BNSF treats families, residents to rail excursion; donates $5,000 to McCook Community Foundation Fund

Andy Williams of BNSF addresses the gathering. (Shary Skiles/McCook Gazette)

Walt Sehnert, left, chats with State Sen. Dan Hughes, while Jeff Davis of BNSF, standing, chats with Greg and Pam Wolford, Dennis and Cora Berry. (Bruce Crosby/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook residents got a rare opportunity Thursday to experience Southwest Nebraska through the rails of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. BNSF invited community leaders and families of BNSF employees to come aboard for a short excursion west of Trenton and back to McCook.

Andy Williams, BNSF Director of Public Affairs told the gathering that BNSF was hosting this event as a thank you to railroad communities and to give families the opportunity to see exactly what their loved ones do when they are called away.

"We at BNSF consider McCook a key community. We have a strong employee base here. BNSF has a rich heritage in Nebraska, particularly in McCook."

Among those welcoming the McCook crowd was Boyd Andrew, a former railroad employee from McCook who went on to be General Manager of Burlington Northern/Santa Fe in Nebrraska.

Andrew, now retired, worked for the railroad in McCook from 1974 to 1985. He is the son of Jim and Pearl Andrew from Palisade. Boyd attended Hayes County schools and said he still considers this area as his home.

McCook has a great railroad heritage, he said, paying tribute to the Potthoffs, the Lebsacks, the Gulls, the Adamses and many other families for their contributions to railroading for the Burlington.

In addition to the luxurious train ride, BNSF made a generous donation of $5,000 to the McCook Community Foundation Fund. Several executives from BNSF came to McCook Thursday to be part one of the rides, including BNSF President and Chief Executive Officer Carl Ice for the afternoon excursion.