G&W Interchange Magazine Summer 2023

Table of Contents

Features

Volume 29, Number 1, 2023

G&W Interchange

Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

20 West Avenue

Darien, CT 06820

gwrr.com

If you have news to share across G&W, please send it to the Communications team. Tel: 203-202-8926

Email: interchange@gwrr.com

© 2023 Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

All rights reserved.

Recycled paper. Genesee & Wyoming is committed to using resources wisely

Cover: Georgia Central Railway (GC) on the way to Macon, Georgia.

PHOTO BY ALAN WILLIAMS JR.

Right: Utah Railway (UTAH) transload operation in Provo, Utah.

PHOTO BY ROBERT REYNOLDS

The terms “Genesee & Wyoming,” “G&W,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer collectively to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies.

From the CEO

Over the past month, I have met with G&W employees from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to London, England, to Dallas, Texas, to Monticello, Indiana, to Johnson City, Tennessee. These visits have included safety celebrations, operational reviews as well as strategy sessions focused on achieving our 5-year strategic plan.

There is one question I was asked in every location: “After 23 years at G&W, are you excited about your new role?” My answer is unequivocally, “Yes.”

I am highly energized for two simple reasons. First, the future of G&W has never been brighter thanks to incredibly promising growth opportunities, and it is a privilege to serve as Executive Chairman of our North American and UK/Europe companies. Second, the future of Brookfield Infrastructure has never been brighter as it embarks upon the deployment of $25 billion of capital from its fifth investment fund, and it is an honor to serve as Vice Chairman with new responsibility for G&W’s sister companies.

At G&W, I have never been more confident in our leadership team. From Michael Miller as our new CEO who lives G&W’s Core Values, Matt Walsh as our corporate development maestro, TQ as our tenacious driver of frugal innovation, and Mike Peters as the champion of our customer experience – to name just a few – we have a team that is second to none in the rail industry. And with the creation of the American Region under Jim Irvin and the National Region under Brad Ovitt, as well as the formation of 12 divisions with a laser focus on business growth, we have unprecedented ability to execute our ambitious growth plans.

As you know, the current opportunity for growth in rail freight is immense thanks to increasing customer focus on low-carbon transportation, recent U.S. government policies supporting industrial and infrastructure growth, and customers focused on shorter, simpler supply chains with increased local investment. For G&W, this macrobackdrop is directly translating into massive investment plans at customer facilities on our railroads. Our future is exciting, and I look forward to building it together.

Jack Hellmann July 11, 2023

Persistence and Long-Term Investment Enable Georgia Central Railway to Step Up for a Booming Savannah

Alongside the Port of Savannah, which has blossomed to one of the largest and fastest-growing ports in the U.S., Georgia Central Railway (GC) is achieving the growth trajectory that G&W envisioned in 2005 when it acquired the railroad as a break-even business.

Today, GC spans 211 miles across a high-growth industrial corridor between Savannah and Macon, Georgia, offering two Class I interchanges and 35 industrial development sites along the way. Its 42 employees haul a diverse range of commodities – with its top five customers in the corrugated packaging, plastics, aggregates, paper and grain industries.

Prioritizing Investments

Since 2005, GC has prioritized investing for growth. Among numerous improvements over the years, a $4 million multi-year project to upgrade bridges and trestles enabled 286k loadings on the entire line, while an additional $8 million public-private investment from GC and the U.S. Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program spurred further enhancements that allow the railroad to operate at 25 mph track speeds on more than one-third of the line.

“By the end of 2019, the benefits to these investments were obvious,” says Jim Irvin, senior vice president, American Region railroads. “GC was selected as the freight-rail service provider for an adjacent $172 million plastic distribution facility, had exceeded the benchmark for a loyal customer with an overall satisfaction score of 8.1 out of 10 in a biennial survey and completed the year reportable injury- and derailment-free.”

Right: Mason Mega Rail Terminal looking down from Bourne Avenue in Garden City, Georgia.

PHOTO BY DAVID BLAZEJEWSKI Left: Plastic granules. SHUTTERSTOCK BY – STANISLAUV

Defying Odds During the Pandemic

Amidst the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic that stressed global supply chains, including the North American freightrail sector, GC continued to earn customers’ trust and forge a reputation for safe, customer-focused and sustainable short line service.

The railroad finished 2022 and 2021 reportable derailment-free and has gone reportable injury-free six of the last 10 years.

In 2021, at the height of the pandemic, GC was awarded a score of 9 out of 10 in overall satisfaction on its biennial customer survey – almost a full point ahead of results from 2019 and a two-point improvement compared to 2017.

“Georgia Central stayed in constant contact with us during the pandemic to provide updates on rail shipments to our aggregate facility,” says Sean Scott, chief engineer at McLendon Enterprises. “They aided us with extended working days and hours to facilitate our immediate needs as well as the needs of our customers. We appreciate the effort shown by Georgia Central during those trying times, but we would expect nothing less based on our history with them and their likeminded approach to customer service!”

From 2019-2022, GC’s traffic grew from 19,000 to 24,000 carloads for an overall increase of 27%. In 2022 alone, traffic was up 7% year-over-year.

To help customers meet ESG goals while supporting its own environmental targets, in 2022, GC completed a twoyear initiative to overhaul its locomotive fleet of 19 by adding 14 cleaner engines that consume 23% less fuel and will reduce the railroad’s annual CO2-equivalent emissions by more than 2,000 metric tons.

Healthy New Business Pipeline

Perhaps the biggest vote of confidence, however, lies in GC’s near-term pipeline of new business.

“Customers are responding to our immediate proximity to and relationship with the Port of Savannah, our 286k capacity, our connections with two Class I carriers, and our reputation for safe and efficient service,” says Trevor Wilhelmy, director of sales and marketing for the road.

The railroad is working with customers in the aggregates, scrap metal and pulp & paper industries to establish

From 2019-2022, GC’s traffic grew from 19,000 to 24,000 carloads for an overall increase of 27%. In 2022 alone, traffic was up 7% year-over-year.

Bryan County

or add service along its first 28 track miles out of the Port of Savannah.

With more than 20 million square feet of warehouse space under construction in the Savannah area and double the rail container capacity at Savannah’s port thanks to a recent expansion, the GC team is preparing to haul a variety of commodities – from frozen foods to panel products – to and from customer transload and warehouse sites. GC’s sister G&W railroad, Savannah Port Terminal Railroad (SAPT), is also supporting the area’s extraordinary demand for freight transportation providers via its long-term rail service agreement with Georgia Ports Authority.

