In this section, we showcase short line industry stories published in local media.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum To Use Grant For Building Improvements At Grand Junction Campus
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.
ASLRRA has opened registration for the 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition, which will take place April 6 to 8 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. Those who register between now and Nov. 13 will be able to lock in last year’s rate and secure their spot at the short line railroad industry’s premier education and networking event.
In response to feedback gathered from ASLRRA’s 2024 post-conference survey, the Association has made several changes to the 2025 Annual Conference schedule. Attendees are encouraged to stay through April 8, departing on April 9, to take advantage of more education sessions, additional time in the Expo Hall and an early evening networking event at Lucky Strike.
Adjustments include a plan for 50 education sessions spread across three days, with committee meetings interspersed during those days instead of all taking place on Sunday. The Expo Hall will also be open for three days, 25 percent more time than in 2024. And the conference general session has been divided into two shorter sessions, one each on Monday and Tuesday.
During the Annual Conference general session, attendees will hear from several featured speakers including RailPulse General Manager David Shannon, who will talk about the coalition and its work to improve railcar visibility across the North American rail network.
Along with the conference, ASLRRA is excited to open registration for optional activities including a train ride on the Rocky Mountaineer. The trip will take place on Sunday, April 6. Participants will depart from Denver and travel approximately 20 miles on an historic rail route. Brunch is included. ASLRRA member Rocky Mountaineer is sponsoring the excursion, which is limited to 300 individuals.
On April 8, ASLRRA will host a networking event at Lucky Strike. The venue features bowling, an expansive arcade and other games like billiards, air hockey and foosball. Registration for the Lucky Strike event is free for all Class II and III railroad members, but everyone planning to attend must include the event when completing the conference registration process. As with the train excursion, space is limited for this event.
ASLRRA expects both optional activities to sell out quickly, so those who want to attend either or both events should register for the conference soon. Individuals must sign up to attend the conference in order to add the train excursion and/or the Lucky Strike event.
Avoid Conference Scammers by Booking Directly Through ASLRRA and ASLRRA-Provided Links
Already, scammers have attempted to contact individuals planning to attend ASLRRA’s 2025 Annual Conference. ASLRRA reminds its members that the Association does not partner with outside groups to book registration or hotel rooms and does not authorize any individuals or companies to do so on ASLRRA’s behalf. ASLRRA will not contact you directly via phone or email to make hotel reservations.
The only way to register for events is through ASLRRA communications and its website. Likewise, the only way to book a hotel room in ASLRRA’s room block at special rates is by using links provided on the Association’s website or by contacting the hotel directly using information and codes from ASLRRA.
Those who receive solicitations about hotel rooms or registration should not provide any sensitive information to those individuals and instead forward details about the encounter to ASLRRA’s Amy Westerman.
Every year at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition, the Association honors those in the rail industry who demonstrate excellence in myriad ways. Two of ASLRRA’s awards go to railroad member employees whose exemplary safety performance throughout their careers earns them recognition as Safety Person or Safety Professional of the Year.
Nominations are now being accepted for both awards and can be completed via online forms, which are due Nov. 15. The Safety Person of the Year Award recognizes a non-management employee of a member railroad who works with management on effective safety programs, exhibits a high degree of safety awareness and contributes off-duty time to activities promoting safety awareness in the community. The Safety Professional of the Year Award recognizes a railroad management employee of a member railroad who is responsible for safety programs, training and the overall management of safe behavior and actions on their railroad(s).
Award winners are recognized during the general session at the Annual Conference. The award package includes complimentary conference registration and other benefits.
Learn more about the 2024 Safety Person and Safety Professional of the Year by using the links above. Otherwise, click here to go directly to a nomination form for the Safety Person of the Year Award or click here for the Safety Professional of the Year Award nomination form.
ASLRRA is also welcoming sponsors for the 2025 safety awards. Please contact Mariel Takamura with questions about nominations or the awards process.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have published the third edition of the Highway-Rail Crossing Handbook, which compiles recommended safety engineering treatments for at-grade highway-rail crossings and includes current guidance and best practices for these treatments.
According to the handbook introduction, this resource is designed for all those involved with the design and management of highway-rail crossings, including municipal and transportation planners, state departments of transportation, regulatory commissions, railroad maintenance officials and others. Non-governmental organizations like Operation Lifesaver, Inc., commercial motor carriers and property developers may also benefit from reviewing certain handbook sections.
This third edition “constitutes a substantial update to and revision of the 2007 Handbook.” Contents have been reorganized and writers have included links to facilitate access to external information located online. This handbook is meant to be consistent with the 2009 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the 2013 version of the Traffic Control Devices Handbook prepared by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). This version also updates and supersedes the 2002 Guidance on Traffic Control Devices at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.
