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June 24 2018
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Vol. III • No. 13
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”
Your Texas Connection • Dennis Hogeboom • 1-877-7CEGLTD • dennishogeboom@cegltd.com
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Final Phases of Southwest Gulf Railroad Medina Line Begin By Chuck Harvey CEG CORRESPONDENT
“Historical” is one way to describe a 9-mi. Southwest Gulf Railroad Medina Line track and facilities project now under construction near Dunlay, Texas, west of San Antonio. Short line railroads, which initially delivered both goods and passengers, were a major part of the history of early-to-mid 20th century rail service in the United States. Now short lines are making a substantial comeback. They operate nearly 30 percent of the nation’s total railroad mileage, comprising more than 50,000 mi. of railroad track. The Medina Line will be the 17th short
Southwest Gulf Railroad Co. photo
Phase III involved earthwork. Working generally from a south to north direction, crews performed cut and fill work along the route.
line railroad in Texas. Short line railroads serve more than 13,000 customers and haul more than 14 million carloads per year. The Medina Line will provide direct delivery of goods to factories and other businesses along and near its 9-mi. course. There are no plans for the Medina Line to carry passengers. The Medina Line project started in August 2017 and should be completed by 2019. Southwest Gulf Railroad Co. declined to provide a cost estimate for the project, but it is expected to be in the 10s of millions of dollars. The company instead said that it is making a significant investment in the Medina Line and the Medina
Oil Fields Drive West Texas Dealership Beard Equipment By Craig Mongeau CEG EDITOR IN CHIEF
In a notoriously up and down, cyclical industry, you better be good at what you do and you better have a good business plan. Beard Equipment, like every other business in the oil-rich areas of West Texas, rides the roller coaster that is the oil market. The highs are higher
Quarry, “which will serve as a major economic engine for the county and surrounding region, creating and supporting local jobs and families and generate tax revenue.” Vulcan Materials Co.’s Medina Quarry, an existing limestone quarry at the northern end of the Medina Line, will be the railroad’s initial anchor customer. Other items to be transported would be dependent on the businesses that develop on or near the Medina Line. Southwest Gulf Railroad is actively seeking partners for development opportunities along the line. Services offered by the see RAILROAD page 6
Jeff Beard stands alongside the last KCM loader he would take delivery of. All future loaders will carry the Hitachi name and colors.
than almost anywhere else; alternatively, the lows can be a sobering reality check. A woman once asked Owner and President Jeff Beard about his equipment dealership’s market. “Are you in the oilfields?” she asked, wanting to find out to what extent his business was impacted by the oil industry of the Permian Basin. see BEARD page 12
Eakin Industries LLC Earthmover Parts and Components.
Rebuilt Final Drives to Suit Cat Excavators Machines from 325 to 385
Do business locally! We are in Cleveland, TX 281-978-4351 Email: Damien@eakinindustries.com www.eakinindustries.com