ink
A Monthly Publication for and by Amtrak Employees
Volume 19 • Issue 6 • July 2014
Improving CSI
A Wish Comes True
for a Young Amtrak Fan
Employee Q & A:
Volunteering for
D-Day Celebrations
Train of Thought
more efficiently and reduce costs. I want
ne of our corporate goals is to be
to see a focus on ensuring that we are
profitable on an operating basis
making the most of opportunities. This
and be good stewards of capital in order
includes the way that we staff positions,
to secure our long-term viability as a
establish more aggressive financial targets,
company—we define this as Financial
develop uniform cost
Excellence.
management for managers
Every year, we face
and make process and
a budget that challenges
material management
our ability to continue to
improvements.
provide the service that
In addition to what I
our customers need and to
have asked the leadership
provide it safely. This year
to do, I am also asking for
is no exception and next
your help to achieve our
year won’t be either. We
financial goal. We need to
face continuing scrutiny
reduce costs to increase
and reduced operating
the effectiveness and effisubsidy for the foreseeable
ciency of our operations,
future. It is now critical
strengthen Amtrak’s
that we put increased
financial position and
attention on a focused cost
Joseph H. Boardman
improve our competireduction.
tive edge by obtaining and keeping new
To date, our company has gone through
business.
many internal transformations. We have
Talk to your managers, talk to your colsuccessfully completed the implementaleagues. Take a look at what you do every
tion of business lines and realigned our
day and see where you can contribute to
priorities, made benefit changes and cost
help Amtrak achieve our goal to make
reductions. I believe we have made good
an operating profit from all our services.
progress, but there will be increased presSupport your leaders and also those who
sure to reduce costs more. The Finance
work on the frontlines. Everyone can make
department is working with all other
a difference in our budget and the time for
departments to reduce expenses. In FY15,
action is now. I know that we can achieve
we will see no budget growth.
this goal and become a stronger corporaI have asked our leadership to contion from it. n
tinue to find ways in which we can operate
Amtrak Government Affairs and Corporate Communications
Joe McHugh, Vice President
Government Affairs &
Corporate Communications
I. Suzi Andiman
Director, Employee
Communications
Rod Gibbons
Chief, Corporate
Communications
Liliana Lopez
Sr. Communications
Officer
Marlon Sharpe
Principal Graphic Designer
Lisa V. Pulaski
Graphic Designer
Chuck Gomez
Multimedia Specialist
Check out one of our
social media channels today!
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July 2014
Amtrak Ink
Help with our
Safe-2-Safer Goal!
400,000
AA
O
400,000
350,000
May:
273,434
April:
262,763
March:
251,871
February:
241,288
January:
230,896
300,000
250,000
200,000
The peer-to-peer injury
prevention program,
Safe-2-Safer, has a new goal
of reaching 400,000 contacts
in Fiscal Year 2015. Track
Amtrak’s system-wide progress
each month.
Table of Front Line Focus
Contents
2 Financial Excellence
Read Mr. Boardman’s message about helping Amtrak
achieve its financial goals.
9 CAF Baggage Cars
14Employee Q & A
Take a peek at the new baggage cars being tested.
Read about an Amtrak employee who helped with the
commemoration of the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
16Wish Comes True
Read about the remarkable Make-A-Wish recipient who
became a California Zephyr engineer for a day.
17Milestones
“The annual Capital & Debt
Service and Operating agreements
together are currently Amtrak’s
largest grants, funded by the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA).
I’m glad to be working with such a
dedicated team at Amtrak, which
helps make the grant management
process smooth and efficient. I enjoy
working with Emily and M’balu,
who are exceptional in achieving
Amtrak’s compliance requirements
Left to Right: M’balu Kamara
and submitting timely reimburseand Wing Kam (Emily) Chan
ment packages. Their efforts
contribute directly to our successful working relationship with
Amtrak. Emily and M’balu are instrumental in communicating with FRA’s grant managers to resolve any issues, always
finding a good solution.”
—Mary Ann McNamara, Chief of Grant Programs Division at
the FRA
Employee Milestones from May 2014 to June 2014
(to be continued in the next issue)
“I recently returned from New Orleans and I must commend
Ms. Tina McCreary, car attendant. She made my trip enjoyable
pleasant and most comfortable. Please thank her formally for
me. She is a true asset to Amtrak.”
—Adrienne Monique Ahhaad
ink
A Monthly
On the Cover
Publication
for and by
Amtrak Empl
Volume 19
oyees
• Issue 6 •
July 2014
Amtrak Cascades going
south in Steilacoom,
Washington. Photo
courtesy of Steve
Ostrowski.
Improvin
g CSI
A Wish
for a Youn Comes True
g Amtra
k Fan
Employee
Q & A:
Voluntee
rin
g
for
D-Day Ce
lebrations
Amtrak Headquarters
60 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
[email protected]
Amtrak Ink is a monthly employee publication of Amtrak, the
National Railroad Passenger Corporation, published 10 times a year.
® AMTRAK is a registered service mark of the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation.
Amtrak Ink
July 2014
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3
News & Promotions
Whistle-Stop Tour to help the
Southwest Chief
11th
The “Civic Conversation”
that will take place in
Memphis on September 11.
The “Civic Conversation”
is a forum for community
and state officials focused
on building, preserving,
renovating and upgrading
stations.
