The Eargles: nearly 100 years on the rails at Norfolk Southern

Apr 14, 2026

By Brett Willi, Senior Communications Manager

A third-generation railroader reflects on family, steadiness, and service.

Railroading runs deep for Gregg Eargle. Nearly a century deep.

His family’s connection to the railroad began in 1927, when his grandfather, Elon Grady Eargle, hired on with Southern Railway. Over 35 years, Grady worked his way to track foreman, helping support his family and establishing a sense of stability that would carry forward across generations.

“That steadiness carried over into everything,” Gregg said. “The railroad helped make him the kind of man people could count on.”

Today, Gregg is a signal maintainer in Engineering’s Communications & Signals (C&S) function at Norfolk Southern. While his path to the railroad came later in life, the values that shaped how he approaches the work were instilled early.

Steady work, steady values

Grady was known as quiet, dependable, and consistent. He spoke sparingly, but when he did, his words carried weight. The habits he developed on the railroad shaped how he lived, with a strong respect for time, responsibility, and doing the job the right way.

Those qualities became especially important during Gregg’s teenage years. After his father died when Gregg was 13, the family moved from Atlanta to Prosperity, South Carolina, closer to extended family. There, his grandparents became a steady presence at a formative time.

They attended every football game Gregg played, home and away. They offered support without fanfare and simply showed up. That consistency left a lasting impression.

Eargle family, circa 1945: Gregg’s grandfather, Grady (back left), with his grandmother, Ellen; uncles Holmes and Elon (both later worked for the Southern Railway); and Gregg’s father, Pete (front left).

A family shaped by the railroad

Railroading was part of everyday life in Prosperity. Gregg’s grandparents’ home sat next to the tracks near the depot, with the sound of passing trains marking the day. Family gatherings brought together multiple generations, with the railroad never far from view.

Railroading though carried real risk, something the family understood firsthand. Gregg’s uncle, Holmes Eargle, worked for Southern Railway and died in an electrical accident in 1949 at age 23. The loss left a lasting imprint, even if it was rarely discussed in later years.

“Anytime is train time,” Gregg recalled his grandfather often telling his grandchildren, a simple phrase reinforcing constant vigilance around the tracks.

The railroad also provided long-term stability. Years later, Gregg watched his brother, Perry Eargle, build a 30-year career at NS with Engineering’s Bridges and Structures and retire with that same sense of security.

The train depot next to Gregg’s grandparents’ home and garden in Prosperity, South Carolina, a daily part of life for the Eargle family.

Finding his own way to the railroad

Gregg joined NS in 2012, at age 50, after careers in manufacturing engineering and ministry.

As a signal maintainer in C&S, his role focuses on systems that protect crews, the public, and freight movement. He inspects and maintains signals, switches, and grade crossings across his territory, helping ensure trains move safely and efficiently. When systems are not operating as intended, risk increases quickly.

The work demands technical skill, accountability, and trust built through communication and teamwork.

“When you look out for each other because you care, you do the right things for the right reasons,” Gregg said.

Walking the same ground

Some days, the past feels especially close. Gregg works in parts of the territory his grandfather once covered. Walking the track, he often thinks about Grady working those same stretches decades earlier, carrying responsibility for keeping the railroad running safely and on time.

That connection reinforces the scale of what came before and the sense of duty that continues today.

Gregg (left) and his brother, Perry (right)

Carrying it forward

For close to a century, the railroad has provided stability, purpose, and pride for the Eargle family. Gregg sees his role as part of that continuum.

“The railroad keeps the country moving,” he said. “It’s work people don’t always see, but it matters.”

Today, he carries that responsibility forward with care, humility, and deep respect for the many dedicated railroaders that came before him.

Railroad roots and roles: Eargle family

Elon “Grady” Eargle, Track Foreman (grandfather)
Holmes Chapman Eargle, Track Laborer (uncle)
Elon Eargle, Telegraph Operator (uncle)
Perry Eargle, Supervisor/Bridge Laborer (brother)

Brett Willi leads internal communications for Norfolk Southern, focusing on safety, compliance, operational excellence, and employee engagement. He also oversees communications for Engineering and Mechanical. Brett joined NS in 2025, with 20 years of strategic communications, digital content, and analytics expertise.