Wasatch Railroad Contractors celebrates grand opening of Shoshoni facility
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
On Oct. 15, 2015, Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) member Wasatch Railcar Repair Contractors (WRRC) hosted a grand opening event for elected, industry, and community officials at its Shoshoni, Wyo. facility. The event featured demonstrations of WRRC’s repair capabilities and formal remarks by WRRC Founder John Rimmasch and Ben Avery, on behalf of Governor Matt Mead.
Rimmasch delivered an overview of WRRC, shared the importance of a recently enacted Wyoming tax credit to the re-opening of their Shoshoni facility, and outlined WRRC’s plans for future growth in Shoshoni. WRRC specializes in railcar repair and restoration, with locations in Stearns, Ky, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Shoshoni, Wyo. In Stearns, WRRC recently restored a segregation-era railway car that will be featured in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. In July, WRRC announced that it had acquired its Shoshoni railcar repair facility from Dimec Railcar Repair Operations.
“We are extremely pleased to host this open house and share our goals and growth plans with the community and our elected officials,” said Rimmasch. “Relationships are key to our business and we will continue to work with the local community to grow and give back to the state and Fremont County.”
He was later joined by Avery, representing the Office of the Governor, who spoke to Wyoming’s state rail plan and the need to invest in intermodal infrastructure:
“The Wyoming Business Council has been very proactive the last decade in working with local communities to develop rail parks throughout the state,” said Avery. “We understand the value and the need for rail parks in order to have and grow our robust manufacturing distribution logistics economy. We also recognize and value the rail car refurbishing facilities in the state, and look forward to all facets involving the rail industry playing a role in diversifying and continuing to grow Wyoming’s economy.”
Representatives from the Bighorn Divide & Wyoming (BDW) Railroad and REMSA spoke to the importance of extending the Positive Train Control deadline and supporting the Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation Investment Act of 2015. The tax credit enables small railroads, like BDW, and their customers to continue to reinvest more of what they earn to improve infrastructure, “last mile” service, and safety.
In Wyoming, four freight railroads operate over 1,800 miles of track and employ over 2,800. Coal represents 96% of all freight tonnage originated in Wyoming, followed by chemicals.
Attendees included Ben Avery, Director – Business and Industry Division, Wyoming Business Council; Pam Buline, Field Representative; U.S. Senator John Barrasso; Rep. Rita Campbell, Wyoming Legislature, District 34; Reagen Green, Field Representative; U.S. Senator Michael Enzi; Sherlyn Kaiser, Field Representative; U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL); Edward “Oscar” Kelsey, President, Bighorn Divide & Wyoming Railroad; John Rimmasch, Founder & Owner, WRRC; John Tinsley, Business Development Manager, RJ Corman Derailment Services; Sean Winkler, Grassroots Coordinator, REMSA; and Rep. Nathan Winter, Wyoming Legislature, District 28.
