ACWR Launches Candor Logistics Park, Phase 1
OmniTRAX deploys temperature monitoring tech in Texas
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 is grateful for all those who took the time to tell their stories for the Faces of Freight campaign. Please watch the Association’s social media pages for more about the individuals featured in this article.
Relatively few people are familiar with today’s modern freight railroads outside of news headlines, and fewer know what part short lines play in the national supply chain. This week, ASLRRA joins the Association of American Railroads (AAR) for AAR’s second-annual Faces of Freight campaign, highlighting individuals in a variety of career fields and at different organizational levels to show how their work keeps goods moving into, out of and across the country.
ASLRRA invited its members to share their personal stories. What brought them to the railroad industry? What are their days like? What do they consider their biggest challenges and greatest accomplishments? Why is their work important to them?
The stories paint a vivid picture of an industry powered by human ingenuity, grit and dedication. There are many impressive tales of those who ascend through the ranks to positions of leadership. But there are just as many individuals committed to lifting up others as they rise.
Chris Garner, director of safety at The Wheeling, is an example of one such leader. Garner secretly submitted the stories of six employees across The Wheeling’s railroads for the Faces of Freight campaign. He wanted to highlight them for their excellent work.
Delray Connecting Railroad Operations Manager DeAuntae Brown “handles anything that comes his way with a smile and a get-it-done attitude,” said Garner. “Safety is always at the top of the list.”
Meanwhile Manager of Safety Robyn Gilles is “the rock on which everyone leans…a true gem in the world of railroading.”
Fellow Manager of Safety Greg Bartosek will handle anything “no matter the lift,” while Road Foreman of Engines Mike Steele is a “cornerstone of success at Gary Railway.”
Though Manager of Transportation Brent Dean only joined The Wheeling’s Union Railroad in late 2025, Garner lauds him as an “absolute rockstar” whose previous experience with Norfolk Southern offers “a great set of fresh eyes.” And as director of customer support, Brittany Ohler is a crucial “bridge between the customer, their freight and the operation.”
Garner’s desire to be his team’s biggest cheerleader is not uncommon among short line railroaders. For Pacific Harbor Line Director of Customer Service Diana Turubanova, teamwork is a pillar of the industry, with trust, collaboration, support and a shared sense of ownership driving success. It’s a value that cuts across disciplines.
Louisville & Indiana Railroad Roadmaster Ryan Barbato says the most satisfying part of his job is “helping people learn how to do their jobs better while actually listening to what they have to say.”
Similarly, New York and Atlantic Railway Superintendent Raul Sanchez “take[s] great pride in being able to make a difference in people's lives, whether through mentoring, developing future leaders or helping others grow in their careers.”
And Rio Grande Pacific Corporation Vice President of Marketing and Sales Chad Gutierrez echoed that sentiment.
“I am most proud of the people I have helped to develop who have gone on to do great things,” said Gutierrez. “I won't lie – winning business is fun but it's more about the process and watching how everyone contributes to those wins.”
In their submissions, these short line railroaders talked about the joy they find in their work, particularly in the diversity of the work they do. Some delight in being almost entirely outdoors, managing the daily puzzle of moving trains and freight. Others have office roles, making sure accounts are settled and employees are supported. Many do both, switching between tasks seamlessly to keep the railroad operating smoothly.
When asked to describe his typical day as senior director of sales and marketing at Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad, Tony Kazakevicius suggested there was no such thing as a typical day.
“But the best days,” said Kazakevicius, “have you working with different departments on the railroad. Those days go fast.”
Navigating different departments takes on a new meaning at a short line. Todd Hunter, chief marketing officer at North Shore Railroad & Affiliated Companies, shared that one skill that took years to really master was learning the nuances of the business.
“There are so many specialty areas that make this industry go,” said Hunter.
In the short line industry, taking on a C-suite role does not relegate someone to confinement in the corner office. Canton Railroad President and CEO Tyler Horner emphasized that, no matter your title, “no two days are the same in the railroad industry.”
“Working for a short line railroad, particularly in a management role, requires the ability to wear many hats,” said Horner. “On any given day, you may be involved in operations, customer service, business development, regulatory compliance, personnel matters, strategic planning or responding to unexpected challenges.”
Busy as they are with their daily work, many short line railroaders engage with and serve the industry in other ways. New York & Atlantic Railway Manager, Operations Support James Nunes is active with New York Operation Lifesaver, educating the public about rail safety as an Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteer and Railroad Incident Safety Course instructor.
