Eastern Railroad Discussion > From the NS Website - New CEO

http://www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en/news/norfolk-southernnamesjimsquireschiefexecutiveofficer.html

Wonder if we will be keeping the heritage units or if they will get a fresh duo of boring black and white, also curious if this guy will buy into Tier 4 or if they continue on the trend of buying other people used junk. I'm guessing the latter

Posted from Android

Should make for an interesting transition of leadership styles (to say the least). Going from Moorman, with an engineering degree and operations background, to Squires, who has a BA in Greek along with that law degree. It also sounds like he has mostly legal experience and no operations background.

I guess you could consider an internal hire to be a positive aspect though.

-Sean McCaffery

SlipperyWhenWet Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wonder if we will be keeping the heritage units or
> if they will get a fresh duo of boring black and
> white, also curious if this guy will buy into Tier
> 4 or if they continue on the trend of buying other
> people used junk. I'm guessing the latter
>
> Posted from Android


With the changing of the leadership why would you believe they would go to the expense of repainting the fleet of heritage units? My bet, they are safe. For the railroad industry and somewhat the public & railfans. it's good PR to show the people how NS is where they are today.

As per someone in supervision who supposedly had a conversation with Squires ... the H units are probably safe. The F units, however ... maybe another story. The response I heard was ... allegedly ... "I can't wait to put those things in a museum, where they belong."

Now ... how accurate those claims are, is another story.

I'm assuming Moorman may stick around as Chairman of the Board, so I wouldn't envision a radical change in their "fan friendliness" over the short term.

Too bad, I thought Moorman was good for NS. I know time flies, but I didn't think he was around in that capacity all that long.
No offense meant ....another lawyer in charge.
Richs

I think it's a little premature to guess what might happen. Hey, the guy might actually like trains!

what's your thoughts, NS named a new CEO, you think the steam excursions will stay? he's a lawyer.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/norfolk-southern-names-jim-squires-140000687.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/15 17:45 by 1.

Who cares about the steam program, I'm more concerned about his view of us employees. What types of changes will he want to make? The steam engines are a nice novelty but I'm more concerned about peoples jobs. Mr. Moorman seemed to actually care about us.


ernie

I agree with you. Job security is more important than a "toy" running around the system. I have family that works for NS and they are concerned about retirement more than a steam program.

Posted from iPhone

Lawyer?

Bob Claytor was VP Law for N&W before becoming President.
Yes, he was extraordinary as a leader!

It was Bob that opened up Conneaut Roundhouse for the restoration of NKP 759.
It was Bob that pushed for the 611 to be returned to steam!
It was Bob that arranged to return the 1218 to Roanoke and to eventually authorize that engine's restoration.

So, with his magnificent managerial prowess, and his enthusiastic support for steam that SO MUCH has followed.
Without Bob's legal and manager's skills none of what we now know would not ever have existed.

Like his brother, Graham, he was always a true gentleman.

Let's also not forget about Jim Bistline, of the Southern Ry., for his untiring support of their great steam program. Another gentleman and a lawyer!!
So, let's not lump ALL skilled students of the law as automatically opposed to steam.

Yes, it's a legal maze in today's world. But skilled lawyers are vital to the success of the larger picture of the RR Business.
Many lawyers are talented at drafting and negotiating the running of successful steam on their main lines.
It is vital for the operators of these trips to be seen as being the BEST all around crews for maintaining on- time operation of their trains.
It is vital that the lawyers have confidence in folks like Scott Lindsay, the FWRHS & 765, like Doyle's ORHF & 4449, etc.

It was Bob's trust of Ross and The Iron Company's skilled crew that got us to Niagara Falls & ret (with the "Claytor Lake" next to the engine) , it was Bob that enthusiastically backed the Golden Centennial Limited on its transcontinental journey in 1969. The successful trips out of Roanoke over the N&W rails in 1968.
The great AFT was largely due to the Claytor's support of the project from the beginning of the project.

So, let's count on a skilled lawyer to thread the needle, and two balance the grueling rigors of railroading in today's complex environment.
It takes a very skilled person to head a corporation of NS's size and complexity .

Keep our powder dry.

I have great respect for the choice that the Board made in selecting the best man to lead this Company.
Congratulations are in order!.

