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As working Americans continue getting hammered by higher fuel costs, the federal government is beginning to signal a major retreat from long-term passenger rail investment at exactly the wrong time.

According to Politico Pro’s May 8 Morning Transportation newsletter, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is proposing to eliminate new fiscal year 2027 appropriations for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program, one of the country’s major passenger rail expansion and modernization programs.

The proposal comes as the massive five-year infrastructure investments passed under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) approach expiration. Rail advocates have increasingly warned the country is heading toward an “investment cliff” once those advance appropriations run out.

The FRA is also proposing reductions to Amtrak funding, including an 8% cut to National Network grants and a 24% reduction to Northeast Corridor grants compared to fiscal year 2026 levels.

Meanwhile, working Americans are dealing with rising transportation costs, economic uncertainty, and fuel prices that continue squeezing household budgets. For millions of commuters and working families, passenger rail and public transportation are not political talking points or luxury services. They are financial lifelines and now more than ever.

The Debate in Washington Is Changing

To be clear, passenger rail funding is not disappearing overnight.

The FRA recently opened applications for billions of dollars in remaining IIJA rail grants, including funding for Northeast Corridor improvements, grade crossing safety projects, and rail infrastructure upgrades. Those projects are still moving forward under previously authorized funding.

But the direction of the conversation in Washington is unmistakable.

The debate is no longer centered on expanding long-term passenger rail investment. It is increasingly centered on how much support federal leaders are willing to continue once the infrastructure law money expires.

For rail labor and working-class communities, that shift carries enormous consequences.

The concern is not whether rail investment exists today. The concern is whether Washington is preparing to pull back support tomorrow while working Americans are still struggling to afford the cost of getting to work. 

Public Transportation Is Proving Its Value

SMART Transportation Division members working commuter rail, passenger rail, and transit operations are seeing exactly what happens when fuel prices rise and economic pressure intensifies.

Ridership climbs. Demand grows. Families search for alternatives to expensive daily driving. Communities rely more heavily on systems that reduce congestion, lower commuting costs, and keep workers connected to jobs.

That is why many transportation advocates view the proposed future reductions in rail support as dangerously disconnected from our current reality.

SMART-TD National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity said Washington appears to be ignoring what working families are experiencing every single day.

“You cannot tell Americans to just swallow higher fuel prices while simultaneously backing away from the very transportation systems that help working people survive them,” Cassity said. “That is completely backwards.”

Cassity said commuter rail and passenger rail become more important during periods of economic strain, not less.

“When gas prices spike, public transportation stops being optional for a lot of families,” he said. “Every train carrying workers into cities, every passenger route connecting communities, every transit system helping people avoid another hundred dollars at the pump matters. Pulling back investment now sends the message that Washington either does not understand what working families are dealing with or simply does not care.”

SMART General President Michael Coleman echoed Cassity’s remarks.

“Gas and diesel prices are higher than they’ve been in years. Many of our members drive long distances to get to work, and they are feeling the pain. Experts are saying that these prices are expected to stay high. And as if that’s not bad enough, this administration’s FRA is reportedly looking at reducing passenger rail funding. Calling balls and strikes, this makes no sense for anyone,” he said. “At a time when more working Americans are relying on public transit than ever — and when our SMART-TD transit workers are more essential than ever — the last thing we need is uncertainty around public transportation jobs and infrastructure. But that’s exactly what we’re getting. We urge Congress and this administration to change course. Stand with our members and working Americans everywhere, and make it a priority to invest in the public transit systems that support our communities.”

The Investment Cliff Ahead

The FRA’s fiscal year 2027 request illustrates the larger problem now looming over passenger rail nationally.

The agency is requesting $2.79 billion in new budget authority for FY27, but many of the large IIJA advance appropriations that dramatically expanded rail investment over the last several years will no longer be available after fiscal year 2026.

That means Congress is entering a critical fight over whether the country will continue building modern passenger rail infrastructure or allow investment to stall once the temporary infrastructure-law funding runs dry.

SMART-TD Deputy National Safety and Legislative Director Don Roach said the timing could not be worse.