This July, Amtrak President and Chief
Executive Officer Joe Boardman rode a special
train from Topeka, Kansas, to Albuquerque, New
Mexico, to meet with state and local officials
regarding the future of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief
service between Newton, Kansas, and Albuquerque.
$1,831.10
Food and beverage
remittance that Lead
Service Attendant (LSA)
Andrew Henry averaged
per trip in June 2014 in
the café car of Amtrak
Cascades.
16,100
The number of applications
from individuals interested
in participating in the
Amtrak Writer’s Residency
Program.
Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman at one of the stop
on the Southwest Chief Tour. Each year, thousands of Boy
Scouts use the Southwest Chief to travel to and from the
Philmont Scout Ranch during the months of June, July and
August.
10,671
The tour’s main purpose was to engage in
discussions with transportation leaders in Kansas,
Colorado and New Mexico about the pending
downgrades to the route, which is owned by
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (BNSF).
Amtrak proposes that we keep the route for daily
passenger service by sharing the costs and investments on the route with BNSF and the three
states. The tour also promoted federal support
to repair the tracks in western Kansas that the
Southwest Chief uses on its passenger route.
Officials from Amtrak, BNSF, Kansas and
New Mexico rode the train, stopping at cities on
the Southwest Chief route to bring attention to
the affects if service ended in those communities.
The tour brought public and elected official attention to the route that serves about 350,000 people
every year. Without an agreement on Amtrak’s
proposal, service could be heavily impacted by
The number of Safe-2-Safer
contacts for the month of
May 2014.
$196.3
Million
The ticket revenue for June
2014. This number is 2
percent ahead of last year,
but 1 percent less than
budget.
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Amtrak Ink
slower speeds affecting western Kansas, southeastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico
and the possible need to re-route south into
Oklahoma and Texas.
Beech Grove and Long-Distance
business line strengthen
their partnership
On June 12, 2014, Beech Grove employees
hosted a summit for labor and management
leaders from Operations, Mechanical and the
Long-Distance business line. Attendees included
Chief Mechanical Officer Mario Bergeron,
Assistant Vice President of Operations Scot
Naparstek, Long-Distance General Manager
Mark Murphy, as well as local Beech Grove
Improvement Committee members.
The meeting between Beech Grove employees and the Long-Distance business line, the
company’s largest internal customer, covered
issues important to both organizations. Attendees
agreed on the following:
• Reducing scheduling disconnects.
• Enhancing cars’ interior appearance
through modifications.
• Developing initiatives to build better internal production measures and
accountability within the shops and in
the field.
Beech Grove shops.
Beech Grove employees will continue to meet
with Long-Distance business line leaders to discuss, better coordinate and support the business
line. n
Bulletin Board
website by visiting the Human
Capital management wiki on the
employee homepage http://wiki.corp.
nrpc/display/HR/Home and click on
“Retirement” under “Quick Links”.
Remember: it’s never too early to
start planning for retirement!
Employee Access to
Uniform Preview
New retirement website available.
New Retirement Website
for Agreement and NonAgreement Employees
Your decision to retire involves a
number of factors and the process can
be confusing. Many employees have
asked us to provide resources to access
retirement information and answer
questions such as:
• When am I eligible to retire?
• What benefits am I eligible for as
a retiree?
• How do I initiate the retirement
process?
Now all Amtrak agreement and
non-agreement employees have
an online resource to navigate
through the retirement process. The
new Retirement Programs website
at http://wiki.corp.nrpc/display/
Retirement/Retirement is your 24/7
resource for up-to-date information
and forms to help ease the retirement
transition and simplify the retirement
process.
The new retirement website
includes many useful features including:
• A retirement planning checklist
with information on what actions
to take and when to complete
them.
• Information on eligible medical
benefits during retirement.
• Information on Retirement
401(K) Savings Plan, U.S.
Railroad Retirement Board benefits and other retiree benefits.
• Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs).
• Who to contact when you need
answers.
• Ability to download a copy of
the “Amtrak 2014 Planning for
Retirement Guide” for agreement
and non-agreement employees.
You can also access the retirement
Uniformed employees in the
Operations department now have
another resource to learn about their
uniform program. The user-friendly
website is designed to keep employees
informed and up-to-date with sales,
promotions and seasonal purchase
reminders.
Access to the website is for uniformed Train Service, Station Service
and On Board Service employees only.
To access the new website visit
the company Intranet page at: http://
wiki.corp.nrpc/display/ServStand/
Using+the+Uniform+Website and follow the instructions.
The customized website will allow
employees to browse their appropriate
uniformed craft and view required and
optional components, available sizes
and colors and pricing. Website tabs
can help to answer questions, identify
local uniform coordinators and provide sizing information.
Employees still need to contact
their local uniform coordinator to
place a uniform order. n
Amtrak employees display the latest uniform
fashions.
Amtrak Ink
July 2014
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5
Philadelphia 30th Street Station Moving
Forward with Master Plan
A
Ex
pr
es
sw
ay
Sch
uyl
kil
lR
ive
r
Philadelphia
Museum of Art
MANTUA
SPRING
GARDEN
Secondary Study Area
Primary Study Area
POWELTON
VILLAGE
Lan
cas
ter
Vine St Expressway
Penn
Coach
Yard
SEPTA
Powelton
Yard
Ave
Race St
LOGAN
SQUARE
Innovation
Neighborhood
JFK Blvd
Market St
Drexel
Campus
Major Gateways
CENTER
CITY
Chestnut St
University of
Pennsylvania Campus
34th St
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July 2014
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6
section of Amtrak employees from
Engineering, Marketing and Amtrak
Police Department.
