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Watco Companies acquires Pennsylvania Southwestern Railroad
PITTSBURG, KS — (March 31, 2003) — Watco Companies, Inc., the largest privately held shortline Railroad Company in the United States will begin operation of the Pennsylvania Southwestern Railroad on April 1, 2003.
The PSWR is a shortline railroad primarily serving J&L Specialty Steel in Midland, PA. The PSWR interchanges with the Norfolk Southern Railroad and primarily handles steel scrap and steel products. The PSWR will also provide scrap-handling services for J&L. “This is a very focused step for our company to provide quality rail service for a customer that is working in a very competitive industry,” said Rick Webb, President and CEO of Watco Companies, Inc. “While operating a shortline railroad is nothing new for our company, there are a couple of unique aspects to this railroad that should be highlighted.
This is our first railroad east of the Mississippi and our first railroad that interchanges with the Norfolk Southern. This is also our first operation primarily serving a steel mill, which we believe provides many growth opportunities.”
Another important reason for Watco to be interested in the development of the PSWR is because of the people available to serve Customers in western Pennsylvania. “In any operation you are only as good as the people involved. The ability to find the right people to satisfy our Customers has been one of Watco’s hallmarks over the years and we expect the people we hired from the previous operator, the Midland Terminal Company, to do a great job of satisfying our Customers. We look forward to a long, prosperous relationship with J&L, our employees and the community of Midland,” Webb said.
Contact numbers:
Customer service and dispatching (724) 773-2786, contact Greg Synowka
Marketing (620) 232-0824, contact Bob Davidson
The PSWR joins the Watco family of six other railroads including the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad; the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad; the Stillwater Central Railroad; the Timber Rock Railroad; the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad; and the Eastern Idaho Railroad.