The Mountaineer Volunteer is a weekly, pay-it-forward feature in the Revelstoke Mountaineer that highlights the great work volunteers do to make Revelstoke a true community. Each week, we feature a new volunteer who then nominates the volunteer to be featured the next week.
Jack Carten volunteers at the Revelstoke Railway Museum, the Royal Canadian Legion Revelstoke, and the Revelstoke Rod & Gun Club.
Jack became the youngest president of the Revelstoke Rod & Gun Club in 1954 and has been with the club for 71 years, undertaking many initiatives over the years. He’s a fixture at the annual awards banquet, where he’s said grace for about 15 years.
Jack’s ongoing volunteer work continues with the Revelstoke Railway Museum. In the photo above, he’s holding a promotional brochure that depicts him on the cover in an historic railway uniform. Jack started with the railway during the Second World War in 1943, and continued on with the railway for 43 years until he retired in 1985.
Jack shares stories at the museum during heritage events, like their coffee hour. He’s got some good ones.
Jack told me some stories about the old days when railroading was a really risky business. As a conductor, one of his jobs was to get on top of the train and walk its length while it was moving. He’d jump from car to car. He’d use a tool to manually pull up air brake levers on each car to allow the train to stop.
It took skill and guts. At night, you’d have to hold the coal-oil lamp just right when you reached down to trip the lever, or the lamp would flood and you’d be in trouble.
In winter, you’d kick the snow away as you made your way down the car.
While on top of the train, you’d have to keep an eye out for tunnels. As a safety measure, they strung strands of knotted rope just before the tunnel entrance. If one hit you, you’d drop down immediately to avoid striking the tunnel entrance.
“It was dangerous,” he said.
The Revelstoke Railway Museum has recorded stories told by pioneer railroaders like Jack.
Jack has a simple philosophy behind his volunteering.
“I’ve done it all my life,” he said. “I like to help people.”
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