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Nebraska Short Line Railroads: A Complete Guide
Published: April 2, 2025
By: Adam Burns
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.
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