Perlman, Alfred E.

Alfred E. Perlman (1903-1983) was a railroad executive, known for his ability to trouble shoot and rescue failing companies. He began his career in 1923 and worked for the Northern Pacific, Burlington and Quincy, and Denver and Rio Grande railroads. He was also a railroad consultant in Israel in 1950. He was president of the New York Central Railroad, 1954-1968, until it merged with Penn Central; then he was president and chairman of Western Pacific Railroad during the 1970s. He focused on research and modernization of the companies he headed. He was a member of the National Defense Transportation Association and served on the Military Airlift Command in the 1960s among other organizational involvements.