MARTIN WAGNER DIES; RETIRED RAILROADER
Martin Wagner, of 258 New Hancock street, Wilkes-Barre, retired Lehigh Valley Railroad engineer, died yesterday at his home following a heart attack. He was born in Minnesota but had made his home in Wilkes-Barre since he was a young man. He had been a Lehigh Valley employee for 47 years and was engineer on The Black Diamond. The funeral will be from a funeral home at 142 South Washington street, Wilkes-Barre on Monday Morning.
(Pittston Gazette, 6 Jan 1956)
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Wagner Ends 50 Years on LVRR
Martin Wagner, engineer, who finished close to half century of service with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company yesterday, is shown just after he had climbed down from train No. 9, the Black Diamond, for the last time.
Standing alongside the locomotive are C. M. Johnke, trainmaster, shaking hands with Wagner; Karl Barry, road foreman of engineers, Andrew Thomas, lieutenant of police, T. F. Walsh, chief dispatcher; M. J. Conway, chief dispatcher; H. A. Martin, fireman; Frank Coleman, conductor.
Kneeling are Michael Gillis, chief engineer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Lodge 673; H. G. Hartley, engineer; A. C. Wallison, assistant chief dispatcher.
Martin Wagner, engineer, who has been with the Lehigh Valley for close to 50 years, brought the LV's crack train, The Black Diamond, into Wilkes-Barre yesterday afternoon on time-3:20 on the nose. There was nothing unusual about that. But there was a difference. It was for Wagner the last time.
Few people on the train knew it, except his crew, but the trip was the last one Wagner will make as an engineer on this train. He was 70 years old yesterday and his afternoon's run from Lehighton to Wilkes-Barre wound up nearly a half century's service with the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
When he climbed from the steps from the cab and stood in the bright sunshine along his engine, Wagner was hemmed in by a sizeable crowd of railroaders in overalls and caps and other close friends. Several younger men, cameras in hand, recorded the touching moments incidental to the "last run."
"Marty" Wagner, a rugged type, tall and broad, in his railroader's faded blue denim overalls, tie with splashes of red, light tan corduroy cap, visibly was affected as he stretched out his long arm to accept the greeting of his buddies.
Asked whether he had had any especially exciting experiences in half century with the railroad, Wagner looked at Fireman Howard Martin, who stood near, laughed a little nervously, and replied, "I've had a couple of them, haven't I Martin?"
In his long period of service for the "Valley" the engineer had three rough times that stand out in his memory.
Wagner admitted. "I was upset three times and came out without a scratch every time."
By far the worst experience, he continued, was the time at Ransom. During a severe snowstorm in the early morning hours an automobile got on the track, there was a collision, and his steam engine was turned partly on its side. Five cars were derailed. Howard Martin was his fireman. Both the engineer and fireman escaped uninjured, but passengers were shaken and one serviceman suffered leg injuries that resulted in an amputation. The passengers were taken by bus to Falls and transferred to No. 8, which followed Wagner's train.
"That was on January 4, 1941," Wagner recalled, adding, "It was pretty bad." C. M. Johnke, trainmaster, observed it required one and one-half days to clean the wreckage.
Then there were two other rather memorable experiences Wagner will never forget. The first time was in the early days at Coxton yards. He was firing at the time. Something went wrong with the switch and the engine toppled. The other time he has cause to remember was an upset at White Haven, the same year as the Ranson accident. It seems a car on another train ahead of him buckled in front of his locomotive. Wagner's locomotive was damaged slightly.
The veteran engineer, who laughs easily, remembers his first run as a fireman on a steam locomotive.
That was back on March 10, 1906. He was advanced to engineer December 12, 1911. His time has been divided in freight and passenger service. For 12 years, he has been on trains No. 4 and No. 9. His run started in Wilkes-Barre and continued to Sayre; then he came down on No. 4 to Wilkes-Barre; continued to Lehighton and returned on No. 9, the Black Diamond, from Lehighton to Wilkes-Barre. Ray Whistler was his fireman yesterday.
