(The Twin Cities & Western, Red River Valley & Western railroads issued the following news release on April 16.)
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Regional railroad executive William F. Drusch will retire May 1 after a 38-year career in railroading. Mr. Drusch has been chief executive officer of the 517-mile Red River Valley & Western Railroad, the 229-mile Twin Cities & Western Railroad, and 94-mile Minnesota Prairie Line, Inc. since 2001. During his tenure, volume on the three railroads has grown to record levels exceeding 76,000 carloads annually.
Mr. Drusch has held leadership posts in the American Short Line and Regional Railroads Association and most recently was president of the Minnesota Regional Railroads Association.
Mr. Drusch started his rail career in 1969 with the former Northern Pacific Railway, which, in 1970, merged with Burlington Northern (now BNSF Railway). From 1976 to 1980, he was manager, revenue accounting for the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern (now part of Canadian Pacific Railway). He subsequently served as vice president-operations for the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad at Wells Mich. until 1993, when he joined the TC&W as president and chief operating officer. In 1999, he also became chief operating officer of the Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company, a TC&W affiliate, and was named president the following year.
Andrew J. Thompson, who was appointed president of the RRV&W in April 2006, will succeed Mr. Drusch as chief executive officer of the TC&W, RRV&W and MPL.