Left, Abraham Ortega with Al Scott, Local Chairman.

"I like to keep busy,"

explained 73-year old Abraham Ortega when asked why he has no plans to retire from the railroad. "It's different for everybody though," he said. "One friend died within two weeks after he quit. But another died at 101, having enjoyed 36 years of retirement after 40 some years of working on the railroad."

Ortega, born in Moroleon, Mexico, came to the United States in March 1968. He went to work for the old Milwaukee Road in January 1969 and when part of the line became Metra in 1982 he chose to go with Metra because he could work 15 minutes from his family and home in Chicago.

Family is very important to Ortega. He and his wife Margita have been married 52 years and have two daughters, one son and six grandchildren. "I'm happy," he says. "I have my family and my job. I work because I want to keep them in my arms."

Ortega works most of the time now as a track janitor but fills in when needed as a laborer. "I know what I've got to do and I like doing it," he said. "I try to notice things and take action when necessary."

Once Ortega saw a switch cover open and ran over and closed it. For this action, he received an Employee Safety Award for the month. Metra wrote him, "your alertness and quick appraisal of a dangerous situation and your immediate action to prevent a runaway engine from derailing is very much appreciated. It is only through the efforts of conscientious employees such as yourself that safe conditions for both passengers and employees can be maintained."

Before he went to work on the railroad, Ortega worked in several different factories in Mexico and the U.S. making clothes. When asked if railroad work was more difficult, he replied with a big smile, "that's o.k. That's why I joined the union right away."