Conductor Tim McMakin, BLET Division 13
Conductor Tim McMakin and Locomotive Engineer Antonio Ramos have known each other for a long time. Both are members of the BLET Division 13 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and have worked together countless times out of BNSF Railway’s Barstow Yard on the Barstow Subdivision in Illinois.
So Conductor McMakin knew something was wrong when Engineer Ramos stopped replying to his radio instructions during the set-out of a scheduled trip from La Crosse to Galesburg, Illinois, on Sunday, October 27.
When his senses told him that something was wrong, Brother McMakin walked quickly to the locomotive and found Brother Ramos awake but unable to communicate. McMakin said it looked like he had suffered a stroke. Ramos communicated with McMakin by squeezing his hand for some yes-no questions. McMakin called 911 and Ramos was transported to the hospital.
Brother Ramos survived, but has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The tumor created swelling, which created seizures. The seizures gave them the appearance of having suffered a stroke.
Division 13 Local Chairman Mike Banks explained: “I happened to be in the area on another train and was in contact back and forth with McMakin and BNSF management. Brother McMakin acted on intuition and immediately went to assist Ramos. Had he not reacted like he did, the outcome could have been much worse, as the seizures were ongoing, and time was critical. I can attest that Brother McMakin acted calmly and assertively and most likely saved Brother Ramos’s life.”
Brother Ramos spent a few days in the hospital, where doctors reduced the swelling and stopped the seizures. He is at home now, awaiting brain surgery soon.
“What the future holds for Brother Ramos is still uncertain, but had this been a one-man crew, he may not have had a future,” Local Chairman Banks said. “Thankfully, Brother McMakin was there for him.”