Railmen Drum and Bugle Corps (1939–1995)

The Railmen Drum and Bugle Corps (1939–1995) is a defunct competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, the Railmen folded after the 1995 season.[1]

For the current alumni corps of the same name, see Railmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2013).
Railmen Drum and Bugle Corps
(1939–1995)
LocationOmaha, Nebraska
Founded1939
Folded1995
Websitewww.therailmen.com

History

The Railmen were formed in 1939 as the Union Pacific Drum and Bugle Corps. a musical activity for children of employees of the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) under director Chris Jensen. The group was to perform in parades and other events as representatives of the UP, and it made its first appearance in Omaha during "Golden Spike Days," a four-day celebration of the world premier of the Cecil B. DeMille film, Union Pacific. Under Jensen, and his successor Ken Whittle,t he corps continued as a combination corporate public relations device and activity for employees children for forty-five years.[2]

When Whittle assumed leadership in 1971, the corps started a gradual to transition to a competitive junior field corps. In 1983, the corps began accepting non-UP members, and the corps made its competitive debut in 1983, performing at a single show in Omaha. Becoming a touring corps in 1984, the Railmen performed at seven Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) and DCI shows. They made their first DCI Championship appearance at Madison in 1985, placing seventh of nineteen Class A corps.[3]

The corps quickly became a crowd favorite, but the UP was dissatisfied with the corps' new identity. The budgets were cut back, and then the UP terminated its sponsorship in 1988. The corps converted to a non-profit youth organization under new director Shane Macklin. However, fundraising in the Omaha area was difficult, since the public perception was that the corps was still sponsored by the UP. By 1994, the corps became unable to field a junior corps and marched a senior corps in a much-reduced season. The junior corps returned in 1995, but the small corps was able to finish only 14th of thirty-two corps at DCM and 13th of forty-one Division III corps at the DCI World Championships in Buffalo.[3] With no funds and little success in raising more, the corps' board decided to fold the corps after the 1995 season.[2]

Show Summary(1985–95)

Source=[4]

Gold background indicates DCI Championship; pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist; pale green background indicates DCI semifinalist.

YearThemeRepertoireScoreResult
1983–84Repertoires unavailable
1985Repertoire unavailable77.9007th Class A
1986Repertoire unavailable84.300
62.600		3rd Class A
32nd Open Class
1987Repertoire unavailable85.000
63.100		3rd Class A
28th Open Class
1988The Fire and the Flame by Vic Schoen / Don't Rain on My Parade (from Funny Girl) by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill /
Mira, Mira by Matt Harris / I Have Dreamed (from The King and I) by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II		73.40010th Class A
1989Am I Blue? by Harry Akst and Grant Clarke / Blue Skies by Irving Berlin / Why Not? by Michel Camilo / 'Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk84.900
61.50		4th Class A
25th Open Class
1990I Can Cook Too (from On the Town) by Leonard Bernstein / When I First Saw You (from Dreamgirls) by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen /
A Little Travelin' Music by Benny Davis, Jackie Gleason, and Murray Mencher /
Siciliano (from Flute Sonata E flat Major) by Johann Sebastian Bach		83.900
59.700		5th Class A
20th Open Class
1991Cruisin' for a Bluesin' by Andy Wiener / Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (from Pal Joey) by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart /
Festival de Ritmo by Dave Weckl and Jay Oliver / Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon		85.0007th Class A
1992On the Other Hand by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz / Suite Sandrine by Michel Camilo / The Embrace by John Scofield /
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell		72.50012th Div. II
1993Blue Skies by Irving Berlin / Come Rain or Come Shine (from St. Louis Woman) by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer /
Storm (Original drum feature) / Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John and Bernie Taupin		85.3007th Div. II
1994Tower of PowerWhat is Hip? by Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, and David Garibaldi /
You're Still a Young Man & Soul with a Capital S by Emilio Castillo and Stephen "Doc" Kupka /
Sparkling in the Sand by Emilio Castillo, Lawrence J. Lopez, and Steve "Doc" Kupka
1995Impressions of a
Global Village		Daybreak by Chieli Minucci / Saya (Traditional) / Casmir by Al Di Meola / Africa by Robert W. Smith78.90013th Div. III

References
  1. A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, Vol. 2; Steve Vickers, ed.; Drum Corps World, pub.; 2003
  2. "Union Pacific Railmen celebrate 75th Anniversary, plan start-up of alumni and junior corps". Drum Corp World. August 20, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  3. "Score History Listing for Railmen". Maher Associate, Inc. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  4. "Song History for Railmen". Maher Associates, Inc. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
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