Rail car business ‘ready to go’ in Renovo
Lana Muthler Express News Editor
LOCK HAVEN — The railroad business, which saw Renovo boom economically for decades, is returning to the western Clinton County community.
Renovo Rail Cars will soon begin operations — making new rail cars and repairing used ones — at the site of the former Pennsylvania Railroad car shops, now Renovo Industrial Park.
“We could see operations beginning as early as November,” Gary Darrin, project manager for Renovo Rail Car said at Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Clinton County Economic Partnership.
“We will sign contracts as soon as the lease/purchase agreement with the Partnership is signed. Cranes will be reworked, there will be new electric lines new rail lines, new track. We’re getting prices. We’ll award contracts as soon as possible and work will begin immediately,” he said.
Darrin said a half dozen people have already been hired and 50 workers should be employed by the end of the year by Renovo Rail Car, a group of local investors with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the business. He said more employees will be hired as the firm grows.
“There’s a potential order to rebuild 206 cars ... that’s a $3 million project,” Partnership President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Grand said.
“So far, there’s $700,000 in local investment. That’s a phenomenal number. With local investors and local involvement ... those are two important components to make this happen,” Grand said.
The response has been overwhelming,” Darrin said of the local investment group which has been working for months to develop a business plan, financial plan and by-laws.
Renovo native Gene Sockman is the principal investor in the new business, he said.
Sockman, who is vice president of manufacturing for Krispy Kremes, has been working with Walter Pogue and George Kerwin, of P&K Rail Car of Kennett Square, Darrin said. Sockman, 75, plans to retire, according to Grand.
“They’ve been hoping to bring shops back to Renovo for the last six or seven years,” Darrin said of Pogue and Kerwin, who are providing the design and engineering components.
“They are the ones who brought the Economic Partnership and P&K Rail Cars together on this. Walter and George have 200 years of rail car knowledge between them ... especially running and selling rail cars,” Darrin continued.
Renovo Rail Car’s main focus will be producing and repairing rail cars for the municipal, construction and demolition waste industry, Darrin said. And the company holds the rights to several rail car designs, he said.
“A lot of big cities ... there’s no place to take waste material. These rail cars will be unique to that industry. They are designed specifically for quick loading and unloading. There’s a big demand for this. We have a lot of people who want these cars,” Darrin said.
In addition to building new cars, Darrin said the local firm will also take old freight and coal hopper cars and make them larger and able to haul waste materials.
Grand said the lease/purchase agreement has been completed and will soon be executed. The Partnership purchased the Renovo Industrial Park at a sheriff’s sale several years ago and has invested thousands of dollars to improve it and market it.
“We’ve worked very hard over the years. The Partnership and Community Trade Association have done a great job to get it where it is. A lot of money has been invested,” Dan Harger, who chairs the Partnership’s facilities committee said.
“This will be a great project. When you get local people involved ... like this... it will be successful,” Harger said.
Grand noted that the Trade Association invested $20,000 in the project. “Local investment means local ownership. That will keep it here.”
“We are 1,000 percent supportive of this project,” Grand said. “We made the site attractive to them.” Grand said the Partnership has had some dialogue with state funding strings and the Clinton County Revolving Loan will also be involved in the Renovo Rail Car’s financial plan.
Besides Darrin, Renovo Rail Car has hired local attorney Lee Roberts as solicitor and LeaAnn Plessinger accounting firm of Lock Haven. Several managerial slots have also been filled.
Meanwhile, Darrin said there are still investment opportunities available to local people. “There is opportunity if anyone is interested,” he said, inviting the public to call him for details.
As printed in Thursday - July 28, 2005 edition of The Express
Lana Muthler Express News Editor
LOCK HAVEN — The railroad business, which saw Renovo boom economically for decades, is returning to the western Clinton County community.
Renovo Rail Cars will soon begin operations — making new rail cars and repairing used ones — at the site of the former Pennsylvania Railroad car shops, now Renovo Industrial Park.
“We could see operations beginning as early as November,” Gary Darrin, project manager for Renovo Rail Car said at Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Clinton County Economic Partnership.
“We will sign contracts as soon as the lease/purchase agreement with the Partnership is signed. Cranes will be reworked, there will be new electric lines new rail lines, new track. We’re getting prices. We’ll award contracts as soon as possible and work will begin immediately,” he said.
Darrin said a half dozen people have already been hired and 50 workers should be employed by the end of the year by Renovo Rail Car, a group of local investors with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the business. He said more employees will be hired as the firm grows.
“There’s a potential order to rebuild 206 cars ... that’s a $3 million project,” Partnership President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Grand said.
“So far, there’s $700,000 in local investment. That’s a phenomenal number. With local investors and local involvement ... those are two important components to make this happen,” Grand said.
The response has been overwhelming,” Darrin said of the local investment group which has been working for months to develop a business plan, financial plan and by-laws.
Renovo native Gene Sockman is the principal investor in the new business, he said.
Sockman, who is vice president of manufacturing for Krispy Kremes, has been working with Walter Pogue and George Kerwin, of P&K Rail Car of Kennett Square, Darrin said. Sockman, 75, plans to retire, according to Grand.
“They’ve been hoping to bring shops back to Renovo for the last six or seven years,” Darrin said of Pogue and Kerwin, who are providing the design and engineering components.
“They are the ones who brought the Economic Partnership and P&K Rail Cars together on this. Walter and George have 200 years of rail car knowledge between them ... especially running and selling rail cars,” Darrin continued.
Renovo Rail Car’s main focus will be producing and repairing rail cars for the municipal, construction and demolition waste industry, Darrin said. And the company holds the rights to several rail car designs, he said.
“A lot of big cities ... there’s no place to take waste material. These rail cars will be unique to that industry. They are designed specifically for quick loading and unloading. There’s a big demand for this. We have a lot of people who want these cars,” Darrin said.
In addition to building new cars, Darrin said the local firm will also take old freight and coal hopper cars and make them larger and able to haul waste materials.
Grand said the lease/purchase agreement has been completed and will soon be executed. The Partnership purchased the Renovo Industrial Park at a sheriff’s sale several years ago and has invested thousands of dollars to improve it and market it.
“We’ve worked very hard over the years. The Partnership and Community Trade Association have done a great job to get it where it is. A lot of money has been invested,” Dan Harger, who chairs the Partnership’s facilities committee said.
“This will be a great project. When you get local people involved ... like this... it will be successful,” Harger said.
Grand noted that the Trade Association invested $20,000 in the project. “Local investment means local ownership. That will keep it here.”
“We are 1,000 percent supportive of this project,” Grand said. “We made the site attractive to them.” Grand said the Partnership has had some dialogue with state funding strings and the Clinton County Revolving Loan will also be involved in the Renovo Rail Car’s financial plan.
Besides Darrin, Renovo Rail Car has hired local attorney Lee Roberts as solicitor and LeaAnn Plessinger accounting firm of Lock Haven. Several managerial slots have also been filled.
Meanwhile, Darrin said there are still investment opportunities available to local people. “There is opportunity if anyone is interested,” he said, inviting the public to call him for details.
As printed in Thursday - July 28, 2005 edition of The Express
Last edited by bwparker1 on Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
