WASHINGTON, D.C. – Watco hopes to begin operating a pair of CSX Transportation routes in Illinois and Indiana early next month. The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad will take over CSX’s Decatur Subdivision in Illinois and the neighboring Danville Secondary in Indiana on or around Sept. 6, pending regulatory approval, Watco said in a filing […]
Railroad: Short Lines/Regionals
New company takes over operation of Grenada Railroad NEWSWIRE
The “City of Batesville” excursion runs behind Iowa Pacific E8s on the Granada Railroad in 2016. The railroad has changed hands, but plans on continuing its popular Christmas train in Batesville. Hayley Enoch BOCA RATON, Fla. — International Rail Partners announced it has acquired the Grenada Railroad from Iowa Pacific Holdings through a lease-purchase agreement […]
Short lines in Tennessee and Iowa open for business on Jan. 1, 2019 NEWSWIRE
A successful short line operator in the East is now setting his sights on the Heartland. On Jan. 1, 2019, the Wolf Creek Railroad, at Milan, Tenn., and the Iowa & Middletown Railway near Burlington, Iowa, will join the Raritan Central Railway in Edison, N.J., and Pennsylvania & Southern in Chambersburg, Pa., in the newly […]
Progressive Rail assumes control of California short line NEWSWIRE
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Progressive Rail, the Lakeview, Minn., short line operator, is poised to assume control of the 31-mile Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railroad from its former operator, Iowa Pacific Holdings, according to a petition filed Aug. 1 with the Surface Transportation Board. The petition notes that Iowa Pacific ceased operations in June. […]
Watco to acquire first CSX Transportation line spinoffs in Illinois, Indiana NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Watco is the winning bidder for CSX Transportation’s Decatur and Danville Secondary subdivisions in Illinois and Indiana. The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad will be the new name for the 126.7 miles of track that Watco will acquire from CSX as the Class I railroad seeks to prune its network of lower-density, non-core […]
Iowa Interstate QJ steam locomotive No. 6988 will run in August NEWSWIRE
Iowa Interstate QJ 2-10-2s Nos. 6988 and 7081 doublehead in Iowa in 2011. Trains: Jim Wrinn MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa — For the first time in six years, Iowa Interstate will operate Chinese-built QJ-type 2-10-2 No. 6988 on excursions. The trips benefit local fire departments in the central Iowa area and are scheduled for the weekend of […]
Milwaukee Road 261 to pull trips on Twin Cities & Western – with a new twist NEWSWIRE
No. 261 heads west on Twin Cities & Western trackage at Augusta, Minn., in September 2017. Steve Glischinski MINNEAPOLIS – The Friends of the 261 will operate excursions pulled by Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 on the Twin Cities & Western Railroad Sept. 8-9. The locomotive has traveled the route several times before, so the […]
Coos Bay port and short line in dispute over rail operations NEWSWIRE
Coos Bay, Ore. Google Maps COOS BAY, Ore. — The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay is asking the Surface Transportation board to permit an “in-house transaction” that would replace its current third-party short line operator with a new subsidiary under port control. That operator, Coos Bay Rail Link, is not willing to give up. […]
Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 39 – Arizona Spring Training
Host Drew Halverson, Charlie Conway, and a motley crew meet in the Arizona desert for a VIP visit to the Copper Basin Railway. In this episode, CBR president L.S. “Jake” Jacobson brings the guys to an active bridge replacement site, hosts a hi-rail tour of the line, and even gets Drew set for a cab […]
Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 39 – Arizona Spring Training
Host Drew Halverson, Charlie Conway, and a motley crew meet in the Arizona desert for a VIP visit to the Copper Basin Railway. In this episode, CBR president L.S. “Jake” Jacobson brings the guys to an active bridge replacement site, hosts a hi-rail tour of the line, and even gets Drew set for a cab […]
Diesels victorious
The West Chester Railroad’s May 2018 photo charter featured Alco RS18 No. 1803 with three freight cars, a baggage car, and a passenger car. The former Pennsylvania Railroad line still features catenary supports, a reminder of its days as a Philadelphia commuter line. Photo by Bill Monaghan […]
Lake State Railway picks up GTW track in Port Huron NEWSWIRE
In May, CN train L502 passes the Port Huron waterfront with the Port Huron-Sarnia Ontario Blue Water Bridge in the background, enroute to service Dunn Paper located at the end of the line. Stephen C. Host PORT HURON, Mich. — Lake State Railway is a little longer today. The short line on Monday began operating […]
