Pacific Harbor Line's Cliatt drives success through safety, sustainability
National Train Day at Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
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For the second year in a row, a record number of railroads have earned an ASLRRA Jake Award, given annually to member railroads that have an injury frequency rate lower than the industry average in the previous year. This year, 418 members received a Jake Award. Of those, 371, another record number, earned a Jake with Distinction Award for having zero reportable injuries last year.
ASLRRA is pleased to note the industry-average injury rate for 2025 was 2.24 per 200,000 person-hours worked, which is lower than the previous year. This frequency rate has dropped by 3% in each of the past two years.
“Safety is the top priority for short line railroads. The Jake Award program serves as a key method for celebrating the industry’s top safety performers and is used as a benchmark by many short lines to measure how well their safety programs are working,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “What stands out this year is that the average industry injury frequency rate has declined once again, raising the bar even higher for earning a Jake Award. Even so, more short line railroads than ever before achieved injury rates below the industry average, and a record high reported zero injuries.”
The Jake Awards are named for the late Lowell S. “Jake” Jacobson, the former president and general manager of the Copper Basin Railway (CBRY). After the CBRY achieved a perfect safety record in 1993, Jacobson realized that there was no award recognizing smaller railroads’ safety records. In 1999, the ASLRRA Safety Committee adopted the Jake Awards, and since then has continued Jacobson’s legacy of rewarding and drawing attention to the high safety standards of the small railroad industry.
Since its inception, the Jake Award program has distributed more than 8,200 Jake and Jake with Distinction Awards to America’s small railroad community.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced it has received a revised major merger application from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. The public is invited to submit comments that solely address the completeness of the application. Those comments are due May 8. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will have until May 12 to reply to completeness comments.
ASLRRA is following these developments and plans to participate in the public comment period when and if such a schedule is announced.
As this application is considered a major transaction under STB regulations, it must contain substantial supporting information that is detailed in 49 CFR Part 1180. After this comment and reply period the STB will decide whether to accept the application as complete or incomplete. Such a determination is no indication as to the merits of the transaction itself. The procedural schedule for public comments on the merits of the transaction will be determined after and if the application is accepted.
The STB has set up a resource page for information related to the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger. The page includes all docket actions, select filings and decisions in this case, applicable statutes and regulations, related past agency decisions and frequently asked questions.
ASLRRA and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) submitted joint comments in support of a petition filed with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) by IS Technology Solutions (IS Tech).
The petition asks the FRA for special approval to use an alternative standard of compliance for 49 CFR 238.311, Single Car Test. IS Tech would like to use an automatic single car testing device (ASCTD) instead of a manual single car testing device (MSCTD). IS Tech says in its petition that ASCTDs are “a faster and more accurate alternative” to MSCTDs.
ASLRRA and AAR support the petition, in part because it is based on AAR’s Standard S–4027, “Automated Single-Car Test Equipment, Conventional Brake Equipment—Design and Performance Requirements.” The comments note that the FRA has codified the use of ASCTDs for freight operations by incorporating AAR Standard S–4027 into 49 CFR 232.305 and that this regulatory change has resulted in significant improvements to brake system performance and reliability.
In the May edition of its monthly Q&A series, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) addresses the need for railroad retirement annuitants to report events and activities that may affect payment of their annuities.
The RRB reminds annuitants that they are responsible for notifying the RRB when their payments could be affected by various events and activities. Those who receive overpayments will have to repay them, sometimes with interest and penalties. And it is a federal crime to knowingly withhold information or make a false statement to receive or continue receiving payments.
Some examples of reportable events and activities include entitlement to social security, post-retirement work, death of an annuitant or change in marital status. The Q&A goes on to explain how some of these situations affect annuities or result in overpayment. The RRB also describes how to contest an overpayment decision, get help determining whether an activity could affect payments and notify the agency about any qualifying events.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has released its updated Minnesota State Rail Plan, sharing a vision for improving the movement of goods and people throughout the state.