“The American people are already telling Washington what happens when transportation costs spiral out of control,” Roach said. “Ridership increases. Demand for public transportation increases. Working people start looking for any way possible to avoid getting crushed by commuting costs.”

Roach said reducing long-term support for passenger rail while families are already struggling financially would be a serious mistake.

“You cannot spend years talking about infrastructure, economic growth, and reducing pressure on working families, then start backing away from transportation investment the second people need it the most,” he said. “If Washington allows this momentum to collapse after IIJA expires, the people paying the price will not be politicians. It will be working Americans sitting in traffic longer, paying more at the pump, and watching transportation options disappear.”

What Comes Next

The debate now unfolding in Congress is larger than a single budget cycle.

It is a test of whether federal transportation policy will continue building on recent passenger rail investments or begin retreating from them just as economic conditions are making reliable public transportation more valuable for millions of Americans.

SMART-TD is urging Congress and the Department of Transportation to maintain strong long-term investment in passenger rail, commuter rail, and transit infrastructure that keeps working Americans moving safely and affordably.

The country is starting to see what sustained rail investment can accomplish.

The question now is whether Washington intends to continue building on that progress, or walk away from it, increasing the power oil companies have over every American. 

On May 5, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Labor adopted regulations clarifying the ABC test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee.

In today’s world where the gig economy is an unavoidable factor, this distinction is extremely important: workers who are classified as independent contractors are often denied unemployment insurance, overtime protections, workers’ compensation coverage, paid sick leave, paid family leave, and even the right to organize.

Less than a week after the rules were finalized, New Jersey’s Senate Labor Committee heard testimony both in favor of and against the decision, and SMART-TD was in the room to make one thing abundantly clear during our remarks: workers who are classified as employees should receive the protections and dignity that status provides.

What is the ABC Test?

Like many other states, New Jersey has a simple, three-pronged test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee, aiming to reduce the likelihood of intentional worker misclassification.

To be classified as an independent contractor, employers must prove all of the following criteria…

  • Worker has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of services, both under the worker’s contract of service and in fact;
  • Work performed is either outside the usual course of the business for which the work is being performed, or the work is performed outside of all the places of business of the enterprise; and
  • Worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business.

These rules are set to take effect on October 1, 2026, 120 days after the anticipated June 1, 2026, publication date.

“This issue is bigger than organized labor…it’s about the future of work”

During his prepared remarks to lawmakers in support of the regulations, SMART-TD’s New Jersey and Delaware State Safety and Legislative Director Ron Sabol explained how this criteria helps the labor movement do what it’s always done for more than a century: protect workers.

“The labor movement has never simply been about protecting the rights of those who pay dues to a union,” he said. “At its core, the labor movement exists to protect the working class; all working people, especially when powerful economic interests attempt to exploit loopholes, gray areas, or changing economic conditions at the expense of workers.”

While members of New Jersey’s business community claimed that the new rules are overly burdensome and that bad actors are already being pushed if they attempt to skirt the law, SLD Sabol push back on that idea.

“The proposed ABC test regulations are important because they bring clarity, consistency, and fairness to an area where too many companies have intentionally operated in the dark,” he said. “These regulations do not create some radical new standard. In many ways, they simply formalize long-established principles already recognized under New Jersey law and case law.“

SMART-TD’s New Jersey and Delaware State Safety and Legislative Director Ron Sabol testifies in favor of the recently adopted regulations on May 11, 2026.

Beyond the Workforce: Misclassification is a Massive Expense

SLD Sabol made it clear that worker misclassification punishes honesty but elaborated on how the damage reaches much further.

“The State of New Jersey itself loses enormous amounts of revenue through payroll tax avoidance connected to worker misclassification,” he explained. “Conservative estimates…projected those losses at approximately $500 million annually. Given the explosive growth of gig-economy employment across the state since then, many believe those losses could now exceed $1 billion every year.”

Money that should be supporting infrastructure, schools, transportation, public safety, and services for New Jersey residents is lost to employers who attempt to intentionally misclassify workers, a serious problem that SLD Sabol believes these regulations will help prevent.

Meeting the Moment by Building Off Past SMART-TD-Led Victories

As SLD Sabol reminded senators, New Jersey isn’t a state that’s known for waiting for others to define labor issues for it: New Jersey is a leader.

