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You have been sen nt the ASLRR RA newsletter,
Views & News, N in HTMML
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American n Short Lin ne and
Regional Railroad Association A n’s
VIE EWS S & NEW N WS
Upcom ming Events s
CSX
Short Line
Workshop p
Marc ch 6-8, 2011
St. Augu ustine, Florida a
North h American
Rail Mecha anical Operati ions
Meeting M
March h 15-17, 2011
Hilton St. Lo ouis at the Ballpark
St. Lou uis, Missouri
2011 1 ASLRRA
Annua al Convention
April 30 0-May 3, 2011 1
Marriott Rivercenter R and
Riverwalk
Hotels
San An ntonio, Texas
CConductor
Ce ertification Tr raining
Seminar S
Ma ay 1, 2011
San An ntonio, Texas
Accident/In ncident Repor rting
Traini ing Seminar
Ma ay 1, 2011
San An ntonio, Texas
ASLRRA
Finance & Administrati ion
Seminar S
June e 7-8, 2011
Hilton Milw waukee City Ce enter
Milw waukee, WI
ASLRRA
Railroad Lia ability Confer rence
June e 8-10, 2011
Hilton Milw waukee City Ce enter
Milw waukee, WI
Norfo olk Southern
Short Line L Meeting
July 10-12, 2011
Roano oke, Virginia
RR Day On O Capitol Hi ill
July y 14, 2011
Wash hington, DC
IN TTHIS
ISSUUE
VOLUME 880
NUMBER 4
February 24
, 2011
Currently, RRailroad
SSecurity
Alerrt
Level 2
is in Efffect
ASLRRA Welcomes More New Members
Due Dates s Here For SScholarshipp,
Marketinng
And Safetty
Awards
Due Date Soon For RRailway
Agee
Award
Select Saf fety Award Sponsorships
Still Avaailable
House Bil ll Introduceed
To Extennd,
Enhancee
Short Linee
Tax
Credit
Rail Exem mption Hearring
Set Forr
February 24
Timmons Testifies OOn
Improvinng
RRIF Loan
Process
National Response R CCenter
Notifi fications Maandatory
Foor
Certain RR R Accidentts,
Injuries
Advice On n Reflectoriized
Strips AAt
Crossingg
Radio Nar rrowband WWebpage
Has
CSX Cuttover
Scheddule
Effort Lau unched To MMake
Embargo
Officeer
List Compplete
Sample Average A Weiight
Agreemment
Soughtt
Short Lin ne Spotlight: : South Braanch
Valley Railroad
Surge Of Railroad RRetirements
Expected, NNew
AAR SSite
Promotes Successionn
Hiring
ASLRRA Sends Breaaking
News Via Twitteer
Conventio on Educatioonal
Trackss:
Part 1 of 77:
Finance &
Administr ration
Rail Industry
Meetinngs
And Eveents
Members In The Newws
Other Ind dustry Newss
Embargoe es In Effect
Class I Ra ail Traffic: TThrough
Feebruary
12
Railinc Sh hort Line Trraffic
Indexx:
Full Yearr
2010
RMI RailConnect
Trraffic
Index:
Through FFebruary
122
Remembe er to Send UUs
Your Preess
Releasess
And
Announce ements
Helpful Links L

Kansas City Southern n
Short Line L Meeting
August
16-17, 2011
Kansas City, Missour ri
ASLRRA
Central/Pacific
Region Me eeting
August
20-23, 2011
Omni Inte erlocken Reso ort
Denve er, Colorado
ASLRRA
Eastern Region R Meetin ng
Octob ber 1-4, 2011
Renais ssance Hotel
Cleve eland, Ohio
ASLRRA
Southern Region Meeti ing
Octobe er 23-25, 2011
Louisv ville Marriott
Louisvi ille, Kentucky y
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ASLRRA A Classified Ad ds
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ASLRRA WELCOMES MORE NEW MEMBERS
Cheryl Huyck and Cara Lione report on the latest additions to the ASLRRA family. We welcome our newest
Associate Members:
Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP is a full service litigation firm with offices in Portland and Bend, Oregon. Their
attorneys provide advice and counsel as well as a full range of litigation services for railroads. Their attorneys are
licensed in Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada. Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP has represented the railroad
industry for over seven decades in FELA, investigation and defense of grade crossing, defense of personal injury,
commercial, labor and employment, regulatory, third party, insurance, environmental and toxic torts, real estate and
contract matters. The company is located at 805 SW Broadway, 8th Floor, Portland, OR 97205 and their main
number is (503) 323-9000. Their website is www.cvklaw.com and their fax number is (503) 323-9019. Please
contact Partner Timothy Coleman at tcoleman@cvk-law.com.
Durkin McDonnell Clifton & O'Donnell is a law firm based in Detroit. The company address is 645 Griswold,
Suite 3253, Detroit, MI 48226 and their main number is (313) 963-3033. Their fax number is (313) 963-3011.
Please contact Partner Mary O’Donnell Esq. at modonnell@durkinmcdonnell.com. Note: It was Mr. Mike Flynn,
with Flynn & Wirkus, P.C. who suggested to Durkin McDonnell Clifton & O’Donnell that they become an
ASLRRA associate member. Mr. Flynn, we thank you!
Rail-Tek Supply manufactures high-quality safety lighting to include state-of-the-art trainman lanterns,
rechargeable batteries, hands-free lighting, blue flags and much more. The company is located at 959 Vashon
Drive, Greenbank, WA 98253 and their main number is (888)338-7246. Their website is www.railteksupply.com
and their fax number is (360)678-4420. Please contact Executive Vice President Shelly Wallenberg at
shellyw@railteksupply.com. Come visit Rail-Tek Supply at the 2011 ASLRRA Annual Convention Exhibit Hall in
Booth #1017!
And we also welcome our newest Associate Switching Member:
Western Fuel Association Inc. is a not-for-profit cooperative that supplies coal and transportation services to
consumer owned electric utilities throughout the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions. Western
Fuels Association provides its member with diverse and extensive expertise in coal exploration, coal mining, coal
procurement and transportation management. The company is located at P.O. Box 552, Prewitt, NM 87045 and
their main number is (505) 876-2270. Their website is www.westernfuels.org. Please contact VP of Finance &
Administration Darold Koch at wfa@westernfuels.org.
And last but not least, we welcome newest Associate Sustaining Member:
Keolis Rail Services of Virginia is a railroad contractor and operating entity under contract for Virginia Railway
Express commuter rail. The company is located at 10660 Wakeman Court, Manassas VA 20110 and their main
number is (703) 369-6225. Their website is www.keolis.com and their fax number is (703) 369-6229. Please
contact Manager of Safety and Training Larry McNulty at lmcnulty@keolis.com.
Are you aware of a company with different products and services than your own and interested in
heightening their visibility to short line and regional railroads? Then let Cheryl Huyck know, so that she
may acquaint them with the many benefits of becoming an ASLRRA member. Email Cheryl at
chuyck@aslrra.org or phone her at (202) 585-3431.
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DUE DATES HERE FOR SCHOLARSHIP, SAFETY AND MARKETING AWARDS
Be advised! The due date is this Friday, February 25 for submitting nominations for the:
Susan Murray Scholarship: This is a four-year college scholarship open to daughters and granddaughters of
employees of ASLRRA railroad and associate member companies. For more information and to print out an
application, link to http://www.aslrra.org/news___publications/Press_Releases/3881.cfm.
