QUOTE: Originally posted by Miketherailfan Shouldn't Ohio Central be in there? It's considered more a Regional than a Shortline.
QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73 QUOTE: Originally posted by doghouse Mr. Nanaimo73(Dale), in the section on the BAR, you mention the Northern Maine Junction. Do you know in what city it was located? It is just west of Bangor. http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=14&Z=19&X=160&Y=1549&W=1&qs=7cNorthern+Maine+Junction+7c+7c
QUOTE: Originally posted by doghouse Mr. Nanaimo73(Dale), in the section on the BAR, you mention the Northern Maine Junction. Do you know in what city it was located?
QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe Dale, I would be interested in anything you come up with on the ICG. That is probably the rail line I am most interested in. Gabe
Thanks Chad
QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73 Murph- I work for an energy company ! [:O][:O][:O][:O]
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
QUOTE: awesome, I appreciate all the time you have spent on here, has answered a some questions I have had, I work with k&O and Kyle while performing my duties for BNSF ty for your hard work.
QUOTE: Originally posted by MP173 What is the next project?
In the mid-1980s solvent, prosperous railroads began to examine their maps and eliminate routes that were poor sources of revenue or that didn't fit with the rest of the railroad. The routes were sold to become regional railroads. The champion creator of regional railroads was Illinois Central Gulf. In 1973 ICG was a 9,634-mile railroad; at the end of 1989 it was down to 2,872 route miles. Between 1985 and 1987 ICG sold its major east-west routes and most of the former Gulf, Mobile & Ohio to create several regional railroads ranging from 300 to 800 miles in length. The Gulf and Mississippi Railroad was spun off by the Illinois Central Gulf on July 10, 1985, making it the first Regional Railroad in the United States. The other major railroads followed ICG's lead and did the same.
According to the Association of American Railroads, there are presently 31 Regional Railroads operating in the United States. The Indiana Rail Road became the 32nd member of this group on May 26, 2006 with the acquisition of Canadian Pacific's track and trackage rights between Chicago and Louisville. These Railroads do not qualify as Class 1s because their revenue is less than required. The minimum requirement to be a Regional Railroad is at least 350 miles of track, or revenue of $40 million per year. Some of these Regionals were Class 1 Railroads, but have fallen back as the required revenue has been raised. The Surface Transportation Board defines medium sized railroads as Class 2, with different qualifications. Class 2 Railroads. During 2004 these 31 Regionals operated 15,641 route miles within the United States, they had a combined 7,422 employees and their revenue was $1,410,000,000 for the year.
Following the summaries of these Regional Railroads are summaries of 30 former Regionals. A case could be made that Regional Railroads existed before 1985, such as those resulting from the abandonment of the Rock Island during 1980. Illinois Terminal could be called a former Regional as well, but it was merged into N&W during 1981, three years too early. I have included the Fox River Valley Railroad, the Green Bay and Western Railroad and the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway, although I do not know if they earned $40 million during any year after 1984. 1-Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway - AGR The Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway started operations on September 22, 1997 on 146 miles of former Burlington Northern line between Pensacola, FL and Gulf, AL. An additional 13 miles of trackage rights extended the line north to Magnolia, AL. The Railway was in the StatesRail family until StatesRail was purchased by RailAmerica during 2001. On June 1, 2003 the Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway expanded north by acquiring BNSF's line to Columbus, MS, and trackage rights to Amory, MS. Also acquired was BNSF's trackage rights over Norfolk Southern to Mobile, AL. The AGR runs on 344 miles in Alabama, 45 miles in Mississippi and 46 miles in Florida. States served- Alabama, Florida, Mississippi Map and website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 2-Alaska Railroad - ARR The State of Alaska has owned the 506 mile Alaska Railroad since January 6, 1985. The Railroad has its main shops and headquarters in Anchorage. States served- Alaska Maps Website Website Website Roster Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos X-Bangor and Aroostook Railroad - BAR The BAR is listed at number 33 as a former Regional. X-Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad - BLE The B&LE is listed at number 34 as a former Regional. 3-Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad - BPRR Genesee and Wyoming's Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad began operations on July 19, 1988 following the purchase of CSX's former B&O Buffalo line. This route runs from Buffalo Creek Yard in Buffalo to Eidenau, PA, crossing the Allegheny River at Mosgrove, PA and East Salamanca, NY. Branches reached to Sabula, Clearfield and Bruin. The BPRR also received trackage rights from Eidenau to New Castle. Expansion has added the line to New Castle, and south to Glenshaw, and a branch to Homer City, PA. Locomotive maintenance is done at Butler, PA (Photos) and operations are run out of Punxsutawney, PA (Photos). Genesee and Wyoming acquired the Allegheny and Eastern Railroad during November 1992 and the Pittsburg and Shawmut Railroad during April 1996. The Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad has absorbed these railroads, which reach to Erie, PA, St. Mary's, PA, Driftwood, PA, Sligo, PA and Freeport, PA. The BPRR operates 98 miles in New York and 511in Pennsylvania. States served- New York, Pennsylvania Map and Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos PhotosX-Central Kansas Railway - CKRY The Central Kansas Railway is listed at number 35 as a former Regional. 4-Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad - CORP RailTex acquired Southern Pacific's 300 mile Siskiyou Line between Black Butte, CA and Springfield Junction, OR (near Eugene) on December 31, 1994. Also acquired was SP's 139 mile Coos Bay Branch between Eugene, OR and Coquille, OR, which formed the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad. The Siskiyou Line reaches a summit of 4130' inside the 3107' long tunnel 13. Considerable damage occurred inside this tunnel due to a fire on November 17, 2003, which did not open until April 21, 2005. RailAmerica acquired the CORP and the rest of RailTex during October 1999. Operations are based out of Roseburg, OR for the Railroad, which has 52 miles in California and 395 in Oregon. States served- California, Oregon Map and Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos X-Central Vermont Railway - CV The Central Vermont Railway is listed at number 36 as a former Regional. X-Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad - CC The CC&P is listed at number 37 as a former Regional. X-Chicago, Missouri and Western - CMNW The CM&W is listed at number 38 as a former Regional. 5-Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad - DME From the Iowa Dept. of Rail Website- "The Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad was formed in 1986, taking over lines owned by the Chicago & North Western located in South Dakota and Minnesota. The railroad is based in Brookings, South Dakota. The DME currently has an application before the Surface Transportation Board to build 250 miles and rebuild 650 miles of track, allowing the railroad access to coal located in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. DME is also involved with Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad Corporation (ICE). ICE was formed by DME to purchase the assets of the I & M Rail Link. DME and ICE will be under the common management of Cedar American Rail Holdings, Inc. Cedar American holds 100 percent of ICE stock and is a wholly owned subsidiary of DME. The DME operates 1,118 miles of track running from Rapid City, South Dakota to Winona, Minnesota, located on the Mississippi River. The railroad operates 24 miles in Iowa via trackage rights between Albert Lea, Minnesota, and Mason City. The DME currently employs 319 people, none of which are located in Iowa. The main products handled by the DME include farm products, stone, food products, and nonmetallic minerals." The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad currently operates in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. During the first few years of operation it also ran north to Oakes, North Dakota. States served- Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos 6-Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western - DMVW On September 1, 1990 the Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western began operations with the lease of 364 miles of track and trackage rights from the Soo Line. These lines included the former Wishek Subdivision from Oakes, ND through Wishek, ND to Bismarck, ND, the Missouri River Subdivision from Bismarck to Washburn, ND, the Pollock Subdivision from Wishek to Ashley, and the Whitetail Subdivision from Flaxton, ND to Whitetail, MT. Additional Soo Line trackage was acquired during 1996 from Washburn north to Max, ND and during 1997 from Oakes east to Hankinson, ND. Further expansion has been over former Burlington Northern trackage, at first between McKenzie, ND and Linton, ND, and most recently between Geneseo, ND and Aberdeen, SD. At this time the DMVW has 402 miles in North Dakota, 74 miles in South Dakota and 58 miles in Montana, and their headquarters are in Bismarck. States served- Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota Website with Map Website Roster Photos Photos Photos X-Delaware and Hudson Railroad - DH The D&H is listed at number 39 as a former Regional. X-Detroit and Mackinac Railway - DM The D&M is listed at number 40 as a former Regional. X-Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway - DMIR The DMIR is listed at number 41 as a former Regional. X-Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway - DWP The DW&P is listed at number 42 as a former Regional. 