LESTER JOSEPH RUPP, Wyoming Division Trackman
Lester Joseph Rupp was born October 23, 1906 in Duryea, PA to Joseph Rupp and Margaret Carey Rupp. He applied for work with the Erie Railroad Company at age 17 and was accepted into the service as a trackman at Avoca, PA on February 5, 1924. He worked as a member of a section gang in a satisfactory manner, with only one injury showing on his record (a lacerated and bruised finger which occurred on May 16, 1928).
In November of 1928, Rupp applied for the position of Welder Helper at Dunmore, PA, and was promoted to that position on Nov. 16, 1928. During his career as Welder Helper, he lost one day due to an injury at Dunmore yard: on October 8, 1935, he had thrown a switch to let motor car #168 onto an adjoining track, and in running to catch up with the car he caught his heel on a tie and fell to the ground, cutting his left hand. Later that month, an incident occurred in the yard that prompted his Welder to write a letter stating that Rupp had not caught on to the task of welding and had acted in an unsafe manner. While the Division Engineer felt the complaint "appeared to be more of a personal feeling than anything else," he acknowledged that that did not contribute to satisfactory performance on the part of the Welders. On October 28, 1935, Rupp was demoted to his previous position as Trackman at Avoca.
As trackman, Rupp acquired additional skills of use to the Maintenance of Way department. On April 18, 1938, he was rated as qualified to work as a Bolt Machine Operator, tightening the bolts on the joint bars that held the tracks together. On April 30, 1938, Rupp was qualified to operate a motor car in service on the Wyoming and Wilkes-Barre & Eastern Divisions. Between May 2, 1938 and November 14, 1939, he was temporarily assigned to work as Bolt Machine operator 14 separate times, the longest stretch being for about 8 months. Typically, however, he would work the Bolt Machine for a few days at a time, as needed, before being transferred back to Trackman.
During his time as Trackman, Rupp lost work time due to injuries that occurred off the job. On January 6, 1936, he was cracking coal at home when a piece flew up and scratched his left wrist. The scratch became infected, but he continued to work until February 4 when he sought medical treatment. He returned to work on February 10, 1936. On January 9, 1937, he injured his left knee when he slipped while cleaning his chicken coop. He was not qualified by the Company Surgeon to return until January 26, 1937.
On June 14, 1939, a revised roster of Trackmen was issued by the Erie, showing that Lester Rupp had continuous rights as a Trackman from 1924 on. On July 14, 1939, George Calomino, a Trackman on Section 4, filed a grievance stating that the time Rupp worked as Welder Helper should not count in his seniority as Trackman. An adverse ruling would mean Rupp's seniority as Trackman would only start as of the date he was terminated as Welder Helper -- previous time worked in the position would be lost in terms of seniority. On September 9, 1939 the Division Engineer denied the grievance, ruling that the roster would stand as published.
In 1941, Erie Railroad Magazine reported that Lester Rupp's wife passed away on April 14th.
In 1942, Rupp was injured three times while on duty. The first injury occurred on February 26, 1942 when he sustained cuts and bruises to the toes of his right foot, an injury that kept him off the job for one day. He had been working on opening a hopper car door with a wrench when the door suddenly flew open, knocking the wrench from his hands and landing on his right foot. On August 18, he strained his back operating the Bolt Machine at Lackawaxen, PA. His personnel record does not indicate whether he lost time due to this injury. On October 27, he was tightening bolts at Elmhurst, PA when cinders flew up and became lodged in his right eye. He was treated without losing any work time.
Also in 1942, Rupp applied for a listed opening for Bolt Machine Operator and was awarded the position. However, while he thought the position was a temporary appointment, the Company had intended to post it as a permanent position. Writing from Forest City, PA on August 4, 1943, Rupp asked to be returned to his previous position as Trackman, as he did not like having to live away from home in a camp car. With the concurrence of the Brotherhood of MOW Employees, Division Engineer L. Rossman authorized Rupp's return to Trackman on Section 2 effective September 3, 1943.
