JAMES BRINEY. Chicago, Illinois.
One of the best and most prominent engineers of the western end of the Erie is James Briney, who with his family resides in his own pretty cottage at 614 Garfield Boulevard. Mr. Briney is the son of Simon D. Briney an old railroad man, and was born in Armstrong, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 1849. He left school at the age of 14 and for two years engaged in boating on the Pennsylvania Canal, running between Leechburg and Allegheny City. In 1865 he began his railroad career with the Western Pennsylvania Company, part of the Pennsylvania System, working in the construction department for a short time and then as a brakeman for three years, running between Allegheny City and Allegheny Junction. In 1868 he was advanced to fireman, and after six weeks on freight was transferred to a passenger run on which he remained for nine years. During this period Mr. Briney established a record which is equaled by few, and his promotion to engineer in August, 1881, was fully merited. He ran in the freight service of the Pennsylvania until 1883 when he resigned to accept a freight run on the Chicago Division of the Erie. After a short time he was advanced to a passenger run, and for a number of years has pulled trains 9 and 10 between Chicago and Rochester, Indiana.

In July, 1877, Mr. Briney was married to Miss Anna McAllister, daughter of Samuel G. McAllister, a prominent farmer of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Two children have come to bless this happy union, Roy, aged 14, and Elizabeth Jean, 12, both of whom are attending public school. Mr. Briney is a member of Lodge 221, B. of L. E., of Huntington, and the Royal Arcanum. He is the possessor of numerous congratulatory letters from his superiors, in which his judgment as an engineer and fine running are eloquently praised.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

J. Briney
Suspended 10 days from June 23 for being on C&WI without a time card with Conductor E. Sexton, got on time of LNO&O passenger train - carelessness. Severely censured for running through switch at Highlands on Sept. 10th, 1889. Caused by not making proper stop before reaching switch. Also advised that upon any repetition of a like offense he would be relieved from further duty. Suspended 15 days from March 10, 1890 for using abusive language toward the target man at Rochester on February 22, 1890, account of compelling him to come to a stop before giving engineer Briney the target.

SOURCE: P. 189, Chicago & Erie Railroad Employment Summary Book, ledger book covering @ 1880-1905. Donated to this site courtesy of Nick Pappas. Transcription by Jim Sponholz (c) 2007.

From the December, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
In 1914, Engineer Jim Briney was running Train 229 between Huntington and Chicago, Chicago & Erie Division, which was the division's milk train, leaving Huntington at 6:25 a.m. and arriving in Chicago at 11:05 a.m. Assistant to the General Manager, Ohio Division, C.A. Allen rode the train and stated:

"It is always a pleasure for an official of a railroad to observe the efficient work of a competent crew, when its aim and efforts are directed to the accomplishment of making time with a train, doing the station work in the least possible time, losing no time going into and getting out and away from stations and short stops. These much-to-be-desired results can only be brought about by cooperation (team work) and an ambitious determination. Every one of these qualities were conspiciously present in the entire crew of train 220 the day I rode on it.

"Their names follow: Edward Conarty, train conductor; N.E. Conkle, milk conductor; George Freed, baggagemaster; William McGraw, brakeman; 'Jim' Briney, engineer; W.F. Metcalf, fireman.

"Each of these men was on hand at the proper time and place, to take a common and active interest in the work which he had to perform; otherwise the schedule of the train could not have been maintained. The engine took water at Rochester, IN. The water crane, when not in use, is locked in a position parallel with the main track. I noticed Mr. McGraw alight and run ahead before the engine had made the stop, and had the latch unlocked ready to swing the crane around as soon as the engine was spotted for taking water, for which he was waiting and ready. This appreciated promptness is mentioned, as it was only one among thousands of similar small things that could be done to save time and money for the company."

From the October, 1933 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
James Briney, the retired engineer, died at his home in Chicago August 10 (1933). He was an engineer on the old Chicago & Atlantic in 1883 and worked until 1926 when he was retired.