In this section, we showcase short line industry stories published in local media.
Hondo Railway to be acquired by short line operator Pinsly Railroad
Railroad members! If you want to be featured in this section, please email us the link. You can also tag us (@ASLRRA) in your social media posts. Interested in seeing your railroad showcased in your local newspaper? Contact Amy Krouse for assistance.
Class II and III railroads seeking an exception for certain one-person train crew operations must file the relevant paperwork with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) by this Friday, Sept. 6.
To help member railroads with this paperwork, ASLRRA offers guidance and templates for all required forms, available under “Part 218 (Railroad Operating Practices)” in the Compliance Templates section of ASLRRA’s Safety & Compliance page. In July, ASLRRA held a webinar on the rule, which members can now view any time in the Association’s On-Demand Webinar library. A copy of the webinar presentation is also available with the recording.
The FRA has published its own compliance guide for the crew size rule. Railroads with questions about the rule or submitting required paperwork can contact ASLRRA’s JR Gelnar or Jo Strang.
ASLRRA mourns the death of Eugene (Gene) H. Blabey, II, who passed away this weekend. Blabey was one of the first individuals inducted into the Association’s Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame in 2021 after 50 years of involvement with short lines.
“Gene was a legend in our industry and a leading voice on short line matters. We were honored to induct him into the inaugural Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame class in 2021. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker.
In 1987, Blabey retired from a career at United Press International (UPI). His role at the time was UPI’s vice president and general manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Blabey first became interested in short line railroads as a UPI reporter, which led him to invest in a venture to preserve rail service in New York. That effort resulted in the formation of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad (LAL). Blabey served on the LAL Board of Directors and held roles as the organization’s president and chairman. He also served on the board of LAL subsidiary B&H Rail Corporation.
Blabey continued to invest in short line development with his business partners Dave Beers and Tony Hannold. Railroads they supported included the Ontario Eastern (ONER), the Ontario Central (ONCT), the Maryland & Delaware Railroad (MDDE) and the former Virginia & Maryland Railroad (VM).
In 1975, Blabey and Hannold started the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad (AM) and Blabey served on AM’s board of directors. Later Blabey raised the initial capital to form the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP), which he served for a time as president and chairman of the board. Blabey has also served on the board of the Morristown & Erie Railroad.
Blabey’s involvement with ASLRRA included two terms on the Board of Directors as representative for the Eastern Region and membership on the Legislative Policy Committee, Passenger Committee and Railroad Industry Working Group.
Click here to read a statement by the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad Corporation on Blabey's passing.
More information, including details about memorial services, was not available at the time of publication.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) concerning heat safety in the workplace. The new rule would be titled “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.”
According to OSHA, the rule “would apply to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction, with some exceptions.” The rule sets requirements for employers to protect employees from heat, and mandates employers create plans to measure and control workplace heat hazards.
Public comments on the proposed rule are due Dec. 30. ASLRRA staff is currently reviewing the NPRM and plans to submit comments. ASLRRA previously filed supplementary comments last December after OSHA convened a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel in which ASLRRA member Farmrail participated. ASLRRA’s comments discussed the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) collection of safety data related to heat-related illnesses and how the FRA regulates heat-related safety considerations of railroad operations.
OSHA has created a website discussing the rulemaking, with more information about the rule, its background and additional resources concerning heat safety and health.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has submitted its annual financial reports and triennial actuarial valuations to Congress and discusses these reports in the September edition of the agency’s monthly Question & Answer (Q&A) column.
The Q&A identifies assets for the railroad retirement and railroad unemployment insurance systems and describes the methods used to forecast the systems’ financial conditions. In its actuarial valuation, the RRB concluded that the railroad retirement system should not experience cash-flow problems over a 75-year projection period unless there is a “sudden, unanticipated, large decrease in railroad employment or substantial investment losses.”
In its reports, the RRB also makes recommendations concerning any financing changes to ensure system solvency. The RRB did not recommend any changes in the railroad retirement payroll tax rate or any other financing changes.
