News
Railroad company sets 10-year safety record
Wick Communication
The San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad says it has set a 10-year safety record.
The Benson-based short line said it recently has completed its 10th year of accident-free operations.
"Safety is paramount and we're very proud of this record," said Scott Parkinson, general manger of SPSR. "Each of our employees is experienced, trained and tested regularly to ensure that our operations comply with very strict federal and state regulations."
In addition to its accident-free record, the railroad's employees have not had a reportable injury since 1999, making the railroad a nine-time recipient of the "Jake Jacobson Award," which the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association presents annually to only those railroads that have not had an employee injury for the entire year.
"It's important that our customers are confident that we will handle their shipments with the utmost safety," Parkinson added.
SPSR's chief sources of traffic are agricultural chemicals, feed grains and building products. The line recently upgraded its rail-to-truck transload facility at Benson, offering customers savings from lower rail rates and the convenience of truck delivery.
SPSR serves regional businesses in Cochise County from connections with Union Pacific's Los Angeles-Chicago main line at Benson and Willcox.
SPSR is owned by the Arizona Railroad Group, which acquired the line in November 2003 from RailAmerica Inc.
SPSR's oldest predecessor dates to 1888, when the Arizona and South Eastern Railroad built a 60-mile line from Benson to Bisbee, eventually becoming part of the Southern Pacific. It was successively bought by Kyle Railways in 1992, StatesRail in 1997 and RailAmerica in 2002.
The railroad is laid with heavy 112- to 132-pound rail, accommodating today's heavier 286,000-pound gross weight cars. SPSR replaced 3,000 crossties in 2007 and bridges were strengthened.
(This report appeared in the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review.)
The San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad says it has set a 10-year safety record.
The Benson-based short line said it recently has completed its 10th year of accident-free operations.
"Safety is paramount and we're very proud of this record," said Scott Parkinson, general manger of SPSR. "Each of our employees is experienced, trained and tested regularly to ensure that our operations comply with very strict federal and state regulations."
In addition to its accident-free record, the railroad's employees have not had a reportable injury since 1999, making the railroad a nine-time recipient of the "Jake Jacobson Award," which the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association presents annually to only those railroads that have not had an employee injury for the entire year.
"It's important that our customers are confident that we will handle their shipments with the utmost safety," Parkinson added.
SPSR's chief sources of traffic are agricultural chemicals, feed grains and building products. The line recently upgraded its rail-to-truck transload facility at Benson, offering customers savings from lower rail rates and the convenience of truck delivery.
SPSR serves regional businesses in Cochise County from connections with Union Pacific's Los Angeles-Chicago main line at Benson and Willcox.
SPSR is owned by the Arizona Railroad Group, which acquired the line in November 2003 from RailAmerica Inc.
SPSR's oldest predecessor dates to 1888, when the Arizona and South Eastern Railroad built a 60-mile line from Benson to Bisbee, eventually becoming part of the Southern Pacific. It was successively bought by Kyle Railways in 1992, StatesRail in 1997 and RailAmerica in 2002.
The railroad is laid with heavy 112- to 132-pound rail, accommodating today's heavier 286,000-pound gross weight cars. SPSR replaced 3,000 crossties in 2007 and bridges were strengthened.
(This report appeared in the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review.)
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