PTSI Transportation is saddened to relate that the company has learned of the July passing of its Senior Advisor Michael (Mike) Perlman, at his home in San Mateo California. Perlman was 79 years old.
Michael was the eldest son of Alfred and Adele Perlman, both deceased. Alfred Perlman had been the president of the New York Central Railroad, Penn Central Transportation Company, and later, Western Pacific Railroad, finally serving as Chairman of that railroad. He is credited with many of the innovations in leadership and technology which are common in today’s railroad industry.
Perlman followed his father’s footsteps into railroading, becoming a planning and then an operating officer of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and then, after merger, the Burlington Northern Railroad. Among his posts were the CB&Q general office in Chicago, and Alliance NE, where he served as trainmaster.
After leaving Burlington Northern, he performed consulting services, including a study for a Congressional committee involving potential alternate routes to separate freight and passenger traffic on key corridors, and to recommend new lower grade alignments. He had independently investigated a route alternative to bring future California high speed rail trains into the Southern California area.
Perlman served as a senior addvisor to PTSI Transportation for several years. He was a resident of San Mateo, California and Palm Springs, California.
Michael Perlman was predeceased by his younger brother Lee and is survived by his younger sister Constance Perlman Spahn of New York, New York.
