Railroaders' Nostalgia > So Long Vern....

When I was a high school kid, I used to hitch rides with both IT and GM&O crews. The GM&O guys almost exclusively around my hometown. But the IT was a little looser operation, and I was able to get a handful of rides up (or down) the C&NW Madison District on what the Illinois Terminal called the "Sheeps Local".

My first ride from Edwardsville, IL north, the conductor on the crew was a gentleman named Vern Harris. Vern had come to the railroad at middle age (probably just over 40), and hadn't been there but a couple of years (at most) at that time. Less than two years later, I was working for the IT.....and was soon in engine service. I worked quite a bit with Vern. Good guy, good railroad man.

I had an email this morning, informing me that Vern had passed away at age 88, from pancreatic cancer. I realize that the chances of anybody on this forum having known Vern are astronomical, but that's not the point. The point is that a good guy has stepped across the eternal line, and I thought he deserved to be mentioned.

So long Vern. Thanks. And may God speak peace to those you've left behind.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/23 15:28 by RetiredHogger.

Thank you. Very nicely done. There are many good people in this profession that pass on without nary a word spoken. I'm sure his family is grateful.

Well spoken about a friend, good man and lastly a good railroder. Condolences

Sam

RetiredHogger Wrote:
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>, and I thought
> he deserved to be mentioned.

He did deserve it, as well as a lot of others.  You honor your departing Brothers however you can.  Last month I did the funeral eulogy for one of our engineers.  Years ago I conducted a BLE burial for an old engineer that always wanted to be buried that way.  I always feel that the best way to honor our Brothers is to retell and share the good old stories about them, keeping their memory alive.

Nice and well deserved tribute Showing gratitude and appreciation on your part is the right thing to do.Bill Webb