Spring 2015

The Railroad Evangelist Magazine - Proclaiming the Good News since 1938

WE BELIEVE 1. We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired by God, and inerrant in the original writings. They are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. 2. We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true Man. 4. We believe that man was created in the image of God: that he sinned, and thereby incurred, not only physical death, but also Spiritual death which is separation from God. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, and in the case of those who reach moral responsibility become sinners in thought, word, and deed. 5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice. In addition that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed Blood. 6. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified Body of our Lord, in His Ascension into Heaven and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate. 7. We believe in "that blessed hope," the personal, premillennial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 8. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. 9. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost. - The Railroad Evangelistic Association

Luther S. Harkey 1885 - 1949 Founder of the Railroad Evangelistic Association

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- Mission Statement - The Railroad Evangelistic

Association exists to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to the

entire railroad community worldwide and to promote mutual

Christian fellowship among, though not limited to, those of the railroad industry, the model railroad hobby-

ists and the rail fan enthusiasts.

REA 2014 - 2015 OFFICERS

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(Based upon per issue) 100 copies $25.00 50 copies $20.00 20 copies $10.00 10 copies $5.00 Subscribe today for yourself or a friend, make out your check or money order to REA and send to:

REA PO Box 5026

Vancouver, WA 98668

The Railroad Evangelist magazine is pub-lished three times a year by GISI Marketing Group of Tualatin, Oregon for the Railroad Evangelistic Association. Second class post-age paid at Vancouver, WA. Circulation: 2,700.

PLEASE NOTE: If you move or have a change of address please let the Sec/Treas know as soon as possible. It costs us 83 cents for each returned magazine. The mid-dle code number after your name such as 000-1014-1, means your subscription is due the October of 2014. THANK YOU!

Railway Representatives in India

Rev. Victor Swamidoss, c/o Mr. S Arulraj #448/8, First Floor T.H. Road Tondiarpet Chennai - 600 081 South India

International Railroad Evangelist

S. Arulraj Door # 652/8 (New # 448/8)

Brindavan Avenue Tiruvottiyur High Road,

Tondiarpet Chennai 600 081 Tamilnadu, INDIA

Phone + 919884481022

Email: arulrasu@gmail.com www.inrre.net

COVER photo captures Canadian Pacific 40B rounding a curve west of Woodstock with engine # 4107 in the lead. Photo by James Gardiner of Brantford, Ontario Canada, used by permission.

President Dr. Ben Salloum PO Box 748 - Rome, NY 13440

First Vice President Rev.Alan Harkey alanharkey@gmail.com 300 Birkenstock Court Simpsonville, SC 22655 (864) 275-3209

Second Vice President

Craig James 444 W Spring Rd - Hammonton, NJ 08037

Secretary-Treasurer-Editor Joe Spooner BN Editor-Secretary/Treasurer (360) 699-7208 PO Box 5026 Vancouver, WA 98668 E-Mail: rrjoe@comcast.net

REA National Chaplain Rev. Paul Campbell 603 Aylor Road - Stephens City, VA 22655

E-mail: backyardmamma2000@yahoo.com (571) 331-2807

REA Assistant National Chaplain

Rev. Robert Glass 4182 Rancho Park Dr. - Liverpool, NY 13090

Convention Coordinator

Mrs. Ann Grissom, SCL November - April 20800 Hammock Greens # 306 (239) 948-5821 Estero, FL 33928 May - October 7045 Koldyke Place (317) 523-1878 Fishers, IN 46038

Advisory Board

Rev. Magead Salloum, Chairperson (315) 525-4787 720 W. Thomas Street Rome, NY 13440 Ruth Lounsberry…………………..…………………Hammonton, NJ Marlene Sampson………………………………………..Winslow, NJ Rev. Stephen Seidler…………………………...…….Owatonna, MN Phil Hannum……………………………………………..….Fairfax,VA Allen Carpenter……………………………….……..…….Norfolk, VA

Promotion and Publicity

Wilson Riley, Chairperson 224 Normandy Hill Drive Alexandria, VA 22304…………………………….….(703) 751-8925 Paul Myhre, BN…………………………………………..Spokane,WA Helen Booterbaugh……………………………………Alexandria, VA Carol and Mary Clifton…………………………….……...Millville, NJ Bonnie James………………………………………...Hammonton, NJ Brian Goodwin……………………………………...….Alexandria, VA John Stewart…………………………………..……….N. St Paul, MN Contributing Editors Rev. Stephen Seidler Model RR & Rail Fan Pages 810 18th Street SE Owatonna, MN 55060 E-Mail: srseidler@q.com (507) 413-3334 Geneva Campbell (540) 869-7019 603 Aylor Road Stephens City, VA 22655 E-mail: backyardmamma2000@yahoo.com

Convention Recording Secretary Jane Hessler 8199 Tiswell Dr. Apt 207 - Alexandria, VA 22306

Former REA Presidents

Dick Brothers, Edward Perry, Smith Dewlen, Rocky Agrusti, Vernon Hall, Thomas Rudderforth, G.M. Durrett, Elmer Ward, Jake Steffen, Donald Russell, Paul Anger, Paul Campbell, John Penn, Samuel Museums, Thomas Mosley, Bud Harkey, Alan Harkey, Magead Salloum, Glenn Stevens, Ann Grissom, Wilson Riley.

