I found this little jewel in RAILROAD September 1943...I'll put in on
verbatim and then offer a few comments.
"FATHER-SON crews in train and engine service on the Burlington Route, Wymore
Division include Condr. P.S.Caldwell and Brakeman J.M. CALDWELL, Condr.
J.D.Wilson and Brakeman D.A. WILSON (Now in Navy), Condr. A.H. Stoldorf and
fireman D. M. Stolldorf, Engr. J.P. Shoff and Bkmn. W.E. Shoff (Army) and
Fireman H.C. Watson and his son Bkmn. C.M. Watson.
Brothers on the same division include Condrs. R.A. and W.E. Robinson,
Condors. A.H. and J.C. Littrell, Condr. W.H.Delehoy and Bkman T.L. DELEHOY;
Condr I.Patton, Engr. E.D. Patton and Bkmn. S.M. Patton; Engrs. A.J. and W.L.
Mischnick, Engrs H.C. and J.A. Hill and Engr. W.Watson, Fireman H.C. atson
and Bkmn. W.M. Watson.
And these brothers-in-law: Condr. P.S. Caldwell and Engr. M.A. Johnson,
Condrs. W.E.Robinson and J.I. Brown, Condr. G.R. Johnson nd Fireman C.W.
Hansen and Bkmn. I.B. HOLLOWAY and Bkmn. D.W. GREENING.
Fathers-in-law and sons -in-law: Engr. R.H. Gourley and Bkmn. L.W. Neuman,
Engr. R.Cook and Bkmn. D.G. WALKER, Switchman H.L. Peck and Bkmn. R.K.
Bachenberg, and SWitchman H.F. Hall and Bkman C.J. Hiner (Army).
Uncles and nephews: Condr. G.W. Hines and Bkmn. K.H. Steward, Brakeman W.D.
Moyer and B.G. Hemperley (Army) Condr. E.L. Story, Engr. E.D. Patton and
Brakemen I. and S.M. Patton; Engr. M.A. Johnson and Bkman. J.M CALDWELL and
Chief Dispatcher C.E. Temple and Bkmn. J. F. Miller.
For a small division I consider this a pretty good line-up.----J.M. CALDWELL
(BRT 493) 1030 F St. Lincoln, NE."
Well maybe it wasn't really nepotism, but it seems like the employement rules
and management policy wouldn't allow this kind of thing today...
The names in ALL CAPS are men I knew and worked with in the 1950's on the
Wymore Division. At that time all these guys were young conductors working
the non preferred jobs and the conductor's extra board. I didn't know any of
the "fathers" in 1943...they had all retired, I guess, by the time I came
along.
I worked my last tour of duty on the Fairmont-Hildreth local from July
18-September 6 1958 with J.M. (Merle) CALDWELL, Condr. I suspected at the
time that Merle was a "closet railfan"...as he and other guys I worked with
got to know me a bit and found out my genuine interest in the railroad, they
would tell me stories of railroad past.
I have run across adds in old RAILROAD magazines where Merle had advertised
for pictures etc. He was born in 1910 and hired out in 1928 when he was 18.
Someone said to me one day.."Merle's got a lot of seniority for his
age"...and he did.
D. A. (BUCK) Wilson was local Chairman for the Trainmen at the time I was
there. I worked with GREENING as conductor on the Pioneer Zephyr when it was
running as Train 44 Lincoln to St. Joe and returning via Wymore as 42-90).
Walker was a "forced" conductor on 93-94 (Lincoln-Wymore turnaround local)
summer 1958...that was a go to work at 3:00am job at Lincoln...Wymore about
noon and CF about 8:00pm for the return trip with about 8 hours of switching
in the Crete Mills on the way back...It was a pretty good paying job, but
abysmal hours.
I don't know if any of these guys are still alive... I know Merle Caldwell,
and Buck Wilson are gone, don't know about any others.
Well, writing this little thing has probably benefitted me more than anyone
else out there, but I thought that it might fit in with Leo's recounting of
some BRT stuff, which I have found extremely interesting.
Just from memory, it seems like most of the Trainmen belonged to the BRT
rather than the ORC and the enginemen to the BofLF&E rather than the
BLE....That might be a slanted viewpoint since I tended to get better
acquainted with the younger firemen and brakemen rather than the old heads
Conductors and Engineers.
Well that's a little trip down memory lane for me....
Pete
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