Retired Conductor Boyd Pulliam said there were 43 retirees at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 14. He added, "We had a nice breakfast and a short talk by Ray Stanley, Director of Area V of the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees."
Retired employees meet at Luby's Cafeteria on University Drive on the second Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Boyd is is president of the group. For more information, call him at 817-831-1374, or Engineer Ted Arnold at 817-335-1505.
Ed Cannon said he started out in the Car Department in 1955, but later transferred to train and yard service. "I worked the Hump, the Bowl and the old West Advance yards. I later worked freight service on the West end and North to McAlester." He said, "I took the buyout in May of 1990 and officially retired in November of 1992."
Jack Airhart, retired caller, said Hoyt W. "Poor Boy" Maclin, age 90, is living in the Village Manor in Quitman. Hoyt is a retired Conductor.
The Texas and Pacific Museum is in the old depot, next to the tracks in downtown Mineola, Texas. The Museum Association has no dues, but subsist on memorials.
"The association meets on the first Thurday of each month at the depot at 6:30 P.M. We always have finger food. Sometimes we have as many as 40 people attending," says Jack Airhart.
Officers of the Association are:
President, Jack Airhart (Retired Caller.)
Vice Pres., Les Trotter (Retired Personnel Officer)
Secretary, Dorothy Smith (Wife of retired railroader)
Curator, Ben Mabe (Retired Conductor)
Memorials Manager, Slim Smith (Retired Conductor)
Anyone wishing to contribute items to the Museum or set up a memorial can Call Jack Airhart at 903-560-3589.
Retired Engineer Ted Arnold told us recently, "Back when I was a Fireman on a steam engine, I could be fully rested and wide awake when I went on duty.
"But, It seemed that as soon as I sat down in the cab and put my hand on the handle of the Firing Valve, I'd get so sleepy I could hardly hold my head up.
He laughed and added, "Once I even thought of asking the company to sell me one of those handles, so I could put it beside my bed to use as a cure for insomnia."
Engineer Basil Rich started out working as a Machinist Apprentice on the Katy at Belmead. On March 14, 1943, he hired out as a Fireman on the T&P. In World War II, he served a year and a half in the Army. When he got out, he went to school on the GI Bill. "After a while, I got hungry," he said, "and went back to the T&P. I retired March 26,1985, with 42 years service."
Cy is a locomotive engineer at the Crest Yard in Fort Worth. 5-97