Town mourns the loss of ‘Big John’

Ken Johnston

Rainy River lost a historical figure last Thursday when John Sirman passed away at the age of 79 after a hard fought battle with cancer.
Sirman who spent nearly four decades working on the Canadian National Railway was the last engineer to bring a steam locomotive into the community on Dec. 2, 1958.
The 4008 Santa Fé class T-1 was piloted by Sirman and fired by Don Marchuk. After that it was the new diesels that the men ran up and down the rails.
However, John and many other long railway employees and enthusiasts, never forgot the glory days of steam power. The Save Our Station committee eventually became the 4008 Railway Museum Committee and through many efforts, often spearheaded by Sirman, the 4008 was moved in 1989 to its present location along side the old CNR station.
Eventually efforts by Sirman, who chaired the 4008 Committee, and the rest of the committee saw a baggage car and caboose added, a shelter put over the steam engine and two face lifts to the steam angel completed. They also filled the baggage car with all kinds of railroad artifacts.
But Sirman’s legacy will live on beyond the museum and driving the last steamer in. He was also instrumental in enhancing Recreation in Rainy River having spent most of his adult life involved with the organization.
Sirman also spent decades in service clubs like the Kinsmen, the Lions Club, Moose Lodge, Legion and his church.
His contributions will be part of the community for many decades to come and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.