TRACK PROFILES

BEN BARKER - Conductor

When Ben Barker first rode the train in 1975, he was a typical tourist, in awe of the train and the amazing views along the route. Seven years later he became a brakeman for the D&SNG and since then has been able to be part of tourists experiencing the ride just as he did so many years before.

Trains have always been an interest of Ben's. From his hometown of Sheridan, Wyoming, he used to ride the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) 750 miles to and from college in Lincoln, Nebraska. His first job on a railroad was for the Burlington Northern in Wyoming and Montana in 1972 when he got out of the Army. He worked on a track crew putting in ties, spikes, rail and ballast. It was difficult and hot work for a summer job, but it seems that experience was a good one since he's still a
railroader to this day.

Ben's primary career was as a teacher. He began with jobs in Minnesota and Wisconsin and made his way to the Durango School District in the 1970s and taught there until he retired in 2004. Working on the railroad was his summer job and one, he says, he looked forward to each year. In 1985, just three years after joining the railroad as a brakeman, he was promoted to conductor and still holds that title to this day. His retirement from teaching affords him the flexibility to work more months on the railroad while he is away from his other home in New Mexico.

As a conductor, Ben has become a regular and integral part of the D&SNG's special events, especially Day Out With Thomas™ and The Polar Express™.

"It's so neat to see the thrill of train riding on the children's faces," he says.

During the months he truly is retired, Ben enjoys working on old cars and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in New Mexico. A long-time interest is biking and he has participated in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic (where bicycle riders race the train to Silverton) six times. He hasn't beat the train to Silverton yet, but he says he plans to keep trying!

When asked about his long-time "other" career on the railroad, Ben says,

"Being a conductor on the D&SNG is a blast because I get to meet and talk to hundreds of people having fun and reliving history every day."

If there is one thing he says is a drawback to the job, it's that almost everyone wants to take his job. To that, he says, "Sorry folks, it's not open just yet. Happy Rails!"

DAN STANGBY - Conductor

Originally from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Dan Stangby first came to Durango for college more than 40 years ago and ended up staying to teach 8th-grade science for 33 years. With his summers free from teaching, Dan decided to join some of his teaching peers and work at the railroad.

Twenty-six years later and retired from teaching, he's still part of the railroad. He began his railroad career at the DS&NG as a brakeman and then moved up through the ranks to conductor, which he still is today. Since he had a primary career as a teacher, he says the railroad became his second career and a great way to spend the summers.

Dan says he's always liked trains and admits he still stops to watch them on the main line when they go by and he fondly remembers the Lionel trains he had as a child. One of the best parts of his job as a conductor is His love of trains seems to have been passed on to both of his daughters, who both spent some time working for the D&SNG.

Some of his fondest memories and favorite times from his many years with the railroad are being part of a TV show about fishing from areas only accessible by train, moving trains around Silverton during the winter, seeing the fall colors from the train, the first train of the season to Silverton and working with all the adults and children during the special events, especially the Day Out With Thomas™ and The Polar Express™.

Now fully retired from teaching, Dan has recently relocated to Montana to be closer to his young grandson, but still spends his summers with the D&SNG in Durango. When not working, he enjoys fishing, skiing, and wood working-
building rocking chairs and other furniture.

"being able to take a train load of people on an adventure every day-through one of the most beautiful places on earth."

Even after all these years, Dan says, "I understand that by working for the D&SNG, I have a job that millions of people would give almost anything to have and I am lucky enough to have it." And, the D&SNG hopes to be lucky enough to have him for many more seasons to come.

Dave Schranck

One February, with just one class left to take at Fort Lewis College the next semester, Dave was in Denver helping his mom move. He got a call from an old family friend and longtime D&SNG railroader, John Hood, telling him there were some brakemen positions open. Dave asked him to send an application and when John told him to get down here and apply in person, he says that was all it took to get him out of the big city. "I shaved, got a haircut, and went to work the next week." That was the beginning of his career with the railroad.

