I am researching past achievements in scheduling, management, and mathematical optimization of railways. Canadian National appears frequently in, if not dominating, the published literature on the subject from the 1950's and 1960's. Can anyone suggest a lead on the personal, political, and managerial forces that fostered this research environment at CN? My guess is that government funding, cooperative universities, and a positive attitude among CN management towards innovation and investigation led to these accomplishments and publications.

Ideally, I would like to find a history text or journal article discussing management's support for research.

I can not help you, but I am also searching for something quite similar - how the railroads of the 1950s and 60s used computers and punch card technology. I would like to get some of the punch card equipment in museums running with real word problems - simulating railroad operations would be very cool.

If you ever come across this type of information, I would be interested in seeing it - likewise if I ever come across information you might use, I would be happy to share it.

--
Will

I know that one of IBM's first applications for its mainframe computers was to record reservations for Pullman space on the New York Central. Sorry I do not have a reference, but the names alone should get you started.