HOMEWOOD, Ill. — Canadian National has named its Woodcrest Shops after former Chief Operating Officer Ed Harris, who began his railroad career at the Illinois Central facility outside Chicago.
“We were thrilled to welcome recently retired CN COO and railroading veteran Ed Harris back for a very special visit and surprise, as we renamed our Woodcrest Shops in Homewood, IL (where Ed’s railroading journey began!) in his honour,” CN said in a post on LinkedIn today.
“Ed’s contributions have set a standard for excellence not only at CN but within the rail industry, and we are so proud to celebrate his legacy in this meaningful way,” CN said. “Congratulations and heartfelt thanks, Ed.”
Harris was CN’s chief operating officer from 2005 to 2007, and again from November 2022 to November 2023. Harris also served as chief operating officer at Canadian Pacific from 2010 to 2011, at CSX Transportation from 2018 to 2019, and was vice president of operations at Illinois Central when it was acquired by CN in 1998.
Harris was a good friend of Hunter Harrison. Where Harrison went, Harris would soon follow.