News for customers, employees and friends of Pacific Harbor Line

ReportWinter 2016

Pacific Harbor Line

Government and industry representatives celebrate the Green Port Gateway completion Sept. 16. From left are Lori Ann Guzman, president, Long Beach Harbor Commission; Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia; Jon Slangerup, CEO, Port of Long Beach; Fran Inman, commissioner, California Transportation Commission; Eric Shen, director, Southern California Gateway Office, U.S. Maritime Administration; Lucy Dunn, chair, California Transportation Commission; Carrie Bowen, district director, California Department of Transportation; Long Beach Harbor Commissioner Doug Drummond; 70th District Assembly member Patrick O’Donnell; Noel Hacegaba, chief commercial officer, Port of Long Beach; Otis Cliatt, president, Pacific Harbor Line; Andy Perez, director, port affairs, Union Pacific; Chuck Potempa, manager, port operations, BNSF; and Anthony Otto, president, Long Beach Container Terminal. Photograph by the Long Beach Business Journal’s Larry Duncan.

New lines increase capacity The Port of Long Beach is helping enhance rail efficiency and safety by undertaking a series of rail infrastructure projects. Completed in May, the $93 million Green Port Gateway rail proj-ect, funded by port, state and federal resources, involved realigning rail tracks while adding a third rail line under Ocean Boulevard and 30,000 feet of new track. The two additional lines, dedicated to Middle Harbor and Pier G Metro, relieve mainline traffic, adding capacity to PHL

operations and more flexibility among the port’s rail network. “Taking that traffic off the main lines allows us to better serve International Transportation Service at Pier G and Pacific Container Terminal at Pier J,” said Marlon Taylor, director of operations. “The more tracks, the more capacity and the more efficiently we can serve customers in Long Beach.” Increased rail capacity also reduces truck traffic on local roads and cuts air pollution.

Pacific Harbor Line maintenance of way and contractors executed more than a year of planning by completing Berth 200’s multitrack project in August 2015. The project involved construction of six switching yard tracks and three north yard tracks. The new tracks add 12,000 feet of rail and 15 turnouts to PHL operations,

accommodating more than 120 cars in the switching yard tracks and 90 in the north yard. “With more track space it’s easier to classify inbound trains,” said Marlon Taylor, director of operations. “It means more efficient service to our customers.”

Roadmaster Jose Rodriguez played a key

role in safety, contractor communication and operations coordination during construction. His efforts resulted in minimal impact on service interruptions. Maintenance of way employees have demonstrated consistent attendance and attention to safety during this project and other regular maintenance work.

Final track completed

Pacific Harbor Line Report • 2 An Anacostia Company

Old and new LBCT cranes operate side by side on Pier E.

Supporting growth, LBCT commissions new cranes on Pier E.

Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) relies on the safe, efficient service of Pacific Harbor Line during the Middle Harbor redevelopment project. The Pier F-based container handling company now also op-erates on the newly constructed Pier E, where environmentally friendly technology and state-of-the-art equipment are incorpo-rated in daily operations. While currently operating indepen-dently, the piers will join forces upon the completion of the three-phase project, scheduled in late 2019. Before going live in April 2016, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) portals, which use trackside AEI readers and high-resolution cameras, are being commissioned with the help of PHL. “PHL has been a key player as we commission equipment,” said Derrik Fisher, rail operations development. “They have shown ef-ficiency and a strong knowledge of the complex, and are some of the most professional employees I have ever worked with.” Fisher thanks Superintendent Greg Dixon and other PHL managers for good communication and flexibility. LBCT also appreciates feedback from PHL crews regarding operational ef-ficiency and safety during Pier E construction, bringing aware-ness to issues such as potential tripping hazards.

Operations will begin with seven 900-foot tracks and expand

to 13 4,000-foot tracks by the end of phase three. Dedicated PHL crews will begin switching for LBCT at Pier E in April. “We hope to continue our strong partnership with PHL as we continue to work through the project,” said Jeffrey Kysor, rail operations development. “Good communication and reliability of service will be vital.”

A strong partnership

We hope to continue our strong partnership with PHL as we continue to work through the project. Good communication and reliability of service will be vital.”

— Jeffrey Kysor, rail operations development

PHL assists LBCT in commissioning new OCR portals.

