POWER OF ATTORNEY



KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the  undersigned  does hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Robert N.
Tidball,  Susan Santo and Richard  Brock,  jointly and  severally,  his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact,  each with power of substitution,  for him in any and
all  capacities,  to do any and all acts and things  and to execute  any and all
instruments  which  said  attorneys,  or any of  them,  may  deem  necessary  or
advisable to enable PLM Investment  Management,  Inc., as Manager of RMI Covered
Hopper Railcar Management  Program 79-1, to comply with the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),  and any rules and regulations  thereunder,
in connection  with the  preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  of  annual  reports  on  Form  10-K  on  behalf  of  PLM  Investment
Management,  Inc., as Manager of RMI Covered Hopper Railcar  Management  Program
79-1,  including  specifically,  but  without  limiting  the  generality  of the
foregoing,  the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned,  in any
and all capacities,  to such annual reports,  to any and all amendments thereto,
and to any and all documents or instruments  filed as a part of or in connection
therewith; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that each of the
said attorneys,  or his substitute or substitutes,  shall do or cause to be done
by virtue  hereof.  This Power of Attorney  is limited in duration  until May 1,
2000 and shall apply only to the annual reports and any amendments thereto filed
with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has subscribed these presents this
3rd day of March, 2000.





                           /s/ Stephen M. Bess
                           --------------------------------------
                               Stephen M. Bess