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FRA

FRA: Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad Correct to Close Tunnels

COOS BAY, Ore. — Three tunnels on the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP) “need immediate repairs to permit the safe resumption of railroad operations,” meaning the railroad was correct to close the passageways, the Federal Railroad Administration said in a statement. “FRA agrees that all three tunnels need immediate repairs to permit the safe resumption of railroad operations,” the administration said. In September, CORP made the decision to embargo rail traffic on its Coos Bay Subdivision line as a result of the tunnel safety issues. The three tunnels are located between Eugene, Ore., and Coquille, Ore. FRA reached its

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Short Line/Regional

Tennessee Southern Railroad Completes First Year under New Ownership

Tennessee Southern Railroad has completed its first year of operation under Patriot Rail ownership, and the new owners say the year was a success. TSRR, acquired by Patriot Rail in November 2006, operates over 149 miles of rail line from Columbia, Tenn., to Pulaski, Tenn., and from Columbia, Tenn., to Florence, Ala. The railroad serves 32 customers and interchanges with CSX Transportation at Natco, Tenn. TSRR also provides multi-modal services between the railroad, river barges and trucks at the Port of Florence, located on the Tennessee River. According to officials, TSRR has achieved many milestones during the past year, including:

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Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific, Mayo Clinic Commit to Ongoing Dialogue

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Canadian Pacific and the Mayo Clinic, on behalf of Rochester residents, have conducted their first face-to-face meeting, and officials said they made a commitment to continue their dialogue following the railroad’s recent acquisition of the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad (DM&E). “We had a very open and constructive dialogue and we left with a mutual understanding of each others needs and concerns,” said Glenn Forbes, CEO of the Mayo Clinic. “We both expressed a strong and firm commitment to work collaboratively, both together and with the community of Rochester, to ensure the highest degree of safety moving

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Miscellaneous

National Railway Equipment Sees Superior Results in Test of New Locomotive

MT. VERNON, Ill. — In a two week test of an N-ViroMotive “GenSet locomotive” from National Railway Equipment Co., Indiana Rail Road Co. experienced significant fuel savings, low emissions and excellent tractive effort in normal switch operations, officials said. During the October test, Indiana Rail Road found that the single N-ViroMotive 2100 HP GenSet locomotive performed the same work as two SW 1500 locomotives in an MU consist, totaling 3000 HP. Fuel savings during the test were measured at 67 percent. “We were pleasantly surprised that this extremely fuel efficient locomotive also pulls as well as our two existing units,

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Short Line/Regional

NY&A Railway Promotes Paul Victor to President

NEW YORK — The New York & Atlantic Railway has promoted Paul Victor to president. He had been general superintendent for the 269-mile railway, which provides rail freight services throughout Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. Joel Torres, director of Marketing, advances to chief transportation and commercial officer. Mark Westerfield, who had been serving as acting president, was appointed superintendent of Mechanical. All appointments are effective Nov. 6. Victor joined the NY&A in September 2006 following 18 years of experience managing railroads in Latin America and Africa. He directed the first major privatization of freight service in Argentina in 1989 and

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Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific Completes Acquisition of DM&E Railroad

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Limited has completed the transaction to acquire Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation and its subsidiaries (DM&E). The agreement was previously announced on Sep. 4, 2007. The transaction is subject to review and approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB), pending which the shares of DM&E have been placed into an independent voting trust. The voting trust is required by US law so that CP does not exercise control over DM&E prior to approval of the transaction by the STB. CP announced that Mr. Richard Hamlin has been appointed as the trustee during the

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Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific Announces Agreement to Acquire DM&E Railroad

CALGARY– Canadian Pacific Railway Limited said it has reached an agreement to acquire the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation and its subsidiaries (DM&E) for $1.48 billion. With this value-enhancing transaction, Canadian Pacific expands its current network by approximately 2,500 miles and increases its access to U.S. Midwest markets including agri-products, coal and ethanol. The deal consists of a $1.48 billion cash payment at closing and future contingent payments of up to approximately $1 billion. Future contingent payments of $350 million will become due if construction starts on the Powder River Basin expansion project prior to December 31, 2025. Further

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Miscellaneous

RailAmerica Announces New Assistant Vice President, Regional Chief Engineer

BOCA RATON, Fla. — RailAmerica, Inc., a leading operator of regional and short line roads, announced that Josh Putterman was named Assistant Vice President and Darryl Gabriel was named Regional Chief Engineer effective August 27. “With their railroad experience and wealth of knowledge being in the business for as long as they have,” said John Giles, RailAmerica CEO. “I am extremely enthusiastic to have these exceptional leaders join our team.” Josh Putterman joins RailAmerica from CSX where he served for 16 years. He began his career in economic analysis and held numerous positions in Regional Finance, Operations Improvement and Locomotive

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Short Line/Regional

Red River Valley & Western Railroad Celebrates 20th Anniversary

WAHPETON, N.D. — The 514-mile Red River Valley & Western Railroad celebrated its 20th anniversary July 19. Since 1987, when freight operations began in southeastern and central North Dakota over mostly branch-line track acquired from Burlington Northern, now BNSF Railway, RRV&W has handled more than one-half million carloads of grain, corn sweetener, sugar, machinery and other products. Meanwhile, the railroad’s freight volume has increased 133 per cent and last year totaled 53,600 carloads. Employment has risen from 46 to nearly 100 today. Many new businesses have located or expanded along the line. Included are six high-volume grain elevators capable of

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Short Line/Regional

Rarus Railway Brings Rail History to Life, Changes Name to Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway Company

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Patriot Rail Corp., a short line and regional freight railroad holding company, has changed its name to the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway Co. The name change has historical significance as the Rarus Railway traces its Montana heritage to the historic BA&P Railroad, which was built in the 1890’s. Patriot Rail acquired Rarus Railway in May 2007. The Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railroad was incorporated in 1892 to serve the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, which was established in 1891 by Marcus Daly, an Irish-born businessman who also founded the town of Anaconda, Montana. From the late