Thompson succeeds Drusch as CEO of two Minnesota short lines, one North Dakota regional (4/16/2007)
4/16/2024Last week, Mark Wegner succeeded William Drusch as president of the Twin Cities & Western Railroad Co. (TC&W) and Minnesota Prairie Line Inc. (MPL). Now, Drusch knows who will take his place as chief executive officer of the 229-mile TC&W, 94-mile MPL and 517-mile Red River Valley & Western Railroad Co. (RRVW) after he retires on May 1.
Today, RRVW named Andrew Thompson CEO. Last year, he succeeded Drusch as RRVW president and chief operating officer.
Thompson joined the regional in 2005 as the railroad’s first-ever senior VP and general manager. He previously served BNSF Railway Co. and its predecessors for 27 years in various transportation and management positions.
Drusch, who held leadership posts at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and most recently served as president of the Minnesota Regional Railroads Association, will be bringing his 38-year railroading career to a close.
After holding various positions at the former Northern Pacific Railway and Burlington Northern Railroad from 1969 to 1976, he became manager of revenue accounting for the Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railroad (which now is part of Canadian Pacific Railway).
Drusch later served as VP of operations for the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad until 1993, when he joined the TC&W as president and COO. In 1999, he became COO of TC&W affiliate RRVW; a year later, Drusch was named RRVW’s president.
Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News