DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Ohio Rail Development Commission has approved a grant of up to $687,622.50 to replace rail on a portion of Pioneer Lines Napoleon Defiance & Western Railway’s line east of Defiance, Ohio. NDW’s line runs from Woodburn, Ind., to Napoleon, Ohio, with interchanges with Norfolk Southern in Woodburn and CSX in Defiance. The railroad suffered from years of deferred maintenance, limiting the height and weight of loaded cars and lengths of trains.
This project involves replacement of approximately 3 miles of rail between MP 40 and MP 43 east of Defiance and surfacing following replacement work. Pioneer Lines will provide 112-pound relay rail, tie plates and joint bars from a Pioneer-owned railroad in another state. Utilizing this rail represents cost-savings over acquiring similar relay rail from suppliers.
ORDC Executive Director Matthew Dietrich says, “After decades of deferred maintenance by the previous owners, ORDC is happy to partner with Pioneer to make these critical investments in the rail line. This project, as well as the recent federal grant award, will make this rail line an asset for the region’s economic development efforts for many years to come.”
“We are so appreciative of ORDC and its support of the Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway,” says Pioneer Lines President and CEO, Alex Yeros. “Prior to our ownership, NDW suffered from years of deferred maintenance. When we assumed operational control, we committed to investing in and restoring the full functionality of the line. Last year, ORDC and NDW worked together to fund rehabilitation on the line between Woodburn, Ind., and Defiance, Ohio. This new project will build on that initial investment to improve another 3 miles east of Defiance.”
The 58-mile Napoleon, Defiance & Western began operation in December 2012 when Pioneer Lines took over operation of the former Maumee & Western Railroad. The railroad is owned by Pioneer’s wholly owned subsidiary Michigan Southern Railroad but operated as the NDW.
I’m glad the grant was figured to the last fifty cents. Might have come up a few pennies short and messed up the project.