The North Dakota State Railroad Museum will mark its 25th anniversary Sunday (Aug. 22) during its Railroad Days celebration, and as part of the celebration they will be honoring UTU retirees Walter Uhlman and Fred Smith, the Bismarck Tribune reports.
(Uhlman and Smith are retired members of Local 1344, Mandan.)
A full slate of events is planned from 12:30 to 5 p.m. including the induction of three individuals (two of them UTU members) into the North Dakota Railroad Hall of Fame.
An induction ceremony begins at 4 p.m. with Walter Uhlman and Fred Smith, both of Mandan, and retired conductors on the Northern Pacific Railway and Andy Piatz of Minot, a retired Soo Line Railroad section foreman.
Smith began his career with Northern Pacific in 1951 as a brakeman working out of Sidney, Mont., and Mandan, becoming a conductor in 1963. He retired in1990 after 39 years.
Uhlman began his career in 1950 as a brakeman working the south branch, the main line from Mandan to Dickinson and Sidney switch.
He became a conductor in 1966 and retired in 1985 after 35 years.
Piatz began with the Soo Line in 1971 as a laborer. He worked in Herried, S.D., Bismarck and Minot, becoming a section foreman in 1991. He retired in 1931 after 30 years.
Events include a hobo banquet, entertainment by Family Folk, free anniversary cake, live steam demonstrations by Ed Duke of Hensler with rides on the Sky Line Railway and much more.
Also planned are speeder demonstrations by John Beck and Jerry Olson.
There also are new displays at the NP Hall of Fame Building and the RR Maintenance of Way Shop and a railroad photo contest.
Prizes will be awarded in two divisions: early railroading division (prior to 1970) and modern railroading division (after 1970).
Photos should be submitted that day between noon and 1 p.m.
The Cowboy Action Performers will stage the Great Train Robbery at 3 p.m.
The Railroad Museum is located in north Mandan off I-94 Exit 152, north on Old Red Trail to 37th Street and 30th Avenue NW.
Admission to the museum is free and donations are accepted.
(This item appeared Aug. 18, 2010, in the Bismarck Tribune. Additional information added by UTU editors.)
