The August Dispatch 2023

Agawa Tour Train Starts Second Season

It’s tour time again. With a year under their belts, lessons learned, and improvements to the experience, the team at Agawa Canyon Railroad is ready to welcome visitors for their second season of tour train rides.

The tour season starts August 3 and runs Thursday through Sunday for the rest of the month. From September until October 15, the train runs every day of the week. The tour train departs Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, at 8 a.m. and winds its way north for more than 100 miles to Agawa Canyon Park. The 10-hour round-trip ride travels through untouched Canadian wilderness and crosses the 130-foot high Montreal River Bridge before arriving at the park. There, passengers have 90 minutes to explore the park’s multiple scenic waterfalls, trails, overlooks, and the banks of the Agawa River before re-boarding the train and returning to Sault Ste. Marie.

“We learned a lot last year, and we’re excited to offer even more this season,” said Lindsay Ambeault, tour train supervisor. “It’s just an amazing experience. Everyone should do it at least once.”

If the train ride itself isn’t enough to excite passengers, the team’s got a few new tricks up their sleeves for this season. The first is a new catering partner, Giovanni’s. This local establishment will provide breakfast and lunch options prepared in the kitchen car, as well as a variety of drinks and snacks.

Next, the team is introducing theme rides. Certain days throughout the season will be dedicated to a cause. They’re already planning on an arts ride, a rainbow train, and a charity day. These rides will feature live entertainment and other activities.

Finally, the team’s added a gift shop to the depot and began modernizing some of the passenger cars, including new seats and flooring to make the ride more comfortable.

To book your tickets and learn more, visit agawatrain.com. You can get the more recent updates and news on the Facebook page @AgawaTourTrain.

A Good Dude with a Good Heart

He’s the first person to clean up around the workplace or volunteer for an extra shift, plus he’s not the type to complain or say anything negative. That’s just a glimpse of the good you’ll find in Mike Moore, according to his coworker Rob Sohmer.

“We know about him,” said Sohmer, the “we” being he and others working at Watco’s Cincinnati Marine Terminal in Ohio. “But it’s time somebody else does.”

Sohmer and Moore have worked together on the Ohio River for 10 years. “What we do here is we unload barges. I’m the crane operator; he’s the skid-steer operator down in the barge pushing salt.” Sohmer said that while Moore is waiting until it’s time to go into the barge hull, he takes the initiative to break up driftwood that tends to pile up around the barges. He does so using a 30-foot spike pole. The lengthy tool is hard to maneuver, but Moore will “be out there sweating…trying to free up logs. That’s just the kind of guy he is.”

He’s also the kind of guy who’d drive to Sohmer’s house on his day off to lend a hand with firewood. The two used a log-splitter on two trees about 60 and 75 feet tall. Says Sohmer: “He’s a really good dude. We live about an hour apart, but he was there. He helped me stack firewood all day long. He never complained.”

Sohmer calls Moore’s work ethic second to none. And it appears that Moore also might score highly when it comes to animal welfare. Every spring for nearly 10 years, a pair of Canadian geese has nested in the hull of an empty barge at the terminal. What must look to the parents like attractive lodging comes with a sad consequence: Their goslings become trapped with no way to forage, unable to climb the steep sides of the hull and too young to fly. Moore tries every year to get past the aggressive, protective parents to rescue the baby geese before their inevitable starvation. “He’s never been successful but tosses bread to them to try to draw them out.”

Sohmer sums up Moore’s approach to his work and his friends, feathered or human.

“He’s got a good heart. He just tries to do good.”

28th Annual Short Line Railroad Liability Conference

Watco recently hosted the 28th Annual Short Line Railroad Liability Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Throughout this two-day event, attendees came together to discuss current railroad industry topics.

Ringing in 40 Years of Business

Forty years in business calls for a celebration. And that’s just what Watco teams are doing this summer. Teammates are coming together for barbecues, picnics, and more, in honor of Watco’s anniversary. Check out how teams have marked this company milestone.

Is your team hosting a celebration? Send us your photos at photos@watco.com

Watco Adds Extra Incentive to 401(k) Program

Want a chance to win a Yeti cooler and earn free money toward your retirement? That’s exactly what Watco’s 401(k) program and participation contest allows team members to do.

