Watco
Safety Anniversaries
July 1 – Coady Transload Terminal (TX) – 1 year
July 1 – Proctor Mobile Repair (WV) – 5 years
July 6 – Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad (ID, WA) – 8 years
July 7 – Timber Rock Railroad (LA, TX) – 2 years
July 14 – Wisconsin Rapids Switching (WI) – 2 years
July 20 – Tioga Dedicated Terminal (ND) – 1 year
July 27 – Texas & New Mexico Railway (NM, TX) – 2 years
Safely Improve Every Day
DID KN W YOU
Watco team members are eligible to receive up to a 12% discount on Dell laptops, monitors, and accessories
Learn more on Watco Insider
Troops2Logistics Benefits from Watco Fundraiser
The results are in! Watco’s Independence Day fundraiser generated $4,852.13 for this year’s beneficiary, Troop2Logistics.
Since 2018, this annual fundraiser has brought in more than $34,000 for military and veteran nonprofits including the USO, Honor Flight Network, and USA Cares.
In addition to this year’s T-shirt, Watco designed and released an Independence Day hat. With your support, we sold 814 shirts and 397 hats.
Last month, team members submitted photos wearing their Independence Day items for a chance to win a $50 Watco Gear gift card. Congratulations to our winner: James Field, a conductor/engineer at the VSOR.
Choosing the Right Care When You Need It
When it comes to healthcare, there are many options to choose from — telehealth, primary and urgent care, and the emergency room.
But which choice is right for you when you need medical care? We break down all the resources Watco makes available to you and your family, and when to use them, below.
First Stop Health
This free service is available to all team members and immediate family members. Connect with a doctor 24/7 on the phone or by video call to get treated for minor illnesses and injuries like a cough, sore throat, infection, skin rash, or muscle pain.
Download the First Stop Health app on the App Store or Google Play. You can also visit First Stop Health’s website or call (888) 691-7867.
Here are some resources for team members and their dependents enrolled in a Watco health plan:
Nurseline
Call (877) 836-0701 to connect with a nurse 24/7. You can expect to receive answers to basic health questions and get suggestions on where to go for care should you need it. This resource is free.
Primary Care
If you don’t already have a primary care physician, now is the perfect time to find one in Watco’s network. Annual health screenings, including a physical, are covered at 100% if you’re enrolled in a Watco health plan.
Experiencing flu-like symptoms, allergies, or a fever are all reasons you should schedule a visit to your primary care provider. An office visit copay costs $25 for those with Watco’s HRA plan, or the cost of the deductible with the HSA plan.
Urgent Care
Visit urgent care when you need treatment right away but aren’t experiencing a medical emergency. Cuts that require stitches, sprains and strains, severe cases of cold or flu, and rashes are commonly treated here.
An urgent care copay costs $50 for those with Watco’s HRA plan, or the cost of the deductible with the HSA plan.
Emergency Room
For life-threatening conditions, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. Symptoms can include sudden chest pain, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, and uncontrolled bleeding.
Under Watco’s HRA plan, an emergency room visit copay is $100, plus the cost of the deductible. For those with the HSA plan, it’s the cost of the deductible.
BenefitFocus is now Benefitplace. Keep up to date on Watco’s health benefits with the Benefitplace app.
Scan the code to download it today.
Look for this icon on Apple’s App Store or Google Play.
FOXY Hosts 62 First Responders for Training
Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System (FOXY) team members in Wisconsin recently helped train first responders for emergencies related to railroad operations.
On June 17, members of the FOXY team and 62 first responders from Wausau and five surrounding towns came to Wausau for training. The group included three members of the Medevac Aspirus Helicopter crew based out of the Wausau downtown airport.
Training began in a classroom, covering topics such as Operation Lifesaver (a non-profit focused on educating the public about safety around railroad tracks), do’s and don’ts when it comes to railroad property, and how to contact the railroad in an emergency. After about 90 minutes, participants went outside to rotate through three stations:
• A locomotive station, led by Kyle Loofboro, FOXY chief mechanical officer, who identified equipment components and associated risks.
• A railcar station, led by Trainmaster Emerson Zentz, whose topics included car components like hand brakes, and securing equipment.
• A catch-all station, led by Matt Koser, manager of safety and training. He discussed such topics as maintaining a safe distance from tracks, crossings, and bungalow/signal system electrical safety.
The Fire Department of Nokomis, about an hour north of Wausau, reached out to gauge interest in a major safety training event, and Koser was the ideal person to ask.
