Is there some branch lines that serve many small industries?

Question

I'm interested in way freights and smallish railroads that serve many low volume, ocassional customers (kind of like the low volume lines that the big rail companies abandoned). Can anyone recommend a website or link that shows this type of rail operation? Thanks

Answer 1

I work for the Minnesota Northern Railroad. There's a web site I think, but it's probably not too interesting. We have 130 miles of our own track, but have trackage rights with CP and BNSF in addition. This is an agricultural region and 90 percent of what is hauled is small grains from small town elevators about 6 to 10 miles from one another. We have six locomotives. GP-5, GP-7, GP-9, an SW-1, SW-8, and a permanantly coupled cow calf unit which are SW-12s. These are well maintained, but very old. Built between 1949 and 1955. The whole railroad is old. I call it a rolling museum.

Answer 2

Lance,

Back during the "classic" days of railroading, i.e., mostly prior to 1980, this was the norm on railroads large and small, serving small shippers, such as with a single boxcar load of goods or bulkhead flatcar of lumber.  Today, you can still catch this action on some Class Is (albeit it's a bit rare) and several Regionals and shortlines.  There are plenty more out there but the websites below offer some photos of this sort of "down home," local, railroading.