Trainmaster Josh Zegar describes his uncle Nick, a former BRC hump master who died on April 15, as “one of a kind.”

During the course of his 37-year Belt career, which concluded nine years ago, Nick worked as a conductor, yardmaster, hump conductor, tower man and hump master.

His funeral was attended by several of his Belt co-workers, along with his wife, Diane, and stepson, Conductor Marcus Donnelly. 

“He was a talker,” said Donnelly, who noted he and his twin brother, Michael, knew Nick since they were 6 years old.

Josh agrees with Nick’s reputation as a conversationalist.

“He could talk to anyone for hours; he had that gift,” Josh said. “However, he wasn’t just talk. He poured his heart into the railroad. He showed up, worked hard and took pride in everything he did.”

That included being there for family. 

“He was a wonderful grandfather to my children, Amelia and Dax,” said Donnelly, who started at the Belt just as Nick was completing his career. “We talked about work all the time, and I saw how he was respected by his co-workers.”

Nick was known for going out of his way to teach new hires. 

“He cared about the people around him,” Donnelly said. “He knew all the trades and could do it all.” 

Josh says he was able to observe Nick’s prowess as a mentor firsthand. 

“He had a way of guiding others in the right direction without ever making them feel small,” Josh said. “He wanted to see people win, and he did what he could to help them get there. I carry the lessons I learned from watching him. The way he treated people and carried himself — that stuck with me. And it continues to shape the way I work and lead today.”