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Former Locomotive Engineer Blazes Trail for Women on the Rail

Posted on: Monday, 26 September 2005, 15:00 CDT

Sep. 26--On Christmas Eve this year, Tacoma Rail Superintendent Dennis Dean will retire after three decades with the railroad, and Paula Henry, now the utility's assistant superintendent, will take his place.

Henry, 42, has wound her way through Tacoma Public Utilities, starting in the city's power and conservation department shortly after she graduated from college and advancing to the railroad's second in command, a position she's held for eight years. She's the first female superintendent of a Tacoma-owned utility.

Henry takes the helm at a time when the city's littlest utility-that-could is experiencing unprecedented growth.

The News Tribune recently talked with Henry about her new job, the challenges the railroad faces and its future.

QUESTION: How will your job change as superintendent?

ANSWER: The biggest difference is having a larger role in the region. There's a big movement to take a look at the roads and rails and how to maximize that infrastructure. We're taking a look at the Pacific Northwest and Western Washington, how to maximize our infrastructure and where the growth happens.

The day-to-day operations will stay with the (assistant superintendent) position, and I'll be more overseeing the policy, the bigger picture and how the port and other jurisdictions play a role.

Q: What do you enjoy about working for the railroad?

A: One moment you could be dealing with a senator or congressman, trying to get more funding, and the next moment you could be in your steel-toed boots out there looking at an issue with a mechanic.

The most exciting thing is knowing what a big difference we make globally. Whatever is happening in Asia or around the world that affects them affects us, and what we do affects them.

Q: You are a member of the National Association for Female Railroad Executives and National Association for Female Executives. Are there challenges leading in a more male-dominated industry?

A: To me, it's a non-issue if you have the skill set that allows you to do that job. It's about knowing the day-to-day operations. For me, having been a locomotive engineer has helped me understand the mechanical side and the operations side. It's also about understanding how the railroad works and especially how a municipal-owned railroad works. It's very different from the private sector.

Q: What are some of those differences between a city-owned versus private railroad?

A: The biggest difference is on the competition side. A municipal-owned railroad is very public, so when we are competing with another mode of transportation, they already know my starting point, from our finances to future business plans.

I think there's a perception out there -- that's not true -- that we can't compete because we are municipal.

But the way we run this railroad as a utility and our cost service actually makes us more competitive with private companies. We keep our rates down because we don't make a profit.

Q: The city-owned railroad has doubled the number of carloads it handles in the past seven years. What is driving Tacoma Rail's growth?

A: Our partnership with the port is key. I think there's a recognition between both entities that their growth affects us and our growth affects them. Also our mainlines -- the Burlington Northern and the UP -- are growing. The rails are actively marketing to their customers, and we have to be able to handle their customers.

Part of our growth is also being asked by the main lines to do other types of activities, not just switching railroad cars, but also maintaining locomotives.

Q: What challenges is the railroad facing?

A: The challenge for us is very clear: It's infrastructure. We are working with the state to look at how to maximize the use of our railroad and looking at regional rail corridor study to determine how we can support the growth in Frederickson, the growth at the Port of Tacoma and the economic initiatives of all the jurisdictions we serve. Right now, we're getting ahead of the curve.

We're looking out of the railroad box, thinking about how we can talk with our customers, change our schedules and change their type of service to accommodate growth in the future.

THE TACOMA RAIL FILE:

--Its role: A city-owned railroad responsible for switching freight between Tacoma industries and the major transcontinental railroads. Other divisions serve Frederickson, Chehalis, Morton and east Olympia.

--Tracks: 204 miles

--Employees: 101

--Web site: www.tacomarail.com

--Management: Paula Henry, the railroad's assistant superintendent will become Tacoma Rail's superintendent at the end of the year. Dennis Dean, the railroad's superintendent, is retiring.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.

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Source: The News Tribune

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