Steinauer Publishing

A Steinauer Publishing Biography

HEAR THE WHISTLE

The Story of Jack Haley, American Entrepreneur and Railroad Pioneer

by Kathy Haley Buhrman

“Live your life with passion… Always listen for the whistle.”

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Hear the Whistle book cover

The Story

About the Book

In 1984, the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad sold a 100-mile line to retired USAF pilot and entrepreneur Jack Haley. In 1985 he took possession of the Iowa Division, renaming it the Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroad after securing a $75 million loan from General Electric — the largest privately funded American railroad formed in the 20th century by a non-railroad entity.

This is a loving portrait of a man who lived with unbridled enthusiasm as a pilot, railroad executive, and businessman — while staying true to his roots, his faith, and his family. Overshadowed by controversy and brief in tenure, Haley became legendary among short-line and regional operators, a figure who helped change American railroading forever.

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Praise

Reviews

“Jack Haley epitomized the ethic of entrepreneurialism so crucial to the development of business in America. In this loving portrait of her father, Kathy Haley Buhrman shows how Jack Haley succeeded as a pilot, a railroad executive, and as a businessman while being true to his roots, his faith, and his family. A nicely drawn portrait of a businessman who made a difference in late 20th century railroading.”

— Greg Schneider, Emporia State University
Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Magazine
Kathy Haley Buhrman

The Author

About the Author

Kathy Haley Buhrman is a family historian, instructor, and writer. She has taught genealogical classes, published articles, and served as stateside researcher for the eBook Where’s Merrill. Her first book, Washington County for Arcadia’s Images of America series, appeared in 2017. Hear the Whistle is her second book. She lives in Washington County, Nebraska.

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258 pages · Hardcover ISBN 978-1-7358717-4-5 · Paperback ISBN 978-1-7358717-1-4 · Kindle ISBN 978-1-7358717-2-1
Features historical photographs from the author’s collection and railroad historians.

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“Jack, did you hear the whistle? Live your life with passion, son. Always listen for the whistle.”


In 1984, the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad sold a 100-mile line of railroad track to retired USAF pilot and real estate entrepreneur, Jack Haley, who had a dream to buy a railroad. A year later on Christmas Eve 1985, Jack, as president and chief executive, took possession of their Iowa Division, renaming it the Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroad, having secured a $75 million cash loan with General Electric. It was the largest privately-funded American railroad company formed in the 20th century to a non-railroad entity. Overshadowed by controversy and his tenure short, he became legendary as the short line and regional operator in the United States who helped change the railroad industry forever.


Jack approached living with unbridled enthusiasm. As he entered the last decade of his life, working as CEO of his company, flying his airplane, and traveling like a gypsy, his desire to live every day to the fullest never dimmed.​

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