Erie Railroad Biography - James Tuskey


James Tuskey

JAMES TUSKEY, Buffalo, New York.
To the men on the Buffalo Division the features of James Tuskey are well known. He was born on the last day of February, 1857, and therefore has a birthday every year, whereas if he had been born a year sooner he could only celebrate his noted anniversary once ever four years. So he had a narrow escape to begin with, and this may account for his choosing a railroad life, fraught with dangers as it is. He first saw the light of day at Gulf Summit, Broome County, New York. His favorite occupation while at school seems to have consisted of drawing pictures of locomotives on his slate, thus early evincing a taste for the profession he was ultimately to follow. At the age of 14 he left school, and immediately applied for work on the railroad. This he obtained, his first service being rendered as water boy. For two years be kept this up, and then decided he wanted more schooling and so intense was his desire to better himself in this respect that he used to walk three miles and back every day in order to attend the little village school house. Sometime later having grown big enough to whip the teacher (though we are not informed that he ever attempted it) he returned to the railroad, working in a repair gang, his father being the foreman.

On March 1, 1880, he entered upon the duties of a brakeman which he followed for two years. While so occupied Mr. Tuskey experienced an accident that nearly cost him his life, being caught and crushed between the bumpers. As a result he was laid up for two months. Upon recovery, he made application to Superintendent Neilson for a position as fireman and his request was granted. After firing extra for two weeks he was assigned to a regular engine with Henry Hoffman; a year later a change in the system of regular runs necessitated his return to extras where he remained for another year. His next regular run was with Elias Brees, then with T.S. Ellis, both freight engineers. He then fired for 0.A. Cooper on a passenger engine for four months, after which he was transferred to the way freight under M. Leahy, with whom he remained three years, when he went on trains 3 and 10 with Engineer Elliott. Five months later while fulfilling the duties of the last named position Mr. Tuskey was called in for promotion. On September 19, 1890, Engineer Tuskey began on the "first in first out" system, which he kept up for about a year, being then given a regular engine on the rounds. For three years he ran between Buffalo and Hornellsville, and on account of a reduction in the number of trains was put back on the extra list.

Mr. Tuskey like the vast majority of his fellow engineers is a family man. His wife was Miss Mary Brick of Hornellsville. They were married in that city in 1887. Mr. Tuskey has often been heard to declare that his "wife is a perfect brick." Their only son is now attending school and bids fair to stand at the head of his class. While a fireman Mr. Tuskey joined the ranks of B. of L.F., and as a matter of course became a member of the B. of L.E. as soon as eligible therefore. He has not yet held any office in that body, but is recognized as one of its most sturdy champions. He is a member of St. Patrick's church and identified with the C. B. A.

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




From the October, 1945 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
James J. Tuskey, 88, retired engineer, died Aug. 14 (1945) at his home in Buffalo. He had lived in that city for a half century.

He started railroading at 15 with a track maintenance crew on the Erie. Later, he became a freight brakeman and then took up firing. Assigned to the Buffalo-Hornell fast freight run, he rose to engineer and handled the throttle for nearly 40 years before he retired 18 years ago at 70.

He was an honorary member of Div. 15, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and wore the Erie 50-year gold emblem.

He is survived by a son, John H. Tuskey.





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