Feature from the President
The Importance & Impact of a Local, Understanding Railroad

This past quarter, some of our team had the opportunity to meet and work with various members of the railroad community at a number of industry events (for instance, look at the picture above). Our team reported that they were able to hold deep discussions with folks from different railroads who are located in other areas of Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The comradery and relationships that these individuals build is invaluable. Discussions between the parties often glean shared trials and victories but also much enlightenment.

It is evident that each railroad has its own niche in the area they serve. Obviously, the rail industry experiences the same problems and often use the same solutions, but each community served is different, and it is amazing to see how each short line railroad is an expert in their own service area.

We are no exception.

The issues that SMS Rail Services in New Jersey encounters are different than the issues Buffalo & Pittsburgh faces in New York. The concerns of the citizens in Hollidaysburg, on the Everett Railroad, are different than the concerns of the citizens of Scranton, on the Delaware Lackawanna Railroad. Likewise, the communities across the 11 counties we serve are unique and each one has been an important factor - which has helped us shape our operations.

Some things that work for one area, do not work for another.

Scheduling Freight Rail for Our Area

The customers on each railroad are as unique as the communities they are located. We have fine-tuned our freight operations to meet our customers’ needs.

For instance, we do not run a scheduled 24 hours a day/seven days a week rail operation - not only for the sake of our communities, but also because our customers do not want service outside of certain shifts. With that said, should a customer need a special delivery, we will run at any hour – so any time is still train time. However, our customers want to be able to coordinate for their deliveries – which means they want regular daylight service.

Nighttime rail freight operations have a 20% higher accident rate than day-time operations - making the daylight service a safer option for our employees and our communities.

We also want our employees to be able to go home to their families each evening and watch their kids in a recital, wrestle, or play ball - maybe even coach them.

While 24/7 short line rail freight service works in some areas, it is not something our employees, customers, or communities want in Central PA.

Investment

Our company always strives to support local businesses.

I am proud to say that each year, on average, we spend $9 Million on goods and services in JUST the counties we serve.

Impact

Our company employs local talent who support the livelihood of around 220 individuals who reside in the counties we serve.

However, our impact does not stop there.

When we look at the rate structure we utilize, we work to keep a balance that:

1. affords our employees to be well taken care of, which includes our company paying for 100% of benefits (medical, dental, and vision) for them and their families, employee life insurance, matching 401(k) and discretionary sharing, extended medical leave, bonuses, etc. AND

2. allows our customers to remain competitive and sustain a level of advantage that helps them take care of their employees and leads to economic growth in Central PA.

I feel like we have achieved this balancing act pretty well. This is important because when you look at our employee base, the customers we serve, those whom they employee, and the statistical average person per household by county - our freight operations impact nearly 27,500 people across the counties we serve.

We recognize that each railroad is important to the areas they serve, and we are certainly important to ours - just as our communities are important to us.

We will always work our hardest to make sure our employees, customers, and communities are as safe as possible and taken care of to the very best of our ability.

Notes from Marketing
Winning

When Todd looks back over his 30-year career in short line railroading, he is amazed at the number of awards our company has received - and they just keep coming.

This past quarter, we learned of being named the recipient of three different awards:

1. Railway Age 2026 Short Line Railroad of the Year

2. ASLRRA Veterans Engagement Award

3. PA Business Central Top 100 Business

The Railway Age Short Line of the Year Award recognizes outstanding excellence in various areas of railroading. There are more than 600 short line railroads in the United States, and this is the third time our company has been awarded this very distinctive honor.

In 2021, the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) introduced their Veterans Engagement Award, so receiving this award is a first for our company. This award honors a railroad member that demonstrates positive policies toward U.S. Veterans and that implements unique programs and practices to hire, recognize, support, and engage Veterans in the workplace and the broader community.

We will be honored to formally accept the Railway Age and ASLRRA awards at the ASLRRA National Convention in Minneapolis this April.

In addition, we are again honored to be named as one of PA Business Central’s “Top 100 Organizations”.  This award honors organizations that demonstrate overall business excellence and regional impact. If you read Jeb’s article, you can understand why our company deserves this recognition. We credit our employees and customers for this award - without them, there is no impact to make.

Our office walls and conference room shelves are covered with awards, citations, and plaques from years past. These awards are not a lottery; they are earned by doing what we do every day. Todd often jokes - if railroading were easy, everyone would do it! It is not a joke that the people employed here are able to not only do it every day but do it in such a way as to get local, state, and national recognition.

“I am honored to work with good people who understand that good, safe, reliable, cost-effective service is what we provide,” says Todd Hunter. He continued, “I would like to personally express my congratulations to everyone who does such a great job in this company - every single day - for winning these awards! Winning is great, but everyone should know that it’s what we do every day that makes winning possible.”

Joe Kantz added, “As I read the list of the numerous awards our company has received over its history, I tend to believe our tenacity is what makes us so successful.” He continue to say, “Someone can make all the claims in the world, but if you can't back it up with actual proof, it means nothing. I have seen crew members change their plans to work over the weekend, because a customer had a railcar that they desperately needed delivered. I have also seen people stay late in the office to make sure customer needs were met. We have the best employees at North Shore Railroad!”

Our Marketing team gets to work with our customers and they often hear about what our Customer Logistics Team or Train Crews have done to help them. Our team receives endless praises because we take care of our customers and local region.

We are all-in on taking care of Central Pennsylvania's railroad customers' needs. It's what we do best, and our success at doing it best is evidenced by our history of awards and accolades.

How can we help your business win? Call us today!

Notes from Maintenance of Way
Ready for Q2!

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In the Community

Tartaglia Railroad Services
Goodbye Snow, Hello Work Season

Tartaglia Railroad Services
5867 East Molloy Road, Syracuse, NY 13211
315.455.0100