7-Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway - EJE The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway forms a loop around the City of Chicago, with a radius of about 30 miles from Downtown. The north end is alongside Lake Michigan in Waukegan (Photos) and the EJE meets the Lake again in Gary (Photos), and enters Chicago along the shore. Currently the Railway operates 131 miles in Illinois and 37 more miles in Indiana. The headquarters and shops are in Joliet (Photos). States served- Illinois, Indiana Map Website Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 8-Florida East Coast Railway - FEC The Florida East Coast operates entirely within Florida, with their 386 miles of track linking Jacksonville and Bowden Yard (Photos) on the north end with the Port of Miami, Kendall and Hialeah Yard at the south end. The headquarters are also near the north end at St. Augustine, while the shops are centrally located in New Smyrna Beach (Photos). FEC has announced they will move their headquarters to Jacksonville. The last notable branch line ran 72 miles from Fort Pierce (Photos) to Lake Harbor went to the South Central Florida Express during the late 1990s. States served- Florida Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos X-Fox River Valley Railroad - FRVR The FRVR is listed at number 43 as a former Regional. X-Fox Valley and Western - FVW The FV&W is listed at number 44 as a former Regional. X-Gateway Western Railway - GWWR The Gateway Western Railway is listed at number 45 as a former Regional. X-Georgia Southern and Florida Railway - GSF The GS&F is listed at number 46 as a former Regional. 9-Great Lakes Central Railroad - GLCFrom the Trains Newswire, July 21, 2006 -The Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway is changing its name to Great Lakes Central Railroad. Mike Bagwell, President and CEO of TSBY, told Trains News Wire that the name change is being made to reflect the area the railroad actually serves. "The railroad no longer serves Tuscola or Saginaw," Bagwell said. He said the railroad recently was sold to Michigan's Federated Railways, so the time seemed right for a change. "We received our certificate (for a name change) from the Michigan Secretary of State two days ago, and didn't want to say anything until then," Bagwell said. The railroad has already painted Great Lakes Central on one locomotive and is working on another. The company is using both names for now, with a gradual phase in of the new name. Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway was formed in 1977 operate two former Penn Central lines from Millington to Munger, Mich. and Vassar to Colling, Mich. Its name came from the three Michigan counties it operated in: Tuscola, Saginaw and Bay. The 396 mile GLC operates in Michigan, as detailed on this Map. The lines acquired in 1977 have since been sold to the Huron and Eastern. The current system consists of the former Ann Arbor mainline between Whitmore Lake (north of Ann Arbor) and Yuma, passing through Cadillac (Photos). From Cadillac, former Pennsylvania RR track runs north to Petoskey (Photos) and Traverse City (Photos). The headquarters and shops are in Owosso (Photos). The first locomotive painted for the GLC was GP35 385. States served- Michigan Website Website Photos Photos Photos Photos
X-Green Bay and Western Railroad - GBW The GB&W is listed at number 47 as a former Regional. X-Guilford Rail System - GTIS Is listed below as 23-Pan Am Railways X-Gulf and Mississippi Railroad - GMSR The G&M is listed at number 48 as a former Regional. X-I and M Rail Link - IMRL I&MRL is listed at number 49 as a former Regional. 10-Indiana and Ohio Railway - INOH RailAmerica's Indiana and Ohio Railway operates 414 miles, in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. It started as a Cincinnati area shortline with the June 1979 purchase of 26 miles of Penn Central trackage running west to Brookville, IN. In 1985 another 11 miles around Mason, OH were added. Over the next 10 years a number of short lines were added; 9 miles of Conrail through Blue Ash, and from CSX, 51 miles Vauces to Firebrick, 51 miles Columbus to Logan and 30 miles Midland City to Thrifton. The line from Vauces to Firebrick went to the Great Miami & Scioto Railway, but the INOH added more trackage from Conrail, running from Springfield to Bellefontaine and Mechanicsburg. Also from Springfield, the former DT&I line southeast to Washington Court House was acquired. The railroad was purchased by RailTex during 1996 and became a Regional on February 15, 1997 with the purchase of 161 miles of CN's former DT&I from Diann and Springfield, along with trackage rights 40 miles north to Flat Rock and 72 miles south to Cincinnati. The most recent expansion is the former CSX line between Cincinnati and Columbus. In Lima the INOH and interchange with another RailAmerica Railroad, the Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern, for service to Chicago. RailAmerica purchased the RailTex family during the year 2000, and the Indiana and Ohio Railway has their headquarters in Cincinnati. States served- Indiana, Michigan, Ohio Map and website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 11-Indiana Rail Road - INRD The Indiana Rail Road became America's newest Regional Railroad on May 27, 2006 following the purchase of Canadian Pacific's Chicago to Louisville route. The INRD began operating on March 18, 1986 with the purchase of ICG's Indianapolis line from Indianapolis through Bloomington to Sullivan, IN. Also included was a 9 mile branch from Bloomington to Victor, IN, and trackage rights to Palestine, IL, adding up to a 132 mile railroad. Expansion occurred during August 1989 with the addition of a 40 mile Norfolk Southern line from Indianapolis to Tipton, although this was abandoned during November 1991. The Indiana Rail Road acquired 97 additional miles of Illinois Central trackage during 1990, extending west from Sullivan, IN, to Newton, IL and then south to Grayville, IL. The line to Grayville was turned over during May 1992 to Indiana Hi-Rail. INRD also serves the Ameren Generating Station with a seven mile spur west of Newton. Part of the former Monon from Bloomington north to Elletsville, IN is now part of the railroad, but the line south to Victor has been dropped. The newest expansion involved the purchase of 92 miles of Canadian Pacific from Fayette to Bedford, crossing the INRD at Linton. Trackage rights north to Clearing Yard in Chicago and south to Louisville total 243 additional miles. States served- Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky Map Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos 12-Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad - ICE From the Iowa Dept. of Rail Website- "On February 21, 2002, Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad executed an agreement to purchase the assets of the I & M Rail Link, LLC (IMRL). ICE is a railroad formed by the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DME) to own the assets of IMRL. Both ICE and DME are under the common management of Cedar American Rail holdings, Inc. Cedar American holds 100 percent of the ICE stock and is a wholly owned subsidiary of DME. ICE is headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD, and began operations in July 2002. The railroad operates 1,393 miles of track from Minneapolis to Chicago and Kansas City, paralleling the Mississippi River through Iowa. The railroad also operates a line across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Iowa operations consist of 660 miles. The railroad has access to national gateways in Chicago, Kansas City, and Minneapolis. Current employment totals 506 system wide, with 256 located in Iowa. The main products handled by the ICE include coal, farm products, food products, chemicals, transportation equipment, miscellaneous mixed shipments and hazardous materials." The ICE is America's largest Regional, and is centered on Nahant Yard (Photos), just west of Davenport, Iowa. States served- Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin Map Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 13-Iowa Interstate Railroad - IAIS From the Iowa Dept. of Rail Website- "The Iowa Interstate Railroad operates the former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad line between Chicago and Omaha. This track is owned by Railroad Development Corporation (RDC) that acquired both the railroad and the property from Heartland Rail Corporation in December 2003. RDC is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, and operates several overseas railroads. IAIS is headquartered in Iowa City. The railroad operates 580 miles of track from Chicago to Omaha through the Quad Cities, Iowa City and Des Moines, as well as several