Pictured above is a group of our employees after the unveiling of NSHR 2238 - America’s Semiquincentennial locomotive. Learn more about this beauty in this issue of On Track!

Last week, our company had the distinct honor of unveiling our rendition of America’s Semiquincentennial locomotive. You can read more about this later in this edition of On Track, but I can’t help but think about what an honor it is to be a part of a company that has been such a staple to Central Pennsylvania for the past 41+ years.

My predecessor, Gary Shields, suggested that we take a moment during last week’s unveiling to get a historic picture with the company’s three CEO’s - to include our company’s founder, Dick Robey. In this picture, I am standing with two brilliant minds who helped shape North Shore into the well-oiled machine it is today. All three of us have very different personalities and leadership styles, but all of them were/are very important for the season we were/are in. I often reflect on the choices of the two men in this picture to help in formulating the proper path forward.

We should all be learning from history to help in the planning of our future.

I asked that we use this portion of the locomotive for our group photo. This is my favorite part of the mural. In fact, I could not wait for Pedro to finish this part, but, he finished this portion last. This masterpiece is a depiction of George Washington leading his men across the Delaware River, from PA, to New Jersey, in a surprise attack against the Hessian troops (there at the behest of Britain), on one very cold Christmas night. This battle, and many others (like the Mayham Tower- the date of which is reflected by the engine’s number) were all important to the outcome of the war.

It took strong leaders to lead great people with a well built plan to see victory.

When I look at our managers and employees, I see great people. I have seen them work together (across department lines) to help create and execute great plans. I vow to work my hardest to be the leader they deserve- because I am confident that one day, these past 41 years will be seen as only the beginning of a great company that will stand strong for decades to come.

2025 Terry Webster Safety Award Winner

Seth Barth

Join us in congratulating our Assistant Director of Maintenance of Way, Seth Barth, for being this year’s safety award winner! What made this extra special was the fact that Seth was nominated by a department that he does not work in. Anyone who works with Seth knows how important safety is to Seth.

Past Winners

2024 | Mike Haines
2023 | Randy Jeffrey
2022 | Mark Wertman
2021 | Jim Boyer
2020 | Ray O’Brien
2019 | Caleb Hoover
2018 | Pat McGaw
2017 | Mark Yost
2016 | Roy Toner
2015 | Dean Weirick
2014 | Chris Girio
2013 | Steve Beach
2012 | Tom McCann
2011 | Jeff Jeffrey
2010 | Randy Ulrich
2009 | Jim Miller
2008 | Terry Webster

The Terry Webster Safety Award is named after the late Terry Webster. Terry worked on the railroad his whole life, and he never had a single railroad injury in his entire railroad career.

2025 Retiree

Dwayne Weaver

Congratulations to Dwayne Weaver on his retirement this past year. Dwayne was with the company for 15 years before he retired from our Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad. We look forward to continuing to see Dwayne and his family at our annual company picnic. Enjoy your well-earned retirement, Dwayne!

The average employee tenure in the US, for 2025, was two years and one month. Our average employee tenure is 13 years and four months. We really do love our employees!

This time of the year I like to reflect on all of our support and interactions with our employees, spouses, children and our extended families.

Myself and my accounting team (Nikki and Russ) take much pride in the duties of making sure employees feel appreciated and trying to answer all of their questions or concerns. No one really measures all of the time it takes to pull together the many great events and outreach that our company does – as a thank you to our employees. We initiate several employee appreciation lunches or special treat events throughout the year, Thanksgiving cards at turkey time of the year, occasional hats or t-shirts handouts, Veterans thank you cards (with a special note from our President & CEO) for Veterans Day, gift cards when we see employees going above and beyond in their duties (when they think no one is watching) and my two favorite events of the year - our company picnic at Knoebels as well as our annual Christmas Party.

The company picnic, as much as it may be a lot of work for my team, it truly is worth it and makes me smile from ear to ear. I love seeing the families and of course the kids, the meal that is provide is always top of the line by the Knoebels staff. We never leave hungry. We do a toy store for all of the kids, which seems to be a big hit; some of the kids look forward to it, knowing they will receive a free toy just for them and it is something they pick out because every child is special and unique. If anyone knows me, candy is always a top priority. So, the candy store is always a delight and brings the “kid in a candy store look” to many of our railroad kids and grandkids. Nikki is instrumental in organizing the employee raffle - with everything from cash, gift cards, TVs, and grills - just to name a few. Making sure our extended family feels welcome we do a raffle for them as well... Not to mention, we combine all of these great activities with a learning project for the kids and adults alike with a picture scavenger hunt (kudos to Loni for this one) to entertain while we gather and catch up with our railroad employees, families, and retires. This year was our 13th year, and every year we draw more than 300 attendees to this event – which is pretty good when you only have 70 employees.

