Letters from an Old Railway Official. Second Series: [To] His Son, a General Manager

Through a series of candid letters, a veteran railway official shares the hard‑won lessons of a lifetime spent on every rung of the rail industry, from brakeman to vice‑president. Written to his son, who has just become a general manager, the correspondence blends personal anecdotes with sharp observations about the challenges of running a modern railroad. The author’s varied background—military, legal, engineering and executive—gives each lesson a practical edge that feels both authoritative and conversational.

The letters focus especially on the problem of organization, describing the “unit system” the writer helped introduce on the Harriman lines and how it balances local autonomy with system‑wide efficiency. Along the way he touches on topics such as public relations, regulatory oversight, labor relations and the everyday realities of keeping trains moving safely. Readers will find the mix of witty storytelling and concrete advice both entertaining and useful for anyone interested in how a massive transportation network is kept on track.