An Anacostia Company 3 • Pacific Harbor Line Report

Welcome new employees Sixteen student assistant engineers bring diverse backgrounds to Pacific Harbor Line. They began 13 weeks of classroom training Oct. 4 with Stephen Moore, senior road foreman of engines. To ensure everyone receives adequate attention, students will split into groups for field training before finishing with a final check ride.

Greg Abalos

Previous employment: “I served four years in the U.S. Army as an aviation operations specialist.”Why did you come to PHL: “A friend works here and also had prior service. It can be difficult transitioning back to civilian life, and I heard PHL is military friendly.”What are you looking forward to: “I look forward to starting a career that allows me to work outdoors and do something different every day.”Family and hobbies: “I’m a family man; I’ve been married five years to Amy and have a 1-year-old daughter, Aria. We have a son on the way, due in January. I enjoy going to the gym, running, basketball and boxing.”

Tiana Cousins

Previous employment: “I was a ramp agent three years at Los Angeles International Airport. We marshalled and ser-viced airplanes.”Why did you come to PHL: “I couldn’t advance at my previous job, so I was looking for a career with opportunities. The puzzle aspect of the railroad interests me.”What are you looking forward to: “Meeting people and finding my place at PHL. I hope to take this career as far as possible.” Family and hobbies: “Outdoor activities, boxing and spending time with friends.”

Johnny Fraijo

Previous employment: “I was in the U.S. Navy six years. Most recently I served as a hotel security manager at the Sunset Marquis. I’ve been in the industry 20 years.”Why did you come to PHL: “This is a good career choice because there’s job security, good training and opportunities. My nephew has worked at PHL five years.” What are you looking forward to: “I want to grow with this com-pany and seek new opportunities whenever possible. My goal is to join management.”Family and hobbies: “I love time with my 9-year-old daughter, Bree. She likes dancing and Disney. Football is my favorite sport, and my favorite teams are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers and Oakland Raiders. I also love traveling; I’ve been to every continent except Antarctica.”

Joey Franco

Previous employment: “I served in the U.S. Navy six years and then became a boat captain for Catalina Express.”Why did you come to PHL: “I heard about PHL from a friend who works here and started researching career opportunities. I liked what I found.”What are you looking forward to: “Working with everyone and

learning about the industry.”Family and hobbies: “I’ve played in a band since I was 14 years old. I currently play the stand-up bass in a rock band.”

Joseph Guilin

Previous employment: “I bartended 10 years.”Why did you come to PHL: “A friend who works here said this is a good place to start a career.”What are you looking forward to: “Learning about trains and locomotives.”Family and hobbies: “I enjoy camping, mountain biking and watching sports. My favorite teams are the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Angels.”

Albert Herrera

Previous employment: “I made deliveries for Beach Cities Vending four years.”Why did you come to PHL: “I always have had an interest in trains. In my previous job I delivered to PHL, which gave me the opportunity to talk to some people and learn a little about the job. It’s something I could see myself doing.”What are you looking forward to: “Learning everything about the railroad, trains and ports.”Family and hobbies: “I have been married five years to Jenifer and have two children, Jadden, 4, and Kendra, 2. I love spending time with my kids while they’re young. I also enjoy playing and watching sports. My favorite teams are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers and Green Bay Packers.”

Logan Jones

Previous employment: “I managed a Trader Joe’s for six years.”Why did you come to PHL: “I’ve been interested in PHL for the past couple years. It’s somewhere I can start a life-long career.”What are you looking forward to: “Learning about the industry and railroad operations.”Family and hobbies: “I have a girlfriend and two stepchildren, Thomas, 7, and Jack, 5. I play the banjo and free dive.”

Lance Kaplan

Previous employment: “I was a mechanic two years.”Why did you come to PHL: “My last job wasn’t a career; this is a better opportunity.”What are you looking forward to: “Working in the ports where there’s so much activity and development. Also, learning every-thing about the railroad and adjusting to a new lifestyle.”Family and hobbies: “Working on cars, snowboarding and be-ing active.”

Pacific Harbor Line Report • 4 An Anacostia Company

Dustin Lorentz

Previous employment: “I was an Orange County park ranger two years.”Why did you come to PHL: “I have a baby on the way and need-ed to start a stable career with more hours. My cousin works at PHL and his career has been good for his family.”What are you looking forward to: “Learning everything I can and advancing to locomotive engineer and maybe management someday.”Family and hobbies: “Deanna and I were married in April and our first child is due in January. It’s a boy. I look forward to teaching him all about the world. In my free time I hike, mountain bike, surf and play volleyball.”

