Ashland Railway obtains Ohio grant for rail yard expansion

The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) last week awarded Ashland Railway (ASRY) a $735,882 grant to expand its Mansfield Yard and make repairs along its Willard Line.

The more than $1.4 million project will involve the installation of about 3,000 feet of new track and seven turnouts; ultrasonic rail flaw detection on 23 miles of the Willard Line; and replacement of rail identified as defective by the rail test.

The project calls for reconnecting stub-ended tracks and extending several yard tracks to improve the efficiency of rail-car switching and blocking, as well as increasing usable car storage, ORDC officials said in a press release. 

The railroad estimates the project will open up 80 rail-car spots in the yard.

“The yard rehab project will add much needed carload space, which will allow Ashland Railway to overcome a capacity problem that has been an issue in the past,” said Bob Thompson, ASRY roadmaster.