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Mark Brennan RIP
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46013		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  EJ Berry [ Mon Nov 08, 2021 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Mark Brennan RIP
Mark A. Brennan, 75, a lifelong resident of Carbondale PA, died peacefully at the Regional Hospital of Scranton on Friday, August 20th with his family at his side.

Born in Carbondale, son of the late Mark and Margaret Moran Brennan, he was a lifetime parishioner of Saint Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale. Mark was a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School, Class of 1965, Carbondale, and he attended Keystone College. He served in the Pennsylvania National Guard and provided security in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes. He was initially employed as an engineer by the Erie Lackawanna Railroad at Scranton, at the current site of Steamtown National Historic Site, and later by the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. He served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the General Committee of Adjustments for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Delaware & Hudson System, and he was responsible for establishing Division 220 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers at Hornell, NY. He was a manager for the National Park Service at the Steamtown National Historic Site, where he served initially as Chief of Rail Operations, responsible for all aspects of the park’s rail operations; he received commendations from the Federal Railroad Administration for developing operational and safety programs that met and exceeded regulations. Prior to his retirement, he served as Chief of Interpretation, Visitor Services, and Public Affairs, managing the park's interpretive programs, visitor activity, and media relations. He was instrumental in bringing the popular Canadian Pacific Holiday Train and Amtrak to Steamtown, as well as securing permission from Canadian Pacific management to operate excursions to the Tunkhannock Viaduct (Nicholson Viaduct).

Mark was a man of strength and character, with a zest for life. He never took life too seriously, and he found that there was humor in almost every life experience; he could defuse tense situations with his wonderful self-deprecating humor. Mark was a voracious reader and avid sports fan who enjoyed watching his Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State Nittany Lions. He was an avid golfer, especially when playing with family members, and he enjoyed gardening. He will be greatly missed by all.

Surviving are a son: Mark Brennan and wife Christine, State College; two daughters: Christen Brennan Pinto and husband Robert, Plains; Stephanie Aldrich and husband Joshua, Courtdale; three grandchildren: Joshua, Tyler, and Samantha Cox, and great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private at the convenience of the family. Arrangements by the Brennan & Brennan Funeral Home, Inc., 55 Lincoln Avenue, Carbondale.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to a charity of your choice in his name.

NOTE: this obituary is to commemorate a good man and a fine railroader. I did not, repeat NOT, post this to be a venue for a flame war regarding the current status of his employer. It would sully his memory to do so. Please be courteous to Mark.

Moderators: should a flame war commence please lock this thread forthwith.

Phil Mulligan
Author:  Rick Rowlands [ Tue Nov 09, 2021 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Brennan RIP
Phil,

Will do.

My condolences,
Rick
Author:  superheater [ Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Brennan RIP
Mark was an interesting guy. It was always a bit interesting to get the call "NPS 200 to " which would inevitably be followed by "what's your status?"

I always appreciated the mandate "We do it safely, or we don't do it at all"

I think in part to keep the crews focused and in part because he never learned to run steam, he'd profess befuddlement by the interest in steam. The gig was up one day when we were moving the 759 around, and he said "now that would be impressive to see under steam".

At one point, the crew room "RR ops" was afflicted with mice.

They set humane catch and release traps, but mice can remember could smell the sugar next to the coffee pot and they'd be back for it in a day or two.

Somebody had a little gray tabby cat, and Mark adopted it to watch guard over the crew room. After a vigorous debate, the name "Steamy" was chosen over "Cinders" as I recall.

He said after her first night, she went to town (proving the line from Jurassic World that to a mouse, a cat is the monster) and became a murine serial killer.

Of course, the question came up as to whether that was "quartering pets".

Mark went to the regulations, found out there were no requirements for a volunteer to be human, typed up a "10-85" and Steamy became a Vector Control Specialist. Her pawprint dipped in ink was affixed to the signature line.

For several years, she roamed the crew room and the shop, and was the most eager volunteer in the entire NPS.

After the first winter we returned to find the walls shredded, as she apparently chased dancing shadows as eagerly as mice, and after having the place to herself all winter, she needed a week or so to adjust to the swallows returning to Capistrano.

There was a particularly dark time in my life that I discussed with Mark and he shared a particularly dark time in his life and the path to acceptance. It wasn't something he needed to do, but he did, and it was very helpful-for that I remain grateful.

RIP, NPS 200
Author:  Joshua K. Blay [ Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Brennan RIP
Mark was very kind during my all-too brief volunteering at STEA almost twenty years ago. Thanks in large part to him I was able to experience the wonder of a mainline steam cab ride on the two big engines in service at the time. He also offered a trip up the hill on a track inspection before the day's trips to a friend and I; it was neat to see a different aspect of the ops. Sure wish I remembered more of his stories- hopefully someone was able to document some.

Thanks ever so much, Mark. My thoughts are with his family.

Joshua
Author:  Becky Morgan [ Sun Nov 14, 2021 11:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mark Brennan RIP
He was a kind soul, and no one can argue that. I hope he’s upstairs resting with Steamy on his lap.
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