This is the second installment of our "Retiree Scrapbook," a regular series of feature articles and photographs profiling the activities of our retired BLE Brothers and Sisters.
"We know that our members remain very active after retirement, and we want to show just how active they are," said BLE International President Clarence Monin.
We ask that retired BLE members send in photographs of their retirement activities, along with a brief note describing the picture. Select photographs will be published periodically in the Newsletter.
Interested parties can send their submissions to: Locomotive Engineer Newsletter, 1370 Ontario St., Mezzanine, Cleveland, OH 44113-1702, Attn: Retiree Scrapbook.
Brother Floyd Rowley has been on top of the world, literally, since he retired from Conrail on Jan. 7, 1993. This photo was taken last year as he and his nephew took a four-week tour of Alaska in August and September of 1998. Brother Rowley is at the Arctic Circle about 200 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. Rowley, 67, joined the BLE on Sept. 1, 1957, and belongs to Division 597 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Retired since March of 1985, 79-year-old Hugo Lackman has kept himself busy as a volunteer, repairing and running old steam locomotives.
He retired from BLE Division 194 (Palestine, Texas) after 56 continuous years in engine service. He's been a BLE member for 40 years, first joining the BLE on March 6, 1959.
He currently works with the Pueblo Locomotive and Rail Historical Society in Colorado, a group that is dedicated to preserving, restoring and operating historic rail equipment.
"Our big project now is the restoration and, hopefully, operation of ex-Santa Fe 4-8-4 type #2912," Brother Lackman writes. "I was recently elected as a member of the board of directors of this group and I am now looking ahead to running this fine locomotive on the main line."
For the past 10 years, Brother Lackman has been volunteering with the Georgetown Loop Railroad. It operates on a segment of the old Colorado Central, which later came under the banner of the Colorado & Southern. He has continued operating steam trains, running oil burning Shay and Rod type locomotives.
Prior to his affiliation with the Georgetown Loop, Brother Lackman lived in Scranton, Pa., repairing and running trains for the Steamtown Foundation. He left after it affiliated with the National Park Service in 1988.
A veteran of World War II, Brother Lackman spent many exciting times railroading in the Philippines with Army buddy and former BLE International President John F. Sytsma. ·
Hugo Lackman, a retired member of BLE Division 194 (Palestine, Texas), in the cab of Georgetown Loop 2-8-0 type #40.
Brother Lackman with Wendy Wham, his pupil who has shared the cab with him for three years on the Georgetown Loop Railroad.
"I can truly say that in all my years on an engine she was the most apt pupil I've ever had," he said. "Her knowledge of locomotives is amazing and her love for these wonderful machines matches my own, which is saying something!"
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