His connection with emergency response began in high school, when he joined his local volunteer fire department. As an adult, he’s volunteered for the Evansville, Wisconsin, fire district, and presently for the Village of Maine, north of Wausau. “So I’ve always had an interest in working with our local emergency responders and helping them gain knowledge that may help them in an emergency situation,” he said. In fact, he first began working with local emergency responders in communities along Watco’s Wisconsin & Southern Railroad more than 15 years ago.
The FOXY provided a meal to close out the training, which Koser concluded was a success. “We got great feedback about the presentation and will definitely be partnering with more local emergency responders in the future.”
See Tracks? Think Train. Get Involved.
Since 2017, Operation Lifesaver (OLI) has held its annual Rail Safety Week the last week of September. This year’s North American public awareness campaign is happening September 23-29 and is now known as “See Tracks? Think Train® Week” or ST3 Week.
The effort seeks to educate the public about safety at railroad grade crossings and trespass prevention. Each day of the week has a different theme aimed at reducing injuries and incidents involving rail.
There are many ways to advocate for rail safety in your communities. The South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (top) held a crossing safety demonstration for young cyclists in Winfield, Kansas. Great Northwest Railroad Trainmaster Bobby Baker, Jr. (bottom) presents at schools and partners with local law enforcement.
This year’s daily themes are:
• Monday, Sept. 23 - #STOPTrackTragedies – Spread the message that the week is starting and partner with government agencies, municipalities, and more to drive awareness.
• Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Operation Clear Track – Railroads and OLI partner with law enforcement and first responders to deliver safety messages in-person to drivers.
• Wednesday, Sept. 25 – Crossing Safety – Educating drivers, farmers, pedestrians, and more about safety at crossings.
• Thursday, Sept. 26 – Transit and Professional Driver Safety – Focusing on helping people safely ride commuter rail and ensuring truckers and other professional drivers make safe decisions near tracks.
• Friday, Sept. 27 – Red Out for Rail Safety – Wear red to support the cause, volunteer, and share the rail safety message with everyone.
• Saturday, Sept. 28 – Trespass Prevention – Messaging for pedestrians, outdoor enthusiasts, and others about trespass hazards and laws.
• Sunday, Sept. 29 – No Photos/Videos on Tracks – Educating photographers and the public about the dangers of shooting near tracks.
In past years, Watco and our team have supported OLI through posts on social media, in-person educational events, and by partnering with local law enforcement. Officer on the Train is a popular event for Watco short lines. A law enforcement officer rides along in a locomotive to watch for drivers not obeying crossing rules. When that happens, the officer radios other nearby officers to stop and warn motorists driving hazardously.
Many Watco short lines have participated over the years, and Ann Arbor Railroad (AA) General Manager Ken Morgan brought the idea with him when he moved from the Eastern Idaho Railroad to the AA.
“Last year’s event was beneficial in multiple ways,” Morgan said. “We had local law enforcement, Ohio Department of Transportation, and OLI all participate with us. We shared safety messages with drivers at some of our most difficult crossings. It also built relationships with those other agencies so they’re aware of the challenges our team faces.”
Many Watco team members are also involved with OLI at a local or state level as volunteers. They visit schools, staff tables at events, and present for special groups as well. Pittsburg, Kansas, team members Joely Gath and Jay Benedict visit elementary schools in the area to teach first-graders about railroad and crossing safety basics. Last year, South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad team members participated in a community event in Winfield, Kansas, where they performed a crossing safety demonstration as part of a youth bike rodeo. Bobby Baker, Great Northwest Railroad trainmaster, was previously an OLI volunteer in Louisiana before continuing this tradition in Idaho and Washington.
“I get a kick out of talking to people about railroading and safety,” Baker said. “I like talking to people and I like railroading. It means a lot to me to be able to educate people about our industry and educate them about how they, and our people, can work together safely.”
There are many ways to get involved. Do you have something planned for this year’s ST3 Week? Let us know! Send images from your event to photos@watco.com. If you’d like to learn more about ST3 Week, how to become a volunteer, or just want to learn more about rail safety, visit oil.org or look for Operation Lifesaver on social media platforms.
Ringneck Recovers After Major Flood
Initial Damage After Repairs
As much as 17 inches of rain fell on parts of South Dakota between June 20 and 22. The deluge caused widespread flooding across the region, significantly impacting much of the Ringneck & Western Railroad’s (RWRR) Chamberlain Subdivision.
