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Yesterday, Watco Cos. L.L.C.’s newest short line — the Birmingham Terminal Railway (BHRR) — launched operations in Birmingham, Ala. Watco recently formed the short line after acquiring the assets of the Birmingham Southern Railway.

BHRR operates 75.9 miles of track and serves more than 30 customers. The short line interchanges with BNSF Railway Co., CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway and Fairfield Southern Co., a switching carrier owned by U.S. Steel. BHRR will be overseen by General Manager David Tarwater.

“The BHRR will be the 26th short line railroad in the Watco family, and I am very proud to gain the customers we will begin serving,” said Watco Chief Executive Officer Rick Webb in a prepared statement.

In addition to operating short lines, Watco operates 25 industrial contract switching locations, 16 rail-car repair shops, four locomotive shops and 19 mobile mechanical shops. In addition, the company’s transload services division manages 17 transload facilities, seven warehouses and two port locations, and Watco owns the Greens Port Industrial Park in Houston.