This Spring 2015 issue of the Railroad Evangelist

magazine was printed February 2015 Vol. 79, No. 1

www.RailroadEvangelist.com

Psalm 96:2

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Membership in the Railroad Evangelistic Association is open to all who have a desire to reach the entire rail-road community worldwide with the Good News of Je-sus Christ. For $15.00 you will receive your REA An-nual membership card ($5.00) and a one year subscrip-tion ($10.00 - 3 issues) to the RAILROAD EVANGELIST magazine. REA has no paid staff, all proceeds go to printing and mailing the Good News. Thank you.

W e have a financial system that is struggling to find stability. There is a tremendous number of fore-closures, lack of jobs, loss of savings, a continuous increase in the cost of living, many changes in

administration, and changes in our society. Even our relationships have suffered. If we focus on these things, we can get discouraged easily. These are times to have a relationship with Christ and keep our eyes on Him. We need Him to help us with every aspect of our lives. We cannot have a bitter and unforgiving heart. Fill your heart with love. In Daniel 3; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experienced terrible circumstances, and yet they kept their eyes on God. What a truly inspirational biblical passage. Please read the entire passage and think

about how this applies to your life. One way we can be sure of the future is by growing deep in our relationship with the Lord. By knowing truly who we believe in, He will enable us to stand and He will watch over us. Our lives are only for a short time on this earth, but then we will be with Him in glo-ry. By preparing ourselves to live godly lives, we can be certain about our future. How do we prepare? Study the Bible. Spend time in prayer, praise, and worship. Serve Him. Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another..” We need to gather together and encourage each other. If you do not already, I recommend that you find and support a local church. We also have monthly Railroad Evangelistic Association chapter meetings which are a great place to grow and be encouraged. These are open to everyone. If you are breathing still, then you can make a difference. I look forward to seeing you at our annual convention in August. Bring your family. What an amazing, life changing time we will have. God bless you.

- Dr. Ben Salloum

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Your membership, subscriptions and tax deductible donations are greatly appreciated, as they are the only means we have to continue publishing and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the entire railroad community worldwide through the Railroad Evangelist magazine. Your financial gifts underwrite the cost and make it possi-ble for us to send the Railroad Evangelist magazine out individually and in bulk supply as our home and missionary outreach. We thank God for each and every one of you who have joined with this railroad literature evangelistic ministry with your prayers and finances. We pray and trust God will abundantly bless you for your sacrificial giving as He “is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abun-dance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 Please cut, photocopy or send appropriate information pertaining to the

above application form and mail it to: REA

PO Box 5026 Vancouver, WA 98668

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN REA

Please check the appropriate box. I am an active railroad employee. I am a former/retired railroad employee. My spouse is/was an active/former/retired railroad employee. I am a model railroad hobbyist. I am a rail fan enthusiast. My interest in REA is _______________________ Sending $5.00 for REA membership for one year. Sending $10.00 for a one year subscription. I would like to make a donation._____________ How did you learn of REA?___________________ __________________________________________

“A LITTLE IS A LOT WHEN GOD IS IN IT” Luke 9:12-17

Dr. Ben Salloum REA President

Page 4 The Railroad Evangelist

Rail Fan & the MODEL Railroader by Rev. Stephen R. Seidler

Minnesota’s Twin Cities – Minneapolis & St. Paul – enjoyed one of the premier streetcar systems well into the 1950s. When transit prices were raised a nickel, the public began the exodus to their private automobiles. Street cars disap-peared, only to reappear today as LIGHT RAIL. In Minneapolis the BLUE line operates from Target Field downtown all the way south to the Mall of America. At the two airport terminals it goes underground to provide all-weather service. The line

parallels Hiawatha Avenue – the Milwaukee RR line into downtown - so is known as the Hiawatha Line. The GREEN line recently opened, operating between Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. It ends at the newly restored Union Depot which is a hub for bus lines, light rail, and now Amtrak. When they tore up University Avenue to build the line, they surprisingly discovered the former street car tracks buried a foot below street level. The photo to the left shows this discovery. Note: This photo was taken in front of Scale Model Supplies hobby shop which distributes copies of ALL ABOARD to rail-oriented customers. Recently, one of our newest REA members, Professor John Oughton and his wife rode the new GREEN line and submitted the fol-lowing report. John is a Graduate Student Science Education, Earth Scienc-es & Environmental Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction – University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Riding the Rails in St. Paul, MN: A 21st-Century Renaissance In my weekly commutes to the University of Minnesota, throughout

