A lifetime dream fulfilled at age 62: BNSF employee’s long journey to the railroad

Anthony Taravella has proven that when it comes to chasing your dreams, it’s better late than never. 

Taravella had always been a dreamer. As a boy, his imagination ran wild watching trains come and go. Their powerful engines and rhythmic clanking ignited a spark in him. At age 4, he frequented the rail yard in Mount Morris, New York, after church with his dad.  

Then he was gifted a model train and his love for railroading grew. 

When Taravella was 12, he told his parents he wanted to work on the rails.  

“They told me they’d be extinct by the time I was in the workforce,” he said. That was in 1967. His parents encouraged him to pursue a different career, so his dreams lay dormant for a few decades. 

He joined the Army at 18 as a radar repairman and served from 1973 to 1976. After he was discharged, he received his bachelor’s in creative writing from San Diego State University. He also gained a master’s in security and risk management from Webster University. 

Taravella had a fulfilling 24-year career at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).  

“One thing that has really stuck with me during my time at SAIC is to never be too quick to judge,” Taravella said. “Assume people are capable and treat everyone as equals. People deserve a chance. A chance to prove themselves."  

After a layoff, Taravella, in his 60s, faced a crossroad. His dreams, once so vibrant, seemed distant and unattainable. But a flicker of hope remained. Inspired by a volunteer stint at the Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City, he took a leap of faith. 

Applying to BNSF at the age of 62, Taravella felt the odds were against him, and he supposed his application would be dismissed. But he persisted, driven by determination and a belief that his long-awaited dream job could become a reality. 

“I thought I needed to know someone at the railroad in order to get a job, but I decided to still apply, despite my age and not having any railroad connections,” Taravella said.  

He applied at BNSF’s Denver, Colorado, location and was overjoyed when he got the call to interview. “There were 125 people at the interview,” Taravella said. “They asked everyone the same four questions. After three months, I got the call to go through training. I was the oldest person in the class." 

After four months of training in Denver, Colorado, Taravella became a conductor for the Needles Terminal.

Going from an eight-to-five job to an unpredictable schedule was the toughest part of the job, said 69-year-old Taravella, but his determination to prove himself and unwavering love for the railroad continues to ignite his drive. 

To those teetering on the edge of pursuing your dreams, no matter the age, Taravella advises to go for it. “Do it,” he said. “Just do it. The worst that can happen is you fail. If you never take that leap, you’ll never chase your dreams. I want people to pursue their dreams even if they think they're too old.”  

Prior to the railroad, Taravella was a singer-songwriter, guitar player, bassist and drummer. Although he no longer performs, in his spare time, he enjoys recording music and model railroading. 

“I’m just grateful to be working at BNSF these past 7 years,” Taravella said. “I love it and plan to stay here awhile. At 68, I was able to buy my own house, and I just love what I do.”