Railroaders' Nostalgia > Jack Wilson

I believe this was taken at Fullerton. Anyone who spent any time at Amtrak Los Angeles will recognize this class man who was responsible for all San Diegan/Surfliner movements up and down the West Coast. He was a tough cookie when it came to operations, but he was a genuine gentleman. He was also responsible for saving a lot of jobs from some who never knew it. A lot of A/Cs and conductors who were just there to collect a paycheck will never understand his ways. I'm not sure why, Jack and I always got along just fine but, his passing has really touched me. We sure had our share of disagreements. But, I can honestly say I was many times in awe of his intelligence. Pragmatic? Yes, and always understanding. RIP my old friend.

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Amen to that!

Not a soul appreciated him until his retirement. Some purely despised him just because he was "Jack".

Sometimes you never know how good you have it until it is gone.

Met him once on a Starlight detour, first class all the way.

Not sure I'd recognize him...when I knew him he had a full head of hair.

Carl Shaver
Lombard, IL

I think this is the same person that that did our rules class/ orientation 11-86 during the crew takeover from the freight railroads? Good guy and a railfan if I am correct.I am sorry to hear the bad news. Bill Webb

It seems that many "managers" that know their jobs and do their jobs and require others to do their jobs are hated! Why do you suppose that is?

I want to say that Jack was one of those people that I've worked with at Amtrak & recognized that he had superior knowledge/skills in railroading...and that's hard for someone like me to admit. Jack you have, and always will, my deepest respect for the thing that I love - railroading!

Definitely was a railfan, Mr. Webb...and he excelled at that, too. I would have been a railfan no matter what, but I got to know Jack as a teenager. Strangest mix of intelligent, devout, adventurous, and bawdy I'd ever encountered! The adventures I was taken on by/with him!

Carl Shaver
Lombard, IL

Jack was a class act and he kept the railroad running like no other. That's a great photograph - I saw that expression more than a few times, but he had a sense of humor as well. He was missed after he pulled the pin, but it's sad that he didn't get the amount of retirement time that he deserved.