Which shortlines (and…o.k…regionals) are performing and will continue to perform in the future (iyo). This is in spite of high fuel prices, economy, slow housing construction, etc.,etc.,etc. Mine are as follows: (P.S. you don’t have to give a discription as to why)
1.) Iowa Interstate (IAIS): Interchange with virtually every class-1 at some point on its route. A varied and reliable source of traffic revenue. They even have a route into Chicago (via TR’s).
2.) FEC: The only way this railroad even works that I see is because of Florida being a perpetual boom center of growth. Having bone valley there doesn’t hurt either. This is an impressive and resilient railroad.
3.) R.J. Corman: As long as railroads screw up, there will be a RJC. But they do more than repair and clean up derailments. They have their own sources of traffic revenue. The also have routes located in different states. Talk about traffic rights!..They can be contracted to virtually any railroad. This KY boy says “long live RJC!”
They are owned by CSX, but they are a heck of a shortline. They had an open house this past October for the public to to visit their operations. I must tell you that the guys at TTI know what they are doing.
Hey Brian, do you mean they haul more than coal? I know about the rail to river operations they have there. I do remember an article I read a few years ago that said you may be able to catch the “occassional” car of fertilizer or two on some of their coal trains. Have they expanded to hauling other traffic? I wish CSX had a pair of freights that would run between Russell and like Atlanta or something. These trains could be routed over TTI of course.
One rail group I’ve come in contact with is the Genesee and Wyoming RR. They appear to be a holding company for at least two railroads- the Apalachicola Northern, headquartered in Port St. Joe, Florida, out on the Gulf Coast- and the Kentucky-Western Tennessee (KWT), headquartered in Paris, TN. I wouldn’t call them as hot and smokin’ as some other short lines I have seen down here in the south, but they sure are picturesque- and the local dispatchers and trainmasters are much more approachable than their Class I counterparts.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the Georgia Southwestern Railroad, which, mileage wise, is the third largest railroad in the state of Georgia… they were owned originally by Railtex but have since gone independent. Also picturesque and I understand that they are profitable…
Just checked out www.ttirailroad.com and www.allenrailroad.com this is amazing stuff. There are so many interesting things happening on the edges of (and in cooperation with) the Biggies.
Yes sir, This is what concerns me about 2008 and beyond. You have diesel inching up and up right along with unleaded. Most of the shortlines I know of simply don’t have the revenue to afford “green goats” and other hybrids that are a little less severe on fuel consumption. Then again, many of your SL’s aren’t millions of dollars in debt like some of your class 1’s either.
What about MRL, Minnesota Commercial, Twin Cities and Western, Apache Railway, Arkansas and Missouri, Cimmarron Valley, Copper Basin, Escanabe and lake Superior, Indiana Rail Road, Kyle Railroad, etc! Those are only a few off the top of my head that are pretty successful.
The Modesto & Empire Traction Railaroad (MET) in Modeso, California seems to be doing fine. Their main customer is the Gallo winery, plus other customers in the industrial park in Modesto. They only have a few miles of track and interchange iwth UP. Talk about a SHORT line.
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