"I'm proud that I worked for a company like the Lehigh Valley." Wagner said in a low voice.
Johnke, trainmaster, offered, "Mr. Wagner is retiring with a clear record as a fireman and engineer and with him go the best wishes of his coworkers and officials of the Lehigh Valley Railroad."
Asked how it felt to be pulling into the station for the last time, the engineer said the trip pas good all the way." We were right on the minute every bit of the way up," he added.
Born in Minnesota, Wagner has lived here about 55 years. His home is at 258 New Hancock Street.
As to the future. Wagner smiled and said only. "Oh, I'll fool around and rest a little bit. I'll tinker around my car." He will have a railroad pass and he and his wife will do some traveling, he guessed.
And looking once again at his Engine 609, about to leave for Buffalo, with Enginer Ray Mullison blowing the horn extra loud, Wagner added. "And I'll be down to see the boys come in."
(Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 29 Sep 1952)
Martin Wagner, of 258 New Hancock street, Wilkes-Barre, retired Lehigh Valley Railroad engineer, died yesterday at his home following a heart attack. He was born in Minnesota but had made his home in Wilkes-Barre since he was a young man. He had been a Lehigh Valley employee for 47 years and was engineer on The Black Diamond. The funeral will be from a funeral home at 142 South Washington street, Wilkes-Barre on Monday Morning.
(Pittston Gazette, 6 Jan 1956)
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Wagner Ends 50 Years on LVRR
Martin Wagner, engineer, who finished close to half century of service with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company yesterday, is shown just after he had climbed down from train No. 9, the Black Diamond, for the last time.
Standing alongside the locomotive are C. M. Johnke, trainmaster, shaking hands with Wagner; Karl Barry, road foreman of engineers, Andrew Thomas, lieutenant of police, T. F. Walsh, chief dispatcher; M. J. Conway, chief dispatcher; H. A. Martin, fireman; Frank Coleman, conductor.
Kneeling are Michael Gillis, chief engineer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Lodge 673; H. G. Hartley, engineer; A. C. Wallison, assistant chief dispatcher.
Martin Wagner, engineer, who has been with the Lehigh Valley for close to 50 years, brought the LV's crack train, The Black Diamond, into Wilkes-Barre yesterday afternoon on time-3:20 on the nose. There was nothing unusual about that. But there was a difference. It was for Wagner the last time.
Few people on the train knew it, except his crew, but the trip was the last one Wagner will make as an engineer on this train. He was 70 years old yesterday and his afternoon's run from Lehighton to Wilkes-Barre wound up nearly a half century's service with the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
When he climbed from the steps from the cab and stood in the bright sunshine along his engine, Wagner was hemmed in by a sizeable crowd of railroaders in overalls and caps and other close friends. Several younger men, cameras in hand, recorded the touching moments incidental to the "last run."
"Marty" Wagner, a rugged type, tall and broad, in his railroader's faded blue denim overalls, tie with splashes of red, light tan corduroy cap, visibly was affected as he stretched out his long arm to accept the greeting of his buddies.
Asked whether he had had any especially exciting experiences in half century with the railroad, Wagner looked at Fireman Howard Martin, who stood near, laughed a little nervously, and replied, "I've had a couple of them, haven't I Martin?"
In his long period of service for the "Valley" the engineer had three rough times that stand out in his memory.
Wagner admitted. "I was upset three times and came out without a scratch every time."
By far the worst experience, he continued, was the time at Ransom. During a severe snowstorm in the early morning hours an automobile got on the track, there was a collision, and his steam engine was turned partly on its side. Five cars were derailed. Howard Martin was his fireman. Both the engineer and fireman escaped uninjured, but passengers were shaken and one serviceman suffered leg injuries that resulted in an amputation. The passengers were taken by bus to Falls and transferred to No. 8, which followed Wagner's train.