branch lines. Intermodal service is provided at Chicago, Council Bluffs, Newton and West Liberty. The IAIS operations in Iowa include 362 miles. Employees of the railroad total 167, with 111 located in Iowa. The main products handled by the IAIS include farm products, food products, transportation equipment, waste and scrap products, and metals." States served- Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska Iowa City Yard (Photos) Website Website Website Roster Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 14-Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad - KO Watco's Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad operates 872 miles of former ATSF and UP lines in Kansas and Colorado. Watco acquired these lines during July 2001 from OmniTRAX, which had been operating them as the Regional Central Kansas Railway (Photos) and the shortline Kansas Southwestern (Photo). Headquarters of the KO is Wichita, and rails reach west to Towner, Colorado. States served- Colorado, Kansas Map Website Website Photos Photos Photos 15-Kyle Railroad - KYLE The Kyle Railroad started on February 16, 1982, operating a network of Former Rock Island lines fro Limon, CO (Photos) through Phillipsburg, KS (Photos) and Belleville, KS to Mahaska, KS (Photos). A branch (since abandoned) ran from Belleville to Clay Center, KS, totaling 407 miles. On June 2, 1991 an additional 347 miles of Union Pacific trackage was added. Another 56 miles from BNSF between Lincoln, NE and Nebraska City, NE was added, but this has since been dropped. Operations are based out of Phillipsburg, and the Kyle Railroad is now in the Railamerica family. States served- Colorado, Kansas Map and website Website Photos Photos Photos Photos X-Long Island Rail Road - LI The LIRR is listed at number 50 as a former Regional. X-Louisiana and Arkansas Railway - LA The L&A is listed at number 51 as a former Regional. X-MidSouth Rail Corporation - MSRC The MSRC is listed at number 52 as a former Regional. 16-Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad - MNA Railtex leased and purchased Union Pacific's 383 mile Carthage Subdivision between Pleasant Hill, MO and Diaz Jct, AR, and began operating the line as the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad on December 13, 1992. Trackage rights extended the line north to Kansas City and south to Newport, AR, as well as to Springfield, MO. A former 78 mile MKT line between Clinton, MO and Fort Scott, KS was also included. Headquarters were set up in Carthage, MO (Photos) of the 542 mile system. Railamerica is now the owner of the MNA. States served- Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri Map and website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 17-Montana Rail Link - MRL Montana Rail Link operates a 903 mile system in Montana, Idaho and Washington State. The start up date was October 31, 1987. They lease the former Northern Pacific mainline between Jones Jct, MT and Sandpoint, ID (Photos) and continue west using trackage rights over BNSF to Spokane, WA. MRL owns several former BN branchlines, which are shown on this map. The railroad crosses the Continental Divide at Mullan Pass (Photos), and the main shops are at Livingston, MT (Photos). States served- Idaho, Montana, Washington Website Website Website Roster Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos 18-Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway - MMA The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway began operations on January 9, 2003. The trackage from Searsport (Photos) to St. Leonard, New Brunswick was the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, while the lines from Brownville Junction (Photos) to Montreal, Quebec were former Canadian Pacific lines that had been purchased by the BAR. States served- Maine, Vermont Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos 19-Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado Railnet - NKCR The Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado began during 1997 with the purchase of 437.6 miles of former BN and CB&Q track; 225.1 miles from Holdrege, NE to Sterling, CO, through Wallace, NE, 17.7 miles from Wallace to the Gentleman Power Plant, 133.7 miles from Orleans, NE to St Francis, KS, 26.3 miles from Flynn, NE to Almena, KS, 30.7 miles from Oronoque, KS to Oberlin, KS, and 4.1 miles at Norton, KS. 17.3 miles of trackage rights on the Kyle Railroad are used to connect Almena, KS and Oronoque, KS. During 2004 the NKCR reached an agreement with BNSF to add another 82.6 miles.42.2 miles from Culbertson, NE to Imperial, NE, and 40.4 miles from Oxford, NE to Franklin, NE, along with 19 miles of trackage rights between Culbertson, NE and McCook, NE. The railroad is based in Grant, NE (Photos). OmniTRAX purchased the railroad on April 1, 2005. States served- Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska Map Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos 20-New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway - NYSW The NYS&W was a New Jersey shortline which was taken over by Delaware Otsego during September 1980. During April 1982 DO purchased former Erie Lackawanna lines from Conrail between Binghamton, Utica and Syracuse, and rights from Binghamton to the NYS&W in New Jersey. Sea-Land began double stack service with the New York, Susquehanna and Western from Little Ferry, NJ (Photos) and Binghamton during August 1985. On October 15, 1986 the new route through Sparta Jct. (Photos) opened. The Susquehanna now has 306 miles in New York, 78 in New Jersey and 42 in New York. States served- New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania Website with map Website Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 21-Northern Plains Railroad - NPR The Northern Plains Railroad acquired during 1997 Soo Line's Devils Lake Subdivision from Dakota Junction, MN (near Thief River Falls, MN) through Forest River, ND (Photos), Fordville, ND (Photos) and Devils Lake, ND to Harlow, ND. Also acquired was the Bisbee Subdivision from Fordville, ND to Kenmare, ND, a total of 389 miles. Further expansion took place when a BNSF line from Honeyford, ND through Forest River to Voss, ND was added. NPR now operates 45 miles in Minnesota and 369 miles in North Dakota, shown on this Map and website States served- Minnesota, North Dakota Website Roster Photos X-Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad - OKKT The OK&T is listed at number 53 as a former Regional. 22-Paducah and Louisville Railway - PAL Illinois Central Gulf spun off their Louisville line to create the Paducah and Louisville Railway on August 27, 1986. The new railroad received 309 miles of track and 97 locomotives. Rails reached from the headquarters city of Paducah (Photos) east through Dawson Springs, Central City, and Cecilia to Louisville, as well as south to Clayburn and west to Kevil (Photo). A secondary line connected Dawson Springs and Central City, although most of this has now been abandoned, and a branch runs from Cecilia to Elizabethtown. Currently the PADL operates 290 miles, all of it in Kentucky. System Map. Also included in the sale was Illinois Central's large locomotive shops in Paducah, which became a sister company. Since 2002 NRE has owned the shops under the name VMV Paducahbilt. And since July 1995 CSX has been a partial owner of the PADL, through its subsidiary, Four Rivers Transportation. Four Rivers Transportation gained a subsidiary during January 2006 when the Evansville Western Railway took over a former Louisville and Nashville line from Evansville, IN to Okawville, IL. And during May 2006, Four Rivers Transportation added the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad in West Virginia (Article). States served- Kentucky Website Websites Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 23-Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad - PCC Watco's Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad began with the purchase of 277 miles from Burlington Northern on September 4, 1996. These lines ran 108 miles from Cheney, WA (Photos) to Coulee City, WA, 122 miles from Marshall, WA (Photos) to Arrow, ID through Palouse, WA, and Pullman, WA, and 47 miles from Palouse to Bovill, ID. The Palouse to Bovill line is former Milwaukee Road, while the remainder is former Northern Pacific. The line to Bovill now ends at Potlatch, ID (Photos). The line to Arrow was embargoed by BN past Moscow, ID during 1985 and Watco pulled the rails during 1997. Connecting at Pullman is the former Palouse River Railroad, which began on November 20, 1992 under Watco's owner Richard Webb. PRRR was made up of 110 miles of former Union Pacific trackage from Moscow, ID through Pullman, WA and Winona, WA to Hooper Jct, WA (Photos). A second line runs from Winona to Thornton, WA. From Hooper Jct. the PCC has trackage rights to Wallula, WA (Photos). The trackage east from Wallula was the Blue Mountain Railroad, also purchased by Watco's Richard Webb on November 20, 1992 from Union Pacific. It runs east to Walla Walla, WA (Photos), and then north to Dayton, WA, east to Walair, WA and south to Weston, OR (Photos). PCC added 11 more miles from Union Pacific during 2003 between Gilliam, OR and Arlington, OR. The Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad now operates 354 miles in Washington State, 23 miles in Oregon and 19 miles in Idaho. States served- Idaho, Oregon, Washington Map Website Website Photos Photos Photos Photos 24-Pan Am Railways - PAR (formerly Guilford Rail System) Pan Am Railways is the new name for Guilford Rail System, consisting of the Boston and Maine, Maine Central and Springfield Terminal. It operates 1,165 miles throughout New England and as far west as Rotterdam Jct, NY (Photos) and Mechanicville (Photos). The headquarters and shops are in North Billerica, MA (Photos), and major yards are in South Portland, ME (Photos) and East Deerfield, MA (Photos). The first locomotive painted for Pan Am was GP40-2LW 505. States served- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont Map Website Website Roster Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos X-Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad - PLE The P&LE is listed at number 54 as a former Regional. 