CSX
The CSX Sarnia Mechanical Shop in Ontario is celebrating 45 years of injury-free service. The railroad made the announcement via social media and shared a special video of the shop team (watch above).
“Safety for 45 years is a monumental success story,” CSX Senior Mechanical Manager Brad Swint noted in the video. “It takes everyone operating under the ONE CSX mindset. It takes everybody, every department to maintain that goal of working injury free, putting safety first and foremost to get the job done as safe as possible. We’re able to come together as one team to achieve our one goal, which is no one getting hurt.”
That’s what’s special about Sarnia—all the departments work together, added David Tornquist, CSX Mechanical Supervisor.
“Safety means everything to me,” said Brad Parsons, a carman for the Class I. “It’s not hard to be safe at work as long as you follow the rules. What drives me to be safe is going home safe, but also taking pride in the history of the 45 years of injury free here.”
“You always want to work safe,” added Wayne Medcraft, Lead Machinist at CSX. “Making sure that I’m not putting myself in any situation that I’ll get hurt, and I’m inspecting locomotives, so I want to make sure the locomotives are safe for everybody else.”
Summed up Tornquist: “Everybody here is important to serve the customer. You need the track to be right, you need the engine to work, and you need the cars to be safe, and that whole thing put together serves the customer.”
Also, CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine has recognized CSX as one of the 50 top employers for 2025, CSX reported this month. The honor, it said, reflects feedback from readers who named employers they would most like to work for or believe offer a progressive environment for people with disabilities.
“At CSX, we are committed to fostering a workplace that empowers every employee to succeed,” said Michael Burns, CSX Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Executive Sponsor of the CSX Able Business Resource Group (ABLE). “The CSX ABLE Business Resource Group plays a vital role in driving initiatives, education programs, and events for our employees and community partners that enhance accessibility and support for individuals with disabilities. This recognition reflects CSX’s dedication to our employees, customers, and the communities throughout our network.”
According to CSX, ABLE collaborates across departments to help design inclusive programs and improve business practices and company facilities. It also partners with community organizations such as the Special Olympics Florida and the Wounded Warrior Project.
“We understand that achieving meaningful progress relies on continuous engagement and strong partnerships with both our employees and the communities we serve,” said Stephanie Noel, Vice President of Human Resources and Chief People Officer at CSX. “This recognition underscores the value of our efforts and motivates us to keep fostering a culture where every employee feels valued, included, respected, appreciated, and listened to.”
CSX was recently named one of America’s best places to work by the Disability Equality Index® (its sixth consecutive year), and earned a spot on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.”
UP
UP on April 30 will introduce its newest commemorative locomotive: No. 1616. The unit will pay tribute to America’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, who created the railroad with the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and connected the nation through the transcontinental railroad, according to UP, which first shared a rending of the unit on Feb. 17, Presidents’ Day.
No. 1616 is the second presidential locomotive in UP’s Heritage Fleet, joining No. 4141, which was created in 2005 to honor President George H.W. Bush and only the sixth locomotive at the time to be painted in colors other than the traditional UP “Armour Yellow.”
The Lincoln locomotive is now being painted by UP employees. “The paint scheme has the unique colors of Lincoln’s era and serves as a nod to locomotive No. 119, one of the two locomotives present at Promontory Summit, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad, officially uniting the eastern and western parts of the nation,” the railroad reported in February.
This year marks Lincoln’s 216th birthday, and UP said its new heritage unit will serve as a “traveling ambassador” and participate in community events and educational programs that highlight the historic role of railroads in America’s growth and their continued contribution to the country, communities, and economy. Future dates will be announced at UP.com. A limited-edition commemorative poster is available for sale at the UP Store.