2013, I had seen it come forth step-by-step, a transformation of a major arterial street connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. After approximately 100 years of dormancy beneath the asphalt surface of University Avenue, construction un-earthed rails buried a century ago. Like many cities a century ago St. Paul and Minneapolis had an extensive light rail sys-tem that connected the heart of the city and the collar suburbs. After a century of dominance by the automobile, we are now having a Renaissance in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. New foundations have been laid over the past two years, stations have been built, infrastructure has been upgraded, and bit by bit a brand new metropolitan light rail line named the “Green Line” has been constructed to connect our Twin Cities and all points in between with a modern and beautiful fleet of trains. We had watched the construction step-by-step, seeing the first test trains negotiate the line, and then finally after great anticipation, the Green Line opened in June 2014, and for several days all rides were free. It was a celebratory mo-ment and enjoyed by many who rode the trains and now encountered a new way of experiencing travel along the University Avenue arterial that has been transformed to accommodate not only cars, trucks, and buses, but our brand-new fleet of trains that service the Green Line. My wife and I are busy grandparents of nine young children, and we were planning an adventure for them to travel the light rail, and tour various sites along the route. We decided we needed a pilot run, so right around my 65 th birthday we set off for Oma and Opa’s train adventure. We drove downtown to the newly refurbished Union Station, where the Green Line begins in St. Paul. A modern and handsome, quasi-Art Deco theme is the style for the stations, and a befitting match for that of Union Station. We negotiated a user-friendly ticket dispenser with our bankcard, waited a short while, and soon a gleaming blue, white and yellow light rail train rolled up, and we climbed on board. Inside was a spaceship-like interior, with gleaming stainless steel, nicely colored composite material interior, and comfortable seats. We were excited! The train snaked its way through downtown St. Paul, climbed up an ancient river channel elevation onto the Univer-sity Avenue main arterial to Minneapolis. Now on straight line East-to-West run, the trains picked up speed, though ever so quietly, began to move like a rocket.

LIGHT RAIL – interurban RAILROADs

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John Oughton takes this “selfie” of himself and his wife on a maiden trip on the new Green Line light rail system in St. Paul & Minneap-olis in mid 2014.

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Spring 2015 Page 5

We accelerated in ways automobiles and buses on university can never accomplish, given the right of way that light rail ensures for its trains. Our stops were for the stations, and for traffic lights. Having driven this route over years of time, I found it astonishing to be able to really look out the window and see all of the development that has been going on along this arterial street in conjunction with the development of the light rail line. There have been newly constructed apart-ment complexes, as well as the recycling and refurbishing of many warehouse buildings into loft apartments. It is truly a Renaissance for University Avenue, and a step to more diverse transportation options for residents in the Twin Cities. Approaching the University of Minnesota, we snaked around the new TCF football stadium station and then along Washington Street through the heart of the University of Minnesota. This was not an easy friendship between the light rail and the University of Minnesota, as high caliber physics labs were concerned about vibration from the trains. Nevertheless this was worked out, and it is my belief as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, that the light rail and the University will become very good friends. Then we crossed a large bridge over to Minneapolis, and we off boarded the train next to the construction site for the new Viking Stadium. Here is another engineering marvel, the larg-est construction crane in the world is being assembled here as part of building the stadium. We saw the first sections of it in that process. We made some brief stops downtown, and then headed back. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of being with my fellow metropolitan brothers and sisters, citizens of the Twin Cities who came together at this moment to ride this beauti-ful train. My thought was that fellowship could flourish in such an environment with people sitting shoulder to shoulder, rather than riding one per automobile down University Avenue. Our society’s missing community social time, and I felt in some small way riding this train will increase the potential for meeting one’s neighbors in their transport between our two cities. On the way back we stopped at Dale and University, and off boarded the train to visit a missionary site in what is known by many as the Frogtown Neighborhood, but which a ministry from our church has renamed to God town. This is the poorest neighborhood of St. Paul, and a missionary group from our church has acquired six buildings in the neigh-borhood which they have rehabbed and are making available to resident missionaries as well as other families who may have lost housing as part of the 2008 economic downturn. This neighborhood was the hardest hit in terms of foreclo-sures at that time. In essence, this is another Renaissance that is ongoing, reaching out to those who have the least amongst us. My wife and I are East Siders in St. Paul, and about 6 miles away, but we volunteer support of various kinds to this mission known as Young Adult Koinonia. There is a garden that has been created on the site of a house that was demolished three years ago, as that structure was beyond repair. In the garden grows both flowers and vege-table crops for food for the both missionaries and some of the neighborhood. Also joining the effort in this garden are two Karen refugee families from Burma. I like to feel that this community’s missions are now more accessible to resi-dents of the Twin Cities, and that the light rail may allow more people to come here and volunteer. We wound our way back after re-boarding the train to Union Station where we were delighted to find the Renais-sance had taken place in that structure inside and out. Multimodal transportation interconnections are built into this complex. Car rentals, Hour cars, cabs, buses, the light rail and Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Amtrak’s “Empire Builder” all interconnect here. For a while, perhaps, rails may have faded back in the American experience during the 20

th century, but now I

hear on the tracks a Renaissance that is coming. Rails are making a comeback! We now look forward to taking our grandchildren on the light rail adventure, and having them come to understand that traveling doesn’t always have to be in an automobile in the metro area. I hope this will give them a vision for the 21

st century where rails will modernize

transportation, not only in the inner-city, but with high-speed trains connecting points in North America. Imagine the fel-lowship and evangelistic possibilities! More on this later as John and REA use railroads, and light rail to reach out to a new generation of young people – acquainting them with modern railroading and the power of the Gospel.

