Steve Eisenach R.I.P.

[Anonymous]

Steven Dale Eisenach
Born in Neenah, WI
Departed on May 6, 2005 and resided in Virginia Beach, VA.

Memorial Service: Wednesday May 11, 2005
Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.



Steven Dale Eisenach, 55, of Virginia Beach, VA, died May 6, 2005, in Durham, NC at the Duke Medical Center. He was employed with Norfolk Southern Railroad as Director of Public-Private Partnership.

Steve was born in Neenah, WI and was the son of Albert W. Eisenach and the late Josephine L. Eisenach. He was a graduate of Menasha High School, Class of 1967. Steve joined the U.S. Navy in 1970, where he served as an air crewman on an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) plane. He then attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where he earned a degree in geography and urban planning. He then earned a Masters in Public Administration in 1984, from the University of Indiana.

In 1984, he joined the Southern Railway Company, a predecessor of Norfolk Southern. The railroad industry was under growing rapid change as it sought to adjust to a more competitive environment and Mr. Eisenach was an important player in those changes. He worked on the Norfolk and Western-Southern consolidation that created Norfolk Southern as well as Norfolk Southern’s failed efforts in the mid-80’s to acquire Conrail; a large Northeastern and Midwestern Railroad.

By the late 1980’s, competitive pressures forced Norfolk Southern to shed thousands of miles of uneconomic lines; Mr. Eisenach was a key participant in that successful efforts. Some lines were abandoned, but thousands of miles were saved by new, lower cost short line carriers. Once the downsizing effort was largely done, Mr. Eisenach focused on making the new partnership between big and little railroads work. He was an “honest broker” in many Norfolk Southern and industry efforts to create a true partnership with these new carriers.

In the mid-1990’s, mergers once again occupied center stage, culminating in the battle between Norfolk Southern and its rail rival CSX for control of Conrail. Mr. Eisenach was a key player in Norfolk Southern’s successful efforts to thwart the CSX efforts and gain the larger part of Conrail for the Norfolk Southern system, thus creating the present day Norfolk Southern system.

In recent years, Mr. Eisenach was once again at the forefront of change. Norfolk Southern embraced public-private, where railroads join with government to fund the expansion of rail infrastructure. Mr. Eisenach was a leader in this effort and his tireless effort to create alliances with government won him the respect of many in both the private and public sectors.

At a time of profound change, Norfolk Southern was fortunate to have Steve Eisenach on its team; his brains and creativity and above all this constant ability to “do the right thing” played an essential role in the company’s transformation. He will be sorely missed by Norfolk Southern and the entire railroad industry.

Steve is survived by his loving wife, Dianne Ellen Eisenach and they were married on January 20, 1973, in Neenah, WI; his father, Albert W. Eisenach of King, WI; two sisters, Lois Kemp and husband Harold of Neenah, WI and Linda Buck and husband Larry of Menasha, WI; a brother, Richard Eisenach and wife Sandra of Menasha, WI; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Victor (Hannah) Gregory; his late father-in-law, Victor Gregory; two brothers-in-law, Wayne Gregory and wife Carolyn and Gene Gregory, all of Neenah, WI; several nieces and nephews; and many relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2005, in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association or to LifeNet. Steve’s giving goes on as an organ donor. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.

[edblysard]

Sounds like NS lost a good, dedicated guy....
Must have either been a friend of yours, or had a pretty big impact on you...either way, my condolences...

Ed

[JoeKoh]

My condolances to the family
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard



Sounds like NS lost a good, dedicated guy....
Must have either been a friend of yours, or had a pretty big impact on you...either way, my condolences...

Ed

Ed -

Although I knew Steve, I didn't know him all that well. He was basically the creator of the NS Thoroughbred Short Line Program that created numerous short lines and kept them going on terms they could afford. A truly difficult task at most Class 1s. He was a friend who will be missed.

LC

[cherokee woman]

My condolences to his family and friends.

[oskar]

R.I.P Steve [:(] from the story looks like NS lost a good and dependable man




kevin

[MP173]

Now, that would have been a fascinating job/career.

Sounds as if he was a quality man.

My best wishes for his family.

ed

[Anonymous]

A few adfditional comments on Steve's life as published in ASLRRA Views & news today:

Roger Bell, President & CEO, Columbus & Greenville Railway and ASLRRA Chairman, wrote:

"On behalf of the hundreds of friends and acquaintances throughout the American Short Line and Regional Railroad community, we offer the Eisenach family our sincerest condolences; our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time.

During some twenty years of working closely with the many entrepreneurs, owners, and operators of short line railroads, Steve Eisenach, as Director of Corporate Development, and the Norfolk Southern created thousands of miles of short line railroad operations. Known as the Norfolk Southern Thoroughbred Shortline program, rail transportation service was saved to hundreds of communities and rail shippers on thousands of miles of rail lines through the creation of new, lower cost short line carriers with new operators, virtually all who have been very successful.

It was throughout this effort that Steve earned the respect and friendship of so many short line operators. We all learned that his word was his bond and every agreement he entered into was based on fairness. As the years went on we learned just how committed and devoted Steve was to these new operations. Steve took a leadership position in the arduous task of negotiating a Railway Industry Agreement, an effort to create an even greater partnership between the Class I’s and this new wave of Short Lines. There were many times when the process appeared stalled, but Steve never gave up and the job was completed. Had it not been for this commitment, our industry would not have the effective agreement we have in place today.

In his latest assignment at Norfolk Southern, Steve was Director-Public Partnerships. During a recent visit with Steve, he and I talked about his physical challenges and the ordeal he was anticipating he would have to go through. But, the Steve we all know was looking ahead and was anxious to get back to full speed as he said the public-private partnership held opportunities like none he had seen before; he was excited about this new challenge.

Steve had the vision to recognize the enormous value, both to the communities all along the I-81 corridor and to NS, and the tremendous efficiencies that could be gained by reducing congestion on the highways and the tremendous improvement to the quality of life and protection of the environment.

For those who had the opportunity to work with Steve, the experience was a distinct privilege, as he will always be known for his character, his honesty, and his outstanding commitment to the industry he loved and the compassion he felt for those friends.

Sometimes we talk partnerships, but Steve Eisenach was what partnerships are all about. Steve was a dear friend to all of us at ASLRRA and his talents, his dedication, and his commitment will be dearly missed."



LC