
pigsnoot190
Locomotive engineer with both Rock Island and Chicago and North Western. Rock Island service on the former “South End” seniority district protecting assignments: Cedar Rapids-Silvis, Cedar Rapids- Burlington, Cedar Rapids- Postville (later shortened to West Union), Iowa City- Montezuma, West Davenport- Clinton, and all yard goats in Cedar Rapids proper. Entire lifetime traversing the Midwestern/ New England United States via Rock Island, North Western, Milwaukee, CB&Q, New York Central (and subsequent manifestations), New Haven and Boston and Maine to strong family connections in both western Massachusetts and Boston itself. (Just can’t wean myself from the steel rails and, at least, try to make the trip to South Station annually.) Held the right hand seat with the CNW in the Twin Cities, and worked east to Altoona. On a few occasions, was able to journey down the former Minneapolis and Saint Louis as well as the Chicago Great Western. Interest in railroad history is long and deep. My father was the oldest (seniority) man in any operating craft when the last wheel turned on the CRIP in March of 1980. He began as a brakeman, became a switchman, and, after approximately 1961, remained Yardmaster until the ignominious end.
A person cannot live in the past even if such a strange desire persisted. Nor, however, can an old rail forget the past… and enjoy the world of the Iron Horse today!