25-Portland and Western Railroad - PNWR and Willamette and Pacific Railroad The 380 mile Portland and Western Railroad, and the 233 mile Willamette and Pacific Railroad are connecting Genesee and Wyoming subsidiaries operating in Oregon. System Map P&W started on August 18, 1995 with the lease of Southern Pacific's Newberg Branch from a connection with the G&W at Newberg (Photos) to Cook (Photos), the Tillamook Branch from Milwaukie to Schefflin, and the Seghers District from Hillsboro (Photos) to Seghers, along with trackage rights into Brooklyn Yard. Expansion took place during October 1995 with three segments of Burlington Northern trackage, from Hillsboro to Forest Grove, Banks (Photos) to Bendemeer and Greton to Quinaby. Further expansion was in June 1997 when BN's Astoria line was added between Willbridge and Tongue Point, in service to Wauna. Late in 1997 the P&W acquired BN's Cornelius Pass line between Bowers Jct. and United Jct. This line was closed on September 25, 1994 after a trestle fire and reopened on July 1, 1998. At the summit is a 4,103' tunnel. On October 24, 2002 the Portland and Western reached its present size with the acquisition of the rest of the former Oregon Electric line from BNSF from Salem (Quinaby) 76 miles south to Eugene. The head office of the P&W is in Salem while the main shop for P&W and W&P is in Albany (Photos). The Willamette and Pacific Railroad is not a Regional, but is co-owned with the P&W. It began on February 22, 1993 with the 20 year lease of SP track in Oregon. This was the Newberg Branch from Newberg to St. Joseph 10.5 miles. West Side Branch, Carlton to Monroe 71.0 miles through St. Joseph, Whiteson (Photos), Thielsen, Corvallis and Alpine Jct. Willamina Branch, Whiteson to Willamina (Photos) 18.9 miles Dallas Branch Thielsen to Dallas (Photos) 5.3 miles Toledo Branch Albany to Toledo 75.8 miles through Corvallis Bailey Branch Alpine Jct. to Dawson 7.0 miles In addition to the 187.5 miles leased, the G&W received trackage rights to Brooklyn Yard and Eugene States served- Oregon Website Website Website Roster Roster Photos Photos Photos W&P Photos W&P Photos Photos26-Providence and Worcester Railroad - PW The P&W operates over 500 miles in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and runs into New York City on trackage rights, shown on this System Map. It was under lease to the New Haven (and Penn Central) from 1892 until resuming independent operations on February 3, 1973. The headquarters and main shops are located in Worcester (Photos). States served- Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island Website Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 27-Red River Valley and Western Railroad - RRVW This railroad currently operates 471 miles in North Dakota and 19 miles in Minnesota, as detailed on this Map. The lines were purchased from Burlington Northern and operations began on July 19, 1987. Most of these lines were Northern Pacific, and the rest former Great Northern. The headquarters are in Wahpeton, ND (Photo) and the shops are in Breckenridge, MN (Photos). States served- Minnesota, North Dakota Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos X-Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad - RFP The RF&P is listed at number 55 as a former Regional. 28-South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad - SKOL The South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad is the second Watco Regional in Kansas, located to the east of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad. SKOL currently operates 271 miles in Kansas, 8 miles in Missouri and 78 miles in Oklahoma, formerly owned by the ATSF, MP and SLSF. System Map It began on December 28, 1990 with the purchase 297 miles from the Santa Fe, of which 250 are still operated, 1) 139 miles from Humboldt through Chanute Photos and Cherryvale Photos to Tulsa, 2) a 7 mile branch to Catoosa, OK Photos, 3) an 18 mile branch from Cherryvale to Coffeyville Photos, 4) 86 miles Fredonia to Oxford. The 46 miles abandoned run from Humboldt north to Iola, Chanute to Fredonia, and Oxford west to Wellington. Watco's first railroad was the Southeast Kansas Railroad Photos, which began on April 13, 1987 with the purchase of 104 miles of former Missouri Pacific from UP. This line ran from Coffeyville to Nevada, MO. The SEK was absorbed by the SKOL on January 1, 1999 and today operates 36 miles of that line from Sherwin to Liberal, MO. Another addition took place during November 1996 when 141 miles of the former Frisco between Columbus and Augusta were picked up from Burlington Northern. This line passed through Sherwin, Cherryvale, and Fredonia, with the 70 miles west of there now abandoned. States served- Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma Website Photos Photos Photos Photos PhotosX-South Orient Railroad - SO The South Orient Railroad is listed at number 56 as a former Regional. X-SouthRail - SR SouthRail is listed at number 57 as a former Regional. X-Springfield Terminal Railway - ST The ST is listed at number 58 as a former Regional. 29-Texas Mexican Railway - TM From the Classic Trains Website- "Texas Mexican, or "Tex-Mex," traces its beginning to the Corpus Christi, San Diego & Rio Grande Narrow Gauge, chartered to build from Corpus Christi to Laredo in 1875. It was renamed Texas-Mexican in 1881 and came under control of the National Railways of Mexico, but after 1902 that interest was held in the U.S. In 1982 NdeM sold Tex-Mex to a private Mexican firm. KCS acquired a 49 percent interest in 1996, and now uses it to link KCS and the newly privatized eastern Mexican carrier TFM, in which KCS also has an interest." The Texas Mexican Railway was a Class 1 railroad until January 1, 1978 when the revenue requirement was raised to $50 million. It was also the last freight railroad in the *lower 48* to operate its own intercity passenger service, which quit June 18, 1989. The "Tex-Mex" owns the line from Corpus Christi to the border at Laredo (Photos), and has trackage rights through Houston to connect with KCS proper, adding up to 525 miles. It is trying to reopen an abandoned Southern Pacific line between Victoria and Rosenberg to shorten its route. The Texas Mexican Railway became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the KCS Railway on December 29, 2004. States served- Texas Website Website Website Roster KCS Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 30-Texas Pacifico Transportation The South Orient Railroad began operating this line, consisting of 386 miles of former ATSF during 1992. The line runs from the Mexican border at Presidio through San Angelo (Photos) to San Angelo Junction. (PDF Map) Texas DOT purchased the route and on March 22, 2005 operations began by Texas Pacifico Transportation. This is an American subsidiary of Groupo Mexico, majority owner of Ferromex. At San Angelo Junction interchange is made with the Fort Worth and Western (Photos) for service to Fort Worth. States served- Texas Website X-Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway - TPW The TP&W is listed at number 59 as a former Regional. X-Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway - TSBY The 396 mile TSBY operated in Michigan, and has now changed their name to Great Lakes Central Railroad, listed above at #9. X-Washington Central Railroad - WCRC The WCRC is listed at number 60 as a former Regional. 31-Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway - WE The new W&LE began on May 17, 1990, when Norfolk Southern sold off most of the trackage they acquired with the old W&LE during 1964, when it was part of the Nickel Plate. The histories of both are covered by this website. Ownership reaches from Carey (Photos) and Bellevue (Photos), Ohio, to Connellsville (Photos) Pennsylvania. Trackage rights extend the system west to Toledo and Lima and east to Hagerstown Maryland, as shown on this Map. The headquarters and the principal shops of this 880 mile railroad are in Brewster (Photos) Ohio. States served- Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia Website Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos X-Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad - WICT The WICT is listed at number 61 as a former Regional. 32-Wisconsin and Southern Railroad - WSOR The Wisconsin and Southern Railroad began operating on 147 miles of the former Milwaukee Road on July 1, 1980. Stretching from Glendale Yard in Milwaukee north to Oshkosh, the entire system was in Wisconsin. Headquarters and the shops are located in Horicon (Photos). On August 21, 1992 the WSOR purchased the Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad, expanding southward and reaching Chicago. The current system is over 600 miles, as shown on this PDF Map, and reaches down to Clearing Yard. States served- Illinois, Wisconsin Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos X-Wisconsin Central Railroad - WC The WC is listed at number 62 as a former Regional.