Through our partner, BOK Financial, Watco matches 50% of all team member contributions into their 401(k) retirement fund, up to 10% of each paycheck.

“That free money is something you can’t pass up,” said Gunnar Gronberg, senior accountant. “There was no hesitation for me. Someday, I want to retire, but it’s no easy task. But using Watco’s 401(k) account to set aside that money keeps you accountable and helps you stay on track.”

Now, the Benefits team is adding extra incentives. From the beginning of August through September 30, team members can earn entries to win one of three Yeti coolers by participating in 401(k)-related activities. The contest is open to current users and those looking to sign up for the first time. Team members can earn entries by completing the following:

• Register online with BOK at startright.bokf.com

• Increase their contribution by 1% or more, or if contributing a flat dollar amount, increase their contribution by $10 or more.

• Enroll in 401(k) auto-escalation

• Attend a live 401(k) educational webinar (dates and times announced soon)

• Complete BOK Financial Wellness modules in Watco U

• Add or update your beneficiary with BOK

Each item completed earns you one entry into the contest.

James Trammell, an operator at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, says just taking that first step is most important. He enrolled in Watco’s plan as soon as the company acquired his terminal.

“You don’t always have the self-discipline to put aside that money yourself,” Trammel said. “Everyone should try to contribute to a 401(k), as much as they can afford. Any amount that you can do is a good thing. It all adds up. I wish I’d been doing this a lot longer. The sooner you start the better off you’ll be in the long run.”

Watch your email and text messages from the Watco Benefits team for more information about the contest and 401(k) information.

From Depths of Pandemic, Safety Checklists Emerge

A sales manager in Michigan who was new to Watco wanted to make a meaningful connection with her railroad customers. But the COVID-19 pandemic was preventing the type of face-to-face meetings she would’ve pursued under normal circumstances.

Peggy Emeis arrived at Watco in August of 2020. Emeis sought the advice of the trainmasters and roadmasters at the Grand Elk (GDLK) and Ann Arbor (AA) railroads for connecting with customers on the two short lines during the pandemic. She wanted something beyond a superficial phone call and “something that was common ground for everybody.”

And that something was safety.

“I got with our operations and MOW teams and said, ‘What are important safety things we should talk to our customers about?’” She brainstormed with AA Roadmaster Steve Ayala and GDLK Roadmaster Joe Grupczynski.

Over time, two checklists evolved – one for spring-summer and one for fall-winter – that railroad customers could follow to prepare for seasonal safety challenges brought on by weather.

As for delivering the lists, Emeis set up in-person, outdoor, socially distanced meetings during COVID to meet her customers and share the checklists with them.

Today, the meetings to discuss and distribute the lists are still occurring outside, twice a year. Ayala, Grupczynski, trainmasters, or the railroad

general managers typically attend with Emeis, and customers often involve their safety or maintenance personnel. “The goal,” Emeis says, “is to build relationships with our customers and keep everyone safe.”

Emeis says customers have found the lists to be very informative. Both lists have guidance on inspecting and cleaning gutters, drains, switches and more, and they address things like trackside debris and vegetation removal. Each list has season-specific tips for what customers can do to make property safe after a storm.

The lists recently have been formalized, and other railroad customers can use them. Watco railroad teams interested in seasonal safety checklists for their customers can message marketing@watco.com.

Team Member Anniversaries

1 Year:

Alain Achandung, Nathaniel

Acliese, Jose Andrade, Jozef

Araujo, Javier Argumedo, Mary Bardsley, Katherine Barnow, Brandt Bean, Andrew Beard, Devin Bennett, Mark Bigelow, Joshua Bowling, Jason Brackin, Dandre Brown, Caleb Carr, Jonas

Charles, Heath Chischilly, Daniel

Coggins, Garrett Crozier, Tyson

Cudjo, Gary Curmode, Jace Curry, Kelli Cuthbertson, David Delgado, Derick Dodd, Wyatt Emond, Kyle English, Tyler Eudaly, David Evans, William Everett, Joseph Frazier, Jose Garcia, Mario Garcia, Bobby