Wes C.
(Getting low battery warnings)

wmfan3798 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Who cares about the steam program, I'm more
> concerned about his view of us employees. What
> types of changes will he want to make? The steam
> engines are a nice novelty but I'm more concerned
> about peoples jobs. Mr. Moorman seemed to actually
> care about us.
>
>
> ernie


I think alot of people, including me care about the steam program. This is a railfan site not a union meeting...

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/15 06:47 by NSClevelandLine.

NSClevelandLine Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wmfan3798 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Who cares about the steam program, I'm more
> > concerned about his view of us employees. What
> > types of changes will he want to make? The
> steam
> > engines are a nice novelty but I'm more
> concerned
> > about peoples jobs. Mr. Moorman seemed to
> actually
> > care about us.
> >
> >
> > ernie
>
>
> I think alot of people, including me care about
> the steam program. This is a railfan site not a
> union meeting...
>
> Posted from Android


This is not a discussion about the union it's about jobs. All that we mentioned is the fact that he and I are concerned for employees job security and the steam program can take a back seat to keep jobs alive if that what it takes to save NS money. NS is not here to please the railfan community. This is a free speech site the last that I knew of.

Are you guys really saying you are concerned about your job security?

EL-SD45-3632 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NSClevelandLine Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > wmfan3798 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Who cares about the steam program, I'm more
> > > concerned about his view of us employees.
> What
> > > types of changes will he want to make? The
> > steam
> > > engines are a nice novelty but I'm more
> > concerned
> > > about peoples jobs. Mr. Moorman seemed to
> > actually
> > > care about us.
> > >
> > >
> > > ernie
> >
> >
> > I think alot of people, including me care about
> > the steam program. This is a railfan site not a
> > union meeting...
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
>
> This is not a discussion about the union it's
> about jobs. All that we mentioned is the fact that
> he and I are concerned for employees job security
> and the steam program can take a back seat to keep
> jobs alive if that what it takes to save NS money.
> NS is not here to please the railfan community.
> This is a free speech site the last that I knew
> of.


Saying your jobs are more important than a steam program goes without saying don't ya think? You honestly think a company worth billions sways in the wind over a steam program? This is FAR from a free speech site BTW...

>
> I think alot of people, including me care about
> the steam program. This is a railfan site not a
> union meeting...
>
> Posted from Android


Typical foamer thinking, I could care a less about the people actually doing the job as long as I get what I want. This site is supposed to be a railroad discussion site so let's discuss railroads. For those you that don't know railroads do not judge themselves by the money they make, they judge themselves by their operating ratio. Each company strives to have the lowest operating ratio. The easiest way to lower your ratio is to cut employees to the barest bones possible just like Hunter Harrison did when he arrived at CP. Every CEO wants to leave their mark on the industry regardless if it's good or bad. Mr Moorman was known as a good man who tried his best to put his employees ahead of the stockholders. Harrison is a no nonsense cut throat business man who will run over whoever it takes to make money. It would be very easy for the new CEO to turn into a Harrison and fire up the chopping block to go after the lowest operating ratio to leave his mark. Union meeting over.


ernie



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/15 16:14 by wmfan3798.

wmfan3798 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > I think alot of people, including me care about
> > the steam program. This is a railfan site not a
> > union meeting...
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
>
> Typical foamer thinking, I could care a less about
> the people actually doing the job as long as I get
> what I want. This site is supposed to be a
> railroad discussion site so let's discuss
> railroads. For those you that don't know railroads
> do not judge themselves by the money they make,
> they judge themselves by their operating ratio.
> Each company strives to have the lowest operating
> ratio. The easiest way to lower your ratio is to
> cut employees to the barest bones possible just
> like Hunter Harrison did when he arrived at CP.
> Every CEO wants to leave their mark on the
> industry regardless if it's good or bad. Mr
> Moorman was known as a good man who tried his best
> to put his employees ahead of the stockholders.
> Harrison is a no nonsense cut throat business who
> will run over whoever it takes to make money. It
> would be very easy for the new CEO to turn into a
> Harrison and fire up the chopping block to go
> after the lowest operating ratio to leave his
> mark. Union meeting over.
>
>
> ernie


Agree 100%

Thank you,
wmfan3798



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/15 10:10 by EL-SD45-3632.