About Us

 The primary objective of the International Association of Railway Operating Officers is to provide its members with pertinent operating and technical information that will allow them to provide superior railroad management for the future.  The Association was founded in 1892 and we are quite proud of this fact, since this makes IAROO the oldest of the railroad professional associations of the Coordinated group. 

    The organization  was founded under the name of Traveling Engineers Association.  Around 1908 a similar association was started which was called the International Fuel Association and in 1936 these two associations were merged to form the Railway Fuel & Traveling Engineers Association.  In 1956 the membership voted to change the name of the association and it became The Railway Fuel and Operating Officers Association and remained this until 1988 when the current title was adopted.

    The organization has broadened its base to include a membership of Road Foremen, Trainmasters, General Managers, Superintendents, Master Mechanics, fuel and diesel supervisors, motive repair distributors, dispatchers, research and test personnel, training managers, supervisory management of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), etc.  Additionally there are Associate Members made up of various federal and state authorities and managers of supply organizations, i.e.,  Federal Railroad Administration, Regional Transportation Authority, Canadian Transport, EMD, GE, New York Air Brake Company, Westinghouse Air Brake Company, etc.

    Our present membership spans some 45 railroads in the U.S. and Canada and is truly international in scope with members from railroads in Africa, Australia, England, Japan, Mexico and South America.