My dad M.L. Zadnichek who was Q Chicago Division Supt. from 1960 to 1965
had requested prior to his death that his ashes be scattered on the biggest
curve between Aurora and Galesburg. Since dad had passed away in 1981
at his retirement home in Fairhope, AL, and the Q had since been
merged into the BN, it took four years for his last wish to be
honored. Through the help of Seaboard System (now CSX) Mobile & New Orleans
Division locomotive engineers and friends J.R. Phillips and E.R. May,
contact was made with BN employee Joe Tunnell of Galesburg. Tunnell
remembered dad and knew the exact site he had talked about. Dad's final
resting place would be the long sweeping curve at Milepost 152 near Oneida, IL.
Arrangements were then made by my brother Ken Zadnichek with BN Galesburg
Division Supt. J.W. Carnahan and dad's ashes were sent to him. At 11 am on April
27, 1985, BN Trainmaster R.H. Flaar scattered dad's ashes on
the curve. Dad had specifically requested that site due to many happy
memories of riding through that curve in steam engine
cabs or in way car cupolas during his brakeman days during
World War Two. Does anyone else know of another Q employee so honored with
a final resting place on the high iron? Best Regards - Louis Zadnichek
II
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