Awards
The Bernard G. Corbin Award is the highest honor given by the BRHS Board of Directors in recognition of an individual's outstanding efforts to preserve the history of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. It is named in memory and honor of Bernard G. Corbin (April 28, 1907 - January 30, 1988), who was arguably the pre-eminent fan/historian/modeler of the Burlington. Corbin pronounced his name "Ber nerd," not "Ber nard," but he was commonly known to friends as Bernie (and any model railroader or fan of the Q or its affiliates was a friend).
Bernard Gerald Corbin
April 28, 1907 -- January 30, 1988
Bernard was born in the southwestern Iowa community of New Market, and took his first railroad photo in December, 1920 at the age of 13. It depicted a two-car passenger local, powered by an A-2 4-4-0, making a station stop at the New Market depot. After graduating high school in 1925, he moved 27 miles north to Red Oak and went to work for the Thomas D. Murphy Company, one of the America's largest producers of calendars. He retired in 1975 after more than 50 years with the firm, during which time he had printed the Burlington's popular calendar each year until the BN merger of 1970.
A life member of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), Bernie was active in the Mid-Continent Region and won many NMRA model contests. He was featured in Model Railroader magazine several times, winning the publication's Model of the Month award twice. He also won Best of Show and Best Steam Locomotive awards in BRHS model contests. He custom-built many locomotives for O-scalers all acroiss the country in addition to his own. His most frequently modeled prototype: the Q's attractive S-4 Hudsons, of which he completed a dozen 1/4-inch scale replicas.
His interest in the Burlington and its affiliates led him to amass a voluminous collection of photographs (both his own and those of others) and historical material over the years. By the 1940's he was already known far and wide as the authority on Burlington equipment and operations. His expertise eventually led him to author and publish three landmark volumes on his favorite railroad: Steam Locomotives of the Burlington Route in 1960, Burlington in Transition in 1967 and Across Iowa on the Keokuk & Western and Humeston & Shenandoah Railroads in 1996. While his good friends Bill Kerka and Joe Hardy served as co-authors on these works, the bulk of the material came from Corbin's extensive collection.
Following the formation of the BRHS, Bernie became an active member and contributor. Virtually all of the society's Burlington Bulletins have contained material supplied by Corbin or his collection, now entrusted to Hol Wagner, our Bulletin Editor. on April 30, 1983, at a special meeting of the society, held in Red Oak, Bernie was presented with a plaque naming him as the first, and so far, only honorary lifetime member of the BRHS in recognition of his innumerable contributions to the preservation of Burlington history.
Bernard past away in his home in Red Oak, Iowa, on January 30, 1988 at the age of 80.
Recipients
October 8, 1988 - Jim Miller (right)
October 10, 1992 - Rod (Bat) Masterson (left) - F. Hol Wagner (right)
September 17, 1999 - David Lotz (right)
The BRHS Gandy Dancer Award
A "Gandy Dancer," according to Webster, is a laborer in a railroad section gang. Most likely they were given this name because of the tools they worked with daily, tools that were manufactured at the Gandy Manufacturing Company of Chicago. The gandy dancer has the most physically challenging, and one of the most important jobs on the railroad. Their position is not as glamorous, or as recognized as an engineer or conductor, however if it weren't for the rails they lay, the trains would not run.
This is also true with certain volunteers in the BRHS. Their efforts are essential to the smooth operation of the society, yet they do not seek, or often receive the recognition they deserve. The BRHS award is a slice of rail with a spike welded to it, mounted on an oak base which is symbolic of the important rail a gandy dancer lays.
Recipients
October 14, 1995 - David Beck
October 14, 1995 - George Speir
| Content ©2007 BRHS |