Southern Region

MILITARY EXPERIENCE LEADS TO RAILROAD SUCCESS FOR AGR CREW

The U.S. military was proudly represented recently on an Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway (AGR) crew based out of Mobile, Alabama. The patriotic crew included veterans from three of the military branches—the U.S. Army, Marines and Air Force Reserve.

Conductor Alex Psculkowski served in the Marines for six years as a field radio operator. He was deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004-05 and 2009-10. He joined AGR in February 2022. Conductor Jamon Peacock served in the Air Force Reserve in 2019 before going to the Air National Guard of Mississippi in 2021, where he works with radio frequency transmission systems. He has been with AGR since 2021. Locomotive Engineer Mario Dread served as a master sergeant in the Army for 23 years, including two tours as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-10. Dread has worked for AGR since 2013. They credit their military experience as crucial to molding them into the employees they are now. Dread, for one, says that he remembers the Army’s core values of loyalty, respect, selfless service, duty, honor, integrity and personal courage every time he climbs aboard a train. He also cites the ability to manage adversity and work safely as traits that carry over from the military to railroading. “Safety always has been a big key to success during training as well as on the battlefield,” says Dread. “Now that I’m in the transportation industry, some of the railroad’s core values are similar, with safety being the top of the list. I think it’s important for all of us to find within ourselves what has shaped us to be leaders and apply the railroad’s core values as a guideline to our daily operations.” Peacock also says that there’s a close connection between his military and railroad experience. “Working for AGR, combined with my military career, has been incredibly rewarding,” he says. “The values held by people who I work with in my civilian career versus my military career are aligned in lockstep. For me, this railroad has changed my life for the better in the same ways the Air Force has.” From left are Conductor Alex Psculkowski, Locomotive Engineer Mario Dread and Conductor Jamon Peacock..

HARD WORK AND DEDICATION FUEL AGR’S COAL-HAULING OPERATION TO MCDUFFIE TERMINAL

AGR trains are hauling coal from New Elk Coal Company in Colorado to the McDuffie terminal in Alabama, typically on trains of 105 to 115 cars carrying 14,000 to 17,000 tons per trip.

The Port of Alabama is crucial to the economic vitality of the Gulf Coast and the entire state of Alabama. One key component of the port is McDuffie Coal Terminal, an operation that relies heavily on its rail service providers to reach its estimated annual capacity of 30 million short tons. Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway (AGR) is proud to be one of those rail companies servicing McDuffie, the second largest coal terminal in the United States. Beginning in February 2022, AGR trains are hauling coal from New Elk Coal Company in Colorado to the McDuffie terminal, typically on trains of 105 to 115 cars carrying 14,000 to 17,000 tons per trip. AGR was on pace to deliver more than 10 trains by the fall. There are myriad factors that make the line possible, including the advances in distributed power throughout the length of trains and Positive Train Control (PTC). “When you pause to consider the industry changes that have occurred to make this move not only possible but safe, reliable and competitive, it’s just incredible,” says AGR Assistant General Manager Walt Sailers. “The nimbleness of the railroad is really something.” New Elk plans to ramp up its coal production, says Sailers, which is great news for AGR. “I think the best part of this is seeing the hard work and dedication of the AGR team rewarded with this opportunity for handling this move,” says Sailers.

MNA LENDS VALUABLE RAIL SUPPORT FOR NEW ARKANSAS LIME MINE OPERATION

It’s safe to say that the relationship between Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA) and Arkansas Lime Company is rock-solid. When Arkansas Lime purchased an old limestone mine located near Myersville, Arkansas, in 2018, the company began exploring the possibility of rehabbing the original rail that ran to the mine. MNA Sales & Marketing Manager Anita Horton stepped up to lead efforts for the commercial team, working with G&W Engineering, Operations, Real Estate and Industrial Development to establish rail service to the Myersville mine. Horton’s efforts were aided by the fact she already had built a solid relationship with Arkansas Lime as a customer in Batesville, Arkansas. The Batesville site also is the destination for the lime from Myersville.

“We have a proud history with Arkansas Lime and knew that we could offer them the service they needed to make this work,” says Horton. By 2021, construction of the Myersville site was complete, and MNA received 60 new cars for the move. In 2022, construction of the Batesville receiving site was finished and the first cars moved. In Batesville, the lime will be processed and heated in rotary kilns for rail shipments offline. By rehabbing the spur at Myersville and utilizing the 13-mile online haul, it’s a more cost-effective solution for Arkansas Lime than trucking. This creative solution is expected to generate around 4,000 carloads and $1.6 million a year beginning in 2022. Horton says that it’s a win for both MNA and Arkansas Lime, whose parent company is U.S. Lime. “We look forward to continuing this partnership and helping them grow their rail business,” she says.

The site for the future rail line that will service a new Arkansas Lime mining operation near Myersville, Arkansas.

GC PLAYS VITAL ROLE IN HISTORIC HYUNDAI PROJECT IN GEORGIA

Georgia Central Railway (GC) has departed on a truly historic journey, both for itself and for G&W. GC will partner with Hyundai Motor Group to serve the automaker’s new electronic vehicle production facility in Bryan County, Georgia, currently under construction and set to begin production by the end of 2024. The plant will be located on a 2,900-acre plot of land just outside Savannah, Georgia. GC will provide inbound transportation of material and outbound completed vehicles to points across the United States. The project could double GC’s current volume and also makes history as G&W’s largest industrial development project to date.

Southern Region

“This is a Herculean project,” says Kevin Phillips, of G&W’s industrial development team. G&W has been working with Hyundai daily on the design of the facility to ensure rail transportation operates smoothly and efficiently, says Phillips. The project requires teamwork among multiple G&W departments – Engineering, Industrial Development, Real Estate, Finance, Operations, Sales and Marketing, and Human Resources. “This is unique for a short line to have this,” says Phillips. “Hyundai has to be reassured that whoever they’re tied to is capable of this and that we have the infrastructure. They’re putting a lot of trust in us. We’re ready.”

From left, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jaehoon “Jay” Chang participate in a ceremony on May 20 near Savannah, Georgia, announcing a new electric vehicle production facility. GC will provide rail service.

Atop the newly rebuilt facility in Adrian, Missouri.

GRAIN RETAILER REBUILDS AFTER EXPLOSION, CREDITS MNA FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS

An explosion on New Year’s Eve Day in 2020 caused major damage to West Central Agri Services’ grain bin facility in Adrian, Missouri, but now the agricultural retailer has rebuilt and bounced back stronger than ever. The company shares credit for that rebuild with its many partners, one of them being Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA). “They are absolutely key to getting us where we are and where we’re going,” says West Central Agri Services Manager Dale Guss. The company, which is owned by MFA Inc., just celebrated its grand reopening with an open house in July. Since January, West Central had operated at partial capacity while much of the facility, including grain storage, was rebuilt. All the facility’s equipment had to be replaced. Through it all, MNA has been a steady partner. West Central has shipped more than 1,500 cars of grain since resuming business in January. Moving forward, the facility has increased bushel storage from 1.7 million to 2.7 million with the goal of pushing through 10 million bushels a year.

“Pretty much every bushel we buy and ship is because of MNA,” says Guss. “They’re great.”