Seen here, Maintenance of Way teamed up with the Union County Industrial Railroad train crew to unload new ballast in Lewisburg.

Feature from the President
Focusing On Customers

As a relatively small company, it is integral that we maintain keen focus and expend energy on what is truly important to the long-term health and wellbeing of our company and community. In macro terms, two areas that comprise the target of our marketing focus and energy are- what we currently have (our customers), and what we are developing (our future customers).

We currently serve an extremely diverse base of industries, which are made up of some of the finest people you will ever meet. It’s vital to stay in continuous contact with these folks in order to assure that their needs are being met, and that we are doing everything we can to assist them in their ambitions for growth or change.

“People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Teddy Roosevelt

As such, this past winter, we restructured departments in our company to expand/extend our customer outreach efforts. What was previously known as Customer Service was renamed Customer Logistics & Support (CL&S) and is now incorporated as an arm of our Marketing Department. Our CL&S team is proving to be a great asset and resource to our customers, as they have hit the ground running, with new and exciting logistic management options. One example is PJ, the newest member of our CL&S team, who has taken the initiative to assist each of our customers as they begin migrating into our rail system – giving each of them real-time and direct access to their shipments and instructions regarding same.

I am excited to see how our customer relations will continue to mature and develop with CL&S , as this new dynamic opens doors for us, and ultimately, for our customers.

I do know this; it is going to be awesome.

Notes from Marketing
Focusing On Central PA

“Focus”
as a noun: "the center of interest or activity"
as a verb: "pay particular attention to"

Jeb highlighted, in his article, “…the target of our marketing focus and energy are- what we currently have (our customers), and what we are developing (our future customers).”

In our department, we tend to see success in those items upon which we focus, which is why we try so hard to shift others’ focus to our area. Toward that end, NSHR has been an investor in FOCUS Central Pennsylvania since its inception. This past month, we were pleased to be part of FOCUS’ Industrial Development Forum, which included a day-long seminar that was attended by 250 professionals. The day prior to the forum, we hosted some of the attendees on a train ride, utilizing some of our newly acquired passenger equipment. As a part of the excursion, we stopped the train at two of our customers’ plants, and the group took tours. By all accounts, the ride was a huge success. It represented a tremendous networking opportunity for those in attendance, and demonstrated the advanced capabilities of the industries and workforce in our region. 

The FOCUS event is just one way we can bring attention to our region as one that has huge potential for industrial development. The attention, of industrial development professionals, on our area has been one of the many reasons we've seen the successful developments we have over the past few years. Spending quality time with these professionals shows them what we, our communities, and our industries are capable of, and what we do well in our rail service area. Ultimately, with a focus on what our communities, workforce, companies, infrastructure, and elected officials bring to the table in the interest of industrial development, we will assist any company with planting their flag here, in Central Pennsylvania.  

Track Upgrades at Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation

Earlier this year, the Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation (MCIDC) completed track improvements on their rail siding and removed unused switches. The MCIDC is served by our Juniata Valley Railroad, in Lewistown.

The upgrades are fantastic; great work!

Notes from Maintenance of Way
Focusing On Masterpieces

With the mild winter we’ve had, our guys took advantage of the opportunity to make some significant upgrades to our rail system.

In January and February of 2024, our team constructed seven crib walls that repair shoulder erosion in various locations across our system. Our MoW Supervisor, Mike Haines, has “total control” of these projects. I always tell people that Mike is a Picasso when it comes to these projects. Where I see junk, he sees a canvas that needs painted (using stone, concrete blocks, and old crossing panels).

I’d like to thank the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority for helping with some of the purchasing of the concrete blocks for some of these crib walls. All of these projects are needed to prevent a disruption in rail service to our customers.

Whether it is 75 degrees and sunny or 25 degrees and overcast, there is always good and productive track work needed and happening across our system. These crib walls show just one of the many hats our MoW guys wear, and the masterpieces they can produce!

In the Community

Company Store Update
New Items In Stock!

We have some exciting new items at the North Shore Warehouse (our company store)!

Part of our 40th Anniversary celebration is the introduction of railroad trading cards! We just released our very first collector trading card sets (1984 Topps-styled).

Major League Baseball’s 2024 Spring Training is coming to a close, so this is the perfect time for us to unveil these babies… Get it? Spring TRAINing?!?!

These six are just the beginning.

A free set is given to anyone who spends $50 or more at our online store (www.NorthShoreWarehouse.com) or at the Sunbury Station (100 N 3rd Street, Sunbury, PA). You can also purchase a pack for $5 at the Sunbury Station.

Tartaglia Railroad Services
Focusing on Projects