Elliot’s parents, Jonathan and Shanda, say Elliot’s fascination began when he was young and never dissipated. One of the Mason City boy’s favorite places was the Union Pacific yard in his hometown.
“He was just fascinated by trains,” his father says. “By the power, by the cargo, by the horns, by all of it.”
Even after Elliot was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2016, he still loved to go down to the tracks and watch the big yellow locomotives roll by. With the help of some local UP employees, Elliot even got to take a cab ride around the yard. Shanda says the rail yard had quickly become a special place for her son and her family. But she never realized how special it was until last Saturday, five days after Elliot died. He was just 9 years old.
Following the young boy’s funeral in Mason City, the family decided to take his casket — which was painted to look like a locomotive — down to the rail yard one final time.
“We just figured we’d sit there for a few minutes,” Shanda says. But upon their arrival, the UP employees, including a special agent, who had organized Elliot’s visit more than a year earlier invited them into the terminal. That’s when Shanda saw locomotive No. 8508, an SD70ACe. The number has significant meaning to the family since Elliot’s birthday is Aug. 5, 2008. In fact, the family had even put “8508” on Elliot’s casket.
“It was crazy,” Shanda says, adding that she had applied the numbers to Elliot’s casket because she knew most locomotive’s have four digit numbers, but she did not realize there was a real “8508.” Much less that it was in Mason City that Saturday.
UP’s local employees moved the locomotive — which had mistakenly been taken off a train earlier in the day — so that the family could put Elliot’s casket next to it. Shanda says she does not believe it was a coincidence that the locomotive ended up in Mason City on the day of Elliot’s funeral.
As the family left the yard, UP’s local employees sounded the horn on multiple locomotives in honor of the young rail enthusiast.
“I had a sense of peace when we left the rail yard,” Shanda says. “It was like Elliot was telling us ‘I’m ok.’”
As a youth began a fascination with trains at a young age when they spent much of their time at the UP’s Mason city yards as with help from UP workers the youth was given a ride in a locomotive. Even when the youth had developed brain cancer the yards were still a special place when the youth succumbed to cancer when the grieving family took the casket which was painted in UP colors to the yards for a final time where workers and a special agent invited the family into the terminal as the family knew most of the locomotives had four digit numbers when a special unit believed to be on a train was in the yard when the family knew there was a real 8508 as with help from the paint shop the numbers were painted on the casket as the family knew there was some form of coincidence the unit was in town even for the funeral as when the family left the yard UP workers sounded the horns on most locomotives in the yard in honor of the youth and their family.
Maybe UP should also put his name on the unit to remember him by.
A very heart felt and touching move by UP employees, and they did the right thing.
While there were no “Official” actions by UP personnel that had the locomotive in Mason City, I’m certain a lot of authority figures smiled and nodded approval as the locomotive wound up at the right place at the right time and the right people were nearby to meet the family. I salute all that made Elliot’s last run easier for the family.
I think it would be even more sweet is to put the young man’s name on the 8505 locomotive, that way crews running it will always remember him.
Had to get some tissue to finish reading the story, what a wonderful thing the employees at UP did
Sad yet beautiful story. Thank God for the UP employees.
Having attended the funerals of my entire family over the years and now celebrating numerous funerals as a Catholic priest–thereby working with many bereaved folks–I can assure Jonathan & Shanda that Shanda “nailed it” when she stated that she did not believe that the events @the UP yard that day were coincidental. I have personally seen it happen many times that some sort of sign that the departed loved one is indeed “in a better place” is given to those suffering the loss very shortly after the funeral.
Breath taking, beautiful. Wonderful.parents and many thanks to the caring employees of the Union Pacific
Wonderful story. Class act by UP.
God is real !!! Here’s the proof!
Beautiful Story! Thanks to the UP employees that put this together for the young man. RIP
That is awesome! That was very nice of them to take the time to help the family in this awful time. Also the miracle of having 8508 in town on that very day!
oh my goodness…i have tears in my eyes…such a touching story…may Elliot rest in peace…
This story really hit me in the bottom of my Heart. What an amazing, and thoughtful presentation by UP. I m surprised this story was not heard of on the news stations in Canada, totally awesome.
My sincere condolences to the family of the young man who’s passing was so early in life. Many thanks UP for making a difficult family situation one to remember for all time, especially for the very young railroader.
This just shows what real railroaders are really like and makes me proud to be a fan and a modeler.
What a wonderful/sad story. This just shows there is sympathy in this world. As a UPHS member and photographer I appreciate what the UP did. My heartfelt sympathies to Elliot’s family. Think of all the great railroaders he is with now.
A wonderful, beautiful, tear jerking story. As my wife would say, you deserve angel wings.
Especially heartfelt for me as we share the same birthday. RIP dear Elliot. I wish I was fortunate enough to have met you.
wonderful story. Nice to hear that railroaders still take time to be nice to kids, a well known tradition. Way to go-UP, a class act for sure.
Union Pacific and especially the employees at Mason City, you are the best. True acts of care and compassion are too often few and far between. You people are the best of the best, just tremendous!
Despite the “best” efforts of certain people in Washington, DC, class is not yet dead in the United States. Thank you Union Pacific! (-:
Hard not to get a little “misty eyed” reading this story.
Amazing story! I’m sure UP is very proud of their employees-as they should be. The world needs more people and companies like them. I’m sure that unit will get named -what a tribute that would be!
Humanity at its best, well done Mason Yard?? Come on UP just this once 8508 (Elliot)
Great story.