CUMBERLAND, Md. — Employment with CSX in Cumberland has stabilized but is not likely to grow again given the current industrial economy, according to John Snow, chairman and CEO of CSX Corp.
The Cumberland Times-News reported that Friday was declared John Snow Day by Western Maryland’s political and business community as the oft-described “titan of industry” visited Cumberland and CSX interests here.
More than 800 CSX employees are based in Cumberland, which is critical to the railroad’s operations, Snow said.
“Cumberland is a vital part of the rail system and a critically important point for the railroad,” he said. “The hump yard, where trains are made up, the locomotive repair shops, the car repair shops and the engineer training school are all here, and this is one of a handful of centrally important points.”
Snow introduced Gil Kovar, vice president for regional operations, who said that Cumberland is important to the flow of rail traffic in all directions from Montreal and Boston south to Richmond, west to Chicago and east to Baltimore, where the regional headquarters is located.
Snow said that since the merger with Conrail about three years, ago, the company has reorganized, consolidating and putting headquarters and other operations in more centrally located areas.
Initially, after the merger, Cumberland added about 200 employees, but with the slowdown in the economy, employment has leveled off, he said.
“I still see a bright future for railroading through great services, with the best locomotives, maintenance, service of the car fleet and track structure,” he said.
“Running a railroad is costly and we are making the investment in technology and the Internet age,” he added. “The remote locomotive here in Cumberland is an example of that kind of technology.”
At the locomotive shops, Snow pointed out a new locomotive, noting that it is equipped with state-of-the-art technology from General Electric.
“This brought General Electric to Cumberland,” he said, explaining that personnel from GE are on-site to program the locomotive’s technological capabilities. “The greatest change since we went from steam to diesel is to computer chips that operate the locomotives from laptops.”
Snow added, “The workforce has adapted to these changes and Cumberland is considered among the best in the country.”
At the locomotive shops, employees Rick Hamilton and Joe Moffett presented Snow with a CSX shirt, assisted by plant manager Tim Yarnell Sr.
Snow praised the employees on the appearance of the locomotive shops and their dedication to their jobs and community.
He referred several times to the continuing and enduring support of the community’s business and political leadership making CSX’s presence in Cumberland a successful one.
John Snow Day events included a political breakfast at the Holiday Inn, a tour of the Cumberland CSX shop facilities and a luncheon at the Cumberland Country Club, sponsored by the Greater Cumberland Committee.
Snow said, “I am accepting these honors but they really are due the CSX family in Western Maryland.”
He pointed out that the railroad has been in Cumberland since 1842 and has been “very much” a part of the community for generations.
“We want to be as an important a part of the future as we have been of the past,” he said.