The time of Christmas is always very special to Jeb and myself – the true magic of the season always shines through. We are thankful at this time of the year for the railroad team that we have that makes things happen every day. We face challenges daily and we have a team that well go above and beyond to accomplish our mission. We take the time to show our gratitude by gathering our employees and their significant others for a catered dinner with reflections of the year, some of the things we completed, and the many goals we surpassed. We always have Christmas gifts for employees and special handouts of ornaments and candy (you know me). We announce the Terry Webster Safety Award as well as employee service and tenure awards. We recognize the efforts of the spouses and/or significant other with gift cards for their support of our employees and their unpredictable schedule that may come with railroading. The evening would not be complete without handing out Christmas bonuses (or as I call them, Santa Checks) so that each and every employee can enjoy their Christmas with a little extra jingle in their wallet. Christmas is a time of joy and giving while reflecting upon all of the blessings we have received.

We are deeply grateful for our team and the many employees that put their best foot forward every day.

I like to close with a shout out and a BIG THANK YOU to Nikki for all of her efforts in pulling together our company events and the positive recognition of our employees’ work. She also is our human resources navigator, and she strives to always help our employees with concerns and issues from the HR benefit world –which is never an easy task.

So, a big THANK YOU to our team - no matter which location, what department, or what job description you were hired for - in the end we come together to be the strongest short line. With that, we will always persevere and rise above our challenges. You all make us the best!

Quarter four is always the mad dash to the finish line… From finishing tie installation and surfacing, to completing any needed roadway repairs before the asphalt plants close down.

This quarter we partnered with the Joint Rail Authority, two of our customers, and Schlegel Excavating for a pipe upgrade and bank stabilization. Drainage is the most important part of the track structure and this project will prove it! For this project an existing 18” CPP was replaced with a 36” CPP and the upstream and downstream banks were armored with Rip Rap. This project was needed due to the flow of water our track receives in heavy rain events. Advanced Drainage Systems supplied a 36” CPP and allowed us to work from their property, Charlotte Pipe helped acquire the stone needed, the Joint Rail Authority hired Schlegel Excavating for the pipe installation and rock lining, and we removed and reinstalled the track. All of this work was completed in a five days, and it came out great.

The old saying of “it takes a village to raise a child” fits very well for this project. I want to thank all of our partners for making this a very successful project!

As we inch closer to 2026, I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season and enjoy a little bit of slow time with the people who matter most in our lives.

Reflections from Todd

At the end of the year, it’s good to review some of the highlights that transpired over the past year - both personally and professionally. We welcomed new customers and are saying, “Goodbye,” to another.

First, we welcomed back a multi-generational family business, DelGrosso - who make some of the finest spaghetti sauces and other delicious products. I say, “back,” because we handled traffic for them in the past, but they now own a warehouse facility on our Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad - which has been an exciting project for me! In the last edition of On Track, you learned a lot about my background leading up to my role in the railroad, but the Hunter family also has a long, personal history with the DelGrosso family - including stints working in their amusement park in the summer many years ago. We now welcome DelGrosso as a permanent rail customer and encourage you to try their delicious pasta sauces!  

Second, we say, “Goodbye,” to Updegraff Trucking, in Williamsport, PA, on our Lycoming Valley Railroad. Owner, Mark Updegraff, is beginning his well-deserved retirement. We will always appreciate his entrepreneurial spirit and his safe and efficient handling of any rail transload ideas we offered him over the years. Thank you, Mark!

Despite the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern (NS), we remain very close to NS management by participating on the NS Caucus committee, almost daily conversations with various NS management team members, field meetings with NS and our customers, and our recent attendance at the short line session in Dorchester, SC. We also traveled to Kansas City, MO, to meet with Canadian Pacific Kansas City this past fall to discuss various business opportunities. As a handling line, we know how important our working relationships are with our Class I partners, and we intend to keep a good working relationship - regardless of what the future holds.

