Ep. 19 - The Railroad Will Tell You: 36 Years of Track Inspection, Derailments & Rail Safety with Bill Pairman

This week on The Switch Point Podcast, Joe sits down with railroad industry veteran Bill Pairman, who brings 36 years of experience across track inspection, heavy equipment, derailment response, transit operations, maintenance, and railroad leadership. Bill shares what decades of hands-on experience have taught him about identifying track defects, preventing derailments, managing maintenance, and balancing new technology with boots-on-the-ground experience.The conversation covers: The differences between freight and transit rail  What experienced track inspectors look for in the field  How delayed maintenance can lead to derailments  The role of technology, sensors, drones, and data in rail safety  Why hands-on experience still matters  The challenges facing the next generation of railroad workers  Why becoming a great railroader is a marathon, not a sprint After 36 years in the industry, Bill's message is simple: learn the craft, respect the railroad, and pass your knowledge on to the next generation.