Don Paxton Railroad Video (1987)

My grandfather, Donald Charles Paxton (1929 - 2018), recorded this video with his RCA camcorder in 1987, before he retired from working on the B&O Railroad out of the Newark, Ohio, division. He started work there in March of 1950, and retired in 1989. In this video, he is conducting a train as it goes from Newark, Ohio, to Zanesville and to Columbus and back. There are scenes of the engineer, the countryside, and inside the caboose. Also, there are scenes of trains leaving and arriving at the Newark Rail Yards, and later in the video, there are scenes of machines laying down new track. Overall, this is a unique documentary, filmed by a railroad man, depicting life on the railroad in central Ohio during the later part of the 20th century.

Here is what my grandfather said, in his own words, about working on the railroad:

"I am aware the B&O was the first passenger hauling railroad in the United States. Two things I have been grateful for: I was hired out when Steam Engines were used, and also when there were seven passenger trains on Newark Division of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Diesel Engines replaced Steam just a few years after I hired. Passenger trains were also replaced with freight hauling trains. Newark, Ohio, was our Division Terminal. We had sub-divisions that ran to Wheeling, WVa, Willard, and Cincinnati. Also had branches out of Zanesville to Marietta, Newark to Shawnee, Willard to Sandusky. Total of 600 miles of trackage, plus many yard tracks.

In Willard (Chicago Jct) we stayed overnight at a large Railroad YMCA, in Benwood, WVa, another large Y was our overnight lodging. In Cincinnati, we stayed at the Stockyards Hotel. Sometimes at outlying points, we slept in the Caboose. I really preferred working in Newark Yards because I could stay at home.

My first promotion was being qualified to work as Flagman. Second promotion was a Yard Foreman, and last was a Road Conductor. Hired in March 1950, worked until drafted for the Army in 1951 until 1953, then returned to railroad. Retired in 1989 with early pension, due to buyout.

Only requirement for hiring was a high school education and purchase of a railroad standard watch. I was able to buy the watch from Penn Jewelers in Wheeling, WVa, and the cost was extracted from my first paycheck. My Brother-in-Law, Cliff Jinks was also a Conductor, hiring in 1941. It was through his recommendation that I was hired. Before, I had worked at a local tile plant for two years. Hindsight shows railroading was a much better job. I always seemed to have the physical and mental capacity to be comfortable in this line of work."

For more information on Don Paxton and the B&O Railroad, check out the following link:
http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/southeas...