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The E.H. Harriman Award was an annual award presented to American railroad companies in recognition for outstanding safety achievements.

History

The award was founded in 1913 by Mary Averell Harriman, wife of the late Edward H. Harriman. After her death, the award was presented by her sons E. Roland Harriman and W. Averell Harriman. Today the award is sponsored by the E.H. Harriman Memorial Awards Institute.

On January 5, 2012, UP announced to its employees that for the first time in ninety-eight years the Harriman award would be retired after the 2012 award ceremony. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) made the decision to end the award presentation.

Criticism

While the awards were intended to encourage safe operating practices and safety enhancements, the awards have also occasionally been the source of some labor disputes. Part of the award criteria has been a count of the number of reported workplace injuries as tracked by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); this has led to disciplinary action and even dismissal for employees at some railroads. Union Pacific Railroad (UP), in particular, was shown to have suppressed reporting of some accidents in the early 1970s, leading to their disqualification and withdrawal from consideration for the award over several years. UP launched an intensive safety program and again earned a Harriman gold medal in 1984.

Several rail labor unions objected to the criteria, going so far as to picket the award ceremonies. Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) General Chairman Paul Beard created the "Harassment Award" as a satire of the Harriman Awards to raise awareness of management practices that bred intimidation and disciplinary actions against reporting accidents. In 1999 the FRA invited discussions with representatives of rail labor unions to discuss the problem.

Recipients

The selection process included a rule that the same railroad company could not be selected for a gold medal in two consecutive years. This practice ended in the 1970s when Santa Fe Railroad was selected as the gold medal recipient for several consecutive years.

Railroad companies are grouped into one of four categories:

• Group A railroads are line-haul railroads with greater than 15 million employee hours per year.
• Group B railroads are line-haul railroads with between 4 and 15 million employee hours per year.
• Group C railroads are line-haul railroads with less than 4 million employee hours per year.
• Group S&T railroads are switching and terminal railroads

Historically, the award recipients were notified in May of the year following the statistics calculation with the presentation ceremony in September or October. Later the award announcements and presentations were made in May of the year after the award designation; for example, the 2004 awards were presented in May 2005. Past recipients of the E.H. Harriman Award were:

