Saskatchewan short line makes formal debut
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefSaskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter, along with representatives from CN, Mobil Grain, gathered Thursday in Eston, Saskatchewan, with officials West Central Road & Rail (WCRR) to mark the the company’s formal debut as the operator of a short line railroad.
WCRR says it “was formed in 1997 to prevent the certain abandonment of 300 miles of CN branch line that runs from Delilse west to the Alberta border. Initial efforts were concentrated towards the purchase of the rail network for the purpose of operating it as short line railway, thus our corporate name. When CN decided not to abandon the line in the summer of 2000 our focus changed from purchasing the rail line to grain gathering. The grain companies along our rail network had either closed or demolished all their elevators.”
A blurb from WCRR’s website notes: “We specialize in Enhanced Producer Car Loading Systems. WCRR has taken a century old legislated right for Canadian grain farmers, producer car loading, melded it with today’s technology and processes, and created a highly competitive alternative to the traditional grain handling system. We are excited to introduce farmers to the next generation of producer car loading. A system built on quality control, identity preservation, virtual blending, efficiency and most importantly value passed back to farmers.”
WCRR’s producer car loading facilities located at Laporte, Eston, Lucky Lake, and Beechy, Saskatchewan.
