Skills that keep freight moving safely

Apr 09, 2026

By Martin Wattenbarger, Senior Communications Manager

Blue Ridge Division Steel Gang group photo

Across the rail network, much of the work that keeps freight moving safely and reliably happens out of sight. Beneath bridges, inside structures, and in remote locations. Tight‑knit, skilled crews are responsible for infrastructure that customers and communities depend on every day.

For Norfolk Southern, one of those teams is the Blue Ridge Division Steel Gang — a six-person crew whose work strengthens critical assets that support safe operations and consistent service.

Maintaining vital infrastructure

The Blue Ridge Division Steel Gang specializes in maintaining and rebuilding steel infrastructure that underpins the railroad’s ability to reliably serve customers and operate safely in the communities along its routes.

Their work includes:

Bridge repair, maintenance, and replacement
Bearings and turntables
Ship loaders at terminals
Handrails, steps, and structural steel
Foundational infrastructure

Much of the work requires innovative fabrication, welding, and real-time problem solving in the field. Conditions often change, and the team must adapt quickly while maintaining strict safety and quality standards.

The work few people see

The team operates across a wide territory from Bluefield, West Virginia, to Norfolk, Virginia, and from Shenandoah, Virginia, down to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Many job sites are far from terminals or main lines, requiring the crew to work independently in challenging environments.

“When they’re out there on a job site, they operate largely independently,” said James Erickson, Division Engineer. “They’re committed to getting the job done safely and the right way. They have very high expectations of each other.”

A team shaped by experience

The steel gang brings together a range of backgrounds and tenure levels, including two generations of railroaders working side by side:

Derek Creasey, foreman — on the steel gang since 2005, foreman since 2013
James Pollard — joined in 2008
Brian Gauldin — on the steel gang since 2013
Eric Harris — 2014
Brad Hurley — 2016
Brett Pollard — 2023, working alongside his father, James

“This job isn’t for everybody,” Creasey said. “The work and locations can be tough, and you’ve got to be willing to adapt. Everybody here takes pride in doing the job the right way.”

Safety as the foundation

In February, the Blue Ridge Division Steel Gang reached a major milestone: 23 years without an injury.

That achievement reflects a shared commitment to the value of safety that guides every decision on the job, including speaking up, looking out for one another, and using Stop Work Authority whenever something doesn’t look right.

“This isn’t a dictatorship,” Creasey said. “Everybody’s input matters. If something doesn’t look right, we stop and talk it through.”

After more than two decades injury free‑, the impact of the team’s work is clear. Quietly and consistently, the Blue Ridge Division Steel Gang helps keep freight moving safely — strengthening infrastructure, supporting customers, and protecting the communities along the railroad.

Martin Wattenbarger leads internal communications for Norfolk Southern’s Operations organization, with an emphasis on safety culture and performance, operational excellence, and employee engagement. He joined NS in 2020, bringing nearly 20 years of combined strategic communications experience in the private and public sectors.