Patriot Rail’s Blue Ridge Scenic Railway (BRSR) on July 26 renamed its depot in honor of John E. Fenton, celebrating his contributions to the transformation of the scenic operation in Georgia and to the Patriot Rail nationwide network of more than 30 Class II and Class III railroads. Fenton retired earlier this month as CEO after 12 years of service; Brandy D. Christian, former Port of New Orleans President and CEO and New Orleans Public Belt Railroad CEO, has taken the throttle.
Fenton, who was selected by Railway Age readers as one of 10 Most Influential Leaders in 2020, has 40-plus years of experience in the railroad industry. During his tenure at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Patriot Rail, the company expanded to 31 small roads in 24 states. Fenton served previously as CEO of Metrolink, a regional/commuter rail agency in California, where he played a pivotal role in leading the national implementation of the first Positive Train Control (PTC) system mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Among his other roles: President and CEO of OmniTRAX and senior-level positions at Waste Management Inc., including Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Service Design. Earlier in his career, Fenton held leadership positions at CN, Kansas City Southern (now part of Canadian Pacific Kansas City), and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF). A military veteran with service in the United States Navy, Fenton began his railroad career in 1982 as a management trainee with Missouri Pacific Railroad, which later merged with Union Pacific. In 2013, Fenton was appointed by then U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to sit on the National Freight Advisory Committee to assist in the development of U.S. transportation policy.
“Fenton has been a true leader in safety with a passion for passenger rail,” Igneo Infrastructure Partners-backed Patriot Rail reported. “Under Fenton’s visionary leadership, the [Blue Ridge Scenic] Railway has flourished, offering passengers an unforgettable journey through the breathtaking landscapes of the north Georgia mountains.” Since Patriot Rail assumed BRSR operations in 2015, the scenic railroad has hosted more than 100,000 riders annually, and last summer, debuted rail bike tours.
“We are proud to honor John Fenton today [July 26] and recognize his outstanding contributions to our company and the entire railroad industry,” Patriot Rail Chief Financial Officer Matt Nelson said during the depot-renaming event, which was attended by close friends and family and key members of the Patriot Rail team. “His dedication to safety, innovation, and creating an exceptional passenger experience has set the standard for our organization.”
John Fenton said it was “a tremendous honor” to have the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Station renamed as the Fenton Station. “This dedication is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Patriot Rail Team,” he said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this incredible journey and to work with such exceptional railroaders.”
In related developments, Patriot Rail last summer assumed ownership and operations of the Hobo Railroad (now called the Granite State Scenic Railway) and the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, located in Lincoln, N.H., and Meredith, N.H., respectively; and in December 2023 expanded its integrated freight services capabilities with the assumption of ownership and operations of Hydra Distribution & Rail Services and Hydra Transport.
