Watco
Safety Anniversaries
July 1 – Coady Transload Terminal (TX) – 2 yearss
July 1 – North Track Gang (MI) – 2 yearss
July 1 – Central Track Gang (KS) – 2 yearss
July 1 – South Track Gang (AL) – 2 yearss
July 1 – Waller Switching (TX) – 1 year
July 1 – Proctor Mobile Repair (WV) – 6 years
July 4 – Powder River Switching (WY) – 2 yearss
July 6 – Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad (WA) – 9 years
July 7 – Timber Rock Railroad (LA, TX) – 3 yearss
July 15 – Pittsburg Repair and Maintenance Terminal (KS) – 1 year
July 24 – Sauget Cahokia Marine Terminal (IL) – 1 year
July 27 – Texas & New Mexico Railway (NM, TX) – 3 yearss
DID KN W YOU
Watco’s Marketing team can help you order custom gear and more to celebrate a retirement, safety milestone, work anniversary, or another special occasion.
Let the Tour Season Begin
The highly anticipated tour train season has officially begun at Watco’s Agawa Canyon Tour Train.
The 2025 season launches August 1. This year’s fall peak season starts on September 15, and riders can enjoy tours through October 14. Lindsay Ambeault, train supervisor, shared her enthusiasm, saying, “We’re excited to welcome passengers aboard for another unforgettable journey.”
Departing at 8 a.m. from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, this all-day rail adventure takes passengers on a 114-mile journey through the Canadian wilderness to the stunning Agawa Canyon Park. Accessible only by rail, the park features walking trails, waterfalls, and a 250-foot-high lookout point, providing 90 minutes to explore its natural beauty before returning.
This season offers a lineup of special tours, including an experience with expanded availability that has been brought back by popular demand. Guests can explore the Sacred Pathways: An Indigenous Experience with Thrive Tours, where they can learn about indigenous culture through stories, songs, and crafts that connect them to the land. This tour experience will take place on August 8, 22, 29, and September 19.
Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss your chance to reserve your spot!
For ticket purchases and further details, visit agawatrain.com. Stay up-to-date with the latest news and announcements by following the Agawa Canyon Tour Train on Facebook
Team Member Assistance Program Adds Mental Health Tool
Watco’s Team Member Assistance Program (TMAP), administered by Lucet, now offers a new mental health program called Learn to Live. This free cognitive behavior therapy tool is available to all team members and their dependents 13 and older.
Learn to Live offers seven self-guided online programs designed to help you build resilience or cope with depression; stress, general anxiety, and worry; social anxiety; panic; insomnia; and substance abuse.
How it works
After completing a short assessment, Learn to Live matches you with the program that best fits your needs. Each program offers brief lessons to help you build new, healthier habits. You also have the option to connect with a coach online. Webinars, five-minute activities, and toolkits are available to support your progress.
Get started
Access the TMAP online or on the Lucet EAP app. When prompted, enter company code Watco. Under the Mental Well-Being section, select Learn to Live access. Or call Lucet at (800) 624-5544.
Other programs offered by TMAP
With TMAP, team members and their dependents have access to free virtual and in-person counseling. Financial and legal consultations are also offered. Additional resources on retirement planning, health and fitness, and more are also available.
Facility Operator Pitches In to Keep Product Moving
Customers at the Dravosburg Marine Terminal in Pennsylvania depend on the Watco team to safely receive, handle, and store all types of liquids and chemicals. While these commodities are typically stored for weeks or even months, one customer, who had recently run out of caustic soda, was counting on an incoming barge delivery to quickly replenish their product and keep operations moving.
Discharging product from a barge to a storage tank takes up to three hours. But this time there was a hiccup. Another barge was already docked at the terminal and was not scheduled to be unloaded until the following day.
When a third-party tankerman arrived, he initially refused to discharge caustic soda from the second barge. Terminal Manager Brad Shobert said: “There are some challenges when discharging product from one barge but not the other. When you empty one, the barge starts to rise in the water, while the other remains in the same position, deep in the water.”
Taking proper precautions is necessary when unloading one barge and not the other. Failing to do so can compromise the stability of both vessels and increase the risk of a collision.
Because Facility Operator Mario Marghella has four decades of experience, he knew exactly what to do. He proposed continuously tying and untying the barges together in order to stabilize both so one could be safely discharged. The tankerman agreed, and Marghella began the hours-long process of tying and untying the barges while the barge was being unloaded.