With station master planning
efforts currently being advanced in
Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New
York, Chicago and now Philadelphia,
Amtrak is poised to turn congested
rail stations into the centerpieces of
thriving urban neighborhoods that
meet the growing transportation needs
of the future.
The planning team is guided
by a coordinated committee comprised of Amtrak, Drexel University,
Brandywine Realty Trust, SEPTA,
Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation, city of Philadelphia,
NJ Transit, CSX Corporation,
University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia Industrial Development
Corporation, Schuylkill River
Development Corporation and
University City District. n
identifies commercial development
opportunities and includes potential
development of air rights above the
rail yards. The plan will create longterm capacity for passenger trains and
connecting modes to accommodate
the anticipated growth in services
and demand. In addition, the joint
master plan will develop improved
connectivity between the station and
the neighboring community, including
connections to roadways, pedestrian
and bicycle, intercity bus and transit
services, resulting in a true intermodal
transportation hub.
To further support the consultant
team, three technical committees have
been established:
• Station and Facilities
• Transportation
• Commercial Opportunities
The technical committees are
made up of representatives from the
Coordinating Committee and a cross
Sc
mtrak and its partners Drexel
University and Brandywine
Realty Trust are planning
for the future of Philadelphia 30th
Street Station and the surrounding
area. The recent announcement of the
consultant team Skidmore, Owings
and Merrill, LLP in partnership with
Parsons Brinckerhoff, OLIN and
HR&A Advisors, selected to lead
the Philadelphia 30th Street Station
Precinct Joint Master Plan, kicked off
the project. The joint effort represents a
unique opportunity to develop new and
re-envision existing planning efforts to
create a single, integrated vision for the
30th Street Station Precinct. This effort
is expected to last two years.
The precinct study area (see
image) is ready for development as it
resides within the bustling University
City District. University District is
home to the growing campuses of
Drexel University and University
of Pennsylvania. The precinct also
includes Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority (SEPTA), NJ
Transit and CSX transportation services.
The area also includes new commercial
and residential properties owned by
Brandywine Realty Trust, The PorchUniversity City District’s civic space at
Philadelphia 30th Street Station and
other important real estate assets.
“Along with our great partners,
we look forward to developing a bold
vision for the precinct that accommodates growing demand for passenger
rail service and outlines a framework
for development that can reshape the
Philadelphia skyline for generations to
come,” said Amtrak Chief of Northeast
Corridor Development Bob LaCroix.
The consultant team will aim to
develop a plan that addresses current
conditions within the existing station,
UNIVERSITY
CITY
Walnut St
Penn
Park
RITTENHOUSE
SQUARE
LEGEND
30th Street Station
Rail Yards
Drexel University
Brandywine Assets
250’ 500’
Rendering of the project study area. Image courtesy of Brandywine Realty Trust.
1,000’
Aerial view of the Philadelphia 30th Street Station Precinct. Image courtesy of Brandywine Realty Trust.
Amtrak Ink
July 2014
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7
Safety Spotlight
Ladders are used to reach elevated areas
in just about every type of job. Amtrak
employees are urged to remember to
keep safety first when working with
ladders and to not underestimate the
hazards associated with them.
Employees in the Lorton, Virginia facility
utilize this ladder to conduct their work
safely. Engineers use it when they need
to access the cabin. The mechanical team
uses it when the locomotive is being
serviced and employees need access to
the cabin or to do work on the side of
the engines.
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Amtrak’s New Car Put Through the Test
C
ar 61000, the first pilot baggage
car for the new Long-Distance
Single-Level baggage cars is
undergoing testing. The equipment is
being built by CAF in Elmira, New
York. “These new cars are the result
of interdepartmental collaboration
among many groups, including but not
limited to: Marketing, Engineering,
Onboard Services, Food and Beverage,
Mechanical, Purchasing and Legal,”
said Project Engineer Dick Bruss. “As
I hope you will be able to see, we tried
to focus the design on the customer—
both the passenger as well as the
Amtrak employee.”
The testing includes compatibility
tests that ensure that the baggage
car interacts properly with the other
Amtrak cars and locomotives and
that it can operate through sharp
curves without interference. Testing is
also being done for high-speed truck
stability, braking, noise, wheelset/rail
interaction, as well as actual baggage
handling. Field testing will continue
through October with the baggage car
traveling on the Northeast Corridor
(NEC) and on routes to Chicago, New
Orleans and Miami.
The new baggage car body is built
of stainless steel, for long life and durability. These cars are 85-feet 4 inches
long. While most Amtrak baggage cars
are 70-feet long, some 85-feet long cars
were converted from coaches. Once
the Heritage Fleet is retired from
the consists, the new cars will allow
long-distance train operation at 125
mph in the NEC, rather than being
restricted to lower speeds by the old
equipment.
Shrouds completely enclose the car
underside between the trucks, protecting under car equipment from freezing
temperatures, ice and snow as well as
debris damage. The cars feature four
pairs of inward-opening hinged side
loading doors. These open easily and
are designed to produce good weather
seals in all types of conditions to keep
out dirt, water and especially snow.
Also, they are not subject to freezing
like older cars. The flooring is non-slip,
with raised metal used in the door
areas.
