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Trains News Wire EXCLUSIVE: Eight-year-old guest engineer gets his wish
This is lovely. Also a testament to the quality of the railroaders involved, right up to Joe Boardman.
Awesome! Thumbs up to the people who made this happen!
About 60 years ago I was fortunate enough to ride in a mallett up Beaumont Hill that was helping push an empty refer train of which my dad was the conductor. I have never forgotten that experience, and this young man will never forget this one. Great job all who made it possible!!
That is thumbs up in my opinion. I am glad he will always have the memories.
My Company fulfilled 100 Make a Wishes last year in celebration of our 100th Anniversary in business. We are doing considerably less this year, so I doubt we had anything to do with this. Regardless, what a way to make the child’s day.
Nice.
Everything done here for this young boy was nothing short of First Class. Hats Off to everyone involved here.
Brings a tear to the eye, good work. As a railroad manager in Australia we never turn away kids like this even if we have to run a light engine up and down some yard tracks.
Time is often short when these requests come through.
And to Doug Fehmel, 100 make a wishes in a year, a serious amount of work.
What an amazing and awesome story! Congratulations to all who made the trip for Jonathan Dockins such a remarkable, memorable experience!
In this day and time, it is truly heartwarming to hear that such “Wishes” can come true…God Bless 'em all, the Railroaders, and Engineer Dockins!
Every now and again, we catch lightning in a bottle…
While the major players- Make-A-Wish, Egr. Klink, Cdctr Vonnegut, RFE Carrol, Egr. Gosney, and unnamed Omaha dispatcher, Egr. Marty, Joe Boardman, Matt Phalen, Tom Gray, UP and BLET all collaborated, and laudably so, let’s give some love to the unsung heros:
Dad and Mom.
Great job, folks, for hangin’ in there with him, loving him to this day and forever after. Our hats are off to you, too. May he live to ride again.
This is an awesome experience for this young man who has been through so much. Hats off to all involved to make this wish come true.
What a great story! Hats off to the men and women who made this happen!
Without detracting anything from Jonathan’s experience or situation, for every “Make A Wish” recipient there are hundreds of ordinary kids whose wishes and ambitions die on the vine daily because nobody–often beginning with parents–takes an interest in seeing them fulfilled. Such “idle fantasies” are more often actively discouraged than pursued.
This story shows what a huge amount of effort and good will concentrated on one kid can accomplish. If a fraction of that effort and good will could be spread around to kids, and to people in general, we would be far ahead of where we are now as a society.
Just after I read the story and most of the comments, and was ready to ask, “Is there a dry eye in the house?” concerning the Child’s qualifying, I am one and I welcome him onto the list of the qualified, trip on No 6, along comes the tragic tale of his father’s last few weeks told by Larry Gauthier…
The combination of the stories…What kind of being could occupy a human body and not have an emotional upwelling?
Not a railroad question?..D’ya care?
There’s a documentary film here, maybe a half hour of TV?
Way to go everybody! There are still some good people out there! 
Everyone did the right thing: THAT is the wes story here.
Regarding the V&T railroad: They are really great folks up there (as are most Nevadans outside the gaming industry).
My wife and I were in the Reno area on business one year.
We were there a scant three days before the season opened.
When we went to see the V&T and they found out we were railroad people, they hauled out a handcar for us and took us on a run down the hill to see what was coming for the summer.
Amtrak got thanks earlier in these comments, but I want to add thanks to V&T, also, for a job well done…and I’m happy to see that it’s “business as usual” STILL to make folks feel good.
It is good to know that there are still good people in the world.
Outstanding work everyone who came together to make this wonderful experience happen for this brave young man.
For all of you who would like to see more photos of Jonathan’s journey, we have them posted to our web site: www.westcoastrailroadersgroup.com
It’s great to see bureaucracy doing what is morally right versus politically or policy right in situations like this. My dad was very proud of my military career as a helicopter flight instructor. Whenever the mission took me to an airport near his house, I would always make one circle around his home and he would jump into his truck and meet me at the airport. I would let him tie the main rotor blade down and he would start asking what my mission was and was I on the controls when we landed. I would let him climb into the cockpit and answer all his, “What does this do son?” stuff.
When my dad only had a month to live because of terminal lung cancer, I tried very hard to get an authorization to take him in the helicopter with me for a short flight which would have meant so much to help dad’s depression; they wouldn’t authorize it. I was very bitter because I had flown Senators, Mayors, film crews, news crews, Stephen King, and a lot of people I called “Strap Hangers;” those people who really had no reason to be on a military aircraft but were able to do so only because they were politically connected.
The man who meant so much to me, supported my flying in high school, and mentored my life to become a top ranking officer in the Army was not allowed a short flight because he was deemed; not essential. I felt like I let my dad down in his time of need because it was the one thing that I could have given him that would have made a difference in his short time left on earth.
I am very happy for Jon because he was able to realize an unachievable dream. I feel great comfort for his parents who were able, with others, to give their son this gift. I can only imagine how great that must feel.