The Columbiana County Port Authority has sold the Youngstown & Southern Railroad's assets to Mule Sidetracks L.L.C. for $3 million.
An affiliate of MarkWest Energy Partners L.P., Mule Sidetracks acquired all rail, ties, ballast, and rights of way (ROW) associated with the 36.8-mile short line, which operates between Youngstown and Darlington, Ohio. The port authority — which acquired the short line more than 10 years ago — retained the mineral rights along the ROW.
Mule Sidetracks plans to maintain rail service on the line, pursuant to an operating lease with the Youngstown & Southeastern Railroad.
Meanwhile, the city of Jackson, Ohio, on Jan. 31 transferred operations of its 70-mile short line from U S Rail Corp. to the Indiana Eastern Railroad. The city owns 70 miles of track and has maintained a short-line operation since the mid-1980s.
Indiana Eastern Railroad has named the Jackson operations the Ohio South-Central Rail Line. Launched in 2005, Indiana Eastern Railroad operates 43 miles of track in Indiana and Ohio.
Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News