Mario Maciel

Previous employment: “I worked assembly in a warehouse three years.”Why did you come to PHL: “I was looking to start a career.”What are you looking forward to: “I have loved trains since I was a kid, and look forward to being on the trains.”Family and hobbies: “I have been married three years and my sons are Anthony, 19; Mario, 15; and Jacob, 11. I enjoy working on cars, playing hockey and watching the Los Angeles Kings.”

Johan Morales

Previous employment: “I was a legal assistant at a law firm four years.”Why did you come to PHL: “I was looking for a long-term career and wanted to get back into a labor industry.”What are you looking forward to: “Making this a career and advancing down the road.”Family and hobbies: “Stephanie and I have been married three years and have two children, Sydney, 8, and Emma, 2. I draw, play video games, spend time with family and enjoy going on trips.”

Justin Salazar

Previous employment: “I was a Union Pacific conductor eight months.”

Why did you come to PHL: “I was furloughed and heard PHL was hiring.”What are you looking forward to: “I fell in love with railroading and being able to provide for my family and prepare for retire-ment. I enjoy learning about the brains behind railroad operations and how to switch cars.”Family and hobbies: “Brittney and I have been married one year and have a 2-year-old daughter, Giselle. I enjoy taking them to Disneyland and cheering for my favorite teams: the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers and USC.”

Tony Tartaglia

Previous employment: “I owned my own mobile DJ business. I was a DJ 25 years and did some work in Vegas.”Why did you come to PHL: “Railroading is something I have always wanted to do and it was time to start a career. I enjoy work-ing outdoors with heavy machinery, so this was a good fit for me.”What are you looking forward to: “This is a job that means something; we have a direct impact on the rest of the world. I look forward to the sense of accomplishment and eventually becoming a locomotive engineer.”Family and hobbies: “Ana and I have been married six years. We enjoy biking, going to the beach, shooting in the desert, barbecu-ing and time with family.”

Marco Toruno

Previous employment: “I was an applications support specialist at Alpine Electronics two years.”Why did you come to PHL: “I have been prepping myself for this career by taking courses to learn about safety, HazMat and the ports. This is somewhere I can spend the rest of my career.”What are you looking forward to: “Learning new things and making an impact on PHL.”Family and hobbies: “My wife, Monica, and I have been married 20 years and have three children: 20-year-old Daniel and 18-year-old twin daughters Brenda and Amaris. I enjoy doing home remod-els and updates, and playing and watching sports, especially the Los Angeles Lakers.”

Welcome new employees

An Anacostia Company 5 • Pacific Harbor Line Report

Ten years after adopting the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles celebrate record-low emissions data, including an 85 percent reduction in diesel par-ticulate matter (DPM) and 97 percent in sulfur oxides (SOx) since 2005. Last year’s data, which measured emissions from ships, trucks, locomotives, cargo handling equipment and small har-bor craft, revealed the ports surpassed their 2014 emission re-duction goals, set in 2010, for DPM, SOx and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Anti-pollution strategies outlined in CAAP stimulated cooperative efforts of port industries to adopt best available

technologies for reducing greenhouse gases. The joint action has helped enhance air quality in the South Coast Air Basin while allowing continuous growth. Pacific Harbor Line does its part by using the latest, low-emission locomotive technologies, a commitment that involved two major capital investments — acquiring a new locomotive fleet, and upgrading as needed. They currently run the cleanest, low-horsepower diesel switch engine technology on the market. “When we’ve seen opportunities to help the environment, we’ve taken them,” said Don Norton, director of marketing and administration. “It’s something that needs to be done, and we’re committed to helping the plan achieve its goals.”

Ports report clean air gains

September employee of the month

Clarence Blackwell is a prime ex-ample of good customer service. The locomotive engineer ensures customers’ needs are met in a safe manner. During 12 years of service, he has learned that communicating with his crew and work-ing carefully are key. “I do what the customer asks as effi-ciently as I can,” he said. “I do it safely so I can go home.” He assists new employees and ensures they perform work properly. “I’ll stop to talk to them and show them the safe way,” he said. “I tell them to stay alert and do the best job they can, but make sure it’s done safely.”

Locomotive Engineer Clarence Blackwell is September employee of the month.