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, more than 30 electric vehicle-related projects have been announced in Georgia since 2018, totaling $23 billion in investments in the state. In early 2022, Hyundai Motor Group became the latest company to announce

such a project: a $5.5 billion electric vehicle and batterymanufacturing facility within the 2,900-acre Bryan County Mega Site along GC and just west of the Port of Savannah. GC is planning to transport inbound raw materials as well as outbound finished vehicles destined for markets across the U.S. beginning in late 2024.

A Bright Future

These opportunities are expected to increase GC’s annual carloads to well over 50,000 by 2032 – with immediate growth expected this year in aggregate carloads for the construction of Hyundai’s plant as well as traffic destined for warehouses. Additional infrastructure investments, including a new $6 million, 9,000-foot double track siding, are underway to handle the railroad’s present traffic demands and near-term volume growth.

“The story of the Georgia Central clearly demonstrates how investing in a railroad, hustling for growth and providing world-class service can be a recipe for success,” says Michael Miller, president of G&W’s North American operations. “The future looks bright at GC for decades to come.” n

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, more than 30 electric vehicle-related projects have been announced in Georgia since 2018, totaling $23 billion in investments in the state.

Electric vehicle charger.

American Rail Dispatching Center

St. Albans, Vermont, has been home to the longest-running rail dispatch operation in the United States since the 1860s, when New England Central Railroad’s (NECR) building on Federal Street was constructed. The American Rail Dispatching Center (ARDC) in its current form was established in that same building in 2001 – with four dispatchers covering two railroads. Today, both the NECR and ARDC are part of the Genesee & Wyoming family of railroads, and ARDC has expanded to serve as the 24/7/365 dispatching hub for 100 G&W short line and regional railroads across 42 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.

From this quiet corner of Vermont, 39 dispatchers, 18 crew callers and five managers control the movement of our trains across the North American freight-rail network. Among the ARDC’s daily responsibilities are giving authority for safe main line movement of trains and maintenance of way; issuing restrictions; communicating with field workers regarding any potential emergencies, including weather; and fielding all emergency calls from railroaders and the public.

Grand Opening Celebration

In January 2023, the ARDC relocated to a brand-new building just down the road from the original building in St. Albans. A grand opening celebration for the new ARDC was held on May 11, 2023, with many dignitaries from Vermont state and local delegations attending, including Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn, seen at left in the above photo with G&W CEO Jack Hellmann (center) and St. Albans Mayor Tim Smith.

The new ARDC features a museum space in the lobby of the entrance to the center. Jim Murphy (seated at the desk above), who worked as a dispatcher in St. Albans from the 1950s to the 1980s, has loaned many items for the museum to display, including a working dispatcher’s desk from 1914 and historical photographs of the original building and operation.

SINCE THE 1860s

St. Albans, Vermont, has been home to the longest-running rail dispatch operation in the United States.

DAY 2023

Disrupt | Empower | Innovate

Challenging the status quo through positive disruption, empowerment and innovation

G&W North America

G&W North America celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) on Wednesday, March 8, with a special virtual event featuring a panel of eight women employees from across G&W North America who shared their experiences working in the rail industry and a keynote presentation from Laurie Voss, executive coach and team development facilitator. The event’s theme, “Disrupt, Empower, Innovate,” invited women to share their experiences challenging the status quo through positive disruption, empowerment and innovation.

The panel included Colleen Conway, manager of service design and measurement; Katia Drouin, general manager of St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SLR)/St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad Quebec (SLQ); Anita Horton, director of sales and marketing, Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA) Nadine Kasuske, office manager for Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad (RCPE); Catherine Moher, trainmaster, Huron Central Railway (HCRY); Tanis Peterson, general manager of Western Labrador Rail Services (WLRS) and Knob Lake & Timmins Railway (KLTR); Jennifer Rera, director of business systems; and Ann Waters, director of planning and support. The panel was facilitated by the G&W International Women’s Day Planning Committee: Jessica Farinaro, senior human resources manager, Canada Division; Fabienne Julien, assistant vice president of human resources, Canada Division; Elina Kokorotsis, director of HR technology; Kathi Maness, former vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion; and Laurie Nivison, director of communications.

Conway, who has worked in the rail industry for 15 years, described how she landed her first job on the railroad and fell in love with railroading – but it wasn’t without its challenges being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

“When I first started, I wanted to be a trainmaster,” she said. “But I was a girl, and I wore a lot of pink, and the company I worked for thought that I was better suited to be the customer service manager. So I took the job, not wanting it, and kept pushing to be out in the field with the guys to be a trainmaster.”

She would use her days off and vacation time to learn all about the business – riding along with train crews and visiting customers. In her first 10 years, Conway worked as a yardmaster, dispatcher, customer service manager and train operations manager, and had to navigate stereotypes as a woman in those positions.

“Early in my career as a yardmaster, I gave instructions to a train crew to bring a train into the yard and how to yard it, and the conductor got on the radio for everyone to hear and said to me that my ‘job was to sit in the tower and look pretty, and they knew how to yard a train,’” she said. “Due to situations like that early in my career I chose to go only by my last name. Our email addresses were our first initial and last name, so everything I signed was C. Conway. So I chose that as a path to avoid stereotyping until I got to the point where someone obviously had to meet me face-to-face and they were shocked to know that Conway was a girl!”

For Catherine Moher, her experience as a woman on the front line has been positive. She joined Canadian Pacific in 1989 and retired in 2020 after 31 years. She started as an operator and worked as dispatcher, chief dispatcher and finally terminal coordinator. She joined HCRY in 2021.

“There are so many opportunities in the field for women,” she said. “You have to have tough skin. I don’t think we as women know our worth and our capabilities when we’re younger. We need to understand that we’re stronger than we think and that will help us move forward.”

Jennifer Rera has been with G&W for just over 20 years. When she started with G&W, there were just eight employees on the IT team with two of them women, and now there are six women on of a team of 50.

“Even though G&W is a male-dominated company and I work in a male-dominated department, I’ve been lucky in that I’ve had the support from my peers and leaders through the years,” she said. “I’ve had opportunities that I’ve been able to take and run with. That isn’t to say it’s been sunshine and rainbows all the time

- it’s been challenging at times. I’ve been in situations where I haven’t felt like my voice was heard, or had to repeat myself, only to be talked over or dismissed. That’s where the help of other women and male allies has come in to play. I’ve built that trust among my peers, and we help each other out in those situations.”

“For women, it’s difficult to disrupt alone,” Rera said. “But if we work together, we’ll have a better chance. We should cheer each other on and celebrate our wins, no matter how big or small they are. For men, you can be an ally at the table and let our voices be heard, and if you witness something like gender bias occurring, speak up and support that woman – and cheer them on, too.”

Ann Waters empowered participants in the virtual event to lead.

