The Railroad Retirement File for James John McCarry

"Application for Employee Annuity" (Form AA-1(4-52)), filed 19 Jan 1954, James John McCarry pension file, SS no. 716-09-2211, 1954; NIA: 5743080, Textural Records; Inactive Claims Folders; RG 184: Records of the Railroad Retirement Board; National Archives-Atlanta, Morrow, GA.

A couple of weeks ago I looked at NARA to find my grandfather's Railroad Retirement file. I found the information I was looking for in Atlanta. I sent an email giving them the information requested and received a response that same day telling me that I should hear back within 10 business days. Last Monday I received an email telling me that his file had been located. They gave me options on obtaining the file. I decided on the 25 page digital scan file to be emailed to me. I received my email on Monday.


There are a few parts to this file and lots of information. The above form he filed when he retired in 1954. He had been diagnosed with tuberculosis in October of 1952 and went out on disability at that time. He had worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad since 15 July 1920 starting as a brakeman.

Passenger(?) brakeman (Pa. US) some time between 1918 and 1920, wikipedia.org

For the last 15 years he was a conductor for the railroad which from what I found about his brakeman job, was much safer.

"Record of Employee's Prior Service" (Form AA-2P), filed 30 Sep 1942, James John McCarry pension file, SS no. 716-09-2211, 1942; NIA: 5743080, Textural Records; Inactive Claims Folders; RG 184: Records of the Railroad Retirement Board; National Archives-Atlanta, Morrow, GA.

Included in the file was information about compensation for service prior to The Railroad Retirement Act of 1937.  This  included a chart giving his pay received from Jan 1924 to Dec 1931. On the form above it gives his birth date of 19 May 1901 stating is was not verified. I was hoping that there would have been a birth or baptismal certificate in the file to verify this because I have not been able to find this for him. But no luck on that.

"Application for Lump-Sum Death Payment and Annuities Unpaid at Death" (Form 70-R144.5), filed 19 Jul 1957, James John McCarry pension file, SS no. 716-09-2211, 1957; NIA: 5743080, Textural Records; Inactive Claims Folders; RG 184: Records of the Railroad Retirement Board; National Archives-Atlanta, Morrow, GA.

My grandfather died 5 Jul 1957 so my grandmother, Theresa V. Gunther McCarry, made her application for a Death Payment.  This form gave their marriage date, listed surviving children with their address and date of birth, and surviving brothers and sisters. It did not give their ages, adults was written down the column and just the city and state was given for their address. There was even two letters my grandmother had written when she misplaced her check and wanted it replaced.

So all and all there was a lot of information in the 25 pages I received and I am glad I finally have this.

So keep on looking, you never know what you will find!