Blake Train Tracks

Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company began operations on July 19, 1987 over track acquired from the Burlington Northern Railroad (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway). Since then, the railroad has experienced solid growth in terms of freight volume, employment, and physical improvements. RRVW currently owns and operates 517 route miles of track and handles an average of about 42, 000 carloads annually, which is more than double the volume at start up. This rise is attributed in part to the railroad's more frequent service, the addition of local markets, and the acquisition of 100 grain cars. RRVW's ongoing effort to find new and expanded markets for customers has also helped bring new business to the railroad. RRVW presently serves more than 60 customers, including 4-grain shuttle facilities and 35-grain elevators. Ag processors and manufacturers have expanded and diversified RRVW's traffic base. These include Dakota Growers Pasta Co., Carrington; Ingersoll-Rand Bobcat tm, Gwinner; Cargill Corn Milling, Wahpeton; Horizon Milling, Fairmount; Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, Wahpeton; and Primewood, Wahpeton. These customers have added significant carloads to RRVW's already growing business levels. The Red River Valley & Western is proud to be North Dakota's regional railroad. We are very grateful to our customers, our employees, and public officials who have helped us become the kind of responsive, service-orientated railroad that was our initial goal. To this we add our thanks to the connecting railroads and friends who have contributed so much to our success in the past and to our prospects for the future. Since 1987, more than half of RRVW's grain customers have expanded their facilities, of which four can accommodate 110-car shuttle trains. More than a dozen business additions have been completed. In 1997 and 2005, the Red River Valley & Western was selected by Railway Age as "Regional Railroad of the Year" --the industry's top recognition among smaller railroads.