Passenger Trains > Handling of human remains

In an early thread scooter wrote:
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> ... I wanted to ask a question along similar lines
> (baggage).- The moving of human remains. is there a
> special protocol for that kind of baggage, or is a
> casket simply thrown into a corner of the car and away
> we go type of thing?

I cannot say how remains are handled today but when I worked for the
Santa Fe there were specific rules and regulations governing the
handling of human remains. The casket was inside a larger box/crate
and, most of the time (as I recall), it was usually painted a light
blue. During the time I worked at Dearborn Station, Chicago, the
baggage handlers were always respectful when handling remains
especially military.

The attached is the cover of a pamphlet issued by Santa Fe for
morticians/funeral directors. In addition, there were special tariffs
containing rates for remains whether escorted or unescorted. Again,
as I recall, the rate for remains were half rate if escorted and full
fare if unescorted.

peddler

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For decades, rail was practically the only way to affordably ship a casket long distances.

Caskets could weigh 300-400 lbs. Two men could handle remains in a shipping container provided they could slide it around. Most major stations had a special baggage cart just for remains. It had a crank up leveling feature so the cart deck could be made even with the floor of the baggage car and then drop down to the level of a hearse.

During the Vietnam era, I had the unfortunate experience of seeing military remains handled at El Paso.

Bob

Here's a picture of VIA's Chaleur being met by an undertaker at Port Daniel, QC in January 2007. The casket went directly from the baggage car to the waiting hearse.

Dave

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On planes, you get an honor guard meeting the remains. My daughter was on a flight that arrtived in Denver and they asked the passengers to remain seated while an army officer in full dress esorted the family off the plane and down the gate ramp to see their loved one's casket removed. My daughter said said several older men on the plane stood up and saluted as the casket was removed. Very touching, from Vietnam vets



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/10 13:18 by WAF.

Several years ago I was on the California Zephyr and having breakfast across from a woman and her teen age daughter. Shortly after sitting down the conductor cam over to the mother and said that she could not witness the transfer at Chicago Union Station but he promised they would take care of him. I obviously looked puzzled and she then said that her husband had died while they were on vacation in Colorado and apparently the price of transporting his remains by air was astronomical, thus they were returning to Cleveland (I think) by rail. She wanted to witness the casket being transferred to the Lake Shore but they wouldn't allow it. Needless to say there was not much conversation during the rest of breakfast.

Tim

During the Vietnam "Conflict" there were a bunch of guys that did nothing but escort bodies that were in the baggage car. Usually a E-5 or 6. Most of your stations had a special cart that could load and unload a coffin. Some were in wood boxes some were not. The one in Santa Barbara comes to mind. They may still have it around. They used No. 75 & 76 on the Coast because they always had one or two baggage cars. Later when only 98 & 99 were left, they would use the star baggage car.

Nudge

When I worked nights at the Glendale, CA main post office while in college, we used to get quite a few small packages from Forest Lawn Memorial Park (their original location is in Glendale) containing ashes from the crematorium. Many were taken down to LAUPT to send on various evening departures. Others went to LAX. A lot of guys wouldn't touch the boxes so they asked for volunteers to drive the mail to the station or airport. Guess who was at the top of the volunteer list?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/10 10:50 by masterphots.

Our daughter, at age 21 in June, 1971, was choked to death by her
husband in Pueblo, CO. The remains was handled in a very dignified way and taken to La Junta for, at that time, Amtrak #17 to Barstow.

The baggageman and all concerned were great. At Barstow some of my
employees also handled in a very reverent way..This was all handled
on our Santa Fe System pass and cost us nothing..39 years ago..

Sorry for the emotion..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/10 13:10 by Agt-Highland.

spnudge Wrote:
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> During the Vietnam "Conflict" there were a bunch
> of guys that did nothing but escort bodies that
> were in the baggage car. Usually a E-5 or 6. Most
> of your stations had a special cart that could
> load and unload a coffin. Some were in wood boxes
> some were not. The one in Santa Barbara comes to
> mind. They may still have it around. They used No.
> 75 & 76 on the Coast because they always had one
> or two baggage cars. Later when only 98 & 99 were
> left, they would use the star baggage car.
>
> Nudge

Many a Sealand reefer container would contain remains destined to the Oakland Army for unloading before routed to final destination. Worked with a black guy in goverment service who had the job along with others of unloading these containers

Amtrak station baggage areas, at least a few years ago, had rules posted for handling remains. Several times I have shipped our trade show stuff from Pittsburgh PA, and had plenty of time to look around the baggage room while we got the paperwork done.