Garmon, Dillen Goetzinger, Ashten Gokey, Luis Gonzalez, Maximiliano Guerra, Michael

Gwinn, Jonathon Hall, Michael

Hanna, Braxton Harless, Brittany

Hoeft, Sabu Joseph, Katelyn

Kennedy, Francisco Lara, Christopher Loven, Kevin Lowe, Aaron Malone, Collin Maxey, Heather McGough, Kathlyn

Mejia, Timothy Mireles, Ezequiel

Morfin Deniz, Zachary Musser, Kory Newberry, William Nielsen, Thomas Norwood, Rodolfo Ortiz, Cole Pattee, Riley Peak, Nathan Pike, Shane Pittendreigh, Adriana Ramirez, Jesus Ramos, Peter Wayne Reardon, Freddie

Roberson, Louis Rollins, Jordan

Schilling, Chris Sholdebrand, Ty

Squier, Nicholas Stiebs, Robert

Topping, George Torres, Cynthia

Veitch, Blake Weisser, Russell

West, Richard Whitson, Maria

Louise Zappala

2 Years:

Lou Almader, Mackenzie

Ammons, Gilbert Anguiano, Christopher Baguley, Liz Basore, Jonathan Belle, Gregory Blaine,

Christopher Bowers, Cole Brown, Chanee Cade, Primitivo Camacho Reyes, Corbin Cash, Luis Chavez, William Craig, Nicole Crosby, Kirk Daniell, Samuel Darby, Anthony Disanto, Nathan Ejnik, Caryn Farris, Tyler Figgins, Jack Fisco, Jonathan Garcia, James Gipson, Aaron Gomez, Brian Harvey, Juan Hernandez Gonzalez, Neal Higginbotham, Jennifer Jenkins, Keith Jenkins, Joshua Kimes, Ryan King, Mariah Kohl, Bradley Korb, Wade Larson, Joshua Livingston, Omar Luna Hernandez, Mary Mac Johnson, Thomas Marra, Stephen Melling, Justina Menjivar-Rodriguez, Susan Mikkelsen, John Mullins, Rae-Lynn Perkins, Esteban Rodriguez Rivera, Carlos Romano, Randall Rowland, Matthew Shaw, Daniel Stephenson, Joy Taylor, Austin Theis, Mark Thomas, Shana Thomas, Michael Towler, Miguel Villalobos, Zachery Wallace, Kedrin Washington

3 Years: Stephanie Augustus, Anthony Brotherton, Cassandra Cade, JaMarian Crawford, Tanner Crissler, Michael Czabotar, Hope Edelman, Peggy Emeis, Ramon Garcia, Dale Gerrard, Joshua Greenhill, Jesus Guerrero, Bradford Hammer, Bradley Hemerik, John Hinni, Francisco Ibarra Rocha, Jose Joya, Andy Lewis, Peter Lloyd, Robert Peacock, LaKesha Peeples, Joseph Pennington, James Potts, Ulises Quinones, Kade Resnik, Christian Reynolds, Mark Saunders, Arno-Claude Schoeman, Jatinder Singh, David Smith, Jose Sorto Fuentes, Ahleah Wages, David Walker,

Justin Warde, Thor Williams, Colton Winegarner, Christopher Wise

4 Years: Jeremy Benson, Richard Cawley, Shawn Clark, Kimberly Dempster, Benjamin Dennis, William Doig, Travis Dyer, Justin Halligan, Jace Hankins, Denis Laren, Richard Mata, Michael Mcdermott, Jonathan McKenzie, Tony Norton, Haley Obonyano, Rebecca

Palacio, Denice Poseley, DaNell

Rasmussen, Nicholas Rockett, Alejo Rodriguez, Joseph Sageser, Jacob Sahagun, Matthew

Sanchez, Tyler Summar, Wayne

Terry, Eloy Torres, Jose Trevino

5 Years: Emily Allen, Joseph

Bellony, Jeffrey Campbell, Mathew Casey, Nicholas Clayton, Thomas Damus, Richard Davis, Joshua Dulak, Ryan Edge, Tariq

