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7/8/2025
Burlington Junction Railway (BJRY) employees yesterday marked the railroad's 40th anniversary of providing short-line rail service in the Midwest.
The BJRY serves customer locations on the networks of BNSF Railway Co., Union Pacific Railroad, CN and Norfolk Southern Railway. In November 2024, BNSF selected the railroad to participate in its Shortline Select Program.
BJRY was founded by Steve and JoEllen Hoth, who purchased a single locomotive and 3 miles of track in Burlington and hired three employees. Now, the BJRY operates more than 250 miles of track across Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, employs 100 people and owns 50 locomotives.
BJRY serves 85 customers at 15 locations. Based in Burlington, Iowa, the BJRY handles such commodities as wallboard, lumber, bulk liquids, dry bulk, machinery, steer rebar and specialty oversize shipments.