The process to discharge product from barge to storage, and later from storage to truck, may have taken more time than usual. But the customer was still able to receive caustic soda that day.
Shobert said, “Mario saved the day. He found a way to meet our customer’s needs while also prioritizing safety every step of the way.”
How Are You Participating in See Tracks? Think Train® Week?
See Tracks? Think Train® Week (ST3 Week), powered by Operation Lifesaver (OLI), is right around the corner! This is your chance to make a difference by spreading the critical message of rail safety in your community.
ST3 Week is all about raising awareness and preventing railroad grade crossing incidents and trespassing tragedies. Each day is packed with a unique theme focused on safety and education.
This year’s daily themes are:
• Monday, Sept. 15 - #STOPTrackTragedies
• Tuesday, Sept. 16 – Operation Clear Track
• Wednesday, Sept. 17 – Crossing Safety
• Thursday, Sept. 18 – Transit and Professional Driver Safety
• Friday, Sept. 19 – Red Out for Rail Safety
• Saturday, Sept. 20 – Trespass Prevention
• Sunday, Sept. 21 – No Photos/Videos on Tracks
Year after year, Watco teams consistently rise to the challenge by leading Officer on the Train events, giving in-school presentations to children, organizing community events, and building strong partnerships with local organizations to make crossings safer for everyone.
How are you and your team participating in ST3 Week? Send your information and photos to marketing@watco.com. To learn more, become a volunteer, or view rail safety resources, visit oli.org or follow OLI on your favorite social platforms.
Heather Padavell Receives RT&S Award
Project Manager Heather Padavell is one of 14 individuals named to the 2025 Railway Track & Structures Women in Rail Engineering list.
Padavell is based in Ft. Saskatchewan, Alberta. She has been with Watco less than a year but has contributed to the industry in Canada for several years as a professional engineer. She spent the initial part of her 15-year career as a civil design engineer. She advanced to project engineering and then project management, where she has been leading projects in transportation for the last six years.
Her involvement on a light rail transit project in Edmonton over the last three years was her segue into freight rail design and construction for Watco, where she is leading a $170 million rail expansion project across two brownfield industrial sites in Alberta. She joined the Watco project team as conceptual designs were finalizing and will lead the project through engineering and construction to completion, scheduled for late 2028.
Jay Coomes, AVP of Project Management, is Padavell’s supervisor and provided background for her nomination. “I am 33 years into my career of leading engineering and project management teams,” he said. “I have seen a lot of high performers, and I would put Heather in the top 2% of engineers and project managers I have worked with.”
Padavell and the other RT&S honorees will be recognized at an awards luncheon at the annual Railway Age/RT&S Women in Rail conference in October in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg.
Trade Publication to Recognize Watco’s Michael Crosslin
Watco’s Michael Crosslin will be recognized in the September issue of Progressive Railroading magazine in its annual list of Rising Stars.
Crosslin said he was deeply honored to receive the recognition. “It reflects not only my individual commitment but, more importantly, the extraordinary mentors who have challenged, supported, and inspired me throughout my journey. I am equally grateful to be part of an organization that genuinely prioritizes the growth and development of its people.”
Crosslin started at Watco in 2013 as a conductor for the Louisiana Southern Railroad. He later worked at the Stillwater Central Railroad for four years. Since 2022, he has managed the Baton Rouge Southern (BRS) and Geaux Geaux (GOGR) railroads. In that time, the railroads’ records for safety, customer service, retention, and profitability have improved.
Senior Vice President of Operations Keith LaCaze is responsible for the BRS and GOGR territories. “It’s been three years since he started as general manager, but it seems like he’s been there forever,” said LaCaze. “He’s a smart guy who learns quickly and was ready to manage these railroads. He knows how to keep customers pleased and everything running how it’s supposed to run. There’s no situation you’re going to put him in that’s going to stump him.”
Crosslin is among 25 Rising Star honorees from more than 130 nominees working for North American Class Is, regionals, short lines, passenger railroads, transit agencies, government entities, rail-related associations, engineering firms, contractors, or suppliers. He is one of eight Watco team members selected as a Rising Star since the program launched in 2013.
Team Members Recognized for Safely Improving Every Day
Thanks to everyone who submitted a safety suggestion or near miss during the second quarter of 2025. Below is a list of our latest safety award winners, who will receive a Watco-branded product of their choice and a pair of Pit Viper or Heat Wave Visual safety glasses.*
Want to enter the Q3 safety contest? It’s easy; just share a safety suggestion or near miss with your supervisor. They’ll enter it into Watco’s safety tracking system for you.