Lighting has been improved and it
is much brighter than in existing cars,
even with head-end power off.
The car interior is fitted with
independently folding upper and
lower luggage racks. The lower rack
is intended to keep luggage dry from
any water/ snow brought into the car
when luggage is loaded; the upper
provides additional storage capacity.
Since the racks are divided, it allows
the crew to group luggage by destination if desired. Bicycles can be
suspended from fold-out bike racks
rather than requiring bicycle boxes.
Luggage racks can be folded up
against the walls to provide maximum
floor area for carrying cargo such as
pallets. The car is also equipped with a
gun locker.
The baggage car is equipped with
a heating system which will keep the
interior temperature at 50 degrees in
cold weather. The car is not air conditioned, but has roof vents which can be
opened to provide ventilation.
“We are looking forward to introducing this, the next generation of
long-distance cars with this order and
showing off some new technology
and amenities,” said Bruss. “The other
three car types, diner, sleeper and
baggage-dormitory will soon be undergoing testing.” n
Preview of the new sleeping cars that will complete the CAF order.
Amtrak Ink
July 2014
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9
New Cars: Taking Care of the Baggage
Testing has almost been completed on the first of
Amtrak’s 55 new Viewliner II Baggage cars. Car #61000
has completed FRA testing and it is now being tested
by Amtrak.
This car type is one of four Viewliner II series longdistance car types manufactured by CAF. The baggage
car has adjustable baggage racks and can also
accommodate bike racks.
The lighting system works with battery-powered lights and with head-end
power, which offers an environmental benefit.
A fiberglass enclosure will play a significant role during the winter by protecting
the equipment under the cars as well as freeze protection to water systems.
The doors in the new baggage car have been designed with hinges and form an
effective weather seal.
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Amtrak Ink
Luggage racks are compartmentalized. Employees can now separate
baggage by destination.
New lights over the doors are designed so they can light up the outside of
the doors and platform. This design allows for better vision at stations where
lighting is limited in the platforms.
Amtrak Ink
The baggage car has roof vents that aid with air circulation during the
summer.
July 2014
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11
The Positive Impact of Keeping Customers Informed
“W
regarding customer service are
met,” Assistant Superintendent Lisa
Hubbard said. “By fostering communication among crews, passengers and
management, we focus our efforts on
factors we can control. The bottom line
is that our frontline employees make
the difference.”
On the Maple Leaf and Empire
e focus on things that
we can control on the
train,” says Albany
Terminal Trainmaster Marty Rauch.
“Many times we can’t control delays,
but our train crew is made up of quality
individuals who take the initiative to let
passengers know why we are delayed.”
Rauch is referring to the correlation
between on-time performance (OTP),
which is many times out of the crew’s
control, and the Customer Satisfaction
Index (CSI), a performance measure of
Amtrak’s Customer Focus goal.
CSI scores show the percentage of
randomly selected Amtrak riders who
are surveyed and indicate their level of
satisfaction/dissatisfaction with their
most recent Amtrak trip. These scores
are generally closely correlated with
on-time performance. Importantly,
analysis of CSI data also shows that
there are other factors that influence
and can make a difference in improving
the scores, such as an increased level of
on-board service and clarity of information given to passengers about delays.
“Feedback from passengers is
shared with our crews in an effort to
increase customer satisfaction and
ensure that Amtrak’s expectations
By fostering
communication among
crews, passengers and
management, we focus our
efforts on factors we can
control.
Service trains between Albany and
Niagara Falls, a joint effort among
Hubbard and a team comprised of the
Foreman, Trainmaster and American
Railway and Airway Supervisors
Association (ARASA) Supervisor, led
to a new strategy to improve the CSI
scores. As a result, even though the
Albany-Niagara Falls-Toronto customers’ score for OTP dropped 14 points
FY13
Albany-Niagara Falls-Toronto
Q1
Q2
Q3
FY14
Q4
Q1
Q2
yearover-year
change
Q1
Q2
Overall CSI
85%
82%
84%
76%
89%
82%
4
0
Overall experience in Café/Lounge car
71%
66%
74%
69%
78%
68%
7
2
Value of Amtrak service for price paid
82%
79%
82%
75%
86%
80%
4
1
On-time performance
72%
75%
72%
55%
76%
61%
4
-14
Information given on problem/delay
70%
70%
73%
66%
82%
74%
12
4
Friendliness/helpfulness of train Conductor
87%
82%
88%
83%
93%
85%
6
3
Friendliness/helpfulness of Café car personnel
89%
79%
85%
83%
88%
83%
-1
4
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July 2014
Amtrak Ink
since last year, the overall CSI score
held steady at 82 percent.
The CSI report for this route has
shown a higher score due to improvements in information given about
delays, as well as on-board friendliness
and helpfulness of the conductors and
Café car personnel, making the low
score from OTP less impactful on the
overall score.
The team meets to review their
CSI reports every quarter and
pinpoints issues and room for improvement. Based on this review, they then
prepare job reports so that the information doesn’t stay in those meetings,
but instead gets to the employees who
can take action and make a positive
impact on the scores.
According to Hubbard, the team
keeps the employees informed of the
impact made and they take pride in
that. “We talk to our employees all
the time. We give them feedback and
they also give us feedback and we all
embrace it,” Hubbard said.
“Everyone is aware that the scores
reflect what the passengers think of
our service and that the scores are tied
into our customer service goal,” Rauch
said. The Amtrak Customer Focus goal
aims to acquire and retain the most
satisfied customers of any travel company in the world. CSI is one of the
performance measures for this goal.
