Hey everyone I thought it would kind of be interesting to see where everyone got their start in railroading in the terms of family who were railroaders to just starting out on your own for the railroad. Here is my history and I am sorry I cant provide exact dates for everyone in my family who has worked for the railway. Also another point I have to point out is I have never worked for a railway myself I do collect some model trains but for my future I hope I can hire onto a local railway, these are also some of the most known people I know who worked for the railway in my family there might be more.
I would say for me at the turn of the century in the 1900's my great grand father, on my moms side, Jim Bryce started firing and engineering for the drgw. He went on and continued this job even when my grandfather jim pearce started on with the drgw as fireman moving to road foreman then to engineer. For at least I think 10-20 years there was that connection with my grandfather and great grandfather when they worked for the drgw. As for my dads side my grandfather Martin Vasquez sr. worked for the atsf as track maintenance he only stayed on for an estimated 10 years. From then on till about the early 70's to late 60's my uncle martin vasquez jr. worked for the drgw as apart of communications mainly dispatch for the drgw where he also met my grand father Jim Pearce. After my father returned from vietnam Richard vasquez sr., also hired on with the drgw as track maintenance and brake man. he was layed off a short time later as times changed. My other uncle Arthur Vasquez also worked for the drgw as maintenance but got hurt on the job and was forced out of the drgw. My uncle Martin retired from the union pacific in 2004, as did my grandfatherJim from the southern pacific in 1992 my great grandfather I believe retired in the late 50's to early 60's from the drgw not sure about the dates though. I guess for me now I can decide if I want to keep the legacy going. Oh well what can I say I guess it is in my blood.
