought to my attention that I am not indestructible. Even though Altoona will always be my home, I must do as all trains must do…explore this great land of ours. Trains are meant to travel and visit far-away places. I have been in Altoona for 16 years and as much as I love it, I do wonder what other parts of the United States look like. Who knows, maybe I'll find a Mrs. Steamer somewhere down the tracks.

There are almost too many people to name that have helped me on this journey, but I would first like to start with my bosses. The Lozinak family has helped me in everyway imaginable and for that I am truly honored and grateful.

I couldn't have accomplished being the best mascot in the Eastern League without the city of Altoona and surrounding areas behind me. Curve fans forced me to be the best I could be. You have embraced me, respected me, loved me and have never turned your back on me. Being a large, green locomotive that walks on two legs can be a challenging task, but I wouldn't imagine my life in any other way.

As part of my transition I vow that I will not leave the Curve until I know for a fact that whomever replaces me is the absolute perfect fit! I love you fans so much that anything less than the best is not acceptable. I will search far and wide to find that perfect replacement and I will stay until the end of August to train and keep an eye on my apprentice before handing over the official duties to him or her or it. Have no fear, I promise my travels will bring me back through Altoona someday and I would never imagine missing out on any major Curve game.

Thank you for understanding and let's make this 2015 season the greatest season we've seen yet!

GO CURVE,

STEAMER!­­