Last Runs

Fall 2002
Volume 109 - No. 3

Last Runs

No coffee for Brother Merchant

Brother Marvin E. Merchant of BLE Division 75 (Kansas City, Mo.) made his last run on May 27, 2002 for BNSF.

He has been a BLE member since his initiation into Division 491 in 1961.

Brother Merchant began his railroad career in 1958 as a fireman for the Missouri Pacific in Kansas City. He was promoted to locomotive engineer in December 1971.

After he joined the BLE in 1961, he served as Local Chairman from 1978-1985 and was a primary member of the Safety Task Force from 1991-2002.

"I enjoyed serving on the BLE Safety Task Force," said Merchant.

Merchant has done all of this with out drinking coffee.

"In 1958, an old hoghead told me I would never be a railroader because I don't drink coffee, and I still don't," said Merchant.

Brother Merchant and his wife Margitta were married in 1964. The couple has two children, Eric and Chris, and four grandchildren.

His hobbies include player pianos, theater pipe organs, raising Afghan hounds and photography.

During his retirement, Brother Merchant plans to travel in his RV, work on a Robert Morgan Pipe Organ in the Music Hall in Kansas City, and restore a 1948 Chrysler Windsor sedan.

The Merchants live at: 4219 N. Drury, Kansas City, MO 64117.

Photo caption: Brother Merchant makes his last run

Childhood dream ends with Nelson's retirement

After living his childhood dream for 42 years, Brother James R. Nelson of BLE Division 348 (Elkhart, Ind.) made his last run for Norfolk Southern on June 14, 2002.

Working for the railroad was the job that he had always dreamed about, Nelson said. He began riding steam engines as a child and helped firemen shovel coal. As he grew older, the crews taught him to use hand signals and to read a switch list. From their teachings, he basically knew how to run an engine before he hired out.

He was formally hired by the railroad on July 3, 1960, as a brakeman on the New York Central in Elkhart, Ind. He went firing on Dec. 13, 1961, and was promoted to engineer in July of 1971. In 1974, Brother Nelson joined BLE Division 916. He later transferred to Division 248 and then to Division 348.

Brother Nelson and his wife, Kathleen, have one daughter, Kelli, and a grandson. During his retirement, in addition to building a model railroad for his grandson, Brother Nelson plans to enjoy his retirement years fishing, performing volunteer work, traveling, and spending time with his family.

"I have enjoyed working for the railroad for 42 years," Brother Nelson said. "I have a lot of great memories and stories to tell. Now, I am looking forward to working on a model railroad with my grandson."

The Nelsons live at: 2808 Normandy Dr., Mishawaka, IN 46545.

Former Division 140 Local Chairman Round celebrates retirement

Brother James B. Round of BLE Division 140 (Mobile, Ala.) made his last run on June 15, 2002 on a BNSF switcher from Mobile to Atachem, Ala.

Brother Round began his railroad career as a fireman/hostler in 1960 on the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad in Laurel, Miss.

He was promoted to engineer in 1967 by the Alabama, Tennessee and Northern Railroad and joined BLE Division 230 on July 6, 1968.

For 10 years, he served as Local Chairman on BLE Division 140, BNSF (former Frisco) GCofA. He was a member of the safety committee and Operation Lifesaver. He also was an employee of the month.

Brother Round's grandfather, J.M. Burrage, was a locomotive engineer for several railroads and retired in 1960 at the age of 80.

Round and his wife, Betty, have three children, Neal, Eddy and Evie, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

During his retirement, Brother Round plans to enjoy his family, fish, read and work in his shop.

The Rounds live at: 6378 Old Pascagoula Rd., Theodore, AL 36582. ·

Horn thanks fellow members for work on Railroad Retirement

At their regular meeting in May, the members and officers of BLE Division 607 (Cleveland, Ohio) acknowledged several Brothers on their recent retirements. On behalf of the membership, Division President C. A. (Bud) Ramkey presented each retiree with a plaque depicting a locomotive in the original paint scheme of the railroad the first hired out on.

Brother J. W. (Jerry) Farman hired out as a fireman on the New York Central on April 7, 1960. He witnessed the mergers of Penn Central, Conrail, and Norfolk Southern. He served his last day working a yard assignment, BX-18, at Ford Motor Company's Brookpark Engine plant with 42 years of service

Brother J. R. (Jeff) Click (not pictured) hired out on the New York Central as a fireman on June 11, 1963, and worked through the days of Penn Central, Conrail, and retired from the Norfolk Southern. He also worked his last day on a yard job, BB-28, at the Ford Motor Company Brookpark auto plant, ending his career with 39 years of service.

Brother P. M. (Powell) Thompson began his rail career as a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad April 4, 1964. He saw the creation of the Penn Central, Conrail, and the acquisition of Conrail by Norfolk Southern. Powell's final trip was on yard assignment BF-10 at Motor Yard, Walton Hills, Ohio, retiring with 38 years of service.

Brother L. E. (Larry) Fryberger became a fireman for the Akron, Canton, Youngstown (AC&Y) Railroad on February 9, 1968. With mergers, he became a part of the Norfolk and Western, and then Norfolk Southern. He finished his career on Jan. 2, 2002 on yard assignment BX-22 with 34 years of service.

Also acknowledged was Brother K. W. (Karl) Rice. Brother Rice hired on the Nickel Plate Railroad in 1953, and retired from the NS in 1993 with 40 years of service. Brother Rice has a long history of dedication to the BLE. He served as Secretary Treasurer of Division 607, served on the General Committee level, and currently works the S-T of the Ohio State Legislative Board. The members of Division 607 demonstrated their appreciation for Brother Rice's dedication since his retirement with a small gift.

Photo captions: Top: Brother Farman's locomotive is painted with Penn Central's colors - the railroad he began his career on.

Second: Brother Fryberger (left) receives his locomotive from Bud Ramkey. Fryberger has been a BLE member for 34 years.

Third: Brother Thompson ended his career with 38 years of service.

Bottom: Brother Rice is honored with a special locomotive for his years of dedication.

Back to Fall 2002 Journal