Corey Burrell Courtesy photo

LONDONDERRY – Despite living with autism and being hearing impaired, Corey Burrell, 27, of Londonderry has never given up on his longtime dream of becoming a locomotive engineman.

“Trains have always been a passion of mine ever since my early childhood, especially trains from the 1930s-1970s,” he said. “Growing up, my parents would always take me on the Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway. I have to say that trains and visiting the White Mountains were the happiest and positive aspects of my childhood.”

His favorite locomotive is the EMD F7 which was manufactured from 1949 to 1953. With 1,500 horsepower, the locomotive could reach a top speed of 102 miles per hour, according to various online sources.

Although Burrell has a hearing aid and cochlear implant, his repeated attempts to land a job with the railroad have been unsuccessful.

“My goal was to start off as a trainman or brakeman and work my way up to eventually becoming an engineman,” he said. “Because of my hearing loss, railroads have always been apprehensive to give me a chance to work for them. I’ve received so much backlash from railroad workers because of my hearing.”

By law, railroad employees cannot be terminated for using a hearing device. However, job applicants, who are otherwise qualified, can be denied employment without an explanation.

“People with disabilities absolutely deserve to earn a livable wage,” said Burrell. “I find it to be outrageous that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 85 percent of people who are neurodivergent are unemployed.”

He also said there is still a stigma within the railroad community about job applicants who are on the autism spectrum.

“In many cases, railroad workers believe that all people with autism are mentally challenged, which is simply not true,” he said. “I have the utmost respect for railroad workers and the difficult job that they do, but I think they are misinformed when it comes to those with disabilities.”

While he may not be able to drive a train for a living, Burrell discovered another possible way to get behind the controls.

The Monticello Railroad Museum in Monticello, Ill., has a Throttle Time Program that provides visitors the opportunity to handle a locomotive and a small train for 40 minutes at a time.

“This would possibly be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me,” said Burrell. “I honestly cannot imagine going through life without achieving something that I’ve always wanted to do since my childhood.”

The problem is that the museum is more than 1,100 miles from Londonderry.

“Neither me or my parents can afford the travel expenses to get to Monticello,” said Burrell, adding that the throttle time fees and the cost of steel toe boots are also quite high.

He is also planning to hire a videographer to document his trip.

Therefore, Burrell recently created a GoFundMe page, Please Support Deaf (HOH) Railfan’s Dream, with a goal of $5,000 to cover those expenses. As of March 14, he had raised $3,329.

“I know that at 27 years old, asking for support like this might be frowned upon, but I’ve been constantly denied opportunities in life,” he said.