ASLRRA Safety Person Of The Year: Given in recognition of superior achievement in rail safety by an employee
of an ASLRRA member railroad. Send your nomination narrative, no more than two pages in length, to Dave
Whorton, ASLRRA, 50 F Street NW Suite 7020, Washington, DC 20001, or email it to him at
dwhorton@aslrra.org. Questions go to Dave at (202) 585-3430.
ASLRRA Safety Professional Of The Year: This new competition is open to any management employee of an
ASLRRA member railroad. The recipient will be an individual who demonstrates excellence in the development
and implementation of safety programs, training and the overall management of safe behavior on their railroad.
Send your nomination narrative, no more than two pages in length, to Dave Whorton (contact information same as
above.)
ASLRRA Most Improved Railroad: The winning railroad will have demonstrated improved safety over a period
of three years; will have implemented programs, processes and procedures that have resulted in a marked
improvement in safety; and will have dedicated “capital” (i.e. manpower, funding, related resources, etc.) to
improving safety. Send your nomination narrative, no more than two pages in length, to Dave Whorton (contact
information as above.)
ASLRRA Marketing Award: Given in recognition of innovate and successful marketing initiatives. Nominate
your railroad or another railroad. Send six copies of your nomination narrative and any substantiating materials to
Jenny McKinney, ASLRRA, 50 F Street NW Suite 7020, Washingtona, DC 20001. Questions go to Jenny at (202)
585-3449 or by email to jmckinney@aslrra.org.
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DUE DATE SOON FOR RAILWAY AGE AWARD
The deadline is Friday, March 4 to nominate a railroad for an award among the most prominent and renowned in
the rail industry: the Railway Age Short Line and Regional Railroad of the Year Awards.
Nominations, which should be about 500 words in length, should describe outstanding achievement by a short line
or regional railroad in one or a combination of areas. Railroads can even nominate themselves! The winners will
be awarded specially designed plaques at the 2011 ASLRRA Convention’s concluding dinner on May 3, and will
also be the subject of articles in the magazine’s April, 2011 issue.
Entries should be sent to Douglas John Bowen, Managing Editor, Railway Age Magazine, 345 Hudson Street, 12th
Floor, New York, NY 10014, Email: dbowen@sbpu.com, Fax: (212) 633-1863. Entry forms are not essential, but if
wanted, may be obtained from Mr. Bowen by email or fax request. Again, the deadline for submitting a nomination
is Friday, March 4.
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SELECT SAFETY AWARD SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE
The ASLRRA Safety Award Program has a limited number of sponsorship openings remaining. One Iron Level is
still available and two Steel Levels are still available.

Additional to the esteem and recognition it engenders, the tangible benefits of sponsorship are as follows:
Iron Safety Partner Benefits:
• Sponsor’s logo printed on all Jake Award Folders (291 in 2009)
• Sponsor’s logo prominently displayed on Safety Award signs and banners at ASLRRA 2011 Annual
Convention
• Sponsor logo prominently displayed in Safety Award Winner Section in ASLRRA’s Official Program
distributed at Annual Convention and posted on the internet
• Sponsor’s logo displayed in award program PowerPoint displayed in Annual Convention General Session,
and posted on ASLRRA’s members’ only website
• Sponsor’s logo prominently displayed on ASLRRA website on the Safety Awards pages
• Provide sponsors’ meeting attendees with custom Safety Program sponsor ribbons in their respective
category
Steel Safety Partner Benefits:
In addition to all of the Iron Safety Partner Benefits…
• Sponsor will receive a complimentary one year classified advertisement on ASLRRA’s website
• Sponsor logo prominently displayed on front page of bi-monthly Safety Bulletin
• Sponsor logo prominently displayed on Safety Bulletin page on ASLRRA website
To secure one of these final safety sponsorship opportunities, contact Jenny McKinney at (202) 585-3449 or by
email at jmckinney@aslrra.org.
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HOUSE BILL INTRODUCED TO EXTEND, ENHANCE SHORT LINE TAX CREDIT
A bill to extend and enhance the Short Line Railroad Tax Credit has now been introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives. Assigned as H.R. 721, the bill may be cited as the “Short Line Rehabilitation and Investment Act
of 2011.” It was introduced by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Bill Shuster (R-
PA) and Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), and has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means for initial
consideration.
The bill proposes to extend the Section 45G Short Line Railroad Tax Credit, presently set to expire at the end of
2011, through December 31, 2017. It would also allow eligibility for new short line railroads created after January
1, 2005 and before January 1, 2011.
ASLRRA’s allied firm, Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell, advises that they have been told by House Ways & Means
Committee Chair Dave Camp (R-MI) that getting the maximum number of co-sponsors on the bill is very important
when it comes to the Committee determining its legislative priorities. Accordingly, they request the assistance of
ASLRRA member organizations in gaining co-sponsors, which is done by contacting your Congressmen and asking
them to sign on to the bill. If you need assistance in determining who your Congressmen are and how best to
contact them, please email Jeff Van Schaick at jeff.vanschaick@cch-llc.com. In the previous Congress, the short
line railroad tax credit legislation, H.R. 1132, was able to secure 261 co-sponsors.

For more information, please link to the Action Alert on the ASLRRA website at
http://www.aslrra.org/legislative/Action_Alert/.
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RAIL EXEMPTION HEARING SET FOR FEBRUARY 24
ASLRRA testified at a hearing of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) set for February 24. The STB called the
hearing to review exemptions from railroad transportation regulations for certain commodities and for boxcar and
intermodal freight.
Among those testifying at the hearing were ASLRRA President Rich Timmons, Association of American Railroads
President Ed Hamberger, and the principal commercial officers from the five U.S. Class I railroads, as well as
representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation and various shipper interest organizations.
The hearing took place at the STB headquarters on E Street in Washington, DC. A video replay of the hearing, as
well as copies of the testimony submitted, will be available shortly on the STB website, www.stb.dot.gov.
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TIMMONS TESTIFIES ON IMPROVING RRIF LOAN PROCESS
ASLRRA President Rich Timmons recently joined others government and rail industry principals to give testimony
at a special hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee held on February 17. The
subject of the hearing was the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan program. The
hearing was entitled “Sitting On Your Assets: Rehabilitating And Improving Our Nation’s Rail Infrastructure.”
The hearing was called by T&I Committee Chair John Mica (R-FL) and chaired, in his absence, by Railroad
Subcommittee Chair Bill Shuster (R-PA). In a prepared statement, Rep. Mica raised the issue of how the program
might be better utilized to promote the rehabilitation and renewal of the nation’s rail infrastructure. He noted that,
“the cost of the RRIF program to taxpayers is exactly zero, yet only $400 million is currently out in loans of a total
$35 billion loan authority, utilizing only a little more than one percent.” He suggested that the program’s barriers
need to be eliminated or reformed so that “RRIF can be an innovative and successful way to finance rail
infrastructure projects, including high speed rail…We need to stop sitting on our assets and make the RRIF program
more accessible, fast and better utilized.”
In his testimony, President Timmons said that 25 of the 28 RRIF loans approved to date have been for short line
railroads, that the average loan is for $27.8 million, and that short lines have altogether borrowed a total of $695.5
million. He noted that, “We are particularly proud to point out that since the program’s inception in 1998 not a
single short line railroad has defaulted on a loan. Only one railroad has ever missed a quarterly principal and
interest payment and that was due to serious railroad washouts caused by the 2007 floods in Iowa. That
delinquency has since been rectified.”
To view the hearing’s webcast in its entirety, or to reference any of testimony presented, link to
http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=1074.