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

References

Citations

1. ^ Geggie, Bob (September 24, 1950). "Union Pacific Gets Harriman Award for Safety Operations in Western District". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, CA. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
2. WILLIAM C. VANTUONO (January 10, 2012). "COMMENTARY: Was it time for the Harrimans to go?". Railway Age. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
3. Sneider, Julie (January 9, 2012). "Rail News - Harriman and Hammond awards to be 'retired'; rail industry to develop programs that focus on 'best-practice' sharing, AAR spokeswoman says. For Railroad Career Professionals". Progressive Railroading. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
4. "BMWE Journal: FRA Committee Reviewing Safety Award Criteria". Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes. September 1999. Archived from the original on June 17, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
5. Partridge, Dan; Scott, Bill (January 10, 1977). "UP's safety failure noted". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, WY. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Union Pacific Wins Safety Award". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. May 5, 1985. p. 61 – via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Safety Award Won By Union Pacific". Fremont Tribune. Fremont, NE. September 28, 1967. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "E.H. Harriman Award winners for 1926". The Herald Statesman. December 6, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
9. "Award of Harriman Medals". Railway and Marine News. 15 (5). Seattle: 12. May 1917.
10. ^ "Illinois Central To Be Awarded Safety Medal". Scott Country Times. Forest, MS. September 1, 1965. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Union Pacific Will Receive Commendation". The St. Joseph Journal. September 14, 1950. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "E.H. Harriman Award for railroad safety for 1924 Part 1". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News. January 12, 1926. p. 12. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
13. "Safety Medal Is Won By Ann Arbor Railway". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. May 24, 1929. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Southern Pacific Wins Safety Award". The Hearne Democrat. Hearne, TX. April 19, 1946. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Pennsylvania Wins Harriman Memorial". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, WY. Associated Press. October 25, 1931. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
16. ^ "G. M. and N. and N. O. and G. N. get high honors". The Winston County Journal. Louisville, MS. June 12, 1931. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Stream Train Strike Voted on C.B.&Q". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, IA. Associated Press. December 4, 1935. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "N. Y. C. Wins Safety Award". The Agitator. Wellsboro, PA. September 30, 1936. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
19. ^ "N. Y. Central Wins Special Safety Award For 16-Year Record". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY. June 19, 1940. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Safety Promotion Awards Presented To Six Railroads". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, FL. Associated Press. June 25, 1942. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com. Other roads receiving awards were the New York Central, the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range, the Colorado & Southern, Western Maryland and the Monongahela Railway
21. ^ "Harriman Awards for Railroad Safety". The Boston Globe. July 2, 1944. p. 53 – via Newspapers.com.
22. ^ "Peninsula Railroad Gets Safety Award". The Escanaba Daily Press. Escanaba, MI. Associated Press. June 28, 1945. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
23. ^ "Rail Safety Awards". The Tennessean. Nashville, TN. September 17, 1950. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
24. ^ "Erie Railroad Receives Memorial Award". Mansfield Advertiser. Mansfield, PA. October 9, 1957. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "UP Railroad Winner Of Award for Safety". Fremont Tribune. Fremont, NE. September 21, 1951. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
26. ^ "Union Pacific Wins Harriman Safety Award". The Greeley Daily Tribune. Greeley, CO. Associated Press. September 13, 1951. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
27. ^ "Reading Gets Safety Award". The Gettysburg Times. Gettysburg, PA. September 10, 1954. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
28. ^ "N&W Again Wins Harriman Award". The Progress-Index. Petersburg, VA. September 10, 1953. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
29. ^ "N. & W. Ry. Wins Award For Safety". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, MD. September 10, 1953. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Railroads: Score Best Year". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 18, 1953. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Lehigh Valley Praised By Harriman Committee". Wilkes-Barre Record. Wilkes-Barre, PA. September 18, 1953. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "NC&St.L Wins Harriman Safety Award". The Tennessean. September 14, 1954. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
33. ^ "Rail Awards Made". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, NY. Associated Press. September 16, 1955. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
34. ^ "Rail Carriers To Get Awards". The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review. Spokane, WA. Associated Press. September 8, 1955. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Reading RR Wins Safety Award". News Herald. Perkasie, PA. September 8, 1955. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Railroads' Safety Rating in '55 Second To All-Time Record". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. September 20, 1956. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
37. ^ "Harriman Memorial Award Goes To Illinois Central". The Paducah Sun. Paducah, KY. September 12, 1958. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
38. ^ "Illinois Central to Get Safety Award". Journal Gazette. Mattoon, IL. September 13, 1960. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
39. "Western Maryland Wins Coveted Memorial Prize". Public Opinion. Chambersburg, PA. September 19, 1956. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
40. ^ "Safety On Railroads". The Evening Standard. Uniontown, PA. Associated Press. October 17, 1957. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
41. "Erie to Receive Harriman Award". The News. Paterson, NJ. October 10, 1957. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
42. "Erie to Get Coveted Safety Award". Star-Gazette. Elmira, NY. October 10, 1957. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
43. "B. & O. CT Railroad To Receive Award". Garrett Clipper. Garrett, IN. October 10, 1957. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
44. ^ "15 Rails to Get Harriman Safety Awards". The News. Paterson, NJ. September 11, 1958. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
45. ^ "Nickel Plate Wins Another Safety Award". The Evening Independent. Massillon, OH. September 12, 1962. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
46. ^ "Safety Award Goes To NKP". The News-Messenger. Fremont, OH. September 12, 1962. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
47. "Suskie to Get Safety Citation". The News. Paterson, NJ. September 10, 1958. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
48. "Nickel Plate Record Best". The Evening Independent. Massillon, OH. September 12, 1959. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
49. "Susquehanna to Receive Harriman Safety Award". The Herald-News. Passaic, NJ. September 11, 1959. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
50. "Coast Line Wins Safety Award". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, FL. September 10, 1960. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
51. ^ "Coast Line Wins Railroad Award". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, AL. September 11, 1960. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
52. "Tex-Mex Line To Receive Safety Award". The Laredo Times. Laredo, TX. September 7, 1960. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
53. UPI (September 20, 1962). "Railroads Given Safety Awards". The Times-News. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