Former Regionals------------------------------------------------------------
33-Bangor and Aroostook Railroad - BAR This was a Class 1 Railroad until January 1, 1978 when the qualification was raised to $50 million. Other than the bridge across the St. John River into St. Leonard, New Brunswick, the BAR was located completely in Maine. Northern Maine Junction (Photos) was the site of the shops, and the connection with the Maine Central. One line ran to the south end at Searsport (Photos). Interchange with Canadian Pacific was at Brownville Junction (Photos). Mills in East Millinocket and Madawaska (Photos) were good traffic sources. Amoskeag Company decided to sell the BAR to IronRoad Railways during 1993, and IronRoad followed this up by buying over 400 miles of Canadian Pacific track from Brownville Junction to Montreal. The new lines operated as the Canadian American (Photos), Quebec Southern, and Northern Vermont. The IronRoad system went into bankruptcy on December 4, 2001. On January 9, 2003 the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic purchased the BAR and the connecting IronRoad lines. States served- MaineWebsite Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos 34-Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad - BLE The B&LE operated from Pittsburgh to the shore of Lake Erie, as shown on this route map. The actual south end was North Bessemer (Photos), where the road connected with the affiliated Union Railroad (Photos). The north end was Erie, PA, reached by trackage rights over Norfolk Southern from Wallace Junction (Photos). Much of the traffic on the north end went through the docks at Conneaut, OH (Photos). The main shops were at Greenville (Photos), and important yards were at Albion (Photos) and Conneaut. Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad was a Class 1 owned by United States Steel until 1988, when majority ownership was sold to Transtar. Canadian National acquired the B&LE and the DMIR on May 10, 2004. States served- Ohio, Pennsylvania Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 35-Central Kansas Railway - CKRY The Central Kansas Railway began on January 1, 1993 when the Broe Companies purchased 887 miles (827 in Kansas, 60 in Oklahoma) from the ATSF. Also purchased were 50 miles of trackage rights and 12 GP7s. Headquarters were in Wichita. The ATSF had a dense network of lines covering central Kansas, shown on this 1946 map. The ATSF Subdivisions purchased were the 1) Salina, Salina to Osborne, 103.2 miles including trackage rights to Abilene, 2) McPherson, Marion to Ellinwood, 86.8 miles through McPherson and Lyons (Photos). Trackage rights, McPherson to Newton (This UP line was purchased later). 3) Little River, Galatia to Lorraine, and trackage rights to Lyons, 37.5 miles 4) Hutchinson, Hutchinson (Photos) to Kinsley (Photos), 97.5 miles, through Ellinwood, Great Bend (Photos) and Larned (Photos) 5) Great Bend, Great Bend to Scott City, 120.2 miles 6) Larned, Larned to Jetmore, 46.5 miles 7) H&S, Hutchinson to Wellington (Photos), through Kingman (Photos), Rago and Blackwell, Oklahoma (Photos), 157.4 miles 8) Wichita, Wichita to Pratt (Photos), through Kingman, 78.2 miles 9) Englewood, Rago to Englewood, through Belvidere, 120.6 miles 10) Medicine Lodge, Belvidere to Attica, 50.4 miles. Expansion took place in October 1997 with the addition of part of Missouri Pacific's former Pueblo line. This was 68 miles of the Council Grove Sub between Bridgeport and Hoisington and the Hoisington Sub from there 188 miles to Towner, Colorado. Also added was a connection north to Salina from Lindsborg made up of 21 miles of Union Pacific's McPherson Branch. Operated in conjunction with the CKR was the Kansas Southwestern (Photo), made up of former Missouri Pacific lines purchased by the Broe Companies during April 1991. These were the; Hutchinson Branch, 91.7 miles from Wichita to Geneseo, Hardtner Branch, 95.6 miles Wichita to Hardtner through Conway Springs Stafford Branch, 95.0 miles Conway Springs to Radium through Preston (Photos) Iuka Branch, 10.1 miles Preston to Iuka During July 2001 the CKR and the KSW were acquired by Watco and began operating as the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad, number 13 on this list. Today the K&O is operating over 800 miles of former ATSF and MP track in Kansas and Colorado, shown on this Map States served- Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma Photos Photos Photos 36-Central Vermont Railway - CV From the Classic Trains Website- "Opened in 1849 as Vermont Central. Reorganized in 1889 as Central Vermont with Canada's Grand Trunk as majority stockholder. Control passed to Canadian National in 1923. CN sold CV to RailTex Corp. in February 1995, which renamed it New England Central. RailAmerica bought RailTex in 2000." Central Vermont operated from New London, CT Photos through Palmer, MA Photos, past the shops at St. Albans, VT Photos, to a connection with Canadian National at East Alburgh Photos. Burlington, VT Photos was served with a 8 mile branch. The New England Central Railroad (Photos) is just under the 350 mile requirement to be a Regional. States served- Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont Website Website Photos Photos 37-Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad - CC From the Classic Trains Website- "The second of five major Illinois Central Gulf spinoffs. In December 1985, Chicago, Central & Pacific was essentially the old IC Iowa Division. IC in the 1960's had dropped usage of long-time green diamond emblem in favor of a "split-rail I," so CC&P acquired rights to the old logo. IC, seeking to broaden its traffic base, in June 1996 repurchased CC&P and made it a subsidiary." From the Iowa Dept. of Rail Website- "The Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad was formed in December 1985 as a spin-off from the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. In June 1996 the Illinois Central Railroad repurchased the CC. Currently, the CC is a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railroad system that resulted from the Canadian National and Illinois Central merger effective on July 1, 1999. The CC operates 732 miles of track in Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska, with 558 miles located in Iowa. The line in Iowa extends from Dubuque through Fort Dodge to Council Bluffs. The railroad also operates a line from Fort Dodge to Sioux City, along with several branch lines. The CC currently employs 285 people system wide, with 244 located in Iowa. The main products handled by the railroad include coal, farm products, food products, chemicals and miscellaneous mixed shipments." States served- Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska Map Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 38-Chicago, Missouri and Western - CMNW The Chicago, Missouri and Western began on May 17, 1987, after acquiring 631 miles of the former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio from Illinois Central Gulf. These lines ran from Joliet to East St. Louis and Kansas City. Traffic did not live up to forecasts, and the CM&W entered bankruptcy on April 1, 1988. Southern Pacific purchased the East St. Louis to Chicago line on September 29, 1989. On January 1, 1990 the Gateway Western, an ATSF affiliate, acquired the Springfield to Kansas City lines. Power on the Chicago, Missouri and Western consisted of 7 former P&LE SW1500, numbered 1500 to 1506, 27 former Conrail GP38, 2020-2047, 1 ex ICG GP38AC, 2048, and 26 former Western Pacific GP40, numbered 3000 to 3025. 16 of the GP38s were sold to Helm Leasing during October 1991. Five of the GP40s were sold to Morrison Knudsen in July 1990 and Wisconsin Central picked up 17 of them during October 1990. States served- Illinois, Missouri Website Photos Photos Photos 39-Delaware and Hudson Railroad - DH From the Classic Trains Website- "Delaware & Hudson, calling itself the longest-lived transportation company in the U.S., dates to an 1823 charter of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. "The D&H" operated the first steam locomotive on rail in the U.S., the Stourbridge Lion, in 1829. Amid modern Northeastern U.S. railroad uncertainty, D&H came under Norfolk & Western's wing in 1968; returned to independence in 1972; expanded as a forced competitor to the new Conrail in 1976; was acquired by Guilford Transportation in 1984; was placed in bankruptcy by Guilford in 1988; was sold to Canadian Pacific in January 1991; became part of subsidiary St. Lawrence & Hudson in 1996; reverted back to CP in 2000; and was placed under control of the Soo Line in 2001. D&H remains a Soo subsidiary but is operated as part of CP's overall system." States served- Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos 40-Detroit and Mackinac Railway - DM The D&M was a Class 1 Railroad that ran north from Bay City, MI (Photos) through Alpena to Cheboygan. During 1976 the Detroit and Mackinac acquired a former New York Central line from Bay City through Cheboygan to Mackinaw City (Photos). The main shops were located in Tawas City. After the ferry Chief Wawatam stopped running in 1984, the former NYC