Accounts Payable Manager Jasmine Manley of Anacostia Rail Holdings offers her time in service with the National Association of Railway Business Women and the League of Railway Women, as well as other associations related to her accounting field. These experiences help her grow professionally while also enabling her to “bring fresh ideas and best practices back to the organization.”
While the descriptions of various day-to-day responsibilities and industry work are interesting, people’s origin stories are just as intriguing. Several are lifelong railroaders, though OmniTRAX Head of Pricing and Yield Management C.J. Talley shared the most extensive family connection. Talley is a fifth-generation railroader. Between him, his father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather, there are over 200 years of combined railroad service.
An engineer and conductor, Winchester and Western Railroad’s Tom Flynn also followed family into railroading. Time spent with his grandfather, a career railroader, set him on the short line path, while participation in the National Railway Historical Society’s RailCamp program opened the door to his current career.
Like Flynn, a railroad organization led Kevin Demby to his start in short lines. Demby first began working at the B&O Railroad Museum, which is where he was trained as a conductor before he moved to Canton Railroad, rising to his current position as rail coordinator.
In today’s employment market, job seekers might look for opportunities on LinkedIn. But some railroaders described getting into the short line industry the old-timey way. Katie Sackett, director of sales and marketing at Louisville & Indiana Railroad Company and Northern Lines Railway, got her start in railroading by answering a one-by-one inch newspaper classified ad looking for a sales representative. Similarly, OmniTRAX’s Charlene Pace’s first job as a transportation analyst came about when she responded to a local newspaper job posting. She’s now vice president, revenue, accounts receivable and collections.
Others had decidedly non-railroad starts. James McDonald was a grocery store owner before changing careers and working his way up to general manager at Northern Lines Railway. OmniTRAX Manager, Procurement Tim Hoyt came over to short lines after “time in the tech industry building websites.”
Bob Callahan was a teacher for years before he and his wife became part-owners of the Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson Railroad (AC&J). Callahan is now AC&J’s COO. And though The Belt Railway Company of Chicago’s Andrew Higgins didn’t end up becoming the educator he was studying to be, he applies his college studies every day in his current role as mechanical department trainer.
And, just in case anyone questions whether railroads offer opportunities to those in more unconventional career fields, the first job Ken Rose had was with Union Pacific as an environmental geologist. Now, Rose is OmniTRAX’s director of engineering and environmental services.
In all this year’s Faces of Freight submissions, one common theme is a passion for the short line industry. Short lines offer a sense of purpose, and their employees can see the impact they have on their communities.
“If you're looking for a place where you can make a difference, grow quickly and be part of a mission bigger than yourself, I highly recommend a short line railroad,” said Turubanova. “It's a place where you learn to make the impossible possible, and where every day you have the opportunity to create value for customers, support your community and help keep the economy moving.”
ASLRRA is participating in the Faces of Freight campaign, highlighting the people throughout the short line freight rail industry who keep the nation's supply chain strong. The individuals above, along with others, will be featured in the Association's social media posts through Labor Day weekend.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) issued a decision extending the deadline to Sept. 30 for parties to submit notices of intent to participate in proceedings concerning the Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) merger application.
The original deadline was Sept. 4. The decision was in response to a letter from the National League of Cities (NLC) requesting an extension. The NLC noted that the earlier, Sept. 4 deadline was less than 30 days after the procedural schedule was issued and overlaps with the Labor Day holiday.
In the decision, the STB noted that the request was reasonable due to the scope of the proposed transaction and the number of communities that could be affected by it.
On Monday, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published 10 final rules on a number of topics, including refresher training, outdated requirements, locomotive horns and more. ASLRRA had submitted comments in support of six of the 10 rules and did not oppose the remaining four.
“[Monday’s] actions by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to finalize ten rulemakings reflect the administration’s commitment to unshackle some of the outdated and unnecessary regulatory constraints that impose significant costs on the freight rail industry, allowing the industry to better allocate resources while providing safe and efficient service to shippers at a reasonable price,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “ASLRRA provided commentary in support of six of the ten regulations that were most impactful to short line railroads, including the Requirement for Freight Cars More than 50 Years Old, Brake System Maintenance and Inspection Requirements, Expanding Certain Locomotive Wheel Set Diameter Variations, and Regulatory Relief for End of Car Cushioning Units.”
Of all the rules, ASLRRA was most pleased by the decision to repeal special approval requirements for freight cars that are more than 50 years old. In what the Association considers a win for short lines and its own advocacy efforts, the rule allows railroads to continue or to place these older rail cars in service providing they meet certain notice requirements. In September 2025, ASLRRA submitted two sets of comments on this rule, joint comments with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and individual supplemental comments focused on the potential impact on small business railroads.