Two recently published technical reports from the Federal Railroad Administration that may be of interest to short line railroads include a study of automated weld repair of manganese frogs and an investigation of the effects of positive train control (PTC) systems on track maintenance.
The FRA sponsored two studies on automated frog repair methods, and the recent report focuses on the second of those studies. A frog is a device that helps train wheels roll from one track to another. Frogs are often subject to high-impact forces due to their function, resulting in a higher wear rate than normal rail surfaces. Therefore developing repair processes to extend frog service life helps improve overall operational safety and efficiency on the railroad.
In this second study, researchers developed a robot-based, automated weld repair process for austenitic manganese steel (AMS) railroad frogs. Using new materials and a new technique resulted in repaired frogs that exceeded the service life of frogs that had undergone first-time weld repair and exceeded the average service of new frogs before they required a weld repair. These results show it is possible to extend the service life of frogs using an automated weld repair process.
The study of PTC sought to understand how implementation of PTC systems affected track maintenance and roadway worker protection (RWP). Researchers collected data by interviewing PTC experts and railroad employees with maintenance-of-way (MOW) experience.
According to researchers, the most significant effect of PTC on track maintenance has been the need for managing and communicating changes to PTC critical assets during MOW work. There were no reported changes to RWP practices resulting from PTC implementation, nor were there reports of changes to MOW rules or any impact on MOW trains or equipment. The report also listed other key findings and conclusions and identified new ways to improve the safety of track maintenance responsibilities.
In addition to these two technical reports, the FRA also published two others. One titled “Advanced Component Testing: Tri-coupler Testing and Freight Car Electrical Power Supply System Demonstration” reports results of evaluation tests performed on tri-couplers designed and produced by Sharma & Associates, Inc. Testing included impact tests and trackworthiness assessment tests. In the other, “Monitoring and Modeling of Differential Movement at Railway Transitions,” a research team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) conducted laboratory and field research on Amtrack and Norfolk Southern railroad bridge transitions to develop recommendations for future designs.
The FRA publishes technical reports in its online eLibrary, which also includes all documents available on its public website such as compliance manuals, forms, reference materials, rules and presentations. Site visitors can search for specific documents by keyword or by sorting according to document types or subjects listed on the left side of the webpage.
With only three weeks remaining this fiscal year, Congress enters the final stretch before the elections and a “lame duck” session. Government funding for Fiscal Year 2024 expires Sept. 30, and it is very unlikely that Congress will come to an agreement on funding for 2025 by that deadline.
The Senate has passed zero regular funding bills, and while the House has passed more than half of the 12 regular funding bills, there is no clear path to passing the others on the House floor. Attention is now focused on how to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government at current levels to avoid a government shutdown.
On Aug. 27, ASLRRA associate business member Omaha Track hosted Representative Sam Graves (R-Mo.) at its Omaha Track Equipment (OTE) facility in Kansas City, Missouri.
Graves participated in an employee meeting and a tour of the facility, during which he learned more about the services provided by Omaha Track and OTE and how the companies support the rail industry and economic growth in Missouri, Kansas and beyond.
Graves is currently the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over rail. He is a staunch supporter of short line and regional railroads, championing many issues important to the industry and participating in person in several Railroad Day on Capitol Hill events.
As Graves’s visit to Omaha Track demonstrates, ASLRRA associate members, also known as suppliers, can benefit from inviting elected officials to visit their facilities. Railroad suppliers are an indispensable part of the rail industry, and helping lawmakers understand all aspects of railroad operations aids everyone. ASLRRA members of all kinds who are interested in connecting with their elected officials but need assistance doing are encouraged to reach out to the Association’s Crystal Gitchell.
Rooms are nearly sold out in ASLRRA’s hotel room block for the Association’s Eastern and Southern Region Meeting, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida. Discounted room rates expire Sept. 9.
Just as space is running out in the hotel block, so too are there few spots left in the golf tournament taking place at the World Golf Village’s Slammer & Squire course. Separate registration is required to participate in golf.