But I have not observed any remains being shipped in the last several years. It would be rather awkward when the front vestibule of an Amfleet car is subbed for a missing baggage car.

When my parents each died in Florida, I was waiting for the undertaker in Ohio to ask how we wanted them shipped home for services, but there was no choice but flying. Just like being alive. But I am sure they didn't want to save any money and I wasn't going to argue at the time: enough spats among the family as it was (and still is!).

I have found out since then that the undertaker has a plain white van they use for long-distance pick-ups and deliveries. A young guy who worked for me and his friend who worked at the morticians used it to pick up just the right Harley he needed in Florida.

stop
David

For a while US Air had a frequent flyer deal that awarded miles to the funeral director for the shipment of HR.

That white van is sometimes called a "first call" vehicle.

One evening back in 1976, I was the Agent on duty at Burlington, IA for Amtrak. The westbound San Francisco Zephyr arrived with a recently aquired U.S. Army Hospital Ambulance Car serving as the Amtrak baggage dorm. There was no TBM (Baggage man) between Chicago and Omaha, so I had approximately 2 or 3 minutes to open the bag car, load my checked luggage and unload the luggage tagged for Burlington.

The car came in dark and I used my flashlight and the low light coming through the windows to search for the bags I had to take off the train. There behind a large crate holding remains was the luggage pile for Burlington. In the dark, I had to straddle and climb on top of the remains to reach for the bags to unload. I did not feel comfortable doing it and shuddered at the task, but it had to be done.

When I worked for the Santa Fe, I would be sent to Ontario (CA) Airport to pick up radios that had been sent "air express" by Motorola. One evening I was at the (as I recall) Continental Airlines freight office and there was a large heavy duty cardboard box. It was probably labeled "human remains", and if it wasn't it was the right size for transporting a deceased person. I looked at it and thought--what a way to go, not even a pine box but a cardboard carton.
This was featured earlier this year, but if anyone is interested, Orange Empire Ry. Museum (Perris, CA) has what is probably the world's only surviving funeral streetcar on display, complete with (an empty) coffin.

After some hemming and hawing, will add a couple thoughts ....

Back in the day stations had a special cart that had a deck that could be hand-cranked up to better match floor height of the baggage car for easier handling.

Remains are sent home in a heavy cardboard box enclosing another sturdy foam box to save on weight, and also avoid the damage an expensive casket could take being moved about.

I did move a few of these in my day as an AC, and always did so with care. It was satisfying in a way to help shepherd them home. Don't know if the cost is different than sending regular Amtrak Express.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would ever have need of the service, but when my wife died in Carbondale IL ten years ago I knew that sending her back to Chicago on the train for burial was the way to go.

And that was ten years ago to this very day, 18Dec2000, at 4am after a sleepless night on a frigid icy winter morn, we put her on 58. Along with the conductor and Carbondale ticket agent, we all picked it up and I climbed in and slid the box in the door. Even tho I hadn't worked for Amtrak for a few years at that point and the the crew didn't know me well, they gave us - me and her father - a room in the dorm car.

More than once I peered through the door into the baggage car to see the snow blowing around and settling on the box as we headed north through a snowstorm.

Unbeknownst to us, the trainmen had spoken to the dining car steward who when it was time to pay, they said no, you're not, it's on Amtrak, we know why you're on here today.

On arrival in Chicago we followed her box along the baggage platform side and down the ramp into the basement where the hearse from the funeral home was waiting. No one said we couldn't, again, they understood. Or so I thought ... when the baggageman put his clipboard on top of the box and pointed where to sign for it, I picked it up and gave it back to him, eyeing the box and telling, "this is NOT a desk."

So, we went out as we came in - we met on a passenger train and began a great life-ride, and it came to a close on one too.