From the June, 1927 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Is He Oldest Trainman?
Who is the oldest active trainman on the Erie Railroad? Louis William Berger, of Lakewood, O., is a likely candidate for that honor. Born in 1844, Mr. Berger has been a railroad man for "going on" sixty-six years. First he was brakeman on the Cleveland & Mahoning Railway, now the Mahoning division of the Erie. On June 15, 1875, he entered Erie service as a brakeman at Cleveland.

In 1914, being seventy years old, he was automatically retired from service. Four years later, during the World war, under a new rule he was re-activated and in each year since has successfully passed the examination in vision, color, sense and hearing.

Trainman Berger has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He knows every foot of the ground between Cleveland and Youngstown, O.

"Sixty-six years on the railroad," Berger said recently when duty brought him to Youngstown. "When I first knew Youngstown it was a mere hamlet. I am 83 but my eyes are as sharp as the first day I flagged a train on the old Cleveland & Mahoning."

Lewis W. Berger, Erie trainman of 1672 Robinwood, Lakeview, OH, died January 6, 1928 at age 87. According to the death certificate available online at FamilySearch.org, he was born November 28, 1840 in Pozen, Germany to John S. Berger and Louise Brieritz. Informant was Henry E. Berger, same address. He was widowed. Burial was at Monroe on January 9, 1928.