B.M. (Bill) Ruzek stood digging his toe into the gravel yard outside Calgary's Alyth diesel shop, obviously moved, and somewhat embarrassed, about the nice things people were saying.

In his hand, he clutched $1,000 in Canadian Pacific money orders just presented him through the Employees' Suggestion Plan for a significant improvement in electrical hookups for multiple-unit locomotive consists.

"We all know Bill did this because it was part of his job, not for the money nor the recognition," William Stewart, superintendent of motive power and rolling stock for the Pacific Region, was saying.

Others nodded in agreement. Bill still dug his toe into the ground. "I'm not sure what to say," he began. "I didn't expect this... it's all too much."

Mr. Stewart continued:  "I have been notified by Montreal that you are a leading candidate for the winner of the best suggestion submitted in 1967, and this will mean a trip for you and your wife to Hawaii on CPA." (Canadian Pacfic Airlines)

Bill just stood there with a pinch-me-I-don't-believe-it's-happening look. (It has since been confirmed that Bill Ruzek is indeed the winner of the special prize offered for the originator of the best suggestion of 1967, return tickets for two to Honolulu, Hawaii.)

The suggestion comes under the classification of "saves time and money". Basically, it involves a change in the electrical circuits of locomotives, and makes all classes of locomotives compatible in dynamic braking, no matter how they are placed in consist.

Incompatibility of locomotives of different classes and makes has long been a problem for motive power and operating people. Canadian Pacific operates a number of major makes of locomotives in dozens of models. Maximum dynamic braking effect cannot be achieved when older types of some makes are used as leading units with newer models of other manufacture in the consist.

With the application of Bill Ruzek's suggestion, virtually any locomotive can be used as a lead unit.

H.W. Hayward, chief of motive power and rolling stock, puts the idea's value this way:  "It boosts locomotive availability by about four unit-days per month. Employees will no longer have to await diesel unit arrivals or hold units unnecessarily in order to build locomotive consists that will be compatible in dynamic braking."

Mr. Ruzek began his service with Canadian Pacific in 1955 as an electrical journeyman at Alyth. In 1964 he was promoted to shop foreman, and later that same year, under re-classification, became area foreman.

In early 1965 he became area foreman-instructor, the position he now holds, and is responsible for the training of new electricians, as well as normal supervision.

His suggestion came as a result of experimentation and trial-and-error, plus detailed knowledge of locomotive electrical systems.

Suggestion Bureau supervisor John Mann, Montreal, said only two other $1,000 awards have been made in the suggestion plan's history, one in 1961, the other in 1965.

"While Mr. Ruzek's suggestion is a highly technical one," says Mr. Mann, "the problems it solves and the benefits resulting can be appreciated by anyone. It goes to show what can result from an employee taking a hard look at how things are being done, and suggesting a better way."

A total of $7,864 has been paid out by the Suggestion Bureau for adopted suggestions submitted during 1967, more than three times what was paid out for the year 1966.

Response to the suggestion plan during 1967 was the highest ever, "no doubt helped by the added incentive of special prizes for the two top suggestions submitted in the year."

The prize for the No. 2 suggestion submitted in 1967 is a weekend for two at a Canadian Pacific hotel. Winner of that prize was R.H. Crisp, recently-retired local freight agent at Swift Current, who received a $590 cash award for suggested improvements to operations in the mechanical department.

A new set of special prizes has been announced for the best suggestions submitted in 1968. First prize will be two return tickets via CPA to the winner's choice of Hawaii, Mexico, Holland, Spain, or Portugal. Second prize will be two return tickets to any point served by CPA in Canada. Δ