After the water receded, the RWRR crew found damage along 55 miles of track. Crossings and culverts were washed away. Entire sections of rail were left suspended where water carried away ballast and ties or carved into the shoulder of the railbed. In total, they located 46 washouts, ranging from 10 to 250 feet, and eight damaged bridges.
Work to restore service began on June 25, and it was an all-hands-on-deck effort.
“Our conductors and engineers really stepped up to the plate,” said Chadd Thimesch, RWRR general manager. “They learned how to run front-end loaders and build track panels. We had divisional engineers, VPs, even SVPs here on the ground slinging ties, helping fill coolers, and making sure we had all the resources we needed. The Eastern Idaho Railroad even sent one of their rotary dump trucks.”
The Watco team and an army of contractors worked nearly around the clock. They sometimes started as early as 3 a.m. to avoid the heat that followed the storms, which caused the already-stressed rail to kink in some places. The efforts paid off. After two weeks of dumping ballast and riprap, replacing ties, culverts, and crossing panels, and making bridge repairs, the RWRR sent two test locomotives from Mitchell to Kimball on July 10. On July 15, they moved their first loads: a 115-car shuttle train the 41 miles from Kimball to Mitchell.
“I was highly impressed with the team up here,” Thimesch said. “Being able to run that test train after just two weeks and then the shuttle a few days later is just a huge win for the team, and they did it all while being diligent and safe.”
They faced challenges along the way and took steps to mitigate damage from future flooding. Quarries were inundated with rock demand and closed for four days to celebrate Independence Day. Many contractors also left for the long weekend. Equipment broke down. Ties and rail were difficult to secure because other railroads in the area were facing similar challenges.
There are areas where the creeks run directly next to the track. When floods come, they eat away at the bank, pulling the ballast and sometimes track into the water. In some places, the base level of the creeks are 20 feet or more below track level. The team drove steel sheeting into the ground and backfilled between it and the rail with dirt, rock, and riprap.
Most of the riprap used on the RWRR is concrete rubble from demolished construction or pavement projects, which contains rebar. This makes it a useful, cost-effective way to reinforce dirt embankments while making use of something that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
There’s still work to be done. While most of the track is restored, it will take until the first week of August to return it to its previous condition or better. The team continues to dump more ballast, tamp, and regulate across the line. As of July 15, nearly 15,000 tons of ballast, 5,000 tons of riprap were laid, and more than 100 pieces of steel sheeting were installed.
“The support from the Watco team has been fantastic,” Thimesch said. “They’ve been making sure we have the resources we need and their advice and expertise was huge. They’ve definitely shown the family aspect of Watco and it makes you proud to be part of team that puts forth the time, effort, and manpower to support each other.”
West Memphis Duo Increases Efficiency
Unique problems require creative solutions, and Port of West Memphis operators Demeko Berry and Danterio Siplin showed they’re the team members you need when facing such a challenge.
Nearly two years ago, the terminal received a 900-ton shipment of bad ammonium sulfate. This tainted the rest of the product it was added to, leaving the terminal with 2,350 tons of defective ammonium sulfate. The product is usually a fine powder-like substance, but this shipment was prone to clumping together. This made most customers wary to buy the product until recently. They agreed to give it a chance, but requested our team run it through a de-lumper to break ammonium sulfate back down into its normal consistency.
Our team loads the product into a hopper using a front-end loader. There’s an agitator in the hopper that breaks apart the clumps. The material then passes through a screen onto the conveyor, which carries the product to the truck on the scale. Normally, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to load a truck, but this product was taking our team two or more hours per truck.
“We tried everything,” said Terminal Manager Nathan Hackey. “We were cleaning off the screen between each truck, cleaning out the entire system sometimes, but we couldn’t get the product to move like it should. It was frustrating for the customer, truck drivers, and our team. It was delaying loading for other customers.”
This went on for weeks. Finally, after one truck took nearly three hours to load, Berry and Siplin had an idea: Fasten strands of stainless-steel cable to the agitator. The added width of the cable made the agitator just thick enough to touch the screen, which helped push the de-lumped product onto the conveyor. Loading times immediately dropped to 15 minutes, with no delay between trucks.
“I know I can count on these guys to step up and come up with ways to help,” Hackey said. “It was a simple solution to a problem we’d had for weeks. It’s a win for everyone. The customer originally purchased 600 tons of the product, but now they’re buying it all. The truck drivers are a lot happier now that they don’t have to wait for hours to load. And it’ll free up space in our warehouse for something new.”