*Some exclusions apply.
Q2 Winners
Rail
Keith Abele, Bayway Switching (NJ)
Nate Burke, Toledo Switching (OR)
Brian Baugher, Grand Elk Railroad (MI)
Norm Dishman, Grand Elk Railroad (MI)
Randy Eddy, Kaw River Railroad (KS)
Travis Gathagan, Boise Valley Railroad (ID)
Kyle Jeschke, Mission Mountain Railroad (MT)
Camilla Johansson, Hammond Switching (IN)
Orlando Nalls, Hammond Switching (IN)
Daniel Kirton, St. Charles Industrial Rail Services (LA)
Deandre Minniefield, Elwood Joliet & Southern Railroad (IL)
Jason Persson, Mission Mountain Railroad (MT)
Berritt Strawn, Stillwater Central Railroad (OK)
Michael Towler, Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (IL)
Michael Williams, Bayway Switching (NJ)
Kyreece Willis, Fort Saskatchewan Industrial Rail Services (Canada)
Terminals and Ports
Antone Belcher, Watco Greens Port (TX)
Robert Cronch, Chicago Heights Transload Terminal (IL)
Connor Ferguson, Ferndale Dedicated Terminal (WA)
Palika Fonua, Wellington Transload Terminal (UT)
Yuri Haratani, Memphis Channel Avenue Marine Terminal (TN)
Zachary Overstreet, Oklahoma City Transload Terminal (OK)
Ronald Richey, Oklahoma City Transload Terminal (OK)
Mark Schroeder, Cincinnati Marine Terminal (OH)
Braxten Swearingen, Wellington Transload Terminal (UT)
Daniel Tumbleson, Pittsburg Repair and Maintenance Terminal (KS)
David Turner, Port of Pine Bluff (AR)
Jesse Ybarra, Watco Greens Port (TX)
Ty Ybarra, Hondo Dedicated Freight Repair (TX)
Logistics
Norma Rodriguez, Watco Logistics (NY)
Jordon Potts, Watco Logistics (MO)
Feeling Sick or Down?
First Stop Health Is Here to Help!
All team members and their dependents have access to First Stop Health, a free telehealth service available online, through the app, or by calling (888) 691-7867.
Talk to a doctor 24/7
Visit with a doctor anytime to get help with mild health issues such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections, and rashes. One-time prescription fills are available when necessary.
Connect with a counselor
Talk with a licensed counselor virtually from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Scan the code to download the app today on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Tips to Beat the Heat
As we brace for the hottest part of summer, Watco-affiliated nurse practitioner Zach Palumbo shared some great tips for how to beat the heat while at work and off the clock.
Stay hydrated
Always have a cool drink handy, and don’t chug it. Regular sips are more beneficial. Water isn’t enough when you’re sweating a lot. It’s best to mix in a low-sugar sports drink or water additive like Liquid IV to replenish your electrolytes.
Manage your body heat
When the heat index is in the 90s or triple digits, it’s best to take breaks every 30-45 minutes. Find a place to cool off and hydrate. It’s also better to snack or eat small, higher-protein meals when it’s hot. Lightweight, light-color, long-sleeved shirts and hats can help keep the sun off your skin, keeping you cooler.
What to do for overheating
There are some telltale signs for when our bodies start to overheat. Dizziness, fatigue, and excess sweating are cues it’s time to stop and cool down. If you experience these symptoms or see them in someone else, it’s time to get to a shady, cool spot, loosen clothing, and take sips of a cool drink. These steps can prevent heat stroke, which can lead unconsciousness and worse.
Last, regularly apply sunscreen to exposed skin when you’re working out in the sun. And remember, no job is too important to risk your safety or that of your team. Follow these guidelines and watch out for each other, we can make it through the hottest part of the year safely.
