HORNELL, N.Y. – Twenty-nine co-workers specializing in the production of rail cars for some of the nation’s busiest mass transit systems pooled their money last month for a shot at a $153,000,000 Powerball jackpot drawn on May 27. The group, employed by the Hornell-based Alstom Transportation and calling itself the “Lucky 29 of Alstom,” came up one Quick Pick number shy of the top prize, but still won an automatic $1,000,000 second prize for matching the first five numbers drawn.

The 29 winners representing “everyone from upper management, our foreman and regular people on the floor” have been playing together for more than a decade without a “substantial win - until now,” said group spokeswoman Penni Harrington of Canisteo.

“Everyone knows to come see Penni when the jackpot gets to $100 million or more,” Harrington said. “I collect the money and buy the tickets most times, but this time, we had someone else buy because I was working at a different location that week, but I guess it worked out OK.”

Janet Dusinbarre of Canaseraga bought the group’s million dollar winner at Cy’s Shurfine Food on Main Street in Arkport on the day of the drawing. Dusinbarre checked the group’s numbers before heading into work at 5 a.m. the next morning and called Harrington without hesitation to start spreading the good news.

“Janet said very calmly, ‘Penni, we won some money, like a millions dollars!’” Harrington laughed. “My first question was ‘How many of us were there?” The two then began calling their fellow Lottery winners and flagging them down on the shop floor.  “I don’t know how much work actually got done that day,” Harrington mused.

In addition to Harrington and Dusinbarre, members of the Lucky 29 from Alstom group include Hornell natives John Rees; Doug Odell; Tim Plank; Gerald Miles; Don Miller; Tim Greenthal; Leroy W. Teator; Randy Harms; Gregory C. Jordan; Thomas Andrew Lewis; and David Martin as well as Raymond Gavin of Andover; Michael Lewis of Bath; Steven S. Vancise II of Woodhull; Steven L. O'Dell of Canisteo; Douglas E. lawrence of Arkport; Steven P Symonds of Woodhull; Alan F. Dewey of Alfred Station; and Robert D. Sisson of Greenwood.

·   
Harrington said the 26 men and three women who comprise the Lucky 29 each contributed $5 to participate in that week’s Powerball pool. In return, each member of the group will receive an equal share of a one-time lump sum payment totaling $661,800.  Plans for the cash vary from paying off loans and saving for retirement to purchasing property and looking for new automobiles like the “dream car” Camaro that 66-year-old Elizabeth Perry has her eye on.

Harrington admits that sharing a prize with 28 other people may not be the ideal winning scenario, but “everyone feels great,” she said. “Everyone seems to have a better attitude at work.”  She said the group plans to continue pooling its money with the hope of winning another “even more substantial” prize.

The winning numbers for the May 27 Powerball drawing were: 08 – 15 – 34 – 53 – 59 and Powerball 23.

The New York Lottery contributed $13,079,866.02 and $26,637,529.63 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Allegany and Steuben Counties, respectively during fiscal year 2014-2015.