Rail Transportation Management Specialists

Additional Information

Rail Transportation Management Specialists was founded in 1986 to serve new small railroads being created as the result of major railroads selling off lightly trafficked route segments. The group also assisted numerous rail-dependent industries and communities facing railroad service changes.

The pivot to the current production services focus occurred during the early 1990s as evolving railroad operations created major challenges for production companies searching for railroad resources. The group’s safety leadership was acknowledged in 2014 when RTMS was selected by IATSE, DGA and PGA to provide rail safety training programs in the wake of the Sarah Jones/Midnight Rider tragedy.

Today, RTMS primarily serves the entertainment production industry; its labor unions; and Host Railroads. We also are expert witnesses for railroads facing civil tort and economic litigation and we help small railroads with innovative safety programs, industry-leading crew and manager training, and regulatory compliance.
The RTMS team is a precision blend of safety-focused railroad and entertainment production professionals. Detailed resumes and CVs are available upon request.
C. Lynn Ashley

RTMS Graphic Specialist

BA University of Delaware, Communications

Project Management, Ideation
Michael _. Gresham

RTMS Rail Operations Specialist

Major, U.S. Air Force (ret.) ICBM Missile-Space Systems Operator

Passenger car owner, restoration manager.

Short line railroad start-up/acquisition management experience.

[20xx] National AAR “Lighting the Way to Safety” award.
Each of the individuals listed below patiently shared their expertise and practical skills with the entertainment production industry.

Arthur J. Miller, Sr. – MIT, Ph.D. Physics (’37). Manhattan Project, Clinton Engineering Works: Director - Chemistry Laboratory. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL): Project Manager – Nuclear Energy for the Propulsion of Aircraft (NEPA); Administrator - Space Programs; Associate Director – ORNL Research Programs.

Credits: The Fugitive; The Specialist; Lilly In Winter; The Kitty Dodds Story.

Edward Thomas – Louisville & Nashville Railroad: Knoxville & Atlanta/Cumberland Valley Divisions, Dispatcher. SCL-L&N: Senior Trainmaster. CSXT, Clinchfield Division, Operations Manager; Superintendent – Operations.

Credits: Unstoppable; Public Enemies

W. Tinsley “WT” Pate, Jr. –Louisville & Nashville Railroad, Knoxville & Atlanta Division: Engineer; Road Foreman of Engines. SCL-L&N, Corbin Division: Senior Road Foreman of Engines. CSXT, Clinchfield Division: Senior Road Foreman of Engines; Operations Manager.

Credit: Leatherheads.

Willis B. Miller – Illinois Institute of Technology, B.S. Electrical Engineering (’62). General Motors, Electro-Motive Division: Locomotive Service Engineer. American Locomotive Company: Senior Design Engineer; Vice President, Electrical Engineering. Precision National Corporation: Vice President - Sales. West Tennessee Railroad: General Manager.

Credits: Fair Game; Courage Under Fire (train-car crash engineer)

Daniel O. Norris – Rock Island Railroad: Conductor, Trainmaster. Illinois Terminal Railroad: Manager – Operating Practices & Safety. U.S. Railway Association: Director – Carrier Performance Evaluation. U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (1993 – 2018): retired as Senior Chief Inspector (GS-17), Administrator – National Part 228 Hours of Service Program.

Credits: Under Siege II – In Dark Territory; a constant mentor three decades and key RTMS safety programs contributor.

Charles D. “Gunny” Maples – Louisville & Nashville/CSXT: Engineer (1972 – 1994). 30-year Marine Corps [Active and Reserve]: service in Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Desert Storm. Retired as E-7 Gunnery Sergeant.

Credit: October Sky
RTMS has access to thousands of modern and historic railroad locomotives, freight and passenger cars, and other picturesque railroad equipment. Our team has the right connections to speedily locate the requisite cars and secure safe access for the image scanning crew. RTMS has access to thousands of modern and historic railroad locomotives, freight and passenger cars, and other picturesque railroad equipment. Our team has the right connections to speedily locate the requisite cars and secure safe access for the image-scanning crew.

RTMS provides safe access to the equipment needed.
After 30+ years, Rail Transportation Management Specialists IS STILL a film commission’s first call when viewing a script requiring railroad locations and train scenes.

Over the years, our team collectively has scouted in 49 of the 50 states; visited over 100 main line, regional, and short line railroads; and safely completed more than 100 film projects. RTMS is pleased to freely contribute this trove of knowledge and experience to your agency and its prospective clients.

We are proud of this heritage of film commission support. The RTMS team will continue to help you effectively respond to all levels of studio and production company inquiries.