Veteran NYSW engineer retires....

[rcbsd45]

It is with regret for us, but with great pleasure for the man involved, that I note tonight's SU-100(9/27) and Wednesday's SU-99 will be the retirement run of one of the NYS&W's veterans, Jim Ferrell. Jim started out with Conrail, but came to the NYS&W in the 1980's with the start up of the Sea-Land stack trains. He has been a fixture on the road trains for many years, and anyone that knows/knew or simply ran into him can attest to the fact that he was a class act. A true gentleman, he was a damn good engineer, but more importantly, anyone who saw him in the cab of a locomotive was almost always greeted with a wave and a smile. He has earned his rest, and I personally feel blessed for having known him for many years. I hope he gets the chance to enjoy his retirement for many years.

RCB

[waldwickrailfan]

i will catch his last train and take a video if it doesnt rain. i just hope it's all yellowjackets just for him.

[rcbsd45]

Veteran NYS&W road engineer(and all around nice guy) Jim Ferrell retired this evening upon completion of his last run west from Little Ferry NJ to Binghamton NY on NYS&W tran SU-99. Jim, having achieved the combination of 30 years of service and 60 years of age, opted to "pull the pin" and call it a career. He spent 26 years with the Susquehanna, having come over in 1985 after time with Conrail, working out of Conway yard near Pittsburgh PA. Prior to his departure on his last run, several crews gathered in the yard office in Ridgefield Park, NJ and wished Jim all the best, as they shared a cake with the words "Good luck, Jim" written on top. The cake was provided by one of Jim's co-workers, Steve Whritenour, Jr. After some cake and well wishing, the crew was driven to the train to start Jim's last trip west. I've attached a few images from the events for your viewing pleasure. This is a good reminder of the fact that human beings run these trains, and we should never lose sight of that element in this hobby and in this industry so many follow.

The train before the crew boarded:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2745680


In the yard office:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2745696

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2745683


And aboard the SU-99:

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2745685

http://rcbsd45.rrpicturearchives.net/sh ... id=2745686

[NYS&W142Fan]

Jim,
May you have a long, happy and healthy retirement!

[bk77]

Had the pleasure of knowing him those few years I worked in Little Ferry. Good engineer to say the least... sometimes the road crew would make the double for the night's stack train, there were times he would shove a cut of at least 50 cars and make the smoothest hitches I've ever seen (or heard) to the cars being coupled to. The man had a total feel for what he was doing. This was only bested by his personality: very friendly, down to earth and always smiling or cracking a joke.

Cheers Jim! It sounds like a retirement well earned, the best of luck to you...

---Shaggy