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Re: [BRHSlist] Nepotism on the Wymore

To: BRHSlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [BRHSlist] Nepotism on the Wymore
From: Don L Zinnecker <dzinnecker@j...>
Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2002 19:29:35 -0600
There's a conductor named Svobodny who presently works for the UP on one
of the former C&NW lines in Iowa or Wisconsin. I forget which
subdivision, but I could find out. Is he a relative of yours? 

What's your job with Amtrak? -Don Z. 

(Sorry, in advance, for no 'Burlington' content!! Forgive me!!)

On Thu, 12 Dec 2002 20:14:32 -0800 (PST) cy svobodny
<ctsvobodny@y...> writes:
> Father/son, brother/brother, etc. combinations were
> normal, and still are in this industry. I'm
> technecally(bad spelling) third generation railroad.
> Grandpa worked for the "Omaha"(? years) and later
> "GN"(23 years), dad was with Twin City Lines(stretcars
> & buses 31 years)), and I"m with AMTRAK(26+years).
> It's in the blood. Plus dad's uncle Frank was with
> "Milw. Rd.". Police & firemen are also many times the
> same way. 
> --- PSHedgpeth@a... wrote:
> > 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
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > removed]
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
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