Book Review Leaders Count

[MP173]

Leaders Count
by Lawrence H. Kaufman
Texas Monthly Custom Publishing
ISBN 0-9724495-2-3 (cloth)
374 pages

As a midwestern born and raised railfan, my knowledge of the BNSF and it's preceeding lines was rather limited. Lawrence Kaufman's volume gives an excellent look at the developement of today's BNSF. Kaufman briefly discusses early history for each of the major roads (Burlington, Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Santa Fe, and Frisco...but nothing on the SPS which barely received a mention.)

Kaufman then discusses the history of each railroad and details the mergers that combined them into today's corporate entity. Kaufman uses the management to discuss these railroads and mergers, mainly the very capable CEO's such as James Hill, Cyrus Holliday, John and Ralph Budd, John Reed, Lou Menk, *** Grayson, Richard Bressler, Walter Drexel, Darius Gaskins, Gerald Grinstein, Rob Krebs and Matt Rose.

Each had a distinctive style. We are taken inside the corporation during the 80's when BN changed it's culture (and CEO's) almost yearly. The long running battle with UP is well documented, going back over 100 years.

Kaufman discusses land grants, Montana grain, Wyoming coal and the economics of railroading post Staggers.

At $14.00 this is a bargain. Kaufman had inside access to documents and to the executives who granted him interviews. Most fascinating to me was Rob Krebs, who I believe was the "best of class" of recent managers. His transformation at BNSF is very interesting.

Lots of numbers but generally easy to read.

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