“Supporting Executive Order (E.O.) 14192, the FRA has now made meaningful progress in the pace of rulemaking, with most of these rulemakings moving from the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking stage to final rules in a little over a year – a meaningfully reduced timeline from prior norms, allowing the country and the industry to more quickly benefit from these rules,” continued Baker.
“We applaud the progress and look forward to working with the FRA and our industry colleagues to continue to update outdated regulations. Continued forward momentum on regulatory review and reform will allow the U.S. freight network to enhance safety, meet the needs of our shippers, drive economic growth, and keep inflationary costs under control.”
Other rules that ASLRRA supported in comments are:
The other final rules are:
In the September edition of its monthly Q&A series, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) summarized findings of its annual report on the fiscal health of the railroad unemployment insurance system and the triennial actuarial valuations on the financial condition of the railroad retirement system.
The RRB finds that both the railroad retirement system and the railroad unemployment insurance system are financially stable. The agency also notes its reports do not recommend any changes to employer or employee tax rates or to unemployment insurance financing.
The House has passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government funded at current levels until Dec. 11. Funding was set to expire at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
The Senate passed the CR in early August, but the House was unable to take up the measure until members returned from recess on Aug. 31.
The House also passed a basic extension of the surface transportation bill. Funding for transportation programs will also continue through Dec. 11 while lawmakers work on a full reauthorization.
Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up 10 bills, including the Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act. The LOCOMOTIVES Act would provide important regulatory certainty for interstate freight rail operations by clarifying that states may not seek waivers under the Clean Air Act to impose locomotive emissions standards more stringent than federal requirements.
ASLRRA supports the measure. In May, the Association sent a letter to the Energy Committee chair and ranking member to discuss the importance of the bill and urge lawmakers’ support. Ahead of today’s markup, ASLRRA’s government affairs team again reached out to committee members’ offices to advocate for the bill.
Know a company that would benefit from joining and participating in ASLRRA? Please contact Vice President, Membership Danialle Lovik via email or at (202) 585-3443.
These railroads join OmniTRAX's Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad Company and Santa Maria Valley Railroad.
The Camden & Southern Railroad (CSR) operates in Camden, Arkansas, specializing in moving and transloading forest products, petroleum, and agricultural goods. In partnership with South Arkansas Intermodal Park, CSR also provides transloading solutions that support efficient freight movement for customers across the region. Its services play a key role in supporting industrial growth throughout Ouachita County.
The Mount Vernon Railroad operates within Ports of Indiana–Mount Vernon, a key multimodal gateway to the Midwest. The Port offers more than 680 acres available for development and provides access to approximately two-thirds of the U.S. market within a one-day drive.
The Ouachita Railroad operates a 13-mile rail line between El Dorado and Junction City, Arkansas, with an interchange connection to Union Pacific. The railroad supports regional industries by transporting chemicals, lumber, petroleum products, and other freight.
Port Muskogee Railroad operates approximately eight miles of track within Port Muskogee in eastern Oklahoma and provides direct access to Union Pacific. Port Muskogee is a multimodal industrial complex with rail, road, and river access, Foreign Trade Zone status, and more than 1,000 acres of developable industrial land.
Sonoran Valley Rail serves the Central Arizona Commerce Park in Casa Grande, Arizona, a 679-acre industrial park positioned as a hub for advanced manufacturing and industrial growth. With connectivity to the Union Pacific network, Sonoran Valley Rail provides businesses with access to efficient rail transportation and markets across North America.
Sunrise Industrial Rail (SIR) is a multimodal rail freight facility on Long Island providing connections to an extensive network of U.S. rail carriers. SIR provides rail switching, transloading, warehousing, distribution, and storage services for a variety of commodities, with facilities designed to support both indoor and outdoor handling needs.
ASLRRA’s inaugural Fall Super Regional Meeting will combine all ASLRRA regions while retaining the collegial, small-meeting feel that regional meetings have been known for.
Don’t miss the networking, the expert-led education, and the opportunity to participate in the governance of the Association.
Attendees of the Super Regional Meeting will have access to:
Register today for the meeting, which takes place Oct. 5-7 in St. Louis, Missouri. Be sure to secure hotel lodging before the Sept. 10 cutoff date.
ASLRRA welcomes organizations interested in sponsoring this year’s inaugural event. Visit ASLRRA’s website to learn more or contact meetings@aslrra.org to ask questions and purchase a sponsorship.