Surface street-running with Minnesota Capitol building in background. BLUE line emerges from under MSP Airport - Terminal one and two.

Page 6 The Railroad Evangelist

R ecently the Historical Railroad Depot in Vancouver, Washington opened a display of the local Railroads relating to Vancouver USA. It was

sponsored by the Clark County Historical Museum in conjunction with the members of the SP&S Historical Society. The display - “The Northwest’s Own Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (SP&S) relays it’s history. The display gives a pictorial timeline from 1909-2010 with additional posters and a model layout of the Vancouver Roundhouse that in its heyday housed nearly 20 train and was the regional hub for repairs and mainte-nance for SP&S. In the 1950’s SP&S employed almost 700 and more than 1000 cars a day moved through the freight yard. Eventually, the big four in the Pacific Northwest, SP&S, Great Northern, North-ern Pacific and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads merge in 1970. In 1996, Burlington Northern (which your editor worked as a track laborer, (1973-1981)), merged with the Santa Fe Railroad creating the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, (BNSF). If you are ever in Vancouver USA be sure and stop by and visit the display of photos, story lines and reproduction model of Vancouver Roundhouse that burnt down in 1970. SP&S has had a proud and historical journey.

Photo taken February 2015 Joe Spooner

In front of the Vancouver Depot, James J. Hill, known as the “Empire Builder”, (rear seat on right with a beard), pauses in front of the depot on one of Hill’s trips to the Northwest.

The information and photo of James Hill was gleamed from a story in The Columbian Newspaper, January 30, 2015 and the Clark County Historical Society by Tom Vogt, Vancouver, Washington

“God demonstrates His own love towards us,

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us” Romans 5:8

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“Norma” The Ferry and the

Oregon Trunk Railway.

Shown is the ferry operated by Oregon Trunk Rail-way from 1910-1912 between Clarke and Moody. "Norma" a 165-foot long steam stern wheeler, car-ried the passengers who transferred from train to fer-ryboat from Clarke, on the Washington side of the Columbia River, to the train on the opposite Or-egon side. Before the Wishram bridge was built, "Norma" also towed one of two double-track barges which transported six to eight Oregon Trunk rail cars. Transferring cars from incline to and from the barges was done via a moveable wedge and a 30-foot drawbridge. Photo courtesy of R.E.A.'s Leland Hout from Bring-en, Washington copied from the March-April 1986 Rail-road Evangelist magazine.

REA member Shirley Zurek’s brother-in-law, Larry Gilley who worked for many years as a clerk for Southern Railway. The photo was taken at the RR Station in Culpeper, Virginia.

Photo taken February 2015 Joe Spooner

One of the many photo on the wall at the Vancouver Depot is this poster showing the mergers of the railroads that eventually became BNSF.

Amtrak #113 the Coast Starlight enters Vancouver coming from Portland, Oregon going North to Seattle. The Coast Star-light runs daily from Los Angeles, California to Seattle, WA.

Page 8 The Railroad Evangelist

The Earliest Days — During 1830s

The Genesis of Railway Prayer Fellowship in India could very well be traced

back to the year 1830 AD, from the earliest days of main line railway construc-

tion in the 1830s there were those who expressed concern for the moral and

spiritual well-being of those who built or operated the expanding rail network.

India — from 1886 onwards.

The first reference to India noted was from the minutes of the General Commit-

tee for September 22, 1887 when it was recorded that books had been sent to

Africa and India. In the following year (1888) the minutes for April 19 state that

the Bombay Tract Society would be asked to distribute the Railway Signal, the

Mission’s journal. The Railway Signal magazine was a way for Indian Railway

Staff to bring God’s message and blessings to people during 1888 and now in

our generation ‘SIGNAL OF HOPE’ magazine is being published by Interna-

tional Railway Mission blessing people all over the world with the message of

Hope in Jesus Christ!

INDIA – Modern days Beginning — 1953

India has been blessed with the divine providence of prayer services active

since the year 1887 and the plan of God in Indian Railway Prayer Fellowship

was founded in 1953 through Bro. Victor Swamidoss who joined Southern Rail-

way. Right from the day he began working for Southern Railway, as inspired

and guided by the Spirit of God, he was instrumental in organizing a prayer

time in Southern Railway during the lunch hour. Along with a small number of

dedicated Christians. God used Bro Victor Swamidoss to build a solid spiritual

foundation for a strong Railway Prayer Fellowship with his untiring and sacrifi-

cial services unto the Lord Jesus. He is the pioneering missionary in organizing

prayer meetings among Railway Staff during lunch hour and other convenient

holidays.

Global Channel of Blessings: — 1967

Bro Victor Swamidoss has been active in distributing the Railroad Evangelist

magazine “All Aboard” of Railroad Evangelistic Association (USA) since

1967. By Gods gracious will, Bro Herman Rose, editor of the Railroad Evan-

gelist magazine, (1950-1989) visited India in 1973 and had a time of prayer

and fellowship with Bro. Victor Swamidoss and Indian Railway Prayer Fellow-

ship as they gathered in the Memorial Hall near Southern Railway Office. Bro.