“Sometimes in large groups, general requests can go without ownership,” she said. “Specifically, I want to talk to leadership. People listen to what you say and watch what you do, but more importantly they hear what you don’t say and see what you don’t do. Here’s my ask of you – I want you to go tap someone on the shoulder and ask them to sit down, ask them what obstacles they’ve encountered and how you can help.”

“To people early in their career – take it upon yourselves,” Waters said. “Own your journey. Don’t hesitate to take the lead. Go knock on someone’s door and ask if you can talk to them, hear about their experiences and what they have to say, how they handled those situations you’ve been struggling with.”

“To the men that are listening today – there’s a lot of great men who have offered support, no qualms about it,” she said. “Continue to step up and support the women in your lives and do it openly – it will empower the other men to do the same. And if you’re a woman, and you’ve climbed the ladder, you’ve found your way around those obstacles. As a woman leader, we rely on you for your mentorship and support.”

Waters wrapped her segment emphasizing the importance of having support systems that can be relied upon throughout a person’s career.

“I think we all tell ourselves to work hard and you’ll get there,” she said. “For me personally, there have been times in my career I’ve lost faith in that approach. But that’s where my support system has picked me back up and said, ‘no, keep going.’ We may not be able to change what it means to be included and supported in the world, but I certainly think we can change what it means to be included and supported within the G&W walls. If we start there, I think we’re going to be really well off and a lot of people are going to say ‘wow, we want to be like them.’”

Keynote speaker Laurie Voss capped off the event by discussing tools in which women can look at new approaches to changing the status quo through creative thought processes and assessments.

Laurie Nivison

Katia Drouin

Jennifer Rera

Elina Kokorotsis

Mary Ellen Russell

Colleen Conway

Jack Hellmann

Kathi Maness

Ann Waters

Laurie Voss, keynote speaker

Fabienne Julien /Jessica Farinaro

Catherine Moher

Anita Horton

Nadine Kasuske Tanis Peterson

G&W UK/Europe

On Wednesday, March 8, more than 50 women from across G&W’s UK/Europe operations, including Freightliner Poland, came together to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2023. This was the fourth IWD event for the UK/Europe Region, all done with the active participation and enthusiasm of female employees.

This year’s event was held at the London Transport Museum. During lunch, participants toured the museum.

The IWD theme this year was #EmbraceEquity, which aims to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough. While equality is focused on ensuring everybody gets the same resources and opportunities, equity recognizes that individuals have different circumstances and aims to allocate resources and opportunities based on those circumstances to ensure all achieve an equal outcome. Focusing on the difference between equality versus equity was very much the theme of the day, and participants were treated to presentations from three fantastic guest speakers:

● Michelle Russell, National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR), talked about how skills can influence equity, including a fun session learning balloon modeling skills!

● Arlene Dixon, Samaritans, shared information on her organization’s “Small Talk Saves Lives” campaign and how a simple question or intervention can be all it takes to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts and start them on the journey to recovery. As this year’s chosen charity, the UK/ Europe Region will donate £1,000 to Samaritans to thank them for the valuable work they do in supporting people in crisis as well as their work with the rail industry generally and to the Freightliner business. The training and development team recently shared details of managing suicidal contacts and trauma support training. These are programs provided free by Samaritans, either online or face-to-face, and are not specific to rail colleagues. However, G&W UK colleagues are invited to attend.

● Andrea Graham, Transpennine Route Upgrade, shared her career journey through various roles in British Rail, British Transport Police, the police force and criminal investigation department where she talked about her many experiences of prejudice as a woman in a male-dominated industry and how she overcame these barriers to reach the top of her chosen profession.

In a time-honored tradition, awards were given to the UK/Europe Region’s Shining Stars, who went over and above during 2022. Eight awards were given this year, showcasing the terrific work of female employees. The awards were:

● G&W 2022 Rising Star Award: Holly Fleming, Terminal & Road Analyst – IMU

● Outstanding Contribution Award 2022: Anjali Lakhani, Head of Rail Service & HH Finance

● Outstanding Commitment Award 2022: Helen Waller, Business Systems Analyst

● The face of G&W 2022: Steph Cooke, Shunt Driver, Crewe

● Customer Excellence Award 2022: Kali Sheridan, General Manager, Service Delivery

● 2022 Unsung Hero Award: Liz Empsall, IM Train Driver, Leeds

● 2022 Safety and Charitable Award: Justyna Wyka, HR Manager, Freightliner Poland

● 2022 Agent for Positive Change: Nikita Niven, Program Management Lead

Land area in square miles (2020): 57,906

Population per square mile (2020): 185.2

Total population (2020): 10,711,908

Households (2021): 3,885,371

High school graduate or higher (2021): 88.2%

Median household income (2020): $65,030

Mean travel time to work (in minutes): 28.6

Number of veterans (2020): 613,810

State bird: Brown thrasher

State insect: Honeybee

State flower: Cherokee Rose

State tree: Live Oak

State nickname: The Peach State State capital: Atlanta

Georgia is bordered by Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee

Columbus & Chattahoochee Railroad (CCH) in Columbus, Georgia

MEET THE G&W LEGAL TEAM

G&W’s Legal Department supports the company’s North American operations and all corporate functions with legal matters, including negotiating, reviewing, drafting and interpreting transportation-related and strategic contracts on behalf of G&W and its subsidiaries (other than labor or real estate agreements); managing all litigation and claims (excluding freight claims) by and against G&W and its subsidiaries; and advising on compliance with company policies and applicable laws (including Surface Transportation Board matters, such as discontinuances and abandonments).

Allison Fergus General Counsel and Secretary

A Long Island, New York, native, Allison was appointed general counsel and secretary in October 2006. She joined G&W in November 2005 as senior counsel. She was previously an associate at Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, where she practiced in the capital markets group. Prior to that, she worked in the treasury group of Omnicom Group Inc. and at JPMorgan Chase, formerly Chase Manhattan Bank. Allison earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and international business from Georgetown University and her juris doctorate degree from Fordham University School of Law.

How does G&W benefit from the legal department?

G&W benefits from having 24-hour-a-day access to our in-house staff attorneys who all have more than a decade of experience.

How would you describe your job to a friend?

In-house, we manage all things legal. This includes transactions, contracts, litigation and general problems that arise in an organization – whether it’s reviewing a contract to fix a copier or dealing with claims that come in – to sophisticated matters relating to million-dollar litigation or acquisitions and divestitures.

The legal department is a service provider to everyone out there running trains, and we try to provide that service in a professional manner leveraging the experience we’ve gained over the decades. We like to provide one-stop shopping – if you call one person in the legal department, if one of us can’t answer your question another one of us generally can. We have different areas of specialty that complement one another, and we are always trying to build our practice areas of expertise.

