(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on April 15, 2010.)
Paducah & Louisville Railway Inc. (PAL) recently named Tom Garrett president, according to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association. He also will serve as president of affiliates Evansville Western Railway and Appalachian and Ohio Railroad, and president of the railroads’ holding company, Four Rivers Transportation.
PAL also named Tom Greene executive vice president-chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Four Rivers Transportation, PAL and subsidiaries. He will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the railroads and continue to serve as CFO, a position he’s held since 1995.
Tony Reck will continue to serve as chairman and chief executive officer for all affiliated companies.
“The appointments do not represent any intent on my part to become less involved in the management of the companies, as I intend to remain fully engaged,” said Reck in a prepared statement.
Meanwhile, the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad Co. named John Hamm vice president of business development. He recently retired after serving Proctor & Gamble the past 33 years in various capacities. Hamm first worked with the Reading & Northern in 2001 when he was responsible for transportation logistics at Procter & Gamble’s largest manufacturing facility in Mehoopany, Pa.
In addition, the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway Ltd. appointed Mitchell Whitmire VP of mechanical. A retired U.S. Army captain, he previously served Kansas City Southern Railway Co. in dual positions as general manager of a tie treating plant and general director of international material logistics-purchasing. Whitmire later was promoted to general manger of locomotive operations/maintenance superintendent.
Finally, RailAmerica Inc. appointed President and Chief Executive Officer John Giles and former AT&T Inc. President Ray Robinson to its board.
RailAmerica’s top executive officer since February 2007, Giles previously was president and CEO of Great Lakes Transportation L.L.C., and served CSX Transportation and the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. in various capacities. Robinson, who retired from AT&T in 2003, is chairman of Citizens Trust Bank.