Victor Swamidoss serves as the Representative of the Railroad Evangelistic

Association since then and had a time of fellowship with Bro Herman Rose

during his visit to the United States in 1985 and again with Rev. Paul Campbell,

current National REA Chaplain, during his second visit to the United States in

1990. Many years later, God helped Bro. Arulraj to join as another Representa-

tive for REA. Now, by Gods grace Railhope India prayerfully makes earnest

efforts to translate the Railroad Evangelist magazine “All Aboard” into Indian

Languages, to begin with Hindi, to reach our brothers and sisters in North India

who are employed by India’s vast railway system.

Railhope India and International Railway Mission (IRM)

In 2007, IRM held their International conference, (they have every three years

in a different country). was held is Eastbourne, England and by Gods grace the

Indian Railway Prayer Fellowship was represented by Bro. Arulraj, who is

Herman Rose, longtime editor of the Railroad Evangelist magazine, (1950-1989) and Evangelist-Pastor Rev. Victor Swamidoss from Chennai, India while visiting the United States in 1985.

IRM delegation being welcomed by Rev. Victor Swamidoss (center) and other leaders to Chennai, India in August 2012.

Brother Ananthan Ekambaram passing out the Railroad Evangelist maga-zine “All Aboard!” in Chennai, India.

Spring 2015 Page 9

now also an IRM Representative was able to attend from Chennai, India.

By Gods and gracious divine providence, IRM set in motion the process of

admission for India to join IRM as a member led by Bro Fritz Ledvika, vice

president of IRM and Bro Nathaniel Berger from Railhope Switzerland

when they visited India in August 2012 and submitted a report to IRM.

IRM then invited delegates from India with the offer of waiver of registration

fee for five. The response was great and initially more than forty from our

fellowship volunteered to go and eventually God helped ten from India to

participate in the International Railway Mission Conference in Hungary

during August 2013.

In keeping with the policy of uniformity of name in line with similar fellowship

all over the world, the name “Railhope India” was suggested by Bro Fritz

Ledvika during his presentation with our members during the August 2012

meeting. “Railhope India” is considered an appropriate title as we desire

to bring the “word of hope” to all who are employed on the vast Railway

Systems of India.

Railhope India welcomes everyone who has the desire to serve the Lord

and people through out India and the world by Prayer Evangelism.

For further information on Railway Ministries around the world see the fol-

lowing web sites, also page two for addresses.

>www.railhope.in >www.railway-mission.net >www.railroadevangelist.com

__________________________________________________________ Information for above article: Courtesy - Dudley Clark, activist and historian of the British Railway Mission; IRM archives and the Railroad Evangelist magazine - “All Aboard!”.

Editors Note: The History of India’s Railway Ministries was edited and condensed. To read the full, unedited article see web page: www.railhope.in

is the rail for God’s work.

Indeed, prayer is to God’s will as rails are to a train.

The locomotive is full of power - it is capable of

running a thousand miles a day. But if there are no

rails, it cannot move forward a single inch. It may

be able to travel great distances, yet it cannot go to

any place where no rails have been laid. W. Nee

“Praying always

with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” Eph. 6:18

By S. Arulraj Chennai, India International Railroad Evangelist

IRM President, Ulrich Berger confers the title “Evangelist of International Railway Missions” to Brother S. Arulraj in Switzerland, 2014.

Sister Varalakshmi Ammal of Southern Railway receives the new 2015 Railhope India calendar from Rev. Finny John Edwin (IRTS Rtd) of Indian Railways during a celebration of Railhope India New Year prayer.

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Page 10 The Railroad Evangelist

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PO Box 5026 Vancouver, WA 98668 E-mail: rrjoe@comcast.net

LETTERS From our REA

MAIL BAG

REA, Sending a donation, please send me another supply of the REA gold foil stickers, I need at least 200+ because of my high volume of correspondence and a supply of “Wake Up Watchman” tracts. May the peace of our Lord be with you and all REA members. God speed, Bill Seigford Lancaster, PA REA, Please renew my subscription and a supply of REA’s gold foil stickers. Thanks. Joseph Schell Crosby, ND REA, The article about Rocky was extremely nice and we all appreciated it very much. Also, the article about Don Russell. Keep up the good work. Jeanne Agrusti Kirkville, NY REA, We really enjoyed seeing all the photos from last years RES convention in the last issue of the Railroad Evange-list magazine “All Aboard!”. May God bless you in your work to win souls for Jesus. Harry & Lillian Edwardson Willow Grove, PA

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BNSF Railway will spend $189 million toward maintenance and improvements on its track system in Washington this year, the company announced Friday.

The work will include more than 1,000 miles of track surfacing and undercutting, the replacement of almost 50 miles of rail and 200,000 railroad ties, among other fixes. Areas of focus will in-clude BNSF’s Columbia River Gorge main line east of Vancouver and the route between Vancouver and Seattle, said BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas. BNSF also expects to start construc-tion this year on the replacement of a railroad bridge over the Washougal River in Camas.