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NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER NOTIFICATIONS MANDATORY FOR CERTAIN RR ACCIDENTS,
INJURIES
A reminder that the Federal National Response Center must be notified by telephone at once for certain types of
railroad accidents, and for certain fatal injuries. This is required by the Code of Federal Regulations CFR49 Part
225 Section 9.
The telephone number of the Federal National Response Center is (800) 424-8802. They need to be notified in
case of the following:
• A passenger or freight train accident in which two or more of the crew were hospitalized
• A passenger train accident that requires passenger train evacuation
• A passenger train accident that incurs more than $25,000 in property damage
• A freight train accident that incurs more than $150,000 in property damage
• A passenger or freight train accident that affects scheduled passenger train service on the same track
• A passenger or freight train accident that fouls a main line used for scheduled passenger train service
• A fatality to an on-duty railroad employee, contractor on railroad property, or train passenger
• A fatality to a trespasser or due to a highway-rail grade crossing crash
A flowchart, excerpted from the FRA Guide For Preparing Accident/Incident Reports, is available to assist in
determining when telephone notification may be made. It may reviewed and printed by linking to
http://www.aslrra.org/images/news_file/Telephonic_Notification_Flowchart.pdf.
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ADVICE ON REFLECTORIZED STRIPS AT CROSSINGS
Tom Woll, FRA’s Highway-Rail Crossing Safety Engineer, has authored the following helpful advice concerning
affixing reflectorized strips to passive crossing warning devices, as was required by January 17 of this year:
In year 2000, the FHWA MUTCD set a 10-year requirement for full compliance that Retro-Reflective Strips be
installed on the back side of all crossbuck blades at all active and passive crossings, and on the front and back side
of crossbuck posts at all passive crossings. By January 17, 2011, a 2-inch strip of white retro-reflective material
should have been in place on the back side of every crossbuck blade for the full length of the blade at all grade
crossings where crossbuck signs have been installed, except where they are installed back-to-back. In addition, a 2inch
strip of white retroreflective material must be placed on both the front and back of the crossbuck post at all
passive grade crossings where crossbuck signs have been installed. This is to be installed for the full length of the
post from the crossbuck sign or “Number of Tracks” plaque to within 2 feet of the ground, except for the back side
of the post on one-way streets. On the front side of the post where a YIELD or STOP sign is mounted on the same
post or where an ENS sign is installed, the reflective strips would go from the bottom of the sign to within 2 feet of
the ground. Where STOP or YIELD signs are installed, red reflective strip material may be used, if desired.

Reflective refers to a mirror effect where a projected light source (headlights) is reflected off the reflective surface at
the same angle that it was projected and not necessarily back at itself. Retro-Reflective refers to the effect where the
projected light source is reflected back off of the reflective surface towards the light source regardless of the light
source angle because of the material’s multi-faceted reflectivity (like a prism). The installation of the material at
active crossings is to provide enhanced warning to a motorist and improve navigation through the crossing when the
automatic warning devices are not activated by an approaching train. The installation of the material at a passive
crossing is to provide enhanced warning and definition of the channelized width of the crossing in navigation
through the crossing (defines the width of the roadway over the crossing for the motorist) and to provide a flicker
effect of the post on the far side when a train is moving through the crossing. The retro-reflective material can be
placed on the post of an active crossing if desired.
Compliance with this MUTCD requirement is the responsibility of each State. This is not an FRA rule or
regulation. Railroads need to contact the State to determine how the State plans to be compliant with the MUTCD.
The lack of compliance of the crossbuck assembly with the MUTCD for a railroad could make it subject to
additional liability if a collision occurred. Further, once the material is installed, such will be considered to be part
of the crossbuck assembly and thus the maintenance responsibility of the railroad. Private grade crossings are not
included unless they are open to public travel (public access). Confer with the State on such situations.
To be in compliance, all active crossings (flashing lights and/or gates) must have the retro-reflective material
installed on the backs of crossbuck blades. Putting the strips on active crossing posts or masts is optional. For
passive crossings, the material must be on the back side of the crossbuck blades and on the posts on the front and
back sides. Red material may be used on the front side only if a STOP or YIELD sign is installed. The material
needs to be a high intensity grade (not engineering grade) with a reflectivity value of 35 (see MTUCD Table 2.A-3.
Minimum Reflectivity Requirements).
Mr. Woll concludes by noting these two future crossing warning requirements:
Reference MUTCD 2009 Edition, Section 8B.03, Par. 07, and Section 8B.04, Par. 15 to 18. The compliance date of
January 17, 2011 is specified in Table I-2. The installation of STOP and YIELD signs is required by 2019. Within
the next two years, depending on when FRA issues the Final Rule for compliance with Section 205 of RSIA 2008,
the ENS sign with the telephone number for the public to report problems and emergencies will be required.
For any questions, Tom Woll may be reached at (202) 493-6290 or by email at tom.woll@dot.gov.
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RADIO NARROWBAND WEBPAGE HAS CSX CUTOVER SCHEDULE
Railroads are continuing to move forward in their migration from wideband (25kHz) to narrowband (12.5kHz) radio
operation. Recently, CSX posted their schedule for when, over the next two years, they would be cutting over from
wideband to narrowband. This list may be reviewed by linking to http://www.aar.com/aar_rf.php and clicking on
the “Migration Schedule” box.
Short line and regional railroads should work to match the narrowband migration schedules of their Class I partners,
with special attention to when a short line or regional has more than one Class I partner and/or interchange. If you
have specific questions about a Class I’s cutover schedule, you may contact the following individuals, here listed by
their railroad:
• BNSF: Robert Leedham, robert.leedham@bnsf.com
• Canadian National: Carlos DaRoza, carlos.daroza@cn.ca
• Canadian Pacific: Rob Cardwell, rob_cardwell@cpr.ca
• CSX: Rich Bitting, richard_bitting@csx.com

• Kansas City Southern: Kerry Klassing, kklassing@kcsouthern.com
• Norfolk Southern: Will Danielson, will.danielson@nscorp.com
• Union Pacific: Ed Hollingsworth, elhollin@up.com
Finally, a reminder to, if you have not already done so, begin work to re-license your radios for narrowband
operations. This work is handled through the AAR Frequency Coordination Office at the Transportation
Technology Center in Pueblo, CO. Jim Reimer, who may be reached (719) 584-0578 and james_reimer@aar.com,
and Dorothy Cornwell, who may be reached at (719) 584-0514 and dorothy_cornwell@aar.com, are standing by
there to assist you with re-licensing efforts.
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EFFORT LAUNCHED TO MAKE EMBARGO OFFICER LIST COMPLETE
As a result of a planned enhancement to the AAR-Railinc Embargo & Permit System – more details on that to come
in the near future – a renewed effort is underway to make complete the list of railroad embargo officers.
All railroads should have an embargo officer. This is the individual who will be empowered to authorize embargoes
when exceptional operational circumstances – line segment rendered out of service, customer congestion, etc. –
temporarily require them. The embargo officer will be the individual designated to work with Railinc to effect the
embargo and will receive system empowerments from them to use the Embargo & Permit System.
There are more than 200 railroads that still do not have designated embargo officers on file with Railinc. They have
furnished us a list of these railroads, a list that may be reviewed by linking to
http://www.aslrra.org/images/news_file/Short_Lines_Without_Embargo_Officers.pdf. Please know that we will be
doing some additional refinement to the list – for example, the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern is on it, a railroad that
has lately been absorbed by Canadian Pacific – but are making it available at this time so that this effort may get
underway.
Please review the list and, if your railroad is on it, please determine and advise who your embargo officer should be.