line was cut back to Gaylord (Photo). The original line was cut back to Rogers City, but now ends in Alpena. During 1992 the D&M became the Lake State Railway (Photos) (Photos). States served- Michigan Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 41-Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway - DMIR The Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway was a former Class 1 Railroad operating in northeast Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The history of the DMIR is well covered by Wikipedia. The main yard and shops were in Proctor (Photos). Most of the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range operations involved hauling Taconite from areas north of Virginia (Photos), like Minorca and Minntac, to the Twin Ports (Photos) and Two Harbors (Photos). Canadian National acquired the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway on May 10, 2004. States served- Minnesota, Wisconsin Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 42-Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway - DWP From the Classic Trains Website- "Earliest predecessor Duluth, Virginia & Rainy Lake, a logging road, dates to 1901, and soon was purchased by Canadian Northern. Line extended north to Fort Frances, Ontario, in 1908, renamed Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific in 1909, and reached Duluth in 1912. With Canadian Northern, became part of Canadian National in 1918. DW&P still exists on paper but is operated as part of CN." The Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway was a Class 1 Railroad until January 1, 1978. The line extends from Pokegama Yard in Superior Wisconsin to Fort Francis Ontario. States served- Minnesota, Wisconsin Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 43-Fox River Valley Railroad - FRVR The FRVR began on December 9, 1988 with the purchase of 214 miles of eastern Wisconsin track by Itel from the Chicago and North Western. These lines were the Air Line Sub from Granville (Photo) to Fond du Lac (Photos), the Valley Sub from FdL through Oshkosh (Photos) and Neenah (Photos) to Tavil (Green Bay), the Shoreline Sub from Cleveland to Tavil, the Green Bay Sub from Tavil to Duck Creek (Photos), the Kimberly Sub from Kaukauna South to Appleton, and the New London Sub from Appleton to New London. On August 26, 1993 the Wisconsin Central purchased Itel's FRVR and the Green Bay and Western and operated them as the Fox Valley and Western. The WC, and the FV&W, were acquired by the Canadian National on October 9, 2001. The lines between West Bend and Eden, and between Rockwood and Denmark have been abandoned. States served- Wisconsin Roster Photos Photos Photos 44-Fox Valley and Western - FVW The Fox Valley and Western was a subsidiary of Wisconsin Central operating in Wisconsin. It began with the purchase of the Green Bay and Western and the Fox River Valley Railroad on August 26, 1993. The Fox Valley and Western and parent Wisconsin Central were acquired by Canadian National on October 9, 2001, which still operate most of the trackage. States served- Wisconsin Wisconsin PDF Railmap 45-Gateway Western Railway - GWWR From the Classic Trains Website- "Gateway Western (GWWR) is a 408-mile regional linking East St. Louis, Ill., with Kansas City, created on January 9, 1990. Originally the Kansas City, St. Louis & Chicago, the line came under Chicago & Alton control in 1878, but was never a profit-maker under successors Alton Railroad, GM&O, and Illinois Central Gulf. On April 28, 1987, ICG sold the K.C. line, and the Chicago (Joliet)-East St. Louis main line, to new 633-mile regional Chicago, Missouri & Western. Ill-fated CM&W soon went bankrupt. Southern Pacific, through new subsidiary SPCSL Corp., bought the Joliet main line on September 29, 1989; this route passed to UP in the 1996 SP merger. Santa Fe, always wanting St. Louis-area access, arranged for a New York investment firm to purchase CM&W's K.C. line, which created Gateway Western. After the BNSF merger in 1995, Santa Fe no longer needed the route, and KCS acquired GWWR on May 5, 1997." The Gateway Western route heads east from Kansas City to a crossing of the Missouri River at Glasgow, MO (Photos) and a crossing of the Mississippi at Louisiana, MO (Photos). From there the line continues to Roodhouse, IL (Photos), where it splits to head south through Delhi (Photos) on the way to East St. Louis and east to Springfield. States served- Illinois, Missouri Photos Photos Photos Photos 46-Georgia Southern and Florida Railway - GSF The Georgia Southern and Florida Railway was, and perhaps still is, a long-time subsidiary of the Southern Railway. From Macon Georgia the route goes through Valdosta to Jacksonville. A second line reached from Valdosta to Palatka, Florida. States served- Florida, Georgia Website Website 47-Green Bay and Western Railroad - GBW From the Classic Trains Website- "Green Bay & Lake Pepin was chartered in 1866, opened in 1871, and finished across Wisconsin in 1873. After control by a Lackawanna affiliate, reorganized as Green Bay & Western in 1896. Eastern extension to Lake Michigan incorporated in 1890 as Kewaunee, Green Bay & Western, absorbed by GB&W after World War II. Shortline firm Itel Corp. acquired GB&W in 1979. In 1991 Itel combined management of 255-mile GB&W with that of Fox River Valley, a 214-mile regional linking Milwaukee and Green Bay spun off to Itel by Chicago & North Western on December 19, 1988. On August 28, 1993, Wisconsin Central Ltd. acquired GB&W and FRV, placing them under a new subsidiary named Fox Valley & Western." The Green Bay and Western was a former Class 1 operating across Wisconsin. Until 1985 it crossed the Mississippi River into Winona Minnesota, on a bridge owned with Burlington Northern. At the east end in Kewaunee interchange was made with the C&O ferry Badger until November 16, 1990. On August 27, 1993 the Green Bay and Western Railroad and the Fox River Valley Railroad were bought by the Wisconsin Central Railroad, and became a subsidiary named Fox Valley and Western. Canadian National acquired the Wisconsin Central on October 9, 2001 and now operates about 150 miles of the former GB&W. The Luxemburg Spur heads 17 miles east from North Green Bay to Luxemburg, the Plover Subdivision runs 21 miles west from Stevens Point through Plover (Photos) to Wisconsin Rapids (Photos) and the Whitehall Subdivision continues west 116 miles through Merrillan (Photos) and Marshland (Photos) to East Winona (Photos). States served- Minnesota, Wisconsin Map Website Website http://www.trainweb.org/wcmike/gbw/GBW_dispatch%20historical%20overview1.htm (website) Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 48-Gulf and Mississippi Railroad - GMSR From the Classic Trains Website- "Gulf & Mississippi was Illinois Central Gulf's first major 1980's regional spinoff, on July 10, 1985, but the 715-mile carrier-comprised mostly of two parallel ex-Gulf, Mobile & Ohio north-south lines in Mississippi-was never healthy. It was facing bankruptcy when MidSouth, in part to preserve the then-hot regional-spinoff movement, acquired G&M through new subsidiary SouthRail Corp., on April 14, 1988. Most G&M lines survive under Kansas City Southern." SouthRail, and parent MidSouth, were purchased by the Kansas City Southern on January 1, 1994. States served- Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee Photos Photos 49-I and M Rail Link - IMRL I and M Rail Link began on April 5, 1997, sold by Canadian Pacific to the Washington Corporation, owners of Montana Rail Link. CP retained 33% of the ownership. This 1385 mile system stretched from Chicago to Kansas City and the Twin Cities, using lines that had been part of the Milwaukee Road. The five States served were Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin, as shown on this map. On February 21, 2002, Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad executed an agreement to purchase the assets of the I & M Rail Link. IC&E is now a subsidiary of Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern. States served- Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin Roster Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 50-Long Island Rail Road - LI The Long Island Rail Road was a former Class 1 which was a Regional Railroad until May 1997 when freight operations were sold off to the New York and Atlantic Railway. The NY&A lacks the size and the revenue required to be a Regional. States served- New York Maps Website Photos Photos Photos Photos 51-Louisiana and Arkansas Railway - LA From the Classic Trains Website- "Louisiana & Arkansas' first ancestor, Louisiana Railway & Navigation, built between New Orleans and Shreveport during 1896-1907, and extended to McKinney, Texas, near Dallas, in 1923 by acquiring a Katy branch. A southwestern Arkansas logging road begun in 1896 had been renamed Louisiana & Arkansas Railway by 1906, and in 1928 LR&N and L&A merged, taking the L&A name. Kansas City Southern acquired all L&A stock in 1939 and operated it as part of the system, but kept L&A as a subsidiary until 1995." Kansas City Southern has extended the Dallas branch westward to reach the BNSF Alliance Yard