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On Saturday, Anacostia & Pacific Co. launched its ninth new short line since 1985. Northern Lines Railway L.L.C. (NLR) began operating 22 track miles near St. Cloud, Minn., which the short-line holding company recently leased from BNSF Railway Co.

NRL will operate a five-mile line between the St. Cloud Yard and St. Joseph, Minn., and a 17-mile line between Rice Junction and Cold Spring, Minn. The lease transaction also includes related yard, industry and mainline trackage rights. NLR will provide switching service for customers located on the east side of BNSF's mainline in St. Cloud and interchange with the Class I in the city. The lines’ shippers move paper, scrap metal, stone, lumber, building products and manufactured goods.

To head the new short line, Anacostia & Pacific named Dan Rickel NRL president. Since 1997, he had served the Twin Cities & Western Railroad Co. as general manager of operations.

“[The transaction] will benefit the customers on the lines by providing responsive, personalized service,” said Anacostia & Pacific Chief Executive Officer Peter Gilbertson in a prepared statement.