Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

In the 21st century, when consumers order products online and expect them to appear at their doorstep the very next day, you might think short line railroads are obsolete. But you’d be wrong.

Tennessee’s 19 short line railroads continue to play a critical role in moving farm products and other commodities across the Southeast in an economic and sustainable way. Short line railroads are smaller railroads that run shorter distances than the larger Class 1 railroads. Some short lines run 50 miles, while others stretch 180 miles or more, but they all connect rural industries with the larger freight rail network. American short lines collectively operate 50,000 miles of track – nearly 40% of our nation’s railroad network.

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“They’re essential in transporting the state’s products,” says Tony Linn, who has operated three short line railroads in Tennessee since 1982 with two business partners. “West Tennessee is a prime mover of farm products, largely grain and soybeans, and a major supplier of fertilizer to the farm industry. Without short lines, some industries would find themselves abandoned by rail service.”

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Short Line Railroads Transport Goods Efficiently and Affordably

During its golden age, the railroad was the primary way to transport bulk commodities. Transportation technologies have evolved since then, but trains still provide an efficient way to move goods – and they’re three to four times more fuel-efficient than trucks.

“Roughly speaking, there are four truckloads to one rail carload,” Linn says. “If you’re shipping 5,000 carloads of grain, you can see how many truckloads that would be.”

Linn’s short lines are in Dickson, Dyersburg and Jackson. They primarily haul grain, soybeans and steel, as well as oil, fertilizer, wood and building materials such as bricks.

Linn’s short line that runs through Sharon in Weakley County provides shipping for Robinson & Belew Inc., a family-run grain elevator in operation since 1951. The business is led by Keith Fowler, who also farms 5,800 acres of corn, wheat and soybeans.

Keith and Linda Fowler use short line railroads to transport farm products from the grain elevators at Robinson & Belew in Weakley County. Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

“Our grain elevator sits on the short line railroad, and we load the rail cars every day with our farm products,” Fowler says. “The railroad is the most efficient and cost-effective way to move our products. This year, we’ll ship 3 million bushels of grain via rail service, which is about the worth of 3,000 trucks being taken off the roads.”

Fowler calls the short line “essential” for business. His corn is shipped by rail to Alabama and Mississippi poultry feed mills.

“The short lines do a good job with customer service. They’re family-owned, and we are too,” Fowler says. “They’re vital for the future of our area. We need to make sure people support the short lines to keep them around.”

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Challenging Times for the Short Line Railroads

Short line railroads face competition of interstate highways, airlines and barges, as well as the soaring cost of repairs and infrastructure. They are federally regulated but privately owned, which puts a sizable financial burden on owners.

“It’s always a challenge, I must say,” Linn says. “Short lines suffer the same regulations every big railroad does under the Federal Railroad Administration. They have guidelines as to the quality of infrastructure, the speed you can run, and how attentive you need to be to the maintenance of equipment. The state provides oversight on railroad crossings, so the regulation is broad.”

Short line railroads evolved from former Class 1 railroads that were abandoned in the late 1970s due to the Staggers Rail Act, which deregulated the American railroad industry. Many tracks and bridges were left in disrepair needing major improvements. Funding is hard to find, but some federal grants can be applied for.

Employees load corn from grain elevators into a rail car at Robinson & Belew. Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

“It’s a highly capital-intensive business. In Tennessee, we created a program to use tax from railroad diesel fuel to provide a resource for rehabilitation,” Linn explains. “One great difficulty short lines face is their very genesis was because they were in such poor condition that major railroads couldn’t make money off them. The revenue they receive is not sufficient to cover all the work that needs to be done to upgrade the track from the poor condition it was left in by the Class 1 trains.”

“The railroad is the most efficient and cost-effective way to move our products. This year, we’ll ship 3 million bushels of grain via rail service, which is about the worth of 3,000 trucks being taken off the roads.”

– Keith Fowler, Robinson & Belew Inc.

An Industry for the Ages

Despite the challenges, working in the rail industry also has advantages.

“Since it’s federally regulated, you have relationships with governors and senators. It’s a great industry in terms of meeting interesting people,” Linn says. “We enjoy excellent relationships with our customers. Managers work every day to ensure the communities along the line are receiving best possible service. It’s important to understand if a crossing is blocked for a few minutes, we don’t do that on purpose – it’s the short time we need to serve your community.”

Fowler hopes Tennessee’s short lines will be kept in good shape to remain viable for future generations.

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“I know the world changes, but there’s got to be a place for railroad in the future, at least in my book,” Fowler says. “I hope our legislators will understand how important they are. I’d hate to see a world where we didn’t have a railroad.”

Aside from business necessity, trains also bring a certain nostalgia and romance to American culture.

“Everybody who would like to have a model railroad would like to run a real one,” Linn says with a chuckle. “The essence of short lines is to ensure local communities get the transportation they deserve.”