Over 281 years of railroading Eight retire from CNR

Ken Johnston

Over 281 years of experience were celebrated at the annual Canadian National Railway retirement party in Rainy River last Saturday.
Eight men were honoured. They included Reed Armstrong, Logan Ewald, Richard Barrett, Vaughn Murray, Gary Wilson, Don Marquis, Wes Blight and Robert Desrosier.
The evening began with lots of pomp and circumstance with Bruce Lidkea (son-in-law) to retiree Gary Wilson and Blair “Buzz” Brown of Winnipeg bag-piping and drumming the retirees and their escorts into the Rainy River Community Centre Hall.
After a roast beef dinner presentations were made to all the retirees. Emcee Ralph Armstrong spoke about each of them. Each of their careers was talked about.
Wes Blight
Hired on: June 27, 1970
Retired: May 31, 2005
Job held: Conductor and Locomotive Engineer
Promoted: Mar. 4/74
Yrs. experience: 35 yrs. 2 mos.
Locations worked: Rainy River, Thunder Bay and Fort Frances
Don Marquis
Hired on: May 12, 1970
Retired: April 30, 2006
Job held: Conductor
Promoted: May 12/73
Yrs. exp.: 36 yrs.
Locations wkd.: Thunder Bay, Jasper, Alta. and Rainy River
Gary Wilson
Hired on: May 11, 1970
Retired: Oct. 27, 2005
Job held: Locomotive Engineer
Promoted: Oct. 4/74
Yrs. exp.: 35 yrs. 5 mos.
Locations wkd.: Gillam, MB, Winnipeg, MB, and Rainy River
Vaughn Murray
Hired on: May 10, 1970
Retired: Aug. 22, 2005
Jobs held: Brakeman and Conductor
Promoted: May 22/73
Yrs. exp.: 35 yrs. 3 mos.
Locations wkd.: Jasper, Gillam, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Rainy River
Richard Barrett
Hired on: March 8, 1971
Retired: July 31, 2006
Job held: Trackman
Yrs. exp: 35 yrs. 4 mos.
Location wkd.: Fort Frances
Reed Armstrong
Hired on: June 27, 1970
Retired: Mar. 15, 2005
Job held: Locomotive Engineer
Yrs. exp.: 34 yrs. 9 mos.
Promoted: Sept. 6, 1974
Locations wkd.: Thunder Bay and Rainy River
Logan Ewald
Hired on: July 15, 1971
Retired: Aug. 31/05
Jobs held: Brakeman, Conductor, Yardmaster and CLO
Yrs. exp.: 34 yrs. 1 mos.
Promoted: 1976 and 1979
Locations wkd.: Winnipeg, Edmonton, Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, Atikokan, Fort Frances and Rainy River.
Robert Desrosier
Hired on: May 11, 1970
Retired: Oct, 2005
Jobs held: Conductor and Locomotive Engineer
Yrs. Exp. 35 yrs. 5 mos.
Promoted: 1973 and 1974
Locations wkd.: Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Rainy River

The retirement committee presented each of the retirees and their escorts with gifts as well as a special wood scrawled steam locomotive done by fellow trainman Rick Peterson.
Greetings and congratulations were sent from Ken Boshcoff and Howard Hampton as well as union leaders.
Local UTU President Dave Ivall also spoke about the retirees noting that each of them had driven between 1,500 and 2,000 miles of trains in their lives. “That would travel Canada back and forth twice. That is a lot of merchandise on the shelves for people to buy.”
Rick Tymkin local chair of the Teamsters (Locomotive Engineers) also spoke offering the union’s congrats.
After the presentations, a dance to a live band called “North of the Tracks” was held.