Favorite legal TV show (that’s not Law & Order): Dateline

Favorite season: Winter

Favorite vacation destination: Aruba

Favorite food: All things Mexican

Alfred Ricotta

Deputy General Counsel

Al started at G&W in November 2011. He graduated law school in 1999 and worked at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in New York City until July 2004. He worked at another New York City law firm, Clifford Chance, until July 2010, when he became in-house counsel at Arch Chemicals in Norwalk. After 15 months, Arch Chemicals was acquired by another company and Al joined G&W. Al is a native New Yorker.

How does G&W benefit from the legal department?

I think G&W benefits from having counsel that has an intimate understanding of the rail industry and the regulatory framework that the company operates in. It also benefits in terms of cost savings – if we had to rely on outside counsel for everything we do, there would be significant costs involved that would far exceed our internal costs. And, at this point with the long tenure of the team, there’s a lot of institutional and industry knowledge that we have that would not be easily replicated by outside counsel.

How would you describe your job to a friend?

My job is to facilitate getting things done while at the same time protecting the company from exposure to liability – from violating the law to liability exposure to third parties.

Favorite legal TV show (that’s not Law & Order): The Practice

Favorite season: Summer

Favorite vacation destination: Beach

Favorite food: My mother’s lasagna

When Should You Contact the Legal Department?

Rule of Thumb: Have Legal review anything where we pay money or receive money!

● Trackage Rights and Operating Agreements

● Leases – Equipment or Rail Lines

● Haulage Agreements

● Detour Agreements

● Wireline, Pipe, Crossing and Rights of Entry

● Marks Agreements

● Independent Contractor Agreements

● Passenger-related Agreements

● Rail Transportation Contracts

● Track Leases

● Car Storage Agreements

Forms are available on G&W’s Crossties intranet site under the “Legal” filter of the “Policies” section FOLLOW THE MATERIAL CONTRACTS REVIEW POLICY

Catherine Pushchak Assistant General Counsel, Litigation

Cathy started her law career at Patton Boggs, a New York City law firm where she worked for six years, handling largescale litigation defense for big companies. She then joined G&W’s in-house Legal team, where she has worked the last 10 years. Cathy grew up in northern New Jersey and currently lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. She is married and has two children, George (6), who is obsessed with hockey and lacrosse, and Anna (4), who is also obsessed with hockey an enjoys unicorns and rainbows. Her dog, Lilli (8), is a chihuahua miniature pinscher mix. Cathy went to Syracuse University and Rutgers University Law School.

How does G&W benefit from the legal department?

We almost function as a law firm at the disposal of the railroads. The railroads know they can call us anytime and anywhere with any type of issue and we’ll take care of it and take care of it well. It’s the benefit of having your own personal law firm with everyone having their own area of expertise.

How would you describe your job to a friend?

I usually say I manage the litigation and claims for a railroad holding company, but my job is more than that. I’m a corporate defense litigation lawyer, and I work in-house representing a holding company and all of its subsidiaries.

Favorite legal TV show (that’s not Law & Order): How to Get Away with Murder

Favorite season: Winter

Favorite vacation destination: 1. Anywhere international, 2. Vail, Colorado, 3. Kennebunkport, Maine

Favorite food: Ukrainian pierogis

Thomas Cullen

Vice President, Corporate Counsel

Tom has been with G&W since February 2018. Prior to joining G&W, Tom worked as deputy general counsel for the nation’s largest asbestos abatement, demolition and emergency response contractor.

Tom was born and raised in Canada. He came to the U.S. to play college hockey at St. Lawrence University, where he met his wife, Sera. They have lived all over the U.S. since then (NY, NV, WA, FL, NC, ID, IL and CT). He received his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. He and his wife have four children: Finn (20), Alexandra (19), Keegan (17), and Thatcher (16). They have lived in Rowayton, Connecticut, since 2009.

How does G&W benefit from the legal department?

The Legal Department is like having a dedicated law firm with a single client – G&W. We facilitate the smooth running of the business and help to embed good practices, mitigate risks, stay ahead of regulatory change and avoid costly mistakes in the long-run. The result is significant savings on legal fees.

How would you describe your job to a friend? Provide legal support to all facets of the freight railroad business with a focus on risk management.

Favorite legal TV show (that’s not Law & Order): Rake

Favorite season: Spring

Favorite vacation destination: Perth, Australia

Favorite food: Pizza

Top 10 Terms to Check Before Signing a Contract

1. Adequate due diligence on other parties to the contract has been done and documented.

2. The parties are accurately identified and contact information is clear.

3. There is an effective date and end date.

4. Contract accurately reflects the business deal.

5. Internally everyone is aware of their responsibilities.

6. All financial provisions are clear and correct, and budgetary authorization has been obtained.

7. Obligations of each of the parties is adequately described.

8. We are able to perform our obligations.

9. Appropriate signatory has been determined.

10. Benefits and risks of contract have been assessed and understood.

Mathew Kelly Associate Counsel

Mat joined G&W in September 2022. He received his law degree from Western New England University School of Law, a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In law school, he interned with United Technologies working on their efforts with the International Space Station, doing work on contracts with Boeing and NASA. In 2016, he joined Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky as Supply Chain and Senior Subcontracts Specialist. Mat, his wife and new baby boy live in Newtown, Connecticut.

How does G&W benefit from the Legal department? I feel like it benefits in the obvious way – identification of risk, explanation of risk. A lot of business folks can see there is risk but need to better understand exactly what it is. Also, the legal department is almost like a backstop – our railroads can reach out to us for a sanity check, even if it’s not a legal issue. Plus, it’s a heavily regulated industry, so dealing with all those regulations can be a lot to navigate, and the fact that we operate in 42 U.S. states and Canada with different rules can make things complicated. How would you describe your job to a friend? A lot of contract review and negotiations in support of the different functions that G&W has in its line of business, such as real estate and commercial support. I guess I would say supporting all the different ways the railroads do business.

Favorite legal TV show (that’s not Law & Order): Better Call Saul Favorite season: Summer – I love doing yard work, love getting outside

Favorite vacation destination: Wherever my wife wants to go. Seriously, though, I loved Barcelona. Cool city.

Favorite food: A porterhouse steak

Michael Morningstar Director of Risk Management and Claims

Michael has 31 years of experience in the claims/insurance industries, including 20 years of railroad expertise. He is a New Englander who migrated to Jacksonville with his family to work for RailAmerica in 2011. Prior to moving south, he worked for Amtrak and the Commuter Rail in Boston. He enjoys many outdoor activities, reading and plays ice hockey during the fall and winter.

How does G&W benefit from the legal department? The legal department can assess contractual risk and keep the operating entities out of hot water. Once there has been an injury, property damage or a litigated dispute, we can handle these types of claims from cradle to grave so the operating folks can focus on keeping the trains running and customers served.