north of Fort Worth. The LR&N Shreveport to New Orleans line is still used by KCS, but most of the remaining trackage has been abandoned or sold off. States served- Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas Website 52-MidSouth Rail Corporation - MSRC From the Classic Trains Website- "MidSouth Rail Corp. was created to purchase 373 miles of Illinois Central Gulf, effected March 31, 1986. MSRC was mostly the ex-Illinois Central route between Meridian, Miss., and Shreveport, La., whose earliest ancestor was the Clinton & Vicksburg (1833). On September 8, 1987, MSRC acquired the North Louisiana & Gulf and its subsidiary, Central Louisiana & Gulf (a former Rock Island line), and combined them as subsidiary MidLouisiana Rail Corp. Kansas City Southern bought out MidSouth on January 1, 1994." On April 14, 1988 MidSouth doubled its size when it purchased neighboring Regional Gulf and Mississippi, which was an earlier ICG spinoff. It was operated under the name SouthRail. States served- Louisiana, Mississippi Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos 53-Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad - OKKT The OKKT was a subsidiary of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad set up to operate former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific track from Abilene, KS to Fort Worth, TX. A loop to the west of this line ran from Chickasha, OK to Waurika, OK (Photos), while another branch headed east from El Reno, OK (Photos) to Council, on the west side of Oklahoma City. Also included was trackage rights from Abilene to Salina, KS. Initial operation began on May 30, 1980 and lasted until the end of 1981 through lease of the track. The sale was approved on October 20, 1982. November 30, 1989 saw the Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas merge into the Missouri-Kansas-Texas, then under ownership of the Union Pacific. Union Pacific still operates the Herington to Fort Worth line. States served- Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Website MKT Roster MKT Photos 54-Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad - PLE From the Classic Trains Website- "Pittsburgh & Lake Erie was chartered in 1875. New York Central subscribed to 15% of the stock, gained control in 1889, and thereafter operated it as part of the NYC system. When successor Penn Central-which owned 92% of P&LE stock-went bankrupt in 1970, P&LE went independent, and in 1976 it stayed out of Conrail. New private owners, caught by the steel industry's decline, offered P&LE for sale in the 1980's. Several scenarios faltered over labor issues, and P&LE in 1991 sold part of its main line, on which B&O had been a long-time tenant, to CSX. On September 11, 1992, CSX bought the remainder through subsidiary Three Rivers Railway, later dissolved." The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad extended from Girard, Ohio on the north through Pittsburgh to Connellsville and Brownsville Junction. Major yards were Gateway near Youngstown and Riverton in McKees Rocks, where the main shops were located. States served- New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos 55-Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad - RFP From the Classic Trains Website- "Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac began in 1834 at Richmond. Link to Washington completed in 1870 by a Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary. On July 31, 1901, six connecting railroads gained equal interest of 64% of RF&P through newly created Richmond-Washington Company-PRR, ACL, B&O, C&O, SAL, and Southern-and the Washington-Quantico segment was turned over to RF&P. Through mergers, CSX came to own 80% of other roads' RF&P stake and Norfolk Southern 20%; one-fourth had been owned since the beginning by Virginia, eventually through its Retirement System. In a complex deal involving the state that separated RF&P's railroad and its real estate, CSX Transportation acquired the railroad and absorbed operations at the end of 1991." The former Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad sees heavy use by CSX, and Amtrak, from RO, VA, on the south side of the Potomac River, to the middle of the James River Bridge on the west side of Richmond, VA. The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad was a Class 1 railroad until January 1, 1978 when the revenue requirement was raised to $50 million. States served- Virginia Website Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos 56-South Orient Railroad - SO The South Orient Railroad began operating 386 miles of former ATSF during 1992. The line ran from the Mexican border at Presidio through San Angelo (Photos) to San Angelo Junction. On March 22, 2005 this line was taken over by Texas Pacifico Transportation. States served- Texas Website Website Photos Photos Photos 57-SouthRail - SR SouthRail was a subsidiary of MidSouth Rail, set up to operate the Gulf and Mississippi following its purchase by MidSouth on April 14, 1988. MidSouth Rail, and SouthRail, were purchased by the Kansas City Southern during 1993, with the sale finalized January 1, 1994. States served- Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee 58-Springfield Terminal Railway - ST Guilford Transportation Industries purchased the Maine Central, Boston and Maine, and the Delaware and Hudson railroads during the early 1980s. In order to force workers to accept layoffs and pay cuts, it was decided to lease these three railroads to Springfield Terminal, a B&M subsidiary. D&H entered bankruptcy, and ended up under Canadian Pacific. Springfield Terminal is now known as Guilford, or as Pan Am Railways. States served- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont Roster Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 59-Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway - TPW From the Classic Trains Website- "Toledo, Peoria & Western's first ancestor, Peoria & Oquawka Eastern Extension begins construction, began construction in 1855, three years after charter. Renamed Toledo, Peoria & Western in an 1880 reorganization. Half interests bought by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Pennsylvania Railroad in 1960. ATSF bought PRR's half after 1976. TP&W merged into Santa Fe on January 1, 1984. Main line sold by AT&SF on February 1, 1989 to new investors, who reused TP&W name. Acquired by RailAmerica in September 1999, still operated as TP&W." As a result of the February 2005 sale of the west end from Mapleton to La Harpe to the Keokuk Junction Railway, the TP&W no longer meets the 350 mile requirement to be a Regional Railroad. Earlier, the loss of stack traffic to Hoosierlift in Remington, Indiana (Photos) hurt revenues. Hoosierlift was closed on October 31, 2003. The earlier Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway was a Class 1 railroad until January 1, 1978 when the revenue requirement was raised to $50 million. Operations continue to run out of East Peoria (Photos). States served- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa Map and Website Website Roster Photos Photos Photos Photos 60-Washington Central Railroad - WCRC Washington Central began during October 1986 using 149 miles of BN's former Stampede Pass line between Kennewick (Photos) and Cle Elum. An additional 70 miles of branches connected to this line. More trackage was added in December 1986, an eastern cluster consisting of a former Northern Pacific line from Connell to Wheeler along with former Milwaukee Road track to Royal City (Photos), Moses Lake and Schrag. During 1991 WCRC added Union Pacific's line up the Yakima Valley. The center of operations was Yakima (Photos). BN purchased the Washington Central during 1996 as part of the reopening of Stampede Pass. The eastern cluster became the Columbia Basin Railroad, which took several WCRC locomotives. States served- Washington Website CBRW Roster Photos Photos CBRW Photos 61-Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad - WICT The Wisconsin and Calumet was owned by Chicago West Pullman, but the track was mostly former Milwaukee Road lines owned by the State of Wisconsin. From the hub of Janesville (Photos) routes ran west to the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien, west to Monroe (Photos), east to Waukesha (Photos) and south to Fox Lake (Photos). Trackage rights over Metra were used from there to reach Chicago. Another line was former Illinois Central from Madison to Freeport, IL. Operations began on January 31, 1985. The WICT was purchased by the Wisconsin and Southern on August 21, 1992. States served- Illinois, Wisconsin Website Photos Photos Photos Photos62-Wisconsin Central Railroad - WC From the Classic Trains Website- "Soo Line, after trying in 1987 to establish an "internal regional" with relaxed work-rules on most of its own lines in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, as the Lake States Transportation Division, gave up the attempt in order to concentrate on its new system including the Milwaukee Road and sold off Lake States' 2300 miles of track to a group of investors who reused the name, and emblem (which dated from 1885), of the prior railroad on the majority of its lines. Wisconsin Central Ltd. ultimately grew to a 3000-mile system, including Fox Valley & Western, Algoma Central Railway, and Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Co., the terminal firm used as the corporate entity to acquire 220 miles of ex-C&NW Upper Michigan lines from Union Pacific on January 27, 1997. Wisconsin Central Ltd. was acquired by Canadian National on October 9, 2001, providing the missing link in CN's Y-shaped transcontinental system." Most of Wisconsin Central's track, along with the main yards and shops at North Fond du Lac (Photos) and Stevens Point (photos), were in Wisconsin. The WC had another Regional Railroad as a subsidiary. From August 27, 1993, until the merger into Canadian National during 2001 the former Green Bay and Western and the former Fox River Valley were operated as the Fox River and Western. States served- Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin Website Website Website Roster Roster Photos Photos Photos
