By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor
Author Thomas Wolfe once wrote, "You can't go home again,” but Brian Gorton has proved otherwise. The 35-year rail industry veteran began his career as a conductor for Conrail in 1987, spent 23 years at Union Pacific Railroad gaining operations and management experience, and now has returned to New Jersey to lead Conrail.
Gorton, 54, took the reins as the short line’s president and chief operating officer on April 19. He succeeded Tim Tierney, Conrail’s leader the past four years, who retired in late May.
The terminal and switching service provider for its Class I owners CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway, Conrail serves shippers in Detroit, New Jersey and Philadelphia. The railroad operates about 1,200 miles of track in the three regional areas.
A native of New Hartford, New York, Gorton was promoted to assistant terminal superintendent before departing Conrail prior to CSX and NS splitting the railroad in 1998.
The short line was a great starting point and now is a logical next step in his railroading career, says Gorton.
Conrail reached out to him while he was at UP, where he held such positions as director of transportation services, superintendent of the dispatching center, general superintendent and — most recently — general manager of the Gulf Coast and Houston service units.
As the GM, Gorton was responsible for all aspects of operations for a territory covering over 2,000 track miles and involving nearly 1,000 employees. Conrail recruiters were interested in both his Class I and short line operational experience.
UP has been implementing precision scheduled railroading (PSR) for the past two-and-a-half years. Gorton worked with former UP Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena — now a senior advisor until June’s end — to help the Class I adopt the operating strategy. Vena previously was the COO and an executive vice president for longtime PSR adoptee CN.
“I spent a lot of time with Jim Vena to learn his experience with PSR and in applying it,” says Gorton. “Conrail was looking for someone with Class I experience who was heavily involved in operations and PSR.”
CSX and NS — both of which also have implemented PSR — aim to instill some of the operating strategy’s principles at Conrail to boost efficiencies. But the short line won’t be implementing the typical PSR that’s been adopted by Class Is, says Gorton.
Conrail recruiters also desired a new leader who developed a heavy customer background.
“I was the GM of UP’s Gulf Coast service unit, so I dealt with a lot of petrochemical customers,” says Gorton.
Since he checked all the boxes for Conrail, what strengths does Gorton believe he brings to the table that can help the short line prosper? Namely, vast transportation and dispatching knowledge, and well-honed people skills, he says.
Brain Gorton’s first order of business is ensuring Conrail provides world-class service and is the switcher of choice for many shippers.Credit: Conrail“I consider myself self-motivated and a people person. I admire and value the work of people and have great admiration for ground agreement professionals,” says Gorton. “That’s not a selling point, I really believe it.”
He plans to handle Conrail as if it were a Class I.
“We have the heavy mainline and a dispatch center and other Class-I-like things,” says Gorton. “It doesn’t feel like I came to a short line. It has things that aren’t like a typical Class III.”
His first order of business is trying to ensure Conrail provides world-class service and is the switcher of choice for many shippers. He wants the short line to serve its Class I owners well and be a good employer.
In terms of employees, Conrail currently has a shortage of train and engine service workers, which is causing problems with filling “extra boards,” or non-regular job assignments. Since many people are staying home and receiving unemployment payments, recruitment has proved difficult, says Gorton.
“We need a lobbyist in Washington who stresses there are really good jobs that are available now,” he says. “I’m going to put up a billboard on the New Jersey turnpike that says Conrail is hiring now so go to www.conrail/jobs. We hope to interest people that way.”
Solving the short line’s problems is important to Gorton because he wants to mark success where he laid his railroading roots. He also wants this position to be the last stop in his career.
“I’m not someone who jumps around from job to job. This is a good way to close my career,” says Gorton. “It was cool to come home. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want the best for Conrail.”