New Arrivals
Miles Edward Macken
Luke and Barb Macken announce the birth of their son, Miles Edward Macken, born on June 3, 2024. Miles weighed 9 pounds and was 23 inches long. His arrival was welcomed by his sister Grace, 8. Barb is the people services manager at the Watco Logistics Warehouse and Operations Center in Springdale, Arkansas.
Jason Liam Everett
William and Cassandra Everett announce the birth of their son, Jason Liam Everett, born on May 8, 2024. Jason weighed 10 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 21½ inches long. William is a track laborer for the Vicksburg Southern Railroad in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Team Member Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following team members celebrating August anniversaries:
1 Year:
Shyanne Beard, Brandon Bell, Clarence Billups, John Brant, Marcus Brookhart, David Carr, Aaron Cavanough, Emma Cavanough, Joshua Cochran, Judson Coleman, Austin Cook, Cade Davis, Derrick Davis, Jevaughn Dean, Ace Eddy, Megan Elam, Charles Elston, Austin Fiveash, Graham Force, Anthony Foules, Gavin Godbold, Evans Gunter, Tyler Haggie, Stephanie Holland, Anthony Hoodlebrink, Stephen Hughes, Aaron Jacobson, Andrew Jagodzinski, Brett Jensen, Jack Kenworthy, Samaira LameBull, Ralph Maitland, Darryl Mark, Joevanie Martinez, Ethan McCann, Shayne Milligan, Kolten Minor, Andres Moreno, Tyson Morris, Antonio Musumeci, Thomas Nicholls, Colin Otto, Brentan Perkins, Michael Rhoads, Isaac Romero, David Rooklin, Israel Rosales, Noe Saavedra, Mario Salazar Nunez, Harley Sebbens, Chris Smithers, Jose Solis, Diandra Stanley, Daryl Stewart, Laquincy Sykes, Lance Thomas, Holly Ann Tillotson, Nicholas Valinski, Ryker Wise, Trevor Womack, Eric Woodcock, Cody Woolsey
2 Years:
Jose Andrade, Jozef Araujo, Mary Bardsley, Katherine Barnow, Andrew Beard, Mark Bigelow, Nathan Bilbrey, Jason Brackin, Jonas Charles, Heath Chischilly, Daniel Coggins, Garrett Crozier, Derick Dodd, David Evans, William Everett, Jose Garcia, Mario Garcia, Bobby Garmon, Dillen Goetzinger, Ashten Gokey, Luis Gonzalez, Maximiliano Guerra, Michael Gwinn, Jonathon Hall,
Michael Hanna, Brittany Hoeft, Sabu Joseph, Katelyn Kennedy, Francisco Lara, Christopher Loven, Kevin Lowe, Aaron Malone, Collin Maxey, Timothy Mireles, Kory Newberry, Thomas Norwood, Rodolfo Ortiz, Riley Peak, Shane Pittendreigh, Adriana Ramirez, Jesus Ramos, Peter Reardon, Freddie Roberson, Louis Rollins, Jordan Schilling, Chris Sholdebrand, Ty Squier, Nicholas Stiebs, Robert Topping, George Torres, Cynthia Veitch, Blake Weisser, Russell West
3 Years:
Lou Almader, Mackenzie Ammons, Gilbert Anguiano, Chris Baguley, Elizabeth Basore, Christopher Bowers, Cole Brown, Chanee Cade, Primitivo Camacho Reyes, Luis Chavez, William Craig, Nicole Crosby, Kirk Daniell, 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, Susan Mikkelsen, John Mullins, Jesse Quinnett, Esteban Rodriguez Rivera, Carlos Romano, Randall Rowland, Matthew Shaw, Daniel Stephenson, Austin Theis, Shana Thomas, Michael Towler, Zachery Wallace, Kedrin Washington
4 Years:
Stephanie Augustus, Cassandra Cade, JaMarian Crawford, Tanner Crissler, Michael Czabotar, Hope
