CLEVELAND, August 18 — A picnic for current BNSF and retired ATSF operating employees is planned for Emporia, Kan., on Saturday, September 19.
Dubbed the Big Four reunion, the event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Peter Pan Park in Emporia, Kan. According to event organizer Terry Coffelt, the “Big Four” refers to the former railroad unions Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Order of Railway Conductors.
Coffelt said he is organizing the event with retired BLE local officer Bob Foster, who is known in Emporia as a rail historian specializing in the Big Four unions.
Coffelt said he and Foster are hoping to resurrect the annual picnic, which began in the 1920s. Coffelt said the annual picnic was so popular in years pas that the Santa Fe ran special trains to Emporia for the day, and the event featured day-long baseball tournaments and boxing matches.
Food and drinks will be available. Anyone with questions should contact Terry Coffelt at (620) 341-9165, or email: colfax01us@yahoo.com.