More than nine education sessions are available at the Eastern and Southern Region Meeting including “OSHA Hazard Communication” with the Federal Railroad Administration’s Brent Shields, “TSA Update and Panel Discussion” with the Transportation Security Administration’s Jonathan Lamb and “Procurement: Supply Chain Strategies” with Genessee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc.’s Kristine Storm and Indiana Rail Road’s Joe Gioe.
Click here for full agenda.
Register for Central and Pacific Region Meeting Soon
Rates for ASLRRA’s Central and Pacific Region Meeting will go up on Sept. 24, with hotel rooms for the event already in short supply.
The meeting will be held Oct. 28 to 30, and is co-located with ASLRRA’s targeted educational events, the General Counsel Symposium and the Finance & Administration Seminar, which take place Oct. 28 to 29 and Oct. 29 to 30, respectively. Those who register for the Central and Pacific Region Meeting, the General Counsel Symposium and the Finance & Administration Seminar can secure a room in ASLRRA’s room block at the Westin Galleria Dallas.
The Coalition Heath Plan is specifically designed for ASLRRA members looking for a solution to reduce their medical premiums and simplify the healthcare experience for their employees. As the fifth largest broker in the world with over 500 locations in North America, HUB International is well equipped to provide ASLRRA members with a vast network of benefits experts and best-in-class resources no matter where the member company is located in the US.
Partnering with HUB puts ASLRRA members at the center of a vast network of experts who provide risk services, claims management, and compliance support. Visit ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program page and select Employee Health Insurance to start saving today.
The Short Line Training Center’s online Learning Management System (LMS), a collaborative project between ASLRRA and Iowa Northern Railway Company, now features three virtual reality (VR) training modules in addition to a Part 214 railroad workplace safety program, Part 243 model programs and drug and alcohol and post-accident testing training courses.
The three VR courses are Freight Car Familiarization, Locomotive Daily Inspection and Class I Airbrake Test and Inspection. Using VR technology offers several benefits for trainers and trainees, including enhanced engagement and motivation, improved safety and efficiency and increased accessibility and scalability. Watch a video demo of the new VR training courses by clicking here.
Nearly 350 employees from 12 ASLRRA-member railroads are currently receiving training through the LMS platform. The LMS allows railroads to assign courses and track progress, as well as manage team reports and employee training records. For more information about the LMS, including pricing and scheduling a demo, contact ASLRRA’s Sabrina Waiss. For questions about the training courses, contact ASLRRA’s JR Gelnar.
Space is limited in ASLRRA’s final training seminar of the year, the Leadership Development – Regulatory Module course, with only a handful of seats still available. Also limited are rooms in ASLRRA’s room block for the event, which is held concurrently with the Eastern and Southern Region Meeting. Special hotel rates for the room block expire Sept. 9.
ASLRRA’s JR Gelnar and Rio Grande Pacific Corporation’s Mitch Harris will lead the seminar, which combines instruction in leadership strategies with an overview of federal regulations and regulatory agencies.
Scholarships can help employees of small railroads attend this important industry training. ASLRRA offers both Doug Golden Scholarships and Jake Jacobson Memorial Scholarships, made possible through generous donations from the Doug Golden-Mary Cullen Charitable Fund and the family of the late Jake Jacobson, respectively. Click here to access more information about the scholarship program and find links to online application forms. Applications are accepted and awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year.
This week, Chuck Baker will attend the Short Line Railroad and Port Business Development Day hosted by Class I railroad Union Pacific (UP). The event takes place in Omaha, Nebraska on Sept. 5 and features a Union Pacific Leadership Panel and individual business development meetings. While in Omaha, Baker will also participate in a meeting of the UP Short Line Advisory Group. Along with ASLRRA, the group includes 12 railroad members who provide feedback to UP on short line issues.
Today, Nicole Brewin attended a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Committee Meeting at U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C. The meeting included a discussion of transportation priorities for 2025 and beyond, a discussion of reauthorization of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and more.
