Edward Payson Ripley

Edward Payson Ripley (October 30 1845 – 1920), sometimes referred to as Edward P. Ripley or E. P. Ripley, was the fourteenth president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Youth and education

Ripley was born on October 30 1845, in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Although his family had settled in the American colonies as early as 1630, his family's most prestigious quality was that there were nine blacksmiths in his ancestry.

Ripley attended public schools, entering the workforce in 1862 at a dry goods merchant's in Boston. Six years later, Ripley started his first job for a railroad as a freight agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad. After two years, he transferred to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad as a clerk. He worked his way up through various positions including New England agent, general eastern agent, general freight agent, traffic manager and finally general manager. In 1890 Ripley left the Burlington for a few years to work for the Milwaukee Road.

Santa Fe leadership

On December 1 1895, as the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway emerged from receivership, Ripley became the Santa Fe's president. After the financial scandals that brought on the railroad's bankruptcy in the earlier part of the decade, Ripley had his work cut out for him to restore the public opinion of the railroad. He served as president until January 1 1920. [cite book| pages=p 139| title=Homage to the Santa Fe; The many facets of big time railroading| author=Armitage, Merle| publisher=Omni Publications| location=Hawthorne, California| year=1973| edition=reprinted 1986| ]

Legacy

A Liberty Ship, hull number 2690, was named "Edward P. Ripley" in his honor (see List of Liberty ships).

Disneyland Railroad locomotive number 2, a 4-4-0 built in 1954 by the Disney shops, was named "E. P. Ripley" in his honor.

References

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