How would you describe your job to a friend? My job is to investigate accidents, make a reasonable determination of liability and propose a best way forward to defend a case or to pursue a collection matter. I take the burden of handling claims off the shoulders of the operating entities so they can focus on moving trains and providing outstanding rail service to our customers!

Favorite legal TV show (that’s not Law & Order): It’s a tossup between Better Call Saul and Goliath

Favorite season: Fall in New England and the winter here in North Florida

Favorite vacation destination: I grew up going to Cape Cod most summer weekends with my family, and it remains my favorite vacation destination to this day.

Favorite food: Italian food; I always look for veal saltimbocca on the menu as it is not something I would make at home.

Legal Definitions to Know

● Incident: An incident is an occurrence, happening or event that could give rise to company or railroad liability – no matter how remote.

● Claim: A claim is an assertion or demand by an individual, company or attorney for damages or action of any kind.

● Litigation : A claim becomes a litigation when it is formally filed with a court, administrative agency, arbitrator or any other tribunal or governmental organization.

● Collections: A collection is an assertion by the company or railroad of a claim or damages from or against a third party.

Chris Vaughan Claims Director

Chris came to G&W in 2021. Prior to that, he worked for Canadian Pacific and CSX. His overall railroad career spans 15 years and includes roles as conductor, mechanical laborer, signalman, manager of field investigations and damage prevention specialist.

Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the State University of New York at Albany. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tina; two children, Natalie (4) and Kelsey (2); and cats, Lily and Lucy. They are new to the Rochester, New York, area and enjoy exploring new places, especially pumpkin farms.

How does G&W benefit from the Legal department?

G&W benefits from a legal department as we investigate and evaluate claims in a fair manner to resolve prior to litigation. We handle a variety of claims, including employee injuries and property damage claims, and negotiate on collection cases. We work with employees in the company along with outside counsel to determine the best course for claims.

How would you describe your job to a friend? It’s complicated.

Favorite legal TV show (that’s not Law & Order): Billions

Favorite season: 72 and partly cloudy

Favorite vacation destination: Bermuda

Favorite food: Sushi

Shirley Reinoso Senior Paralegal

Shirley joined G&W in September 2019. Prior to joining G&W, she was a paralegal for a civil litigation and criminal defense law firm in Fairfield County, Connecticut. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in business administration and 18 years of experience in the legal field.

How does G&W benefit from the legal department? A legal department is beneficial because it gives the employees access to an attorney who can help review and negotiate contracts, answer questions regarding a particular issue and make sure that the company and the employees are complying with applicable rules, laws and regulations.

How would you describe your job to a friend? My responsibilities extend from performing administrative tasks to managing and maintaining the civil claims list, the subsidiary tables and the books for the Board of Directors and the Committee meeting minutes and materials distributed. I also help draft legal holds, draft subpoena responses, review outside counsel invoices to make sure that outside counsel is complying with the billing guidelines, draft intercompany Administrative Services Agreements, prepare minutes for the U.S. and Marshall Islands subsidiaries, review minutes and annual filings for the Canadian subsidiaries and prepare the necessary documents to qualify the U.S. subsidiaries to do business in various states.

Favorite legal TV show (that’s not Law & Order): How to Get Away with Murder

Favorite season: Summer

Favorite vacation destination: Martha’s Vineyard

Favorite food: Pernil (roasted pork) with rice and gandules (pigeon peas)

G&W RAILROADS OVERCOME EXTREME WEATHER CHALLENGES WITH TEAMWORK AND DETERMINATION

To say this past fall and winter were challenging for G&W North American operations would be an understatement. No fewer than five significant storms impacted our railroads from coast to coast and in between, shutting down operations and impacting customer shipments. But true to G&W’s Core Values, teams came together to restore service as quickly and safely as possible.

CBNS TEAM MEMBERS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE FIONA

Located on the East Coast of Canada, Nova Scotia is no stranger to hurricanes. Although direct landfall has been few and far between in the past, when the warnings come out, it is something to take seriously. The days leading up to September 24, 2022, at Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway (CBNS) were spent checking equipment, topping fuel tanks, picking up loose items around the yard and office, and firming up a plan of action for what was to potentially come.

In the early morning hours, Hurricane Fiona made landfall along Nova Scotia’s Canso Peninsula with sustained winds of up to 100 miles (160 km) per hour, the equivalent of a Category 2 storm. Widespread damage included fallen trees on houses and other structures, flooding, washouts and power outages for more than one-third of the province that lasted for weeks in some cases.

Despite the devastation to CBNS employees’ properties and the cleanup that they faced, all hands were on deck as they rallied to get CBNS back up and running. Long hours were spent with chainsaws in hand cutting up and clearing trees that had fallen across miles of track.

“When one section of trees would be cleared, it would open view to another blanket strung across the tracks as far as the eye could see,” says CBNS General Manager John Bourque. “Never knowing what was ahead, all departments came together and pushed through to get the work done.”

After nine days, countless hours of hard labor, help from heavy machinery and contractors, and extensive inspections, the track was safely cleared to allow trains to service customers.

“Full clean-up took weeks, and even still, permanently weakened trees serve as a constant reminder of how Hurricane Fiona changed the landscape of Nova Scotia and CBNS,” says Bourque.

On November 1, Rick McLellan, president of G&W Canada (GWCI), visited CBNS to present employees involved in the clean-up with hoodies that had “Above and Beyond” embroidered on the sleeve to show his appreciation for the quick – and most of all, safe – cleanup effort.

GWCI also acknowledged the hardship that this storm had caused for so many Nova Scotians and made donations to the Port Hawkesbury area through Food Banks Canada, to the Sydney area through Feed Nova Scotia and to Pictou County through the Pictou County Food Bank.

Hurricane Fiona made landfall along Nova Scotia’s Canso Peninsula.

BPRR’s Christmas snowstorm came with frigid temperatures, high winds and four feet of snow. In some areas, there were 12-foot snowdrifts.

TEAMWORK DISPLAYED DURING

‘STORM

OF THE

CENTURY’

A winter storm that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called a “storm of the century” blanketed western New York toward the end of 2022, and Buffalo took the brunt of it.

During four days of the storm as well as the days that followed, the teams at South Buffalo Railway (SB) and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad (BPRR) remained calm, worked safely and watched out for one another.

“BPRR and SB teams are accustomed to dealing with significant snow,” says Dan Pavick, vice president of G&W’s Great Lakes division, which includes BPRR and SB. “However, the Christmas snowstorm was particularly challenging because it came with frigid temperatures, high winds and four feet of snow. In some areas, there were 12-foot snowdrifts.”

