Another PA Tourist Railroad bites the dust: Kiski Junction

http://www.kiskijunction.com/

Passenger Train Schedule: 2005 DISCONTINUED

Dear friends
This is to inform you that the Kiski Junction Railroad will cease it's tourist operations and NOT be opening for the 2005 season.
The KJR is currently in a business reorganization and due to many factors will now operate a strictly freight operation.
We would like to thank you one and all for your support and I know that all of us here will cherish the good times and great people it has been our privilege to know.
Please inform you friends and families as it will be almost impossible for us to reach everyone who has found us over the years.
The KJR may have built a railroad, but all of you helped build a dream.
Who knew that thousands and thousands of people wanted to see downtown "Give me another" Bag.....Dad! hahahaha
Thank you again.
Sincerely Yours, Dale, Charlie, Mary and the KJR Crews

DAMN!!!!

Chris

Damn i was hoping to go down there for the mixed train they do this year. Do they still have that paper model of the Alco you could print and color on the website, I used that with kids in sunday school once when my mom was sick and i didn't know what the lesson was going to be about.

Good news...a mining company is hoping to buy and lengthen the line to get coal to market by 2006...see www.Trains.com today.

Coal-mining firm considering buying Kiski Junction Railroad

SCHENLEY, Pa. – After Rosebud Mining Co. spent $1 million two summers ago to repair damage done to Logansport Road by heavy coal-truck traffic, company owner Cliff Forrest said he would be looking at alternative ways to move coal out of its mine there, according to a story in the Leader Times of Kittanning, Pa., and published on the PittsburghLive.com Web site. In the Kiski Junction Railroad, Forrest might have found one, as he said last Thursday that his company has an option to buy the railroad and might begin moving coal over it as early as next summer.

"Our plans are to extend the line up to our mine in Logansport," Forrest said, adding that he hopes to conclude the deal to buy the railroad by the end of May. Dale Berkley, owner of Berkman Rail Services Inc. in New Castle, which owns the Kiski Junction line, confirmed that Rosebud was "seriously looking" at buying the line.

Rosebud would spend another $5 million to extend the line from Schenley, where it interchanges with Norfolk Southern, up to Logansport. Forrest said he could not comment on what buying the existing line will cost. The proposed sale will not affect the status of the passenger excursions on the line, because the railroad announced last week it will not be providing passenger service this year. Both Forrest and Berkley, however, said the option remains open to restart passenger service after the line is sold.

The company would haul 10,000 to 12,000 tons of coal a week by rail after the line extension is completed. The Logansport mine opened in February 2002.

Rosebud Mining considering buying, extending Kiski Junction Railroad

By Michael Miller
LEADER TIMES
Friday, May 6, 2005

When Rosebud Mining Co. spent $1 million two summers ago to repair damage done to Logansport Road due to heavy coal truck traffic, company owner Cliff Forrest said the company was looking at alternative ways to move coal out of its mine there.

He might have found one.

Forrest said Thursday that his company has an option to buy the Kiski Junction Railroad and might begin moving coal by rail as early as next summer.

"Our plans are to extend the line up to our mine in Logansport," he said, adding that he hopes to conclude the deal to buy the railroad by the end of May.


Dale Berkley, owner of Berkman Rail Services Inc. in New Castle, which owns the Kiski Junction line, confirmed that Rosebud was "seriously looking" at buying the line.

Using the railroad would alleviate truck traffic along Logansport Road, which suffered extensive damage and prompted Rosebud to pay for improvements.

"We've spent over a million dollars in road maintenance," Forrest said.

The company would spend another $5 million to extend the line from Schenley, where it currently ends, up to Logansport, he said. He said he could not comment on what buying the existing line will cost.

The proposed sale will not affect the status of the passenger excursions on the line, Berkley said. The railroad announced last week that it will not be providing passenger service this year.

Both Forrest and Berkley said the option remains open to restart passenger service after the line is sold.

Forrest said he hopes the line will not only save Rosebud money in the future, but also keep the volume of trucks on the road low for people who live along it.

"They'll be happy and it should save us money," he said.

The company plans to haul 10,000 to 12,000 tons of coal a week by rail after the line is completed, Forrest said.

The Logansport mine opened in February 2002.

That is over halfway to Kittanning! The old AVRR rides again. The original AVRR line went from Pittsburgh to Kittanning in 1856 via Schenley and Logansport and all of the ghost towns in between. Another 7 or so miles and they will get back to where W. F. Johnston (former gov. of PA and Pres of the AVRR) was in 1856.

Dan
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/avrr/

The coal company is indeed purchasing the Kiski Junction and is retaining the railroad's name and employee. You can see this at the STB website. Sure would be nice to be in PA to see those five miles of track relaid!

STB Kiski Filing

View the document and other materials here.

Brooks