Some of those moments have centered around several recent SMART-TD-led legislative victories that have broken new ground and charted a strong path forward for labor.

“This state led the nation in strengthening protections against assaults on bus drivers and transit workers. New Jersey was also among the first states to establish minimum two-person crew requirements for freight trains,” he said. “Those victories happened because this Legislature and New Jersey’s labor community chose to define the times we live in instead of waiting for Congress, Washington bureaucrats, or other states to act first.”

SLD Sabol left lawmakers with a simple question before ending his remarks: will New Jersey continue to lead in protecting working people, or will we allow others to define these standards for us later? 

In the lead up to the October 1 effective date, SMART-TD will continue to make its stance heard loud and clear on New Jersey’s ABC test and ensure that the state remains a leader in worker dignity and economic fairness.

“That’s what we’ve always done and will continue to do,” emphasized SLD Sabol. “Anything less would be a dereliction of duty.”

SMART-TD Local 1570 (Roseville, Calif.) and the entire railroad family at Union Pacific’s Roseville Yard are mourning the loss of Brother Frank Schultz, who passed away unexpectedly last Thursday, leaving behind his wife, mother and sister. Frank was just weeks away from celebrating his 48th birthday with his family, friends, and union brothers and sisters at the end of this month, a chance none of them will have.

Instead, those who knew and loved Frank are now coming together to honor his memory and support the family he cherished so deeply. Please consider joining Local 1570 in support.

Brother Schultz hired out with Union Pacific in 2007 as a conductor and remained a proud UTU/SMART-TD member throughout his entire railroad career.  His union brothers in Local 1570 want it to be known that Frank was “the heart of Union Pacific’s Roseville Yard,” someone whose positivity, kindness and steady presence could always be counted on by the people around him. We all know it isn’t easy to stay positive on the railroad for 19 years, but Frank was unique in his ability to smile through it and find the good in every day.

The fundraiser was organized by Local 1570 Chairperson Ray Kress and others who worked alongside Frank and knew firsthand the kind of man and union brother he was. Those who shared the rails with Frank remember someone who never seemed angry or discouraged regardless of the situation and whose sense of humor and warmth lifted the spirits of everyone who had the opportunity to work with him.

Frank was known throughout the crew base as a dependable coworker and a generous friend. He was the kind of railroader who showed up for others without hesitation. Now, his brothers and sisters in Local 1570 are making sure his family receives the same support that Frank was always willing to provide to others.

As the sole provider for his family, Frank’s passing has left his loved ones facing not only unimaginable grief, but also financial uncertainty and final expenses during an incredibly difficult time. Funds raised through the GoFundMe will help ease that burden and assist the family as they plan a celebration of life in his honor.

The SMART-TD family always stands together. In moments like these, we are reminded that our union is more than a workplace organization. We are a brotherhood and sisterhood built on taking care of one another when it matters most.

Please consider supporting Frank’s family through the fundraiser established by his Local Chair and 1570 brothers. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will help provide comfort and stability to the family Brother Schultz loved so much, while showing that his union family will continue to stand beside them in the difficult days ahead. 

With deep respect for the powerful impact that he left on our union and his enduring legacy, SMART-TD announces the passing of Brother Richard A. “Smitty” Smith (Local 1973, Chicago, Ill.), who passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 81.

Renowned as a Yardmaster legend who trained many of the craft’s current leadership, “Smitty” (as he was known to his brothers and sisters) was devoted to his work and most importantly, his family.

In fact, he was so deeply committed to both areas of his life that two of his three sons, Matthew and Monroe, followed in their father’s footsteps and went to work on the railroad themselves as a Yardmaster and Engineer, respectively, both for Norfolk Southern.

Innate Work Ethic Sets the Stage for More Than Four Decades on the Railroad

Smitty’s dedication to his work was on full display at an early age. By the time he was 8 years old, he was working as a food and supply delivery boy in his neighborhood when a simple paper route would have been more than enough responsibility for most other children his age!

After serving in the United States Marine Corps from December 1961 through December 1964, he returned home and went to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad and then Penn Central after the merger with New York Central. After that, he worked for Conrail and eventually CSX. During this time, he began crafting the legacy that would come to define his 44 years on the railroad.