Team Member Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following team members celebrating August anniversaries:
1 Year:
David Baker, Julie Baker, Payton Bastrom, Ashley Bates, Lamar Brooks, Wade Bryson, Jacob Cardinal, Devin Carson, Evelyn Cazares, Ira Champagne, Brenda Chavira, Joshuah Chrismas, Michael Cline, Jamie Coppage, Michael De Los Santos, Jacob Eubank, Clifford Evans, Jorge Figueroa, David Fiveash, Caroline Foeller, Edgar Franco, Sarah Fraser, Trayven Gray, Dillon Grayson, Gage Gressmen, Terry Handy, Michael Hannon, Miles Harris, Darrian Heim, Jesse Helgoe, Kelvin Hendon, Alexander Himebaugh, Christopher Howard, Jace Hunter, Cole Irving, Ellijah Jackson, Bodler Jean, Blake Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Cody Jones, Brent Kinnear, Mitchell Koop, Joseph Kurasz, Baron Lang, Larneal Laymond, Sebastian Ledezma, Vincent LeMaster, Brian Louis, Shannon Lyons, Ahmed Mabifa, Casey Maddox, Rowena Malabanan, Glen Mcfarlin, Hayden Melmoth, William Metz, Frank Montgomery, Myles Moroz, Taylor Olson, Timothy O’Neal, Alfred Ortiz, Harrah Panglao, April Postel, Darius Powell, Leon Prilo, Aiden Roberts, Travis Roberts, Danica Rudolph-O’Hara, Gordon Sanford, Austin Schroeder, Jarrett Seger, Tyler Sexsmith, Thomas Smith, Scott Spurr, Weston Stone, Darcy Strachan, Jett Sumruld, Matt Swonek, Ronrico Terrell, Elijah Thibodeaux, Steven Thomas, Walter Thompson, Corry Truax, Colin Van Iderstine, Devyn Vance, Noah Vaughn, Robert Way, Jacob Wilhelmi, Barry Wolfe, Lane Wright
2 Years:
Brandon Bell, Clarence Billups, David Carr, Joshua Cochran, Judson Coleman, Austin Cook, Cade Davis, Ace Eddy, Megan Elam, Austin Fiveash, Graham Force, Anthony Foules, Tyler Haggie, Stephanie Holland, Anthony Hoodlebrink, Stephen Hughes, Aaron Jacobson, Brett Jensen, Samaira LameBull, Ralph Maitland, Joevanie Martinez, Kolten Minor, Tyson Morris, Antonio Musumeci, Thomas Nicholls, Colin Otto, Brentan Perkins, Michael Rhoads, Isaac Romero, Israel Rosales, Noe Saavedra, Harley Sebbens, Christopher Smithers, Jose Solis, Daryl Stewart, Laquincy Sykes, Nicholas Valinski, Trevor Womack, Eric Woodcock, Cody Woolsey
3 Years:
Jose Andrade, Mary Bardsley, Katie Barnow, Andrew Beard, Nathan Bilbrey, Jason Brackin, Jonas Charles, Heath Chischilly, Daniel Coggins, Garrett Crozier, Derick Dodd, William Everett, Jose Garcia, Mario Garcia, Bobby Garmon, Ashten Gokey, Luis Gonzalez, Maximiliano Guerra, Michael Gwinn, Jonathon Hall, Michael Hanna, Brittany Hoeft, Sabu Joseph, Kate Kennedy, Francisco Lara, Kevin Lowe, Aaron Malone, Collin Maxey, Timothy Mireles, Dillen Moore, Kory Newberry, Rodolfo Ortiz, Shane Pittendreigh, Adriana Ramirez, Peter Reardon, Freddie Roberson, Louis Rollins, Jordan Schilling, Chris Sholdebrand, Ty Squier, Nicholas Stiebs, Robert Topping,
George Torres, Cynthia Veitch, Blake Weisser, Russell West
4 Years:
Lou Almader, Gilbert Anguiano, Christopher Baguley, Liz Basore, Christopher Bowers, Cole Brown, Chanee Cade, Primitivo Camacho Reyes, Luis Chavez, William Craig, Kirk Daniell, Anthony Disanto, Nathan Ejnik, Caryn Farris, Jack Fisco, Brian Harvey, Neal Higginbotham, Jennifer Jenkins, Keith Jenkins, Ryan King, Mariah Kohl, Bradley Korb, Wade Larson, Joshua Livingston, Omar Luna Hernandez, Mary Mac Johnson, Thomas Marra, Stephen Melling, Susan Mikkelsen, John Mullins, Jesse Quinnett, Esteban Rodriguez Rivera, Carlos Romano, Randall Rowland, Matthew Shaw, Daniel Stephenson, Austin Theis, Shana Thomas, Michael Towler, Zachery Wallace, Kedrin Washington