This webinar discusses how railroads and railroad partners can better acquire and retain successful workers using pre-hire talent assessments. Success stories from Class I railroads and other industrial companies will be presented. Webinar attendees will learn what talent assessments are and how they are set up and used in practice; recommendations for implementing talent assessments in their recruitment processes; and what low-cost and no-cost tools and resources are available as well as what services Aon Consulting offers in this area.
Speaker:
Sponsored by AON
This webinar includes an introduction to Operation Clean Sweep (OCS). OCS assists companies in their goal towards achieving zero plastic resin loss during operations, thereby keeping plastic out of the environment and surrounding waterways. The session will also discuss the OCS Rail program that was launched in 2024 as a new category of the OCS program specifically for rail partners and their operations. Several current OCS Rail members will also share individual case studies for an inside perspective on the program.
Speakers:
Sponsored by the American Chemistry Council
Subject-matter experts often join ASLRRA to present webinars focused on issues important to short line railroad industry professionals. Once over, these webinars are made available in the Association’s On-Demand Webinar Library, which members can access at any time. Members can also download webinar presentation materials, which are included with many of the recordings.
The titles below are some examples of webinars featuring subject-matter experts that are available in the On-Demand Library:
Visit ASLRRA’s webinar homepage and log in to view all the on-demand offerings in the Association’s webinar library.
Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc. Vice President, Compliance and Training John Angel has joined the Short Line Safety Institute’s (SLSI) Board of Directors.
“The SLSI is fortunate to have a guiding board comprised of individuals who have spent their careers moving the industry forward in the area of safety and safety culture,” said SLSI Executive Director Tom Murta in a press release. “John Angel brings both an on-the-ground experience, beginning his career as a conductor on a small short line railroad in Ohio, and the experience of safety culture leadership at the highest level, taking on areas of increasing responsibility at Genesee & Wyoming railroads. His insight on practices and programs that will help move the needle on safety culture will be invaluable to our organization.”
The Short Line Safety Institute encourages the short line and regional railroad industry to perform at an increasingly high level of safety, with a focus on safety culture defined as the shared values, actions, and behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to safety over competing goals and demands.
Other members of SLSI’s Board of Directors include Chairman Justin Broyles of R. J. Corman Railroad Group, Chuck Baker of ASLRRA, Janet Gilbert of Fletcher & Sippel, Mitch Harris of Rio Grande Pacific Corporation, Jared Martin of Modesto & Empire Traction Company and SLSI’s Murta.
SLSI primarily communicates with industry stakeholders through email and social media. Complete a subscription form on SLSI’s home page to join the organization’s mailing list, or follow SLSI on LinkedIn.
Two organizations with programs honoring women railroaders are now accepting nominations for their respective awards. Nominations for Railway Age magazine’s Women in Rail awards are due Oct. 1, while nominations are due Oct. 18 for the League of Railway Women’s (LRW) Railway Woman of the Year Award.
The Women in Rail Awards will recognize 20 women from any part of the rail industry who demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision and innovation. Individuals from the 50 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico are eligible. Candidates can nominate themselves and more than one nomination can be submitted per person, though multiple nominations will not bolster a person’s chances of winning.
The Railway Woman of the Year award recognizes one person for her achievements in the rail industry. Nominations will be evaluated according to criteria including the candidate’s industry impact, ability to overcome challenges, cultivation of safety culture and more. The winner will be recognized at the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) 2025 Conference and NRC-REMSA Exhibition held Jan. 5-8, 2025 in Marco Island, Florida.
Rail technology coalition RailPulse has launched the RailPulse Platform, new technology infrastructure providing near-real-time data and insights to improve freight railcar fleet visibility, safety and efficiency for all stakeholders.
The platform collects data from a variety of railcar sensors and other sources and delivers that data to railcar owners. Other approved data is shared securely with authorized users. This project is the result of two years of work, funded in part by grants from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
ASLRRA member parent companies Genessee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc. and Watco Companies, along with associate business members TrinityRail and GATX Corporation, founded RailPulse with Class I railroad Norfolk Southern in 2020. Since then the number of partner organizations has grown and now includes other shippers, Class I and short line railroads and railcar lessors.
Click here for a calendar of industry events.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