IN NEW YORK

Pavick says that the teams successfully mitigated the storm by planning for it and emphasizing safety in all briefings. Second, they worked as a team – with nobody going out on the tracks alone. Third, they reinforced empowerment to stop work if necessary. Fourth, they recognized their limits and asked for assistance or additional resources (for example, a bulldozer was rented).

“This is a proud team,” he says. “Their safe and efficient approach to managing a storm of the century is awesome.”

General Manager Jarrod Hutcheson noted that many came in during vacation to assist with snow removal. “It’s a testament to their team spirit,” he says. “In addition, members of the leadership team shoveled snow and helped move crews around.”

Hutcheson further noted that SB has six employees total and were able to get the operation up and running as fast, if not faster, than Class I railroads with a larger pool of resources. While operations halted due to the storm, service was restored within four days.

Ice built up in the Sabula, Pennsylvania, tunnel.

3

CREWS OVERCOME EFFECTS OF PERSISTENT FLOODING ON CFNR

Heavy, persistent rain plagued California Northern Railroad (CFNR) throughout January, causing operational issues on the Tracy and West Valley subdivisions.

“We seemed to have one washout after another with a lot of our culverts plugging up,” says CFNR General Manager Scott Boyter.

While some customers experienced service delays, Boyter says, “Our crews worked safely, efficiently and diligently to mitigate the damage and repair the affected areas.

I’m proud of our team for pulling together during this unprecedented weather event.”

Floodwaters undermine a CFNR bridge in January.

DESPITE BRUTAL WINTER, CSCD CHISELS OUT FIFTH CONSECUTIVE ZERO AND ZERO

Cascade and Columbia River Railroad (CSCD) employees battled one of the toughest winters in recent memory for the North Cascades mountain range and emerged with a prize: their fifth consecutive year achieving zero reportable injuries and zero human factor incidents (HFIs).

Trainmaster Craig McCoy has vivid memories of the grueling test he and his Omak, Washington-based team faced. “We went

from basically summer to winter overnight,” he says. “We had our first snowfall, about 16 inches, on November 1. Typically, that’s about as much snow as we get in a year here. To make matters worse, we had two more snowfalls within that same week.”

Plummeting temperatures with wind chills that measured 30 degrees below zero followed.

“We had to use a pickaxe on the ice at all the crossings,” says McCoy, who notes that the area also experienced two rockslides and two mudslides. “It became a lot to deal with.”

Through it all, CSCD maintained communication with its customers and ran off-plan operations to expedite freight as employees worked to reopen the main line. They did so without incurring a reportable injury or HFI.

A boulder deposited by a rockslide dwarfs CSCD Locomotive Engineer Lucas Peebles.

Material deposited by a mudslide was a formidable obstacle for CSCD crews.

RCPE OUTFIGHTS PROLONGED BLIZZARD TO RESTORE SERVICE

Mother Nature delivered a one-two punch in December 2022, as it hit western South Dakota with sleet, heavy snow and up to 60 mph winds in some locations. About 55 miles east of Rapid City in Wall, South Dakota, there were reports of 22 inches of snow.

The combination disrupted operations at Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad (RCPE), but its employees weren’t the only ones stuck at home.

“Most of our customers were also affected,” says Assistant General Manager Michael Kellar. “They had to shut their operations down as they couldn’t get their employees back into work for days.”

When highways were deemed safe, RCPE employees set out using a wedge plow, which had sat idle for two decades, to open about 85 miles of main line from Rapid City to Philip, South Dakota. However, another three-day blizzard struck the area, stranding a train near Wall and disabling the wedge plow as well as the locomotives pulling it.

A team of heavy equipment operators were recruited to clear the snow and free the rolling stock. After a multiday effort, the wedge plow and its locomotives resumed their journey east toward Philip. A 20-foot drift, however, formed in its way, requiring another 24 hours to dig it out.

Eventually, RCPE employees’ perseverance prevailed, with normal traffic and customer service restored by December 27. The entire response to the two-week ordeal was carried out without reportable injury or human factor incident.

The line of road near Wall, South Dakota, received a reported 22 inches of snow the week of December 12, 2022.

Toys for Tots campaign.

Middle: Huron and Eastern Railway (HESR) held its event on December 11 at Crooked Creek Golf and Banquet in Saginaw, Michigan.

Bottom:Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad (GR), Michigan Shore Railroad (MS), Marquette Rail (MQT) and Mid-Michigan Railroad (MMRR) held their party on December 3 at Kat’s Alley and Tomahawk Lanes in Ravenna, Michigan.

HOLIDAY PARTIES HELP SPREAD CHEER AND GOODWILL

Five G&W railroads in Michigan had holiday parties in December. Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad (GR), Michigan Shore Railroad (MS), Marquette Rail (MQT) and Mid-Michigan Railroad (MMRR) held theirs on December 3 at Kat’s Alley and Tomahawk Lanes in Ravenna, Michigan.

Huron and Eastern Railway (HESR) held its event on December 11 at Crooked Creek Golf and Banquet in Saginaw, Michigan.

Activities between the two parties included bowling, pool, darts, hatchet throwing, video games and watching the Detroit Lions. A catered dinner was provided. Santa made an appearance at both parties and brought gifts for employees’ children. Those gifts included board games, Nerf air guns and age-themed items for younger children.

A drawing for items such as air turkey fryers and Craftsman tool sets was conducted for the adults.

Derick Mann, general manager of HESR, GR, MQT, MMRR, MS and Tomahawk Railway (TR), says that team members were invited to bring donations of canned food or dried food items to be distributed to local food pantries. Between the two parties, 575 pounds were collected.

In addition to toys being provided to Santa to distribute, toys were donated to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign.

“It was our first real family day since COVID,” says Mann. “It was a great bonding experience. One of the nice things was getting together to share our life experiences beyond the railroad.”

Mann gives credit to Daniel Crow, assistant general manager of GR, MS, MQT and MMRR, as well as HESR Assistant General Manager John Chesny and HESR Roadmaster Chad Heinz, for spearheading this effort.

“They were my party planners,” says Mann. “They handled the coordination and logistics, designed the invitations, ensured an accurate head count and conducted the safety briefings to begin each event. I really couldn’t do it without them. Everyone had fun, was entertained and had a good time.”

Around G&W

SLQ LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER COMPLETES FINAL TRIP WITH SON

Serge Auger, locomotive engineer for the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (Quebec) (SLQ), completed his final trip on train 394/393 on February 24, after 38 years of service. Auger started working in the railway industry for Canadian National (CN) in 1985 out of Montreal as a brakeman and then a conductor. In 1993, he was qualified as a locomotive engineer.

