2025 Railroader of the Year Joe Hinrichs addresses the sold-out dinner at the Union League Club of Chicago.2025 Railroader of the Year Joe Hinrichs.Canadian Pacific Kansas City President and CEO Keith Creel joined Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono in a leadoff fireside chat at the Next-Gen Freight Rail Conference. At the conclusion, Vantuono presented Creel with an O scale ES44AC. Manufactured by MTH, the locomotive, licensed by the railroad and commissioned by The Train Doctor of Eatontown, N.J. with Vantuono’s assistance, is the first model of its type in CPKC’s new livery. Christopher P.L. Barkan, Ph.D., Executive Director, RailTEC and The National University Rail Center of Excellence, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, gave a presentation on Long-Train Safety Research Initiatives.Engineering Excellence at G&W: Jeffrey Watson, Vice President Engineering, Genesee & Wyoming, and Railway Track & Structures 2024 Engineer of the Year with RT&S Editor-in-Chief David C. Lester.Most of Railway Age’s 25 Under 40 honorees for 2025 were able to attend a luncheon held during the Next-Gen Freight Rail conference, where they were recognized. Judge Nick Little, who recently retired as Director of Railway Education – Center for Railway Research & Education (CRRE) at Michigan State University.