Fellow Yardmaster and Local 1973 President Dan Weir fondly recalled some of his first interactions with Smitty and the values that he instilled in him as a young railroader.

“Amongst the old heads, Smitty was one of the greatest! I started training as a Yardmaster in late 1995, and he was my first stop to get qualified,” Weir said. “He taught me not just the basics, but the politics and the patience and also the finesse that comes with being a Yardmaster, and I have never forgotten those core values. I feel that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the lessons that he instilled in me.”

A Devoted Family Man Who Loved the Great Outdoors

Beyond the railroad, Smitty was fond of the great outdoors, including fishing, pigeon racing, and raising a host of animals, including ducks, rabbits, and pheasants.

But above all else, he was a family man: a dedicated husband and father who took pride in his work and showed up when it mattered, values he was committed to instilling in his own children.

He is survived by his sons Mark, Matthew, and Monroe Smith, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, and one sister. His wife of nearly 70 years, Brenda, and two brothers predeceased him.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Hillside Funeral Home and Cremation Center (8941 Kleinman Road, Highland, Indiana), followed by a funeral service at 7:00 p.m.

Our union extends its most heartfelt sympathies to the Smith family as they mourn the loss of a beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend who left an enduring impact on many of our members.

Your union fought for this agreement, and we won it because our members demanded real protection. Stakes are too high for empty promises, misleading headlines, and corporate spin. While the media and other railroads keep pushing hype and speculation about this merger, the truth for our people is written right here in black and white: SMART-TD members covered under this agreement have a Job for Life. That means no involuntary furloughs, and it means your craft is protected. Conductors and Engineers stay Conductors and Engineers. The railroad does not get to use a merger as an excuse to erase crafts, wipe out jobs, or force our members aside. That protection exists because SMART-TD stood up and forced it into writing.

We are encouraging every member to read this agreement for yourself. Print it out. Keep it with you. Know your rights and know exactly what was secured for you and your family. This language keeps the company honest, and it puts SMART-TD on record, too. We are proud to stand behind this agreement because it delivers the job security railroaders have demanded for years. The future of this merger belongs to the members who built these railroads, and this agreement makes it clear: SMART-TD members are not getting left behind.

9.19.2025 UP Job protection SMART TD ltr SIGNED (1)Download

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is awarding $220,200 in grants to fund rail safety awareness campaigns in 12 states, furthering its commitment to reducing preventable collisions, injuries, and fatalities on and around railroad tracks.

Together with the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the latter of which provided over $175,000 of the total grant funding, these campaigns will address several topics, including crossing safety and trespass prevention.

Several criteria were evaluated when considering grant recipients, including safety needs and the number of highway-rail collisions and trespass incidents in the state.

Campaigns Target Issues Specific to Certain States

Many of OLI’s state-level campaigns are scheduled to coincide with See Tracks? Think Train® Week, which is scheduled to take place from September 21-27, 2026.

Some of the projects include…

  • Illinois will focus on rail safety education in schools and with community organizations, civic groups, and first responders to help reinforce prevention and shared responsibility around railroad tracks.
  • Maryland will use a targeted public safety campaign to reduce rail-related deaths and serious injuries along some of the state’s commuter rail corridors.
  • North Carolina will launch anoutreach campaign in five communities to reach unhoused communities along and near railroad tracks.
  • Indiana will encourage behavior changes around highway-rail grade crossings and trespassing to reduce rail-related incidents around tracks and trains.
  • Washington will use the FIFA World Cup matches at Lumen Field, located near busy freight, passenger, and commuter rail lines, to conduct a multifaceted rail safety education campaign.

Other projects are planned in California, New Jersey, Ohio, and Missouri.

Help Create Safer Communities Nationwide

A person or vehicle is hit by a train roughly every three hours in the United States, and these projects mark an important step towards changing that reality.

All of us have a role to play in rail safety education and together with Operation Lifesaver, we can work to reduce the number of often-preventable incidents impacting families, railroaders, and communities across the country.

