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Earlier this month, BNSF Railway Co. bestowed "Shortline Achievement Awards" to the Sacramento Valley Railroad (SAV), Cimarron Valley Railroad (CVR) and Stillwater Central Railroad Co. (SLWC).

The Class I recognized the railroads at its 15th annual short-line conference in Grapevine, Texas, for “their ability to develop new customers and increase volume, while also being good stewards in their communities,” BNSF officials said in a prepared statement. The short lines also demonstrated “entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to customer service and commitment to partnership with BNSF,” they said.

Owned by Patriot Rail Corp., SAV provided lumber, petroleum, aggregate and manufactured product shippers “consistent and reliable, ‘customer-centered’ rail services,” BNSF officials said. The short line yielded “significant carload growth” during challenging economic times and currently is on pace to double traffic this year, they said.

Owned by The Western Group, CVR has been successful in developing an “innovative partnership” with the Kansas Department of Transportation and Port Authority of the Southwest that will help attract new shippers and build business with existing customers in southwest Kansas, BNSF officials said. Under the partnership, the state will provide $15 million from its rail service improvement fund during the next five years to rehabilitate and upgrade a CVR line.

Owned by Watco Cos. Inc., SLWC helped establish a “new, innovative and highly successful” pipeline-by-rail service in conjunction with the Class I’s long-haul service in Stanley, N.D., and between Sapulpa and Stroud, Okla., BNSF officials said. Through July, SLWC and BNSF handled more than 6,500 carloads between the points through the service, which is tailored for the Bakken Shale.