Nashon McDonald has been fascinated by trains since he started riding the CTA as a kid. Now he’s come full circle, working at CRRC on the very same kind of train he’s been riding for decades.
As a lifelong Chicago resident, McDonald is particularly excited to finally see railcars being built in his city. He says many people are surprised to learn these cars are made in Chicago because the city isn’t known for its manufacturing industry.
“It feels good to be a part of something new. When I ride the train with my daughter, it feels good to say ‘I built that car,’” McDonald said.
McDonald has been with CRRC for over two years and worked his way up from an entry level role to his current position as a foreman, where he manages a team of seven employees. Throughout that whole time, he’s had the same goal: to learn the job as well as he can, keep advancing, and help others on his team do the same.
“I love coming to work here. It gives me peace away from everything,” McDonald said. “I enjoy the challenges.”
In addition to his daily tasks, McDonald also plays an important role in training his team, especially employees who are newer to CRRC or to the railcar manufacturing industry. He focuses on making sure new workers get proper safety training, making them comfortable in the job, and building their confidence.
McDonald dedicates a lot of time and energy to training his team because he’s learned so much from others in the industry and knows the value of learning from people with different experiences.
“I learn a lot from others, the tricks of the trade, their backgrounds. I like to learn,” he said.
McDonald is excited to see more of the new cars running on the CTA, especially so he can show his work to his daughter, family and friends.
“It’s exciting to build railcars here in Chicago,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of manufacturing in Chicago, so to be part of this is great.”
