Some really good articles on shortlines in this month\'s issue and how they are growing business. One of note is Progressive Rails in Minnesota who has worked a number of deals with CP to open branch lines that were not used or used lightly. They increased carloads on their Airlake line from 600 carloads to 7000. In addition they are growing in the Minnesota, Wisconsin and now Michigan areas. Hopefully Chgo Terminal can grow business in our area with their best chance up by the Elk Grove and Bensenville Industrial Park. Progressive made their success with serving Industrial Parks. Maybe Chgo. Terminal can use the same concepts for growing success here also. It would be nice if rail service could still grow maybe by getting some closed business sites open again by getting new businesses interested that need rail service. The old Aetna Plywood building, Hanna engineering come to mind along with drumming up some new customers with existing industries on Goose Island/Kingsbury that would be better served by rail. They mention the problems that now are existing with the trucking industry regarding gas prices and lack of drivers. Time for a rail comeback. There may not be as many Class I railroads as in days of old but their are still a lot of shortline railroads that exist and fill a niche for branch customers that can\'t get serviced properly by the big guys. This is a new trend for the future that is very profitable for those short lines that service the customers and the Class I railroads like it because they benefit from the increase in rail traffic. Take a look at the Progressive Rail article if you get the chance in the 6/07 issue of Trains. Lot of CNW & Chicago Great Western lines now being used again by them along with old Milwaukee Road lines. The owner by the way is a railfan fanatic. He has his engines washed and waxed regularly to show a positive image of the company. Not only that, his employees are happy and the owner says he knows he will have been successful if his employee\'s kids and grandkids eventually want to work for Progressive Rail too. Nice attitude, especially when all you hear these days is news about layoffs and disgruntled workers. He concentrates on the happiness of his customers and workers.
GM
