SCRANTON, Pa. – The National Park Service has named Cherie Shepard the superintendent of Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, who will begin her new assignment in June. She replaces Deborah Conway who is now a deputy regional director for the agency.
“Cherie’s experience and skills are a great fit for the park,” says Northeast Regional Director Gay Vietzke. “Her background in facility management, construction, and engineering will help Steamtown remain a premiere destination dedicated to an important part of America’s industrial heritage. Additionally, Cherie has strong team building experience that will serve her well in her new role.”
“I fell in love with Steamtown the moment I stepped through the entrance,” Shepherd says. “Having the opportunity to visit many national parks during my career, my favorite places are the one-of-a-kind sites like Steamtown with its historic roundhouse, working railroad yard, world-class museum, and passenger excursion trains.
Shepherd will work with park staff, volunteers, partners, and the community to enhance visitor accessibility and enjoyment of the site and to reduce the park’s maintenance backlog. The park recently restored a locomotive steam engine that powers 30-minute train rides of the rail yard, including the view of the Lackawanna River from Bridge 60. Improvements to the museum, locomotive shop, railroad tracks, vintage passenger cars, and additional steam locomotives are planned to help provide visitors with a fascinating and personal look at our country’s vital connections to the railroad industry.
Since 2016, Shepard has served as the regional chief of facility management for the National Park Service’s National Capital Region. Originally from Colorado, she holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology from Metropolitan State University.
Well, which is it — Shepard or Shepherd? I’ve seen our mutual name spelled wrong many times, but not two different ways in the same item.
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First thing she should do is get some in the steam locomotive cab experience, likely at Strasburg, Durango & Silverton, or C&TS, maybe UP and learn what it really is all about, beyond their 0-6-0 switcher. Then arrange to be steam friendly by leasing any large main line engine, like NKP 765 of NW 611 and run some main line steam trains. That would draw crows like opening day. And hire the contractors that just worked over 4004 and have them paint the Big Boy at Steamtown.