A Keokuk Junction Railway’s FP9 locomotive leads a train in Illinois. Keokuk’s parent company is being merged with Brookhaven Rail Partners.
Steve Smedley
PEORIA, Ill. — Pioneer RailCorp, which operates a number of shortline railroads, announced in a news release Friday that the company has entered into a merger agreement with Brookhaven Rail Partners to acquire Pioneer for $18.81 per share, in cash.
“We look forward to this next chapter in Pioneer’s journey and anticipate it will have a bright future under new ownership,” says J. Michael Carr, Pioneer president and CEO.
The company, based in Peoria, was founded in 1986 by the late Guy L. Brenkman, who passed away in 2013 at age 66.
Pioneer operates 17 short lines in 12 states. Undoubtedly Pioneer’s most well known operation is the Keokuk Junction Railway, which features an A-B-A line up of former Canadian National FP9 locomotives in freight service in central and western Illinois.
Pioneer’s J. Michael Carr declined to answer questions posed by Trains regarding the sale and any operational changes that may take place in the future. He referred to the company’s Friday news release.