Please send their name and email to Dave Mears at dmears@aslrra.org who will update the list and relay that
information to Railinc. They will then get in touch with that individual to further acquaint them with the system and
their embargo empowerments. Email Dave or call him at (202) 585-3436 if you have any questions. And thank
you in advance for your help with this important effort!
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SAMPLE AVERAGE WEIGHT AGREEMENT SOUGHT
We have received a request from a member railroad for a sample average weight agreement. This is for use in
developing a tariff for a movement in which scale weighing of shipments is not, at the moment, practical.
Sample documentation that another member railroad may have used in the past is fine. If you can help, please send
it, devoid of anything customer-specific, to Dave Mears at dmears@aslrra.org, who will arrange its relay to the
needing member railroad.
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Inn
response to our recent so olicitation for r those on sho ort lines to telll
us about theeir
railroad, hhere
from Johhn
PPhilbrick
is an n overview of f the railroad he h is superint tendent of: the
South Brannch
Valley Railroad:
TThe
South Bra anch Valley Railroad R is loc cated in the ea astern panhanndle
of West VVirginia
and eextends
52.4 miles from
thhe
interchange
with CSXT T at Green Spr ring to the end d of track at PPetersburg.
TThe
SBVR runns
beside the South
BBranch
of the Potomac River
for most of f this distance e. The line iss
owned by thhe
West Virginnia
State Raill
Authority.
Itt
has been ma aintained and operated by state s employe ees since it waas
acquired byy
the state in 1978.
TThe
SBVR traces
its origin to the South Branch Railw way that built a line north ffrom
Romneyy
to a connecttion
with
thhe
Baltimore and Ohio Rai ilroad at Gree en Spring in 1884. 1 The Haampshire
Souuthern
Railroaad
connected wwith
the
South
Branch Railway in Romney R and built
south to Petersburg P in 1910. Both railroads werre
purchased bby
the
BB&O
in 1912 and became the t B&O’s So outh Branch Subdivision S inn
1914. The lline
was origiinally
built too
reach and
develop
timber r and agricult tural lands in the valley. Peaches P and appples
from orrchards
in thee
Romney area
were an
immportant
sour rce of traffic in i the early ye ears. When th his traffic waas
lost to truckks,
it was repllaced
by inboound
mmovement
of agricultural a su upplies.
BBy
the early 19 970s, traffic levels l and trac ck conditions s had declinedd
and the B&OO
filed to abaandon
the linee.
The
State
of West Virginia V foug ght the abando onment until the t B&O deccided
to give tthe
line to thee
state in 19788.
When
no
satisfactory y operator was s found, the state s decided to t operate thee
SBVR itselff.
In 1985, a ddevastating
fl flood
damaged
much h of the railro oad. The line was rebuilt and a resumed ooperation
in 11987.
Since thhen,
much haas
been
done
to upgrad de the railroad d to handle he eavier cars an nd unit grain ttrains.
This wwork
has incluuded
the instaallation
of
ovver
25 track miles m of heavy
welded rail and over 63, 000 new crosssties.
TThe
main offic ce and shop are
located in Moorefield. M The majorityy
of the approxximately
3,7000
revenue caars
handled
eaach
year go to o the Pilgrim’ ’s Pride feed mill m in Moore efield. The mmill
receives ccorn,
soymeall
and other ingredients
foor
the feed it sends out to chicken c house es throughout t the region. TThe
SBVR allso
handles caars
of lime, luumber
and
plastic
pellets. A railcar rep pair facility in n Petersburg receives r cars for program wwork
and othher
repairs. Thhe
railroad
prrovides
servic ce to industria al parks in Ro omney, Moor refield and Peetersburg.
Freeight
trains opperate
Mondaay
through
FFriday
with ex xtra service on n weekends as
needed. Th he popular “Pootomac
Eaglee”
excursion ttrain
is run byy
an
ouutside
operato or between May M and December.
WWe
thank you, Mr. Philbrick,
for this fine e overview! Are A there otheers
of the 5000-plus
short liine
and regional
raailroads
who would like ou ur readers to know more about a them? IIf
so, please wwrite
somethinng
like the abbove
and
emmail
it to Dav ve Mears at dmears@aslrr
d ra.org.
back
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SHORT T LINE SPOTLIGHT:
SO OUTH BRAANCH
VALLLEY
RAILROOAD
(photo o by Doug Boyyd)

SURGE OF RAILROAD RETIREMENTS EXPECTED, NEW AAR SITE PROMOTES SUCCESSION
HIRING
A wave of impending retirements among the railroad labor force and increased traffic volume means that many
railroads are again actively looking for new employees. The pace of retirements has increased, especially among
those who have attained age 60 and have 30 years’ covered railroad service, as those individuals may retire at that
age without a reduction in benefits. The Railroad Retirement Board estimates that approximately 67,000 rail
workers – about 30 percent of the industry’s workforce – will be eligible for retirement in the next five years.
To help those who may be considering a railroad career, the Association of American Railroads has launched a
“Faces of Freight Rail” section on their website. It features the pictures and stories of rail industry employees who
fill all kinds of jobs, so that those considering rail work may get a better sense of that work, and of the persons who
found it a good fit.
“Faces of Freight Rail” bills itself as a “showcase [of] the dedicated men and women who work behind the scenes to
ensure freight rail continues to deliver for America.” Link to this webpage at http://www.aar.org/Faces.aspx.
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ASLRRA SENDS BREAKING NEWS VIA TWITTER
Joining prominent businesses and individuals alike, ASLRRA has recently heightened its use of Twitter to alert to
breaking news. Last week, Twitter messages or “tweets” were issued to alert to a scheduled ASLRRA Technology
Committee meeting during the week and how members could guest on that conference call. Later in the week, they
were issued to alert to a delay in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing on the RRIF loan
process and then, when the meeting was finally underway, to advise how that hearing could be followed via Internet
webcast.
The ASLRRA Twitter page may be viewed directly at www.twitter.com/aslrra, but you can also receive ASLRRA
tweets even if you don’t have a Twitter ID or computer access. To receive them, simply send a text message from
your cell phone or other SMS-capable device to 40404 (this is the address you should type in the “to” line), then
type “follow aslrra” (no quotes) as your text message, and then press send. You will then be set to receive
ASLRRA tweets anytime they are sent. If at some point you want to stop receiving ASLRRA tweets, simply send a
text message to 40404 and then type “leave aslrra” (again, no quotes) as your text message. For more information,
contact Dave Mears at (202) 585-3436 or dmears@aslrra.org.
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CONVENTION EDUCATIONAL TRACKS: PART 1 OF 7: FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
As last year, we are again featuring in this and succeeding editions the RailroadU Educational Tracks scheduled for
the 2011 ASLRRA Annual Convention, to be held this April 30 through May 3 in San Antonio, TX.
This week, we are focusing on the Finance & Administration Track, which is chaired by Rose Lang of Aon Risk
Services. Other Track Committee members are Jim Bowers, Bowers & Company; Barry McClure, Ironhorse
Resources; David Perkins, Angelina & Neches River Railroad; Mary Anne Michaels, Vermont Rail System; Jacky
Hardy, Indiana Rail Road; Sofrona Howard, Watco Companies; and Steve Sullivan, ASLRRA.

Finance & Administration Track 201; Mon, May 2; 7:45am - 8:45am
Employee Evaluations – What You Should and Should Not Say and Do
Speaker TBD
Come and learn from experts about the types of employee evaluation programs on the market. There are a number
of them and this presentation will discuss the pros and cons, especially in terms of programs that are “keep it simple
stupid” because you run into management that really doesn’t want to do them. Presenters will also discuss why it's
important to really critique employees and not just rank everybody walking on water. You'll learn how to handle
the tough questions and how to deal with employee feedback in a variety of circumstances.
Finance & Administration Track 202; Mon, May 2; 9:00am - 10:00am
Case Study: DIY Wellness Programs – How One Railroad Dramatically Reduced Health Costs While
Boosting Employee Productivity
Jacklyn Hardy, AVP, Administrative Services, Indiana Rail Road Company
Steve Bentley, Employee Benefits Consultant, Brown & Brown Insurance
When you think Wellness Program, do you think big bucks? It doesn’t have to be that way. Attend this session and
learn how, no matter what your company size or type – railroad, supplier, or contractor - you can partner with local
fitness centers and hospitals and even grocery store chains, to develop a well-rounded, manageable fitness and
preventative health and wellness program for your employees. You’ll discover how one railroad saw a more than
25% reduction in health claims within the first year of implementing their program while improving employee
productivity. We’re surrounded by the tools to create a cost-effective wellness program. Attend this session and
learn the simple steps that your company can take to encourage a healthy lifestyle and how these easy changes can
help your company’s bottom line while proving that a healthier workforce is a safer workforce.
Finance & Administration Track 203; Mon, May 2; 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Railroad Retirement – Be Prepared and Know Your Benefits Before You Retire
Joseph M. Waechter, Assistant to the Management Member, U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
Back by popular demand… Along with the railroad retirement age changes enacted in recent years come new
questions. Are there benefits to continuing to work past age 60 with 30 years service? Can I work and draw a
railroad retirement pension? How much can I earn while retired? What is a current connection and why is that
important to me? What should I be doing now to prepare? What benefits should I expect? This topic is designed to
answer the questions of railroad employees who have several years of service and they are either approaching or
thinking about retirement in the foreseeable future. Learn what you can do now to be better prepared for the future.
Finance & Administration Track 204; Mon, May 2; 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Liability and Property Insurance: After the Claim – What To Do (and Not Do) Now?
J. Randal Little, Director - Operations, Railway Claim Services, Inc.
Ron Sparks, Railroad Police Chief & HR Manager, Arkansas & Missouri Railroad
Listen to a group of liability and property insurance claim, legal and security experts talk about what to do (and not
do) after a claim is filed with your insurance carriers.
Finance & Administration Track 205; Tues, May 3; 9:30am - 10:30am
Developing A Railroad Costing Model For Short Lines and its Impact on Business Decision Making
(w/Marketing)
Moderator: George C. Betke, CEO, Farmrail System
Bob Holland, Moose Path Consultancy LLC
Dan McCabe, Director - Finance & Technology, Tacoma Rail
Do you know the true cost to run your business? How do you even begin to try to calculate such a figure? Short
lines use a variety of models and methods to estimate costs for car movements. Our speakers will describe two
unique costing systems that are currently being utilized by two very different short lines, and from two very
different perspectives.
Finance & Administration Track 206; Tues, May 3; 10:55am - 11:55am
The Train is Unstoppable and Denzel is Nowhere to be Found (Are You Ready?)
Foster J. Peterson, Director - Safety & Operating Practices, East Chattanooga Belt Railway
It's your worst day at work. The call comes in to notify you that your train and a school bus have collided. Are you
ready to respond? Do you know who to call? Do you know what to say? This interactive table top drill will break
the audience into smaller groups and each group will respond to the active scenario as new developments are
thrown into the mix. Come prepared to actively participate and leave with a better sense of how to handle your next

emergency situation.
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RAIL INDUSTRY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Breaking News! Two unique events sponsored by ASLRRA have just been announced: a Finance &
Administration Seminar, scheduled for June 7-8, and a Railroad Liability Conference, scheduled for June 8-
10. Both will take place at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. More details about
these two events will be out very soon – watch for them!
February 27-March 1, 2011: American Associations of Railroad Superintendents (AARS) 39th Winter
Conference: To be held at the Omni Hotel, Jacksonville, FL. For more information, link to
www.railroadsuperintendents.org.
February 28-March 1, 2011: Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Course: To be held at the Hilton Garden Inn
in Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin; information about this course was passed on by
FRA’s Highway-Rail Crossing Safety Engineer, Tom Woll. For more information, contact Dave Peterson,
Director-Railroad Engineering and Operations Program, University of Wisconsin at Madison, (608) 262-2813 or
peterson@engr.wisc.edu.
March 2-3, 2011: Southwest Association of Rail Shippers (SWARS) Meeting. To be held at the Moody Gardens
Hotel, Galveston, TX. For more information, contact Jack Dail, (425) 818-8240 or email to
jdailconsulting@comcast.net.
March 6-8, 2011: CSX Short Line Workshop: To be held at the Renaissance Resort at the World Golf Village in
St. Augustine, FL. For further information, contact Len Kellermann at len_kellermann@csx.com or (904) 366-
4191.
March 9-10, 2011: Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers (PNWARS) Meeting: To be held at the
Double Tree Hotel, Lloyd Center, Portland, OR. For more information, contact Gary Brown at (503) 656-4282 or
email to browngn@comcast.net.
March 15-17, 2011: North American Rail Mechanical Operations (NARMO) Meeting: To be held at the Hilton
St. Louis at the Ballpark. For more information, link to the AAR website at www.aar.org.
March 23-25, 2011: Training: Railroad Track Inspection And Safety Standards: Sponsored by the Center for
Transportation Research of the University of Tennessee. For more information, contact Jenny Jones at (865) 974-
6549 or by email at gohjones@utk.edu.
March 29-31, 2011: Southeast Association of Rail Shippers (SEARS) Meeting: To be held at the Hyatt Regency
in Savannah, GA. For more information, contact Lynn Courtwright at (770) 650-5900 or email to
lmcourtwright@att.net.
April 6-8, 2011: TransAction: The New Jersey State Transportation Conference and Expo: To be held at the
Tropicana Casino Conference Center in Atlantic City, NJ. For more information, link to
www.njtransactionconf.com.
April 19-21, 2011: North East Association of Rail Shippers (NEARS) Meeting: To be held at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel in Cromwell, CT. For more information, contact Joe Gearin at (603) 430-3746 or email to
joe.gearin@comcast.net.
April 30-May 3, 2011: The 2011 ASLRRA Convention: To be held at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and
Riverwalk Hotels in San Antonio, TX. For more information, link to the Convention webpage at
http://annualconvention.aslrra.org.

May 1, 2011: Conductor Certification Training Seminar and Accident/Incident Reporting Training Seminar:
To be held at the 2011 ASLRRA Convention in San Antonio, TX. For more information, link to
http://www.aslrra.org/meetings___seminars/annual_convention/education/training_seminars/index.cfm.
May 11-13, 2011: American Car Accounting and Car Service Officers (ACACSO) Spring, 2011 Meeting: To
be held in Burlington, VT. For more information, link to www.acacso.org.
May 19, 2011: National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Auction: To be held at the
Harsco facility in Fairmont, MN. This is NRC’s annual auction of consigned or donated equipment. For more
information contact Harsco’s Tom Wickham at (507) 235-7139 or by email at twickham@harsco.com.
May 23-25, 2011: Training: Timber And Steel Railroad Bridges: Sponsored by the Center for Transportation
Research of the University of Tennessee. For more information, contact Jenny Jones at (865) 974-6549 or by email
at gohjones@utk.edu.
May 25-27, 2011: North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS) Annual Meeting: To be held at the
Wyndham Parc 55 Hotel, San Francisco, CA. For more information, contact Leo Mountjoy at (972) 690-4740 or
email to nars@railshippers.com.