CN sold the SLQ line to Emonds Transport in 1998, and the line was bought by G&W in 2002. Auger decided to stay with SLQ and raise his family in the Eastern Townships where the work schedule was better and there were no big-city problems. During his retirement, Serge is planning to travel, play some golf and go fishing. Serge is pictured here with his son Nicolas, who is a conductor for SLQ and presently training as a locomotive engineer. The father and son duo was able to work together on Serge’s last week on the job.

FREIGHTLINER PARTNERS WITH OCEAN NETWORK EXPRESS TO LAUNCH NEW RAIL SOLUTION SUPPORTED BY GD+ FUEL

G&W’s UK subsidiary Freightliner and its long-time partner Ocean Network Express (ONE) have agreed to realize their commitment towards a greener future by launching their first-ever rail solution supported by GD+ fuel in the United Kingdom.

On January 17, 2023, a new Freightliner service made its first journey traveling from Southampton to Crewe. For this journey, ONE purchased GD+ fuel to cover 100% of the fuel volume required. The train continued its journey to Freightliner’s Coatbridge terminal in Scotland using an electric locomotive, making this one of the greenest rail freight routes in UK rail. This innovative service is the first of its kind in the UK and demonstrates an ambitious environmental commitment by Freightliner, ONE and their customers.

GD+ is a type of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and can be used as a diesel replacement. This drop-in fuel is made entirely from waste and residue oils and is defined as renewable, environmentally friendly, biodegradable and sustainable. Its supply chain is traceable and independently verified, a prerequisite for both organizations. GD+ generates significantly lower CO2-equivalent (CO2e) emissions compared to diesel. Apart from the significant CO2e savings, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and methane (CH4) are also reduced.

The train’s CO2e emission savings during its 700 km journey are approximately 80% 1, with 70% of emissions avoided utilizing electricity and 92% 2 reduced by running on GD+ when compared to

diesel. With only 38% 3 of the UK’s rail network electrified, adopting alternative fuels could be a quick and effective transition to drastically reduce the country’s emissions.

“This is an exciting and significant step forward in delivering impactful environmental benefits for the UK rail freight industry, and we are delighted to be partnering with ONE to make this happen,” said Andrew Daly, chief commercial officer for Freightliner. “We are leading the UK rail freight industry when it comes to delivering decarbonization benefits, and this initiative is further evidence of our commitment to a greener future for UK rail freight through committed customer partnerships. We will continue to invest and lead the way in this critical area of decarbonization.”

Simon Parsons, director of ONE’s UK Agency, commented: “As a global carrier, we aim to be the link between customer and supplier to accelerate the transition towards a fully green supply chain. Our long-term relationship with Freightliner has enabled us to align our green ambitions and act swiftly to support the logistical needs of our customers between Scotland and Southampton. We are very hopeful to further expand our green network throughout the UK moving forward.”

1 Source: https://www.ecotransit.org/en/

2 Source: https://www.gbf.ltd/gd

3 Source: Rail Infrastructure and Assets 2019-20 Annual Statistical Release Office of Rail & Road 5 November 2020

BEARD PROMOTED TO TRAINMASTER

Lamont Beard says that he approaches each day to be “1% better than the previous day.” He carries that mindset with him in his new role as a trainmaster after being promoted from locomotive engineer on November 15.

Beard began his railroading career as a conductor with Norfolk Southern in 2004. He then joined Columbus & Chattahoochee Railroad (CCH) in 2020. He also has served as assistant trainmaster, training coordinator and road foreman of engines throughout his career.

“I enjoy being with CCH because this railroad puts customers first,” says Beard. “There’s also a good work/life balance.”

As trainmaster, Beard’s duties include implementing an operational plan, scheduling employee vacations, as well as managing employee overtime. Additionally, he will fill in for locomotive engineers as needed to provide continuous, efficient customer service.

Beard says his goal as trainmaster is to help run a safe and productive operation and be reportable injury-free.

G&W

CANADA

RECEIVES “GREAT PLACE TO WORK” CERTIFICATION

G&W Canada recently received certification as a “Great Place To Work®” following an employee survey conducted this past spring. Great Place To Work Certification recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience.

Certification is a two-step process that includes surveying employees and completing a short questionnaire about a company’s workforce.

“This remarkable accomplishment reflects the commitment and dedication of each employee,” says Rick McLellan, president of G&W Canada, “and highlights a positive work environment, strong employee engagement and a culture of inclusivity, collaboration and innovation – all tenets of G&W’s overall Core Values.”

G&W ROCHESTER EMPLOYEES PARTAKE IN DAY OF CARING

Nineteen employees from G&W's corporate offices in Rochester participated in United Way’s Day of Caring. The group worked at EquiCenter, a therapeutic equestrian facility.

Around G&W

KIAMICHI RAILROAD WINS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AWARD

G&W’s Kiamichi Railroad (KRR) took home a Business Development Award at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association annual meeting in April, recognized for its efforts to help Tyson Foods locate a new poultry mega feed mill along its line in southwest Arkansas.

In 2018, with consumption of its poultry products on the rise and demand for poultry feed at their existing complexes increasing, Tyson solidified plans to locate a new mill in southwest Arkansas that could produce feed for its existing farms and replace the aging feed mills at Hope and Nashville, Arkansas. With a need to receive inbound unit trains of corn and manifest soybean meal cars at start-up and for connectivity to the North American rail-freight network to do so, Tyson sought assistance for site recommendations as well as site and infrastructure development.

Building on its solid relationship with Tyson as the rail service provider for the company’s existing poultry complex in Hope, Kiamichi Railroad offered Tyson the logistic flexibility it required at a 145-acre greenfield site situated along the railroad’s line and with ample space for further development. Among the site’s most significant benefits is its access to three Class I carriers, giving Tyson maximum flexibility to source materials as well as ensure rate competitiveness.

Tyson began construction on the new mill in June 2020.

To date, Kiamichi Railroad has invested nearly $9 million in designing and installing two main line switches and a side track at the site as well as bringing the entire Tyson route – over 180 track miles from Madill, Oklahoma, to Hope, Arkansas – up to 286k capacity, which included not only rail replacement but the repair and strengthening of more than 80 bridges. Furthermore, Kiamichi Railroad contributed to an effort among Tyson, Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and Arkansas

Department of Transportation (ARDOT) to upgrade the adjacent Highway 195 to accommodate truck traffic to ship the feed from the mill to local chicken farms.

Just under two years later, unit train service to the completed mega mill was underway weekly – with carloads having been hauled by Kiamichi Railroad to the Tyson mega mill by the end of 2022 while incurring zero FRA-reportable injuries. Kiamichi Railroad has added a total of four jobs to the area – a dedicated train crew of two (one engineer and one conductor) to service the mill as well as two track laborers to continually inspect and maintain track to the site. The new Tyson mill has retained approximately 50 jobs for the area, supporting the poultry ecosystem in southwest Arkansas – providing feed to area farms that supply the poultry processing plants. In the process of helping a long-term customer accommodate growth, Kiamichi Railroad has enhanced its ability to meet future customer needs.