Included in the plan is information about additional funding needed to support freight rail operations and plans to expand passenger rail service. The plan plays a role in MnDOT’s efforts to secure federal grants and inform state funding decisions. It is developed with input from railroads, local governments, tribes, the public and other stakeholders.
A copy of the plan can be downloaded from MnDOT’s Minnesota State Rail Plan website.
On April 30, ASLRRA intern Chris Konstantopoulos attended a briefing on Capitol Hill titled “Fixing the Highway Trust Fund.” The briefing discussed the impending insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which finances federal highway construction, repairs, mass transit in the United States as well as authorizes rail grant programs like the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.
The HTF risks insolvency because user taxes are outdated, spending surpasses revenue and vehicle miles traveled are barely increasing. However, Congress has yet to implement long-term reforms to address this critical funding issue for highways and mass transit systems.
Konstantopoulos notes the briefing addressed three main challenges: funding and tax stagnation, difficulty implementing spending reduction measures and little desire to transfer more responsibility to states.
Although the HTF is primarily a highway and transit account, its solvency and the policy choices Congress makes to fix it can affect short lines in three practical ways. First, HTF-driven decisions on highway investment can shape trucking rates and service reliability, impacting short lines’ ability to compete for freight, especially on short hauls. Second, uncertainty around the HTF, as discussions are often linked to other federal infrastructure funding, can translate into uncertainty in timing and availability of important federal rail grant opportunities. Third, shifting more responsibility to states could create a patchwork of outcomes, increasing variability across the network.
In the end, the HTF is important, and short lines cannot afford to see the fund become insolvent. ASLRRA consistently advocates for Congress to address deficiencies in the HTF with a true user-pay system. Click here to view the Association’s Modal Equity with Trucks webpage or click here to learn more about ASLRRA’s advocacy priorities.
Congress is out of session for district and state workdays this week, so no regular floor proceedings will occur. Both chambers will reconvene on May 11. Primaries in Indiana and Ohio are scheduled for Tuesday, and the Senate will vote on Kevin Warsh’s confirmation as Federal Reserve chair upon its return. Senate committees will also begin markups of the second reconciliation bill and the farm bill next week.
Railpower has long been a recognized name in the rail industry, with a legacy rooted in pioneering hybrid and low-emission locomotive technology. In 2026, Railpower, Inc. is launching a bold new chapter for the brand by building and delivering zero emission hydrogen switching locomotives to the short-line and switching sectors.
George Allen Construction (GAC), based in Mokena, Illinois, provides specialized rail contracting, design-build, and CMGC services to freight and passenger railroads nationwide. Their expertise encompasses complex infrastructure projects, including intermodal terminals, fueling facilities, track construction and historic station restorations. GAC executes these works with a strict focus on safety and regulatory compliance while ensuring uninterrupted rail operations. Primary contact and President, Emory Plitt can be reached by phone at (708) 478-6868.
ASLRRA is accepting proposals for presentations at its first-ever Fall Super Regional Meeting, which will be held Oct. 5-7 in St. Louis, Missouri. The meeting will include all four ASLRRA member regions, the General Counsel Symposium and the Finance & Administration Seminar.
Proposals must be submitted via online form and are due June 1. Incomplete submissions or proposals sent in after the due date will not be considered.
Potential event speakers are invited to offer their ideas for industry-related presentations at the regional meeting. Supplier members are encouraged to partner with railroad members on presentations that offer a practitioner-based perspective.
Preference may be given to proposals that feature innovative content, address specific career stages, encourage audience engagement, support knowledge sharing, present data-driven business cases, provide practical takeaways and connect to real-world challenges.
For more information, click here to view the full call for proposals.
Offering mobile and web-based solutions for electronic recordkeeping. Eligible discount program products include all eight solutions on the Asset Pro and SafeTrack platforms.
Click here to learn more about ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program and view all available products and services, or contact ASLRRA’s Sabrina Waiss for more information about becoming a Preferred Provider.
