Jack R. Bengtson

Written by NARVRE. Posted in Uncategorized.

Area 2 Director

Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia

Railroad experience

1966 Hired out in Milwaukee with C&O/B&O Railroad (predecessor of CSX Transportation) as a ticket clerk and teletype operator for their cross lake ferry service.
Entered train service in 1967 as switchman and conductor switching, loading & unloading carferries.
1973 Moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and worked as a road trainman, conductor and passenger conductor operating Amtrak trains between Grand Rapids and Chicago.
Served as Local President, and Asst. Local Chairman for the United Transportation Union, Local 313.
Instructed CSX safety & operating rules for CSX and Amtrak employees starting in 1983.
Set up monthly food distribution program (Chessie Employees Food Program) for unemployed railroad workers in 1983.
Represented CSX Transportation’s Detroit Division at Chicago’s CORA (Chicago Operating Rules Assoc.) meetings.
Conductor on CSX’s presidential inspection and re-election campaign trains for George H.W. Bush in 1992 as it traveled through Ohio and Michigan.
Involved in the daily operation of CP/Soo – St. Lawrence & Hudson Railroad trains through Grand Rapids, including the twice daily operation calls and facilitating the monthly root cause meetings.
Co-wrote the CSX Conductor’s training program and taught the program in Atlanta and at Cincinnati State College.
Helped establish Total Quality System in West Michigan and was involved in the organization and leadership of Labor/Management and Customer Focus groups.
Received the CSX Quality award for the design, development, testing and production of a rechargeable railroad lantern with the Norfolk Southern Railroad and Star Lantern Company.
1998 Promoted to Assistant Trainmaster and then Trainmaster, retiring in 2003 with 37 years of service.
Joined NARVRE in 1999 and served as Program Chairman, Unit President 2006 – 2017, delegate to five national conventions and Assistant Area 2 Director 2008 – 2017.

Additional

Served in the USAF from 1962 – 1966.
Regional Manager for Waukegan Tire Companies Factory Tire Outlet in Byron Center 1985 – 1987.
Appointed to the Grandville Planning Commission 2006 – Present.
Grandville United Methodist Church usher, Staff Parish Relations Committee Chairman, member of finance committee and the Grand Rapids District Superintendancy Committee.