JAMES M. BARRY, Carbondale, Pennsylvania.
An engineer of sterling worth and a man who is popular with his fellow citizens and railroad associates is James M. Barry, who for a number of years has run freight engines on the Jefferson Division. Mr. Barry is the son of John Barry, a machinist in the employ of the Erie and residing in Susquehanna, and it was in this city on December 23, 1864, that he was born. Having secured a good common school education, he cast about for a means of earning a livelihood, and for a short time drove a team in Susquehanna. From that occupation he drifted to the coal dock transfer of the Erie, where he worked a short time, being advanced to the position of fireman in 1882. He applied himself to this work with diligence and in 1888 was promoted to engineer and assigned to a freight run on the Jefferson Division. This position he continues to fill acceptably to his superiors, by whom he is highly regarded. Mr. Barry belongs to Lodge No. 468, B. of L. E., and takes great interest in the affairs of that order.

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

From the December, 1915 issue of Erie Magazine:
Engineer J.M. Barry of the Delaware Division received recognition for having successfully operated an engine in freight service for a total mileage of 23,164 miles, without an engine failure.

From the November, 1926 issue of Erie Magazine:
Engineer Dies in Cab
JAMES BARRY, Erie locomotive engineer at Carbondale, Pa., died suddenly in the cab of his engine at Carbondale just as he was finishing his day's work, Friday, Oct. 8 (1926). The Susquehanna Transcript says he was operating an engine on what is known as "the mine run," and while backing a caboose into a switch he stopped the locomotive to allow a switch to be thrown. Trainmen gave the signal to back up but he did not respond and was found dead in the cab from heart trouble.

Engineer Barry was born sixty years ago in Susquehanna. Early in life he entered the service of the Erie, and since 1888 had been a locomotive engineer on the Jefferson division.

He is survived by a widow, five children, four brothers and one sister. The funeral and burial were at Carbondale on Oct. 12.