From the March, 1912 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine
ENGR. M OF W. JAMES BURKE.
The biography of Mr. James Burke, Engineer Maintenance of Way, Lines West, is presented in this number, together with his picture.

Mr. Burke was born in Oswego, N.Y., and resided there until the age of 9 years, when he moved to Minnesota with his parents. He received his education in the Common Schools, and at the High School of that state. His railroad career was begun at the age of 17, as Timekeeper on the CM&StP., when it was under construction through Wisconsin and Minnesota. He then worked as laborer on the construction of the C&NW R.R. through Minnesota; also as bridge builder.

He became section foreman on the Winona & St. Peter R.R. and from that to construction foreman, building bridges and culverts on the Dakota Central. His next position was that of foreman on work trains, then brakeman and conductor for three years on the Winona & St. Peter R.R., part of the C&NW system.

In 1880 he was appointed Assistant Roadmaster on the AT&SF R.R., at Las Vegas, N.M. In 1883 he was appointed Division Roadmaster on the M&St. L. R.R., at Minneapolis, Minn., when the work of building the Minnesota Division of that road was under way. In 1886 he was appointed Roadmaster on the "Soo" Line at Minneapolis, of which road Mr. F.D. Underwood, now President of the Erie, was in charge.

Thereafter Mr. Burke was engaged in the construction of several hundred miles of this road. In 1893 he was promoted to General Roadmaster and in March, 1899 was appointed Division engineer of the B. & 0., at Grafton, West Virginia, where he remained until October, 1902, when he was appointed Engineer M. of W. of the Erie at Cleveland, 0., in charge of the Chicago & Erie Division.

In April, 1904, he took charge of the Erie Grand Division at Jersey City, and in April 1907 returned to the old post at Cleveland.

Mr. Burke has characteristics that make him much sought after. He is a story teller of wonderful versatility, his Irish stories being the funniest creations that ever "came down the pike." When you get good and near "Jim" Burke, and know him well, then he opens like the proverbial clam at high water, and you feel that you have met a man of real originality.