"That was on January 4, 1941," Wagner recalled, adding, "It was pretty bad." C. M. Johnke, trainmaster, observed it required one and one-half days to clean the wreckage.
Then there were two other rather memorable experiences Wagner will never forget. The first time was in the early days at Coxton yards. He was firing at the time. Something went wrong with the switch and the engine toppled. The other time he has cause to remember was an upset at White Haven, the same year as the Ranson accident. It seems a car on another train ahead of him buckled in front of his locomotive. Wagner's locomotive was damaged slightly.
The veteran engineer, who laughs easily, remembers his first run as a fireman on a steam locomotive.
That was back on March 10, 1906. He was advanced to engineer December 12, 1911. His time has been divided in freight and passenger service. For 12 years, he has been on trains No. 4 and No. 9. His run started in Wilkes-Barre and continued to Sayre; then he came down on No. 4 to Wilkes-Barre; continued to Lehighton and returned on No. 9, the Black Diamond, from Lehighton to Wilkes-Barre. Ray Whistler was his fireman yesterday.
"I'm proud that I worked for a company like the Lehigh Valley." Wagner said in a low voice.
Johnke, trainmaster, offered, "Mr. Wagner is retiring with a clear record as a fireman and engineer and with him go the best wishes of his coworkers and officials of the Lehigh Valley Railroad."
Asked how it felt to be pulling into the station for the last time, the engineer said the trip pas good all the way." We were right on the minute every bit of the way up," he added.
Born in Minnesota, Wagner has lived here about 55 years. His home is at 258 New Hancock Street.
As to the future. Wagner smiled and said only. "Oh, I'll fool around and rest a little bit. I'll tinker around my car." He will have a railroad pass and he and his wife will do some traveling, he guessed.
And looking once again at his Engine 609, about to leave for Buffalo, with Enginer Ray Mullison blowing the horn extra loud, Wagner added. "And I'll be down to see the boys come in."
(Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 29 Sep 1952)
MARTIN WAGNER DIES; RETIRED RAILROADER
Martin Wagner, of 258 New Hancock street, Wilkes-Barre, retired Lehigh Valley Railroad engineer, died yesterday at his home following a heart attack. He was born in Minnesota but had made his home in Wilkes-Barre since he was a young man. He had been a Lehigh Valley employee for 47 years and was engineer on The Black Diamond. The funeral will be from a funeral home at 142 South Washington street, Wilkes-Barre on Monday Morning.
(Pittston Gazette, 6 Jan 1956)
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Wagner Ends 50 Years on LVRR
Martin Wagner, engineer, who finished close to half century of service with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company yesterday, is shown just after he had climbed down from train No. 9, the Black Diamond, for the last time.
Standing alongside the locomotive are C. M. Johnke, trainmaster, shaking hands with Wagner; Karl Barry, road foreman of engineers, Andrew Thomas, lieutenant of police, T. F. Walsh, chief dispatcher; M. J. Conway, chief dispatcher; H. A. Martin, fireman; Frank Coleman, conductor.
Kneeling are Michael Gillis, chief engineer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Lodge 673; H. G. Hartley, engineer; A. C. Wallison, assistant chief dispatcher.
Martin Wagner, engineer, who has been with the Lehigh Valley for close to 50 years, brought the LV's crack train, The Black Diamond, into Wilkes-Barre yesterday afternoon on time-3:20 on the nose. There was nothing unusual about that. But there was a difference. It was for Wagner the last time.
Few people on the train knew it, except his crew, but the trip was the last one Wagner will make as an engineer on this train. He was 70 years old yesterday and his afternoon's run from Lehighton to Wilkes-Barre wound up nearly a half century's service with the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
When he climbed from the steps from the cab and stood in the bright sunshine along his engine, Wagner was hemmed in by a sizeable crowd of railroaders in overalls and caps and other close friends. Several younger men, cameras in hand, recorded the touching moments incidental to the "last run."
