By any measure, Robert Krebs’ impact on the rail industry puts him in an elite tier of U.S. railroad CEOs. From his beginnings as a Southern Pacific management trainee, Krebs rose to become one of only a handful of leaders to head three Class Is and to oversee the merger of two major western roads. 

When Krebs signed on in the mid-60s, railroads were a dying industry, burdened by regulation and losing tonnage to truck and airline competitors.  Over the course of his 35-year career, Krebs witnessed the rebirth of America’s freight rail network into an essential component of our national infrastructure whose efficiency and technology are unmatched in the world.

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In this three-hour interview with the Hall of Fame’s Brooks Bentz, Krebs talks about the challenges and triumphs of his life’s work on the Southern Pacific, the Santa Fe, and BNSF.  In a seven-minute outtake titled ‘Vision and Values’ he shares candidly how he applied lessons from his own personal growth to ensure the success of the Santa Fe - Burlington Northern merger, laying the foundation for BNSF’s continued evolution into the powerhouse it is today.