Railroader Retires After 49 Years With the B&O– Feb. 26, 1946

 

For many people nearing the end of their working careers, the idea of retirement is a no-brainer. They can hardly wait to retire, and will even quit working before reaching full retirement age despite the considerable reduction in Social Security benefits. Perhaps they are looking forward to enjoying some leisure time; traveling; pursuing some hobby; or just spending time with their grandchildren.

Other people enjoy their jobs so much – and working in general – that they delay their retirement long after they are fully vested.

George W. Ristine of Lorain was apparently one of those people. As noted in the interesting article below, which appeared in the Lorain Journal back on Feb. 26, 1946 – 80 years ago today – he had just retired at the age of 72 after 49 years with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. 

"Beginning in 1897 as a fireman, the bottom at which all aspiring railroad men must start, he was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1901 and held that post with the B. and O. until his final journey on Jan. 31 this year," it notes.

That's a nice long career. 

So why did he stay on so long?

As the story notes, "Ristine has been eligible for retirement for the past seven years, but stayed on during the war because of the manpower shortage and because he was "in no mood to retire."

I love his comment about finding time heavy on his hands after retirement. "I'm not used to loafing," he chuckled.

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Mr. Ristine was mentioned in the "Log of Lorain" column on April 28, 1942.

Sadly, he passed away on August 14, 1953 only seven years after retiring.

At least he spent his life at a vocation that was the fulfillment of a boyhood dream. How many of us can say that?