Honoring Scott “Shoe” Shoemaker’s Legacy

When a railroader is lost on duty, the investigation belongs to the NTSB and the FRA.

Taking care of our own? That part belongs to us.

Brother Scott Shoemaker of SMART-TD Local 0002 was killed while on duty on July 9. Because the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation, along with SMART-TD’s National Safety Team, remains ongoing, we cannot comment on the circumstances surrounding Scott’s death.

What we can talk about is the man.

Scott spent 22 years as a Norfolk Southern conductor, providing for his family and earning the respect of his brothers and sisters on the railroad. He leaves behind his wife, Carol, their children, Melissa and Joshua, and a family now facing the unimaginable.

Railroaders have always understood something that cannot be written into any rule book or labor agreement: when one of our own is gone, we don’t leave their family to face the burden alone.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to help Carol and the Shoemaker family with final expenses and the challenges that lie ahead. If you are able, we ask you to consider making a contribution. No donation is too small, and if you cannot give, sharing the fundraiser is another meaningful way to help.

There will come a time to learn what happened. Today is about remembering our Brother and standing beside the family he loved so deeply.

Thank you for showing the Shoemaker family what the SMART-TD family is all about.