June 7-8, 2011: ASLRRA Finance & Administration Seminar: To be held at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center,
Milwaukee, WI. Watch for more information about this seminar on the ASLRRA website.
June 8-10, 2011: ASLRRA Railroad Liability Conference: To be held at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center,
Milwaukee, WI. Watch for more information about this conference on the ASLRRA website.
June 27-29, 2011: Association of American Railroads’ Damage Prevention and Freight Claims Conference:
To be held in New Orleans, LA. For more information, contact gary.held@railinc.com.
July 10-12, 2011: Norfolk Southern Short Line Meeting: To be held in Roanoke, VA. For more information,
contact Rob Robinson at rhrobins@nscorp.com.
August 16-17, 2011: Kansas City Southern Short Line Meeting: To be held at in Kansas City, MO. For more
information, contact Darin Selby at dselby@kcsouthern.com.
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
AECOM (www.aecom.com) announced that it has secured an eight-year, $60 million contract from the Maryland
Transit Administration. The contract covers program management of major mass transit projects, including the Red
and Purple lines and Corridor Cities Transitway light rail projects, which are in the planning and environmental
phases……ARINC (www.arinc.com) has been contracted to provide three key subsystems for Metrolink’s Positive
Train Control (PTC) system. Among these components are a computer-aided dispatch system, which is based on
the ARINC Advanced Information Management (AIM) Rail Control software platform……Lancaster & Chester
Railroad (www.landcrailroad.com) CEO Steve Gedney recently received the 2011 Citizenship and Service Award
from the Lancaster County, SC Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Gedney was recognized for work that included
arranging the use of two Lancaster & Chester private cars for the train that took wounded veterans to the Army-
Navy Game in Philadelphia last December. Mr. Gedney has recently noted that “the importance of active
community involvement by railroads cannot be ignored if they want to be considered good corporate citizens by the
communities they serve.”……North Shore Railroads’s (www.nshr.com) Juniata Valley Railroad was the subject
of an article in the February, 2011 edition of Pennsylvania Borough News Magazine. The article discussed the
railroad’s cooperative effort with various government agencies to rebuild its street-running trackage on Water Street
in Lewistown, PA, which the magazine said resulted in “better access to downtown Lewistown over a much
improved roadway.”……Northern Plains Railroad (www.nprail.com) recently appointed Mike Urie as its general
manager of operations. Mr. Urie is a 40-year veteran of the railroad industry……Railserve
(www.railserveinc.com) said that it was building two LEAF-Class GenSet locomotives at its Longview, TX plant.
Railserve said that the locomotives will reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 76 percent and cut fuel consumption by

50 percent compared with conventional switchers, and will meet federal Tier III 2015 emission standards……On
Monday, February 14, R.J. Corman Railroads (www.rjcorman.com) marked the start of its Appalachian Regional
Short Line Project. Funded in part by a $17.5 million federal TIGER stimulus grant, the $22 million project will
rehabilitate R.J. Corman lines in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. R.J. Corman also recently announced
three appointments: Kelley Anderson as its vice president of strategic sales and marketing, Mike Hahn as vice
presidents of its Derailment Services Group, and Justin Broyles as director of sales of its Derailment Services
Group.
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OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS
On February 1, FedEx Freight, the FedEx business unit for less-than-truckload shipments, was reported to
have decided to routinely use intermodal rail, something it had done in the past but not on a sustained basis.
The report, in Logistics Management Magazine, quoted Norfolk Southern Chief Marketing Officer Don Seale as
saying, “FedEx will systematically use intermodal rail service for the first time in its nearly 40-year history when it
rolls out its revamped less-than-truckload operation.” Also mentioned was that NS would be one of the intermodal
rail providers for FedEx Freight……On February 4, the forecasting firm Economic Planning Associates
estimated that rail car deliveries would reach approximately 27,000 units in 2011. The firm said that this
would include a number of covered hoppers and intermodal platforms, as well as gondolas and coal cars……On
February 7, New Jersey’s U.S. Senators Lautenberg and Menendez joined Amtrak President Joseph
Boardman in announcing the “Trans-Hudson Gateway Tunnel Project.” The project attempts to resurrect the
effort to build two new rail tunnels under the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York. An earlier effort
to construct the tunnels was shut down last year by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who said that he did not
want the state to be liable for that project’s cost overruns. The new project, which includes a connection to the
Pennsylvania Station-Moynihan Station complex that the earlier effort bypassed, is estimated to cost $13.5 billion,
which will be sought from various government bodies, and possibly also from private investors……On February
8, and following up President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address, Vice President Biden
announced a national plan to develop a U.S. high-speed passenger rail network. Mr. Biden said that the goal of
the plan will be to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years. He added that the
proposal “would place high-speed rail on equal footing with other surface transportation programs and revitalize
America’s domestic rail manufacturing industry by dedicating $53 billion over six years to…the
network.”……Also On February 8, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) introduced a bill to modify slightly
the requirements of the federal Railway Safety Improvement Act of 2008 related to Positive Train Control.
The bill would change the requirement that PTC be installed on Class I rail lines over which Toxic-By-Inhalation
commodities are routed as of the year 2015 instead of as of the year 2008. The change would save PTC from
having to be installed on approximately 10,000 Class I route miles……On February 10, the Surface
Transportation Board said that it would “open a rulemaking proceeding” to determine whether Positive
Train Control should be separately reported in the R-1 summary report that the STB requires each Class I
railroad to annually prepare and submit. The STB said that the proceeding responds to a request by Union
Pacific “to segregate such data to make it separately identifiable.”……On February 14, the Obama
Administration proposed its federal budget for the Fiscal Year 2012. The budget includes $8 billion in FY2012
and $53 billion total over the next six years for high-speed passenger rail, and calls for a $556 billion, six-year
surface transportation reauthorization plan. It proposes moving Amtrak stand-alone subsidies out of the annual
appropriations process and into the six-year plan, and also includes $30 billion over six years to create a new
national infrastructure bank to fund projects that would have national and regional significance to the nation’s
economy……On February 15, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Credit Council Committee approved
a Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan to the Alameda Corridor Transportation
Authority. The authority had applied for a $83.7 million RRIF loan to refinance a portion of its outstanding
debt……On, February 15, the Surface Transportation Board announced new filing fees. An STB spokesman
said that, whereas shippers have previously been charged up to $20,600 for such filings, they would now be charged
only $350 to file a rate or unreasonable practice complaint. The fee to file an expedited small rate case will remain
at $150…On February 16, Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott renounced the $2.3 billion in previously
announced federal funding for the development of high-speed passenger rail service between Orlando and
Tampa. The governor said that project “would be far too costly to taxpayers and…the risk far outweighs the
benefits.” Following Mr. Scott’s announcement, several state governors asked Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood to redirect the Florida funding to high-speed rail projects in their states. Following a request from several

federal and state representatives from Florida hoping to work out a compromise that would allow the Orlando-
Tampa project to continue, Mr. LaHood said that he would delay any further action by at least one week……On
February 18, the Journal of Commerce reported that, based on Association of American Railroad statistics,
approximately 57,000 freight cars had been scrapped since mid-2009, or roughly 3 to 4 percent of cars held in
storage at that time. The report said that the North American freight rail fleet totaled about 1.522 million cars as
of February 1, 2011, down from about 1.579 million cars in July, 2009. It noted that the AAR’s Rail Time
Indicators Report said that 318,773 cars or about 20.9 percent of the fleet remained idled or stored as of February 1.
