Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad

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BNG 84, an EMD GP38-2, sits in the railyard at Blackwell, Oklahoma. BNG 84.jpg
BNG 84, an EMD GP38-2, sits in the railyard at Blackwell, Oklahoma.

Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad (reporting mark BNG) is a short-line railroad headquartered in Blackwell, Oklahoma. It operates on tracks owned by the Blackwell Industrial Authority (BIA) and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). [1] [2]

The BNG was a replacement for The Blackwell and Northern Railway (BNR), which started service over the same line on November 4, 2002, and which was in turn the replacement for the prior operator, the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad. [3] [4] The BNG was chartered in Oklahoma on October 31, 2005, contracted to replace the BNR in late 2005, and began operating January 2, 2006. [3] [4] It is an employer for the purposes of the Railroad Retirement Act. [3]

It operates 35.26 miles of line from Blackwell to Hunnewell, Kansas, with trackage rights to Wellington, Kansas. [4] It interchanges with the BNSF at Wellington, and (via the BNSF) with Union Pacific. [4] It also generates revenue storing railcars for larger railroads. [5] It had 8 employees as of 2017. [6]

When the region experienced flooding in May of 2019, the line was severely damaged in areas around Blackwell, Braman, Oklahoma, and South Haven, Kansas. [5] The line was temporarily shut down while the affected areas were repaired. [5]

In October 2023, BNG filed to extend its leases on both the BIA and ODOT portions of its line. [7] [8]

On February 2, 2024, the Federal Railroad Administration issued an Emergency Order shutting down the BNG due to public safety concerns over operations and maintenance of the line after new ownership and management took over in October 2023. [9] [10] The FRA instigated its investigation into the railroad following two derailments which involved unqualified individuals operating locomotives at the railroad. [11] Prior to the shutdown order there was an incident involving a hi-rail truck on January 28th that nearly collided with a vehicle at an unprotected grade crossing. [12]

Rock Island Rail requested in late February 2024, and received in early March 2024, an FRA emergency order allowing it to take over operations of the BNG for at least 30 days to be able to handle urgent needs for two shippers on the line. [13] [14] However on October 11, the Oklahoma & Kansas Railroad, part of the Rock Island Rail, was informed that its lease was terminated almost 6 months after agreeing to take control of the line. It was alleged by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation that the operator had made no effort to rehabilitate the line. As of the lease termination, ODOT is currently seeking a new operator for the line. [15]

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References

  1. ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Surface Transportation Board (November 17, 2010). "Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad Company-Lease Renewal Exemption-Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Blackwell Industrial Authority". Federal Register. 75 (221): 70349–50. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  2. ↑ 75 FR 70349
  3. 1 2 3 "Employer Status Determination" (PDF). Railroad Retirement Board, March 15, 2006. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad Company BNG #O41". Union Pacific. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 ""Our" View: the Railroad". Blackwell Journal-Tribune, July 5, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. ↑ "2017 Railroad Classification Table". Federal Railroad Administration. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Surface Transportation Board (November 17, 2010). "Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad Company-Lease Renewal Exemption-Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Blackwell Industrial Authority". Federal Register. 75 (221): 70349–50. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  8. ↑ 75 FR 70349
  9. ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (February 8, 2024). "Emergency Order To Prevent Operation of Trains and Other On-Track Rail Equipment on Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad". Federal Register. 89 (27): 8739–41. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  10. ↑ 89 FR 8739
  11. ↑ Lassen, David (February 6, 2024). "FRA shuts down Oklahoma short line". trains.com. Kalmbach Media. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  12. ↑ Franz, Justin (February 6, 2024). "FRA Issues Rare Emergency Order Shutting Down Oklahoma Short Line". railfan.com. White River Productions. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  13. ↑ Berger, Eric. "Rock Island Seeks to Run Oklahoma Short Line Shuttered By Feds". Railfan & Railroad . White River Productions.
  14. ↑ "STB Approves Rock Island Takeover of Embattled Oklahoma Short Line". Justin Franz, Railfan & Railroad Magazine, March 4, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ Franz, Justin (2024-10-29). "Oklahoma Seeks New Operator For Former Blackwell Northern". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
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