Poplar Bluff's women in railroad

Poplar Bluff museums tell the story of us, our family, and our history. I want to tell you some of those tall tales found within our museum walls.

The Union Pacific Railroad defines “Girl Power” as 3,000 horsepower. In 1974, Bonnie Leake from Las Vegas became the first woman to operate a locomotive as an engineer.

She was closely followed by a Poplar Bluff woman. Darline Thurman also became a train engineer in 1976. She was originally working as a clerk for the Missouri Pacific Railroad in St. Louis. After eight years, Darline applied for “engine service” and was accepted.

For the next 29 years, she operated freight trains from Missouri to Illinois, Kansas and Arkansas. Many times, Darline rode through Poplar Bluff on her way from St. Louis to Little Rock. She even spent time in Spokane, Washington, behind the throttle.

In 1978, another Poplar Bluff woman was breaking the “glass ceiling.” Fay Stroud Middleton was one of the first women brakemen on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. She was soon promoted to a freight conductor, but that didn’t stop her. In 1995, Fay, too, became a train engineer for the Union Pacific. She drove her freight trains from Poplar Bluff to Little Rock. In 1986, Fay worked in the largest freight yard in the world in North Platte, Nebraska. After 10 years in the driver’s seat, she retired.

Darline and Fay knew each other. They were friends. Both of their husbands were railroaders too. Gary Thurman and John Middleton were both freight conductors for the Union Pacific. They would frequently wave as their trains passed each other.

Both women are pioneers in the transportation industry. Their story is told in the MoArk Regional Railroad Museum. Additionally, Darline Thurman’s retirement watch and belt buckle are on display. The Museum is located in the old Frisco depot just across from the Black River Coliseum. It is open every Saturday free of charge from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.