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EMBARGOES IN EFFECT
Listed below are all the embargoes currently in effect for the North American rail system. For further details about
a specific embargo, including affected stations and a point of contact for further information, link to the Railinc
AAR Embargo/OPSL Notes & Permit System at https://aarembargo.railinc.com. Once there, select the
“Embargoes” tab, then “Search Embargoes,” and then enter the embargo number.
The below list is in issuing railroad order. Embargoes newly issued and effective since our last edition of bolded:
Issuing
Road
Embargo No
Amendment
No
Effective
Date
Expiration
Date
Allow
Permits
Last
Amended
Date
Op
Station
Notice
Participating
Roads
ABL ABL000210 0 04/01/2010 04/01/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
AF AF000110 0 06/11/2010 06/11/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
AN AN000111 0 02/15/2011 02/15/2012 NO NO CSXT Bridge out of service
AOK AOK000110 0 11/05/2010 11/05/2011 NO NO KCS Track Conditions
BCR BCR000109 0 05/13/2010 05/13/2011 NO NO CSXT, NS Other - specify
BNSF BNSF000111 1 01/08/2011 01/08/2012 NO 01/08/2011 NO Congestions/Accumulation
BNSF BNSF000710 0 08/03/2010 08/03/2011 YES NO Other - specify
CN CN000211 1 01/30/2011 01/30/2012 YES 01/30/2011 NO CSS, GRW Other - specify
CN CN000310 0 07/19/2010 07/19/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
CPRS CPRS003109 0 12/17/2010 12/17/2011 NO
NO
Prevent
Congestion/Accumulation
CPRS CPRS001910 1 11/19/2010 11/19/2011 YES 11/19/2010 NO CN Congestions/Accumulation
CPRS CPRS003009 0 10/12/2010 10/12/2011 NO NO Other - specify
CPRS CPRS002409 3 09/21/2010 09/21/2011 YES 10/22/2010 NO Other - specify
CPRS CPRS002509 3 09/21/2010 09/21/2011 YES 10/22/2010 NO Other - specify
CPRS CPRS002309 0 08/23/2010 08/23/2011 NO NO Other - specify
CSXT CSXT000111 0 01/03/2011 01/03/2012 NO NO Congestions/Accumulation
CZRY CZRY000110 1 04/01/2010 03/31/2011 NO 03/18/2010 NO UP Other - specify
DN DN000210 1 02/22/2011 02/22/2012 NO 02/16/2010 NO BNSF Bridge out of service
DSRR DSRR000110 1 11/02/2010 11/02/2011 NO 11/02/2010 NO UP Track Conditions
EJR EJR000111 1 02/15/2011 02/15/2012 NO 02/14/2011 NO Congestions/Accumulation
GRYR GRYR000110 0 04/28/2010 04/28/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
GTR GTR000110 0 10/11/2010 10/08/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
HRRC HRRC000111 0 01/26/2011 01/26/2012 NO NO CSXT, UP Track Conditions
IAIS IAIS000110 0 01/19/2011 01/19/2012 NO NO Weather Conditions - specify
IORY IORY000110 1 10/26/2010 10/26/2011 NO 10/26/2010 NO
CSXT, CN,
WE, RJCW,
NS
Other - specify
JAIL JAIL000111 0 01/12/2011 01/12/2012 NO NO Congestions/Accumulation
KCS KCS000311 0 02/11/2011 02/11/2012 NO
NO
AGR,
CSXT, NS,
BNSF,
LXVR,
CAGY,
GTRA
Work Stoppage
KCS KCS000510 0 08/18/2010 08/18/2011 NO NO CSXT, CN Track Conditions
MNNR MNNR000110 0 12/29/2010 12/29/2011 NO NO Other - specify
MRL MRL000109 0 11/23/2010 11/23/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
MRL MRL000110 1 04/07/2010 04/07/2011 NO 04/07/2010 NO Track Conditions
NS NS000410 3 12/16/2010 12/16/2011 NO 01/01/2011 NO Bridge out of service
NYLE NYLE000210 0 02/11/2011 02/11/2012 NO NO CSXT, Track Conditions
Cause

CPRS,
BPRR,
BSOR, NS
NYNJ NYNJ000309 2 11/02/2010 11/02/2011 NO 11/09/2009 NO Other - specify
NYNJ NYNJ000110 0 03/24/2010 03/23/2011 NO NO Other - specify
PAS PAS000109 0 12/22/2010 12/22/2011 NO NO Bridge out of service
PNWR PNWR000109 0 06/03/2010 06/03/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
RRVW RRVW000110 0 08/24/2010 08/24/2011 NO NO BNSF Bridge out of service
SSR SSR000109 1 12/01/2010 12/01/2011 NO 12/04/2009 NO Track Conditions
ST ST000210 0 12/17/2010 12/17/2011 NO
NO
MMA,
CSXT,
NBSR
Weather Conditions - specify
UP UP000111 0 02/04/2011 02/04/2012 YES NO Congestions/Accumulation
WE WE000310 0 12/22/2010 12/22/2011 NO NO Bridge out of service
WE WE000210 0 07/16/2010 07/16/2011 NO NO Bridge out of service
WE WE000110 0 05/10/2010 05/10/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
WMI WMI000110 0 04/28/2010 04/28/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
WSOR WSOR000309 0 08/11/2010 08/11/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
WSOR WSOR000109 0 05/06/2010 05/06/2011 NO NO Track Conditions
Also, a reminder that the Embargo/OPSL Notes And Permit System now has the capability to issue free email
alerts whenever an embargo is created, amended, or cancelled. Although individuals will need to make application
to Railinc to receive the alerts, they can be received by anyone with a Railinc Single Sign On ID and a valid
business case to receive them. For more information and to make application, link to
https://aarembargo.railinc.com/epdb/subscribeToEPDBAction.do?step=viewSubscriptionInstructionsForEmbargoes.
For any assistance, contact the Railinc Customer Support Desk at (800) 544-7245.
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CLASS I RAIL TRAFFIC: THROUGH FEBRUARY 12
The Association of American Railroads has reported that, for the week ending February 12, 2011 and ranked with
the comparable week last year:
• U.S. carload rail traffic totaled 274,043 units, up 6.2%
• Notable carload traffic increases included metallic ores up 105.1%, non-grain farm products up
27.4%, and motor vehicles and equipment up 24.6%; notable traffic decreases include grain mill
products down 7.0%, food and kindred products down 2.5%, and grain down 1.5%
• U.S. intermodal rail traffic totaled 228,035 units, up 18.5%
• Canadian carload rail traffic totaled 69,161 units, down 1.1%
• Canadian intermodal rail traffic totaled 47,581 units, up 12.0%
• Mexican carload rail traffic totaled 13,554 units, up 6.4%
• Mexican intermodal rail traffic totaled 7,069 units, up 6.4%
For the period January 1 through February 12, 2011 and ranked with the comparable period last year:
• U.S. carload rail traffic totaled 1,684,457 units, up 6.4%
• U.S. intermodal rail traffic totaled 1,290,347 units, up 7.8%
• Canadian carload rail traffic totaled 414,839 units, down 1.7%
• Canadian intermodal rail traffic totaled 270,499 units, up 4.0%
• Mexican carload rail traffic totaled 85,258 units, up 6.3%
• Mexican intermodal rail traffic totaled 41,872 units, up 10.7%
Note: Canadian traffic totals include that traffic on U.S. operations of the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific
Railways.
