WASHINGTON — The state of Oklahoma and Blackwell Industrial Authority have asked the Surface Transportation Board to allow emergency service on the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad, the short line shut down by the Federal Railroad Administration for safety reasons earlier this month.
In a Monday filing, the state and the industrial authority, operator of an industrial park served by the railroad, asked that the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific be allowed to provide service for the line’s two shippers. The Rock Island, best known for its resurrection of the Rock Island name and logo for operation of the Mississippi Delta Railroad, also operates a short line in Kansas; CEO Robert Riley says the company has agreed to terms with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the industrial authority to operate service under the petition for emergency service, but will not begin until the FRA confirms it is qualified to do so.
The filing says counsel for Blackwell Northern Gateway will not oppose the relief requested by the state and the industrial authority, owners of the 35.3-mile line.
The FRA shut down the Blackwell Northern on Feb. 3 for “operating with a complete disregard for the safety of the public,” citing actions such as allowing locomotives to be operated by individuals not qualified as engineers; not maintaining track inspection records; and operating locomotives not safe for use [see “FRA shuts down Oklahoma short line,” Trains News Wire,” Feb. 6, 2024].
Rock Island also operates a switching operation , in a business park in Harrison County, MS. Gulf & Ship Island interchanges with the CPKS/KCS/IC line from Hattiesburg to Gulfport.
Now that’s an unexpected solution. And it get’s the new RI close to actual RI territory.