Remember the days of rate bureaus, revenue divisions, and passing slips?
Jay Ostrow does. 

Ostrow started his railroading career in 1953 as a research assistant in the office of the executive vice president of the Denver & Rio Grande Western.  Computer technology was not yet in widespread use in the industry, the deregulation of the Staggers Act was 25 years in the future, and the US railroad map included over 120 Class I railroads.
 

When Ostrow arrived at the D&RGW, the legendary Al Perlman was Executive Vice President.  Ostrow later followed Perlman to the New York Central, where he was successively promoted though a series of marketing and research positions before accepting posts with Western Pacific and Union Pacific.  He finished his 60-year career as a consultant with R.L. Banks & Associates before retiring in 2018.

We met Ostrow in his Los Angeles home, where he shared reflections on his long career and the many technological advances, mergers, and leaders he encountered, including his reminiscences on the person and leadership style of Al Perlman.

Brooks Bentz and Jay Ostrow