Veteran power salutes veterans: KCS

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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In observation of Veterans Day (Nov. 12) in the United States, Kansas City Southern (KCS) unveiled 4006, a 13-year-old EMD SD70ACE based at the railroad’s Shreveport, La., Locomotive Shop, newly painted in a U.S. flag- and military-inspired scheme. KCS hosted a photo shoot with the locomotive and its Shreveport-based military active-duty and veteran employees.

The idea for this locomotive’s transformation came from KCS Assistant Vice President Locomotive Operations Chris Mitchell, who worked with contractor Jerry Barton to paint the locomotive. In recent years, Mitchell and Barton have been involved in converting the KCS locomotive fleet from its previous grey scheme to the current red, yellow and black heritage scheme.

“With the painting of KCS 4006, we wanted to demonstrate our patriotism for our country and our pride in U.S. military activity duty and veteran employees, past and present, who are a part of the KCS family,” said KCS Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey M. Songer.

KCS also honored its active-duty and veteran employees throughout the network with a portrait slide show and breakfast at corporate headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.

“The values and work ethic of military active duty and veteran workers align very well with KCS and the railroad industry in general,” said KCS Senior Vice President Human Resources Lora Cheatum. “We salute these important workers on Veterans Day and actively recruit them into our workforce all year round.”

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