A heartwarming story...

[Anonymous]

Metra train delivers on boy's dream
CHICAGO -- When Oliver "Ollie" Tibbles was 4 years old, he announced to his mother that he wanted to be a train someday, according to the Chicago Tribune.
"I said, `Don't you mean you are going to be a train conductor?'" his mother, Debi, recalled.

No, Ollie replied in a loud voice, shaking his head vigorously. He was going to be a train.

A little more than a year after he died of a brain tumor, Ollie's wish has come true.

Metra announced Saturday that it had named locomotive No. 401 after the train-loving little boy, marking the first time the commuter rail agency has named a train engine after a child.

On Tuesday, the Oliver "Ollie" Tibbles train will make its inaugural run on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line, departing Union Station at 5:04 p.m. and running express to the Main Street station in Downers Grove, Ollie's hometown.

Commuters may not know about the special run, but the Tibbles family--his parents, 11-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister--will be there, watching Ollie's wish come true. His father, Peter Tibbles, said he may take the train home from work.

For Debi Tibbles, the gesture is not only a wonderful tribute to her son, who rode the same Metra route on a Make-A-Wish Foundation trip in 2003, but also a lasting memory as the locomotive travels the region for the next 30 to 50 years.

"That's going to be like the rest of my lifetime that the train is going to run," she said. "Even as my children grow old and have children on their own, they can take their children to see this engine and talk about their brother."

Metra has named several locomotives after towns on its routes, but only on rare occasions has it named one after a person. The agency was approached several months ago about naming one for Ollie, whose passion for trains was more than a child's fancy with Thomas the Tank Engine.

In addition to a bedroom full of train sets and pajamas with train prints, Ollie had a subscription to adult train magazines--even though he couldn't read--and even watched educational videos on how to assemble a train engine.

On trips to Children's Memorial Hospital, where he sought treatment for the brain tumor he was diagnosed with at age 5, his imagination turned mere stripes on the floor into railroad tracks that he would "ride" to the elevators.

"He was completely and utterly fascinated by the whole aspect of trains," his mother said. "If he was old enough to go on his own, he would have been on the platform with binoculars, train spotting and recording all the names."

Metra officials first learned of Ollie more than two years ago when the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois arranged for him to ride in a locomotive on the Burlington Northern. Though Ollie wanted to be a train, he also was thrilled at the thought of being a train engineer, according to Jessica Miller, a spokeswoman for the foundation.

Clad in pinstripe overalls embroidered with the words "junior engineer," Ollie traveled in a limousine on a spring day in 2003 from his home to Union Station, where he and David Hood, star of the children's video "There Goes a Train" climbed aboard for a ride to Downers Grove.

Though gravely ill, Ollie tooted the train whistle. When he arrived, hundreds of people welcomed him by waving red bandanas. His mother had to carry him from the train.

Ollie died in March 2004 at age 7. His family has remained involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but when Debi Tibbles was asked to speak at the group's black-tie fundraiser on Saturday night, she hesitated. Then she learned it was at Union Station, saw the train motif on the invitation, and knew she had to go.

She had no idea what Metra had planned.

She spoke about her son, his love of trains and his memorable ride that April 2003 day. But then she was left speechless.

Metra Chairman Jeffrey Ladd announced that he had a secret to share with her. Showing a video of Metra staff affixing a light blue decal to the locomotive, Ladd told her it had been named for her son. Then he led the family to the tracks to see and touch the Oliver "Ollie" Tibbles locomotive.

"It's truly, truly amazing," Debi Tibbles said Monday, still reeling from the honor. "Words can't describe enough how much it means to us all."

(This item appeared May 24, 2005, in the Chicago Tribune.)

[gabe]

I think I am going to go make a donation to make a wish foundation after I stop crying.

[Anonymous]

That is truley a touching thing.

[CShaveRR]

I saw this on the UTU site before I came here--I, too, had tears in my eyes when I got to the end of it. Metra does have a reputation for doing the right thing when possible.

[dharmon]

That was a very cool thing to do.

[Anonymous]

That gave me goose bumps from head to toe, God bless you Ollie, and you to Metra.

[eolafan]

A really BIG thumbs up to METRA for a simply wonderful expression that reassures me that even in these cold and impersonal days a public agency like METRA can exhibit a bit of a heart. Way to go METRA. I will save my goose bumps for when I next see loco number 401 on the tracks.

[JoeKoh]

Two thumbs up to Metra! That is fantastic.when we ever find time to get to chicago we'll be looking for 401.
stay safe
Joe

[oskar]

truely a Heartwarming story now I am beginning to cry



R.I.P. Ollie

kevin

[cherokee woman]

I know God has blessed Ollie! This is such a touching story. It would
be totally fantastic to go to Chicago to look for and see Train 401!!

[Anonymous]

first, metra your gift to the kids that have gone thru the worst things in life but you metra took time and good will to do the right thing. thank you from the bottom of my heart. you should get the harriman award for great est compassion to the human race. to ollie and all the other kids that have gone to heavens yard. i blow my horn to remember you and your parents. god speed you all closer and love from above..

[route_rock]

Wow ( thats it in a nutshell)[tup][tup][sigh] What a deal for lil Ollie. May he be looking down from the Pearly Gates ( ala Family Circus Comic strip) showing everyone his locomotive. Good Job Metra and lets all support Make-a-Wish.

[Sterling1]

I was shaking . . . shaking from what I don't know . . .

Great p.r for railfans regardless of age . . .

[daveklepper]

Bless METRA!

