Fort Worth & Western Railroad Names Schlosser to Succeed George as President and CEO

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 27, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Fort Worth & Western Railroad (FWWR, http://fwwr.net) said today that Steven George will retire in the first quarter of 2011 as president and chief executive officer of the Fort Worth-based 276-mile regional railroad. Succeeding him will be Thomas Schlosser, former chief executive officer of Global Rail Systems, Inc., Marlin, Texas, and chairman of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association from 2007 to 2010.

Mr. George joined FWWR in 2000 as vice president operations planning and support and was promoted to president and CEO in 2007. He will work closely with Mr. Schlosser until the transition is completed.

Mr. Schlosser had been CEO of Global Rail since 2007. The company is a subsidiary of Vossloh-Cogifer and manufactures railway signaling and train control and detection equipment.

Looking back, Steve George said, "Fort Worth & Western Railroad has become a vibrant, growing and profitable company serving the expanding DFW Metroplex. It has been my pleasure to lead the FWWR team as they strive for continuous improvement, becoming the energetic and competent group that makes FWWR a special place to work."

Tom Schlosser noted, "Steve and his team have transformed a six-mile short line into a great railroad. He's done a fantastic job. He's good at what he does and I have great respect for him. I'm looking forward to maintaining and adding to the momentum that Steve has created."

Steve George, railroading for 40 years

Mr. George's railroad career spans 40 years beginning in 1971 with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF), where he held various posts in the Operating department, advancing to assistant vice president operations in 1995. Following the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe merger in 1996, he was assistant vice president customer service before joining the FWWR in 2000.

Schlosser starts rail career in Michigan

Mr. Schlosser began his rail career in 1971 as a locomotive fireman on the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad in Pontiac, Mich. Following service in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Schlosser advanced to trainmaster and operations controller. After the DT&I was acquired by the Grand Trunk Western (now CN) in 1980, Mr. Schlosser was promoted to district manager, director customer support, and general superintendent-transportation at Pontiac, Mich. in 1993.

He joined California Northern Railroad in 1995 as vice president and chief operating officer and was president and chief operating officer of Park Sierra Rail Group (Arizona & California, California Northern, Puget Sound & Pacific railroads) from 1998 until 2002, when the lines were acquired by RailAmerica, Inc. Mr. Schlosser was RailAmerica's senior vice president of RA's Pacific Corridor, Napa, Calif., from 2002 to 2003 and its Western Corridor based in Richardson, Texas from 2003 to 2006.

About Fort Worth & Western

Fort Worth & Western began operations in 1988 on six miles of track acquired from the former Burlington Northern, Santa Fe, and Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific). Today, FWWR serves more than 100 customers and moves approximately 36,000 carloads annually over its 276 route miles of track. Lines extend from the greater Fort Worth area to a connection with Mexico, via Texas Pacifico at San Angelo Junction. FWWR has more than 80 employees and serves domestic and global markets through its connections with BNSF, Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads.

SOURCE Fort Worth & Western Railroad