WASHINGTON – OmniTRAX will take over operations of the South Branch Valley Railroad, a 52.4-mile state-owned short line in West Virginia, on or after Sept. 13, the shortline holding company said in a regulatory filing this week.
The former Baltimore & Ohio line is currently owned and operated by the West Virginia State Rail Authority.
“Freight service operates five days a week, Monday through Friday, with special and unit train operations on weekends as needed. The SBVR provides service to the Grant County Industrial Park, Petersburg; Moorefield Industrial Park; and Hampshire County Industrial Park, Romney,” according to the rail authority’s website. “The SBVR’s largest customer is Pilgrim’s Pride in Moorefield. Pilgrim’s feed mill receives corn and other commodities used in the manufacture of its poultry feed. Three customers are located in Petersburg. Greer Lime ships outbound loads of lime to power stations and steel mills. Allegheny Wood Products ships finished lumber. Adell Polymers receives load of plastic pellets. Total carloadings average between 3,800 and 4,000 per year.”
The route, which runs from the junction with CSX at Green Spring, W.Va., to Petersburg, W.Va., also hosts the Potomac Eagle excursion train, based in Romney, W.Va.
It’s a good thing the state of West Virginia owns the line. Omnitrax would probably abandon most of the route for the salvage.
Any bets that OmniTrax will double carloads within 5 years?
A highlight of the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad excursion is passage along the South Branch Potomac River through “The Trough”, an area noted for bald eagle sightings.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Resourceful OmniTRAX Inc. from Denver-Colorado.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün