Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Office of Vice President-Operations.

The Office of Vice President in Charge of Operations (later shortened to Vice President-Operations) was created on May 8, 1912, when the practice of designating vice presidents by function was adopted. Previously, vice presidents had been designated by number on the basis of personal seniority. The post was abolished in the reorganization of November 1, 1955, and restored by the reorganization of March 1, 1958. With the implementation of the Penn Central merger on February 1, 1968, the office was retitled Executive Vice President-Operations.

The Vice President-Operations was the top line officer in charge of all facets of operations, i.e., everything that had to do with the running of trains. With the exception of the Executive Vice President, who was the designated heir apparent, the VP-O was the ranking member of the president's staff, and the post was traditionally the stepping-stone to the presidency.

Prior to the reorganization of March 1, 1920, the VP-O primarily supervised the General Manager, who carried out operations on a day-to-day basis. With the introduction of the regional system in 1920, the VP-O supervised the Regional Vice Presidents and Regional General Managers. At the same time he was given control of the Engineering Dept., the Motive Power Dept., and the Personnel Dept. Control of the Medical Dept. was added in 1953.

The first VP-O was W. W. Atterbury, who had been de facto VP-O as Fifth and Fourth Vice President since 1909. He was succeeded by his protege, Elisha Lee (1924-1926), M. W. Clement (1926-1933), John F. Deasy (1933-1947), James M. Symes (1947-1951), and James P. Newell (1952-1955).

The post of Vice President-Operations was abolished on November 1, 1955, and the duties were divided between two new offices. Newell was promoted to Vice President, with direct authority over all operating functions. His principal subordinate was a new Vice President-Transportation & Maintenance, who acted as intermediary with the traditional functions of operations, engineering, motive power and maintenance of way.

On March 1, 1958, Newell's title was restored to Vice President-Operations, and his responsibilities were increased to embrace labor negotiations, safety and legislative matters, and research. Control of the Dept. of Industrial Engineering was added upon its creation in 1962. In September 1964, the post of Vice President-Transportation & Maintenance was abolished and its duties returned to the VP-O. The VP-T&M was revived in 1966 as a purely subordinate officer in charge of stations and maintenance of way. Newell retired in October 1963 and was succeeded by D. M. Smucker, who served until the Penn Central merger.

From the description of Records, 1917-1968 (bulk 1930-1964). (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122370782