The Washington upgrades are part of a record $6 billion capital investment campaign across the entire BNSF system this year, Melonas said. The company spent about $5.5 billion on capital projects last year, he said. BNSF and other railroads own and maintain their own networks.

“BNSF’s vision is to meet our customers’ expectations,” Melonas said. “A critical component of that is a strong track structure.”

This year’s work in Washington has already started. Earlier this week, rail crews moved along the Gorge route near Stevenson. That line is one of BNSF’s busiest in the region, running 35 to 40 trains daily, Melonas said. BNSF RR has a total of 32,500 track miles system wide.

Editors Note: BNSF spokes-man Gus Melonas, (at right) was a very young “gandy”, a RR track laborer (for the sum-mer) when your editor worked on the Camas, Washington BN section as a laborer in the late 1970’s.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad plans spending $189 million dollars in the State of Washington

The Columbian Newspaper, February 6, 2015 by Eric Florip

NYO & W caboose hop By REA member Ted Griffith

WANTED! Do you have a favorite railroad you would like to see fea-tured on the cover or on the back page? Let us know and if you don’t have any good quality photos we may be able to get something from the internet. Also, you may have a rr story or testimony you would like to share with our readers. See the bottom of page 15 for further details.

“A cheerful heart

does good like a medicine” Proverbs 17:22 - Living Bible

Spring 2015 Page 11

Take from an April 1944 Popular Science magazine Pepsi-Cola ad. Sent in by Rev. Stephen Seidler.

P art of the mission of the church is to meet people where they are. With nearly one half-million passengers riding trains throughout Greater New Jersey each weekday, The

United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey decided to meet people on their journey during the Advent season. As a part of the All Aboard for Advent Ministry, pastors and lay leaders who live near train stations were called to bring communion to daily commuters at train station platforms. “I think it ties in with our belief of having a ministry without doors,” said Rev. Frederick Boyle, the senior pastor at Old First UMC in West Long Branch. “To give communion to commuters will come as quite a surprise to them for sure. But I think spreading God’s blessing is important and we need to do that whenever and wherever we can.” Boyle committed to give communion during the first four Tuesdays of December during the early evening hours at the Long Branch Station. He says he lives about two miles from the station, which is not uncommon for many. There are approximately 140 stations in the state with commuter train lines that run through eight of the nine of Greater New Jersey districts. The campaign to bring communion to the train station generated a great deal of commen-tary around the conference and throughout the denomination. Some people felt that it was not consistent with United Methodist doctrine. Drew McIntyre, a blogger in North Carolina, posted a story on it headlined, “10 Advent Outreach Ideas Better Than Train Communion”. The conference also received letters of support. To help address the concerns, Bishop John Schol sent a letter to all clergy with resources including a specially prepared liturgy, research on John Wesley’s use of communion and a copy of Wesley’s sermon, “The Duty of Constant Communion”. “Primarily two groups of people ride the train: working people, both white and blue col-lar, who take the train to work, and low income and poor people who need the train as a means of transportation,” Schol said. “I think these are exactly the people God wants to reach and the people that the church too often does not reach.” Some churches decided to participate in other ways. Absecon UMC in the Cape Atlantic District handed out 102 goodie bags containing muffins and information about the church’s worship services. The church members also took prayer requests and prayed with several people. “What a wonderful time we had at the train station this morning,” said Barb Sabath, of Absecon on Dec. 1. “We are going back next Monday with even more to give them. This was definitely a blessing for us.” Boyle emphasized that there is good reason to pause and remember why this time of year means so much to so many. “We really need to put in people’s minds that this is the Advent season,” he said. “With

all of the commercialization, I think that offering communion at a train station says that it is

in the unexpected places that God shows up.”

Bill Patterson and Rev. Bob Crouthers, who are with St. Andrews UMC in Spring Lake,

offered communion to commuters at the Spring Lake Train Station on Dec. 3, 2014.

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By Jeff Wolfe jwolfe@gnjumc.org This article appeared in the December 2014-January2015 edition of The

Relay, a publication of the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey. Jeff Wolfe is the Editorial Manager for

the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey. Used by permission. REA member, Richard MacCarsey of

North Cape May, NJ sent the article to REA.

Jesus said... “I AM the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 “I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 “I AM the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 “I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…” John 10:9 “I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 “I AM the true vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 “I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?.” John 11:25,26

Spring 2015 Page 12

Room rate for the week - including meals & tax: Double occupancy....$290.00 (each) Single occupancy….$320.00 Three or more in a room….$270.00 (each) Please send in your $20.00 (non-refundable)

deposit as soon as possible to:

REA Registrar Mrs. Beverly Salloum

720 W. Thomas Street Rome, NY 13440

(315) 525-4787 (cell) E-mail: revsalloum@cheerful.com

If at all possible please have your convention expense paid

in full two weeks prior to the convention. Thank you! REGISTRATION to receive name tag and room key is on

Monday August 17th from 2-5 PM. Dinner at 5:00 PM.