5 Years:
Stephanie Augustus, Cassandra Cade, JaMarian Crawford, Tanner Crissler, Michael Czabotar, Hope Edelman, Ramon Garcia, Dale Gerrard, Joshua Greenhill, Peter Lloyd, James Potts, Ulises Quinones, Kade Resnik, Christian Reynolds, Mark Saunders, Arno Schoeman, David Smith, Jose Sorto Fuentes, Ahleah Wages, David Walker, Thor Williams
6 Years:
Jeremy Benson, Richard Cawley, Shawn Clark, Kimberly Dempster, Justin Halligan, Jace Hankins, Denis Laren, Michael Mcdermott,
Team Member Anniversaries
Jonathan McKenzie, Tony Norton, Rebecca Palacio, DaNell Rasmussen, Nicholas Rockett, Jacob Sahagun, Matthew Sanchez, Tyler Summar, Eloy Torres, Jose Trevino
7 Years:
Joseph Bellony, Jeffrey Campbell, Nicholas Clayton, Thomas Damus, Richard Davis, Joshua Dulak, Ryan Edge, Tariq Elias, Ike Gourdine, Lateef Griffin, Nicholas Guinn, Latt Hyde, Jeremiah Jackson, Michael Johnson, Travis Louden, Patrick Meagher, Brian O’Brien, Jared Powell, Sabin Reynolds, Kevin Sanchez, Nicholas Vertein, Sean Wanamaker, Andy Yague Planes
8 Years:
Stephanie Arriola-Suarez, Brandon Carr, Adam Caruthers, Daniel Friend, Timothy Gulbranson, Timothy Hilton, Seth Jankord, Bart Maransani, Kamal Meawad, Christopher Miranda, Victor Olivo, Kyle Pillsworth, Ronald Richey, Ivan Rincon, Scott Smith, Scott Smith, Rhett Summar, Shane Willoughby, Buckley Wright
9 Years:
Drew Ashbacher, Veronica Carlson, Sidney Coomes, Jeremy Evans, Ryan Girard, William Hardy, Travis Henson, Caleb Holland, Joseph Johnston, Alonzo Mason, Floyd McCormack, Jarrett McPherson, Paul Mitchell, Michael Mullins, Rylee Rice, Edward Ripp, Alberto Rosales, Justin York
10 Years:
Ana Guzman, Kevin Hoyos, Richard Maillet, Sergio
Mohammed, Johnny Ortegon, Jason Ratliff, Crystal Spurgeon, Andrew Williams
11 Years:
Jeffery Crowther, Steven Day, Dillon Frank, Richard Fulton, Judd Gilgen, Ian Gray, Matthew Hembree, Anthony Holcomb, Cody Jensen, Josh Joslin, Katherine Lawson, Ernest Meisner, Jonathan Morefield, Enrique Ortiz, Barth West
12 Years:
Christopher Droddy, Jared Humphrey, David KIng, Alberto Rodriguez, Brett Woollard
13 Years:
Nicholas Bennett, Cindy Davied, James Henry, Chase Manley, Mikayla Widick
14 Years:
Tyler Adkison, Keith Johnson, Paul Leonards, Carrie Mitchell, Ernesto Sanchez
15 Years:
Ryan Dziedzic, William Jones, Nathan Keizer, Alvin Maney, Jason Miron, Seth Peterson, Terry Smallwood, John Staples, Nathan Tobey, Damien Williams
16 Years: Luis Ferrer, Christopher Hayes
17 Years:
Adrian Baldridge, Justin Dempsey, Dennis Sawyer
18 Years:
Marvin Ayers, Andrew Brown, Kyle Mansfield, Dwight Sayles, Joshua Seefeld, Nathan Tuzicka
19 Years:
Maurice Davis, Donnie Gunter, Juan Lozano, Jeff Mayfield, Kyle Moody, Alicia Stimpson, Martin Wellmaker
20 Years:
Adam Hanson, Hector Reyes
21 Years: Sofrona Howard, Jimmy Patterson, Delta Wood
22 Years: Jason Hislop
23 Years:
John Binkley, Dave Gromer, Phillip Hedge, Christopher Moore, Albert Olvera
24 Years: Mark Bray
25 Years: Charles Stanley
26 Years: James Brooks
28 Years: Brian Collier, Antonio Gonzalez
29 Years: Kevin Krueger
30 Years: Joseph Brown, Charles Sigley