Sierra Northern Railway

ASLRRA President Chuck Baker

ASLRRA Honors Safety Professional, Safety Person of the Year; Names 2024 Environmental Award Winner

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has named Mission Mountain Railroad (MMR) Railcar Repairman Sam Pederson as its Safety Person of the Year and Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) Training Program Manager Albert Manning as its Safety Professional of the Year. Also, Sierra Northern Railway is named ASLRRA’s 2024 Environmental Award winner. All three awards were presented on March 25 at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference, held this year in Kansas City, Mo.

From Left to Right: Brenton A. MacDonald, Vice President and COO, SNR; Claire Brinkley, Vice President and Strategic Growth Director, STV; Anthony Pontone, civil/railway engineer, Hanson Professional Services Inc.; and Ryan Miller, Executive Director of Mechanical Operations, Wells Fargo Rail.
  • News

People News: SNR, STV, Hanson, Wells Fargo Rail

Sierra Northern Railway (SNR) elevates Brenton A. MacDonald to Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Also, Claire Brinkley joins STV as Vice President and Strategic Growth Director for the firm’s transportation South/Central group; Anthony Pontone joins Hanson Professional Service Inc.’s Chicago regional office as a civil/railway engineer; and Ryan Miller joins Wells Fargo Rail as Executive Director of Mechanical Operations.

USDOT: $31.4MM for SNR, MRY

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Jan. 29 announced that its Build America Bureau has provided a $31.4 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan to Sierra Northern Railway (SNR) and Mendocino Railway (MRY) to expand and rehabilitate rail infrastructure in the Central Valley and Mendocino County, Calif.

SERA Unveils Hydrogen Switcher Livery

Sierra Northern Railway (SERA) has unveiled the look of its zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) powered switching locomotive, development of which is made possible by a $4 million California Energy Commission grant

A Norfolk Southern (NS) Operation Awareness & Response train—comprising a locomotive, two boxcar classrooms, four tank cars, and two specially equipped flat cars for hands-on training—visited Williamsport, Pa. in late June. (Photograph Courtesy of NS)

Small-Road Briefs: NSHR/LVRR, SERA

North Shore Railroad (NSHR) and Lycoming Valley Railroad (LVRR) personnel participated in hazmat and emergency preparedness training for first responders in Williamsport, Pa. Also, the operational headquarters of Sierra Northern Railway’s (SERA) Ventura Division moved to Santa Paula, Calif.

The new zero-emission switcher, replacing a Tier 0 diesel unit, will integrate hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen storage, advanced battery and systems control technologies.

Supply Briefs: SoCalGas/Sierra Northern, ClearBlade/Phoenix Contact

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) is providing $500,000 to help develop Sierra Northern Railway’s hydrogen fuel cell (HFC)-powered switcher. Also, Phoenix Contact and ClearBlade have partnered on an Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) solution for the rail, oil and gas, energy and industrial markets.

Calgary-based TRIG’s transloading automation solutions help terminal operators “maximize loading efficiency of closed rail tank cars, through a combination of digital sensor technology and control system integration,” according to the company.

Supply Side: Ballard, TransRail Innovation

Ballard Power Systems will provide fuel cell modules for Sierra Northern Railway’s new zero-emission switching locomotive; tank car and terminal automation solution provider TransRail Innovation, Inc., (TRIG) has acquired Formation Liquids Logistics Ltd. (FLLL), a rail terminal auditing firm and consultancy.