"Marty" Wagner, a rugged type, tall and broad, in his railroader's faded blue denim overalls, tie with splashes of red, light tan corduroy cap, visibly was affected as he stretched out his long arm to accept the greeting of his buddies.
Asked whether he had had any especially exciting experiences in half century with the railroad, Wagner looked at Fireman Howard Martin, who stood near, laughed a little nervously, and replied, "I've had a couple of them, haven't I Martin?"
In his long period of service for the "Valley" the engineer had three rough times that stand out in his memory.
Wagner admitted. "I was upset three times and came out without a scratch every time."
By far the worst experience, he continued, was the time at Ransom. During a severe snowstorm in the early morning hours an automobile got on the track, there was a collision, and his steam engine was turned partly on its side. Five cars were derailed. Howard Martin was his fireman. Both the engineer and fireman escaped uninjured, but passengers were shaken and one serviceman suffered leg injuries that resulted in an amputation. The passengers were taken by bus to Falls and transferred to No. 8, which followed Wagner's train.
"That was on January 4, 1941," Wagner recalled, adding, "It was pretty bad." C. M. Johnke, trainmaster, observed it required one and one-half days to clean the wreckage.
Then there were two other rather memorable experiences Wagner will never forget. The first time was in the early days at Coxton yards. He was firing at the time. Something went wrong with the switch and the engine toppled. The other time he has cause to remember was an upset at White Haven, the same year as the Ranson accident. It seems a car on another train ahead of him buckled in front of his locomotive. Wagner's locomotive was damaged slightly.
The veteran engineer, who laughs easily, remembers his first run as a fireman on a steam locomotive.
That was back on March 10, 1906. He was advanced to engineer December 12, 1911. His time has been divided in freight and passenger service. For 12 years, he has been on trains No. 4 and No. 9. His run started in Wilkes-Barre and continued to Sayre; then he came down on No. 4 to Wilkes-Barre; continued to Lehighton and returned on No. 9, the Black Diamond, from Lehighton to Wilkes-Barre. Ray Whistler was his fireman yesterday.
"I'm proud that I worked for a company like the Lehigh Valley." Wagner said in a low voice.
Johnke, trainmaster, offered, "Mr. Wagner is retiring with a clear record as a fireman and engineer and with him go the best wishes of his coworkers and officials of the Lehigh Valley Railroad."
Asked how it felt to be pulling into the station for the last time, the engineer said the trip pas good all the way." We were right on the minute every bit of the way up," he added.
Born in Minnesota, Wagner has lived here about 55 years. His home is at 258 New Hancock Street.
As to the future. Wagner smiled and said only. "Oh, I'll fool around and rest a little bit. I'll tinker around my car." He will have a railroad pass and he and his wife will do some traveling, he guessed.
And looking once again at his Engine 609, about to leave for Buffalo, with Enginer Ray Mullison blowing the horn extra loud, Wagner added. "And I'll be down to see the boys come in."
(Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 29 Sep 1952)
Martin Wagner, of 258 New Hancock street, Wilkes-Barre, retired Lehigh Valley Railroad engineer, died yesterday at his home following a heart attack. He was born in Minnesota but had made his home in Wilkes-Barre since he was a young man. He had been a Lehigh Valley employee for 47 years and was engineer on The Black Diamond. The funeral will be from a funeral home at 142 South Washington street, Wilkes-Barre on Monday Morning.
(Pittston Gazette, 6 Jan 1956)
----------------------------------------------
Wagner Ends 50 Years on LVRR
Martin Wagner, engineer, who finished close to half century of service with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company yesterday, is shown just after he had climbed down from train No. 9, the Black Diamond, for the last time.
Standing alongside the locomotive are C. M. Johnke, trainmaster, shaking hands with Wagner; Karl Barry, road foreman of engineers, Andrew Thomas, lieutenant of police, T. F. Walsh, chief dispatcher; M. J. Conway, chief dispatcher; H. A. Martin, fireman; Frank Coleman, conductor.
