I. Walton King Papers

King was a career railroad operating officer, a native South Carolinian and the son of a Southern Ry. employee.

Hs rail career spanned 25 years, beginning in 1944 with service on Southern. He subsequently held various supervisory positions with the DL & W RR (Lackawana), in New Jersey, and Union Switch & Signal Div., Westinghouse Air Brake Co., in Pittsburgh.

King came to the L & N in February, 1961, as transportation engineer. He advanced through several managerial posts in the L & N operating department, including manager, car utilization bureau, assistant chief transportation officer, and staff assistant, planning & procedures. On the L & N, King coordinated early installations & applications of various computer programs in its operations, including a car identification program and several programs controlling movement of specialized freight cars. With his transportation engineering background, he also made numerous studies of operations as well as recommendations for various improvements in that field.

King left the L & N in March, 1969, to become vice chairman, car service division, Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C. His career was tragically cut short by death from injuries he sustained in a fatal auto accident that same month in Washington. His collection reflects something of his expertise in transportation planning as well as the important work he accomplished while at L & N.