[CBQ] J. PETE HEDGPETH, 1936-2025

["Don Zinnecker via groups.io" <zinneckerdon=gmail.com@groups.io>]

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From: Lincoln Railfans Club <lincoln.railfans.club@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 3, 2025, 6:58 PM
Subject: J. PETE HEDGPETH, 1936-2025
To:

With great sadness I report the passing of J. Pete Hedgpeth, Lincoln resident and longtime member of the Lincoln Railfans Club. Pete peacefully succumbed to complications from a recent fall in Lincoln, late Sunday evening, November 30, 2025.

Pete grew up in Rock Port, Missouri, where his family was heavily involved in the management of the Rock Port, Langdon and Northern Railway, a 5.6 mile independent short line built to connect Rock Port to the Burlington at Langdon. Although the RPL&N ceased operations when he was 9, he played a role in the railroad’s operation. He also observed CB&Q main line operations at Langdon, and as a teenager, participated in several rail travel adventures with his contemporaries.

While studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in the late 1950s, he spent his summers working as a brakeman for the Burlington. He experienced a broad spectrum of assignments – marathon switching on busy locals, weed sprayers, quiet branchline locals, and force assignment to the night switch engine at Ravenna, to name a few. He worked the Pioneer Zephyr from Lincoln to St Joseph, and once was even a flagman on the first section of the Denver Zephyr from Lincoln to Hastings.

Upon graduation, he entered the Rock Island’s management training program. Early on he was appointed to the Operating Department on the busy Chicago Division, after which he graduated to headquarters management positions in freight claims and industrial development. As the Rock Island neared its demise, he left railroading and moved into the insurance and investment field in Lincoln.

Pete wrote several books, among them “Terminal Tales”, narratives of his adventures on the Rock Island, and “5 Miles Of Family Ties”, the story of the Rock Port, Langdon & Northern. He contributed personal accounts of his experiences to “Burlington Northern Railroad Branchlines: The Nebraska Experience”, wrote a column for the Lincoln Railfans Club’s newsletter, “The Main Line”, for over 25 years, and wrote articles for Burlington Route Historical Society publications and Remember The Rock, among others. He loved to tell stories about his career, and had a knack of bringing out interesting details and profound messages in humorous and entertaining ways. He regularly attended Lincoln Railfans Club monthly meetings, and greatly enjoyed the after-meeting sessions at The Village Inn. Those who were fortunate enough to attend those events with him enjoyed his presence, his knowledge and experiences, his story telling abilities, and his sense of humor. All of us are better for the times we shared together with Pete.

A Visitation will be held Thursday, 12/04/05, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), at Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home, 4040 A Street, Lincoln. Burial will be private on Friday, and a Memorial Service / Celebration of Life will take place on Monday, 12/08/25, at 11 a.m., at Indian Hills Community Church, 1000 South 84th Street, Lincoln.

Please forward this information to any who may find it of interest.

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