May 13 – Bridging the CRISI Gap with a NEPA Deep Dive
This webinar with the FRA CRISI grant program team will cater to short line railroad CRISI applicants. FRA will provide an overview of general requirements for applicants and will cover some of the common questions they've been receiving from short lines on this funding opportunity. There will be time for questions, and no CRISI topic will be off limits.
Speakers: FRA’s Deborah Kobrin, Lauren Kobayashi, Reagan Morgan, Justin Zweifel; ASLRRA’s Richard Sherman
Check out some of our legal webinar recordings:
Log in to ASLRRA’s webinar homepage to view all on-demand offerings.
DSLE and Part 217 Railroad Operating Rules Training Seminar – June 2-3, Freeport, Maine
The Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineer (DSLE) and Part 217 Railroad Operating Rules training seminar is intended to provide railroad managers with training on a complex designation that they address daily. Attendees will receive training on DSLE responsibilities, including application and administration of 49 CFR Part 240 and Part 242 similarities and differences, and Part 217 railroad operating rules.
Click here to see additional upcoming seminars as well as event details and online registration and hotel booking links.
ASLRRA is actively seeking nominations from associate business members interested in running for election as Vice Chair of the Supplier Committee.
The Vice Chair role is a two-year term. Responsibilities include participating in two in-person committee meetings each year, as well as joining virtual meetings throughout the year. If you’re interested in nominating yourself or another candidate, please connect with Steve Friedland of Short Line Data Systems and Beth Garguilo of Lincoln Transportation Insurance Brokers.
Interested candidates are asked to provide a short bio, a photo, and a few sentences about their motivation for serving on the Supplier Committee. Nominations will be accepted through this Friday, May 8.
Kentucky has awarded $3.1 million in grant funding to seven rail and industrial site infrastructure projects. Several ASLRRA members will benefit.
Three railroads, all ASLRRA members, will receive funding through the Kentucky Short Line Infrastructure Preservation (KSLIP) Program. Louisville & Indiana Railroad will install a new hot wheel and hot bearing detector. Similarly, Paducah & Louisville Railway will upgrade eight hot-box detectors across its network and make technology improvements to support improved wheel condition monitoring and data collection. With its grant, R. J. Corman Railroad Group will conduct track rehabilitation in two counties, which will include replacing 6,500 ties and installing seven switches.
Four organizations received grant funding through the Kentucky Industrial Access & Safety Improvement (KIASI) Program. ASLRRA supplier member Progress Rail will develop a freight railcar repair facility and conduct other track improvements, while R. J. Corman’s Central Kentucky Lines will rehabilitate a large portion of its Jett Yard to help improve rail access to non-rail-served industries. In addition, Jared Donaldson Trucking was awarded a grant to reactivate a rail spur and install a turnout for a new transloading site with access to the Paducah & Louisville Railway.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has posted the presentations from two recent webinars discussing the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program and Railroad Crossing Elimination (Crossing Safety) program.
The CRISI presentation provides an overview of the fiscal year (FY) 2025-2026 program, including how to apply, writing the project narrative, completing a benefit-cost analysis and more. The Crossing Safety presentation provides an overview of the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) and key changes from previous NOFOs. It also discusses project evaluation and selection and application best practices.
CRISI grants will make over $2 billion available for eligible projects. This is the only federal grant program for which short line railroads can apply directly. Applications are due June 22.
Short lines are not directly eligible for Crossing Safety grants, but can partner with eligible entities in submitting a grant application. This program makes $1.1 billion available for grade crossing improvement projects, with applications due June 8.
Additional resources and registration for a future open office hour session can be found on the respective grant information pages. ASLRRA also maintains a CRISI information webpage and is offering a CRISI webinar on May 13, focused on NEPA requirements, with representatives from the FRA.
ASLRRA’s Sarah Yurasko has been named a winner of Progressive Railroading magazine’s 2026 Rail Mentor Awards.
This is the award’s inaugural year. It is an offshoot of Progressive Railroading’s Women of Influence in Rail program, getting its start when publication staff recognized the critical importance of mentorship in the rail industry.