On Oct. 8, Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 9940, legislation that would add rail yardmasters under federal hours of service requirements where they would not be required or allowed to stay on the job for more than 12 hours, and then must get a minimum of 10 hours off.
An initial read of this bill by ASLRRA staff suggests that such an expansion of the hours-of-service laws would create additional paperwork burdens for ASLRRA members, potentially increase Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) civil penalties and reduce flexibility. It could also lead to hours-of-service restrictions for all railroad workers.
The bill was referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where it is pending consideration. The bill has two cosponsors and there is no companion bill in the Senate. The bill is not likely to progress in this Congress and is considered a place holder for surface transportation reauthorization discussions.
There is still time to register for ASLRRA’s Central and Pacific Region Meeting, which will take place Oct. 28 to 30 in Dallas, Texas. There is even limited space available in the golf tournament at the Luna Vista Golf Course, with prizes awarded to the top teams and to individuals for the longest drive, longest putt and closest to the pin.
This regional meeting will feature a number of subject-matter experts from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), who will speak on a variety of topics including drug and alcohol regulations, signal employee and dispatcher certification regulations, grant programs and project delivery.
FRA employees who manage the agency’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program will also hold office hours at the meeting, enabling attendees to talk one-on-one with program staff about funded projects or future CRISI application ideas. Click here for the full meeting agenda.
Meeting attendees can also take advantage of multiple networking opportunities, including an event on Tuesday evening hosted by the Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association at the ODD Muse Brewing Company.
Registration is also still open for ASLRRA’s targeted educational events, the General Counsel Symposium and the Finance & Administration Seminar, which are co-located with the regional meeting. The General Counsel Symposium will take place Oct. 28 to 29 and the Finance & Administration Seminar will take place Oct. 29 to 30.
These events offer railroad-specific education benefitting professionals in human resources, administration, finance and legal careers. Click here to register for these events.
Central Pipe Rehab, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a leader in track maintenance services, culvert/pipe cleaning and repair methods as well as specialty grouting services. CPR has specialized hi-rail VAC truck equipment for railroad applications that allow CPR to access remote locations along the rails to inspect and clean blocked culverts that are holding water. Specific services include stormwater culvert installation, railcar material transfer services, chemical grouting for ballast/slope stabilization, flowable fill/cellular grout placement, and a variety of track maintenance services including track inspections. Vice President of Track Services, Josh Connolly is our primary contact and can be reached on (727) 271-8072.
Eight projects involving ASLRRA-member railroads have received funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) grant program, which are awarded to certain states lacking intercity passenger rail service or that are not connected to the national rail system. Recently announced STC awards will go to a total of nine projects in Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming.
In Alaska, the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) will receive funding to support two projects, railyard improvements at ARRC’s Seward and Fairbanks terminals and acquisition of about 20 new general-service flat cars to provide intermodal and manifest freight service along ARRC’s corridor.
In South Dakota, the Sisseton Milbank Railroad (SMRR) will receive money to improve culverts along SMRR’s main line, which will result in better drainage and track stability. The Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad (RCP&E) will receive funding for a project to upgrade approximately 16.13 miles of rail on its mainline, while another grant awarded to the Belle Fourche Economic Development Corporation will expand the Belle Fourche Industrial and Rail Park, which RCP&E serves.
Also in South Dakota, the Ringneck & Western Railroad will conduct a grade stabilization and repair project with support from STC funds. The Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western Railroad will replace four switches, install four concrete crossings and complete other track upgrades along its Britton Line, while the D&I Railroad will replace roughly 12 miles of jointed rail with modern continuously welded rail and make improvements to 17 grade crossings.
Funding for STC grants is provided through directed set asides from other FRA programs including Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI), Restoration and Enhancement (R&E), Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) and Interstate Rail Compacts (IRC).
The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) new Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) is accepting applications for the first round of a new $984 million direct loan program for equipment financing in selected technology categories.
The OSC published a notice of funding availability (NOFA) concerning the program. According to the DOD, there are fourteen technology areas “vital to maintaining the United States’ national security,” and the “OSC’s mission is to attract and scale private capital for national security by increasing investments in priority critical technology areas.”
This program supports businesses that produce important components and materials. Technology categories covered by the OSC’s loan program include advanced bulk materials, advanced manufacturing, battery storage, cybersecurity, edge computing, external communication, hydrogen generation and storage, microelectronics, sensor hardware and more. Private companies are eligible and the technology must have military and civilian applications and be critical to national security.
ASLRRA suppliers may notice some crossover in technologies used by the rail industry and those identified as high priorities in the 2022 Defense Critical Supply Chains report, including castings and forgings, microelectronics, and energy storage and batteries. Funds may be used for equipment modernization, refurbishment, and expansion efforts in existing manufacturing facilities that support prioritized technologies, with loan amounts between $10 and $150 million.
