November 13, 2023
Class I

CN’s Tracy Robinson Named Railway Age’s 2024 Railroader of the Year

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief

Railway Age’s 2024 Railroader of the Year Award, the 61^st annual, goes to an experienced and highly respected North American rail industry leader: CN President and Chief Executive Officer Tracy Robinson.

“Tracy Robinson continues the sweeping leadership evolution the railroad industry has been undergoing for the past few years,” said Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. “She continues to break new ground, bringing fresh ideas and a perspective based on change, growth and service. Tracy is leading CN during challenging times, strengthening and transforming the company and solidifying its position in the North American and global supply chains. While she brought many years of experience to CN, including leadership positions at Canadian Pacific and in Canada’s energy sector, she is dedicated to developing a new generation of railroaders from diverse backgrounds.”

“I would like to thank Railway Age for this recognition,” said Robinson. “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the entire CN team, who does the essential work, day in and day out, to meet the needs of our customers and to safely move the economy. I am proud of our progress and excited about where we’re headed.”

Tracy Robinson was named President and CEO of CN in February 2022 following more than 30 years in Canada’s railroad and energy industries. She joined CN from TC Energy, where she was Executive Vice President, and President of Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines and Coastal GasLink. Prior to joining TC Energy, Tracy spent 27 years at Canadian Pacific, including executive roles spanning Commercial, Operations and Finance. Tracy holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and a Batchelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan. Among many honors, she was named 2023 New CEO of the Year by The Globe and Mail Report on Business magazine.

Robinson will be presented with the Railroader of the Year award March 12, 2024 at the traditional dinner held at the Union League Club of Chicago, hosted by the Western Railway Club.

About Railway Age

Railway Age, established in 1856, is the North American railroad industry’s leading trade publication and the flagship of Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. The resource of choice for nearly 30,000 professionals at the management levels of North American freight and passenger railroads, its coverage spans the entire industry with an emphasis on technology, operations, strategic planning, marketing, labor and management developments and regulatory challenges. Railway Age seeks to engage, inspire, and provide a voice to the rail industry. Since its inception, it has transformed from a magazine into a brand community, bringing the rail industry together. Simmons-Boardman also publishes Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal, and operates the Railway Educational Bureau and Simmons-Boardman Books out of its Omaha, Neb., corporate headquarters.

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN’s network connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Railway Age’s Railroader of the Year Award

The Railroader of the Year Award was initiated by Modern Railroads magazine in 1964 as the “Man of the Year” award. Railway Age acquired Modern Railroads in 1991 and has presented the award annually since then.

1964: D. W. Brosnan, Southern Railway System
1965: Stuart T. Saunders, Pennsylvania Railroad Co.
1966: Stuart T. Saunders, Pennsylvania Railroad Co.
1967: Louis W. Menk, Northern Pacific Railway
1968: William B. Johnson, Illinois Central Railroad
1969: John W. Barriger, Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
1970: John S. Reed, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
1971: Jervis Langdon, Jr., Penn Central Transportation Co.
1972: Charles Luna, United Transportation Union
1973: James B. Germany, Southern Pacific Transportation Co.
1974: L. Stanley Crane, Southern Railway System
1975: Frank E. Barnett, Union Pacific Railroad
1976: Dr. William J. Harris, Jr., Association of American Railroads
1977: Edward G. Jordan, Conrail
1978: Robert M. Brown, Union Pacific Railroad
1979: Theodore C. Lutz, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
1980: John G. German, Missouri Pacific Railroad Co.
1981: Lawrence Cena, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
1982: A. Paul Funkhouser, Family Lines Rail System
1983: L. Stanley Crane, Conrail
1984: Hays T. Watkins, CSX Corp.
1985: John L. Cann, Canadian National
1986: Raymond C. Burton, Jr., Trailer Train Co.
1987: Willis B. Kyle, Kyle Railways
1988: Darius W. Gaskins, Jr., Burlington Northern
1989: W. Graham Claytor, Jr., Amtrak
1990: Arnold B. McKinnon, Norfolk Southern Corp.
1991: Mike Walsh, Union Pacific Railroad
1992: William H. Dempsey, Association of American Railroads
1993: Raymond C. Burton, Jr., TTX Co.
1994: L. S. “Jake” Jacobson, Copper Basin Railway
1995: Edwin Moyers, Southern Pacific Transportation Co.
1996: Robert D. Krebs, AT&SF, and Gerald Grinstein, Burlington Northern
1997: Paul M. Tellier, Canadian National
1998: David R. Goode, Norfolk Southern
1999: Edward A. Burkhardt, Wisconsin Central Transportation Co.
2000: The Railroad Worker (“Railroader of the Century”)
2001: Michael R. Haverty, Kansas City Southern
2002: E. Hunter Harrison, CN/Illinois Central
2003: Richard K. Davidson, Union Pacific Railroad
2004: Robert J. Ritchie, Canadian Pacific Railway
2005: David R. Goode, Norfolk Southern
2006: Richard F. Timmons, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association
2007: William E. Wimmer, Union Pacific Railroad
2008: Stephen C. Tobias, Norfolk Southern
2009: Michael J. Ward, CSX
2010: Matthew K. Rose, BNSF
2011: Wick Moorman, Norfolk Southern
2012: David L. Starling, Kansas City Southern
2013: James R. Young, Union Pacific
2014: Joseph H. Boardman, Amtrak
2015: E. Hunter Harrison, Canadian Pacific
2016: Carl R. Ice, BNSF Railway
2017: Thomas F. Prendergast, New York MTA
2018: John C. Hellmann, Genesee & Wyoming
2019: Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN
2020: Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, Kansas City Southern
2021: Keith Creel, Canadian Pacific
2022: Keith Creel, Canadian Pacific; and Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, Kansas City Southern
2023: Katie Farmer, BNSF
2024: Tracy Robinson, CN