Of course, I cannot look back on this year and not reflect on the honor of being named Northeast Association of Rail Shippers “Transportation Person of the Year”! While it is a fantastic, personal honor, it would not have been possible without the support of the North Shore Railroad management team and the opportunity to lead the marketing and business development efforts here at North Shore Railroad Company & Affiliates.

As you can see, we know and value our customers and railroad partners. We enjoy working closely with each one of them. How can we work with you in the new year?

Reflections from Joe

My Grandma always told me "the older you get, the faster the years go."  Wow! She was right on the money - this year just flew by.

Personally, I've had some ups and downs this year, but I believe we should always stay positive because life is too short to be miserable. We have been working with a few new customers who are working through all the facets of starting up the rail logistics parts of their business, so I know 2026 will be a good year! 

I celebrated my tenth year with North Shore Railroad this year, and I have to say is - it's a great place to work! We have incredible employees, and we all work hard to help our customers. 

Todd and I are so fortunate to be able to work with industrial partners each year, as we get to help grow our local economy.  Speaking of Todd, I want to also reflect on Todd’s major award this past year and congratulate him! Anyone who knows Todd, knows that he lives and breathes railroading. I have learned so much from him, and he seems to know everyone. I look forward to continuing to work with Todd and our team in 2026 and helping our customers use rail. 

Happy New Year!

On December 22, 2025 (just a few days short of the anniversary of George Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey, in 1776), the North Shore Railroad unveiled NSHR 2238 – its Semiquincentennial locomotive.

We were joined by many guests, friends, family, and railfans for this special unveiling.

This locomotive was completely hand-painted by local artist, Pedro Reyes, of Sunbury, PA. His beautiful work brought a vision of North Shore employees, Diana Williams and Loni Martz Briner, to life. This finished “canvas” was more beautiful than they could have imagined. Here is what you will find on this masterpiece…

On the first side:

• George Washington crossing the Delaware River (a notable turning point in the Revolutionary War)

• The Declaration of Independence (as penned by Thomas Jefferson, and signed on July 4, 1776)

• The Liberty Bell (believed to have first rung in Philadelphia after the reading of the Declaration of Independence)

On the second side:

• A bald eagle flying over “amber waves of grain” by “purple mountains majesty“ as sung in, America the Beautiful

• An American flag, waving proudly - colored in red (meaning valor and bravery), white (meaning purity and innocence), and blue (meaning vigilance, perseverance, and justice)

• The Statue of Liberty (a gift from France for the centennial celebration of signing the Declaration of Independence)

• “Oceans, white with foam” as written in the song, God Bless America

Other featured items include:

• One of the stacks is Paul Revere’s lantern (a symbol of his ride - alerting the colonists that the British were coming)

• The other stack shows a cloud of black gun powder (symbolizing the war fought and won by Colonial Soldiers)

• On the cab, below the hood, it reads, “IN GOD WE TRUST”

• Atop the cab roof is the full inscription found on the Liberty Bell (derived from Leviticus 25:10), “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all inhabitants thereof.”

• On the cab door, you will find the Mayham Tower (a 30-foot tower built and used in Augusta, Georgia, that was a turning point in the Revolutionary War in the south - which occurred 2238 days into the war)

• The back of the cab displays red, white, and blue fireworks (a tradition set by John Adams from America’s inception)

NSHR 2238 depicts symbols of our Nation’s liberty and independence. We are honored to present her to America.

We were so happy to be joined by many esteemed guests, including many County Commissioners and Chambers of Commerce.

Pictured here you will see:

• Pennsylvania State Representative Robert Leadbeter

• Pennsylvania State Representative Kerry Benninghoff

• Pennsylvania State Representative Jamie Flick

• Pennsylvania State Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver

• Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Michael Carroll

• Artist Pedro Reyes (who completed this masterpiece)

• Pennsylvania State Representative Michael Stender

• Pennsylvania State Representative David Rowe

North Shore Treasurer, Diana Williams, and PR & Media Manager, Loni Martz Briner, knew that Pedro Reyes was the only artist they could trust to execute such a beautiful job… and they were right. All three of them are seen in the photo above.

Read more, see videos, and find more photos, here.

StormySky Rail Productions YouTube Livestream

This past October, PR & Media Manager Loni Martz Briner had the opportunity to join Stormy Steve on his livestream to talk about North Shore railroads and promote the (then) upcoming Veterans Benefit Voyage. This interview was a natural fit since the episode was highlighting Wreaths Across America (one of the organizations to benefit from this year’s fundraiser.

