Celebrating the Clark Family Railroad History

Gladys Clark (left) in the early 20th century. Jonathan Clark and his father, Nathan Clark, carry on the family tradition. OmniTrax photos.

At OmniTRAX, Inc., we take pride in recognizing the incredible railroad legacies within our team. Here, we celebrate Jonathan Clark and his family’s history in the railroad industry.

Jonathan’s family legacy traces back to his great grandmother, Gladys Clark, who defied conventions in the early 1900s and worked as a clerk for the New York Central in Hubbard, Ohio, at Coalburg Yard. In the photo above, You see her pouring out the last of the yard office coffee pot at the end of her shift with a freight car in the background. Jonathan’s great grandfather, Glen Clark, also worked for the New York Central before he met his wife, Gladys. Glen was a draftsman in the New York Central Cleveland engineering offices (which happens to be the same city where Jonathan is located today!). Many other family members (uncles and cousins)also worked in the railroad industry  throughout the 20th century in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey.

Glen and Gladys paved the way for future generations, including Jonathan’s father, Nathan Clark, who commenced his working career as a spiking machine operator on a Bessemer & Lake Erie production rail gang in 1978. Nathan also worked in railroad freight operations, passenger rail transit system development and served 14 years with Conrail as an account executive and area manager.

Now, Jonathan carries the torch, contributing 10 years of his own to the railroading tradition. Starting in 2013 as a conductor for the Buffalo & Pittsburgh, he climbed the ranks and honed his skills at several different railroads, including CN. In March 2023, Jonathan joined OmniTRAX’s Cleveland & Cuyahoga Railway (CCRL) as an engineer/conductor, adding another chapter to his family’s railroad journey.

Thank you, Jonathan for being an integral part of our OmniTRAX railroad team!