The Roundhouse

Host Nick Ozorak pays tribute to Britt Allcroft, creator of the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends TV series. He explores not just what her greatest contribution means to him, but what he see as some of its larger endearing outcomes.

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Mike O’Donnell: Thomas the Tank Engine Composer

The post In Memoriam: “Thomas & Friends” TV Creator Britt Allcroft appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

Let’s learn more about the largest trolley museum in the United States. Scott Becker has been at the helm of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for over 30 years. In that time, the museum has grown by expanding its collection and constructing two massive buildings. Scott walks us through the history of the museum, how preserving trolleys differs from other forms of rail preservations, and what has led to the museum’s success.

This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.

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PA Trolley Museum Founder Art Ellis

Steel City Limited Adventure

Question of the Day

What is your favorite railroad holiday memory?

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The post 151: Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Executive Director Scott Becker appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

American Heritage Railways oversees such notable tourist railroads as the Durango & Silverton, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, and Branson Scenic Railroad. Al Harper, Chairman and CEO, shares his decades of insight in what makes a tourist railroad function, how Polar Express has become such a staple in the industry, and the importance of balancing history with progress.

This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.

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Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad

Cass Scenic Railroad

Question of the Day

What tourist railroads and museums have balanced keeping their charm with progressing with the times?

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The post 150: Al Harper and American Heritage Railways appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

Loni Martz Briner, PR and Media for North Shore Railroad, talks about the history of this group of Pennsylvania short lines and how they are celebrating their 40th Anniversary.

This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.

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Women in Short Line Railroading

Mississippi Export Railroad

Question of the Day

What railroad do you know of or work for that is good with connecting to its local communities?

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The post 149: North Shore Railroad appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

What is involved with leading the Federal Railroad Administration? Joe Szabo, the 12th FRA Administrator, discusses how he began his career in railroading, what led him to the FRA, his philosophy with working with Class I railroads, and how he is now involved in the development of Pullman National Historical Park.

This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.

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Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman

Steamtown National Historic Site

Question of the Day

Is there some special way that we should celebrate 10 years and 150 episodes of The Roundhouse?

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The post 148: FRA Administrator Joe Szabo appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

What is it like to be at the helm of a railroad that has remained independent for over 100 years? Mississippi Export Railroad President Kate Bourgeois talks about the history of the railroad and how they invest in their company and community.

This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.

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Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad

Women in Short Line Railroading

Question of the Day

What is a railroad that has an impressive legacy?

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The post Mississippi Export Railroad appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

Bob LaPrelle, President and CEO of the Museum of the American Railroad, talks about moving their massive collection of locomotives from Dallas to Frisco, restoration of a rare ALCO PA-1, and the goals for their capital campaign.

This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.

Artwork by John Winfield.

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California State Railroad Museum

Railroader’s Memorial Museum

Question of the Day

What is one particularly special interaction that you have had working or volunteering for a tourist railroad or museum?

Let me know and I will respond to your comments in the next episode.

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The post 146: Museum of the American Railroad appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

Join us for a conversation with Arkansas & Missouri Railroad President Caren Kraska, Cathcart Rail Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Vanessa Knapton, and Senior VP of Law and General Counsel for ASLRRA Sarah Yurasko. They discuss their careers in the short line railroad industry, how they are working to cultivate interest in the field, and where they are seeing opportunities for growth.

This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.

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Carol Kraska

Caren is the chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad.  With over 18 years of railroad industry experience in operations, marketing and finance, she became chairman of the board effective April 2015.  Her railroad career began with Conrail in 1979 where she worked in the Mechanical Engineering Department, Marketing, Industrial Development, and Sales. 

Under her leadership, the A&M has expanded transload and warehousing operations; she has also brought new customers to the railroad. Her diverse background and experience offers a fresh perspective on rail business development and customer service. The A&M values its customers and works diligently with them to find a shipping solution to meet their specific needs.  The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad is strategically located with a great potential to grow. 

Safety is a critical component of the operation with ongoing reviews and safety program enhancements. With a continued focus on rail infrastructure integrity; a grant was awarded to upgrade three bridges, including the Arkansas River lift span bridge.  She is honored to have the opportunity to lead the Arkansas and Missouri team to focus on the continued safety of its team members, serving our customers, and improving our local community.

Ms. Kraska is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in transportation, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.

Vanessa Knapton

Vanessa works for the largest independent railcar repair network in the US. She oversees the business development for Cathcart’s Field Services Division, where her teams function as car departments for short line railroads.  With over 50 partnerships to maintain, Knapton functions as the liaison between host railroads and the repair operating teams.

Knapton started in the railroad industry as a switchman-conductor for the Santa Fe (later BNSF) in Los Angeles, California in 1994. She had graduated from Smith College with a bachelor’s degree in government and economics. Knapton worked for four years as a union operations employee and had her first two children. In 1998, Knapton was promoted to Assistant Trainmaster at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

As Trainmaster, Knapton helped design the operations systems at BNSF for the massive influx of container business in the first international intermodal boom from 2000 to its height in 2006. During her tenure as trainmaster, Knapton completed an MBA program with an emphasis on finance at Chapman University and had her third child.

Knapton and BNSF parted ways in 2008 and Knapton worked in warehouse logistics and for a railroad shipper until she joined an early entrant in a niche market of the short line railroad railcar repair business in 2011. For the last dozen years, Knapton has worked for three of the largest running repair agent companies in the country and has established 25+ repair operations at railroads that previously did not have car inspection teams.

Sarah Yurasko

Sarah Yurasko is Sr. Vice President Law & General Counsel with the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA). In this position, she advises on all legal matters for ASLRRA and represents the short line industry nationally on policy matters. Prior to ASLRRA, she worked at the Association of American Railroads as Assistant General Counsel, focusing on safety law issues.

She previously worked at Amtrak on high-speed rail planning and policy development. She started her career as a trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). While at the FRA, Ms. Yurasko completed the Executive Potential Program through the Graduate School USA, a leadership development program that provides training and developmental experiences for high potential employees.

She earned a JD from American University’s Washington College of Law and an MA in International Affairs from American University’s School of International Service. She also has a BA in French and a BFA in Theatre Arts from Southern Methodist University.

She currently resides in Spotsylvania, Virginia, with her husband and five children.

Question of the Day

For those who have worked in the railroad industry, what have you found rewarding, and what has been challenging?

Let me know and I will respond to your comments in the next episode.

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The post 145: Women in Short Line Railroading appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

We’re talking to Curtis Koch, Director of Marketing and Social Media for Broadway Limited Imports, about how they view the model railroading business, their process for their projects, and some of their upcoming products.

This episode is sponsored by Strasburg Rail Road Mechanical Services.

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Kathy Millatt & The Great Model Railway Challenge

Question of the Day

What are some of your favorite model trains that have ever been produced?

Let me know and I will respond to your comments in the next episode.

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The post 144: How Broadway Limited Imports Produces Model Trains appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.

Lake State Railroad CMO Roger Fuehring provides clarity on the EPA’s regulations concerning diesel locomotives and how they affect tourist railroads and museums.

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Question of the Day

What are topics that you would like me to cover on the podcast?

Let me know and I will respond to your comments in the next episode.

The post 143: Understanding the EPA Rules with Diesels (w/ Roger Fuehring) appeared first on The Roundhouse Podcast.