I wonder how many steam qualified engineers/fireman are still working on class 1,railroads?

Posted by mackb4

on Fri, Sep 2 2005 1:26 AM

There is a fellow Engineer I work with on the NS, that minus a few years being off sick, has 50 years of service.He used to ride the steam engines as a fireman and now is in current service with a regular run on an I.D. job out of Portsmouth Ohio.I was wondering if anyone knows of an engineer like this on a class 1 railroad,that is still working in engine service?I was told he may retire this year.He can tell some good stories and is one heck of a person whom I really enjoy.[:)]

Collin ,operator of the " Eastern Kentucky & Ohio R.R."

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Posted by Saxman

on Fri, Sep 2 2005 6:28 AM

There is no one left on the ex GTW that worked on steam engines. The last GTW engineer to be promoted on steam retired on diasability in the 90's. The last engineer that had any real steam experience (defined as other than a trip or two or special move)retired about 2003.

The GTW ran steam into the late 1950's and early 60's. This made it one of the last Class 1's (as defined at that time) to operate steam. So the chances of anyone on the current Class1's having steam eperience is slim to none. Think about this. An engineer retiring with 40 years service today, hired out in 1965. An engineer retiring with 30 years service hired out in 1975. This is long after steam exited the railroad scene as the primary form of motive power.

Posted by BentnoseWillie

on Fri, Sep 2 2005 6:50 AM

Even in Canada anyone steam-qualified on a class 1 would have hired on in 1959 or earlier - that's 46 years of service.

The last such engineer I knew of (in Atlantic Canada) retired from VIA at least five years ago.

B-Dubya -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inside every GE is an Alco trying to get out...apparently, through the exhaust stack!

Posted by ndbprr

on Fri, Sep 2 2005 8:06 AM

Most major railroads were through with steam in the 50's. N&W maybe into the 60's. So if you assume a fireman was 20 years old in 1960 which is probably very young and add 45 years to his age to get to 2005 he would be 65 today. Chances are there aren't any other than the crews that fired the J and A on NS and the UP crews for 844 and 4985.

Posted by mackb4

on Mon, Sep 5 2005 11:38 PM

The man I'm speaking of is 69 - 70 or older,I've never asked.And he did hire in on the N&W and is working on the same district as hired.

Collin ,operator of the " Eastern Kentucky & Ohio R.R."

Posted by Anonymous

on Fri, Sep 9 2005 4:37 PM

Anyone who has that many yrs of service and isstill working is nuts and needs to retire and get a life.