54. "Union Pacific Wins Medal for Safety". The Banner-Press. David City, NE. September 26, 1963. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
55. "Nickel Plate Wins High Safety Honor". The Evening Independent. Massillon, OH. September 9, 1964. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
56. "Illinois Central Wins Harriman Safety Award". Enterprise-Journal. McComb, MS. October 25, 1965. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
57. "Award Cites Monon Line's Safety Record". Journal and Courier. Lafayette, IN. September 11, 1965. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
58. Dombrowski, Louis (October 6, 1966). "Chicago & North Western Gets 1965 Safety Award". Chicago Tribune. p. 80 – via Newspapers.com.
59. "Rail Safety Practices May Face Federal Probe". Wellsville Daily Reporter. Wellsville, NY. Associated Press. October 21, 1967. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com. Winners ... were these railroads: Illinois Central; New York Central System; Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac; Monon; Bangor & Aroostook; Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range; Kentucky & Indiana Terminal; Union; Indiana Harbor Belt
60. ^ "Southern Pacific Honored For Safety Achievements". The Plano Star-Courier. Plano, TX. July 24, 1969. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
61. "W.M. Railway Will Receive Safety Award". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, MD. June 3, 1970. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
62. ^ "Santa Fe Safest". Arizona Daily Sun. Flagstaff, AZ. June 19, 1974. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
63. "Rail Firm Gets Employe Safety Award". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA. June 15, 1972. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
64. "Delaware & Hudson Tops in Safety Record". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. June 29, 1973. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
65. "AC&Y Gets Safety Award". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, OH. May 30, 1974. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
66. "Medal for railroad". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. June 15, 1974. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
67. Press Washington Bureau (May 12, 1976). "Monongahela Railway, Union Railroad Win Employee Safety Awards". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, PA. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
68. "Mon Railway Given Award For Safety". The Evening Standard. Uniontown, PA. May 18, 1976. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
69. ^ "Southern Railway wins safety award". The Greenville News. Greenville, SC. Associated Press. May 13, 1977. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
70. "SCL Receives Award For Safety Record". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, NC. May 19, 1976. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
71. "SCL Wins Safety Award". Florence Morning News. Florence, SC. May 23, 1976. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
72. ^ "Rail safety award to Santa Fe". St. Joseph News-Press/Gazette. St. Joseph, MO. Associated Press. May 14, 1980. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
73. ^ "Santa Fe wins top rail safety award". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, CA. Associated Press. May 15, 1980. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
74. ^ "MoPac's safety awarded". The Marshall News Messenger. Marshall, TX. May 3, 1981. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
75. ^ "Railroads Get Safety Awards". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, MO. May 18, 1979. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
76. "Safety Prize Given". The Hanford Sentinel. Hanford, CA. May 31, 1980. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
77. ^ "2 short-haul rails honored for safety". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. May 7, 1982. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
78. ^ "Railways receive Harriman award". The Morning Press. Murfreesboro, TN. July 2, 1982. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
79. "Business Notes". The Galveston Daily News. Galveston, TX. May 31, 1987. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
80. ^ "SP gets safety award". The Times. Shreveport, LA. May 31, 1988. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
81. "Va. railroad wins honors". Daily Press. Newport News, VA. Associated Press. May 29, 1994. p. 67 – via Newspapers.com.
82. "Three railroads win top safety honors". The Tribune. Scranton, PA. Associated Press. May 27, 1994. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
83. "Business Briefs". Carlsbad Current-Argus. Carlsbad, NM. May 28, 1995. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
84. "Harriman Awards Recognize Rail Employee Safety". PR Newswire. June 26, 1998. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
85. "P&L Railway Wins National Safety Award". The Paducah Sun. July 1, 1998. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
86. Stucke, John (May 21, 1999). "Montana Rail Link wins national safety award". The Missoulian. Missoula, MT. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
87. "Railroad recognized for safety record". The Montana Standard. Butte, MT. May 23, 1999. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
88. ^ "Kansas City Southern RR wins safety award". The Newton Record. Newton, MS. June 6, 2001. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
89. ^ "Railroad wins safety award". The News-Star. Monroe, LA. May 7, 2002. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
90. Iowa Interstate Railroad (May 7, 2004). "IAIS Receives Harriman Memorial Safety Award" (PDF) (Press release).
91. "Railroads Set Another Employee Safety Record in 2005". Trains Magazine. May 16, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
92. "Honors". The Times. Shreveport, LA. May 28, 2006. p. 111 – via Newspapers.com.
93. "Railroad Employees Post Safest Year Ever in 2006" (Press release). Association of American Railroads. May 17, 2007. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
94. "RailAmerica's Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Wins Harriman Award" (Press release). RailAmerica. May 18, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
95. "AAR announces Harriman Award winners; KCSR wins Group B Gold". kcsi.com. Kansas City Southern. May 15, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
96. "AAR hands out annual Harriman, Hammond safety awards". Progressive Railroading. May 21, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
97. Rose, Michael (May 26, 2009). "Railroad wins top safety award". Statesman Journal. Salem, OR. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
98. "AAR hands out annual Harriman, Hammond safety awards". Progressive Railroading. May 19, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
99. "Harriman Awards: NS streak at 22". RailwayAge. May 18, 2011. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
100. "Rail Safety Achievements Honored at E.H. Harriman Awards". AAR. May 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.

Bibliography

• Association of American Railroads (May 19, 2005), Railroads Set Another Employee Safety Record in 2004. E. H. Harriman Memorial Awards Honors Outstanding Performance in Rail Safety. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
• Belt Railway of Chicago (2005), The Belt Railway of Chicago: Safety. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
• BNSF Railway (May 19, 2005), BNSF Wins E.H. Harriman Memorial Silver Safety Award. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
• Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad (May 12, 2000), IHB Railroad wins award for improved safety performance. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
• Kansas City Southern (May 8, 2001), KCS and Gateway Western Receive Gold E.H. Harriman Memorial Safety Awards. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
• Metra (May 23, 2003), Metra earns two Harriman Awards. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
• Norfolk Southern Railway, Norfolk Southern Earns 16th Consecutive Harriman Rail Safety Award. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
• Terminal Railroad Association Harriman Gold Medal Award Winner. Retrieved January 11, 2006.

• Rail transportation in the United States
• Rail transport industry awards
• Awards established in 1913
• 1913 establishments in the United States
• Awards disestablished in 2012
• Occupational safety and health awards