I don't think this obituary was ever posted to this forum. I have to ask, was David a railfan of sorts?


December 22, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Short Line Rail Executive David Parkinson Passes

PALM DESERT, Calif.—Short line railroad executive David L. Parkinson, 78, died Saturday, December 17 at Palm Desert, California after a brief illness.

Mr. Parkinson had been involved in railroad investments and acquisitions since 1988. He was founder and chairman of the Arizona & California and the California Northern railroads since their respective startups in 1991 and 1993 and chairman of the Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad, which began operation in 1997. The three railroads were sold in 2002 to Rail America, Inc., which subsequently was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. in 2012. Mr. Parkinson acquired the San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad from RailAmerica in 2003.

He was a director of Evraz Oregon Steel Mills Inc. since 2001. Mr. Parkinson served on the board of directors for Napa Landmarks and California Short Line Railroad Association, and the Foundation of Intermodal Research.

From 1972 until 1986, he was founder and chairman of WESTEC Services, Inc., a California-based engineering and consulting firm. He became group president after the organization was acquired by ERC International—a part of Ogden Corp. Mr. Parkinson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1960 and served in the Navy’s nuclear power program and submarines.

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Sailing along the Ship Mountains by Mike Danneman, on Flickr

Quote:

Mike Danneman on Flickr
Arizona & California’s eastbound freight approaches Chubbuck, California, on March 16, 2004. The Ship Mountains dominate the background at this desolate location in the Mojave Desert. Powering the train are two of ARZC’s SD40-2Ms, Nos. 4002 and 4003, rebuilt from EMD SD45 and SD45-2 locomotives respectively.

Switching Bud by Mike Danneman, on Flickr

Quote:

Mike Danneman on Flickr
Three California Northern GP15-1s switch the Budweiser plant at Subeet (west of Fairfield/Suisun City), California, on March 7, 1994. These classy green and creme Geeps in fresh paint are former Chicago and North Western locomotives.