Short Line/Regional – Page 19

Canadian Pacific Completes Acquisition of DM&E Railroad

October 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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

Canadian Pacific Announces Agreement to Acquire DM&E Railroad

September 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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

RailAmerica Announces New Assistant Vice President, Regional Chief Engineer

August 29, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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

Red River Valley & Western Railroad Celebrates 20th Anniversary

July 20, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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

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

July 20, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

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

Michigan Central Railway Will Initiate Freight Service in Michigan and Indiana

July 12, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Michigan Central Railway will initiate freight rail service over 384 route miles of rail line in Michigan and Indiana in first-quarter 2008 under a joint venture to be formed by Norfolk Southern Railway Co. and Watco Cos., the parent company of the newly formed Michigan Central. “The new Michigan Central will preserve and enhance freight rail service in southern Michigan,” said David C. Eyermann, Michigan Central’s interim president. “The company will be headquartered in Kalamazoo and will employ approximately 118 people. In the first year alone we plan to invest more than $6 million to improve

RailAmerica Goes Green: Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Line First to Utilize Environmentally-Friendly Locomotives

June 6, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

BOCA RATON, Fla.– RailAmerica, Inc. announced that its Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad (DGNO) is the first of its 42 roads to put the new N-ViroMotives to work on the line. The DGNO purchased two N-ViroMotives from National Railway Equipment Co. to help reduce fuel costs and lower emissions. Each locomotive is powered by two diesel engine-generator sets that produce 700 horsepower each; if they sit idle for more than 20 minutes, the engines shut down and can be restarted automatically by positioning the reverser lever, which controls the locomotive’s direction of movement. “We are quite happy to be the first

Train Carrying NASA Solid Booster Rockets Derails in Ala.

May 3, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

MYRTLEWOOD, Ala. — Six people were injured when a freight train carrying segments of solid rocket boosters for NASA derailed on Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s Meridian & Bigbee Railroad (M&B). Five of the injured were accompanying the booster segments in a passenger car that derailed. Two of the five were airlifted to nearby hospitals with injuries that have been reported as not life-threatening. The sixth person injured was the locomotive engineer, who is an M&B employee. He sustained cuts and bruises and was treated and released yesterday. The derailment occurred as the eastbound train with two locomotives and 14 cars

St. Lawrence & Atlantic Becomes First New England Short-Line Rail Carrier Certified by Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)

April 13, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

GREENWICH, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) announced today that its St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SLR) and its Canadian sister Chemin de fer St. Laurent & Atlantique (SLQ) have been certified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as partners in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. The role of a C-TPAT partner is to continue to ensure that appropriate security measures, based upon risk analysis and consistent with C-TPAT security criteria, are maintained in a documented and verifiable format throughout international supply chains. “We see certification as a necessity in being a cross-border carrier, and the C-TPAT

FRA Issues RRIF Loans to DM&E and R.J. Corman Railroad Group

March 23, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration approved a Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan to a pair of short line railroads. The FRA gave one grant to the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) of $48.3 million to improve safety and service between Wall, South Dakota and Colony, Wyo. Rail line improvements will be made to accommodate heavier freight cars that haul grains, ethanol, and minerals. Specifically, 134 miles of track will be upgraded, including the replacement of 60 miles of rail between Wall and Owanka, and from Whitewood to the SD-WY state line. Major bridge repairs will occur