Stephen Willis Email & Phone Number

Dubin, Va

New River Rail LLC is a railcar storage and switching company. We are looking for opportunities performing plant switching, line operations, and consulting. Able to travel nationwide for your needs.

Dublin, Va

We operated K&SW (DBA) Grey Wolf Machining, a CNC machining company, from 2007-2020. It sold to a new owner allowing Kathryn and I to seek out other opportunities.

Coos Bay, Or

Class III shortline. Primary traffic is forest products from Georgia Pacific cut lumber plant in Coos Bay, Roseburg Forest Products in Coquile and many other small Oregon towns. Worked as part time engineer to get back into the railroad retirement system after many years of operating K&SW-Grey Wolf Machining in Dublin, VA.

Fillmore, California

Temp extra employee. Asked to come work for the company by Andy Wilkinson, son of the owner, Dave. I met Andy on the Lone Ranger movie crew in 2012. Interesting rail line, 32 miles long, primarily tourist, dinner train, and movie location railroad. They've been in over 500 movies/videos in the last 20 years of operation.

Albuquerque, Nm, Creede, Co, And Moab, Ut

During the period of February to July 2012, I was part of the train department for the filming of Disney's “The Lone Ranger,” starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer. Seven “train guys” operated the equipment for all shooting conducted on moving rail equipment. Our first 45 days were dedicated to inspection and repair of brakes and suspension of the cars acquired for the movie. The prop locomotives were pulled or shoved around a 5-mile loop of track near Albuquerque, NM, using an SW1500 locomotive or a trackmobile. The company moved to Creede, CO for June shooting, primarily at night in near freezing temperatures. Train handling skills included operating on 8% grades, on an abandoned Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge branch.The final outdoor train scenes were filmed on a leased 9 mile section of Union Pacific track outside Moab, UT on the Potash branch. The company leased two UP locomotives for the final month. During the maintenance period and shooting of the movie, no train people and no movie personnel were injured.

Performed contract services to Class-II/III railroads nationwide. Services provided: locomotive engineer; engineer trainer; dispatcher; and remote control trainer.

Us And Overseas

Enlisted in the US Army in April 1975 and retired in March 2003 as an Armor Crewman. Career progression from Tank Driver, Loader, Gunner and Tank Commander by 1978. Promoted to Sergeant in 1977. Promoted to Staff Sergeant in 1981. Graduated from Tank Master Gunner course in 1983. Promoted to Sergeant First Class in 1987. Assigned as Platoon Sergeant with the responsibility of training, health and welfare, and discipline of a 16 man tank platoon. A Platoon Sergeant is also tasked to train new Lieutenants in becoming effective Platoon Leaders and Tank Commanders. In 1990 I was assigned to US Army Armor Center as Small Group Instructor for Basic Noncommissioned Officer course (BNCOC). Trained four groups of up to 20 Tank Commanders per year. Designated BNCOC Branch Chief in 1991. Supervised 15, BNCOC-19K (Armor) Small Group Leaders, ensuring compliance standards and test security. Promoted to Master Sergeant in 1993. Appointed as First Sergeant in 1997. Responsible for daily functioning of a 100 man M1A2 tank company as the senior enlisted member, working directly with the Company Commander. Directed various personnel to ensure unit supply functioned to support company operations. Implemented Army and unit policies and procedures. Recommended awards and disciplinary actions to the Commander. Directed tactical resupply operations. Responsible for professional development of Platoon Sergeants assigned to the company. Managed tasks to ensure the company was prepared to conduct wartime missions, report actions, and generated historical data. Awards: Legion of MeritArmy Commendation Medal (x4)Army Achievement Medal (x4)Army Good Conduct Medal (x6)National Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism (Expeditionary)Armed Forces Service MedalArmy NCO Development RibbonArmy Service RibbonOverseas Service Ribbon (x2)Qualifications: Expert Marksman (Rifle)Expert Marksman (Pistol)Sharpshooter (Grenade)

Education record

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities