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Short Line Railroad Listings (USA): A Complete Guide
Last revised: August 21, 2024
By: Adam Burns
In general, short lines tend to provide the most fascinating operations of any railroad. As local, centrally based companies they are much more down-home in nature, often friendlier (than large Class Is), and are just more fun to watch than the big roads.
They also give you a look at what railroading used to be like decades ago, back during the nostalgic era. The information here features most Class III carriers operating throughout the United States and they have been conveniently broken down by state.
The guide is compiled in alphabetical order by state (all American Association of Railroads [AAR] reporting marks are also included with each short line) and I hope you find it useful and helpful, particularly if you are planning a railfan outing and are interested in knowing where a short line operation or two can found in a particular area.
Please note that at the time of this writing (2016) the information here was up-to-date, featuring those companies that were active and in operation.
As time passes it will be amended accordingly to show any possible closings. If you happen to know of any short line that has since shutdown please feel free to contact this website.
State Guide
Many short lines operating around the country are now owned by large conglomerates notably Watco, Genesee & Wyoming, and Iowa Pacific. There are also a handful of smaller such companies including Pioneer RailCorp, Rio Grande Pacific Corporation, Patriot Rail, Pinsly, and Gulf & Ohio.
All of these systems are included in the state-by-state list below along with the independent operations although you can also find out more information about them by visiting their respective parent's website listed above.
Please note that websites for individual short lines is not included within this list although several do have their own online destinations offering more information about their particular service(s).
Alabama
Alabama Export Railroad (reporting mark, ALE): This short line, a division of the Mississippi Export, serves the Mobile waterfront and the Port of Mobile. It operates a short loop of track from the Mobile River, north of the port, stretching to the northwest, and then reaches the Mobile Bay waterfront at McDuffie Island.
It maintains connections with Canadian National, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern, CG Railway, Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks, and Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway.
Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway (reporting mark, AGR): The is a G&W property operating nearly 350 miles of track running from eastern Mississippi, through western Alabama, and finally terminating at Pensacola, Florida.
The route's heritage traces back to the eastern extent of the St. Louis-San Francisco's network and today the railroad handles more than 61,000 carloads annually including coal, iron and steel, chemicals, scrap iron, pulp and paper, and limestone.
Alabama & Tennessee River Railway (reporting mark, ATN): The A&TR is owned by OmniTrax and has been in service since 2004 after acquiring 120 miles from CSX.
The route's heritage can be traced back to three predecessors including the L&N, Seaboard Air Line, and Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis. Its current traffic includes steel, rubber, cement, agriculture, and other freight.
Alabama Railroad, LLC (reporting mark, ALAB): The Alabama Railroad was a Pioneer RailCorp property, originally operating 60 miles of trackage between Flomaton and Corduroy, Alabama.
A former L&N branch, the short line began service in 1991. The property filed for abandonment on April 18, 2019 but was reactivated in 2020 as the Alabama Railroad, LLC. It currently operates 48 miles from Flomaton to Peterman.
Alabama Southern Railroad (reporting mark, ABS): This Watco property began service on November 20, 2005 and operates about 85 miles of track between Columbus, Mississippi and Birmingham, Alabama under lease with Kansas City Southern. The property was formerly Gulf, Mobile & Ohio trackage.
Alabama Warrior Railway (reporting mark, ABWR): Formerly known as the Jefferson Warrior Railway prior to August 7, 2009, this Watco property operates about 15 miles of track around the Birming ham area. Current freight includes pipe, scrap steel, cement, aggregates, and other traffic.
Autauga Northern Railroad (reporting mark, AUT): A division of Watco, the Autauga Northern launched in 2011 operating 43.62 miles of leased Norfolk Southern trackage between between Maplesville and the International Paper Company plant near Prattville.
The line is formerly Mobile & Ohio, then later Gulf, Mobil & Ohio/Illinois Central Gulf. The short line also gains access to Montgomery via 10 miles of CSX trackage rights.
Bay Line Railroad (reporting mark, BAYL): The Bay Line was historically the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railway which dated back to the early 20th century.
It is currently a Genesee & Wyoming property operating more than 100 miles of trackage between the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. It has been a G&W-owned since 2005 and transports a wide range of freight.
Birmingham Terminal Railway (reporting mark, BHRR): Formerly known as the Birmingham Southern, this 76-mile system is owned by the Watco Companies.
It operates west and south of Birmingham connecting Bessemer and Port Birmingham. The road has its own mechanical and locomotive shop. Its heritage can be traced back to 1899 and for many years was jointly owned by the Southern and Louisville & Nashville.
In 1988 it was sold to Transtar which subsequently sold the property to Watco, which acquired it on February 1, 2012 renaming it as the Birmingham Terminal.
Chattahoochee Bay Railroad (reporting mark, CHAT): The Chattahoochee Bay is a 25-mile short line serving Dothan and points east. It is owned by the Genesee & Wyoming (since 2006) with primary products including chemicals, forest products, and food and feed products.
Conecuh Valley Railroad (reporting mark, COEH): The Conecuh Valley is another G&W-owned property operating 12 miles of track from Troy to Goshen. Its history dates back to the Central of Georgia and currently handles about 3,000 carloads annually with freight including poultry feed ingredients, plastic, lead, vegetable oil and food products.
Eastern Alabama Railway (reporting mark, EARY): The East Alabama was a longtime RailAmerica property, which operated former L&N trackage sold to Kyle Railways by CSX on November 26, 1990.
It was purchased by RA in 2002, which was then acquired by G&W in 2012. Today, it operates about 31 miles of track carrying limestone, urea, paper and corn syrup, moving more than 15,000 carloads annually.
Georgia Southwestern Railroad (reporting mark, GSWR): This large short line is primarily based in western Georgia but also extends into eastern Alabama at Eufaula. The road operates more than 230 miles of track and handles more than 13,000 carloads annually amongst a wide range of freight. It has been a G&W property since 2008.
Huntsville-Madison County Railroad Authority (reporting mark, HMCR): This locally owned short line operates on about 14 miles of former L&N track between Huntsville and Norton acquired from CSX in 1984.
Luxapalila Valley Railroad (reporting mark, LXVR): This short line operates about 38 miles of track from Columbus, Mississippi to Belk, Alabama handling forest and waste products. It is another G&W line with interchange connections including NS, KCS, and Columbus & Greenville.
Meridian & Bigbee Railroad (reporting mark, MNBR): The historic Meridian & Bigbee has been in service since the 1930s and still operates its original route from Montgomery, Alabama to Meridian, Mississippi. It is currently owned by G&W and handles a wide range of freight.
Mississippi Central Railroad (reporting mark MSCI): This trackage was originally an independent short line known as the Redmont Railway that had operated since 1995 over about 41 miles of track on former Illinois Central trackage.
Its traffic is primarily based in agriculture but does include some other freight. In 2013 it was acquired by the Mississippi Central Railroad and is now operated as its Redmont Division.
RJ Corman/Childersburg Line (reporting mark, RJAL): This unique property is actually owned by the United States government, running 13.32 miles between Childersburg, where connection is established with Norfolk Southern, and a CSX connection to the north. RJ Corman took over operations in September, 2019.
Sequatchie Valley Railroad (reporting mark, SQVR): This railroad just penetrates Alabama's northern region and is mostly located in Tennessee running from Kimball, Tennessee to Bridgeport, Alabama.
Its origins can be traced back to a carrier by the same but was for many years leased by the NC&StL. It handles about 1,500 carloads annually with freight including plastics and lumber.
Terminal Railway-Alabama State Docks (reporting mark, TASD): This terminal railroad is based in Mobile and has been in service since 1928. The railroad has a total of 75 miles of track and serves the local port moving everything from coal and scrap steel to automotive products and chemicals.
The company interchanges with numerous systems including CSX, BNSF, Alabama & Gulf Coast, CG Railway, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, and Kansas City Southern.
Tennessee Southern Railroad (reporting mark TSRR): This short line is owned by Patriot Rail and operates primarily in Tennessee from Natco and Pulaski as well as southeasterly to Florence, Alabama.
It operates about 118 miles in all handling several thousand carloads annually with freight including scrap iron, coal, coke, woodpulp, pulp-board, sand, chemicals, steel, aluminum, and fertilizer raw materials.
Three Notch Railroad (reporting mark, TNHR): Another G&W property, the Three Notch operates about 34 miles of track from Georgiana to Andalusia on trackage once owned by the L&N. It handles slightly more than 1,000 carloads annually which includes chemicals, polypropylene, fertilizer and agricultural products.
Wiregrass Central Railroad (reporting mark, WGCR): This G&W line is located in southern Alabama operating 20 miles between Waterford and Enterprise. Its history dates back to the Atlantic Coast Line and was originally sold to Gulf & Ohio in 1987 by CSX. Today, the line handles more than 8,000 carloads annually.
Alaska
Alaska Railroad (reporting mark, ARR): The state's only freight hauler, the historic Alaska Railroad is a Class II, regional, dating back to its founding in 1914, acquiring the Alaska Northern Railroad and tasked with completing the route to Fairbanks.
Today, the ARR connects that point with Seward and Whittier. While there have been initiatives to further extend the system these have never materialized thus far.
The railroad still provides regular passenger schedules along with its extensive freight service. In all, the system currently stretches more than 500 miles including both main and secondary trackage while annual revenues exceed $160 million.
Arizona
Apache Railway (reporting mark, APA): The historic Apache Railway has been in service since 1917 connecting McNary to Holbrook, Arizona via Snowflake. Since then the line has been cutback to Snowflake operating about 38 miles.
Today it handles what remaining freight it can following the closure of a paper mill, its primary source of traffic. The road is well-known for using a fleet of classic Alco road-switchers.
Arizona & California Railroad (reporting mark, ARZC): This short line has a history that dates back to the Arizona & California Railway, which first opened for service in 1907.
It was acquired by the Santa Fe and operated as a branch for many years between Matthie, Arizona and Cadiz, California. In 1991 it became an independent short line known as the Arizona & California Railroad.
In 2002 it was acquired by RailAmerica, itself purchased by G&W in 2012 Today, the systems operates roughly 190 miles and handles about 12,000 carloads annually moving such freight as petroleum-based products, lumber, and steel.
Arizona Eastern Railway (reporting mark, AZER): The Arizona Eastern is a large operation utilizing more than 200 miles of trackage between Clifton and Miami, Arizona while it briefly enters New Mexico.
For more many years the property was owned by Southern Pacific before spun-off to RA in 2001. In 2004 it was sold to Permian Basin Railways, which subsequently sold it to G&W in 2011. Traffic today includes copper, chemicals, agricultural, and forest products.
Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad (reporting mark, AZCR): This short line is owned by the Western Group, which operates a small collection of short lines in the West.
It currently operates about 38 miles of trackage between Drake and Clarkdale, formerly owned by the Santa Fe until 1989. It handles primarily inbound coal and outbound cement. The property also operates the popular excursion known as the Verde Canyon Railway.
Black Mesa & Lake Powell Railroad (Defunct): The BM&LP was a privately-owned railroad operated by the Peabody Coal Company to haul coal from the Kayenta Mine near Kayenta, Arizona to the Navajo Generating Station power plant at Page.
It began service in 1973 and was about 78 miles in length. Its trackage did not connect to the national rail network and was strictly operated to move coal from the mine to generating station. The powerplant closed in 2019 leading to the railroad's discontinuance late that year.
Copper Basin Railway (reporting mark CBRY): This independent short line has been in service since 1986 when it acquired the SP's former branch running between Magma, just east of Phoenix, to Winkelman, Arizona. The line is more than 70 miles in length and serves the local copper industry.
Kingman Terminal Railroad (report mark, KGTR): A Patriot Rail property, this terminal road maintains 3 miles in Kingman, Arizona to serve the Kingman Airport & Industrial Park. It interchanges with BNSF in Kingman.
San Manuel Arizona Railroad (reporting mark, SMA) (Closed): This short line first began service in 1955 serving the local copper industry. It closed in 1999 and efforts by Capstone Mining Corporation reactivated nearly 30 miles of property to continue serving copper interests in 2013. However, the line has apparently again shut down.
San Pedro Southwestern Railroad (reporting mark, SPSR): This short line is independently owned running operating about 7 remaining miles between Benson and Curtiss, Arizona that was for many years a much more substantial line under the direction of El Paso & Southwestern (later SP).
Arkansas
Arkansas & Missouri Railroad (reporting mark, AM): The large A&M has been independently owned since it began service in 1986 over former Frisco property.
The railroad currently operates nearly 140 miles between Fort Smith, Arkansas and Monett, Missouri. It was long regarded as a haven of classic Alco road-switchers but has since acquired new Electro-Motive SD70ACe models.
To the general public the A&M is a popular excursion railroad offering rides throughout much of the year. The company's traffic base is highly diversified ranging from paper and lumber to food products and steel.
Arkansas-Oklahoma Railroad (reporting mark, AOK): See Oklahoma.
Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi Railroad (reporting mark, ALM): The AL&M is another G&W property, operating about 53 miles of track between Crossett, Arkansas and Monroe, Louisiana.
The route's history dates back to 1906 and was for years owned by lumber interests, lastly by Georgia-Pacific. In 2004 G&W purchased the AL&M and the railroad currently moves forest-based products as well as chemicals.
Arkansas Midland Railroad (reporting mark, AKMD): The Arkansas Midland was a long-owned Pinsly short line that operates seven disconnected corridors across the state totaling 125 miles in conjunction with allying-roads the Prescott & Northwestern and Warren & Saline River.
In November of 2014 the road was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming. The AM began in 1992 and its traffic base includes forest products, agriculture, aggregates, aluminum, chemicals, and building materials.
Arkansas Southern Railroad (reporting mark, ARS): The Arkansas Southern is a Watco property that began service in 2005, leasing 61 miles from KCS via two disconnected lines (Waldron, Arkansas-Heavener, Oklahoma and Ashdown-Nashville). Its traffic base is unknown.
Bauxite & Northern Railway (reporting mark, BXN): The small Bauxite & Northern can trace its history back to 1906 serving the area around Bauxite, Arkansas.
For many years it was owned by the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) but was acquired by RA in 2005. Today, it is a G&W property operating 6 miles of track and hauls primarily alumina while it also handles a range of other tasks.
Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad (reporting mark, DR): This historic short line traces its roots back to the Dardanelle & Russellville Railway of 1883. The system acquired its current name on January 13, 1900.
It is currently owned by Arkansas Shortline Railroads, Inc. and operates about 5 miles from a Union Pacific interchange at Russellville to Dardanelle. Its traffic base includes pulp-board, plastics, and forest products.
De Queen & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, DQE): Another historic system, the De Queen & Eastern was first chartered on September 22, 1900. It would eventually connect Perkins, Arkansas with Valliant, Oklahoma via De Queen.
This main line is still operated today under Patriot Rail, which acquired the railroad from Weyerhaeuser in 2010 albeit now split as two separate railroads. In total there currently about 91 miles in service (the DQ&E operates as far as the Arkansas state line) with traffic consisting of paper, forest products, grain, and gypsum board (drywall).
Delta Valley & Southern Railway (reporting mark, DVS): This small, independent short line operates just 2 miles of trackage around Wilson. The property was originally built to serve the timber industry and later was owned by the Frisco.
Today, it is under the direction of Lee Wilson & Company, of which DV&S is a subsidiary. Just one locomotive is used, GE 45-tonner #50 that switches a local cotton processing plant whereby processed cottonseed is interchanged with BNSF.
East Camden & Highland Railroad (reporting mark, EACH): Also known as the EACH Railroad this operation has been in service since 1971 when it was incorporated to serve the Shumaker Ordnance Depot at East Camden, Arkansas.
In total the railroad owns slightly more than 47 miles of track, interchanging with UP at Eagle Mills. Its traffic consists of lumber, paper products, rubber, and chemicals. The EACH also operates the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant at Doyline, Louisiana.
El Dorado & Wesson Railway (reporting mark, EDW): The historic ED&W traces its roots back to incorporation in 1905. The road would eventually operate about 10.2 miles from El Dorado to Wesson but nearly 5 miles was abandoned back to Newell in 1959.
Passenger service ended in 1953. Today, the short line operates 5.5 miles with traffic consisting of petroleum products, chemicals, and medium density fiberboard.
Fordyce & Princeton (reporting mark, FP): The Fordyce & Princeton traces its history back to 1890 and currently operates 57 miles between Fordyce and Crossett. For nearly its entire existence the F&P has moved forest based products and for years was owned by similar interests. In 2004 Georgia-Pacific sold the system to G&W.
Fort Smith Railroad (reporting mark, FSR): This short line is a Pioneer Railcorp property, operating 18 miles between Fort Smith and Barling. The line's history traces back to a Union Pacific branch, spun-off in 1991. Its traffic currently includes iron/steel, frozen poultry, alcoholic beverages, sand, lumber, pulp board, peanuts, and military movements.
Kiamichi Railroad (reporting mark, KRR): This large short line operates 261 miles of track (some of which is trackage rights) running from Hope, Arkansas to west of Durant, Oklahoma along the Red River. There is also a north-south section running from Paris, Texas to Antlers, Oklahoma.
The route's history traces back to the Frisco, when it was sold in 1987 by Burlington Northern. RailAmerica acquired the property in 2002 from States Rail before being purchased by G&W in 2012. Today, traffic consists of coal, lumber, aggregates, minerals, glass, paper, chemicals, cement, pulpwood, feed and food products.
Little Rock & Western Railway (reporting mark, LRWN): The LR&W operate on a section of the Rock Island's fabled Choctaw Route built by predecessor Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf. It first began service in 1986 it currently operates about 79 miles from Danville, Arkansas to Little Rock. Traffic includes animal feed, as well as food and forest products.
Little Rock Port Authority Railroad (reporting mark, LRPA): This locally owned operation has been in service since 1972 operating about 12 miles and connecting with the Port of Little Rock Industrial Park where several various businesses have rail service. The railroad interchanges with both UP and BNSF.
Louisiana & North West Railroad (reporting mark, LNW): This historic line dates back to its founding in 1888. The L&NW eventually grew to 124 miles between McNeil, Arkansas and Natchitoches, Louisiana but this was later cutback to Gibsland. These 68 miles are still operated under Patriot Rail today, which acquired the property in 2008.
Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (reporting mark, MNA): This regional system began in 1992, acquiring more than 102 miles from Union Pacific late that year. For many years it was under RailAmerica before this company was purchased by G&W in 2012.
Today, the M&NA operates nearly 600 miles of track, much of which is leased from UP and BNSF, extending from southeastern Missouri to northern Arkansas. Its annual carloads exceed 100,000 and range from unit coal trains to general merchandise.
Ouachita Railroad (reporting mark, OUCH): This short line operates 26 miles between El Dorado, Arkansas and Lille, Louisiana. It was originally a Rock Island branch, later operated by the South Central Arkansas Railroad from 1982 until the East Camden & Highland Railroad purchased the line in 1983.
In 1990 it was sold to the Arkansas Short Line Railroads, which operates it as the Ouachita Railroad. Its primary traffic includes lumber, chemicals, and particleboard.
Prescott & Northwestern Railroad (reporting mark, PNW): The historic P&NW was chartered in 1890 by the Ozan Lumber Company to serve timber interests north of Prescott.
It eventually reached Daisy with branches serving Cheney and Martin. Its primary traffic then was forest products but also carried perishables/agriculture and gypsum. Today, only 5 miles of the original route are still in service and is a division of G&W.
Texas, Oklahoma & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, TOE): The TO&E, also a Patriot Rail subsidiary, operates the other half of the original De Queen & Eastern main line from the Arkansas state line to Valliant, Oklahoma. Its traffic base is predominantly forest products.
Warren & Saline River Railroad (reporting mark, WSR): This small short line dates back to 1920 and for many years was owned by the Potlatch Corporation. Its traffic has always been forest-based (logs, lumber, etc.), which continues today.
The road operates about 8 miles between Cloquet and Warren. It was owned by Pinsly between 2010 and 2014 before the system was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming.
West Memphis Base Railroad (reporting mark, WMBR): This short line was launched after 2015 when a TIGER grant, worth 6.5 million, enabled 3.5 miles of track to be rebuilt to serve the Port of West Memphis. Current traffic includes steel, propane, non-hazardous and hazardous chemicals. In addition, West Memphis Transload has tw0 terminals on the line.
California
Arizona & California Railroad (reporting mark, ARZC): See Arizona.
California Northern Railroad (reporting mark, CFNR): This large short line operates 261 miles of former SP trackage leased by UP from Vallejo to Los Molinos via Sacramento. There are also a number of branches served.
The road carries a wide range of freight including food products, stone, petroleum products, and chemicals amongst others while moving more than 26,000 carloads annually. It was originally owned by the Park-Sierra Rail Group, later sold to RailAmerica in 2002, and G&W acquired these assets in 2012.
Central California Traction (reporting mark CCT): This historic road traces its roots back to an interurban, chartered in 1905. By 1910 the Traction had opened between Stockton and Sacramento with a branch to Lodi using a predominantly 1,200-volt DC electrified system.
In 1946 the wires removed in favor of diesels. Today, it operates only the line to Lodi is in service moving food, steel, lumber, and other general freight while the entire corridor to Sacramento remains in place for possible future use.
Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad (reporting mark, CORP): This Class II, regional operates the Southern Pacific's former Siskiyou Line running from Eugene, Oregon to Northern California covering some 389 miles.
It was long operated by RailAmerica before being purchased by G&W in 2012. The road handles a wide-range of commodities and moves roughly 17,000 carloads annually.
Goose Lake Railway, LLC (reporting mark, GOOS): This large short line, managed by Nexxt Rail, LLC, operates 55 miles between Lakeview, Oregon and Perez, California (Union Pacific interchange), via Alturas, California. It operates a total of 105 miles, forming a rough "L."
Los Angeles Junction Railway (reporting mark, LJL): The Los Angeles Junction is owned by BNSF Railway and has been in service since 1923. It provides switching/terminal service for the communities of Vernon, Maywood, Bell and Commerce near Los Angeles. It owns in-total about 64 miles of track.
Modesto & Empire Traction (reporting mark, MET): Another former interurban-turned-short line the M&ET dates back to its incorporation in 1911 where it eventually operated 5 miles from Modesto to Empire albeit the road never electrified.
Today, this original route is still in service (altogether the M&ET serves about 40 miles of tracks, including spurs and sidings) and it move a wide range of freight including food products, wine, syrup, plastics, paper products and manufacturing commodities.
Pacific Harbor Line (reporting mark, PHL): This terminal road began in 1998 from the remnants of the Harbor Belt Line (the HBL was a long-time joint subsidiary of Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific) serving the Port Of Los Angeles/Long Beach.
It is currently owned by Anacostia & Pacific and operates about 18 miles of track with a total of 59 miles. It handles a wide rang of switching assignments, mostly involving intermodal at the ports.
Pacific Sun Railroad (reporting mark, PSRR) (Closed): The Pacific Sun was Watco's first railroad subsidiary in California, which began service in 2008. It utilized about 62 miles of leased rights over BNSF between Miramar and San Onofre with a branch to Escondido.
Its traffic base consisted of corn, soy, lumber, plastic pellets, beer, and other movements. In 2020 its lease expired and BNSF resumed operation of the property.
Quincy Railroad (reporting mark, QRR): This little short line serves a 3.27 terminal switching road around the town of Quincy. It began as the Quincy & Eastern Railway during July of 1909, later changed to the Quincy Western Railway three months later
It was reorganized as the Quincy Railroad on November 9, 1917. The road currently operates with an SW1200 and SW7 switcher (some of its original equipment is preserved as the Western Pacific Railroad Museum). Owned by Sierra Pacific, it handles about 1,000 annual carloads of forest products and interchanges with Union Pacific at Quincy Junction.
Richmond Pacific Railroad (reporting mark, RPRC): The Richmond Pacific is a terminal line owned by the Levin-Richmond Terminal Corporation, which has been in service since 1950.
It serves the port at Richmond as well as local nearby industries and operates about 10 miles of track with traffic including stone, ores, lumber, food products and petroleum products.
Sacramento Valley Railroad (reporting mark, SAV): This short line is a Patriot Rail operation, providing switching services to the McClellan Business Park, a 3,000-acre business park located near Sacramento, California. It currently operates about 7 miles of track, interchanging with UP and BNSF.
San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railway (reporting mark SDAE): The venerable SD&AE has had a long, on-again, off-again history that once operated 146 miles between San Diego and El Centro, California where the line briefly enters into Mexico at various points.
Originally known as the San Diego & Arizona chartered in 1906 it acquired its current name in 1933 following Southern Pacific ownership (the SP once operated a named train over the route known as the Imperial). It sold the line in 1979 to local governments.
Today, about 108 miles are still in use with freight service provided by the Pacific Imperial Railroad (reporting mark PIRR) between the Mexican border at a location known as Division to Plaster City, California (70 miles)
In addition, the San Diego & Imperial Valley Railroad (reporting mark, SDIY, a G&W property) provides service between San Diego and San Ysidro/El Cajon.
Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific Railway (reporting mark, SCBG): This operates provides both freight service and excursion trains on the former Southern Pacific between Olympia and Santa Cruz, about 9 miles, where it interchanges with Iowa Pacific's Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railroad.
It was originally built as the Santa Cruz & Felton Railroad, a 3-foot, narrow-gauge logging system chartered in 1874 until SP acquired the property in 1885. Today, lumber remains the primary source of traffic.
Santa Maria Valley Railroad (reporting mark, SMV): This little short line has remained independent and family-owned since it was chartered in 1911.
Today, only about 14 miles of the original system remain in operation, connecting Guadalupe (where it interchanges with UP) as well as Santa Maria and Santa Maria Valley.
Until 1950 the road ran as far as Roadamite (23 miles in all) but was cutback to Guadalupe at that time. It currently handles about 2,000 carloads annually including asphalt, fertilizer, food products, lumber, gypsum board (drywall), lumber, machinery, petroleum products, plastic, and scrap iron.
San Joaquin Valley Railroad (reporting mark, SJVR): This short line is a G&W property operating some 417 miles of track on two disconnected sections between Bakersfield and Fresno.
It began in 1992 under Kyle Railways ownership acquiring several former Southern Pacific branches. In 1997 the lines were taken over by States Rail before being purchased by RailAmerica in 2002, subsequently acquired by G&W in 2012.
Today, traffic includes petroleum products, cattle feed, building products, tomato paste, consumer products, dry and liquid fertilizer products.
Sierra Northern Railway (reporting mark, SERA): The Sierra Northern was formed in 2003 through the merger of Yolo Shortline and Sierra Railroad, the latter of which was a classic short line dating back to 1897 and for many years hauled forest products.
Today, the system operates about 105 miles of track with traffic consisting of lumber and related products, grain and related products, gypsum, wallboard, canned goods, plastics, chemicals, steel, ethanol and propane. Tourist operations are also carried out on the Sierra Northern.
Stockton Terminal & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, STE): The ST&E was originally incorporated on October 29, 1908 it was originally envisioned as an interurban but lacked the funds for electrified operation. In 1910 it opened its main line to Bellota.
Today, the road operates about 25 miles from Stockton to near Linden, serving various industries along the way. Some of its current traffic includes agriculture, asphalt, cement, chemicals, food processing, lumber, and steel.
Trona Railway (reporting mark, TRC): This historic road has long shipped soda ash since it was originally incorporated on March 12, 1913. It operates 30.5 miles from Trona to Searles where it interchanges with Union Pacific. Its current traffic, aside from soda ash, includes sulfuric acid, salt cake, coal, military equipment and minerals.
Ventura County Railroad (reporting mark, VCRR): This short line is another property of G&W and operates 17 miles south of Oxnard. It began service in 1998 under RailAmerica and currently hauls automobiles, paper, petroleum and wood pulp handling about 2,000 carloads annually.
West Isle Line, Inc. (reporting mark, WFS): This private short line is owned by Western Farm Service for its operations at Alpaugh.
It runs 5.25 miles to a connection with BNSF at Stoil and has been in service since 1998. The primary traffic is chemicals for fertilizer, moving about 400 carloads annually.
West Oakland Pacific Railroad (reporting mark, WOPR): This line was formerly the historic Oakland Terminal Railway and was renamed in 2017.
The history of the Oakland Terminal traces back to interurbans constructed at the turn of the 20th century to serve the Bay Area. These eventually became known as the Key System around 1938.
The freight system, known as the Oakland Terminal Railroad, was jointly acquired by the Santa Fe and Western Pacific in 1943. It was later renamed as the Oakland Terminal Railway.
The West Oakland Pacific provides switching work for its parent companies around Oakland, operating about 10 miles of track.
Yreka Western Railroad (reporting mark, YW): This historic road, currently a division of Railmark Holdings, Inc., traces its history back to 1889 in Northern California. It currently operates about 9 miles of track from Montague to Yreka where primary traffic consists of wood chips and forest products.
Ventura County Railway GP7 #100 (built as Santa Fe #2735) is on the move at Johnstown, Colorado on June 2, 1992. Vincent Porreca photo. American-Rails.com collection.Colorado
Cimarron Valley Railroad (reporting mark, CVR): This large short line operates 254 miles of former Santa Fe trackage in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
There are two disconnected lines; one from Dodge City, Kansas to Boise City, Oklahoma while the other runs from Satanta, Kansas to Springfield, Colorado. Much of the trackage is 10 mph and weed-covered. Its traffic base is primarily agriculture.
Colorado & Wyoming Railway (reporting mark, CW): This historic road has a history dating back to 1899. Today it operates just 4.5 miles of its original network, serving the area around Pueblo. Its current traffic includes coal, ore and steel products where it interchanges with both UP and BNSF.
Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad (reporting mark, CXRG): Formerly known as the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad this short line launched service in 2003 over the former Rio Grande, covering 154 miles from an interchange at Walensburg with Union Pacific to Alamosa.
From this point, two branches are operated reaching Derrick and Antonito. The SL&RG was operated by a bankruptcy trustee following Iowa Pacific Holdings' financial collapse in 2021. In 2022 the property was purchased by the Stefan Soloviev and renamed as the Colorado Pacific Rio Grande.
Denver Rock Island Railroad (reporting mark, DRIR): This privately owned short line first began service in 1993 on trackage once owned by the Rock Island. It currently serves three yard near Denver known as the North Washington Park, Stockyards, and Airlawn. They currently operate with a few Electro-Motive switchers.
Great Western Railway Of Colorado (reporting mark, GWR): Not to be confused with the English road carrying the same name, this Great Western dates back to its incorporation on October 16, 1901 by the Great Western Sugar Company to serve its sugar plants in Loveland and Greeley.
For many years the railroad moved sugar beets, molasses, processed sugar, and related products. It also handled passenger business until 1927.
It remained under private ownership for many years before it was acquired by OmniTRAX. Today, the Great Western operates about 80 miles from Greeley to points west, north, and south.
Its traffic base is no longer sugar-related but it moves a diversified range of freight including agricultural products, paper, plastics, sand, forest products, brewing grains, beer, and miscellaneous by-products. Of note, its original 2-10-0 Decapod #90 currently operates on the Strasburg Railroad.
Kanas & Oklahoma Railroad (reporting mark, KO): See Kansas.
Kyle Railroad (reporting mark, KYLE): This large, Class II, regional system operates more than 500 miles of which most is the Rock Island's former main line between Chicago and Denver.
It also owns some branch trackage north and west of Salina, Kansas with a very short segment reaching into southern Nebraska.
It was a long-time RailAmerica property before that company was purchased by G&W in 2012. Its current traffic includes wheat, soybeans, milo maize, alcohols, siding asphalt, and roofing granules handling more than 21,000 carloads annually.
Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway (reporting mark, NKCR): This Class II, regional is another OmniTRAX property and operates roughly 559 miles of disconnected track predominantly based in Kansas but also reaches Sterling, Colorado.
It has been in service since 1996 with traffic largely made up of coal movements while it also handles wheat, corn, and fertilizer.
Rock & Rail, LLC (reporting mark, RRRR): This short line operates 11.75 miles of the former Rio Grande's "Royal Gorge Route" between Parkdale and Cañon City, Colorado. The property is best known for hauling excursion trains, known as the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
San Luis Central Railroad (reporting mark, SLC): Originally founded in 1913 to handle sugar beets from farms located around the small town of Center to a mill near the town of Monte Vista (13 miles), where interchange was made with the then-Denver & Rio Grande Western.
Today, the little line continues to subsist on agricultural (grain and potatoes) traffic, along with fertilizer, but its interchange is now with short line San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, which forwards its business on to Union Pacific at at Walensburg.
V&S Railway (reporting mark, VSR): See Kansas.
Connecticut
Branford Steam Railroad (reporting mark, BRFD): This independent, industrial road has been in service since 1903 and currently serves a stone quarry at North Branford, Connecticut, operating just over 6 miles and interchanging with the Providence & Worcester. Despite its name, the road discontinued steam power in 1960. Today, it operates an SW1001 switcher and a few GP38-2's.
Central New England Railroad (reporting mark, CNZR): This small short line has been in service since 1995 operating over 8.5 miles of the old Central New England Railway between Hartford and Bloomfield (acquired in 1999) as well as utilizing ex-New Haven trackage from East Windsor Hill to State Line (13.5 miles). The road interchanges with the Connecticut Southern.
Connecticut Southern Railroad (reporting mark, CSO): This short line traces its history back to 1996 when it acquired former New Haven trackage from Conrail that year. In 2000 it was purchased by RailAmerica whose assets were taken over by the G&W in 2012.
Today, the road operates about 42 miles of track hauling such freight as steel beams, construction debris, lumber, malt liquors and pulpboard.
Housatonic Railroad (reporting mark, HRRC): The historic Housatonic Railroad has been around since its chartering in 1840. It eventually grew into a rather substantial system serving western Connecticut, and southwestern Massachusetts.
It was long part of New Haven's Berkshire Division since first leased in 1892 but "regained" its independence more than 90 years later when Conrail sold sections of the original to a new Housatonic Railroad in 1983.
Today, the short line operates much of the original route between New Haven and Pittsfield with a western extension to Newburgh, New York.
It remains independently owned moving a wide variety of freight. Additionally, there has been of initiating commuter rail service and the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum hosts excursions on a section of the property.
Naugatuck Railroad (reporting mark, NAUG): This short line began service in 1996 between Waterbury and Torrington along the former New Haven's Naugatuck Line that once reached Winsted. By the Penn Central era it was referred to as the Torrington Secondary and only reached as far north as Torrington.
The Naugatuck Railroad is a division of the Railroad Museum of New England, operating as a common-carrier short line with interchange provided at Highland Junction (Waterbury) with CSX Transportation (formerly the Pan Am Railway).
New England Central Railroad (reporting mark, NECR): The New England Central has been in service since 1995 when it acquired the assets of the historic Central Vermont Railway, sold by Canadian National that year to RailTex Corporation which subsequently renamed the property.
This company was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000 which was purchased by G&W in 2012. Today, the Class II, regional operates 394 miles and handles nearly 40,000 carloads annually.
Its freight is highly diversified including lumber, panels & plywood, poles, newsprint, printing paper, compressed gas, chemicals, fuel oils, road salt, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, fabricated metals, resins, TOFC/COFC, finished vehicles, feed mill ingredients, machinery and equipment, recyclables, ash, construction debris, foodstuffs and non-metallic minerals.
Pan Am Railways (reporting mark, PAR), Defunct: Pan Am was the renamed Guilford Transportation system. These large regional served much of New England since 1981 when it began acquiring such classic system as Maine Central, Boston & Maine, Portland Terminal, and Springfield Terminal.
In 2006 it changed its name to Pan Am Railways. At its peak it operated roughly 1,700 miles with primary traffic including grain, coal, sand/aggregates, food products, lumber, paper/pulpwood, chemicals and plastics, petroleum, processed minerals, metals, scrap metal, automobiles, and intermodal. It was acquired by CSX Transportation on November 30, 2020.
Providence & Worcester Railroad (reporting mark, PW): The P&W is another historic system spun-off following the Penn Central collapse. It began in 1847, opening its original line between Worcester and Millville, Massachusetts in September that year; a month later it was completed to Providence on October 20th.
After nearly 50 years of independence the much large New Haven system leased the railroad for 99 years on July 1, 1892. After the PC bankruptcy the road regained its independence in early 1973. In 2016 the property was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming. Today, it serves more than 140 customers and moves nearly 35,000 carloads annually as a Class II, regional.
Delaware
Delaware Coast Line Railroad (reporting mark, DCLR), Defunct: This short line had been in service since 1982 operating about 25 miles of track in Sussex County (the Milton Branch and Lewes Branch), formerly part of the Pennsylvania's Delmarva Lines (originally part of the Queen Anne's Railroad of 1894).
The road interchanged with Norfolk Southern in Ellendale and Georgetown. However, operations were suspended in 2018.
Delmarva Central Railroad (reporting mark, DCR): A division of Carload Express, this system began operations in 2016 utilizing 188 miles of former Pennsylvania Railroad/Penn Central/Conrail trackage along the Delmarva Peninsula in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.
It interchanges with NS at Porter, Delaware while trackage rights provide access as far north as New Castle. Its southerly terminus is Hallwood, Virginia while short branches also radiate away from the main line to interchange with the Maryland & Delaware Railroad.
East Penn Railroad (reporting mark, ESPN): This privately-owned short line operates over primarily disconnected branches in southeastern Pennsylvania which also reach into northern Delaware.
The history of the lines trace back to the PRR and Reading, sold by Conrail in the 1990s. The current road was formed in 2007 through the merger of the East Penn Railway and Penn Eastern Rail Lines. Currently, it operates 114 miles of track and handles a wide variety of freight.
Maryland & Delaware Railroad (reporting mark, MDDE): The Maryland & Delaware has been in service since 1977 when it acquired former PRR branches in Maryland and Delaware (more of the Delmarva Lines) soon after Conrail was formed.
The road currently operates 120 miles of track on four different branches (the Seafood Line, Centreville Line, Chestertown Line, and Snow Hill Line) moving such freight as agriculture, food products, steel, petroleum products, fertilizer, and forest products.
Wilmington & Western Railroad (reporting mark, WWRC): This operation is well-known for its excursions hauled by steam locomotives, utilizing a former Baltimore & Ohio branch between Wilmington and Hockessin.
It was formed in 1982 after acquiring the remaining 10.2-mile line from the B&O, renaming it to the original railroad that chartered the route in 1867. Currently, the W&W handles freight assignments on an as-needed basis.
Florida
Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway (reporting mark, AGR): The is a G&W property operating nearly 350 miles of track running from eastern Mississippi, through western Alabama, and finally terminating at Pensacola, Florida.
The route's heritage traces back to the eastern extent of the St. Louis-San Francisco's network and today the railroad handles more than 61,000 carloads annually including coal, iron and steel, chemicals, scrap iron, pulp and paper, and limestone.
AN Railway (reporting mark, AN): This system was long known as the historic Apalachicola Northern, first chartered on April 7, 1903. It would eventually connect Chattahoochee to Apalachicola with an extension to Port St. Joe in the Panhandle.
In 2002 the long-independent system was acquired by Rail Management Corporation, renaming it as the AN Railway. This firm was subsequently purchased by G&W in 2005. Today, the short line operates 96 miles of trackage and hauls chemicals and forest products.
Bay Line Railroad (reporting mark, BAYL): The Bay Line was historically the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railway which dated back to the early 20th century.
It is currently a Genesee & Wyoming property operating more than 100 miles of trackage between the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. It has been a G&W-owned since 2005 and transports a wide range of freight.
First Coast Railroad (reporting mark, FCRD): This short line began in 2005 over former Seaboard Air Line property leased from CSX running from Fernandina Beach, Florida to Seals, Georgia (slightly north of Kingsland) via Yulee, Florida where it interchanges with CSX.
The 32-mile line is operated by G&W and handles chemicals, coal, forest products, metals, pulp/paper products, and petroleum products.
Florida Central Railroad (reporting mark, FCEN): This Pinsly property has been in operation since 1986 when it acquired from a CSX the remaining section of a former Atlantic Coast Line route northwest of Orlando.
Today, the Central's only connection is at Orlando, running as far as Umatilla with branches to Winter Garden and Sorrento. In total the road operates about 68 miles
Florida East Coast Railway (reporting mark, FEC): The state's most famous railroad, the Florida East Coast began during September of 1895 as the vision of Henry Flagler.
It would eventually connect Jacksonville with Miami, long before Florida grew into the commercial and tourism destination is so well known for today giving the FEC the strategic advantage of serving the state's populated East Coast, which it still enjoys today.
The railroad, of course, is also legendary for having constructed the failed Key West Extension, destroyed during the infamous Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Today, the FEC handles a wide variety of freight and is reentering the passenger business as well.
Florida Midland Railroad (reporting mark, FMID): Another Pinsly line this short line operates to short, disconnected lines totaling 28 miles between Frostproof and West Lake Whales as well as between Winter Haven and Gordonville. It has been in service since 1987 and provides primarily transload services.
Florida Northern Railroad (reporting mark, FNOR): This short line is the largest Pinsly property in Florida operating 104 miles via two unconnected routes, Chandler to Lowell as well as from High Springs to Red Level Junction. The history of the property traces back to the ACL.
Georgia & Florida Railway (reporting mark, GFRR): This large short line operates around 264 miles of trackage running from Albany, Georgia to Foley, Florida. The route's history dates back to the Southern.
OmniTRAX acquired the property in 2005 from Georgia & Florida RailNet, renaming it as the Georgia & Florida Railway. It currently handles a variety of freight including wood pulp, beer, ethanol, agricultural commodities, limestone/aggregate, and other traffic.
Port of Manatee Railroad (no reporting mark): This privately-operated terminal railroad is based in Port Manatee serving the local port. It operates with one switcher and owns about 8 miles of track, interchanging with CSX.
Seminole Gulf Railway (reporting mark, SGLR): This operation is well known by the public for operating excursions and murder mystery dinner trains. It began operations in November of 1987 by acquiring former ACL and SAL property from CSX. Its two lines include the following; one runs from Arcadia to North Naples (80 miles) while another stretches from Oneco to Sarasota (about 25 miles in all).
South Central Florida Express, Inc. (reporting mark, SCXF): Formerly known as South Central Florida Express this privately-owned short line operates 156 miles of track in South Florida.
It was long owned by the Brandywine Valley Railroad, which sold the property to the United States Sugar Corporation on September 17, 1994. Today, the railroad hauls nearly 120,000 carloads annually.
Talleyrand Terminal Railroad (reporting mark, TTR): This small terminal road operates just 2 miles and serves the Jacksonville Port Authority while interchanging with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. It is a G&W property hauling a wide range of products including automobiles, chemicals, intermodal containers, and pulp/paper.
Florida Midland Railroad (reporting mark, FMID): Another Pinsly line this short line operates to short, disconnected lines totaling 28 miles between Frostproof and West Lake Whales as well as between Winter Haven and Gordonville. It has been in service since 1987 and provides primarily transload services.
Florida Northern Railroad (reporting mark, FNOR): This short line is the largest Pinsly property in Florida operating 104 miles via two unconnected routes, Chandler to Lowell as well as from High Springs to Red Level Junction. The history of the property traces back to the ACL.
Georgia & Florida Railway (reporting mark, GFRR): This large short line operates around 264 miles of trackage running from Albany, Georgia to Foley, Florida. The route's history dates back to the Southern.
OmniTRAX acquired the property in 2005 from Georgia & Florida RailNet, renaming it as the Georgia & Florida Railway. It currently handles a variety of freight including wood pulp, beer, ethanol, agricultural commodities, limestone/aggregate, and other traffic.
Port of Manatee Railroad (no reporting mark): This privately-operated terminal railroad is based in Port Manatee serving the local port. It operates with one switcher and owns about 8 miles of track, interchanging with CSX.
Seminole Gulf Railway (reporting mark, SGLR): This operation is well known by the public for operating excursions and murder mystery dinner trains. It began operations in November of 1987 by acquiring former ACL and SAL property from CSX. Its two lines include the following; one runs from Arcadia to North Naples (80 miles) while another stretches from Oneco to Sarasota (about 25 miles in all).
South Central Florida Express, Inc. (reporting mark, SCXF): Formerly known as South Central Florida Express this privately-owned short line operates 156 miles of track in South Florida.
It was long owned by the Brandywine Valley Railroad, which sold the property to the United States Sugar Corporation on September 17, 1994. Today, the railroad hauls nearly 120,000 carloads annually.
Talleyrand Terminal Railroad (reporting mark, TTR): This small terminal road operates just 2 miles and serves the Jacksonville Port Authority while interchanging with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. It is a G&W property hauling a wide range of products including automobiles, chemicals, intermodal containers, and pulp/paper.
Chesapeake Western's Alco power, led by T6 #11, has a freight at Keezletown, Virginia on August 27, 1979. Warren Calloway photo.Georgia
Athens Line, LLC (reporting mark, ABR): This short line is operated under contract to the Great Walton Railroad albeit its assets are owned by the city of Athens. The road operates 38 miles of former Central of Georgia trackage between Madison and Junior State via Athens.
Bay Line Railroad (reporting mark, BAYL): As previously mentioned, the Bay Line was historically the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railway which dated back to the early 20th century.
Among the road's more than 100 miles of trackage in Alabama is a former section of the Central of Georgia Railway it maintains between Dothan, Alabama and Hilton, Georgia where interchange is established with the Chattahoochee Industrial and Hilton & Albany.
Chattahoochee Bay Railroad (reporting mark, CHAT): The Chattahoochee Bay is a 25-mile short line serving Dothan, Alabama and stretching just slightly into the Georgia state line at Hilton where it interchanges with NS.
The property is former CoG lines. It is owned by the Genesee & Wyoming (since 2006) with primary products including chemicals, forest products, and food and feed products.
Chattooga & Chickamauga Railway (reporting mark, CCKY): The C&C is a Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary operating 49 miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee south to Lyerly on trackage originally owned by the Central of Georgia. Its freight currently consists of chemicals, metals and plastics.
Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad (reporting mark, CIRR): This former Georgia-Pacific property was acquired by G&W in 2004. It currently operates 15 miles connecting with CSX and Norfolk Southern lines near the Chattahoochee River. Its traffic currently includes chemicals, coal, forest products, steel and scrap.
Columbus & Chattahoochee Railroad (reporting mark, CCH): This 26-mile short line launched in 2012 between Girard and Mahrt, Alabama with Norfolk Southern trackage rights into Columbus Yard at Columbus, Georgia.
The road is a Genesee & Wyoming property and has interchange with NS and the G&W-owned Georgia Southwestern in Columbus. Its traffic consists of paper, fuel oil, carbon black, aggregate minerals, scrap iron, and bricks.
First Coast Railroad (reporting mark, FCRD): This short line began in 2005 over former Seaboard Air Line property leased from CSX running from Fernandina Beach, Florida to Seals, Georgia (slightly north of Kingsland) via Yulee, Florida where it interchanges with CSX.
The 32-mile line is operated by G&W and handles chemicals, coal, forest products, metals, pulp/paper products, and petroleum products.
Fulton County Railway (reporting mark, FCR): This OmniTRAX property began service in 2004, currently operating about 20 miles of trackage serving the Fulton County Industrial Park. It moves a wide range of freight handling about 8,000 carloads annually.
Georgia Central Railway (reporting mark, GC): This large short line is a property of G&W (since 2005) over trackage formerly of SCL heritage. The route is 171 miles in length connecting Macon with the coast at Savannah.
Its traffic is highly diversified and includes coal, chemicals, agriculture, food products, forest products, minerals/aggregates, plastics, and pulp/paper products.
Georgia & Florida Railway (reporting mark, GFRR): This large short line operates around 264 miles of trackage running from Albany, Georgia to Foley, Florida.
The route's history dates back to the Southern. OmniTRAX acquired the property in 2005 from Georgia & Florida RailNet, renaming it as the Georgia & Florida Railway. It currently handles a variety of freight including wood pulp, beer, ethanol, agricultural commodities, limestone/aggregate, and other traffic.
Georgia Northeastern Railroad (reporting mark, GNRR): This privately-owned short line uses part of the former Louisville & Nashville's famed "Hook & Eye" route.
It currently runs from Marietta northward to McCaysville near the Tennessee state line, more than 100 miles in length. Service began around 1990 and traffic currently consists of timber, grain, poultry, and marble products. The railroad is also noted for hosting the popular Blue Ridge Scenic Railway on a section of the property.
Georgia Southern Railway (reporting mark, GS): This Pioneer Railcorp property was formerly known as the Georgia Midland prior to 2010.
The system currently operates three disconnected lines running from Perry to Roberta (30 miles), Swainsboro to Midville (16 miles), and Meter to Dover (28 miles). Its current freight includes sand, asphalt, plastics, lumber, grain, scrap, fertilizer and stone aggregates.
Georgia Southwestern Railroad (reporting mark, GSWR): This large short line is primarily based in western Georgia but also extends into eastern Alabama at Eufaula. The road operates more than 230 miles of track and handles more than 13,000 carloads annually amongst a wide range of freight. It has been a G&W property since 2008.
Georgia Woodlands Railroad (reporting mark, GWRC): This short line, currently owned by OmniTRAX, has been in service since 1988 operating just over 17 miles between Washington and Barnett. It currently handles less than 1,000 annual carloads that includes plastic pellets, wood chips, lumber, forest products, and petroleum gases.
Golden Isles Terminal Railroad (reporting mark, GITM): This small terminal road began service in 1998 over trackage formerly owned by the Colonel's Island Railroad.
It operates a total of 13 miles on main line and primarily serves the Georgia Port Authority at Brunswick. It interchanges with both CSX and NS with primary traffic including automobiles, chemicals, food products, and animal feed.
Great Walton Railroad (reporting mark, GRWR): The small, independent Great Walton has been in service since 1987 and currently operates 10 miles between Monroe and Social Circle.
The trackage was once owned by the Georgia Railroad, part of the West Point Route. The short line currently moves more than 3,500 carloads annually with traffic including clay, feldspar, grain, machinery, fertilizer, woodchips, plastics, pulpwood, and silica.
Hartwell Railroad (reporting mark, HRT): This historic short line dates back to its chartering in 1878 as a three-foot, narrow-gauge that would eventually connect Hartwell and Bowersville (10 miles).
The Southern acquired the property in 1902, converting it to standard-gauge but resold it to private owners in 1924. Today, the Hartwell is contracted out to the Great Walton which operates freight service on the line. Additionally, the road also now owns the former NS route between Toccoa and Elberton (48 miles).
Heart of Georgia Railroad (reporting mark, HOG): This railroad is privately owned by Atlantic Western Transportation. It has been in service since 1999 operating 177 miles between Mahrt, Alabama and Vidalia, Georgia on trackage once owned by the Seaboard Air Line.
Its freight ranges from agriculture to petroleum products. Aside from freight service the line also hosts the popular SAM Shortline excursions.
Hilton & Albany Railroad (reporting mark, HAL): This short line, another Genesee & Wyoming property, launched in 2011 over 60 miles of leased Norfolk Southern trackage (ex-Central of Georgia) between Albany and Hilton, via Arlington.
It interchanges with NS in Albany, the G&W-owned Georgia Southwestern in Arlington, and the G&W-owned Chattahoochee Industrial and Bay Line Railroad in Hilton.
Riceboro Southern Railway (reporting mark, RSOR): The Riceboro Southern operates between Richmond Hill (south of Savannah) and Riceboro on trackage once owned by SAL. Its freight currently consists of chemicals and pulp/paper products.
Sandersville Railroad (reporting mark, SAN): The privately owned Sandersville Railroad, also known as the "Kaolin Road," dating back to its chartering in 1893 soon completing its route from Sandersville to Tennille, where it interchanged with the Central of Georgia (3 miles).
For many years traffic was sparse but grew prodigiously after 1938 when the Champion Paper & Fiber Company decided to begin processing its kaolin deposits located in the local Washington County region.
A plant was built in Sandersville and today kaolin remains an important source of freight while other commodities include plastic pellets, ethanol, turkey feed, and chipwood.
Savannah & Old Fort Railroad (reporting mark, SVHO): This Watco property began operations in 2019. It operates 6.45 miles of former Atlantic Coast Line industrial trackage in the heart of Savannah.
The short line runs from an interchange with CSX at Southover Yard, through Thomas Square, to the Savannah River waterfront serving various businesses along the way. Its traffic consists of sulfuric acid, sulfur, gypsum, pulpboard, wood pellets, and petroleum.
Savannah Port Terminal Railroad (reporting mark, SAPT): This small terminal road is owned by G&W that first began service on June 9, 1998 over property formerly owned by Savannah State Docks Railroad.
It operates about 18 miles of main line track in the Savannah area with primary freight including chemicals, food products, intermodal containers, and pulp/paper hauling more than 46,000 carloads annually.
St. Marys Railroad (reporting mark, SM): The historic St. Marys Railroad has been in operation since it was renamed in 1939 from property originally known as the St. Marys & Kingsland Railroad of 1865.
The small line has always served the St. Marys area, running to Kinglands (10 miles) where it currently interchanges with the First Coast Railroad. For many years the company served a burgeoning paper mill and later the U.S. Army's Kings Bay ammunition storage facility.
It is presently owned by the Boatright Companies and has no known sources of freight revenue. However, in recent years the company has been able to launch a successful excursion service.
Valdosta Railway (reporting mark, VR): The Valdosta Railway has been in service since 1992 running from Clyattville to Valdosta (10 miles) interchanging with both CSX and NS. It has been under G&W ownership since 2005 and currently hauls chemicals, food products, animal feed, forest products, plastics, and pulp/paper products.
Idaho
Boise Valley Railroad (reporting mark, BVRR): This short line is part of the Watco's family of railroads that began service in November of 2009. The road operates 36 miles of disconnected property, the Wilder Branch (11 miles between Wilder and Caldwell) and the Boise Cut-off (25 miles between Nampa and near Boise).
There are numerous customers served on the lines with primary freight including potatoes, lumber, fertilizer, and fuels.
Bountiful Grain & Craig Mountain Railroad (reporting mark, BGCM): This short line is currently owned by Railroad Materials Salvage although it began operations in 1998 under Camas Prairie RailNet. It operates the former Camas Prairie Railroad between Spalding and Cottonwood, about 52 miles.
Eastern Idaho Railroad (reporting mark, EIRR): This Watco-owned short line first began service on November 21, 1993 operating several former Union Pacific branches in southeastern Idaho.
There are two, disconnected segments; one runs from Idaho Falls northeast to Ashton (with various spurs) and another connects Minidoka and Martin with points west reaching Wendell and Buhl. In all the road operates about 270 miles and moves roughly 35,000 carloads annually.
Great Northwest Railroad (reporting mark, GRNW): This Watco property (since 2004) operates 77 miles of the former Camas Prairie Railroad between Lewiston, Idaho and Riparia, Washington. Its current traffic consists of lumber, bark, paper and tissue, agricultural products, industrial/farm chemicals, scrap iron and frozen vegetables.
Idaho, Northern & Pacific Railroad (reporting mark, INPR): This short line is owned by the Rio Grande Pacific Corporation and began service on November 15, 1993.
It operates two, disconnected branches of Union Pacific heritage (originally Oregon Short Line and Payette Valley Railroad); one runs from Payette to Cascade, Idaho while the other connects La Grande and Elgin.
In total the IN&P owns about 121 miles (additional mileage is leased from UP between Nampa and Weiser, Idaho) with traffic including agricultural products, forest products, and chemicals.
Montana Rail Link (reporting mark, MRL) (Closed, 2022): This large, Class II regional operated from 1987 until 2022. when it acquired a large segment of the former Northern Pacific main line between Montana and Washington, leased by then Burlington Northern
In its final years the road operated between Huntley, Montana to Sand Point, Idaho with trackage rights stretching to Spokane, Washington. There are also a handful of branches under its operation. In all, MRL maintained more than 900 miles and moved more than 410,000 carloads annually.
MRL announced on January 10, 2022 that it would terminate its lease with successor BNSF Railway and the Class I would reacquire its property.
Pend Oreille Valley Railroad (reporting mark, POVA): This short line is owned by the Port of Pend Oreille (since 1984, and prior to that time, Kyle Railways) and operates the Milwaukee Road's former Metaline Falls Branch between Metaline Falls and Newport, Washington.
It also currently leases from BNSF trackage between Newport, Washington and Dover, Idaho while interchanging with the Class I at nearby Sand Point, Idaho.
Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad (reporting mark, PCC): The PR&CC is a Watco property that operates 202 miles of disconnected lines in southeastern Washington, western Idaho, and northeastern Oregon. All of the lines were acquired from Union Pacific. Its traffic consists of wheat, lentils, and barley while moving about 4,000 carloads annually.
Spokane, Spangle & Palouse Railway (reporting mark, SSP): Formerly known ass the Washington & Idaho Railway (until 2019, the SS&P serves the area south of Spokane, Washington and stretches as far east as Harvard, Idaho with another short segment extending to Moscow.
The property (former Milwaukee Road and Northern Pacific) is owned by the Washington Department of Transportation, which leases the corridor to what is now the Spokane, Spangle & Palouse Railway. Its traffic consists of agriculture products, largely grain/wheat.
St. Maries River Railroad (reporting mark, STMA): This interesting short line traces its history to the abandonment of the Milwaukee Road's Pacific Extension in Idaho.
It began service during May of 1980, owned by the Potlatch Corporation, and operated the Milwaukee's former main line between Plummer Junction and Avery, 64 miles, as well as most of the Elk River Branch between St. Maries and Bovill, 52 miles.
Its connection was at Plummer Junction with Union Pacific, which remains the case today. Then, as it is now, traffic consisted entirely of forest products. In 1986 it lost a fight with the U.S. Forestry Service which condemned the right-of-way between St. Maries and Avery (45 miles) for conversion into a highway.
Since 2010 it has been privately owned by the Williams Group. The railroad currently operates about 71 miles with traffic consisting of lumber, plywood, veneer, logs, and inbound shipments of magnesium chlorite.
Respondek Railroad SW1200 #1206, serving the Tri-City Regional Port District in the St. Louis area, is seen here at Granite City, Illinois in the fall of 2005. The unit was built as Illinois Terminal #780. American-Rails.com collection.Illinois
Alton & Southern Railway (reporting mark, ALS): The historic Alton & Southern dates back to 1910 as the Alton & Southern Railroad. It was incorporated by the Aluminum Company of East St. Louis (later Aluminum Company of America or Alcoa) to provide better switching/terminal service at its plant in East St. Louis.
In 1968 the system was jointly acquired by Chicago & North Western and Missouri Pacific, which renamed it as the Alton & Southern Railway (and acquired its current logo using a combination of its owners' designs).
In 1972 the C&NW sold its interest to the Cotton Belt, a Southern Pacific subsidiary. Today, the A&S is wholly-owned by Union Pacific, which has since acquired all of the previously mentioned railroads.
Belt Railway of Chicago (reporting mark, BRC): The history Belt Railway is a long-time terminal switching carrier serving the Chicago area that traces its roots back to 1882.
Today, it continues to provide these services within the Windy City operating 28 main line miles and a total of 300 miles in all where it interchanges with every major railroad in the region (including six of the seven, current Class Is). Its primary terminal is Clearing Yard.
Bloomer Shippers Connecting Railroad (reporting mark, BLOL): This road, also known as "The Bloomer Line," has been in service since 1985 when it acquired the Illinois Central Gulf's line between Colfax to Kempton. It later purchased a section of former Wabash property between Strawn and Gibson City from NS in 1990. Its traffic currently consists of grain, fertilizer, plastics, corn, soybeans, wheat, and lumber.
Burlington Junction Railway (reporting mark, BJRY): This small terminal-like railroad operates four, very short disconnected lines in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. It began operations in 1985 and its traffic currently consists of agriculture products, chemicals, and fertilizer handling about 3,000 carloads annually.
To railfans the railroad is well-known for operating a set of rare Alco C415 switchers (#701-702), few of which were ever built and even fewer that remain operational.
Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, CFE): This very large short line began operations in 2004 under the RailAmerica banner, and subsequently acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in 2012.
It operates a total of 323 miles, most of which is the former Pennsylvania Railroad main line from Crestline, Ohio to Chicago via Fort Wayne, Indiana (formerly the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago).
Chicago, South Shore & South Bend Railroad (reporting mark, CSS): This historic system traces its roots back to an interurban. On December 2, 1901 the Chicago & Indiana Air Line Railway was incorporated to connect East Chicago and Indiana Harbor, a distance of about three and a half miles.
In 1904 the railroad reincorporated as the Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend Railway to better reflect its intentions of connecting East Chicago with South Bend, a distance of about 67 miles.
By 1908 the original route between East Chicago and South Bend was opened and completely electrified operating on a 6,600-volt, alternating current (AC) system (700 volts within city limits). In 1925 it was acquired by Sam Insull which formed the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend Railroad to acquire the assets of the earlier carrier.
While the CSS&SB became noted and derived significant revenue from passenger/commuter service it also built up a substantial freight business, which eventually superseded the former.
In 1989 the South Shore was able to completely drop passenger service, handed over to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. Today, the road is owned by the Anacostia Rail Holdings, continuing to operate its original main line with traffic highly diversified.
Chicago, St Paul & Pacific Railroad (reporting mark, CSP): This Progressive Rail short line operates the former Chicago Terminal Railroad that served the Bensenville Industrial Park. It began operations in 2019. It takes its name from the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific, the fabled Milwaukee Road whose primary shops were located in Bensenville.
Chicago Port Railroad (reporting mark, none): This small switching/terminal line began service in 2006 operating just 1.3 miles serving the Calumet River Yard and local transload facility at Chicago's Torrence Avenue and 117th Street. It connects with Chicago Rail Link.
Chicago Junction Railway (reporting mark, CJR): Formerly an Iowa Pacific property now owned by Progressive Rail since 2018 this operation utilizes former Milwaukee Road trackage in northwest Chicago. It acts as a terminal/switching line serving the Centex Industrial Park in Elk Grove Village, Illinois while also offering car storage capabilities and has been in service since early 2007.
Chicago Rail Link (reporting mark, CRL): The Chicago Rail Link is a division of OmniTRAX and operates 72 miles of trackage along the South Side of Chicago.
Along with switching services the road's customers include BP Amoco, Agrifine, Cargill, Nidera, ADM, ARRO Corporation, Great Northern Lumber, Horsehead Metal Management, Leavitt Tube, and Ozinga/Midwest Marine.
Cicero Central Railroad (reporting as mark, CERR): A division of Watco, this short line began in 2015. It operates only a half-mile of track in Stickney, Illinois to serve the Koppers chemical plant. Interchange is provided with Canadian National.
Coffeen & Western Railroad (reporting mark, CAEG): This privately owned short line, created on February 5, 2004 is a division of the Ameren Corporation to serve its power plant at Coffeen, Illinois. It interchanges with BNSF and UP at Walshville and the line is 13 miles in length.
Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad (reporting mark, COER): The CO&E has a fascinating history. It first began service on July 2, 1971 operated by the American Rail Heritage Ltd. as an excursion, tourist line from the Illinois Central depot in Marion to nearby Ordill and back.
The road utilized a 2-4-2T #5 to pull its trains. Within a few years it acquired a much larger steamer to meet the growing demand of visitors, Roberval & Saguenay 2-8-0 #17.
However, before the road could restore the engine a fire destroyed the depot at Marion on June 13, 1977. The incident also destroyed two of the road's coaches and main offices in the building. With its future in limbo, fate stepped in; the Illinois Central Gulf sold CO&E the entire property and trackage on October 18th that year.
With its new assets the railroad turned to freight service for continued operation, using 2-4-2 #5. This move made it the very last carrier to use steam power in regular freight service.
Since then steam has been retired but freight has grown steadily. The company currently owns an SW1 switcher (#6), named the William "Bill" E. Schreiber as well as a pair of SW1200s (#1136, the City Of Herrin, and #1161, the Marion Ross).
It still operates the 8.5 miles between Marion and Ordill with traffic including grain, fertilizer, lumber, coal, paper, steel, oil products, chemicals, scrap iron and manufactured goods.
Decatur Central Railroad (reporting mark, DCC): Launched in 2016 by OmniTRAX this short line is a joint venture by the railroad, The Broe Group, and Topflight Grain Cooperative, Inc. to handle grain from processing companies along the 16-mile route to an interchange at Decatur with the Canadian National. It will also serve the Midwest Inland Port. The property is ex-Illinois Central trackage.
Decatur Junction Railway (reporting mark, DT): This short line, a Pioneer Railcorp property (now Patriot Rail), first began service during September of 1993 on 38 miles of trackage between Assumption and Cisco, Illinois. Its traffic consists primarily of grain, fertilizer and plastics
Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark, DREI): Launched in 2018 and a division of Watco, this large short line maintains 182 miles that radiates in all four directions away from Chrisman, Illinois; branches extend to Decatur, Neoga, and Georgetown with additional branches reaching into Indiana at Hillsdale and Terre Haute.
Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark, EIRC) (Closed): The privately-owned Eastern Illinois began operation in April of 1991 when it acquired a section of the former Nickel Plate Road between Neoga and Metcalf, Illinois a distance of 53 miles.
It was once part of the old Indiana Hi-Rail Corporation, which operated the line from May of 1988 until March of 1991. It was acquired by Watco's Decatur & Eastern Illinois at the end of 2019.
Effingham Railroad (reporting mark, EFRR): The little Effingham Railroad operates as a 400-foot, terminal switching road in the town of Effingham where the main lines of CSX and Canadian National also pass through.
Its primary traffic includes switching a 200,000 square-foot warehouse as well as a breakfast cereal company and cement company. The road handles between 2,000 and 3,000 carloads annually.
It operates with two locomotives; SW1200 #2716 (built as Reading #2716) and GP10 #7510 (built as PRR GP9 #7063). The latter is marked for the Illinois Western, an allying road.
Elwood Joliet & Southern Railroad (reporting mark, EJSR): This short line, a Watco property, began service in 2020 operating 2 miles of former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern trackage in Crest Hill, Illinois along the Des Plaines River that serves various industries. Its traffic consists of plastics and chemicals.
Evansville Western Railway (reporting mark, EVWR): This short line, a division of P&L Transportation, began service on January 1, 2006. It operates 124.5 miles of former Louisville & Nashville trackage rail between Evansville, Indiana and Okawville, Illinois (there are also spurs reaching White Oak and Sugar Camp).
It handles tens of thousands of carloads annually with traffic consisting primarily of coal, grain, food products, chemicals, fertilizer, lumber, and building materials.
Gateway Industrial Railway (reporting mark, GIRR): This private short line is owned by the Avatar Corporation. It began operations in early 2019, serving just o.46 miles of trackage (including a transload facility) in University Park, Illinois. Interchange is established with the Canadian National.
Illinois & Midland Railway (reporting mark, IMRR): This road was formally known as the historic Chicago & Illinois Midland, a system with roots dating back to the Pawnee Railroad of 1888. It gained its current name in 1905 when it was acquired by coal interests.
While the system had plans of reaching Chicago these hopes never materialized. It owned two segments, from Peoria to Springfield while another ran between Compro and Taylorville.
The sections were connected via trackage rights over the Illinois Central. In 1996 Genesee & Wyoming acquired the line and renamed it as the Illinois & Midland.
Today, the original C&IM is still operated by G&W save for the extension to Compro. In all it owns 97 miles with traffic consisting of chemicals, coal, food/feed products, forest products, metallic ores/minerals, and municipal solid waste.
Illinois Railway (reporting mark, IR): Formerly known as Illinois RailNet and owned by OmniTRAX this short line has been in service since 1997 operating four disconnected lines in the western suburbs of Chicago that total 113 miles.
The carrier moves a wide variety of aggregates, sand, and mineral products with primary shippers including U.S. Silica, Fairmount Minerals, Techni Sand, James Hardie, Watco Reload, ADM, Behr Iron & Minerals, and Unimin Corporation.
Illinois Western Railroad (reporting mark, ILW): This short line is owned by Charles W. Barenfanger Jr., who also owns the small Effingham Railroad. This carrier is also a terminal/switching road located near the town of Greenville and serves a 700 acre industrial park that is ideally situated to the CSX main line next door.
The road also connects to BNSF nearby, roughly 3 1/2 miles away. The company's sole locomotive is aforementioned GP10 #7510 (built as PRR GP9 #7063) that sometimes pulls double-duty on the Effingham.
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad (reporting mark, IHB): This historic terminal road traces its history back to 1907 when it was created through the mergers of several small systems in the Chicago area. For many years it was jointly owned by the C&NW and NYC, until the former sold its interest to the Milwaukee Road.
Today, the switching line remains jointly owned by CSX, NS, and Canadian Pacific. It operates a total of 320 miles of which roughly 30 is main line. The IHB skirts the western side of Chicago with operations reaching into the northwest corner of Indiana.
Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark, INDR): This now large, profitable, and successful Class II regional began humbly in 1986 when it acquired 155 miles of former ICG property between Indianapolis, Indiana and Newton, Illinois.
Over the time the system continued adding trackage and spinoffs from the larger Class Is, aggressively working to grow its customer base in the meantime. Today, the road owns lines that trace their roots back to the Milwaukee Road, Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Louisville & Nashville, and Monon along with the aforementioned IC property.
It owns or has trackage rights on some 500 miles reaching Chicago, Louisville, and Newton, Illinois while handling more than 200,000 annual carloads.
Iowa Interstate Railroad (reporting mark, IAIS): This now successful, Class II regional started out in 1982 as the Iowa Railroad when this little shortline purchased 375 miles of the Rock Island's former Chicago-Council Bluffs main line between the latter city and Bureau, Illinois.
Two years later in 1984 the nearly-abandoned property was purchased by the Heartland Rail Corporation, renaming it as the Iowa Interstate Railroad.
It was nearly abandoned again but prospered under new management in 1990. What started out handling only a few thousand carloads annually has turned into a profitable company that now boasts more than 110,000 carloads of freight each year.
It currently operates from Chicago (via trackage rights over CSX) to Omaha with a branch to Peoria and even features new power in the form of ES44AC road-switchers.
Joppa & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, JE): Originally incorporated on April 4, 1990 this is another privately owned short line of the Ameren Corporation. It serves a power plant near Joppa, Illinois along the Ohio River running from that point, 4.5 miles to an interchange with BNSF.
Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern Railroad (reporting mark, KBSR): This short line began service in 1977 over former New York Central trackage between Sheldon and Kankakee, Illinois acquired from Conrail that year. In time the system grew as more trackage was shed by various railroads.
Today, the KB&S operates roughly 155 miles connecting Kankakee, Danville, and Lafayette. Its traffic consists of agriculture, chemicals, and plastics.
Kaskaskia River Railroad (reporting mark, KRRC): This short line runs from a connection with the Canadian National at Lenzburg to the Kaskaskia River. It is operated by the Kaskaskia Regional Port District.
Keokuk Junction Railway (reporting mark, KJRY): This short line has its beginnings in 1980 when it acquired roughly 4 miles of the Rock Island's former yard in Keokuk, Iowa to provide switching and terminal services.
Since then it has steadily grown into a 126 mile system between Peoria, Illinois and Keokuk, Iowa as well as between LaHarpe and Lomax, Illinois (this trackage is primarily ex-Toledo, Peoria & Western/Santa Fe).
The system also has trackage rights to Fort Madison, Iowa where interchanges with UP. In 1996 it was acquired by Pioneer Railcorp (now Patriot Rail) and its traffic base includes corn, corn germ, corn syrup, meal, gluten feed, and railroad wheels.
Manufacturers Junction Railway (reporting mark, MJ): This terminal road dates back to its incorporation on January 28, 1903 and it opened for service in 1906 serving the area of Cicero.
Today, it is a subsidiary of OmniTRAX and operates about 6 miles of trackage interchanging with CSX, Canadian National, Belt Railway of Chicago, UP (via BRC), and BNSF Railway.
Peru Industrial Railway (reporting mark, PIR): A subsidiary of OmniTRAX, this short line maintains 3 miles of track to serve customers at the Peru Industrial Park in Peru, Illinois. It interchanges with BNSF and the Illinois Railway.
Pioneer Industrial Railway (reporting mark, PRY): The Pioneer Industrial Railway is another Pioneer Rail Corporation property operating 8.5 miles of trackage between Peoria and Peoria Heights that was historically owned by the Peoria & Pekin Union. The road began service on February 18, 1998 and its freight consists of lumber and steel.
Port Harbor Railroad (reporting mark, PHRR): Located in in Granite City, Illinois, this 5.2-mile short line serves the industrial port district known as America's Central Port. Operations began in 2004. Its traffic primarily consists of steel, aluminum products, food products, lumber, paper, chemicals, minerals, and grains.
The Prairie Line (reporting mark, TPLX): This operation is based in O’Fallon, Illinois and according to the company they provide a long list of services including switching services, logistics and route planning, track maintenance, car repair, and industrial site development.
Riverport Railroad (reporting mark, RVPR): This small terminal/switching road serves the Savanna Army Ordinance Depot and operates a total of 72 miles of trackage including main lines, spurs, and sidings. It interchanges with BNSF at Robinson Spur.
Shawnee Terminal Railway (reporting mark, STR): This railroad is yet another Pioneer Rail Corporation short line operating just 2.5 miles of trackage near Cairo at 17th Street Yard for car cleaning and storage capabilities. It interchanges with Canadian National.
South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Railway (reporting mark, SCIH): This system traces its history back to the Chicago Short Line Railway incorporated on December 8, 1900 and began service in 1903.
In April of 2002 the property was acquired by International Steel Group, which renamed it as the South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Railway (this company was subsequently acquired by Mittal Steel/ArcelorMittal in 2005).
Today, the SC&IH serves South Chicago and South Deering, Illinois along with Indiana Harbor, Indiana. It operates 27 miles of track and continues to serve as a terminal railroad.
Tazewell & Peoria Railroad (reporting mark, TZPR): This small short line, a G&W property serves a terminal system around Peoria operating 24 main line miles with 100 miles in total including yards, sidings, and spurs.
The T&P leases the property formerly known as the historic Peoria & Pekin Union Railway that dates back to 1881 (it is technically jointly owned by UP, NS, and CN).
It serves a wide variety of customers and handles about 100,000 carloads annually while traffic consists of chemicals, coal, construction machinery, food/feed products, forest products, and steel/scrap.
Terminal Railroad Association Of St. Louis (reporting mark, TRRA): This historic short line has been in operation since 1889-1890, and handles switching assignments for industries in East St. Louis, Madison, and Granite City, Illinois as well as St. Louis, Missouri.
The railroad was originally owned by the major railroads to serve the St. Louis area including Missouri Pacific/St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern; Wabash; Ohio & Mississippi Railroad (Baltimore & Ohio); Louisville & Nashville; Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway (New York Central); Rock Island.
Today, it is owned by BNSF, Canadian National, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific.
Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway (reporting mark, TPW): This historic system dates back to its formation in 1887 through the merger of the Peoria & Warsaw Railway and the Logansport, Peoria & Burlington.
In time the TP&W came to operate a system stretching from Logansport, Indiana to Fort Madison, Iowa with a branch reaching Keokuk, Iowa and Warsaw, Illinois.
In all its system stretched about 230 miles. For many years the road was a subsidiary of the PRR but became independent once more following the bankruptcy of Penn Central. In 1983 it was picked up by the Santa Fe, which sold much of the remaining property in September of 1999 to RailAmerica.
Today, it is owned by G&W running between Peoria and Logansport. Its traffic consists of chemicals, machinery, cement, feed meals and biodiesel, wind tower components, and other freight.
TransDistribution Brookfield Railroad (reporting mark, none): This little short line operates just 0.46 miles of track to handle the Sweetener Supply Company's Brookfield Transload Facility in Brookfield, Illinois. Interchange is provided with the BNSF Railway.
Vandalia Railroad (reporting mark, VRRC): This small short line is a Pioneer RailCorp property (since October of 1994) operating just 3 miles north of Vandalia. Its principal freight includes steel pipe, plastic pellets, and fertilizer. It began service in 1983 when Illinois Central Gulf began abandoning sections of the original IC main line between Cairo and Galena built during the 1850s.
Vermilion Valley Railroad (reporting mark, VVRR): This small short line operates about 6 miles of track between Danville, Illinois and Olin, Indiana on trackage once owned by the NYC. It was acquired from CSX by the Indiana Boxcar Corporation in 2003.
Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (reporting mark, WSOR): This large, profitable Class II regional has been successful in resuscitating many secondary, left-for-dead branch lines in the state of Wisconsin and northern Illinois (Fox Lake, although trackage rights give it access to Clearing Yard in Chicago) that once belonged to the Milwaukee Road and Chicago & North Western.
It began service in 1980 and today operates more than 700 miles of track, some of which is owned by the state of Wisconsin.
The company, currently owned by Watco since 2012, plans to continue resurrecting lines in the region it sees as a potential profitable ventures. The Wisconsin & Southern handles more than 60,000 carloads annually with freight traffic highly diversified.
Indiana
Big Four Terminal Railroad (reporting mark, BFTR): This small terminal road has been in service since January of 2003 operating 1.5 miles of track at Craigville, Indiana providing switching for local industries in that town.
Central Indiana & Western Railroad (reporting mark, CEIW): This independent terminal/switching carrier operates approximately 7 miles of track between Lapel and Anderson where it interchanges with CSX. The road's traffic consists of glass products and agriculture.
Central Railroad of Indiana (reporting mark, CIND): This medium-sized carrier operates 96 miles of former NYC trackage between Cincinnati, Ohio and Shelbyville, Indiana.
It has been in service since 1992 and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000 before G&W ownership in 2012. Today, its traffic base includes automobiles, chemicals, metals, aggregates while moving more than 11,000 carloads annually.
Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, CFE): This Genesee & Wyoming road (formerly RailAmerica) began service in 2004 over PRR's former Fort Wayne Line between Gary, Indiana and Crestline, Ohio with a branch reaching Decatur.
It operates roughly 315 miles in total with freight consisting of lumber, paper, chemicals, steel beams, shelled corn, and other hazardous materials.
Chicago, South Shore & South Bend Railroad (reporting mark, CSS): See Illinois.
Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark, DREI): See Illinois.
Dubois County Railroad (reporting mark, DCRR): This small short line is the freight-hauling arm of the Indiana Railway Museum.
The systems operates 16 miles from a connection with NS at Huntingburg to Dubois (the museums owns a total of 24 miles, stretching as far as French Lick). The route's history dates back to the Southern and the company currently hauls agriculture and petroleum products.
Elkhart & Western Railroad (reporting mark, EWR): This small short line was formed by the Pioneer Railcorp in 2001, acquiring 11 miles of former NS property between Elkhart and Mishawaka (the line's history traces back to the NYC).
Since first entering service the road has acquired an additional 23-mile, disconnected segment between Argos and Walkerton, Indiana. The road's traffic base consists of auto frames, cement, lumber, tomato paste, plastics, and aggregates.
Evansville Western Railway (reporting mark, EVWR): This short line is a division of P&L Transportation and operates 124.5 miles of former Louisville & Nashville trackage between Evansville, Indiana and Okawville, Illinois (there are also spurs reaching White Oak and Sugar Camp).
The property was acquired from CSX in 2005 with service commencing on January 1, 2006. The road handles roughly 60,000 carloads annually.
Gary Railway Company (reporting mark, GRW): This short line began in 2009 over former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern trackage. It is a division of Transtar, Inc. The GRW maintains a total of 63 miles, most of which is yard and industrial trackage, to serve U. S. Steel’s Gary Works in Gary, Indiana. Interchange is carried out with Canadian National.
Grand Elk Railroad (reporting mark, GDLK): The Grand Elk Railroad is a Watco shortline and has been in operation only since 2009.
A large shortline, it operates 151 miles from NS between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Elkhart, Indiana (formerly owned by the NYC). Today, the line transports automotive parts, plastics, metals, forest products, agricultural products and aggregates.
Fulton County Railroad (reporting mark, FCR): This small, privately-owned short line serves just one customer in Rochester, Indiana the Wilson Fertilizer & Grain, Inc. The history of the line dates back to the former Erie Railroad's Chicago trunk line between the Windy City and New York.
Most of the route was primarily abandoned following Conrail's startup in 1976. A short line known as Erie Western attempted to retain service from western Ohio to Chicago but went under in 1979. A 1-mile segment was retained west of Rochester (once also operated by Indiana Hi-Rail) and is owned by the Fulton County Authority.
Hoosier Southern Railroad (reporting mark, HOS): The Hoosier Southern Railroad serves the Perry County Port Authority operating about 22 miles of track between Cannelton and Lincoln City, Indiana. The road has been in service since 1991 over trackage acquired by NS that year. It utilizes a trio of GP7s for power.
Indiana & Ohio Railway (reporting mark, IORY): This short line has been in service since 1985 when it acquired a former NYC branch between Valley Junction, Ohio and Brookville, Indiana.
In the succeeding years the I&O picked up several more routes being shed by Class Is with histories tracing back to the PRR, Baltimore & Ohio, and Chesapeake & Ohio that stretched as far as Dundee, Michigan.
For many years it was owned by RailAmerica whose assets were acquired by G&W in 2012. Today, the I&O operates about 570 miles and hauls metal products, chemicals, plastics, lumber, paper, agricultural products, and distillers grains.
Indian Creek Railroad (reporting mark, ICRK): This small railroad is owned by Rydman & Fox, Inc. and operates about 4.5 miles of trackage. It began service in 1981 running between Anderson, Indiana and its current connection with NS at Florida Station. The road primarily handles agriculture products and owns a single RS11 of Southern Pacific heritage for power.
Indiana Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, IERR): This privately owned short line, a subsidiary of the Respondek Railroad, leases 43-miles from CSX between Richmond, Indiana and Fernald, Ohio that previously dated back to Chesapeake & Ohio ownership. The road has been in service since 2005.
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad (reporting mark, IHB): See Illinois.
Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark, INDR): See Illinois.
Indiana Northeastern Railroad (reporting mark, IN): This short line traces its history back to the Pigeon River Railroad of 1992. Today, the company has blossomed into a 120-mile system serving northeastern Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwestern Ohio much of which dates back to NYC heritage. The road's traffic base consist of coal, agriculture, sand, glass, steel, and other freight.
Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark, ISRR): This large system first began service in 1992 over former Pennsylvania property between Indianapolis and Evansville. It was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000 and subsequently by G&W in 2012. The road operates nearly 200 miles and transports primarily agriculture-based freight commodities moving more than 70,000 carloads annually.
Indiana Southwestern Railway (reporting mark, ISW): This railroad is another of Pioneer Rail Corporation's property operating just 3.8 miles from Evansville, northward. It began service in 2000 as the Evansville Terminal Railway that originally operated 17 miles between Evansville and Cynthiana of former IC trackage.
However, in 2011 it was cutback to just 3.8 miles following the cessation of grain service. Current traffic consists of agriculture, plastics, and rail equipment.
Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern Railroad (reporting mark, KBSR): See Illinois.
Kendallville Terminal Railway (reporting mark, KTR): Another Pioneer Rail Corporation shortline this terminal railroad operates just 1.1 mile of track near Kendallville hauling sugar and syrup. The route's heritage dates back to the Grand Rapids & Indiana, later Michigan Central which was acquired by NYC.
Lake Michigan & Indiana Railroad (reporting mark, LMIC): This non-operating short line, a division of the Keystone Railroad, is owned by ArcelorMittal (previously Bethlehem Steel Corporation) and has been in operation since 1999 when it began service on 66 miles of terminal and switching trackage in Burns Harbor, Indiana. It is leased and operated by NS.
Louisville & Indiana Railroad (reporting mark, LIRC): This short line, an Anacostia Rail Holdings property, has been in operation since 1994 that operates 106 miles of former PRR trackage between Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky.
The road's primary traffic consists of cement, chemicals, food products, grain lumber, manufactured goods, paper, plastics, scrap, and steel. It moves more than 35,000 carloads annually.
Lucas Oil Rail Line (reporting mark, LORL): Formerly known as the historic Louisville New Albany & Corydon Railroad which dated back to 1886 the property was acquired by Lucas Oil in 2006, which renamed it as the Lucas Oil Rail Line. It operates nearly 8 miles of trackage between Corydon Junction and Corydon, Indiana hauling petroleum-based products.
Madison Railroad (reporting mark, CMPA): This 25-mile short line is owned by the City of Madison Port Authority and has been in service since 1978 when it acquired the former PRR from Conrail between Madison and North Vernon. Along with freight service the road offers car storage and switching services.
MG Rail, Inc. (reporting mark, MGRI): This terminal/switching railroad is operated by Consolidated Grain & Barge operating 3.7 miles near the town of Jeffersonville. It utilizes a pair of former CSX GP16s.
Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railroad (reporting mark, NDW): This short line was famously known as the Maumee & Western for many years due to the badly deteriorated track upon which it operated.
It was originally part of the Wabash running between Fort Wayne, Indiana and Napoleon, Ohio (53 miles) and operated by NS until the 1980s when sold to Indiana Hi-Rail.
This company went bankrupt in the mid-1990s when it became the Maumee & Western. In 2012 Pioneer Railcorp took over the property and renamed it as the ND&W. Since then the company has performed extensive repairs to improve service. The road handles food products, chemicals, aggregates, fertilizer, and grain.
New Castle Southern Railroad (reporting mark, NCSR): This short line began service in September, 2021 by leasing 21 miles of Norfolk Southern trackage between Beesons and New Castle, Indiana (ex-Nickel Plate Road). The line had previously been operated as the Connersville & New Castle Railroad since 1997.
Respondek Railroad (reporting mark, RRC): This company first began service in 1987. It is based in Boonville, Indiana where it provides contract rail car switching services and of short line rail operations.
Its three current systems include the Illini Terminal which offers switching services in central Illinois; the Squaw Creek Southern Railroad (reporting mark, SQS) is a multifaceted operation.
Since 2007 it has operated the former Yankeetown Dock line between Yankeetown and Boonville, Indiana that primarily serves a coal-fired power plant at Alcoa.
In addition, it also operates the former Central of Georgia line between Newborn and Manchen (12.5 miles) along with another 17-mile segment between Madison and Machen, both leased from NS.
Finally, the Port Harbor Railroad (reporting mark, PHRR) provides switching/terminal operations at Granite City, Illinois operating about 5.2 miles of track serving the America's Central Port.
Most of Respondek's motive power wears a bright green and yellow livery paying homage to the historic Illinois Terminal, a one-time large interurban that became a successful freight hauler before disappearing into Norfolk & Western in 1980.
R.J. Corman Railroad, Western Ohio Lines (reporting mark, RJCW): One of several roads affiliated with RJ Corman there are four different branches within this segment that first entered service in 1993 including:
St. Mary's Line (Lima, Ohio - Portland, Indiana)
Greenville Line (Greenville, Ohio - Ansonia, Ohio)
SPEG Line (Lima - Glenmore, Ohio)
Minster Branch (St. Mary's - Minster, Ohio)
The routes, totaling 94 miles, interchange with both CSX and NS handling grain, fertilizer, aluminum, rubber, tomato, plastic, and steel.
South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Railway (reporting mark, SCIH): See Illinois.
Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway (reporting mark, TPW): See Illinois.
U. S. Rail Corporation (reporting mark, USRC): This company operates a handful of short lines in the eastern United States. It operates one terminal road near Kokomo, Indiana primarily handling grain traffic.
Vermilion Valley Railroad (reporting mark, VVRR): This small short line operates about 6 miles of track between Danville, Illinois and Olin, Indiana on trackage once owned by the NYC. It was acquired from CSX by the Indiana Boxcar Corporation in 2003.
Wabash Central Railroad (reporting mark, WBCR): This privately-owned short line has been in service since June 22, 1999 utilizing the former Nickel Plate's "Clover Leaf" between Craigville and Van Buren, Indiana. Power for the operation is a pair of former Illinois Central GP10s and traffic is primarily agriculture.
Winamac Southern Railway (reporting mark, WSRY): This short line began service in 1993 and is currently operated by the Toledo, Peoria & Western. It maintains the former PRR from Logansport to Kokomo and another from Logansport to Bringhurst.
Iowa
Burlington Junction Railway (reporting mark, BJRY): This small terminal-like railroad operates four, very short disconnected lines in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois.
It began operations in 1985 and its traffic currently consists of agriculture products, chemicals, and fertilizer handling about 3,000 carloads annually. To railfans the railroad is well-known for operating a set of rare Alco C415 switchers (#701-702), few of which were ever built and even fewer that remain operational.
Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway (reporting mark, CIC): This road has a long, interesting history. It began as an interurban on August 13, 1904 when operations first began between its namesake cities, a distance of 27 miles.
The road also began a branch to Davenport that reached as far as Lisbon (17 miles) before rising costs halted construction. This extension was abandoned in 1928.
What also became known as the "The CRANDIC Route" became a successful freight line and discontinued all passenger service in 1953.
Today, it operates 60 miles thanks to its acquisition of the former Milwaukee Road between Cedar Rapids and Homestead as well as the former Rock Island between Iowa City and Hills. Today, the Crandic handles more than 90,000 carloads annually.
Davenport Industrial Railroad (reporting mark, DIR): This short line, began operations on January 1, 2020, maintains 2.8 miles to serve the city of Davenport's Davenport Transload Facility. It connects with the Dakota, Minnesota, & Eastern/Canadian Pacific in Davenport.
D&I Railroad (reporting mark, DAIR): Also known as the Dakota & Iowa Railroad this system is owned by L.G. Everist, Inc. The short line operates between Sioux City, Iowa and Dell Rapids, South Dakota with a branch to Beresford, South Dakota via Hawarden, Iowa.
The property was all former Milwaukee Road trackage acquired by both states in 1981 to preserve rail service. The D&I operates a total of 138 miles and handles aggregate, distillers grain, ethanol, agriculture, cement, fertilizer, and other general freight.
Iowa Interstate Railroad (reporting mark, IAIS): This now successful, Class II regional started out in 1982 as the Iowa Railroad when this little shortline purchased 375 miles of the Rock Island's former Chicago-Council Bluffs main line between the latter city and Bureau, Illinois.
Two years later in 1984 the nearly-abandoned property was purchased by the Heartland Rail Corporation, renaming it as the Iowa Interstate Railroad. It was nearly abandoned again but prospered under new management in 1990.
What started out handling only a few thousand carloads annually has turned into a profitable company that now boasts more than 110,000 carloads of freight each year. It currently operates from Chicago (via trackage rights over CSX) to Omaha with a branch to Peoria and even features new power in the form of ES44AC road-switchers.
Iowa Northern Railway (reporting mark, IANR): The Iowa Northern has been in service since 1984 and operates the former Rock Island between Manly and Cedar Rapids, 163 miles.
Since then the road has acquired the former Chicago Great Western between Cedar Falls and Oelwein as well as a disconnected branch between Forest City and Belmond. The privately owned company's traffic base includes agriculture, chemicals, bio-fuel commodities, food products, and truck parts.
Iowa Southern Railway (reporting mark, ISRY): Formerly known as the Appanoose County Community Railroad prior to 2016, this short line originally began service in 1983 and currently operates 35 miles between Centerville and Albia.
It utilizes components of the former Wabash/Norfolk & Western (Albia-south of Odell), a short segment of the former Rock Island from south of Odell to south of Centerville, and finally a former component of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy/Burlington Northern into Centerville.
The road has interchanges with the Canadian Pacific at Moravia and the BNSF Railway north of Albia. Traffic is primarily agriculture.
Iowa Traction Railway (reporting mark, IATR): The last interurban in the country which still serves freight customers, the Iowa Traction dates back to the late 19th century known originally as the Mason City & Clear Lake Railway.
Today the railroad continues to operate the original route between Emery and Clear Lake Junction, just 10.4 miles. It is now a Progressive Rail subsidiary and handles a variety of freight including scrap metal, fertilizers, wood products, ethanol and frozen food products.
Keokuk Junction Railway (reporting mark, KJRY): This short line has its beginnings in 1980 when it acquired roughly 4 miles of the Rock Island's former yard in Keokuk, Iowa to provide switching and terminal services.
Since then it has steadily grown into a 126 mile system between Peoria, Illinois and Keokuk, Iowa as well as between LaHarpe and Lomax, Illinois (this trackage is primarily ex-Toledo, Peoria & Western/Santa Fe).
The system also has trackage rights to Fort Madison, Iowa where interchanges with UP. In 1996 it was acquired by Pioneer Railcorp and its traffic base includes corn, corn germ, corn syrup, meal, gluten feed, and railroad wheels.
Kansas
Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad (reporting mark, BNG): This small shortline is owned by the Blackwell Industrial Authority Oklahoma Department of Transportation while the line is operated by US Rail Partners.
Its trackage consists of about 35 miles between Blackwell, Oklahoma and Hunnewell, Kansas. It has been in service since 2002 when it took over operating rights from the South Kansas & Oklahoma.
Cimarron Valley Railroad (reporting mark, CVR): This privately-owned short line, a subsidiary of The Western Group, has been in service since early 1996 when it acquired former Santa Fe trackage in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas.
In all the road operates roughly 254 miles and its traffic base is largely agriculture but also includes other types of freight. The road is known for using a fleet of early second-generation, rebuilt GP30s for power.
Garden City Western Railway (reporting mark, GCW): This railroad is owned by Patriot Rail (previously a Pioneer RailCorp property) and operates 40 miles of track between Garden City and Shallow Water with a branch to Wolf.
The history of the line dates back to 1916 when it was formed by the Garden City Sugar & Land Company. It was acquired by Pioneer in 1999. Traffic consists of grain, frozen beef, fertilizer, farm implements, feed products, and utility poles.
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (reporting mark, KO): This large regional operates roughly 840 miles track across much of central and western Kansas, reaching the Colorado border.
The K&O began service in 2001 and the property's history primarily traces back to the Santa Fe with a few Missouri Pacific segments. The railroad is a Watco property and handles more than 50,000 carloads annually.
Kansas City Terminal Railway (reporting mark, KCT): This terminal railroad, which has been in operation since 1906 serves the city of Kansas City providing switching service for the larger railroads which operate through the area. The railroad carries out is own dispatching and maintains 85 miles of track (25 in Kansas and 60 in Missouri).
Kyle Railroad (reporting mark, KYLE): See Colorado.
Kaw River Railroad (reporting mark, KAW): See Missouri.
Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (reporting mark, MNA): See Arkansas.
Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway (reporting mark, NKCR): See Colorado.
V&S Railway (reporting mark, VSR): This short line, owned by A&K Railroad Materials, operates two disconnected lines in Kansas; between Medicine Lodge and Attica as well as the former Hutchinson & Northern, a former terminal road serving the region around Hutchinson. The road's traffic consists of scrap metal, salt, and repaired cars, frac sand, wall board, and plaster.
South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (reporting mark, SKOL): The SK&O is another Watco regional railroad Tulsa, Oklahoma to several points throughout southeastern Kansas including Winfield, Humboldt, and Pittsburg among others.
The collection of lines trace their roots back to the Missouri Pacific, St. Louis-San Francisco, and Santa Fe. Its property totals 404 miles and annual carloads exceed 50,000 moving such products as agriculture, cement, coal, chemicals, steel, and plastics.
Wichita Union Terminal Railway (reporting mark, WTA): This road is jointly owned by UP and BNSF. It was first established in 1910 although the tracks serving stockyard and packing companies at Wichita had been in service since 1889. From the beginning it was jointly owned by Santa Fe, Rock Island, MoPac, and Frisco handling local switching and terminal service, which continues through today.
Maine
Central Maine & Quebec Railway (reporting mark, CMQ), Defunct: Formerly known as the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic which took over the bankrupt and historic Bangor & Aroostook lines in 2003, beginning operations in the spring of 2014.
This road was owned by Fortress Investment. Much of its trackage was located in Maine and southern Quebec with service extending into Newport and Richford, Vermont. The CM&Q operated over 500 miles. It was added to Canadian Pacific's network on June 4, 2020.
Eastern Maine Railway (reporting mark, EMRY): The Eastern Maine Railway is owned by the New Brunswick Southern Railway and together serve a nearly 200-mile railroad between Saint John, New Brunswick and Brownville Junction, Maine in conjunction with allying road, the New Brunswick Southern Railway (reporting mark, NBSR). The property is primarily former Maine Central and Canadian Pacific trackage.
New
Hampshire Northcoast Corporation (reporting mark, NHN): This privately-owned short line has been in
operation since 1986, operating the Boston &
Maine's former Conway Branch between Ossipee and Rollinsford, New Hampshire right on the Maine
border. Its traffic consists primarily of aggregates.
Pan Am Railways (reporting mark, PAR), Defunct: See Connecticut.
St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (reporting mark, SLR): This short line is another G&W property, operating a large corridor 157 miles in length between Portland and Norton, Vermont at the Canadian border.
The road handles a wide range of freight including aggregates, brick/cement, chemicals, food/feed products, forest products, intermodal, steel, and scrap.
Turners Island, LLC (reporting mark, TI): This small terminal railroad serves the 14 acre marine-rail cargo terminal located in South Portland, Maine.
Maryland
Bay Coast Railroad (reporting mark, BCR), (Closed): This coastal railroad operated a 70-mile system connecting Pocomoke City, Maryland with Norfolk, Virginia. The route's history traces back to the PRR's former Delmarva Lines. It also handled a 26-mile carfloat service between Cape Charles and Little Creek, Virginia. Lack of business resulted in operations ending on May 18, 2018.
Canton Railroad (reporting mark, CTN): This historic terminal road was first chartered in 1906 and provides switching services for industries in East Baltimore as well as the Port of Baltimore. It is owned by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Delmarva Central Railroad Company (reporting mark, DCR): See Delaware.
Georges Creek Railway (reporting mark, GCK), (Closed): This short line has been in service since late 2007 operating former Western Maryland Railway trackage in the western part of the state. Operations were discontinued following the Luke Papermill's closing in May, 2019.
Maryland & Delaware Railroad (reporting mark, MDDE): The Maryland & Delaware has been in service since 1977 when it acquired former PRR branches in Maryland and Delaware (more of the Delmarva Lines) soon after Conrail was formed.
The road currently operates 120 miles of track on four different branches (the Seafood Line, Centreville Line, Chestertown Line, and Snow Hill Line) moving such freight as agriculture, food products, steel, petroleum products, fertilizer, and forest products.
Maryland Midland Railway (reporting mark, MMID): This railroad is part of Genesee & Wyoming's large family of short lines and operates a 70 mile system running roughly east-west between Reisterstown and Fort Ritchie.
It also owns a north-south corridor between Woodsboro and Taneytown. It began service in 1980 as an independent and was acquired by G&W in 2007. The road handles aggregates, brick/cement, chemicals, and forest products.
Tradepoint Rail (reporting mark, TPR): This industrial/terminal railroad gained its current name in 2016 but has carried out switching services at Sparrows Point, Maryland since 1889 when it was known as the Baltimore & Sparrows Point Railroad (later the Patapsco & Back Rivers Railroad).
It currently operates around 70 miles of yard track and has connections with both CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern.
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (reporting mark, WE): The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway is a privately owned Class II, regional which has been in operation since 1990 carrying the name of the original W&LE.
It operates an extensive system stretching across northern Ohio, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania with trackage rights reaching Cumberland and Hagerstown.
It operates about 575 miles of its own lines as well as an additional 265 via trackage rights. The road carries more than 130,000 carloads annually with a highly diversified freight base.
Winchester & Western Railroad (reporting mark, WW): The W&W's primary line runs from Gore, Virginia to Hagerstown, Maryland although the company also has New Jersey operations.
The company was chartered in 1916 to haul forest products and connect with the B&O at Winchester. At its peak it ran from that point to Wardensville, West Virginia but by the 1940s operated no further than Gore, its current western end-of-track.
In 1986 it acquired the former PRR between Winchester and Williamsport, Maryland allowing it to reach Hagerstown (54 miles in all). Soon after it picked up former Central Railroad of New Jersey property in southern New Jersey. These two segments currently make up the W&W as its "Virginia Division" and "New Jersey Division."
Massachusetts
Pan Am Railways (reporting mark, PAR), (Defunct): See Connecticut.
Providence & Worcester Railroad (reporting mark, PW): See Connecticut.
Bay Colony Railroad (reporting mark, BCLR): This small short line serves the area southwest of Boston on former New Haven trackage. It began service in 1982.
Connecticut Southern Railroad (reporting mark, CSO): See Connecticut.
East Brookfield & Spencer Railroad (reporting mark, EBSR): This independently-owned short line serves about 4 miles of the trackage in the East Brookfield area providing switching/terminal service where it connects with CSX.
Fore River Transportation Corporation/Fore River Railroad (reporting mark, FRVT): Owned by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and operated under contract by the Fore River Transportation Corporation, the Fore River Railroad has been operation since 1902 providing switching and terminal service for the Fore River Shipyard at Quincy.
Grafton & Upton Railroad (reporting mark, GU): The historic Grafton & Upton began in 1873, then chartered as the Grafton Center Railroad. Originally a narrow-gauge operation the G&U was born in 1887 and by 1889 and connected Grafton with Milford (16.5 miles).
During the early 20th century it even operated, electrified streetcar service but this was abolished by 1946. As the years passed the road languished as traffic disappeared sections of the property sat dormant but not abandoned.
In March of 2008 the railroad was acquired by Jon Delli Priscoli with the express intent of reviving the system. Since then the company has set its sights on growing freight business while working to reopen the entire line after years of neglect and disuse.
Housatonic Railroad (reporting mark, HRRC): See Connecticut.
Massachusetts Central Railroad (reporting mark, MCER): This road first began service in the 1970s over former Boston & Maine and Boston & Albany (New York Central) property, which would have otherwise been abandoned. The trackage is owned by the state and leased to the railroad.
Massachusetts Coastal Railroad (reporting mark, MC): Also known as the Mass Coastal Railroad this short line operates much of the former New Haven Railroad trackage in the state's eastern peninsula. The road took over the duties of the Bay Colony Railroad on the line in 2007 providing service to the state's Cape Cod region.
New England Central Railroad (reporting mark, NECR): See Connecticut.
Pioneer Valley Railroad (reporting mark, PVRR): The Pioneer Valley Railroad is owned by the Pinsly Railroad Company operating a short stretch of trackage in southwestern Massachusetts. It has been in service since 1982 operating between Holyoke, Westfield, and Southampton while interchanging with CSX and Pan Am.
Montana
Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway (reporting mark, BAP): The BA&P is a historic short line based in Anaconda, Montana that dates back to 1892. The railroad was once electrified, utilizing a 2,400-volt, DC system until 1967 when diesels took over.
For years it hauled copper ore mined near Butte, to smelters located at Anaconda. Today, the company is owned by the Patriot Rail Corporation, which acquired the property from the Raurus Railway (reporting mark, RARW) in 2007.
The latter company had owned the property since May 1, 1985 and changed the name but following Patriot Rail's takeover it was returned as the BA&P.
Today, it continues operating 25.7 miles between Anaconda and Butte with traffic consisting of scrap, copper slag, and copper concentrates. The longtime interchange with the Milwaukee Road at Butte is no more but the short line connects there with BNSF.
Central Montana Rail, Inc. (reporting mark, CM): This short line has operated since 1985 when it acquired a section of the Milwaukee Road's former Northern Montana line between Moccasin and Geraldine that once reached Great Falls.
The rest of the property is former Great Northern. It primarily moves agricultural traffic while also hosting a seasonal dinner train known as "Charlie Russell Chew Choo."
Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western Railroad (reporting mark, DMVW): This large, privately-owned system operates more than 500 miles of trackage (including trackage rights) in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana that was formerly owned by the Soo Line. The road's traffic is largely agriculture and it has been in operation since 1990.
Mission Mountain Railroad (reporting mark, MMT): This short line has been in operation since December of 2004 and operates 40 miles of disconnected trackage that was formerly owned by Great Northern. The property is currently a Watco subsidiary handling nearly 10,000 carloads annually.
Montana Rail Link (reporting mark, MRL) (Defunct): This large, Class II regional had been in service since 1987 when it leased a large segment of the former Northern Pacific main line between Montana and Washington from then-Burlington Northern.
At its peak, MRL operated between Huntley, Montana to Sand Point, Idaho with trackage rights stretching to Spokane, Washington. There were also a handful of branches under its ownership. In all, MRL maintained more than 900 miles and moved over 400,000 carloads annually.
On January 10, 2022, MRL announced it would terminate its lease with successor BNSF Railway and the Class I would reacquire its property.
Yellowstone Valley Railroad (reporting mark, YSVR): Another Watco shortline, this railroad operates more than 170 miles of former Great Northern trackage in northeastern Montana, stretching into North Dakota. It began service in late 2005 and handles traffic related to the natural gas industry including natural gas, crude oil, and frac sand.
Nebraska
Brandon Railroad (reporting mark, BRAN): This terminal railroad operates about 17 miles of track around Omaha connecting with Union Pacific and BNSF. It took over the former South Omaha Terminal Railway in 1978, which traced its history back to 1927.
Manning Rail (reporting mark, MAN): This privately owned short line began operations in 2012 over 7 miles of a former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy/Burlington Northern branch from Burress to a BNSF Railway connection at Fairmont (originally this line reached as far south as Helvey). The line is predominantly used for car storage.
Nebraska Central Railroad (reporting mark, NCRC): The Nebraska Central is a subsidiary of the Rio Grande Pacific Corporation that originally began service in 1993. Today, it operates 340 miles of former C&NW and UP trackage west of Omaha. Traffic is largely grain and general agriculture.
Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway (reporting mark, NKCR): See Colorado.
Nebraska Northwestern Railroad (reporting mark, NNW): This short line began operations in 2010 over a former section of the C&NW's "Cowboy Line" between Dakota Junction and Chadron (about 7 miles), previously operated by Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern.
With its ownership of the Nebkota Railway the property totals nearly 12 miles. The road moves grain and handles car repairs at a former C&NW roundhouse.
Omaha, Lincoln & Beatrice Railway (reporting mark, OLB): The historic OL&B dates back to 1903 as an interurban railroad, which is also well known as the "The Big Red Line".
Today, the short line performs mostly switching duties serving the town of Lincoln with connections to both Union Pacific and BNSF Railway. Its customers include agriculture companies, cement plants, and lumber companies. Other services include transloading, car repair, car storage, and track repair.
Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, RCPE): See Minnesota.
Sidney & Lowe Railroad (reporting mark, SLGG): This small switching road has slowly grown over the years from its start in 1980 to service a car repair and maintenance facility to later handling grain shipments. It has been owned by Progress Rail Service since 1996.
New Hampshire
Claremont Concord Railroad (reporting mark, CCRR): The history of this short line, built as the Claremont & Concord, dates as far back as 1848 and eventually connected its namesake towns.
For many years it was a subsidiary of Boston & Maine, and once even offered electrified interurban service. Today, it operates about 3 miles of remaining trackage in the Concord area providing car repair, bulk transload service, and general freight service.
New England Central Railroad (reporting mark, NECR): See Connecticut.
New Hampshire Central Railroad (reporting mark, NHCR): This privately owned short line operates two unconnected sections of track in western New Hampshire from Littleton to Groveton and also from North Stratford to Colebrook. Along with general freight service the company offers car storage, car repair, transload, and locomotive repair services.
New Hampshire Northcoast Corporation (reporting mark, NHN): This privately-owned short line has been in operation since 1986, operating the Boston & Maine's former Conway Branch between Ossipee and Rollinsford, New Hampshire right on the Maine border. Its traffic consists primarily of aggregates.
Pan Am Railways (reporting mark, PAR), Defunct: See Connecticut.
New Mexico
Arizona Eastern Railway (reporting mark, AZER): The Arizona Eastern is a large operation utilizing more than 200 miles of trackage between Clifton and Miami, Arizona while it briefly enters New Mexico.
For more many years the property was owned by Southern Pacific before spun-off to RA in 2001. In 2004 it was sold to Permian Basin Railways, which subsequently sold it to G&W in 2011. Traffic today includes copper, chemicals, agricultural, and forest products.
Santa Fe Southern Railway (reporting mark, SFSR): This short line provides freight and excursion service over the former AT&SF's Santa Fe branch between Santa Fe and the transcontinental main line at Lamy, 18 miles in all. It has been in operation since 1992. It now operates a tourist train known as the Sky Railway.
Santa Teresa Southern Railroad (reporting mark, STS): This short line, a division of Iron Horse Resources, began service in 2012 to serve the Santa Teresa Intermodal Park in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Southwestern Railroad (reporting mark, SW): This short line, a division of Jaguar Transport Holding, has operated since 1990 (originally part of The Western Group) over former Santa Fe trackage.
It began in 1990 by operated the ex-AT&SF property north and west of Whitewater to serve Phelps Dodge's open-pit copper mines at Chino and Tyrone, and the smelter at Hurley. It then reached Deming to the south in 1994 (27 miles) by acquiring more AT&SF trackage.
In 2001 it picked up 60 miles between Rincon and Deming from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, another former component of the Santa Fe.
Its property forms a rough "V" and its traffic remains based in the copper industry. The railroad is headquartered in Deming with interchanges carried out via BNSF.
Texas-New Mexico Railroad (reporting mark, TNMR): The Texas-New Mexico is owned by Iowa Pacific Holdings and operates just over 100 miles of trackage (formerly, Texas & Pacific/Missouri Pacific) between Monahans, Texas and Lovington, New Mexico with a connection to the Union Pacific at the former location.
The trackage is former Texas & Pacific/Missouri Pacific. It was sold to RailTex in 1989 by UP, acquired by RailAmerica in 1999, and then purchased by Permian Basin Railways in 2002 before its takeover by Iowa Pacific.
Its traffic currently consist of oilfield chemicals and minerals, construction aggregates, industrial waste, and scrap. In 2011 the road embarked in a major upgrading of the property to handle increased freight demands.
North Dakota
Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western Railroad (reporting mark, DMVW): This large, privately-owned system operates more than 500 miles of trackage (including trackage rights) in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana that was formerly owned by the Soo Line. The road's traffic is largely agriculture and it has been in operation since 1990.
Dakota Northern Railroad (reporting mark, DN): This short line carrier began operation only in 2006 that originally operated 72 miles of trackage in northeastern North Dakota that is formerly Great Northern and part of which is leased by BNSF. Since then, about 18 miles have been abandoned. The road is privately-owned by the KBN Incorporated and Independent Locomotive Service.
Northern Plains Railroad (reporting mark, NPR): This privately-owned, short line railroad is mostly concentrated in North Dakota, leasing nearly 400 miles of track from carriers such as Canadian Pacific and Mohall Central Railroad. The history of its properties traces back to the Soo, GN, and NP. Its traffic consists primarily of agricultural products and it handles about 17,000 carloads annually.
Red River Valley & Western Railroad (reporting mark, RRVW): See Minnesota.
Yellowstone Valley Railroad (reporting mark, YSVR): Another Watco shortline, this railroad operates more than 170 miles of former Great Northern trackage in northeastern Montana, stretching into North Dakota. It began service in late 2005 and handles traffic related to the natural gas industry including natural gas, crude oil, and frac sand.
Rhode Island
Providence & Worcester Railroad (reporting mark, PW): See Connecticut.
Seaview Railroad (reporting mark, SVTX): This short line is a division of the Seaview Transportation Company. It connects with the Northeast Corridor in West Davisville and serves numerous businesses at the Quonset Business Park in Davisville with the line splitting to reach the waterfront at North Davisville and Quonset Airport.
South Dakota
D&I Railroad (reporting mark, DAIR): Also known as the Dakota & Iowa Railroad this system is owned by L.G. Everist, Inc. The short line operates between Sioux City, Iowa and Dell Rapids, South Dakota with a branch to Beresford, South Dakota via Hawarden, Iowa.
The property was all former Milwaukee Road trackage acquired by both states in 1981 to preserve rail service. The D&I operates a total of 138 miles and handles aggregate, distillers grain, ethanol, agriculture, cement, fertilizer, and other general freight.
Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western Railroad (reporting mark, DMVW): See Montana.
Dakota Southern Railway (reporting mark, DSRC): This short line began service in 1985 when it acquired 190 miles of the former Milwaukee Road between between Marquette, Iowa and Rapid City, South Dakota. It primarily handled agriculture and grain products. The road was acquired by Watco in 2021, and renamed Ringneck & Western Railroad. (Defunct)
Ellis & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, EE): This short line operates between Brandon, South Dakota, through Sioux Falls to Ellis. It is former Chicago & North Western trackage acquired in 1989 by the Sweetman Construction Company, which still owns the railroad. Its traffic consists of aggregates and construction materials.
Sisseton-Milbank Railroad (reporting mark, SMRR): This company is owned by the Twin Cities & Western (since 2012) operating between Milbank and Sisseton on property that was once part of the Milwaukee Road. Its traffic consists of wheat, corn, soybeans and plastic.
Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad (reporting mark, RCPE): See Minnesota.
Ringneck & Western Railroad (reporting mark, RWRR): Launched in 2021 after Watco acquired the Dakota Southern Railway, the Ringneck & Western plans to reopen the entire 285-mile line between Mitchell and Rapid City.
Sunflour Railroad (reporting mark, SNR): This short line, which operates only on occasion today, owns 19 miles of a former Soo Line branch between Rosholt and Claire City. The former provides interchange with Canadian Pacific.
Twin Cities & Western Railroad (reporting mark, TCWR): See Minnesota.
Utah
Deseret Power Railway (reporting mark, DPRW): Constructed in 1984, this privately-owned, electrically operated railroad (formerly known as the Deseret Western Railway) hauls coal from a mine at Rangely, Colorado to a power plant at Bonanza, Utah owned by Deseret Generation & Transmission Co-operative. It is isolated from the national rail network.
Salt Lake Garfield & Western Railway (reporting mark, SLGW): This historic short line, also known as the "Saltair Route," has been based in the Salt Lake City area since its founding in 1891, originally designed as an interurban, electrified operation to carry resort guests visiting the Great Salt Lake. It later transitioned into a diesel-powered freight carrier (abandoning the electrics), in which it remains today connecting with both UP and BNSF.
Salt Lake City Southern Railroad (reporting mark, SL): This 25-mile short line began operations in 1993 between Salt Lake City and Murray, Utah. It is former Union Pacific/Oregon Short Line trackage and a division of the Utah Railway, a Genesee & Wyoming property.
Savage, Bingham & Garfield Railroad (reporting mark, SBG): This railroad is owned by Savage and began operations on October 1, 2007 over former Rio Grande trackage near Salt Lake City. The short line's parent company is Savage Industries. The traffic is primarily coal related but the railroad does handle other varieties of freight as well.
Utah Central Railway (reporting mark, UCRY): This short line is a Patriot Rail property and operates about 34 miles of track west of Ogden reaching Relico, Stratford, and an industrial park north of Ogden.
Its traffic consists of agricultural products, asphalt, bio-fuels (ethanol & bio-diesel), chemicals, crude oil, feed grains, food ingredients, lumber, metal and steel products, lumber/wood products, LPG, petroleum products, plastic resin, sugar, and sweetners.
Utah Railway (reporting mark, UTAH): The historic Utah Railway was incorporated as the Utah Coal Railway Company on January 24, 1912 and changed its name during May of that year. It was built primarily to handle coal where it connected with the Rio Grande at Helper.
The railroad has been a G&W property since 2002 and operates, via trackage rights, over much of the former D&RGW from western Colorado to Salt Lake City/Ogden. Aside from coal the company handles aggregates, brick/cement, building materials, chemicals, and petroleum products
Vermont
New England Central Railroad (reporting mark, NECR): See Connecticut.
New Hampshire Central Railroad (reporting mark, NHCR): This privately owned short line operates two unconnected sections of track in western New Hampshire from Littleton to Groveton and also from North Stratford to Colebrook. Along with general freight service the company offers car storage, car repair, transload, and locomotive repair services.
Pan Am Railways (reporting mark, PAR): See Connecticut.
St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (reporting mark, SLR): This short line is another G&W property, operating a large corridor 157 miles in length between Portland and Norton, Vermont at the Canadian border. The road handles a wide range of freight including aggregates, brick/cement, chemicals, food/feed products, forest products, intermodal, steel, and scrap.
Vermont Railway (reporting mark, VTR): The Vermont Railway began service in 1964 to sustain rail service over remaining portions of the bankrupt and liquidated Rutland Railway between Burlington and Bennington as well as between Whitehall and Bellows Falls.
Today, the system also serves Newport and Palmer, Massachusetts, part of which is via trackage rights. Finally, it operates a short segment between Montpelier and Graniteville. The railroad handles a wide variety of freight and also offers passenger excursions. Today, it operates more than 350 miles of trackage and handles more than 25,000 carloads annually.
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