Anthony Taravella is living proof that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. At 62, he finally landed his dream job as a BNSF conductor at the Needles Terminal in California.
His love for trains began in childhood, sparked by model trains and regular visits to the rail yard in Mount Morris, New York, with his dad. Despite his zeal for trains, he took a different path after high school, joining the Army and later earning degrees in creative writing and security and risk management, which led to a fulfilling 24-year career at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
After being laid off in his 60s, Taravella decided to revisit his childhood passion and applied to BNSF Railway. Competing against 125 others, he was thrilled to be accepted for conductor training, becoming the oldest in his class. Seven years later, he’s still working at BNSF and loving every minute of it.
His advice for anyone hesitating to pursue their dreams? “Do it. Just do it.”