Chenango Telegraph, Friday, July 2, 1937
Veteran Conductor of O. & W. Retires
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Percy E. Spring of This City Holds Record
of 56 Years’ Service
In the retirement yesterday of Percy E. Spring, the Northern Division if the New York, Ontario & Western Railroad lost its oldest employee in conductor service. More than half a century ago, 56 years to be exact, Mr. Spring entered the service of the railroad and he retired Monday with a record of efficiency and loyalty that has won high praise from associates and officers of the road.
Retiring on pension this veteran of thousands of miles of railroading will enjoy a rest in the pleasant atmosphere of his home at 79 Cortland street, in this city. A charming wife who has “railroaded” with him for near 50 years will remain”on the job” to see that every comfort is administered. A few years after he entered the railroad service Mr. and Mrs. Spring were married at South New Berlin. Their golden wedding anniversary will be celebrated January 19, 1938.
In 1881 Mr. Spring launched his railroading career, starting as a brakeman on the New Berlin branch. Soon deserved promotion made hi flagman on a coal train out of Sidney, a rank he filled for four years.
Fro a period of 13 years he was on the New Berlin branch of the road, entering main line service as a conductor on trains 5 and 6 from Walton to Oswego. For eight years he held this run. The road then changed the terminal to Earlville and for five years Mr. Spring held the run to New York.
The terminal was then changed again to Utica and Mr. Spring took the Walton-Oswego run as conductor in charge of trains 1 and 2. For seven years he held this job.
Another seven years was written into his record as conductor on trains 41 and 42 running between Norwich and Oswego. Times were changing and the automobiles were coming into the picture. Trains 41 and 42 were discontinued for 11 months. Mr. Spring was conductor on Trains 55 and 56 running between Walton and Utica. This run was discontinued in April, 1930 at which time he took trains 9 and 10 between Sidney and Oswego
The northern terminal of this run was changed to Oneida in January, 1932 and he held that run until his last regular run Sunday, June 27, 1937.
In fine health Mr. Spring is looking ant his retirement with considerable pleasure and recounts with modest pride incidents covering more than a half century of railroading. “Changes have come and it is hard to keep them straight,” he said Tuesday. In conductor service Mr. Spring was the second oldest man on the entire road. He has countless friends in this city, Oneida and Walton and all along the line who will wish him every happiness and comfort in his retirement from active duty.
