Assistant Chief Engineer Tom Lyons got a taste for railroading early in his career.

Fresh out of Michigan State University with a degree in construction management, he hired on with Norfolk Southern’s Engineering Department as an intern.

“I got bit by the bug,” he said.

After becoming a permanent employee, he worked in several locations for the Class I railroad, including Chicago, earning valuable field experience and ascending to manager of construction.

Originally considering a career in commercial construction, Lyons realized railroading would get him closer to teammates and offer variety.

“Every day in Chicago is something different,” he said.

As he and his fiancée, Shelby, are getting married on June 8, Lyons said the Belt is the right vocational home for him.

“It’s exciting to come to a smaller organization where I can have a greater influence on people, culture and infrastructure,” said the Hinsdale, Illinois, native.

In 2023, while working for Norfolk Southern, Lyons added a master’s degree in business administration from his alma mater. He developed skills managing capital construction projects and a diverse group of teammates. Lyons is accustomed to closely collaborating with all departments and believes that lends itself to the tightknit Belt work environment. He said the ability to see things from a global perspective that considers all stakeholders will aid him in his Belt career.

“My future is here,” he said. “I want to be a valued member of the team.”

Lyons will work closely with Chief Mechanical and Engineering Officer Adam Brock, noting, “I hope to learn from his experience.”

An initial area of focus for Lyons will be the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) projects. The Belt is engaged in multiple jobs and will be for several years.

“I’m proud about what I do,” Lyons said. “I enjoy helping freight safely and smoothly move through the city.”

Away from work, Lyons said he often can be found wrenching on his vehicles or tooling around his home or his family’s lake house in southwest Michigan.