Kneeling are Michael Gillis, chief engineer of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Lodge 673; H. G. Hartley, engineer; A. C. Wallison, assistant chief dispatcher.
Martin Wagner, engineer, who has been with the Lehigh Valley for close to 50 years, brought the LV's crack train, The Black Diamond, into Wilkes-Barre yesterday afternoon on time-3:20 on the nose. There was nothing unusual about that. But there was a difference. It was for Wagner the last time.
Few people on the train knew it, except his crew, but the trip was the last one Wagner will make as an engineer on this train. He was 70 years old yesterday and his afternoon's run from Lehighton to Wilkes-Barre wound up nearly a half century's service with the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
When he climbed from the steps from the cab and stood in the bright sunshine along his engine, Wagner was hemmed in by a sizeable crowd of railroaders in overalls and caps and other close friends. Several younger men, cameras in hand, recorded the touching moments incidental to the "last run."
"Marty" Wagner, a rugged type, tall and broad, in his railroader's faded blue denim overalls, tie with splashes of red, light tan corduroy cap, visibly was affected as he stretched out his long arm to accept the greeting of his buddies.
Asked whether he had had any especially exciting experiences in half century with the railroad, Wagner looked at Fireman Howard Martin, who stood near, laughed a little nervously, and replied, "I've had a couple of them, haven't I Martin?"
In his long period of service for the "Valley" the engineer had three rough times that stand out in his memory.
Wagner admitted. "I was upset three times and came out without a scratch every time."
By far the worst experience, he continued, was the time at Ransom. During a severe snowstorm in the early morning hours an automobile got on the track, there was a collision, and his steam engine was turned partly on its side. Five cars were derailed. Howard Martin was his fireman. Both the engineer and fireman escaped uninjured, but passengers were shaken and one serviceman suffered leg injuries that resulted in an amputation. The passengers were taken by bus to Falls and transferred to No. 8, which followed Wagner's train.
"That was on January 4, 1941," Wagner recalled, adding, "It was pretty bad." C. M. Johnke, trainmaster, observed it required one and one-half days to clean the wreckage.
Then there were two other rather memorable experiences Wagner will never forget. The first time was in the early days at Coxton yards. He was firing at the time. Something went wrong with the switch and the engine toppled. The other time he has cause to remember was an upset at White Haven, the same year as the Ranson accident. It seems a car on another train ahead of him buckled in front of his locomotive. Wagner's locomotive was damaged slightly.
The veteran engineer, who laughs easily, remembers his first run as a fireman on a steam locomotive.
That was back on March 10, 1906. He was advanced to engineer December 12, 1911. His time has been divided in freight and passenger service. For 12 years, he has been on trains No. 4 and No. 9. His run started in Wilkes-Barre and continued to Sayre; then he came down on No. 4 to Wilkes-Barre; continued to Lehighton and returned on No. 9, the Black Diamond, from Lehighton to Wilkes-Barre. Ray Whistler was his fireman yesterday.
"I'm proud that I worked for a company like the Lehigh Valley." Wagner said in a low voice.
Johnke, trainmaster, offered, "Mr. Wagner is retiring with a clear record as a fireman and engineer and with him go the best wishes of his coworkers and officials of the Lehigh Valley Railroad."
Asked how it felt to be pulling into the station for the last time, the engineer said the trip pas good all the way." We were right on the minute every bit of the way up," he added.
Born in Minnesota, Wagner has lived here about 55 years. His home is at 258 New Hancock Street.
As to the future. Wagner smiled and said only. "Oh, I'll fool around and rest a little bit. I'll tinker around my car." He will have a railroad pass and he and his wife will do some traveling, he guessed.
And looking once again at his Engine 609, about to leave for Buffalo, with Enginer Ray Mullison blowing the horn extra loud, Wagner added. "And I'll be down to see the boys come in."
(Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 29 Sep 1952)
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