AREA ATTRACTIONS Located on the conference grounds: golf, tennis, basketball, hiking, volleyball, swimming, playground equipment plus a whole lot of peace and quiet and wonderful Christian fellowship.

Located within driving distance is: >Historic Carlisle - US Army War College - 10 minutes. >Gettysburg - About a 30 minute drive. >Hershey - About a 45 minute drive. >Strasburg RR community - A little over an hour drive. >Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster - A little over an hour. >The heart of the Amish in Lancaster - A little over an hour. >National Civil War Museum - Harrisburg - About 30 minutes. >Washington D.C. - About 2 1/2 hour drive. >Valley Forge / Philadelphia - About 3 hours

-PLUS A WHOLE LOT MORE! -

Begin planning to attend the 74th National Railroad Evangelistic Association

Convention - Everyone is Welcome! August 17-21, 2015

Located in the peaceful hills of Pennsylvania at the

Bongiorno Conference Center 430 Union Hall Road Carlisle, PA 17013

FACT: The Bible gives us the absolute truth that applies to all people, of all nations, for all times. “But God demonstrat-ed His own love towards us, in that while we were still sin-ners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

FAITH: Just as you would place your complete and total trust in your parachute before you jump from a plane you must put your total and complete trust in Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not Of works, least anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9 FEELING: Our salvation is not based on the way we feel but in the fact that our faith is founded in the word of God. But Jesus did say, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you...These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15: 7&11

Please consider the words of Jesus carefully as your ultimate conclusion and decision will have eternal consequences. You can pray, right now, to receive Christ into your life today. You will never, ever regret it. “God be merciful to me a sinner. Jesus come into my life, for-give me of all my sins and make Yourself real to me, fill me with Your Holy Spirit to help me live for You all the days of my life.” In Jesus name. Amen.” If you prayed that prayer or something similar, since Jesus knows your heart, please send for the free brochure, “Welcome Aboard!” as it will help you begin your journey on the right track.

FACT FAITH FEELING

Page 13 The Railroad Evangelist

CROSS OVER “Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of the Lord”

For a donation of any amount the Cross Over Memorial page is a place where both God and your loved ones will be remembered and will help us to continue publishing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the worldwide railroad community through the Railroad Evangelist magazine. All donations are tax deductible.

NEW REA Members or Subscribers from October 2014 to January 2015

Raj Selvaraj, Frank Wright, Steve Patterson, Roger Sogard, Parker Hill.

Welcome Aboard!

Joseph Pagano by Paul & Joan Nye

Joseph Pagano by Paul & Joan Nye

Joseph Pagano by Marlene Sampson

Joseph Pagano by Lorraine Creamer

Doris Robey by Malaga REA Chapter

Butch Jacobs by Lorraine Creamer

Butch Jacobs by Carol Clifton

Lois Hayes by the Malaga REA Chapter

Lois Hayes by George & Marlene Sampson

Butch Jacobs by the Malaga REA Chapter

Butch Jacobs by George & Marlene Sampson

Doris Robey by George & Marlene Sampson

Dorothy Steffen by Joe & Dorothy Spooner

Butch Jacobs by Joe & Dorothy Spooner

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Dear members & friends of REA, Spring 2015 has sprung! Entering the new year continuing to do what we have done since 1938, to “Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.” (Psalm 96:2). This is our annual one time plea to ask if you are able to make an extra one time offering or send in a gift subscription for someone you know as it will help us to continue publishing the Railroad Evangelist “All Aboard!” magazine that contains the seed of the everlasting gospel that is able to save a wayward soul. Your membership, subscriptions and tax deductible donations are truly ap-preciated, as they are the only means we have to continue publishing and proclaiming the Good News. As most of you know REA has no paid staff, each dollar received goes towards printing and postage for mailing The Railroad Evangelist magazine “All Aboard!” plus our tracts and office supplies. We know there are many opportunities to give to a great number of worth-while ministries and it if for this reason we are grateful for you who have cho-sen to support and invest with you prayers, participation and finances into evangelistic/missionary literature ministry to the railroad community both at home and internationally. Again, THANK YOU to all of you who have supported REA over the years, trusting God will keep us on His track of grace as, “laborers together with God” until Jesus come.” We pray and trust God will abundantly bless you for your sacrificial giving as we believe, He “is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

In His grace & service,

Joe H. Spooner Joe H. Spooner REA Secretary-Treasurer

Dorothy Steffen Home with the Lord at 100 September 20, 1914 - October 9, 2014

Jake and Dorothy Steffen, home with their Lord and Savoir. Jake and Dorothy were committed to the Lord and the ministry of REA. Dorothy continued to send in a monthly donation to help the work of REA up and to the end. As a team they had a tremendous literature ministry to thousands over the years. Jake was a former REA national presi-dent from 1964-1966 and in 1977. Jake was an engineer for the Great Northern Railroad out of Minot, ND.