Learn more about the rail safety public awareness campaigns grants ►

Doubling down on our union’s commitment to safety and education, new flyers are now available in the Transportation Division poster library that locals can order or download on their own for use in crew rooms, breakrooms, and on-duty locations.

New Flyers Focus on Member Education

The new additions cover topics ranging from why prospective members should join SMART-TD, to the union vs. non-union difference, SMART-TD’s Regional Training Seminars (RTS), and several other member-centric topics.

This is the third content update to the Transportation Division’s poster library since it was officially launched by the Empowerment, Education, and Engagement (E-3) Committee last spring. As a reminder, these posters are free to any Local that requests them.

The new flyers included in this latest update are…

  • Bulletin Board Background (located in the 11×17 category, Option 6)
  • Election Terms (Option 15)
  • Discipline Income Protection Program (DIPP) (Option 16)
  • Regional Training Seminars (RTS) (Option 17)
  • Union vs. Non-Union (Option 18)
  • Why SMART? (Option 19)
  • SMART University (Option 20)

In addition, the crew room safety posters that were launched earlier this year are now available in a laminated, 11×17 format (Options 4 and 5).

Knowledge is a Powerful Tool: These Flyers Can Help!

If you’d like to request any of the new or existing printed flyers or have an idea for a new addition, please reach out to SMART-TD Vice President James Sandoval at jsandoval@smart-union.org. You can also place an order yourself by completing this form.

An informed member is a powerful member, and these free, easy-to-access resources make our union stronger!

On April 30, 2026, the Associated Press published an article titled, “Amtrak may make it easier to bring guns on its trains despite the alleged attempt on Trump’s life.” In it, the article lays out a White House request (possibly even a demand) for Amtrak to amend its firearm policy to make it easier for passengers to travel with guns. According to the reporting, Amtrak intends to comply with the ask and is entertaining the inclusion of lockboxes on all of its trains for the transportation of weapons. The burden will be placed onto our members serving as conductors and assistant conductors on every Amtrak train to enforce the declaration and storage of the firearms, and to act as the keeper of the keys, if you will, making them the only thing standing between a passenger and their gun. (For scope, AP highlights that this proposal could expand firearms access from a limited number of trains with checked baggage service to more than 1,500 trains a day, including routes used by roughly 750,000 passengers daily just in the Northeast Corridor alone.)

While SMART-TD was not aware of the extent to which Amtrak was considering this request, we have, for a very long time, been concerned with the lack of security on America’s passenger trains. Nowhere is this more evident than our fight against the growing number of assaults on onboard crews and station personnel. And while one is too many, little is being done to correct the dozens, if not hundreds, of attacks that happen annually against our members and other union crafts, which makes this proposal to encourage the presence of more weapons especially problematic.

But, perhaps, even more troubling for me is that the plan has seemingly not changed, even in light of the attempted White House Correspondents’ Association dinner attack that took place last weekend.

According to authorities, Cole Tomas Allen traveled by train from near Los Angeles, CA, to Chicago, IL, then from Chicago, IL, to Washington, D.C., with a 12-gauge pump action shotgun and a .38 caliber handgun that he purchased in California, and the intent to do harm. Knowing that airline transportation would be difficult, given TSA security and strict carrier firearm policies, Allen chose to take the train, where he knew he would not meet any friction points with the firearms in his possession.

But what’s even more frightening is that he is not alone. Just ask our members working those trains, because lurking in the darkness, and extremely under-reported, is the reality and the frequency with which train personnel encounter passengers with undeclared, improperly concealed weapons. And while not all possess intent to do harm, some do… and have. (Note: our members cannot publicly speak to these instances, as they would likely be disciplined and/or terminated.)

This is exactly why we have been pressing on Amtrak to do more and calling on Congress to take action. Because the reality is that Amtrak cannot fix this alone. It will take funding and legislation to see meaningful change, something only Capitol Hill can provide. But to now see that the railroad is poised to encourage the transportation of more guns, even in light of the attack, it is not only evident that commonsense has left the discussion, it is imperative that we find a solution to protect the traveling public and improve the security of this critical national service.