Edelman, Peggy Emeis, Ramon Garcia, Dale Gerrard, Joshua Greenhill, Brad Hammer, John Hinni, Peter Lloyd, Joseph Pennington, James Potts, Ulises Quinones, Kade Resnik, Christian Reynolds, Mark Saunders, Arno Schoeman, David Smith, Jose Sorto Fuentes, Ahleah Wages, David Walker, Justin Warde, Thor Williams, Colton Winegarner, Christopher Wise
5 Years:
Jeremy Benson, Richard Cawley, Shawn Clark, Kimberly Dempster, William Doig, Travis Dyer, Justin Halligan, Jace Hankins, Denis Laren, Michael Mcdermott, Jonathan McKenzie, Tony Norton, Haley Obonyano, Rebecca Palacio, Denice Poseley, DaNell Rasmussen, Nicholas Rockett, Jacob Sahagun, Matthew Sanchez, Tyler Summar, Eloy Torres, Jose Trevino
6 Years:
Emily Allen, Joseph Bellony, Jeffrey Campbell, Nicholas Clayton, Thomas Damus, Richard Davis, Joshua Dulak, Ryan Edge, Tariq Elias, Ike Gourdine, Lateef Griffin, Nicholas Guinn, Latt Hyde, Jeremiah Jackson, Michael Johnson, Travis Louden, Patrick Meagher, Matthew Nicol, Brian O’Brien, Jared Powell, Sabin Reynolds, Kevin Sanchez, Nicholas Vertein, Sean Wanamaker, Andy Yague Planes
7 Years:
Stephanie Arriola-Suarez, Brandon Carr, Adam Caruthers, Daniel Friend, Timothy Gulbranson, Timothy Hilton, Seth Jankord, Barton Maransani, Kamal Meawad, Christopher Miranda,
Team Member Anniversaries
Victor Olivo, Kyle Pillsworth, Ronald Richey, Ivan Rincon, Scott Smith, Scott Smith, Rhett Summar, Shane Willoughby, Buckley Wright
8 Years:
Andrew Ashbacher, Veronica Carlson, Sidney Coomes, Jeremy Evans, Ryan Girard, William Hardy, Travis Henson, Caleb Holland, Joseph Johnston, Alonzo Mason, Floyd McCormack, Jarrett McPherson, Paul Mitchell, Michael Mullins, Rylee Rice, Edward Ripp, Alberto Rosales, Justin York
9 Years:
Crystal Arnold, Ana Guzman, Kevin Hoyos, Richard Maillet, Sergio Mohammed, Phillip Morris, Johnny Ortegon, Francis Osterhout, Jason Ratliff, Jamie Van Boxtel, Andrew Williams
10 Years:
Jeffery Crowther, Steven Day, Dillon Frank, Richard Fulton, Judd Gilgen, Ian Gray, Matthew Hembree, Anthony Holcomb, Cody Jensen, Josh Joslin, Katherine Lawson, Ernest Meisner, Jonathan Morefield, Enrique Ortiz, Barth West
11 Years:
Christopher Droddy, Jared Humphrey, David King, Alberto Rodriguez, Brett Woollard
12 Years:
Nicholas Bennett, Cindy Davied, James Henry, David Love, Chase Manley, David Oemcke, Mikayla Widick
13 Years: Tyler Adkison, Erik Finnerty, Keith Johnson, Paul Leonards, Carrie Mitchell, Ernesto Sanchez
14 Years:
Ryan Dziedzic, William Jones, Nathan Keizer, Alvin Maney, Jason Miron, Seth Peterson, Terry Smallwood, John Staples, David Tackett, Nathan Tobey, Damien Williams
15 Years:
Luis Ferrer, Christopher Hayes
16 Years:
Adrian Baldridge, Justin Dempsey, Kurtis Lindsey, Dennis Sawyer
17 Years:
Marvin Ayers, Andrew Brown, Kyle Mansfield, Dwight Sayles, Joshua Seefeld, Nathan Tuzicka
18 Years:
William Beighey, Maurice Davis, Donnie Gunter, Juan Lozano, Jeffrey Mayfield, Kyle Moody, Alicia Stimpson, Martin Wellmaker
19 Years:
Adam Hanson, Douglas Linscomb, Hector Reyes
20 Years:
Sofrona Howard, Jimmy Patterson, Delta Wood
21 Years: Jason Hislop
22 Years:
John Binkley, Dave Gromer, Phillip Hedge, Christopher Moore, Albert Olvera
23 Years: Mark Bray
24 Years: Charles Stanley
25 Years: James Brooks
27 Years:
Brian Collier, Antonio Gonzalez
28 Years: Kevin Krueger
29 Years:
Joseph Brown, Charles Sigley
32 Years:
James Boyle, Kenneth Dozier
36 Years: Rodger Isbell
37 Years: John Lopez
38 Years: Sam Ricci, David Rodriguez
50 Years: Willie McRunnels