Not unlike his brother Paul, Dave says he expected to leave Durango after graduating and being laid off from the railroad in the fall. Instead, he worked through the fall and was field promoted to Conductor since the senior trainmen were taking vacations. After graduating with a B.S. in Biology and searching for biology jobs, which he says were temporary and low-paying, he returned to the railroad and has been here ever since.

Dave has worked as a Brakeman, Car Shop/Coach Cleaning Helper, Conductor, Tender and Locomotive Mechanic Helper, Dispatcher, Locomotive Air Brake Helper, Concession Car Hot Drink Specialist, Gandy Dancer, Assistant Trainmaster, Fireman, Engineer, Trade Show
Marketing Representative, Trainmaster, Safety Officer and is now Chief Dispatcher/Director of Safety, Rules & Training.

With all this experience and the many different
perspectives these positions have given him, Dave says the best part of his job is getting to be one of the few "generalists" of the railroad and seeing people learn to take pride in having done the job right and just as it was done a hundred years ago, with hand and lamp signals and great railroaders taking the right actions during tense situations.

One of his most memorable moments was truly being part of history. The roundhouse burned to the ground on February 10, 1989 and Dave worked to help get the locomotives back in service, which happened by May of that same year.

There are some days he still gets to work on the train as a trainman and he says he meets people who envy his "office." He says, "I'm grateful to have spent my career in semi-retirement here in Durango." As Ed Quillen of Salida has said, "We take half our salary in scenery to live in the mountains." Dave agrees that the trade-off has certainly been worth it.

When not working in one of his many roles at the railroad, Dave spends his time raising his kids, cooking, reading, fishing on his Seacycle, dancing, hunting, and is active in
community leadership organizations.

Dave and Paul Schranck grew up in Lakewood, Colorado (which they both agree has grown dramatically from the days they remember there) and then moved to Durango to study at Fort Lewis College.

PAUL SCHRANCK

Like most college students, Paul was barely making ends meet back in the 1980s when family friend and longtime D&SNG railroader, John Hood ("Papa John" to the Schrancks) encouraged him to apply for a job at the railroad. He started his career working an evening shift in the car department, which allowed him to pursue his studies.

Paul's original plan was to work through the fall, get laid off from a seasonal position and move on to pursue other opportunities. Much to his surprise, though, he was asked to stay on through the winter, working nights cleaning coaches, emptying toilets and keeping the coal stoves in the coaches and the depot going through the night. His hard work paid off and the following spring when the railroad was installing a computer, Paul was offered a job in the purchasing department, putting together an inventory system and that was the start of a career, rather than just a seasonal job.

He progressed through many departments and positions, including Labor Carpenter, Coach Cleaner, Fireman, Store Keeper, Purchasing Agent, Concession/Retail Manager, Vice President of Logistics and Special Projects, and is currently Vice President & General Manager. He says that to this day, the best part of his job is "watching the passengers, and especially the kids get so excited when they see the train. I enjoy that the railroad is part of family memories and experiences. "

Paul, like his brother Dave, says working in the roundhouse after the fire of February 10, 1989, is one of the most memorable times working at the railroad. They both share the same amazement that the trains ran that same year and the new building was built.

Little did he know when he first rode the train
as a child in the 1970s that this is where his first job would lead him into a lifetime career. His various roles within the D&SNGRR have also taken him to other railroads. He was the first on-site manager at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (also owned by American Heritage Railways) and temporarily filled the General Manager role with the California Western Railroad.

When he looks back over the last 25 years, he says, "I feel very fortunate to live in Durango and work for the 'world famous' Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad." He also says he truly believes that if he ever stops enjoying riding the train, viewing the scenery, reflecting on the history of the area and the people who built it, he'll need to move on. He's still here after 25 years!

When not working, he spends his time enjoying his marriage and family. He has recently taken up snowboarding and has always enjoyed hiking, fishing, and hunting -something else he shares in common with his brother, Dave.

His wish for the railroad now and moving into the future is for it to continue to operate safely and in the same historic fashion that it has over the past 125 years. Here's to the next 25 years.