Ryan Atkins (center), industrial development lead for Kiamichi Railroad (KRR), accepts KRR's Business Development Award from ASLRRA President Chuck Baker (left) and Matt Walsh, G&W's executive vice president of corporate development and chair of ASLRRA board of directors.

CFNR SCORES ‘BIG HIT’ WITH INVESTORS TOUR

Showcasing modern technology and their strategic location in Napa Valley’s wine country, members of G&W’s executive and operations teams joined forces with California Northern Railroad (CFNR) employees to host a special event for current and potential investors from November 16-18, 2022.

“The event provided an overview of G&W’s emphasis on rail safety and operational efficiency,” says CFNR General Manager Scott Boyter. The 44 participants toured CFNR’s locomotive shop and yard in American Canyon, California, where they saw demonstrations of a Tier 4 low-emission locomotive and a track inspection. Roadmaster Alex Alcantar and former Director of Bridges & Structures Benjamin Habig organized most of the day’s activities, which included a bus tour of three wine company warehouses and a switching demonstration by a CFNR crew.

As part of the event, CEO Jack Hellmann livestreamed his third quarter town hall from CFNR’s depot.

“It was a good time,” says Boyter. “I talked to a lot of eventgoers throughout the day, and it was the first time for each of them. They’d never been on a locomotive or at a railroad facility before. It was a big hit.”

Current and potential investors watch a California Northern Railroad (CFNR) employee inspect a switch in American Canyon, California, during a November 2022 event.

Tier 4 low-emission locomotive.

Around G&W

CONTINUED UPGRADES IMPROVE LOCOMOTIVE EFFICIENCY

G&W recently purchased locomotives from Wells Fargo & Co. that are being upgraded to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) energy efficiency standards.

Chief Mechanical Officer Caleb Perry says that part of the upgrade efforts includes adding smart starts to save fuel. He adds that the upgrades will also help to make them clean-burning engines. The 27 locomotives purchased are 1950 locomotives that have been rebuilt to Tier 0 GP38-2 units.

Perry says that once the units are upgraded, they are ready to pull freight to other railroads where they are needed.

As part of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy, G&W has been investing in upgrading our North American locomotive fleet over the past few years to generate fuel savings as well as reductions in our overall greenhouse gas emissions.

STEEL COMPANY SELECTS 44-ACRE SITE ON AOR FOR REBAR MANUFACTURING FACILITY

72 Steel, a Brooklyn, New York-based company, held a groundbreaking in May for their new steel rebar-manufacturing facility in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, along G&W’s Aliquippa & Ohio Railroad (AOR). The site, located 16 miles north of Pittsburgh on the Ohio River, was once the location for the J&L Steel Mill, one of the largest steel mills in the country during its operation from 1910 until 1988.

72 Steel will produce 500,000 tons of rebar steel annually for a variety of industries and will be rail-served by AOR. The company credits the 2021 federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with spurring their plans for Aliquippa. They plan to use “energy-saving and environmental protection technologies” during production, including air and water pollution control

equipment and an electric-arc furnace from Italian technology supplier Tenova. The project’s initial investment of $218 million is expected to create more than 300 full-time jobs – with production anticipated to begin sometime in 2025. The company toured sites in West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina before settling on Aliquippa in Beaver County due to the rail and river access as well as the Pittsburgh region’s history of steelmaking.

The 27 locomotives G&W purchased are 1950 locomotives that have been rebuilt to Tier 0 GP38-2 units.

Pictured above: Jennifer TannerBostian, Director of Industrial Development; Tim Slusser, General Manager for several G&W railroads; Greg Arnold, Marketing & Sales Manager; and Victor Williams, Assistant General Manager for POHC, AOR and YB.

From left are Mechanic Denton Voss, Mechanic/Fabricator Kenny Clark, Electrician Shane Sheppard and Electrician/Fabricator Dennis Evans.

NEW CROSSINGS INSTALLED ON BPRR LINES

Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad (BPRR) maintenance of way forces rehabbed more than 25 crossings on the south end of the territory in 2022 as part of capital work to address geometry defects, rough crossings and crossing upgrades.

Under the supervision of Roadmaster Dan Tatangelo, maintenance of way team members Jason Nixon, Torre Moore, Corey Burke, Jeremey Burke, Josh Burke, Grant McKinnis, Steve Karenbauer, Lance Gray, Jason Marks, Scott Rutan, Jake Smith, Ben McDivitt and Troy Baker worked efficiently and injury-free.

Director of Engineering Rich Pavetto says that these results are a testament to the BPRR team’s professionalism.

“The crossings turned out good,” says Pavetto. “They are safe for not only our crews and trains but for the people living in the communities we travel through.”

Pavetto explained that the project was part of the capital work project scheduled last year. New rails and ties were installed at each grade crossing.

At-grade crossings were rehabbed during summer 2022.

MNA RAILROAD,

EMPLOYEES CELEBRATE THREE DECADES OF SERVICE

Three current employees — Anita Horton, David Lawhon and Dawn Tieman — have been with Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA) for nearly its entire history since its inception in December 1992.

Horton, director of sales and marketing, says that MNA still moves freight like it always has, but the type of freight has shifted to reflect markets changing.

“I like the industry,” says Horton. “There’s always a challenge, and you’re always learning something. It’s ever-changing. I feel it’s important to understand customers’ business.”

Part of this understanding includes adapting to changes in technology and security. Horton notes that increased security means they have to schedule appointments with customers in advance. Their communication methods utilize technology, such as crews using hand-held devices in the field.

Horton, who was hired in January 1993, says that she enjoys her job and interacting with customers.

Lawhon also says that he enjoys his job as a locomotive engineer and appreciates that he can be home every night to spend time with his family. He has seen MNA grow over the past 30 years and says that G&W has done a lot to update the shop and infrastructure. Just three days after graduating high school, Lawhon began his career as a conductor before entering engine service; he also has served on safety teams.

Tieman, who previously had worked with Horton, says that they were hired within weeks of each other. Tieman says that she loves her job as office manager so much that she has no plans to retire any time soon. She appreciates G&W’s demonstrated commitment to helping ensure MNA’s continued improvement.

Throughout her life, Tieman has worked in food service, office jobs and on the extra board for the railroad. While she enjoyed those roles, she was excited for the chance to work in one office and says that she knows MNA is the right place for her.

From left are Office Manager Dawn Tieman, Locomotive Engineer David Lawhon and Director of Sales and Marketing Anita Horton.