On April 17, 1945, an opening for the temporary position of Assistant Section Foreman for Section 12, Jessup, PA, was posted. Rupp applied for the job and was awarded it on May 7, 1945, after successfully passing a 39-question written test. This temporary assignment lasted until December 15, 1945, when he returned to his previous position at Avoca.
Another temporary position of Acting Assistant Foreman, this time of a track gang working out of Avoca, came Rupp's way on October 13, 1947. This assignment only lasted two weeks.
Back on Section 2, Rupp was injured September 15, 1948 while gauging track. A cinder or other foreign object became lodged in his left eye. He was treated without losing any time.
In 1949, Rupp applied for another temporary assignment, this being Carpenter Helper on MOW Carpentry Gang 70, Dunmore, PA. This assignment lasted just over two weeks and was completed satisfactorily.
1952 was another bad year for Rupp in terms of injuries. On April 17, 1952, he was using an oil-burning Greer Snow Melting Safety Can to burn brush and weeds in the Old Forge Breaker Yard when the wind shifted and blew the flame back into the can, igniting it. Rupp suffered burns to three fingers of his right hand and right forearm. He was treated for his burns and did not miss any additional work time.
On June 4, 1952, the Erie's Chief Surgeon, W.E. Mishler of Cleveland, ordered Rupp out of service immediately due to "sickness," following a physical examination at Avoca. Mishler ordered Rupp "to get treatment from his family Doctor at his own expense," and report back for an additional examination in a month. It is not known whether this was related to the burns received April 17, but Rupp was out of service until June 23. On July 14, he was ordered to report to Mishler's office in Cleveland in a memo that referenced the April 17 injury. The Chief Surgeon ruled on July 22 that Rupp was qualified to return to duty, but with the requirement that he be reexamined every 90 days by Company Physicians.
On September 12, 1952, Rupp suffered another injury while in an auto being transported to Colliery Yard to repair a switch. The auto struck a high iron manhole cover, and Rupp was thrown forward against the windshield, causing bruises of the head and forearm. He did not lose any time due to this accident.
Additional light was shed on Rupp's "sickness" in an August 14, 1957 memo from MOW Supervisor Burns R. Perfect to the Division Engineer, stating that Rupp's physical condition was such that a medical examination was recommended, "as it is our understanding that he has sugar diabetes." Rupp was examined by Company Physician Dr. L.C. Druffner on Sept. 11, 1957 and approved for service, with the requirement that he continue to be reexamined every 90 days.
When the Erie Railroad formally merged with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western to form the Erie Lackawanna on October 17, 1960, Lester Rupp was living at 420 Minooka Ave. in Moosic, PA, working as Trackman on Section 12, Avoca.
On January 7, 1961, Dr. Druffner again qualified Rupp for work following a periodic examination. On January 13, a lampman found him lying in the Avoca Yard, the victim of a fatal heart attack.
According to the obituary published in the January 14, 1961 issue of the Scranton Times, Rupp was survived by his wife, Helen (Tiowanich) Rupp; a daughter, Jean (Mrs. Jack Thorne); two sons, Norman of Moosic, and Kenneth, serving with the Air Force on Okinawa; his stepmother, Mrs. Joseph Rupp, Duryea; a stepbrother, Joseph McCanely, Duryea; a stepsister, Mrs. Hugh Craig, Newark, DE, and six grandchildren. His funeral was held January 16 from the Maury Funeral Home, Moosic, with services conducted by Rev. William Frazer of the Moosic Presbyterian Church. Interment was at Marcy Cemetery, Duryea.
Lester Rupp worked for the Erie/EL for 37 years in the Maintenance of Way department, a vital element in assuring the safe passage of trains over the road. He was a member of the Moosic Presbyterian Church, the Erie Lackawanna Veterans Association, the Erie Lackawanna Brotherhood, and Moosic Hose Co. 1.