Stuart T. Saunders

Stuart Thomas Saunders, Sr. (July 16, 1909 – February 7, 1987) was an American railroad executive best known for his tenure with Penn Central.

Saunders served as president of the Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W), one of the nation's most profitable railroads, from 1958 to 1963.

Saunders also oversaw construction of a high-speed coal pier in Norfolk, Virginia that expanded the N&W's core activity (transporting coal from West Virginia to Hampton Roads for follow-on worldwide shipment) and he initiated conversion from steam locomotives to diesels ending the company's distinction as the nation's last steam railroad.

In addition to overcoming obstacles, the principal problem was too much governmental regulation and a passenger deficit which amounted to more than $100 million a year.

"[1] Saunders appeared on the January 26, 1968 cover of Time, and was the Saturday Review Businessman of the Year in 1968.

Conferring outside Hearing Room of Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington, D.C., Alfred E. Perlman (right), President of New York Central Railroad , confers with Stuart W. Saunders, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Railroad , about employee protection agreement.