Spring 2004
Volume 111- No. 1
Spring 2004
Volume 111- No. 1
Honor Rolls
Brubaker survived wreck of the Broadway Limited in 1946
Brother Brubaker survived the Wreck of Train #29, the Broadway Limited, on July 13, 1946. He described the accident: "a coal train east of #2 track had a coupler carrier come down in the middle of its train, allowing drawhead to drop and wreck the train. The fireman on the coal train had given each other a highball, indicating everyting was OK at that time. Their cars came across #4 track, causing the lead engine's cab signals to drop to restricting, and R. S. Shaffer put our train into emergency so we were down to about 25 mph when we hit. If we would have jumped on the left side, we would have been crushed between the coal cars and our engine; on the right side our engine would have rolled on us. Everything happened so fast there wasn't time to think what to do, so we held on and rode it out."
Brother Herbert D. Brubaker of BLET Division 730 (Altoona, Pa.) celebrated 43 years of membership on January 1, 2004.
Brother Brubaker began his railroad career as a laborer in 1939 for
the Pennsylvania Railroad in Altoona. He went firing for the Pennsylvania
Railroad in 1941 and was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1945. He joined
the BLE in 1961.
He made his last run in April 1981. While he made his last run, his wife rode with him. Brubaker is a Marine veteran. He served in the Phillipines as a B-25 mechanic from November 1943-May 1946.
Brother Brubaker and his wife, Marie, were married on May 10, 1941. Marie passed away on April 30, 2003. The couple was blessed with three sons, John, Stephen and Gary. They also have four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Before the passing of his wife, the couple traveled extensively through the U.S., Canada and Mexico, by motorhome and train.
He would like to hear from friends at: Valley View Terrace A215, Belleville, Pa. 17004.
Clarence M. Hostler, 96, is recognized as the last living operator of the K-4 steam locomotive.
He has been a member of the BLET since 1951 and currently belongs to Division 730 in Altoona, Pa. Brother Hostler retired in 1972 as a passenger engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad. He served as a local chairman for the BLE from 1951 until 1972.
He was born on October 31, 1907, in Bellwood, Pa. His wife, Thelma, passed away in 1992. They had five children. He has 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
At the age of 86, Brother Hostler became a councilman for the borough of Bellwood, Pa. and served as its mayor from 1987 to 1994.
Friends may write to Brother Hostler at: 510 N. First Street, Bellwood, Pa. 16617.
Gain a proud 57-year BLET member
Brother Harold C. Gain of BLET Division 398 (San Bernardino, Calif.) celebrated 57 years as a BLET member in August 2003.
Brother Gain began his railroad career in 1934 as a bridge and building worker for the Colorado and Southern in Denver. He went firing on September 17, 1936 for the Colorado and Southern. He was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer on March 21, 1944 by the Santa Fe Railway and joined the BLE on August 1, 1946.
Since his retirement in 1978, Brother Gain has been enjoying life with his family. He also enjoys baseball and reading. He is a member of the Central Christian Church in San Bernardino and has been a church elder for 53 years. He has also volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America.
He and his wife, Lola, were married on May 29, 1936. They had four children; ten grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Old friends may contact the Gain family by writing: 626 Dearborn St., Sp. 146, Redlands, Calif. 92374.
Brother Carter enjoys traveling during retirement years
Co-workers help Brother Carter celebrate his Last Run on February 28, 1987.
BBrother William J. Carter celebrated 56 years of membership in the BLET in June 2003. He is a member of BLET Division 700 (Braddock, Pa.).
Brother Carter began his railroad career as a fireman for the Union Railroad Company in 1946 and was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer by the Union Railroad in 1956. He joined the BLE in 1947. Brother Carter made his last run on February 28, 1987.
Brother Carter is a World War II veteran. He served in the U.S. Army infantry for three years, and received the Good Conduct Medal, the Asia Pacific Theater Ribbon, the World War II Victory Ribbon and the Army of Occupation Medal.
He and his wife, Gertrude, were married on August 10, 1957. They have one daughter, Sandra Pirosko, and two grandchildren.
Brother Carter is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoys golfing and traveling. He has been to Europe four times.
The Carters live in Venice, Fla., which he notes was founded by the BLE in 1926.
The Carters reside at: 1108 Buttonwood Court, Venice, Fla. 34293.
Div. 435 honors 61-year members Craddock, Boney, Graham
From left: Brother Craddock, Brother Boney and Brother
Graham received their 60-year membership pins at Division 435's annual banquet
on November 3. Also honored with a 60-year pin but not pictured is Brother
A.D. Brooks. (Photo courtesy of Gary L. Payne, Secretary-Treasurer of Division
435.)
BLET Division 435 in Hamlet, N.C., honored several long-time members at its annual banquet on Nov. 3, 2003.
The following members were recognized with 60-year service pins: Ben P. Boney; William (Ed) Graham; Dabney (Dab) S. Craddock Jr.; and A.D. Brooks. Brother Brooks was unable to attend the banquet.
BLET National Vice-President Paul T. Sorrow was on hand to award the service pins.
Brother Boney celebrated 61 years of BLE membership on Jan. 4, 2004. He went firing for the Seaboard Airline Railroad in 1939 and was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer in 1942. He joined the BLE in 1943 and served as his division's president and guide. He made his last run on February 9, 1983.
Brother Boney and his wife, Dora, have three children and six grandchildren. The Boney's live at: Box 6, Hamlet, N.C. 28345.
Brother Craddock has also been a continuous member of the BLET for 61 years. He joined the BLE on Feb. 1, 1943. He began his railroad service in 1937 as a fireman on the Seaboard Airline. He was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer in 1942 and made his last run on June 19, 1980.
He lives at: 105 Bauersfeld St., Hamlet, N.C. 28345.
Brother Graham celebrated 61 years of membership on May 17, 2004. He began his railroad career as a fireman on the Seaboard Airline in March 1939. He was promoted to locomotive engineer on October 11, 1942, and joined the BLE on May 17, 1943. He made his last run on July 31, 1984.
He lives at: 906 Hylan Ave., Hamlet, N.C. 28345.
The following brothers were also recognized at the Division 435 banquet
for their many years of dedicated membership: L.E. Weathers (45 year pin);
K.L.Wheeler (35 year pin); R.B. Garrision and G.F. Wheeler (30 year pins);
and J.C. Penney (25 year pin).
Byrd a member for 53 straight years
Brother Byrd, a member for 53 years, with his wife Dorothy.
Brother Maynard C. Byrd was a member of BLET Division 476 (Eugene, Ore.) for 53 years before he passed away on May 16, 2003.
Brother Byrd's father, Clyde, was a section foreman for Southern Pacific and his three brothers and a half brother were all SP conductors.
He began his railroad career in 1937 as a fireman on the Southern Pacific in Roseburg, Ore. He was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1941, just prior to entering the U.S. Army to fight in World War II. SP recalled him from the Army 14 months later.
He retired in 1975 and was honored for 38 years of injury-free service. During his retirement, he enjoyed salmon fishing each summer off of Winchester Bay, Ore. Byrd's wife, Dorothy, is 92 years old. The couple had one daughter, Yvonne, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
His friend and fellow BLET Division 476 member, John L. Blore recalled
that Brother Byrd was a practical joker, but taught him a lot about the
railroad.
Attention Retirees!
BLET members planning to retire in coming months should register with the National Division in order to have their Last Run published in the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Journal.
In addition to Last Runs, Honor Rolls are published in recognition of members who have at least 40 consecutive years of BLET membership. Longtime BLET members should inquire for more details.
For more details, members should contact the following:
© 2004 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen