Short Line/Regional – Page 18

FRA Announces $3 Million RRIF Loan to Columbia Basin Railroad Co.

January 9, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Columbia Basin Railroad Co. is receiving a $3 million loan under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program, the Federal Railroad Administration said. The CBRC will use the loan funds to purchase 73 miles of track it currently leases from the BNSF Railway between Connell and Moses Lake in eastern Washington State. The line acquisition is expected to increase efficiency and lower costs, allowing the CBRC to upgrade its track to handle heavier carloads for the benefit of its customers and the communities of McDonald, Grow, Sieler, Wheeler, Bassett Junction, Schrag, Warden, Warden Junction, Othello, Bruce, and Shano,

Patriot Rail Corp. Completes Its Third Railroad Acquisition With Purchase of Utah Central Railway

January 9, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Patriot Rail Corp. has purchased the purchase of the Utah Central Railway, a short line freight railroad headquartered in Ogden, Utah. This is the third railroad acquisition for Patriot, which now owns and leases a total of 246 miles of rail line in Tennessee, Alabama, Montana and Utah. UCRY operates 34 miles of owned and leased rail line in and around Ogden, Utah. The railroad was established as a short line rail operator in 1995 on former Union Pacific Railroad track. UCRY, which interchanges traffic with Class I carriers Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Railroad at

RailAmerica Announces New Additions

January 9, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BOCA RATON, Fla. — RailAmerica Inc. announced the appointment of Bill Schroeder as Director of Marketing & Sales for the Northeast Region and Douglas Low as Manager, Marketing and Sales for the New England Central Railroad. “We are extremely enthusiastic to have these exceptional leaders join our team,” said Charles Patterson, RailAmerica Vice President. “With their railroad experience and wealth of knowledge, they will be integral parts of the RailAmerica family.” Bill Schroeder joins RailAmerica with over 34 years of experience in the railroad industry. He began his career as a Car Inspector with Pacific Fruit Express Company in Philadelphia,

Genesee & Wyoming Completes Acquisition of Maryland Midland Railway

January 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

GREENWICH, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has completed its acquisition of 87.4 percent of the Maryland Midland Railway for cash consideration of approximately $29.1 million, to be adjusted for final working capital. Maryland Midland, located approximately 40 miles from GWI’s York Railway, operates over 63 miles of track between Glyndon and Highfield, Md., and between Walkersville and Taneytown, Md. The railroad has 30 employees and is an interline carrier with CSX. Lehigh Cement, which is Maryland Midland’s largest customer, retains its 12.6 percent ownership of the railroad. — PRNewswire-FirstCall

Federal Board’s Decision Shortchanges Michigan Rail Shippers and Passengers

December 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NORFOLK, Va. — The Surface Transportation Board’s denial of regulatory approval for an innovative joint venture involving freight and passenger rail service over 384 route miles in Michigan and Indiana represents a lost opportunity for the region’s shippers, passengers and communities, according to Norfolk Southern Railway Co. Norfolk Southern and Watco Companies had planned jointly to form a new regional railroad, Michigan Central Railway, to preserve and grow freight service in the region. Amtrak passenger lines would have benefited from an extended agreement ensuring continued maintenance and investment levels on the rail lines between Ypsilanti and Kalamazoo, Mich., Norfolk Southern

FRA: Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad Correct to Close Tunnels

December 2, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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

Tennessee Southern Railroad Completes First Year under New Ownership

November 29, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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:

Canadian Pacific, Mayo Clinic Commit to Ongoing Dialogue

November 27, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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

National Railway Equipment Sees Superior Results in Test of New Locomotive

November 25, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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,

NY&A Railway Promotes Paul Victor to President

November 10, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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