John England was born Sept. 25, 1958, in Los Angeles. He hired out on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (now part of BNSF Railway) Aug. 28, 1978, as a brakeman. He was promoted to fireman in 1979 and engineer in 1981.

A member of Local 1674 (a Los Angeles-based local that represents engineers on the BNSF and all yard crafts on the Los Angeles Junction Railway), England served as local chairperson for engineers from 1987 to 2003 and local chairperson for both engineers and yard workers on the LAJ from 1995 to 1998.

England also has served as local legislative representative from 1995 to the present and as local delegate at the 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 UTU conventions.

England also served as secretary to his general committee, GO 020, from 1991 to 1995, vice general chairperson from 1995 to 2003, and general chairperson from 2003 to the present.

He was elevated to the position of UTU International second alternate vice president – West in October 2009.

He also currently serves as chairperson of the California State Legislative Board, as a member of the UTU International Transportation Safety Team, as UTU International special organizing representative.