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 Post subject: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 5:20 pm 

Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am
Posts: 1010
An article on Lancaster Online dot com:
Quote:
Strasburg Rail Road has hired a former regional manager of New Jersey-based Krapf Bus Companies, Jim Hager, as its new general manager.

Hager, the popular tourist railroad’s fourth leader since 2018, has more than 20 years experience in railroad operations. He served for 24 years in various roles, most recently as trainmaster at Ringoes, New Jersey-based Black River Rail Systems.

The 190-year-old venue is America’s oldest continuously operating railroad and one of Pennsylvania’s leading tourist attractions. According to LNP | LancasterOnline, the railroad had 180 employees in 2019 and welcomed 300,000 visitors annually. Hager will oversee the company’s diverse operations including its passenger, mechanical, and freight businesses.

“As a frequent visitor to Strasburg Rail Road, I have great respect for the organization and its reputation as a polished short-line railroad with an exemplary mechanical department and growing freight operation,” Hager said in a news release. “I look forward to working with a team that has long demonstrated a commitment to excellence.”

Hager replaces Tony Gebbia, a former Disney event manager who was named general manager in 2019. The company said Gebbia left in April to pursue other endeavors.

Link to full September 16, 2022 article: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Sat Sep 17, 2022 9:58 pm 

Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2017 6:47 pm
Posts: 1398
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Krapf's website shows they are in West Chester PA, which is consistent with their contract to operate SEPTA Route 204 Eagleview to Paoli Station, serving Lionville and Exton. They also provide fixed-route transit services to Chester County residents through, the Coatesville LINK and the southern Chester County SCCOOT. West Chester is the County Seat of Chester County PA and borders Lancaster County. Krapf Transit also operates the Navy Yard Shuttle and the PHLASH services in Philadelphia.

Krapf's has a good reputation and is family owned.

Phil Mulligan


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 2:21 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm
Posts: 2367
Marked difference in the Linked-in profiles.


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:55 pm 

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:37 pm
Posts: 238
Fourth manager in 4 years? Why so many changes?

180 employees! What is the breakdown full time/part time? Regardless, it sure sounds like a lot of people for such a short RR.


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 2:23 pm 

Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:58 am
Posts: 250
R.L.Kennedy wrote:
Regardless, it sure sounds like a lot of people for such a short RR.



It's just as wide as most of the others.

300,000 annual visitors takes a few people to properly handle.

Brian


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:51 pm 

Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am
Posts: 2560
Location: Strasburg, PA
R.L.Kennedy wrote:
Fourth manager in 4 years? Why so many changes?
#1 Retired after 50 years.
#2 Died six months after ascending to the office!
#3 Wasn't the best fit.
#4 Has just strarted.


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 9:53 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:19 pm
Posts: 2557
Location: Sackets Harbor, NY
Thanks Mr. Anderson for your informative and succinct posting. Less is more.

Ross Rowland


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:55 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm
Posts: 2367
co614 wrote:
Thanks Mr. Anderson for your informative and succinct posting. Less is more.

Ross Rowland


Some years ago, I had the opportunity to research the now century plus old corporate records of the Baldwin Locomotive Works (which historically was something like a dozen different entities), located right across the street from Strasburg.

As I recall, the corporate secretary taking Board minutes had a favorite phrase-something on the order of-"and a vigorous conversation ensued". Somehow, I had a picture of some portly men whose vest buttons were strained in room thick with plumes of cigar smoke and to quote Ralphie from A Christmas Story "..a steady torrent of obscenities and swearing of all kinds was pouring out". That was almost as interesting as learning that Baldwin gave consideration to Garratts for domestic use.


In any case "not the best fit" is one of those phrases I think deserves the Latin multum in parvo; much in little.


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 12:15 pm 

Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm
Posts: 2213
"Multum in parvo" usually has a positive connotation of 'a lot going on in a small space'. I suspect the "discussions" regard ing succession management were more drawn out.

I read Kelly's comment as diplomatic, sort of stiff-upper-lip understatement. Much in few words... to paraphrase what superheater wrote.

Better than what I was tempted to note: that the previous GM's experience was Mickey Mouse and the new guy's experience was Krapf.

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R.M.Ellsworth


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:38 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:37 pm
Posts: 279
"Some years ago, I had the opportunity to research the now century plus old corporate records of the Baldwin Locomotive Works (which historically was something like a dozen different entities), located right across the street from Strasburg."

What Baldwin corporate records at RRMPa?? There is a 1910 Minute Book from BLW, but no other Baldwin records, other than the H.L. Broadbelt Collection of Baldwin negatives and photo specification cards at Strasburg. I know this for certain because I curated the archival collections there from 1991-2009.

The bulk of the BLW records, which are very much piecemeal and incomplete, reside at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, DeGolyer Library and at the Pennsylvania State Archives.

K.R. Bell


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:02 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm
Posts: 2367
K.R. Bell wrote:
"Some years ago, I had the opportunity to research the now century plus old corporate records of the Baldwin Locomotive Works (which historically was something like a dozen different entities), located right across the street from Strasburg."