Employees are encouraged to
learn more about CSI and how to
support each other to keep improving
ratings and reach the goal. More information about CSI can be found on the
company Intranet on the homepage>
Tools and Performance Information. n
(Opposite Page) Maple Leaf on the
Whirlpool Rapids Bridge. Photo courtesy of
Ed Courtermanch.
Amtrak Ink
July 2014
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13
Employee Q&A
Amtrak Employee Helps Commemorate
D-Day’s 70th Anniversary
A
mtrak Ink had a chance to speak
with employee Michael Albanese
about the opportunity he had to
travel to Normandy to help with the
commemoration ceremonies for the 70th
anniversary of the D-Day invasion. On
June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied
troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of
heavily-fortified French coastline to fight
Nazi Germany.
Why did you go to Europe and
Normandy this past May?
I was invited with nine other
members of my Air Force Reserve unit
to participate in setting up for the 70th
Anniversary Ceremony of D-Day. We
are a civil engineer unit located out of
March Air Reserve Base in Moreno
Valley, California. We participated in
the construction of flooring for many
of the separate ceremonies. The ceremonies took place during a four-day
period. We also built ramps the veterans
accessed. We helped with the design
and stacking out the helicopter landing
pads for the Omaha Cemetery and built
additional floors at St. Mere Iglise Air
Drop and several other locations.
How long have you been an
Amtrak employee and can you tell
us a little bit about your career?
I have been an Engineering
employee with Amtrak for 34 years.
I began my career on the Northeast
Corridor as a maintenance of way
repairman with the Track Laying
System (TLS) and particularly the
track laying machine. It was quite an
experience and provided me a good
basis for my railroad experience. I held
various positions: foreman, equipment
engineer and project engineer on many
different gangs attached to the TLS.
I then took a position at 30th Street
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Amtrak Ink
(SANDAG) projects along the Pacific
Surfliner Corridor and particularly the
North County Transit Corridor. I am
presently the lead for the design and
construction of the Seattle King Street
Station platform and track improvement project.
Michael Albanese
Station as an I & C Engineer where I
had the opportunity to work with the
construction companies and vendors
wanting to work on Amtrak property.
I then moved west and took a position
as an engineer of track and structures
out of Oakland, California where I
was the only engineering employee
in Northern California maintaining
the stations and the Oakland maintenance yard. From there, I held various
positions in our Los Angeles office.
I was responsible for American with
Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements
to the stations on all three California
corridors—Capitol, San Joaquin and
Pacific Surfliner.
What is your current role now at
Amtrak?
I am currently senior director
of projects located in Oceanside,
California. I recently completed a
double track project that included
several grade crossing improvements,
retaining walls and a 110-foot span
bridge over the Ague Hediando
Lagoon. We also spent four years
inspecting the track work for San
Diego Association of Governments
What is the significance of this trip
for you?
After 31 years in the Air Force as
an active member and as a reservist,
this trip to Normandy has been the
most memorable and the most humbling tour of duty I ever experienced.
To meet and talk with these amazing
men that stormed the beaches and
dropped from the planes and risked
their lives without questioning at such
an early age was just an overwhelming experience. I admired each and
every one I met and couldn’t thank
them enough for their service, which
I hope helped lead the way and set
the example for our young service
members today.
How many veterans from D-Day,
did you meet?
There are over 400 veterans still
alive from D-Day and I was able to
meet and talk with seven of them. It
was a very humbling and emotional
experience. It was not an easy task
since these men are held in very high
honor in France, and trying to get near
them was daunting at times. These are
the men that participated in liberating
France from German occupation. It was
wonderful to see the smiles and appreciation they were receiving.
What was your impression of such
a historical location?
I do not believe that we as a
nation understand the magnitude of
Employee Q&A
Operation Overlord and of the preparation, training and overall assault that
was executed on the beaches and skies
over France. We would hear about it
and watch a movie or two and many
would read about it, but to be at these
locations, walk the sites and see how
they have been preserved and memorialized was fulfilling. While in uniform,
it was extremely difficult to walk
down a street without being stopped
for a picture as parents wanted their
children’s picture with American
servicemen. From June 4–9 the entire
area of Normandy was overcome by
WWII cars, trucks, tanks, jeeps, motorcycles that have been restored and are
brought to the nearby towns for show
and participation in the ceremonies.
Many of the French dress in WWII
attire and uniforms as well. It was an
amazing experience.
How is your service to our country
a part of your life?
I signed up for the Air Force at 17
and left for boot camp two weeks after
my 18th birthday. I served four years
active duty, spending one-third of that
time in Europe. I had an eight-year
break in service and then missed it
so badly I had to go back in and have
been a member of the Armed Forces
ever since. It takes up two weeks a
year, two weekends a month and many
evenings trying to keep up with the
training demand that is pushed onto
the reservists these days. It has been a
major part of my life and I would not
change one part of it. I love the Air
Force and my country and have been
fortunate enough over the course of
my career to see many parts of the
world: many impoverished, some war
torn, but no matter where I go there is
no place that compares to the United
States of America.
Why do you think it is important
for Amtrak employees to know this
part of history and also salute our
veterans?
As a company and as a people we
should always embrace our veterans.