Click here to watch the full livestream.

New Passenger Equipment

We added new passenger equipment to our fleet this year.

To see some videos of NSHR 500, check out these reels:

• https://www.facebook.com/reel/1911242726121878

• https://www.facebook.com/reel/1107327974540340

It was natural to name this passenger car the Susquehanna Club.

The Susquehanna River is the largest river on the United States East Coast. It is around 444 miles long, covering around 27,500 square miles across New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. It flows into the Atlantic, via the Chesapeake Bay - supplying nearly half of the Chesapeake Bay’s freshwater.

There are two main branches of the Susquehanna River. The North Branch begins at Otsego Lake, near Cooperstown, NY. This branch flows through Binghamton, and enters Pennsylvania near Sayre. Its path continues south through Wilkes-Barre and flows towards Sunbury, PA. The West Branch begins in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. It flows northeast through towns like Lock Haven and Williamsport before joining the North Branch at Sunbury and flowing south towards and past Harrisburg, PA and continues until it empties into the Chesapeake Bay, at Havre de Grace, Maryland.

The Susquehanna River has played a significant role in American history. It served as a vital transportation route for Native Americans and European settlers, facilitating trade and movement of goods.

During the American Revolution and the Civil War, the Susquehanna River was crucial for military logistics and troop movements - influencing battles and strategies.

The river supported the growth of towns and industries along its banks which contributed to the early economic development of the region particularly in the 19th century with the rise of coal and lumber industries.

To see the reel highlighting the first arrival of NSHR 1625 (which was also joined by NSHR 1645), check out this reel:

• https://www.facebook.com/reel/793251726639044

We also named/dedicated NSHR 300 (the open air car): Joseph Priestley.

Joseph Priestley was a British theologian, chemist, and philosopher, born in 1733. He was best known for his discovery of oxygen and for being an influential, scientific leader in early American history.

After Priestley’s discovery of oxygen, in 1774, he invented soda water (carbonated water) by dissolving CO₂ in water. This process was a key piece of the early studies of photosynthesis and plant respiration.

He was a close friend and collaborator of early American and Enlightenment figures.

Priestley was attacked in England during the Birmingham Riots of 1791, so in 1794, he emigrated to the United States and settled in Northumberland, PA, where he lived the rest of his life. During his time living in Northumberland, he continued writing and conducting experiments until his passing in 1804.

Today, he is seen as a founding figure in modern chemistry. His work laid the groundwork for later scientists. Priestley has been honored by the American Chemical Society and various scientific institutions for his contributions.

Also renamed/dedicated is NSHR 365 (the dining car): Harriet Tubman.

Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist, freedom fighter, Civil War spy, and humanitarian. She is best known for her heroic work on the Underground Railroad, where she helped enslaved people escape to freedom.

She was born into slavery in Maryland around the year 1822. In 1849, Harriet escaped slavery and made her way to Philadelphia, PA. Instead of safely enjoying her freedom, Harriet bravely risked her life - returning to the South to guide enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad… time, and time, and time again… at least 13 times.

Because Pennsylvania was a free state at the time, Philadelphia was a hub of Underground Railroad activity. Harriet personally guided around 70 people to freedom (some say more), and indirectly helped hundreds more.

During the Civil War, Harriet worked as a spy and scout for the Union Army. She served as a nurse and cook for Black Union soldiers and was the first woman to lead an armed military raid (Combahee River Raid, 1863) – helping free over 700 enslaved people.

In her later years, Harriet was a voice in the fight for women’s suffrage, equal rights for Black Americans, Veterans' care, and elderly care. She established a home for elderly and poor African Americans.

Harriet Tubman died in 1913 in Auburn, NY, and was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, NY.

At a suffrage convention in New York, in 1896. Harriet said, “I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say — I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”

Our new equipment was debuted through public passenger rides and the Veterans Benefit Voyage.

Watch our social media for all information on future rides for your opportunity to ride on this equipment.

You can read more about our entire passenger fleet, here.

2nd Annual Veterans Benefit Voyage

On November 1st, we held our 2nd Annual Veterans Benefit Voyage. This year, we offered two, longer rides (instead of the four shorter rides we held last year). This afforded riders the opportunity to enjoy a trip from Lewisburg to New Columbia, PA. It was a great day!

