Last Run for KJRY F-Units
The Keokuk Junction Railway's F-unit fleet is going into storage this week.
New owner Brookhaven Rail Partners acquired legal control of Pioneer Railcorp a few days ago and is already making changes to one shortline's motive power fleet.
Reportedly, the KJRY will run a transfer with PREX 1750 & 1761 (and probably a GP20) from Mapleton to East Peoria and return Monday, and west to LaHarpe on Tuesday. PREX 1752 is already at LaHarpe. The latter will be the final run for these units in freight service.
Reportedly, the KJRY will run a transfer with PREX 1750 & 1761 (and probably a GP20) from Mapleton to East Peoria and return Monday, and west to LaHarpe on Tuesday. PREX 1752 is already at LaHarpe. The latter will be the final run for these units in freight service.
(credit to Steve Smedley)
The above video captured an eastbound KJRY transfer on Saturday, February 9, 2019.
- David P. Jordan
That's kind of sad David seeing them go away. Do you have any thoughts what they will do with the rail line in general?
ReplyDeleteHi Mike,
DeleteI'm hoping that Brookhaven Rail Partners possesses sufficient funds (and willingness to use them) and marketing prowess to build traffic on this line. There is much potential.
The Keokuk Junction Railway is highly dependent upon Roquette America's Keokuk wet corn mill, which generates almost all of the line's "overhead" business (eastbound corn syrup and corn germ to Norfolk Southern at East Peoria). Some corn syrup (and gluten feed/meal) goes to TP&W and Union Pacific as well.
As for local business, grain elevators at Burnside, LaHarpe, Blandinsville and Sciota send corn to Keokuk regularly (or in Burnside's case, has in the past). ADM's dog food ingredients plant in Bushnell receives soybean flour (shipped from Decatur on Canadian National) and Hitchcock Scrap Yard's Canton transload generates regular inbound and outbound business. There is also a Nutrien fertilizer facility in McCall, but whether it still uses rail (for inbound potash) is unclear.
Reciprocal switching arrangements with BNSF at Keokuk allow KJRY access to industries on the former's "Mooar Line," and branchline which runs from the Keokuk riverfront to an industrial park northwest of town. Henniges Automotive Iowa manufacturers automotive seals and receives carloads of carbon black and lube oil. ADM Milling Co.'s wheat gluten & starch plant receives bulk flour and ships starch. Amsted Rail's Griffin Wheel Corp. foundry reveives scrap metal and ships locomotive wheels. The Mooar Line business has enabled KJRY (which provides the only competition to BNSF in Keokuk) to solicit scrap metal, lube oil and casted wheel traffic.
Brookhaven will probably become aggressive with building business on the KJRY (and other Pioneer shortlines) very shortly. Hopefully, they'll be able to operate local trains more than once per week.