These men and women from WWII,
Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan
and other wars, all need to know how
much we support them and how we
appreciate the sacrifices that they
have made. We, as Amtrak employees,
may work weekends and holidays, but
we can go home at night or the next
day. All of those who have fought for
our country, have been or are away
from home, in harm’s way, risking
their lives as they defend our country
cannot. They are missing those holidays, weekends with family, birthdays,
births and other milestones. We as a
nation can’t thank them enough. The
men that I met in Normandy hit those
beaches and dropped from the planes
knowing what they were going into.
One of the veterans that I spoke with
was asked what his most memorable
battle was. He paused and said, “Let
me think, the first, the second, hmmm,
the third, the fourth…you know what?
Every one that I survived was memorable.” Hearing him say that put a
lump in my throat.
What message do you want
to share with the younger
generations?
It has been an honor to serve my
country for 30 years. I hope to see
more young men and women engaged
and serving our country without question. The experience is invaluable, the
training is knowledge, the memories
are forever.
Anything else that you would like
to share with Amtrak Ink readers
about your experience?
I would like to take a moment
here and recognize all the members
of our Armed Forces that are part of
the Amtrak family. Thank you for your
service.
I need to share an engraving found
at the National Cemetery at Omaha
Beach where 9,387 servicemen are
buried.
“YOU CAN MANUFACTURE
WEAPONS
AND YOU CAN PURCHASE
AMMUNITION
BUT YOU CAN’T BUY VALOR
AND YOU CAN’T PULL HEROES OFF
AN ASSEMBLY LINE”
Normandy American Cemetery
—Sergeant John B. Ellery
U.S. 1st Infantry Division n
Amtrak Ink
July 2014
|
15
Community
A Wish Comes True for One of Our Youngest Fans
J
onathan Dockins, an 8-year-old
from Missouri, wished to ride
as a California Zephyr engineer
and guide the train over the Donner
Pass. On June 20, 2014, Amtrak, in
partnership with the Make-A-Wish
Foundation (Northeastern California
and Northern Nevada chapter of
Make-A-Wish and Make-A-Wish
Missouri), West Coast Railroaders
Group and the Virginia & Truckee
Railroad made his wish come true.
Jon Jon, as he prefers to be called,
was born with a congenital heart
defect called DORV or Double Right
Ventricle with pulmonary stenosis.
Amtrak Engineer Ken Marty and Jon Jon
16
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July 2014
Amtrak Ink
He has had 10 surgeries and as his
heart continues to grow, he’ll need
to have additional heart surgeries.
When he was asked by volunteers
with Make-A-Wish® Missouri what
was his one true wish, Jon Jon said
he wished to ride in the cab of a train
through Donner Pass, near Lake
Tahoe, California. Despite all of the
challenges he has faced, Jon Jon has a
zeal for life and a passion for trains. “I
want to work with trains and share my
love of trains and teach people about
them because trains are useful, more
useful than cars,” said Jon Jon.
According to his mother, everyone
who knows him knows of Jon Jon’s
love of trains and this wish not only
helped Jon Jon but also his family.
“This was our first vacation and it
was amazing for the family. We have
memories and relationships to help us
over the next hill. We will definitely
ride Amtrak on our next vacation,”
said Dee Dee Dockins. “The Amtrak
crew was amazing. Everyone took
extra steps to make this something
so incredible for Jon Jon. They represented our goals to the fullest. We were
amazed by the dedication of all the
employees.”
Amtrak employees were instrumental in granting this wish. “On
behalf of the entire Amtrak family, I
want to welcome you and your family
as you embark on your great adventure onboard the California Zephyr
over the Donner Pass. Although I can’t
be there in person, I am extremely
excited about your trip and that your
wish is about to come true,” read a letter to Jon Jon from Amtrak President
and CEO Joe Boardman.
“Everybody from the Oakland
and Sacramento crew bases stepped
up and came up to help,” said Amtrak
Make-a-Wish recipient Jon Jon
Engineer Ken Marty. “For everyone
who was there, we all came away
understanding that life is very precious
and fragile and we need to enjoy every
day that we have. Our worst day on
the railroad is nothing compared with
what this child and his family are going
through.”
Marty, who is based in Oakland,
California and works the San Joaquin
service, was the catalyst for granting
the wish to Jon Jon. He, with the help
of other Amtrak leaders, made the
request and helped with the logistics
to make the wish a reality. According
to Marty, Tom Gray, general manager
of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad
was also instrumental in granting
this wish. Also among the many
Amtrak employees who helped were:
Matt Klink, Steve Ceballos, Robert
Ward, Matt Phalen, Jason Loger, Phil
Gosney, Vernae Graham and Doug
Jensen.
Community
Jon Jon and his parents Dee Dee and Jamey
Dockins
Jon Jon arrived at the Sacramento
Amtrak station for a send-off party
with many well-wishers. He had the
rare privilege of sitting in the engineer’s seat while traveling through
Donner Pass making his way to Reno.
He was escorted by Amtrak Engineer
Matt Klink on Train #6.
He arrived in Reno and was welcomed by a crowd of Make-A-Wish
volunteers and others from the local
community. He and his family were
then escorted to Virginia City, Nevada.
“It was the best trip I’ve ever had. It
was a trip of a lifetime,” said Jon Jon
Marty’s son and Jon Jon spent
some time together after the Zephyr
ride. “One of the best parts of the
experience was to see Jon Jon just
being a kid. My son was there during
the trip and it was amazing to see two
kids who like trains. He was just a normal child during that weekend,” said
Marty.
