Western Group makes management changes

The Western Group has named Art Miller system director. He will be responsible for safety training, standards and regulatory compliance.

Since 2009, Miller had served as director of safety and operations standards for Iowa Pacific Holdings LLC.

The Western Group also appointed Marc Syring general manager of Southwestern Railroad Inc., which comprises two short lines in New Mexico. He most recently managed TXNW Railroad, which won a BNSF Railway Co. Short Line of the Year award during his tenure.

In addition, the Western Group relocated Brian Keller, formerly operations manager for the Oregon Eastern Railroad, to Deming, N.M., to assume the role of operations manager for the Southwestern Railroad's larger Whitewater Division. Casey Hansen will succeed Keller as Oregon Eastern's operations manager. He has served the Oregon Eastern as a locomotive engineer for more than 10 years.

The Western Group owns Western Railroad Builders Inc., Wyoming Colorado Railroad Inc. (Oregon Eastern Branch), Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad LC, Verde Canyon Railroad LC, Southwestern Railroad and Cimarron Valley Railroad LC.