Pennsylvania rail authority publishes booklet to mark 30th anniversary

The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) recently published "Preserving Rail Freight in Central Pennsylvania for 30 Years" to commemorate its 30th anniversary.

The booklet highlights "all things related to rail" in the eight central Pennsylvania counties served by the authority, JRA officials said in a press release. The publication also reviews the future of the region's freight-rail system and highlights each of the systems' six rail lines, including the commodities handled and customers served.

In addition, special projects are featured, such as those carried out over the past five years by the authority and North Shore Railroad Co. which is under contract with the JRA to operate its six rail lines. For example, the publication cites rail yards that were enlarged, bridges that were refurbished, a rail terminal that was added near Northumberland and a frac sand transload terminal that was built at Newberry in Williamsport.
 
With "an eye on the future," the booklet also highlights the economics of "going green" and the impact of natural gas exploration on the region's rail system, JRA officials said.

The authority published a similar booklet five years ago for its 25th anniversary.