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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: July 9, 1999
WISCONSIN CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-19150 36-3541743
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification Number)
6250 North River Road, Suite 9000
Rosemont, Illinois 60018
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code (847) 318-4600
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5. Other Events
See press release attached as Exhibit No. 20.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
WISCONSIN CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION
CORPORATION
Date: July 9, 1999 By: /s/ Walter C. Kelly
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Walter C. Kelly
Vice President, Finance
Date: July 9, 1999 By: /s/ Walter C. Kelly
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Walter C. Kelly
Chief Accounting Officer
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Sequentially
Numbered
Exhibit No. Description Page
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20 Press Release 4
(July 8, 1999)
Exhibit No. 20
WISCONSIN CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION
ANNOUNCES TRANSITION
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- July 8, 1999 -- (NASDAQ:WCLX): Wisconsin Central
Transportation Corporation announced today that Edward A. Burkhardt, 60, its
Chairman, President and CEO, has resigned his director and officer positions
with the Company and its Affiliates, effective as of August 31 to establish an
independent railway investment and consulting firm operating internationally.
Mr. Burkhardt was one of the Company's founders, and has served as its President
and CEO for the past 12 years. During his tenure, the Company grew from a
start-up regional railroad in the upper Midwest to a global transportation
holding company with interests in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Thomas F. Power, Jr., 58, will succeed Mr. Burkhardt as the Company's President
and CEO. Mr. Power is a 31-year veteran of the transportation industry. Mr.
Power was also one of the founders of the Company and has served as its
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the past 12 years. Mr.
Power is a member of the Board of Directors of English Welsh & Scottish Railway
Holdings Limited, Tranz Rail Holdings Limited, and Australian Transport Network
Limited. Mr. Power began his railroad career at the New York Central Railroad,
and served as Chief Financial Officer and later Chief Executive Officer at the
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad before founding the Company
with Mr. Burkhardt.
Mr. Power said, "Ed Burkhardt has built a strong foundation for WCTC, both
domestically and internationally. It is my plan to build on this foundation to
deliver greater shareholder value in the months and years ahead."
Wisconsin Central also announced that J. Reilly McCarren will be promoted to
President and Chief Executive Officer of all the Company's North American
operating subsidiaries, succeeding Mr. Burkhardt in those roles. Mr. McCarren
said that, "We intend to continue the Company's long-standing policy of
providing superior customer service and competing vigorously in the
transportation markets we serve."
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Shares of Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation are publicly traded on
the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol WCLX. WCTC's principal
subsidiaries, Wisconsin Central Ltd., Fox Valley & Western Ltd., Algoma Central
Railway Inc. and Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Company, operate approximately 2,900
route miles of railway serving Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan's Upper
Peninsula, and Ontario, Canada. WCTC holds a 39 percent equity interest in
English Welsh & Scottish Railway Holdings Limited, which operates most of the
freight railroad services in Great Britain. WCTC also holds a 24 percent equity
interest in Tranz Rail Holdings Limited, which operates 2,400 route miles of
railway nationwide in New Zealand. WCTC also holds a 33 percent equity interest
in Australian Transport Network Limited, which operates 450 route miles of
railway statewide in Tasmania, Australia. For more information, see Wisconsin
Central's home page: www.wclx.com.
CONTACT: Ann G. Thoma
(847) 318 4588