“I was honored to do it. I never
imagined that it would be this successful. I am a proud employee and
it is moments like this that make me
very proud to work for a company like
Amtrak,” said Marty.
Amtrak employees and anyone
who would like to help and learn more
about Make-A-Wish, can visit www.
wish.org. n
Jon Jon with Amtrak Engineer Matt Klink
Amtrak engineer for a day, Jon Jon
Amtrak Ink
July 2014
|
17
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
30-Year
Anniversary
MORRIS, JANICE
Sacramento, Calif.
Station
BONITZ, MARK
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
TRIPOLI, GERALD
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
BONDS, ROBERT
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
ADAMS, JANICE
New York Penn Station
PETERS, JOEL
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
CONNELLY, KENNETH
Brighton Park, Ill.
Facility
WATSON, DENNIS
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
BOOR, BRADLEY
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
PHAIR, DONALD
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
DEVINE, PAUL
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
WONG, ALICE
Los Angeles Offices
BORRUSO, JOSEPH
New York City Office
PRING, GALE
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation & Sales
Office
DOLSAY, MARTHA
Transportation Bldg.
Washington, D.C.
YOUNG, GARY
Shelby, Mont. Crew
Base
CLAUSON, MICHAEL
Chicago Offices
May 2014
ADAMS, KEVIN
New York Penn Station
BURLIC, DRAGICA
Los Angeles
Commissary
CHAMBERS, LAVERNE
New York Penn Station
CHAPLIN,
CHRISTOPHER
New York Penn Station
RIVERS, DONALD
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
EVERETT, DUBOIS
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
RODRIGUEZ, YVETTE
New York Penn Station
FALCONE, STEPHEN
New Orleans
Maintenance Facility
DAVIS, PAMELA
Los Angeles Offices
RUSSOM, MARK
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
FULLER, GENE
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
GALLAGHER, JUDI
Riverside Reservation
& Sales Office
SIWIEC, MICHAEL
New York Penn Station
HUNTE, KEITH
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
TATUM-SEALEY,
NORITA
Raymond Plaza West
Newark, N.J.
JOHNSON-DEMPSEY,
CYNTHIA
Los Angeles Offices
CUFLEY, LAWRENCE
Seattle King St. Station
GUNPAT, JOANNIE
Miami Station
HADEL, JOSEPH
New York Penn Station
JONES, ALFRED
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
TEMPLE, DARLENE
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation & Sales
Office
KENT, DARRYL
Chicago Crew Base
WALLS, JEROME
Chicago Union Station
LACOUR, MAURICE
Los Angeles Offices
WEMMITT, JOHN
Southampton St. Yard
Boston, Mass.
LANGENBACH, ERIC
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
LIM, THOMAS
Los Angeles Offices
MCFARLAND,
THOMAS
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
MILAZZO, ANTHONY
Sanford, Fla. Station
MILBURN, TOD
Midway Tower
Monmouth Junction,
N.J.
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July 2014
WHITAKER, MARVIN
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
WILLIAMS, FRANCES
Transportation Bldg.
Washington, D.C.
KLEPPE, ROBERT
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
KRAFT, MARK
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
40-Year
Anniversary
May 2014
DELGADO, VINCENT
Albuquerque Station
GLASERUD, ROBERT
Modesto, Calif. Station
KARHOFF, BRIAN
Jackson, Mich. Station
LECH, DONALD
New Haven, Conn.
Station
LENOIR, HENRY
Chicago Crew Base
LEONARDO, STEPHEN
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Station
DALGLIESH, JOHN
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation & Sales
Office
DAVIS, DONALD
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
DEAN, KEITH
Chicago Union Station
DENNEHY, THOMAS
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
EMOND, PHILIP
Providence, R.I. MOW
Base
LAM, WILLIAM
Miami Station
YOUNG, WILLIAM
Pittsburgh Station
ETHERIDGE, MARILYN
CNOC
LUCK, RICK
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
Retirees
FISCHER, JEFFREY
MOW Base
Hamden, Conn.
MARTINEZ, HERMAN
Chicago Crew Base
MCCRARY, AMELIA
Chicago Crew Base
May 2014
ALFARO, WILFREDO
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
BANKS, JAMES
Transportation Bldg.
Washington, D.C.
May 2014
PAUGH, GARY
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Station
BIEHL, OLEN
Hunter Yard
Newark, N.J.
ADAMS, RICKY
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
SIMS, GERALD
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
BLASIO, RICHARD
Boston South Station
STANDIFER, JAMES
Los Angeles Offices
Amtrak Ink
COOK, ROBERT
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation & Sales
Office
PERRY, DANIEL
Boston South Station
MIMS, TYREE
New York Penn Station
35-Year
Anniversary
COLLESIDES, KEITH
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
BLEVINS, MERLIN
Havre, Mont. Station
FRAZIER, MICHAEL
Metrolink San Dimas,
Calif. Management
GALICIA, MARIO
Chicago Crew Base
GESNER, ALBERT
Wilmington Shops
HANNAH, WILLIAM
C&S Construction
Linden, N.J.
HARVEY, GLENN
Metrolink San
Bernadino, Calif. Crew
Base
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
HEATH, ROBERT
Chicago Crew Base
HUME, KEVIN
New York Penn Station
JACKSON, KEN
Seattle Transportation
Bldg.
