Arthur Melbourne “Mel” MacFarlane was born in 1919 in Edmonton, AB and went to school there. He got a job in 1936 delivering groceries for $3.50/week. In the spring of 1937, he was able to get work with the Northern Alberta Railways as a locomotive watchman. He joined the Navy in 1941 and spent four years on the west coast, serving on two mine-sweepers. He served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. In 1942 he married Eva Henry from Evesham, SK, they went on to have six children. After the war (August 1945) they moved from Victoria, BC to Edmonton, AB where Mel went back to work with the N.A.R. firing steam engines out of the Dunvegan Yards. In 1947 he was promoted to Engineer and in 1948 was sent north to work out of Rycroft and then McLennan. Mel retired in 1979 after 42 years of working in the railways, he was 60 years old. He was instrumental in building the first arena and Legion Hall. He was active in the United Church, the Cultural Society and the Golf Course construction. Mel passed away in McLennan at the age of 77 on January 31st, 1996.
- Trails and Rails North, 1981, p. 281-283