The awards recognize individuals who work to develop and guide the next generation of rail professionals by taking part in or leading established mentorship programs or initiatives. This year’s 29 winners will be featured in the magazine’s June issue.
Along with Yurasko, seven individuals from ASLRRA member organizations were honored. ASLRRA congratulates them and all of this year’s award winners.
Last week, Sabrina Waiss and JR Gelnar were in Indianapolis, Indiana to host ASLRRA’s in-person General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR) Training Seminar for 35 attendees.
Gelnar (pictured standing at left) was joined by Iowa Northern Railway Company’s Mark Vaughn to discuss the most recent edition of the GCOR rule book. The training was intended for railroads that have adopted GCOR as their operating rules and could be used to meet operating rules training as required by 49 CFR Part 240, 242 and 214 Subpart C.
ASLRRA reminds anyone unable to attend the in-person training that the Association offers GCOR instruction modules through its online Learning Management System (LMS). Available content covers GCOR Chapters 1-8 as the core course with additional modules covering Chapters 9, 10, 14, 15 and 18.
Contact Waiss for more information about signing up for ASLRRA’s LMS.
This week, Fred Oelsner is attending meetings with AAR’s Rail Security Working Committee and Emergency Operations Center Task Force at Railinc HQ in Cary, North Carolina. The meetings will include demonstrations of several data platforms supported by Railinc either in current use, or with potential use cases, for the support of railroad industry security operations.
ASLRRA maintains an industry calendar featuring events that may be of interest to members. If you have an industry event you would like included on the calendar and possibly in Views & News, please send relevant event details and links to Mariel Takamura for consideration.
By Andy Ottinger, MIDH Railroad Crew Operations Manager, special to Views & News
ASLRRA member Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad (MIDH), celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 3. The railroad operated its first freight train as a private entity on May 4, 1976.
The railroad was purchased directly from the trustees of the bankrupt Reading Company, who maintained an office in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. At that time, the line was operated by its founders, Wendell Dillinger and Sam Holmes.
The purchase included the Middletown portion of the line only, as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the remaining portion of the line for future rail preservation after the devastating floods of Hurricane Agnes in 1972 destroyed the M&H's right of way along Swatara Creek. That portion was eventually purchased from the Commonwealth and rehabbed all the way to the then connection to Conrail in Hummelstown.
The line today remains in private ownership, still proudly serving its freight customers in the time-honored tradition of "street running" several blocks from their NS interchange to the rail-served industrial warehouse in Middletown. In addition to freight, the line rosters several old Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W) commuter cars that are used for tourist train service, something Dillinger fought to preserve through the years up until his passing in 2023.
Thankfully, the MIDH still rosters and maintains the locomotive that started it all in 1976, which is appropriately named MIDH #1. While these locomotives are not rare to the short line industry, this locomotive, a GE, 65-Ton, was constructed and used by the U.S. Army during World War II and came to MIDH by way of a locomotive supplier.
It was only fitting that, to celebrate MIDH’s 50th anniversary, #1 took several of its employees and volunteers on a run the entire length of the railroad.
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) announced Pinsly Railroad Company General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer Kristin Bevil is the organization’s new Board of Directors chairperson. SLSI also welcomed a new board member, Watco Companies Vice President of Safety Brad Walker.
Bevil succeeds R. J. Corman Railroad Group President and CEO Justin Broyles, who has completed his term. She will hold the position ex-officio, while also serving as vice chair of ASLRRA’s Board of Directors. Walker was appointed to his position during the SLSI’s board meeting in April.
Rail safety education organization Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, has awarded $220,200 in grants to state Operation Lifesaver programs.
Funding from the FRA will support rail safety awareness initiatives spearheaded by Operation Lifesaver programs in California, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Washington. The Posner Foundation funded projects in Connecticut, Minnesota and Missouri.
With this funding, states will execute campaigns meant to bolster rail safety awareness in at-risk communities and around key community events and observations like OLI’s See Tracks? Think Train® Week in September.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
