File:B&O caller's office in Brunswick.jpg

Summary

B&O caller's office.

A caller would find crews for the train and call the men (engineers, firemen, conductors, brakemen) when it was their turn to work. They would also contact the workers that would layover in Brunswick at the YMCA where they would wait their turn to go back to their home terminal in Baltimore or Cumberland.) According to David Cage, "back in the 'old' days, we had to walk by foot to their bunkhouse or wherever they were staying within a 1 mile radius of the Callers Office if they did not have a phone or knock on the door to wake them up."

(Photo courtesy of the Brunswick Heritage Museum)

Linda Kidwiler Henson: My Dad, Bill Kidwiler, worked at the Caller's Office also. He worked with Bob Derfflinger, Dottie Wade, Margaret Cannon, Dave Cage, Brenton Barger, Lettie Shores, just to name a few I can remember. Marlo Thomas too. I think that was his name.

Debra Ferrell: My grandmother, Eva Walker Kronk, was a caller. She spoke often about walking all over Brunswick and 'calling' for the trains crew members by standing outside their windows and yelling for them.

Rhonda Wenner Renn: My dad, Howard Wenner, worked on the railroad from 9/12/1950 until his retirement in 1987. He started as a brakeman and then became an engineer on the Baltimore division.

Monica Howard Routzahn: My mom Evelyn (Tootie) Howard and my aunt Margaret Cannon worked there. my mom was a telephone operator and my Aunt was a caller. I remember them both telling stories about things that happen in the callers office.