Here is a link to the press release for this year’s event.

This year’s fundraiser resulted in $12,000 raised (split 50%/50%) for two new nonprofits: Central PA Wreaths Across America and Heroes & Horses.

Central PA Wreaths Across America (WAA)

Several years ago, a small group of Central Pennsylvania individuals formed a consortium of like-minded people to HONOR, REMEMBER, and TEACH future generations about the brave men and women that signed their name on the dotted line to protect and defend our freedoms. Each December, through Wreaths Across America, 30 local communities gather to lay wreaths and say the name of each Veteran buried in participating cemeteries. The mission is growing each year! Together, they work as one to raise funds for this endeavor, promoting the vision to include more communities as we draw the region together to pay tribute to Central PA heroes. WAA’s main goal is to ensure that veterans buried in cemeteries that have joined their consortium receive wreaths during the nationwide Wreaths Across America Day. They also promote the national campaign of REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those who serve, and TEACH our children the value of freedom.

Heroes & Horses (H&H)

Heroes & Horses was developed to serve our Veterans. They work to help improve lives of our Nation’s heroes through connection with horses. Whether it’s through riding (which is optional) or just hanging out and grooming, H&H has developed this program to assist Veterans and show just what horses have to offer - in ways of healing the mind, body, and soul. H&H uses their horses to help Veterans identify their anxiety (sometimes when they don't know they have it). 2025 is H&H’s 10-Year Anniversary. In those ten years, their program has saved nine Veterans' lives. No Veteran is charged for their services and the H&H’s horse farm sets aside funds for meals for Veterans.

Read the full, check presentation press release, here.

Other nonprofits who support Veterans can apply for future fundraising at www.nshr.com/veteranapp.

Clark’s Feed Mill Groundbreaking

This past November, we were honored to attend the groundbreaking for Clark's Feed Mill's expansion. It is awesome to see a fourth generation, family-owned business thriving - as they are a critical part of our local farming community. We are privileged to serve Clark’s on our Shamokin Valley Railroad.

2025 - 22nd Annual Toys for Tots Drive

On Saturday, November 22, 2025, we hosted the 22nd annual Toys for Tots ride (with NARCOA drivers & riders) on our NSHR line - from Northumberland, PA, to Berwick, PA, and return - the “Larry Maynard Toys for Tots Event”.

The next day (Sunday, November 23rd) , the group also ran its 7th annual Toys for Tots run on our UCIR line - from New Columbia, PA, to Allenwood, PA, Lewisburg, PA, and return. Union Township Fire Company made this an extra special event for families, as they hosted and shared Santa for the day!

This year, the group collected nearly 2,100 toys and more than $3,300 for the Marine Corps Susquehanna Valley Toys for Tots.

We are always astounded at the generosity of the people who come out and donate for this drive. This would not have been possible without each of them and the NARCOA drivers who helped collect. THANK YOU, ALL!

My first full year leading the company reinforced what makes this organization strong - our people, our partnerships, and our commitment to doing the highest quality work in the safest manner possible. Although most of our field crews take a well deserved winter break, the work never stops. We maintain a smaller track crew to handle any emergencies our customer base may need us to address. When the weather is cooperating, we take the opportunity to knock out smaller scale projects as well. Our shop is buzzing with mechanics performing maintenance and overhauls to our many pieces of machinery and trucks.

Winter is also a busy time for management as we review the 2025 season metrics and identify where we can be more efficient and what we can improve on, in conjunction with generating our crew schedules and plans, to execute for the 2026 work season. Based on our workload this year and the work we either are committed to or are anticipating in 2026, growth isn’t just a hope - it’s a requirement.

Our crews’ dedication and attention to detail are the foundation of our success. As we enter the new year, we remain committed to safe operations, quality work, and continuous improvement. We plan to continue growing our workforce and adding to our talented crews, strengthening our ability to serve our customers and support future projects.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to a successful year and for continuing this momentum in 2026!

Wes Westenhoefer
Director of Operations

Contact Tartaglia today to see how they can help you with your next rail (construction, rehabilitation, or servicing) project or hi-rail equipment project (from our state-of-the-art shop).

Tartaglia Railroad Services
5867 East Molloy Road, Syracuse, NY 13211
315.455.0100

www.TartagliaRail.com