Elias, Ike Gourdine, Lateef Griffin, Nicholas Guinn, Latt Hyde, Jeremiah Jackson, Michael Johnson, Melissa Lodahl, Travis Louden, Patrick Meagher, Matthew Nicol, Brian O’Brien, Jared Powell, Sabin Reynolds, Kevin Sanchez, Mary Sikorski, Nicholas Vertein, Sean

Wanamaker, Andy Yague Planes

6 Years: Stephanie Arriola-Suarez, Brandon Carr, Adam Caruthers, Daniel Friend, Jacob Gallun, Timothy Gulbranson, Timothy Hilton, Seth Jankord, Quiones

Jennings, Bart Maransani, Kamal Meawad, Christopher

Miranda, Victor Olivo, Kyle

Pillsworth, Ronald Richey, Ivan Rincon, Scott Smith, Scott

Congratulations to the following team members celebrating August anniversaries:

Team Member Anniversaries

Smith, Rhett Summar, Shane Willoughby, Buckley Wright

7 Years:

Drew Ashbacher, Veronica Carlson, Sidney Coomes, Jeremy Evans, Ryan Girard, Adam Grimm, William Hardy, Travis Henson, Caleb Holland, Joseph Johnston, Alonzo Mason, Floyd McCormack, Jarrett McPherson, Paul Mitchell, Michael Mullins, Jeremy Myer, Rylee Rice, Edward Ripp, Alberto Rosales, Stephen Smith, Justin York

8 Years:

Crystal Arnold, Ana Guzman, Zachary Hammons, Kevin Hoyos, Richard Maillet, Sergio Mohammed, Alejandro Molina, Phillip Morris, Johnny Ortegon, Francis Osterhout, Jason Ratliff, David Saliga, Jamie Van Boxtel, Andrew Williams

9 Years:

Jeffery Crowther, Steven Day, Dillon Frank, Richard Fulton, Judd Gilgen, Ian Gray, Anthony Holcomb, Cody Jensen, Josh Joslin, Katherine Lawson, Jonathan Morefield, Enrique Ortiz, Franky Perez, Barth West

10 Years: Christopher Droddy, Jared Humphrey, David King, Alberto Rodriguez, Brett Woollard

11 Years: Nicholas Bennett, Cindy Davied, James Henry, Chase Manley, Mikayla Widick

12 Years: Tyler Adkison, Jeffrey Ecret, Erik Finnerty, Keith Johnson, Carrie Langston, Paul Leonards, Carl Petersen, Ernesto Sanchez

13 Years: Ryan Dziedzic, William Jones, Nathan Keizer, Alvin Maney, Jason Miron, Seth Peterson, Terry Smallwood, John Staples, David Tackett, Nathan Tobey, Dyllan Vincent, Damien Williams

14 Years: Luis Ferrer, Christopher Hayes

15 Years: Adrian Baldridge, Justin Dempsey, Kurtis Lindsey, Dennis Sawyer

16 Years: Marvin Ayers, Andrew Brown, Kyle Mansfield, Dwight Sayles, Joshua Seefeld, Nathan Tuzicka

17 Years: William Beighey, Maurice Davis, Donnie Gunter, Juan Lozano, Jeffrey Mayfield, Kyle Moody, Matthew Sodergren, Alicia Stimpson, Martin Wellmaker

18 Years: Adam Hanson, Douglas Linscomb, Hector Reyes

19 Years: Sofrona Howard, Jimmy Patterson, Delta Wood

20 Years: Jason Hislop

21 Years: John Binkley, Dave Gromer, Phillip Hedge, Christopher Moore, Albert Olvera

22 Years: Mark Bray, Eugenio Ovalle

23 Years: Charles Stanley

24 Years: James Brooks

26 Years: Brian Collier, Antonio Gonzalez, Timothy Wiseman

27 Years: Doug Kerley, Kevin Krueger

28 Years: Joseph Brown, Charlie Sigley

31 Years: James Boyle, Kenneth Dozier

35 Years: Rodger Isbell, Darryl Marshall

37 Years: Sam Ricci, David Rodriguez

49 Years: Willie McRunnels