Wilson “Butch” Jacobs Home with the Lord

Wilson “Butch Jacobs went home to be with the Lord December 20, 2014. Butch was a member of REA and attended the Malaga REA Chapter in New Jersey, he also has attended two National REA Conventions. Butch was born in Philadelphia, PA and moved to Malaga Camp, NY in 2000. He served in the Marines in the mid seventies and worked in the Philadelphia Navy Yards in the 1980’s. Butch attended Church of the Saviors in Wayne, PA. he was also an avid rail fan. He sent in information and photos that were featured on the back cover of the Spring 2012 issue of the Railroad Evangelist magazine “All Aboard!” He is survived by his sister Mary Ann Kloepher among nieces and a nephew. Butch was loved & will be missed.

Please send your REA news to: (E-mail) rrjoe@comcast.net REA PO Box 5026 Vancouver, WA 98668

ALEXANDRIA REA CHAPTER For more information contact Geneva Campbell at 540-869-7019

MALAGA, NJ For more information call Marlene Sampson at (609) 561-6922.

LAKELAND, FL.

For more information call Sara Harkey at (863) 940-9360.

PORTLAND,OR / VANCOUVER,WA

The Railroad Evangelists are distributed around local railroad shops

and yards. Call Joe Spooner at: (360) 699-7208.

MN (Minnesota) Railroad Fellowship. For more information for those

living in the North St. Paul or Twin Cities area telephone John Stewart

at (cell) 651-592-8478 or Mark Lorenz at (cell) 651– 592-6065

Page 14 The Railroad Evangelist

Jesus said,

“ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

Are you on the right track?

Alexandria REA Chapter Thanksgiving meeting Mon. Nov. 18, 2014. Meeting opened with all saying The Lord's Prayer, and each said what they were thankful for, followed by prayer and a wonderful dinner. Wilson Riley spoke on Ecclesiastes 12 (on aging). Paul sang "I don't regret a mile I travelled for the Lord.", followed by closing prayer. 19 in attendance.

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RAILROAD TRACTS SOWING THE GOSPEL SEED

Years ago someone clearly described the incredible value of literature evangelism when they wrote: “even though a piece of gospel literature is only paper and ink, its message is always clear, brief and never in a rush. It is able to go many places where you and I cannot go. It knows no fear, never gets tired and can travel and very little expense. It takes no offence at those who scoffs, jeers or taunts; a piece of gospel literature never loses its temper nor answers back, it sticks to its story and tells it over and over again. While you sleep, the piece of gospel literature is able to work and can continue its ministry long after we pass from this life.”

“We are laborers together with God” I Corinthians 3:9

Everyone can plant gospel seeds wherever and whenever we can. We can plant the seed of Gods life changing word, we can water them through our prayers then trust God they will find good soil that He may bring forth the increase in souls for the King-dom. Ask for a free sample of all four or you can request 100 of any of one or combination of these for a gift of any amount. Write:

REA PO Box 5026

Vancouver, WA 98668 E-mail: rrjoe@comcast.net

I planted,

Apollos watered,

but God gave

the increase.” I Corinthians 3:6

We currently have 4 tracts you can use to plant the gospel seed. We have the 1940’s “Wake Up, Watchmen”, The Laugh Track”, the 3 inch gold stickers and The Station.

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For information on how to begin a REA Chapter or a REA Fellowship in your area see our web page www.RailroadEvangelist.com or write the Editor.

Publication Guidelines for the Railroad Evangelist magazine We are always looking for original railroad related photos, drawings and stories, articles, personal testimonies (300 - 800 words) or poems that would be of a spiritual interest to our readers of the Railroad Evangelist magazine. Currently the Railroad Evangelist magazine is published three times a year. Typed material is appreciated. Material received will be returned upon request. For further information or questions contact the editor.

Spring 2015 Page 15

- Joe Spooner

J ust as railroad ties binds the two rails of steel together at a constant and uniform distance of 4ft 81/2 inches so does the love of God through the Holy Spirit gives the Church a genuine unity and ability in fulfilling the purpose of God

upon the earth, to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15 NLT). Each passing day brings us one day closer to the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age or the current world as we know it. Yes, the spirit of the anti-Christ is increasing and more blatant through out our world every day, but as someone once said, “I am not looking for the anti-Christ, I looking for the Christ!” I am convinced the work of planting the everlasting gospel seed through the Railroad Evangelistic Associations Rail-road Evangelist magazine “All Aboard!” and gospel tracts is still important to God. It is for that reason I am encouraged and want you to be encourage as we do all we can, while we can. We are to continue to occupy until He comes as Je-sus said “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned by the one who sent us, the night is coming, and no one can work”. (John 9:4) Someone said. “TIME is the most valuable thing God offers us in this life to fulfill His will and purpose” Jesus said, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matt 16:18 NLT). You and I are members who are a part of, I believe, the end time Church. We may not always agree on everything doctrinally issues but if we believe Jesus died for our sins, rose again from the grave after three days and is coming back for His Bride, (the Church) then we are brothers and sisters; blessed be the tie that binds us together in Christ, indwelt and empow-ered by the resurrected Christ, for this train (the Church), united as one, will fulfill Gods plan and purpose on earth and is bound for glory! All Aboard!

Photo taken by Joe Spooner near the east switch in Washougal, Washington, late 1970’s.

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