For Justin Dempsey, going the extra mile is the bare minimum. At work and in his community, this Mississippi Southern Railroad (MSR) trainmaster leads by example and boosts morale.

“He’s just the guy you always want in your corner,” said MSR General Manager Michael Goss. “You don’t even have to ask for his help. He’s already thinking ahead about how we can do better.”

Dempsey has been with Watco for 16 years, originally working as a conductor and engineer. In 2023, he became a trainmaster based out of the Louisville, Mississippi, depot. Goss says Dempsey uses his experience to be a better leader. Recently, the railroad’s largest customer changed its shift schedule. Dempsey asked the customer if that would affect their preferred times for rail service. It did, and as a result, that job needed to start two hours later.

“He brings transparency to the job,” Goss said. “He wouldn’t have known about the schedule change without his relationship with the customer. But starting and ending their shifts two hours later is a big change to our team’s personal lives. Justin explained why we’re doing it and stays late with the crew. Giving a clear reason why and being there with them helped everyone adapt.”

Dempsey’s also the Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers, a Federal Railroad Administration-designated position in charge of training, certifying, and supervising engineers on the railroad. He stays on top of everyone’s certification to make sure no one lapses. Goss says he takes a personal stake in the railroad’s success by managing railcar inventory, working with customers to grow business, keeping an eye on track conditions, and collaborating with the safety team. Since Dempsey became trainmaster, the MSR has moved more cars while reducing car hire expenses and recording fewer track-caused and team member incidents.

“Everyone knows he’s got their back,” said Goss. “The little things go a long way. That might be signs or a coat of paint, jumping onto a switching job when they’re running behind, or helping the mechanical department troubleshoot an issue with a locomotive. He’s done it all, so he helps everyone do it all.”

He’s also taken steps to ensure the team can take pride in their workplaces and project a positive image to the community. The MSR has three depots. Dempsey secured new signage for all of them. When they expanded the maintenance of way team, he found deals on new desks and chairs for their office. At another location, he helped paint and install new flooring.

“When he says he’s going to do something, you know it’ll get done,” said Joely Gath, assistant manager of railcar revenue. “He’s on top of inventory and keeps railcars moving. When you talk to customers, it’s clear they trust him. And that’s before everything he does in his community. I have a huge amount of respect for him.”

Dempsey manages all this while volunteering to support children and families in the Louisville area. He and his wife, Michelle, have been foster parents for years. They’ve hosted many children in need and invited a few of them to become permanent members of the family.

They support other foster families by hosting monthly educational events. Mississippi requires continuing education to retain foster certification. The Dempseys saw there were limited options in the area, so they opened their home and sought out qualified speakers and training. Families now meet there monthly to help retain their licenses. Last December, the community held an event for the local foster and Angel Tree families but didn’t have a Santa. Justin stepped in as the jolly gift-giver, and his wife dressed up as his helpful elf.

The sky is the limit for Justin,” Goss said. “He’s special, does a lot, and never asks for anything in return. I tell him that one day I’ll be working for him, and when that happens, I’ll cheer for him.”

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