Railmark Holdings, Inc. has acquired the Yreka Western Railroad Company (YW), a short line railroad serving the California communities of Yreka and Montague. The YW, which has been operating the rail line since 1889, interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad (CORP) in Montague, Calif.
In addition to offering direct rail services to the industrial customers on the line, Railmark will immediately offer full service rail logistics, intermodal, railcar mechanical services and track construction and maintenance services to the area’s industries not located on the line or served by rail. Under Railmark’s ownership, the railroad will offer industrial development services and currently has prospective businesses evaluating location to its new rail line in Siskiyou County.
“Since 1889 the Yreka Western Railroad’s mission was to serve as an economic catalyst for the communities of Yreka and Montague and the need to refocus on this mission remains true today,” said B. Allen Brown, Railmark president and CEO. “Railmark is looking forward to transforming the Yreka Western Railroad into a modern and important driver for the area’s economy and using this acquisition to expand Railmark’s footprint to the Pacific Northwest market.”
The YW railroad’s freight traffic is primarily wood chips, forest products, propane and a variety of transload commodities.