Courtesy photo Mason Clark, left, is shown with his brother Landon and a Canadian National Railroad in a train. Mason is suffering from brain cancer and has a dream of being a train conductor. The railroad helped make his dream come true when they made Mason the honorary conductor aboard the CN route to Quinessec recently.

ESCANABA — A Delta County youth who is suffering from brain cancer got to live his dream of being a train conductor recently — thanks to the Canadian National (CN) Railroad.

Six year old Mason Clark has always wanted to be a train conductor. Canadian National Railroad helped turn Clark’s dream into reality. Clark was diagnosed with a rare form of inoperable childhood brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG, on June 16. Mason is the son of Sean (Nikki) Clark and Sarah (Justin) Sarnowski and grandson of Mark and Susie Clark, Mike Ledford and Patti Hebert.

On Saturday, July 22, Canadian National Railroad Clark named Mason the honorary conductor aboard the CN route to Quinessec. Clark was given the full CN staff treatment while on duty that day, consisting of the gear railroad employees wear, an official employee certification card, and a job briefing, which included pre-route donuts and hot cocoa in the office.

Numerous CN staff volunteered on their day off to assist with the route. Clark’s father and brother, Landon, accompanied him on his conducting journey. Every local fire department from Gladstone to Powers were staged along the route with a truck and volunteers to greet the train and cheer Conductor Clark on as he passed by. The community gathered to show an immense outpouring of support for Clark on the train’s stop in Bark River, where he attends school. Every crossing from Gladstone to Bark River had people present showing their support for Clark.

Clark concluded 30 rounds of radiation, which was celebrated by “Mason’s Motorcade” on Sunday, August 6 in Bark River.

Mason’s family said they are grateful to CN Railroad for allowing him this conductor experience, and also to everyone who has been showing their support during this time.