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RAILINC SHORT LINE TRAFFIC INDEX: FULL YEAR 2010
The Railinc Short Line Traffic Index is movement-based, totaling loaded trips originating on all non-Class I
railroads for all destinations and, also, all loaded trips terminating on all non-Class I railroads from all origins. This
is tallied from all railroads that have passed movement event records to Railinc, including from all third party
information services providers. In some instances, Railinc is not a party to accompanying waybill information and
so those unknown commodities are presented in “All Other.”
This index is calculated monthly. The below data is for the full year of 2010 and compares with the full year of
2009. Special thanks to Railinc’s Phillip Johnson for this valuable statistical information:
COMMODITY 2010
YTD
ORIGS
2009
YTD
ORIGS
%
CHG
2010
YTD
TERMS
2009
YTD
TERMS
Chemicals 453,135 448,151 1.1% 602,574 518,852 16.1% 1,055,709 967,003 9.2%
Coal 243,478 218,871 11.2% 562,295 626,568 -10.3% 805,773 845,439 -4.7%
Crushed Stone, Sand, Gravel 233,328 194,673 19.9% 178,321 143,162 24.6% 411,649 337,835 21.8%
Food & Kindred Products 151,670 163,802 -7.4% 153,437 147,551 4.0% 305,107 311,353 -2.0%
Grain 307,982 309,888 -0.6% 347,953 303,998 14.5% 655,935 613,886 6.8%
Grain Mill Products 87,102 92,331 -5.7% 140,642 138,120 1.8% 227,744 230,451 -1.2%
Lumber & Wood Products 84,015 77,214 8.8% 75,585 67,666 11.7% 159,600 144,880 10.2%
Metallic Ores 51,616 30,605 68.7% 124,677 91,720 35.9% 176,293 122,325 44.1%
Metals & Metal Products 253,995 207,824 22.2% 171,669 124,845 37.5% 425,664 332,669 28.0%
Motor Vehicles & Equipment 92,288 76,160 21.2% 108,522 85,175 27.4% 200,810 161,335 24.5%
Nonmetallic Minerals 22,842 25,155 -9.2% 25,436 26,844 -5.2% 48,278 51,999 -7.2%
Petroleum Products 21,668 19,301 12.3% 25,955 23,142 12.2% 47,623 42,443 12.2%
Pulp, Paper & Allied Products 214,037 209,302 2.3% 148,810 142,644 4.3% 362,847 351,946 3.1%
Stone, Clay & Glass Products 139,341 14,1,788 -1.7% 108,755 110,010 -1.1% 248,096 251,798 -1.5%
Trailer or Container 403,416 363,593 11.0% 373,611 323,788 15.4% 777,027 687,381 13.0%
Waste & Scrap Materials 120,860 113,818 6.2% 155,266 143,880 7.9% 276,126 257,698 7.2%
All Other Carloads 929,556 971,702 -4.3% 939,385 951,171 -1.2% 1,868,941 1,922,873 -2.8%
Total 3,810,279 3,664,178 4.0% 4,242,593 3,969,136 6.9% 8,053,222 7,633,314 5.5%
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RMI RAILCONNECT SHORT LINE TRAFFIC INDEX: THROUGH FEBRUARY 12
The RMI Railconnect Index is waybill-based and totals shipments billed by non-Class I railroads using RMI billing
products. For this report, this totals 341 such railroads. This index is calculated weekly. The below data is as of
the week ending February 12, 2011, the 6th week of 2011. Special thanks to RMI’s Cheri Denton for this
valuable statistical information.
%
CHG
2010
YTD
TOT
Week Ending February 12 Year-To-Date
CARLOADS HANDLED 2011 2010 % Change 2011 2010 % Change
Coal 9,761 10,801 -9.63% 70,141 66,577 5.35%
Grain 15,752 13,712 14.88% 89,441 84,212 6.21%
Farm & Food (Exc. Grain) 4,742 4,703 0.83% 29,918 27,546 8.61%
Ores 2,382 4,339 -45.10% 16,017 21,276 -24.72%
Stone, Clay, Aggregates 8,361 7,842 6.62% 56,169 48,563 15.66%
Lumber/Forest Prods. 3,616 3,221 12.26% 21,288 19,927 6.83%
Paper Products 6,397 5,921 8.04% 39,373 36,595 7.59%
2009
YTD
TOT
%
CHG

Waste & Scrap Materials 5,145 4,670 10.17% 30,559 28,027 9.03%
Chemicals 16,715 15,770 5.99% 101,374 96,907 4.61%
Petroleum & Coke 5,041 4,655 8.29% 28,678 27,202 5.43%
Metals & Products 8,206 7,430 10.44% 51,025 44,843 13.79%
Motor Vehicles & Equip. 1,554 1,083 43.49% 8,201 5,516 48.68%
Intermodal 7,133 5,446 30.98% 45,782 35,886 27.58%
All Other 2,418 2,116 14.27% 13,837 12,915 7.14%
Total 97,223 91,709 6.01% 601,803 555,992 8.24%
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REMEMBER TO SEND US YOUR PRESS RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please make sure to add ASLRRA to your press release distribution list. We will make sure to publicize them in the
“Members In The News” section of this newsletter, and possibly also on the “Hot Tracks” section of the ASLRRA
website (see above!)
Please send them via email to Cara Lione at clione@aslrra.org, and, also, please make sure that they include a link
back to your company’s website. We thank you!
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HELPFUL LINKS (INCLUDING A NEW ONE!)
ASLRRA: For the ASLRRA public website, link to www.aslrra.org. For the members-only website, link to
members.aslrra.org.
Buy American Requirement: The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched a webpage that provides
information about the federal requirements for transportation infrastructure projects that must incorporate
American-made products. The webpage consolidates access to the Buy America provisions across all USDOT
agencies. Link to the webpage at www.dot.gov/buyamerica.
Funding Sources: AASHTO and ASLRRA have collaborated to prepare profiles of financial assistance programs
offered by states to help short line and regional railroads. These profiles, which are listed in state order, may be
reviewed by linking to http://rail.transportation.org/Pages/rail_success.aspx.
Healthcare Reform: The U.S. Department of Labor website has a web page that provides substantial information
on the new healthcare law, formally known as the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act. To view it, link to
www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform.
Narrowband Migration: New link! The AAR Spectrum Management Office, which manages railroad radio
frequencies and is coordinating the industry’s changeover from wideband to narrowband radio operation, now lists
CSX’s narrowband migration schedule on a new webpage, http://www.aar.com/aar_rf.php. The ASLRRA website
also features an informational page on the transition to narrowband. It includes key dates, related website links and
documents, and important topics. Link to the ASLRRA narrowband page at
www.aslrra.org/regulatory/narrowbanding/.

Railinc And Embargo/OPSL Notes: For the Railinc website, link to www.railinc.com. To use the Railinc AAR
Embargo/OPSL Notes & Permit System, which includes both embargoes and open & prepay station (OPSL) notes,
link to aarembargo.railinc.com.
Railroad Retirement And Job Vacancies: For the Railroad Retirement Board website, link to www.rrb.gov. To
check the Railroad Retirement Board’s Railroad Jobs Vacancies page, link to
http://www.rrb.gov/PandS/Jobs/rrjobs.asp.
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Views & News is published by the
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
50 F Street NW, Suite 7020,Washington, DC 20001
(202) 628-4500 FAX (202) 628-6430 aslrra@aslrra.org
Dave Mears, Editor
Cara Lione, Circulation Manager and New Member Correspondent
Special thanks to Chuck Baker, Kathy Cassidy, Joe Gallant, Jenny McKinney and Jeff Van Schaick for their contributions to this edition
For More Information on the ASLRRA’s benefits and services, please visit our website at:
www.aslrra.org
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