BNSF News

Passengers Turn Out for the BNSF Special

2010-06-10

The BNSF Special rolled through Missouri earlier this week, as turnout topped 350 for three consecutive trips.

"Each year this trip gets more and more popular with the employees and their families and it shows in the numbers," said Jeff Schmid, a long-time coordinator of the BNSF Special. "I've been working this trip for 14 years, and we've never had that many people on board for a ride. I'm really happy they are coming out to see the rails."

Capacity crowds turned out for the June 8 trip in Springfield, Mo., as well as trips the next day in Thayer, Mo.

"You shouldn't be surprised. This is a railroad town," said 72-year-old Marge Caldwell Shipp, a retired school teacher from Thayer, which is a small town of about 2,200. "Just about everyone in town is either employed at the railroad or has a relative that is."

Shipp is no exception to the rule. Her father and his brothers all worked for the railroad, operating trains between Thayer and Memphis. And four of her nephews worked for the railroad, also. Her father died years ago, but one of his brothers was on board for the ride.

"We are all railroaders and we love this opportunity. We are thankful that BNSF came to our town and took us on a ride," Shipp said, with a big smile.

On one trip, the Barwick-Newton National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund was recognized. The Rolla, Mo.,-based organization was started in 2004 to assist families of officers killed in the line of duty. Since then the organization has assisted 55 families of fallen officers, including eight from Missouri. Police chiefs, sheriffs, Missouri state troopers, local officials and families of fallen officers were invited to ride the Special.

During a ceremony before the June 7 evening trip, Springfield Division General Manager Bob McConaughey presented the organization with a $5,000 BNSF Foundation check.

"Clearly BNSF Railway recognizes the sacrifices that law enforcement officers make, and we are grateful for this contribution. It will help a grieving family in their time of need. For that, we want to say thank you for being a good corporate citizen," said Lt. Steve Davis of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and a founding member of the Barwick-Newton Fund, to the crowd of spectators and reporters.

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