From the TTML This Day In Railroad History; written by the TTML Historian; Dr. Joseph Lechner “Dedicated in memory of all railroaders who lost their lives in the line of duty” On this date in 2000 (a Labor Day), the Galesburg (IL) Railroad Museum dedicated a memorial to all railroad workers who were killed in the line of duty. The ceremony started at 3:30 p.m. in Colton Park and was attended by over 200 people. A 6’ 6” black granite obelisk sits atop a 3’ tall concrete base. Doug Traff, a fourth-generation railroader, designed the monument and helped finance it. During his dedicatory remarks, Mr. Traff said: “My heritage is rich from the prosperous growth from within the railroad industry. Over the past century and a half the railroad has helped shape and build Galesburg into what it has become today. However, along with prosperity have come many tragic losses resulting from railroad fatalities. These fatalities have occurred in every facet of the railroading industry. They include both labor and management.” Traff is a locomotive engineer for BNSF Railway and a member of the Museum’s board of directors. He has taught a course on the history of railroading at Carl Sandburg College. Galesburg Railroad Museum displays an S-4 class Hudson (CB&Q #3006), a Railway Post Office car (CB&Q #1945), a 12-section Pullman (CB&Q #2645), a steel caboose (CB&Q #13501), and two gasoline-powered speeders. It also boasts a reading room; displays of railroad artifacts including uniforms, tools and china; and a display of H0 and N scale model trains. galesburgrailroadmuseum.org/ Joseph Lechner
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:57:45 +0000