Hitchcock (Canton, IL) Update 5-31-18



Business at Hitchcock Scrap Yard Inc's Canton property has been picking up a bit. 

After an apparent lull from February activity, more regular operations have been noted in recent weeks. In fact, twice since mid-May the Keokuk Junction Railway (KJRY) has spotted a couple gondolas at a time here. Another car shown above arrived Wednesday. 

Those prior cars carried markings (OMNX) used by OmniSource Inc., a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based metal recycler owned by Steel Dynamics Inc.

While most observers have assumed Hitchcock would load scrap metal here and ship it to in Keokuk (Amsted Rail Griffin Wheel Div.) and perhaps Bartonville (Alter Metal Recycling/Keystone Steel & Wire), it appears all traffic is inbound, reportedly junk from auto parts plants. Loads are coming from Norfolk Southern.

It is good to see a new rail user in Canton (the only one actually) and new business on the Keokuk Junction Railway. Hopefully, the relationship will be long and generate a substantial volume of traffic in coming years. 


- David P. Jordan

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