[locomutt]

I would have replied a bit sooner,but I had to wait until
the tears dried up,so I could see to type.
That is truely a great heartwarming story.

[edblysard]

For those of you who found this touching, and wonder why you never see it in your city..
Go to the Make a Wish Foundation web site.,
All it takes is a few minutes of your time, and maybe a few dollars, to change the life of a bunch of kids.
Regardless of their political or religious affiliation, Make a Wish does all it can to make these kids dreams real.

Hats off to them, and Metra, for realizing how much of an impact something as simple as a cab ride, and vinyl decal can have.

And thanks to LC, for bringing this here!

Ed

[CSXrules4eva]

This story is so cool and sad at the same time. When I first read the I beleive it was the first or second paragraph about little Ollie wanting to be a train, I thought that was the cutest thing. I'm sure if he were to grow older he would take great pride in working for a railroad. It's truely a shame that he didn't live to see those days. However, Metra really did something special for the boy and his family in nameing a locmotive after him. That is really thoughtful. I;ve never ever heard of any passanger railroad that has done what Metra has done. I wish Septa were more like that.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

"adult train magazines"

What! they call it adult because there are some NS units in primer gray (a.k.a. Naked horses)? [;)][:D]

Anyways, that was thought full of Metra, i never really thought a railroad would go to the expense.

But, ill ride the train if I can. [:)]

[Kozzie]

Well done METRA! Hopefully, this will be role model for other Railway Authorities...

We have a similar charity down here called the Starlight Foundation.
Working with the Foundation, the local Model Railway club that I'm in were able to put together a 8 foot by 4 foot model railway layout for a five year old that has survived a huge ordeal with cancer. We were able to handover his layout last month - his grin was ear to ear.

Dave

[CShaveRR]

The story got coverage on the local TV news tonight--had to dry the tears all over again.

[eolafan]

I tried to find an e-mail address to send my thanks to Metra but could not find one. Does anybody know of an e-mail address at Metra?

[morseman]

real grown men don't cry .....baloney....... my eyes are still moist.
Don't know when I'll be back in Chicago, but I'll be looking for
Ollies locomotive. Thank you Limitedclear for this posting
and thanks to Metra.

Will be looking at this forum for upcoming photos of Ollie's 401

Why do the TV newscasts not carry more of these heart warming
stories.? It's so depressing watching the TV news these days.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

For those of you who found this touching, and wonder why you never see it in your city..
Go to the Make a Wish Foundation web site.,
All it takes is a few minutes of your time, and maybe a few dollars, to change the life of a bunch of kids.
Regardless of their political or religious affiliation, Make a Wish does all it can to make these kids dreams real.

Hats off to them, and Metra, for realizing how much of an impact something as simple as a cab ride, and vinyl decal can have.

And thanks to LC, for bringing this here!

Ed

Ed -

Thanks. There is and will always be a special place in my heart for sick children, especially those who are truly challenged by terminal illness. Once a few years back I represented a little girl as her court appointed guardian in a bitter custody battle. She needed a heart transplant and the folks from Make A Wish made sure she got her wi***oo. It was a bit more complicated than a cab ride, but it was a real pleasure to work with the MAW folks. The little girl got her heart, and has recovered to lead a productive life and is currently in college, but not without a LOT of stress along the way. I like to think that the fulfillment of her wish gave her the strength to hang on for the transplant, although a couple of times it was touch and go. I'm really looking forward to her college graduation, as I did her High School graduation. Definitely an event worthy of marking off. Oh, and if you haven't guessed, I have a favorite charity and it isn't me. Sorry for the shameless plug...

LC

[locomutt]

LC,
That was not a"shameless plug". There is nothing wrong with
explaining about some of the really good charities out there.

We have a Make A Wish chapter here,and they have done,and do
some really great things
I have helped with the "Special Olympics in past years;and I will
plug My favorite charity;the WHAS Crusade For Children. They do
some really amazing things for the kids,particularly in the way
of medical care,and donating equipment that is needed to the local
hospitals,special needs schools,etc.

[Anonymous]

Awwwww.......how sweet and kind of Metra! I am really touched by what they did, in naming that locomotive after Ollie. wow.....I, too, had tears in my eyes when I read that story.

I agree completely that we need and deserve to read and hear many more touching and happy stories in the news.

Well, Ollie got called by the heavenly 'spatcher for a run to Paradise, and, with the help of the wonderful folks in Make A Wish and Metra, touched many people's lives.

Way to go, Metra and Make A Wish! :)

Margaret (SP fan)

[chateauricher]

To contact METRA ...
http://www.metrarail.com/
Metra Passenger Services
547 W. Jackson
Chicago, IL 60661
[phone] - Weekdays 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

[eolafan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by morseman

real grown men don't cry .....baloney....... my eyes are still moist.
Don't know when I'll be back in Chicago, but I'll be looking for
Ollies locomotive. Thank you Limitedclear for this posting
and thanks to Metra.

Will be looking at this forum for upcoming photos of Ollie's 401

Why do the TV newscasts not carry more of these heart warming
stories.? It's so depressing watching the TV news these days.

[:)] The NBC affillate here in Chicago actually did run a story on their 10 p.m. newscast last night on this story, and I offer them a big thumbs up as well.

[Anonymous]

here is a pic of Metra 401
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=107269

[Anonymous]

Heres a link to the article with more pictures from Chicago ABC 7.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/052405_ns_ollies_train.html

[CSXrules4eva]

I agree with the majority here. This is truly toughing and really sweet of Metra to do this.
I've got to ask Devil 505. Is that his mother or father touching Ollie's name?? I can't make out who it is. I wish all the best to his family and friends.