The first part of application submissions are due Feb. 23. OSC staff will review these initial applications to determine whether entities are qualified to complete Part 2 of the application process. Part 2 submissions will be considered on a rolling basis. Applicants may request pre-application consultation sessions with OSC.
An updated reference from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) provides a “high-level overview” of the FRA’s various grant programs, the grant application process and different resources available to applicants.
The document, titled “Introduction to Applying for FRA Discretionary Grants,” includes information tailored toward rural and Tribal grant applicants, such as descriptions of programs with rural or Tribal set-asides. There are also links to FRA videos and recorded webinars; a step-by-step description of the process for completing an FRA grant application; a list of best practices for first-time applicants; program fact sheets and more.
Veterans Day is a few weeks away. In honor of that day and the strong connections between the railroad industry and current and former members of the U.S. military, ASLRRA invites its members to submit stories about the ways they work with and support veterans and active-duty military members in their organizations and local communities. These stories will be featured in a Veterans Day article in the Nov. 13 issue of Views & News. Contact ASLRRA’s Mariel Takamura to share your organization’s story.
Every year, ASLRRA honors one of its members with the Veterans Engagement Award, given at the Association’s Annual Conference. The nomination period for the award will open in November. ASLRRA encourages its members that have done noteworthy work with veterans this past year to consider submitting a nomination for the Veterans Engagement Award. Click here to learn more about the award and the 2024 Veterans Engagement Award winner, Watco.
ASLRRA members have exclusive access to downloadable Drug and Alcohol Educational Materials, including posters, a Part 219 educational brochure, affidavit templates and employer review documents, designed in consultation with subject matter experts on the Association’s Safety and Training Committee.
The members-only educational-materials webpage also features links to webinar recordings addressing Part 219 control of alcohol and drug use, and covering regulatory requirements, testing programs and issues, and educational materials for railroads. All recordings can also be found in ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar library.
Würth is ASLRRA’s Preferred Provider of personal protective equipment (PPE) and related services and their customer-first approach to service and support has a long history. Since opening their doors, Würth has helped thousands of companies protect their employees and work with optimum efficiency for maximum output. Their team of railroad specialists currently supports nearly 200 short line railroads, rail industry contractors and Class I railroad companies.
ASLRRA members can depend on Würth for quality safety and industrial products and exceptional customer service, plus discounted pricing on a huge assortment of products and equipment needed to implement an effective and efficient safety program. Offerings include foot and leg protection, signs, ergonomic products, hearing and eye protection, clothing protection, lighting and electrical products, storage containment and environmental spill cleanup, traffic control and much more.
Visit the Association’s Member Discount Program page to view Würth’s complete product offering and suite of services and start saving today.
Last week, Richard Sherman spoke at the Railway Tie Association's annual conference in Henderson, Nevada. Sherman provided attendees with a snapshot of ASLRRA’s major activities in the legislative, regulatory, legal and policy spheres. Highlighted initiatives included those related to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program and the 45G railroad track maintenance tax credit modernization effort.
Richard Sherman gave an ASLRRA update at the Railway Tie Association's Annual Conference in Nevada.
This webinar includes an introduction to Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), of which ASLRRA is an official supporting member. 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
In addition to attending ASLRRA’s regional meetings to speak about rail-industry issues, representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have participated in several webinars focused on regulatory and compliance issues. Recordings of these webinars are available to ASLRRA members online. Look for the titles below in ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar library:
Visit ASLRRA’s webinar homepage and log in to view all the on-demand offerings in the Association’s webinar library.
In order to help Eudora, Arkansas resident Ida Newbill celebrate her 110th birthday on Oct. 14, the North Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad (NL&A) brought a locomotive to her birthday party.
Daniel Robbins, vice president, marketing of ASLRRA member parent company Arkansas Short Line Railroads, Inc., described the event in an email. The town celebrates Newbill’s birthday each year, and this year’s celebration included a parade with police cars and fire trucks. But one of the highlights was the NL&A locomotive, which crew members positioned in town for the event.
According to Robbins, Newbill is a fan of the NL&A and enjoys watching the trains as they pass through Eudora. The NL&A rail line was reactivated a few years ago, and its presence has brought much joy to Newbill.
“She loves to wave at our train crew every day they go by her house,” said Robbins.
In addition to bringing the locomotive, representatives from NLA attended Newbill’s party and were able to meet many of her family, including her great-great-grandchildren.
“She has a remarkable history in Chicot County,” said Robbins. “It was an honor for the NL&A Railroad to be able to join in celebrating her birthday. It is always great to be able to participate in our communities.”
Ida Newbill (front) of Eudora, Arkansas posed for a picture in front of a North Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad locomotive, which was brought to town for her 110th birthday celebration held on Oct. 14.
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.
