Carver Lumber Co. and O'Brien Steel Seek Rail Service Restoration! (Updated)

Patriot Rail's acquisition of Pioneer Lines is already producing fruit!

In a letter dated May 17, 2022, M. S. Carver Lumber president Joseph Fontana wrote the Surface Transportation Board requesting a legal change to Pioneer Industrial Railway's lease with the City of Peoria of 3.74 miles between a connection with Union Pacific and Pioneer Industrial Park.

There seems to have been a delay in action by Pioneer Industrial Railway but both a 56-page Notice of Exemption and an eight-page Motion for Protective Order were filed with the STB on October 3.

The Board granted PIRY's request today. You can read the filings here. Today's decision can be read here.

I suspect rising diesel fuel prices may have been a factor in Carver's desire to rail service restored to its Pioneer Park facility. Lack of competitive access notwithstanding, direct rail delivery is cheaper than truck, even if a short distance from a wholesaler or transload site.

UPDATE: On page 47 of the main October 3 filing: "With respect to the Southern Segment - not included as part of Lines encompassed by PIRY's Change of Operator Exemption - the City is working with the sole shipper located on this segment, O'Brien Steel, to transfer certain property and restore rail service and access to the shipper by Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, which has connecting rail lines located a few hundred feet away from this shipper. Such action is also contemplated under the Lease Agreement. The City anticipates that the necessary filings to restore rail service for this shipper will be filed in the near future at the STB." 

- David P. Jordan

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