Biographical

I published my first history article when I was in high school and have continued writing, off and on, ever since.  Following a career in the railroad industry, I have taken up researching and writing about the history of this fascinating business.  My main interest is Eastern railroading, particularly Erie Lackawanna and its predecessor railroads.

Career

• Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad President and Chief Operating Officer 2004-2008.  Also President and COO of subsidiaries B&H Rail Corp. and Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad from their inception until 2008.  President and COO of Ontario Central Railroad 1998-2007.  LA&L Vice President and General Manager 1995-2004.  LA&L and its subsidiaries expanded nine times in eleven years (from ten miles of railroad in one county to over 400 miles in two states) while making over $33 million in track and bridge upgrades, repeatedly winning national safety awards, giving customers competitive options, spurring economic development, providing good jobs, and creating value for shareholders.

• Regional Railroads of New York, Inc. Executive Director 1993-1995.

• D&H Terminals, Inc. (Delaware & Hudson Railway Newark, NJ terminal lessee) co-founder and President 1989-1991.

• Transportation consulting 1983-1995.

• RoadRailer/Bi-Modal Corporation project manager 1981-1982.

Education

• Polytechnic Institute of New York (now part of New York University) 1976-1978: M.S. Transportation Planning and Engineering, and M.S. Management Science (dual program), graduated summa cum laude.

• State University of New York College at Geneseo 1972-1975: B.A. Political Science, minor in Philosophy, graduated magna cum laude.  Washington Semester Program fall 1974, intern in office of U.S. Rep James F. Hastings, 39th District of New York (Southern Tier Elmira area westward).  Returned as full-time staff in 1975, during development of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976.  Rep. Hastings was a member of the Transportation and Commerce Subcommittee of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.

Railroad competition between the Midwest and Northeast

The Era of Improvements before World War I

Regulation

Rate bureaus and rate conferences

Eastern railroad merger movement 1945-1970

Less-than-carload and freight forwarder traffic

Piggyback

Freight classification

Signaling and centralized traffic control

Track

Frederick D. Underwood

William White

Perry M. Shoemaker

Alfred E. Perlman