CPKC – Superior Tie and Timber – Vivian, LA

Every mile of railroad begins with the infrastructure beneath it. At Superior Tie & Timber (ST&T) in Vivian, Louisiana, a dedicated team is responsible for producing the treated railroad ties that support CPKC’s expansive North American rail network.

Cut To Create partnered with CPKC to create a documentary-style overview film highlighting ST&T’s unique role as the only cross tie treatment facility owned by a Class I railroad. The project focused on the people behind the operation, the precision of the manufacturing process, and the facility’s commitment to safety and operational excellence.

Over two days of production, our crew captured cinematic interviews with ST&T and CPKC leadership alongside dynamic footage of the manufacturing process, shipping operations, employee collaboration, and sweeping aerial views of the facility. The story also celebrated the team’s remarkable achievements, including increasing annual production from 460,000 railroad ties in 2022 to more than 700,000 in 2024 while reaching an impressive milestone of 2,500 consecutive days without a workplace injury.

In addition to the flagship video, we created a library of high-quality visual assets, including drone photography, employee portraits, facility imagery, and detailed industrial photography for future marketing and communications.

The finished project included a three-minute overview film, more than 100 professionally retouched photographs, and a complete archive of raw production footage. Featuring custom motion graphics, licensed music, and polished sound design, the final deliverables provide CPKC with a versatile collection of content that highlights the craftsmanship, innovation, and people who help keep freight moving safely across North America.