Colliers has experience in writing and administering numerous state and federal grants. They have long been recognized as a trusted partner and advisor for architecture, engineering, planning and program management. Their proven capabilities have resulted in efficient, economical and viable infrastructure projects that reflect the needs of their clients.
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.
Sept. 10, 2026: Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Loans 101
This webinar will educate short lines on recent regulatory updates (specifically how upfront Credit Risk Premium [CRP] payments have transitioned to an interest rate spread), loan terms, public pipelines, and intake steps. In addition to providing an update on the overall state of the program, U.S. DOT subject matter experts will cover what can be financed, core terms, public pipelines, technical changes, and how RRIF fits into a railroad’s long-term capital planning process.
Speakers include Mike Patella, director, Outreach & Project Development, U.S. Department of Transportation; Dan Schned, deputy director, Outreach & Project Development - acting, U.S. Department of Transportation; Jake Sacks, project development lead, U.S. Department of Transportation; Will Resch, head of project development - acting, U.S. Department of Transportation
Click here to view upcoming webinars and log in to browse the On-Demand Webinar Library.
Mechanical Training Courses Available
Six mechanical training courses, delivered in two Learning Paths, are available in the online Learning Management System (LMS) under the Short Line Training Center.
All six courses have been reviewed and approved by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as Part 243 compliant, as each includes required documentation such as an on-the-job training checklist and a final assessment. The courses have been incorporated into two Learning Paths on the LMS, with each Learning Path containing three modules:
A seventh training course, Part 214 Supplemental Training, is customized for individual railroads and used to train contractors on railroad-specific on-track safety procedures and rules.
Other available courses include ASLRRA’s Part 243 model programs and FRA Drug and Alcohol Reasonable Suspicion and Post-Accident Toxicological Testing training videos. Learn more about the LMS and the Short Line Training Center here.
Registration is FREE for ASLRRA members! Only 10 spots available.
ASLRRA Leadership Program: Crisis Communications Training Seminar
October 27-29, Charlotte, North Carolina
This new training seminar will help railroads prepare for their worst day by developing a communications strategy and working with key partners in advance of an incident. During the seminar, individuals or teams from a railroad will a Crisis Communications Plan and become proficient in using a Communicators Response Guide to determine the appropriate level of response based on the incident. Training will also address the role of the railroad communicator when Incident Command is in place. Attendees will return to their railroad with a communications plan that they may further refine, implement and incorporate into their railroad’s Emergency Response Plan.
Developed as a new module of ASLRRA’s Leadership Program, the crisis communications training seminar is geared to company leaders who are responsible for driving the external response to an incident on their railroad, as well as company spokespersons and communications professionals.
Click here to see additional upcoming seminars as well as event details and online registration and hotel booking links.
ASLRRA is soliciting nominations from members for six board seats. Emails with information and nomination links were sent to railroad’s main contacts in each of ASLRRA’s four member regions.
There will be elections for four regional director positions and two region vice presidents. Region vice presidents also serve on ASLRRA’s Executive Committee. Nominees must be affiliated with an ASLRRA-member railroad operating in the region the individual would represent. All nominations are due Sept. 11 by midnight.
Elections will take place during each region’s Sandhouse Session at the Fall Super Regional Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri in October. Railroad representatives must be present to cast a vote, and nominees must be present to be elected. Newly elected directors and vice presidents will be immediately eligible and invited to attend certain board events taking place during the Fall Super Regional Meeting.
The Central Region will elect a regional vice president to replace Kristin Bevil, who is focusing solely on her role as the Board of Directors vice chair.
The Southern Region will hold elections for two ASLRRA board positions, regional director and regional vice president. The regional director would replace Jason Bradt and be eligible for two three-year terms.
The Eastern Region will elect a regional director to replace Cathrin Banks.
The Pacific Region will elect a regional director. This is a new, fifth regional director position that was recently added to comply with the ASLRRA Constitution. There will also be an election for a regional vice president to replace Otis Cliatt II.
The ASLRRA thanks all outgoing board members for their service to the Association.
In August, Mike Ogborn was a speaker at the Midwest Rail Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The conference theme was “Preparing for the Next Era of Rail,” and Ogborn provided the short line perspective during the opening plenary session titled “Rail Industry Navigating Tariffs, Theft, and Other Risks.”
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.
MxV Rail has announced the date for next year’s Damage Prevention and Freight Claim Conference. The event will take place June 14-16, 2027, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. This is the conference’s 134th year.
The conference is hosted by MxV Rail's Damage Prevention & Loading Services (DPLS). Registration information, hotel rates and an agenda will be available next spring. In the meantime, questions about the conference can be directed to dpls@aar.com.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
