Applying advanced technologies to keep the track safe
Andrew Loyer
Assistant Track Supervisor
Norfolk Southern
Easton, PA
4 ½ years in the industry
15 years in the military
Base: New Castle, DE
People might be surprised to know why Andrew Loyer, an army reservist who flew Black Hawk helicopters, enjoys working for Norfolk Southern (NS). As assistant track supervisor in Easton, PA, Loyer gets out of the office and into the elements where he is responsible for monitoring the integrity of 90 miles of track. At least four times a week, he performs visual inspections and takes electronic measurements of railroad track using advanced technology called track geometry cars to ensure that the rail lines are in good condition and as safe as possible. “We do heat patrol, cold patrol and flood watch,” Loyer says. “The worse the weather gets the more we're out. I like the fact that I problem solve and that I'm not in an office all day.”
After graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in criminal justice, Loyer received his commission from the National Guard and entered flight school where he spent 18 months training to fly Black Hawks. “It's very intense. You're trying to fit a lot of knowledge into a short amount of time,” he says of that period. “The Black Hawk is used for general support, moving people and equipment around. It's an absolute thrill to fly.” After leaving the military with 15 years of service, Loyer considered pursuing a career in the law or law enforcement. However, after watching a train pass by after returning home from a deployment in Iraq, Loyer had a simple epiphany: “How does that work? I want to be part of that,” he remembers thinking.
With reservist drills one week each month and training two weeks every year, Loyer, who still flies and takes a yearly flight test, looks forward to returning to his wife, three-year old son and his NS job. “In the military you have your mission, in freight rail you have your customers,” he says. “You feel like you're building something and contributing to the country. It feels good to be part of one of the last heavy industries in America, one that alleviates highway congestion and saves fuel. Freight rail's just a better way to move things.”