Regional Railroads by State- Alabama- Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway; Gulf and Mississippi Railroad; SouthRail Alaska- Alaska RailroadArizona-Arkansas- Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad; Louisiana and Arkansas Railway California- Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad Colorado- Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad; Kyle Railroad; Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado Railnet; Central Kansas RailwayConnecticut- Pan Am Railways; Providence and Worcester Railroad; Central Vermont Railway; Springfield Terminal Railway Delaware- Florida- Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway; Florida East Coast Railway; Georgia Southern and Florida Railway Georgia- Georgia Southern and Florida Railway Idaho- Montana Rail Link; Palouse River and Coulee City RailroadIllinois- Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway; Indiana Rail Road; Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad; Iowa Interstate Railroad; Wisconsin and Southern Railroad; Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad; Chicago, Missouri and Western; Gateway Western Railway; I and M Rail Link; Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway; Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad; Wisconsin Central Railroad Indiana- Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway; Indiana and Ohio Railway; Indiana Rail Road; Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway Iowa- Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad; Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad; Iowa Interstate Railroad; Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad; I and M Rail Link; Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway Kansas- Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad; Kyle Railroad; Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad; Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado Railnet; South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad; Central Kansas Railway; Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas RailroadKentucky- Indiana Rail Road; Paducah and Louisville Railway Louisiana- Louisiana and Arkansas Railway; MidSouth Rail Corporation Maine- Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway; Pan Am Railways; Bangor and Aroostook Railroad; Springfield Terminal Railway Maryland- Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway; Delaware and Hudson Railroad Massachusetts- Pan Am Railways; Providence and Worcester Railroad; Central Vermont Railway; Springfield Terminal Railway Michigan- Great Lakes Central Railroad; Indiana and Ohio Railway; Detroit and Mackinac Railway; Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway; Wisconsin Central RailroadMinnesota- Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad; Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad; Northern Plains Railroad; Red River Valley and Western Railroad; Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway; Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway; Green Bay and Western Railroad; I and M Rail Link; Wisconsin Central RailroadMississippi- Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway; Gulf and Mississippi Railroad; MidSouth Rail Corporation; SouthRail Missouri- Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad; Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad; South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad; Chicago, Missouri and Western; Gateway Western Railway; I and M Rail Link Montana- Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western; Montana Rail Link Nebraska- Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad; Iowa Interstate Railroad; Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado Railnet; Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad Nevada- New Hampshire- Pan Am Railways; Central Vermont Railway; Springfield Terminal Railway New Jersey- New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway; Delaware and Hudson Railroad New Mexico-New York- Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad; New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway; Pan Am Railways; Providence and Worcester Railroad; Delaware and Hudson Railroad; Long Island Rail Road; Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad; Springfield Terminal Railway North Carolina- North Dakota- Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western; Northern Plains Railroad; Red River Valley and Western Railroad Ohio- Indiana and Ohio Railway; Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway; Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad; Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Oklahoma- South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad; Central Kansas Railway; Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas RailroadOregon- Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad; Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad; Portland and Western Railroad Pennsylvania- Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad; New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway; Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway; Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad; Delaware and Hudson Railroad; Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Rhode Island- Providence and Worcester Railroad South Carolina- South Dakota- Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad; Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western Tennessee- Gulf and Mississippi Railroad; SouthRail Texas- Texas Mexican Railway; Texas Pacifico Transportation; Louisiana and Arkansas Railway; Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad; South Orient Railroad Utah- Vermont- Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway; Pan Am Railways; Central Vermont Railway; Springfield Terminal Railway Virginia- Delaware and Hudson Railroad; Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Washington- Montana Rail Link; Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad; Washington Central Railroad West Virginia- Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Wisconsin- Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad; Wisconsin and Southern Railroad; Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway; Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway; Fox River Valley Railroad; Fox Valley and Western; Green Bay and Western Railroad; I and M Rail Link; Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad; Wisconsin Central RailroadWyoming- Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dale's Trackside Guides #1-Mississippi River CrossingsThis is a study of the Railroad crossings over the Mississippi River. #2-Amtrak's Current Routes A detailed accounting of which railroad owns every mile of track used by Amtrak.
#3-Class 1 Railroads in the 1950s A summary of the 127 class 1 railroads in 1950.
#4-The Milwaukee Road MainlinePoints of interest on the CMSP&P mainline from Chicago to Seattle and Portland.
#5-Montana Rail Link, I&MRL and IC&E Rosters
#6-GP30 Ownership A simple rundown of the dozens of owners of GP30 locomotives.
#7-Amtrak's Original Routes A look at the routes used by Amtrak on May 1st, 1971.
#8-Continental Divide Crossings A summary of the railroad crossings of the Continental Divide in North America
#9-Iowa's Counties A listing of the railroads operating in Iowa's 99 Counties today and in 1985 and 1930.
#10-America's Regional Railroads A look at the 62 current and former Regional Railroads in the United States
#11-AC Ownership Owners of locomotives with AC traction motors
#12-Ohio's Counties A listing of the railroads operating in Ohio's 88 Counties today and in 1985 and 1930.
#13-1980 A look at the events that took place during 1980 affecting America's railroads.
#14-Pieces of the RockSurviving rail lines and locomotives of the Rock Island Railroad.
#15-Amtrak's Abandoned RoutesA State by State list of routes previously used by Amtrak.
#16-Missouri River CrossingsA study of the Railroad crossings over the Missouri River.
Dale's Nexus
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.