MANCHESTER, N.H. — Alan G. “Dusty” Dustin, the last president of the Boston & Maine as an independent entity prior to its purchase by Guilford Industries in 1983, has died. Dustin, who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, died at age 93 on Feb. 27.
A career railroader who began his career as a baggage clerk at age 16, he worked for the Delaware & Hudson before moving to the Bangor & Aroostook as vice president and CEO in 1970, then became Boston & Maine’s president in 1974. He led the railroad’s recovery from a 1970 bankruptcy, repairing infrastructure, acquiring new locomotives (18 GP40-2s), and improving service. Following the purchase of the B&M, he became NJ Transit vice president from 1984 until his retirement in 1988. As a consultant, he worked with rail businesses in Alaska, Africa, Argentina, and Czechoslovakia, as well as the Channel Tunnel project between England and France.
Elsie, his wife of 63 years, had previously passed away. He is survived by his sister, Hellen Philips, a son, two daughters, two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren.
Services will be held at a date to be determined in May or June. More information is available in this obituary.
Must admit I don’t remember Mr. Dustin or his many contributions (as above) to railroading. We have generations of railfans who don’t know much about the B&M and its 100% fleet of RDCs with no other passenger rolling stock, from Boston North Station throughout NE Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and into southern Maine. As a south suburbanite (and New Haven fan) I seldom rode the B&M. From that very limited experience I thought the B&M was more pleasant to watch than to ride.
Locally the railroad was knwn as “The Boston and Maine Corporation” or the “B&M Corporation”.