JONES, RODERICK
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
JORDAN, WALTER
Los Angeles Offices
KATT, GERARD
New York Penn Station
KEOGH, PATRICK
Sanford, Fla. Station
KRYWY, JOHN
NW Base
North Brunswick, N.J.
LEIST, NANCY
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
SAMOYA, MICHAEL
Seattle Mechanical
Yard
20-Year
Anniversary
SAMSON, ROGER
Southampton St. Yard
Boston, Mass.
ACCIAVATTI, PETER
Boston South Station
SHAH, ASHWIN
C&S Construction
Linden, N.J.
SHANKS, GALE
New York Division
Headquarters
SOCHRIN, STUART
D.C. Coach Yard
SPACCAFERRO,
VINCENZO
Chicago Mechanical &
Terminal Offices
STEIN, DALE
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
LENOIR, HENRY
Chicago Crew Base
STINSON, MARTIN
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility
Washington, D.C.
LITT, CAROLYN
Riverside Reservation
& Sales Office
SWAN, RONALD
Southampton St. Yard
Boston, Mass.
MATHEWS, DOUGLAS
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
THORNLEY, ROBERT
Denver, Colo. Station
MATHEWS, PATRICIA
Old Saybrook, Conn.
Station
TIERNEY, DIANA
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation & Sales
Office
June 2014
ALFRED, GREGORY
Seattle King St. Station
ANDERSON, LINDA
REA Building
Washington, DC
ASHLEY, MICHELLE
Meridian, Miss. Station
BLACKWOOD,
HOWARD
Boston South Station
MEGRABYAN,
ARMEN
Los Angeles Offices
O’NEIL-SIMONE,
MARGARET
Southampton St. Yard
Boston, Mass.
RED-BADGER, LINTY
Meridian Miss. Station
BUTLER, MARTIN
Boston South Station
STEELE, THOMAS
Wilmington, Del.
Shops
CRUMPLER, EDWARD
Bear Car Shop
Bear, Del.
DICKERSON, JUDITH
Boston South Station
FLEMING, SHAWN
Trenton, N.J. Station
GOREE, DIONNE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
GOUSGOULAS,
PATRICIA
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
VAUGHN, PHINES
Jackson, Mich. Station
HARRIS, MICHAEL
Portland, Ore. Station
ONDECK, JOHN
D.C. Coach Yard
VOLKAR, FRANK
New York Penn Station
HARRIS, SUE
Portland, Ore. Station
PAIGE, TYRONE
Transportation Bldg.
Washington, D.C.
WALTERS, FORREST
New Orleans
Maintenance Facility
HODGE, VINCENT
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
RAY, SARAH
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
YORBA, MILTON
Los Angeles Offices
HOWARD, MOYSE
Oakland, Calif. Station
ZOLPER, PAUL
Chicago Union Station
JOHNSON, MICHAEL
Los Angeles Offices
RODRIGUEZ, EFRAIN
San Diego Station &
Mechanical
LAND, JEROME
New Orleans Station
BRYANT, WILLIE
Los Angeles Offices
GUZMANMONCADA, LUZ
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
NEEB, PETER
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
LAFFERTY, DARRYL
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
STANCIL, VERNON
Raleigh, N.C. Station
VANDERGRIFT,
JANICE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
MCCLEARY, ROBERT
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
KYERE, CHARLES
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
WALSH, KEVIN
Boston South Station
WESLEY, DIANA
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
WHITAKER, MARVIN
Metrolink Riverside
Crew Base
CHRISTMAS,
CARLEEN
Quad Ave. M/W Base
Baltimore, Md.
CLAESON, KEVIN
N.Y. Division
Headquarters
DOCTEUR, ANGELOT
Butler Bldg.
Washington, D.C.
DOLORES, GILBERT
Tampa, Fla. Station
EVERETT, JAMES
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
FALZONE, DOMINICK
Los Angeles
Commissary
GRIFFIN, BRIAN
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation & Sales
Office
GRUBBS, DONALD
Los Angeles Offices
HATCHER, FREDERICK
Washington Union
Station
HOLMES, SHARON
New York Penn Station
ZIEGLER, JOSEPH
Auto Train Lorton, Va.
Station
HUBBARD, KETHIA
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation & Sales
Office
25-Year
Anniversary
HUNTER, JEFFERY
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
June 2014
ALPERN, ADAM
Washington Union
Station
CAREW, VICTORIA
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation & Sales
Office
CARNEVALE,
THOMAS
Boston South Station
CAUDILL, KEITH
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
Amtrak Ink
JEAN-CLAUDE,
ALEMAN
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility
KENISTON, DOUGLAS
Seattle Mechanical
Yard
KING, AUDREY
Washington Union
Station
(Note: the 25-Year
Anniversary, June 2014,
list will be continued in
the August issue)
July 2014
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19
60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
To change your address, sign onto the Employee Information
Portal or complete an NRPC 2001 form and submit according to
the directions.
In Amtrak
History
JULY 16, 1983
On this day, the California Zephyr
was rerouted through Colorado’s
Rocky Mountains between Denver
and Salt Lake City over the Denver
& Rio Grande Western Railroad.
Today, the Zephyr runs daily between
Chicago and the San Francisco Bay
Area, coursing through the plains
of Nebraska to Denver, across the
Rockies to Salt Lake City, and then
through Reno and Sacramento into
Emeryville/San Francisco.