(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on August 12, 2009.)
Last week, the Watco Cos. Inc. launched its 21st short line. Subsidiary Watco Transportation Services Inc. started up the Alabama Warrior Railway (ABWR), which operates 15 miles of track in and around Birmingham, Ala.
ABWR, which interchanges with BNSF Railway Co., CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway, primarily will transport coal for Walter Coke Inc. The short line also will handle aggregates, pipe, scrap steel, cement and other commodities for several other customers. In addition, Watco will offer mechanical services at ABWR’s Birmingham location.
ABWR formerly was known as the Jefferson Warrior Railroad, which launched operations in 1900 as the Mary Lee Railroad and was renamed Jefferson Warrior in 1985. Walter Coke assumed ownership of the Mary Lee in 1969.