Now, I suspect some might take this as an anti-Second Amendment piece. It is not. I firmly believe in a person’s right to responsibly own and carry a firearm. In fact, I, too, am a gun owner and an avid hunter. And while I miss more than I hit, I enjoy being in the woods, the frustration of losing at sporting clays, and spending some time on the range. But more than anything, I enjoy the camaraderie that goes along with it. Something not true for just me, but also US Army veteran and SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson and many of my fellow Union officers.

As a union, I believe us to be pragmatic when it comes to this discussion, because we understand the value of gun rights, and also the reality of confined rail cars moving at high speed with locked doors, crowded aisles, the availability of alcohol, and no viable exits when a situation turns violent.

Conductors are the only true line of defense.

It does not take much anymore for a basic situation to escalate into something it never should have been. This is especially true for our members simply trying to do routine work. Collecting fares, enforcing policy, addressing overcrowding, protecting handicapped accessible seating, and trying to keep trains safe can all serve as flashpoints.  Add to it the fact that passengers know they have weapons on board, where they are located, and who has the keys, and it’s not hard to figure out that you have a recipe for disaster.

Requiring conductors, or any worker for that matter, to collect and store guns from all passengers will not solve the problem. It will only create new dangers and situations for conductors in which they’re ill-equipped.

Our members are trained to operate trains, protect and assist passengers, and de-escalate conflict. They are not armed security officers, nor should they be. Requiring them to manage, secure, or potentially confront an angered passenger attempting to improperly access their gun, is a bridge too far (and to be frank, an asinine notion). We have documented cases where our conductors have been brutally assaulted for asking passengers not to smoke or to make a seat available for others. How do we see that going when we ask them to disarm unwilling passengers?

Allegedly, in his planning, Cole purposefully chose to travel by train with the intent of killing the President of the United States. In doing so, he crossed state lines with an assortment of weaponry, and he did so with ease. If that does not give policy and rule makers pause, then what will?

SMART-TD has worked with our Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and lawmakers to reduce assaults on transportation workers. We have pushed for de-escalation, better reporting of assaults, stronger penalties, and real prevention. This proposal, in an instant, could erase all of that progress.

Our members do not want the “thoughts and prayers” of members of Congress after a conductor, assistant conductor, onboard service worker, or passenger is killed by an onboard threat. They want them to listen now to their cries for help. Something can and must be done before it’s too late.

Amtrak needs to stand up and reject this request, take politics out of the equation, demand a better safety environment for its passengers and workers, and Congress needs to give them resources to do it.

SMART-TD is the largest rail labor union in America, and I want it on the record that we will fight this proposal with every tool at our disposal.

Jared Cassity Amtrak EditorialDownload

SMART-TD mourns the loss of Brother Jonathan McFarland (Local 1545, Monroe, La.), who passed away on April 19, 2026, at the age of 45.

An engineer for Union Pacific since 2014, Brother McFarland was involved in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 and left the scene on foot. Sadly, he was found in a swamp close to the crash site several days later.

A Meal Train has been set up to ease the burden on his family as they grieve their beloved husband and father. If you’re able and willing to do so, please consider signing up to provide a meal for the family or contributing to the donation fund.

A Man of Deep Faith and a Dedicated Railroader

After graduating from Crowville High School and the United Theological Seminary where he earned a Master’s Degree in Theology, Brother McFarland enlisted and served in the Army National Guard for 27 years.

He was a member of Alpha Lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons, PHA of Monroe, Louisiana, where he served as second in command as the Senior Warden of the lodge.

Brother McFarland also served as a deacon at Union Valley Baptist Church, the same parish where he was baptized.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 21 years, Betty, son Jonathan Terrell McFarland II (JT), his parents, Oliver and Marilynn McFarland, two brothers, two sisters, his grandmother, and a long list of extended family and friends.

Louisiana State Safety & Legislative Director Chris Christianson is a member of the same local and says that the impact of the loss is being felt amongst his brothers and sisters.

“The loss of a fellow railroader always hurts, but it’s even more painful when it’s a member of your local” he said. “Brother McFarland had a car at the away from home terminal and never made it back home after the accident. We continue to mourn for his wife, son, and family and are willing to support them in any way possible.”

Railroaders take care of one another, especially when the unthinkable happens. Now, it’s time for us to do the same for Brother McFarland’s family as they process this devastating loss.