Friendship forged through railroad life
By LESLIE SMITH
Staff Writer
What started as a simple round of interviews over a decade ago for BNSF conductor positions in Aberdeen, South Dakota, blossomed into a special friendship between four perfect strangers.
Following conductor training in 2011, an initial group chat among the trainees became a text thread that has survived at least six iPhone models. That group includes locomotive engineers Jeremy Dittmer and Tom Soper; Mark Fleet, senior IT business consultant; and Trent Dunlap, manager of Transportation Training.
Getting started as a new railroader can be challenging, both for the employees and their families. This was something the newcomers to Aberdeen shared. As they stepped up to the challenge together, their friendship and support for one another naturally grew.
“What bonded us was that we all sacrificed a lot to get to Aberdeen in the first place,” Fleet said. “We all knew we couldn’t quit and that it had to work. Passing the training was important for us and our families, and there were many nights of studying together. Ironically, all four of us ended up at the top of the class.”
All the late-night study sessions paid off and after their 15-week course, each was offered a role at BNSF as conductors. As the years passed, and their railroading experience and interests evolved, each graduated to new roles at BNSF.
But even as they advanced in their careers and physically moved away from each other, their friendship endured. They’ve constantly stayed in touch through the years, supporting one another through tough times and celebrating important life events together.
“When we call each other, there's usually a good story involved,” Dittmer said.
“There's just a common bond of the lifestyle of being on the road and the lifestyle of being away,” Dunlap said. “Everybody [who works in this field] shares this bond. You understand all the struggles, the missing of things. These guys understand it because they've lived it.”
Their work bonds soon extended into personal bonds. Fleet was Dittmer’s best man. All their families know each other well, and they share their kids’ graduation pics and other life milestones.
“We all know one thing…we’ve all got a couch open for each other,” Soper said.
They know they can count on each other, especially in times of need. Fleet recalls Soper’s help to repair his truck when it broke down on a drive from South Dakota to Fort Worth, Texas.
“I left at 4 a.m. I didn't even make it 90 miles before my truck broke down,” Fleet said. “In the middle of a blizzard, after getting off a train, Tom drove from Willmar to Watertown, Minnesota, with a new alternator and together we changed it so I could get to Fort Worth.”
They also collaborate and lean on each other within their jobs at BNSF.
Fleet, who worked on Positive Train Control (PTC) technology, remembers calling Soper frequently for perspective from a field employee. He also relies on Dittmer, who he credits as a library of information on labor agreements, for help on projects.
The friendship between these BNSF railroaders is one of countless examples of the deep bonds that can be borne out of life on the railroad. Moving our nation’s freight comes with both challenges and rewards—but through it all nothing can replace the gift of a true friend who’ll be there when you need them.