What Baldwin corporate records at RRMPa?? There is a 1910 Minute Book from BLW, but no other Baldwin records, other than the H.L. Broadbelt Collection of Baldwin negatives and photo specification cards at Strasburg. I know this for certain because I curated the archival collections there from 1991-2009.

The bulk of the BLW records, which are very much piecemeal and incomplete, reside at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, DeGolyer Library and at the Pennsylvania State Archives.

K.R. Bell


I think one of things that was made available was that 1910 minute book. If I recall they had reorgs in 1909 and 1911 and that period was smack in the middle. I think it was the limited duration that made me read the details; I seem to recall one order of business was whether or not to make some small nominal charitable donation; a matter today left to corporate foundations-and in my estimation an alienation of fiduciary responsibility, where entirely too much shareholder money is thrown to barbarians and the gate, or to client agitators.

There were a couple of negatives I obtained digital pictures of, through some vendor one being the OE I that I later learned was tested on the Reading at Tamaqua. I received the images on a CD, which now makes me feel old. If I recall correctly, this is also where I first realized old photographs could begin to smell like a salad as entropy does its thing and the cellulose acetate begins to break down and release acetic acid.

Now I have always thought I read about the consideration of building Garratts there, but a decade and a half later, I'm not so sure. I've don't always remember the source of the information. I know that sometime around 1920 Baldwin considered acquiring Lima (I think I remember that from an RLHS article) and was serious enough to get an opinion from its outside counsel about the potential of a Sherman Act (antitrust) breach. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius still exists as Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Baldwin of course does not.


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:24 pm 

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1477
“ Better than what I was tempted to note: that the previous GM's experience was Mickey Mouse and the new guy's experience was Krapf.”

You mean the previous GM’s experience was with the worlds most visited tourist attraction.


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:29 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm
Posts: 2367
Overmod wrote:
"Multum in parvo" usually has a positive connotation of 'a lot going on in a small space'. I suspect the "discussions" regard ing succession management were more drawn out.

I read Kelly's comment as diplomatic, sort of stiff-upper-lip understatement. Much in few words... to paraphrase what superheater wrote.

Better than what I was tempted to note: that the previous GM's experience was Mickey Mouse and the new guy's experience was Krapf.


I'm not adverse to the phrase and didn't mean to imply anything negative.

The world is a complicated place. Sometimes the final destination doesn't require all the details in the travel diary.

I suspect that in spite of its size; Strasburg is an extraordinarily complicated operation. You have passenger operations, short line freight, boutique fabrication for internal and external use, plus commissary operations (merch and food).

It's easy for a business to lose its soul when it is involved in disparate but somewhat complementary things; some years ago it was reported that General Motors started looking at its net profit from financing (GMAC) and its income from vehicle sales and began having internal conversations about whether they offered financing to sell cars or offered cars to sell financing. We know how that ended; with a zombie barely clinging to life only because of political interference in the bankruptcy order of claims.

Strasburg has been a part of my life for over a half of a century; I hope it's found the right captain.


Last edited by superheater on Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:40 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm
Posts: 2367
Crescent-Zephyr wrote:
“ Better than what I was tempted to note: that the previous GM's experience was Mickey Mouse and the new guy's experience was Krapf.”

You mean the previous GM’s experience was with the worlds most visited tourist attraction.


Actually, according to this no-Vegas is the most visited.

https://www.farandwide.com/s/most-visit ... 0424864219

And a company with serious reputational issues.

The stock price reflects that.

https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DIS

I'm pretty sure Strasburg would lose it's "distinctive competence" if it brought in a Casino manager because his/her experience was show girls and gambling but concentrated on the gate, show and gaming visitor numbers.

I know of another facility that constantly tries to diminish the centrality of its railroad operations; I'm guessing most people would rather I leave the obvious unsaid; and not rehash the results yet again.


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 Post subject: Re: Strasburg Rail Road names new general manager
PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:54 pm 

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1477
superheater wrote:
Crescent-Zephyr wrote:
“ Better than what I was tempted to note: that the previous GM's experience was Mickey Mouse and the new guy's experience was Krapf.”

You mean the previous GM’s experience was with the worlds most visited tourist attraction.


Actually, according to this no-Vegas is the most visited.

https://www.farandwide.com/s/most-visit ... 0424864219

And a company with serious reputational issues.

The stock price reflects that.

https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DIS

I'm pretty sure Strasburg would lose it's "distinctive competence" if it brought in a Casino manager because his/her experience was show girls and gambling but concentrated on the gate, show and gaming visitor numbers.

I know of another facility that constantly tries to diminish the centrality of its railroad operations; I'm guessing most people would rather I leave the obvious unsaid; and not rehash the results yet again.


“Las Vegas Strip” is not a tourist attraction - it’s a strip of attractions. And a casino manager would be great for any tourist attraction.

Disney has a great reputation - they are one of the worlds leading brands.

Feel free to live in your own reality if you wish :)


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