August employee of the month

Co-workers and customers know they can count on Stuart Spears, loco-motive engineer, to work efficiently and go the extra mile when needed. He helps co-workers stay safe by having conversa-tions about safety in the break room and in the field, and by always paying atten-tion to the task at hand. Spears has served PHL nine years, and has worked a two-man crew with Locomotive Engineer Juan Pardo the past two. “We work well together because we have the same work ethic and lots in common,” he said.

When new employees join their team, Spears helps them learn the tracks and teaches them to refrain from tak-ing shortcuts and rushing the job. “I try to help by looking out for everyone, espe-cially students,” he said. “I want to do my job efficiently and go home safe.”

Locomotive Engineer Stuart Spears is August employee of the month.

July employee of the month

For 16 years, Track Supervisor Luis Rodriguez has contributed to the safety and efficiency of work performed by PHL main-tenance of way employees and contractors. “I enjoy meeting and working with so many people, and the feeling of ac-complishment when work gets done,” he said. Before every task, Rodriguez briefs with dispatchers and work teams about track pro-tection, the environment and equipment. He supports crews on the job, and ensures flag-men are knowledgable about daily operations. “We have to be responsible with safety and communicate accurately so we can provide proper protection,” he said. Rodriguez focuses on doing good work each day and ensuring everyone re-turns to their families after work.

Track Supervisor Luis Rodr iguez is July employee of the month.

Congratulations employees of the month

Locomotive engineers earned Eagle Eye honors for taking action to avoid a potential safety hazard.

• Guillermo Guerra• Fernando Macias• Jose Vargas

• Eric Carroll• Antonio Flores• Steve Wallace

Taking action

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMAIL U.S.A.

PACIFIC HARBOR LINE705 N HENRY FORD AVEWILMINGTON CA 90744-6716

Pacific Harbor Line went pink during October to support breast cancer awareness. Like last year, Locomotive Engineer Melissa Espinoza challenged co-workers to wear pink safe-ty vests, an idea she got from pink incorpora-tion in NFL uniforms. When she saw pink vests at a truck stop, she offered to buy one for anyone brave enough to wear it the entire month. Last year, her original goal of 10 peo-ple was far exceeded, and she maxed out her of-fer at 25 vests. This year she bought 35 more, even convincing Trainmasters Rodney Williams and Fabian Garcia to participate. “A lot of people came to me wanting to participate this year,” she said. “Cancer has affected many of us,

and this is a way to help people feel supported.”

In addition to pink safety vests, two pink ribbons were ap-plied to either side of each PHL locomotive, an idea suggested by Elvia Maciel, manager ad-ministration and human resources. Espinoza encourages co-workers to save their vests for next year.

Melissa Espinoza, locomotive en-gineer, buys pink vests for co-work-ers to wear during October.

Vests and ribbons support cancer

New “Focus on Safety” signs and banners can be found around Berth 200, outlying terminals and PHL locomotives. Locomotive Engineer and BLET repre-sentative Fernando Macias conceptual-ized the idea to help employees work safely. The signs remind employees to focus on the task at hand and avoid dis-tractions one move at a time, one shift at a time, one day at a time. Trainmaster Eric Flores designed and produced the signs. “This is another example of how PHL management and the BLET Division 214 work together to make our railroad a safer and better place to work,” he said. “By fo-cusing on safety, we could all achieve few-er and potentially no incidents.”

Focus on safety

Earning a Bachelor of Science degree in transportation helps Greg Peters, manager-operations support, advance his career and set an example for his daughters, Sequoia and Malina. In 2010 he became aware of the new transportation degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and decided to pur-sue higher education for the first time, utilizing PHL’s tuition reimbursement program. Part of the first group of students to take the university’s new trans-portation core classes, Peters studied both online and at the Long Beach campus. He graduated magna cum laude in August with a 3.86 grade point average and a broadened knowledge of air, rail, shipping, trucking and pipeline transportation. “Since part of my duties at PHL include many elements of these modes of transportation, it was a good fit,” he said. “Obtaining the degree has greatly expanded my knowledge of the entire trans-portation industry.” General education classes such as English and accounting also had an immediate benefit at work. Additionally, he devel-oped business skills and learned more about logistics, HazMat and contract negotiations. His graduation ceremony took place in May on the USS Midway in San Diego. Peters looks forward to applying his degree and seeking new opportunities at PHL.

Greg Peters receives his diploma in the company of wife Michelle and daughters Malina and Sequoia, right.

Peters earns degree

A pink ribbon is emblazoned on each side of a PHL locomotive.