The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has approved the sale of the Dunbar & Wausaukee Railroad (D&W) to the Mullan Pass Railway (MPRW). The sale will be completed and transfer of ownership will take place on March 1st, 2009.

According to Mullan Pass Railway offiicials, there will be no changes in operations for now. The sale moves the D&WRR under the corporate umbrella of the MPRW but it will continue to operate as it's own railroad.

 Dunbar & Wausaukee officals today announced the sale of the D&W to the Mullan Pass Railway.

The Mullan Pass Railway is a holding company that currently operates the Montana Rail Link, an FRA Class II regional railroad with more than 900 miles of track serving 100 stations in the states of Montana, Idaho and Washington, and employs approximately 1,000 people. In operation is a fleet of more than 2,100 freight cars and 176 locomotives.

The Montana Rail Link connects with the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) at Laurel and Garrison, Montana and Spokane, Washington and the Union Pacific Railroad at Sandpoint, Idaho.

Negotiations are complete and the sale is now pending the aprroval of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). 

Mullan Pass Railway offiicials are hopeful for a quick approval. "We plan to run the D&W as is for at least the first year" noted a MPRW spokesman. "While there should be no changes in operations, some MRL equipment may find its way to the D&W. Mainly locomotives."

The recent upgrades to the railroad and increase in rail traffic made the D&W a logical target for regional railroad companies looking to expand. With the Class 1 railroads dumping all but their mainlines, many "super regionals" have popped up to handle local switching and short hauls.  

You can learn about the Mullan Pass Railway at  http://mullanpass.googlepages.com/

The D&WRR yard in Green Bay was recently upgraded to help handle additional rail traffic. The addition of another storage track increased capacity by 15%. The previously abandoned locomotive shop was put back into service with all tracks being renovated. Diesel fuel tanks were also added as the shop will now serve as a refueling point.

The recent track reconstruction in the Village of Coleman appears to have had a positive impact as two local industries have announced plans to increase rail traffic.

 The Coleman Flour Mill will install a new grain dryer at their facilities. The speed and effeciency of the dryer will allow the mill to increase it's production by 1 full carload of flour a day. This will also require more grain deliveries. On a weekly basis, the Dunbar & Wausaukee Railroad expects to see an increase of about 9 additional carloads of wheat delivered and 6 addition carloads of flour to be picked up. And the flour mill expects to add an additional 12 to 15 jobs as a result of the increased production. 

The new grain dyer will run on propane and a large tank will be installed alongside the grain unloading trackat the mill. This will result in an occasional need for a tank car of propane to be delivered for refills. 

In a separate announcement, Northwoods Furniture, a manufacturer of high end rustic furniture has announced their plan to begin shipping by rail again. Northwoods has been shipping by truck for the last 8 years due to the poor track conditions and service provided by the previous railroad. A large percentage of the finished product is shipped to an east coast distribution center and shipping by rail will result in a substantial reduction in shipping costs. 

"The rebuilding of these tracks has been a win-win situation for Coleman" said Village President Glenn Woulf. "The railroad will see increased business and the Village will benefit from more jobs and less trucks congesting the downtown streets. Those trucks also cause serious wear and tear to our streets".