EWR's GP9 No. 911 in Elkhart on August 24, 2015.
(David Wilson, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
ELKHART AND WESTERN RAILROAD CO. (EWR) (2001)
The Elkhart & Western Railroad Co. (reporting mark EWR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer Railcorp (reporting mark PREX), is a Class III short-line railroad operating three unconnected lines in northern Indiana, United States. The first, the Elkhart Branch, is in and around the city of Elkhart in Elkhart County, the second, the Argos Branch, radiates from Plymouth, in Marshall County, and the third, the Monon Branch, operating from Monon to Monticello, in White County.
Pioneer Railcorp created the Elkhart & Western Railroad, on May 1, 2001, from a 10-mile (16 km) stretch of the Michigan Southern Railroad. The Elkhart Branch begins at its junction with the Norfolk Southern Railway near the center of Elkhart, then crosses the St. Joseph River, which it follows westward, and finally ends on the northeast side of Mishawaka, in neighboring St. Joseph County.
Freight hauled on the EWR Elkhart Line consists mainly of plastic flakes, lumber, paper and cement. Freight hauled on the EWR Argos Line consists of mainly scrap iron, paper, plastic pellets, and lime, with the addition of storage car holding.
In January 2018, CSX sold 9.58 mi (15.42 km) of track running from Monon to Monticello, to ETW. Operations began in August, serving the only customer on the line, Monticello Farm Service, Inc.
Power
The EWR received its two locomotives from Pioneer Railcorp, and although the units no longer have the Pioneer reporting marks, the units are still owned by EWR's parent.
| Number | Model | Acquired | Branch | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 911 | EMD GP9 | 2001 | Elkhart | Built as Milwaukee Road (MILW) GP9 315; sold to Minnesota Valley Authority (MNVA) 315; became PREX 911. Rail-fans have labeled this unit as EWR GP9R 911 which is neither its correct reporting mark nor unit classification. |
| 912 | EMD GP9 | 2001 | Elkhart | - |
| 1608 | GP16 | 20211600 to be scrapped 2022 | Argos | - |
| 1606 | GP16 | 2019 | Argos | - |
| 1601 | GP16 | 2019 | Monon | Previously served on the ND&W. Swapped with 3001 late 2019. |
Overview
Parent company: Pioneer Lines
Headquarters: Elkhart, Indiana
Reporting mark: EWR
Dates of operation: 2001–present
Predecessors
Argos Branch: Nickel Plate Railroad
Elkhart Branch: Michigan Southern Railroad
Monon Branch: Monon Railroad
Technical
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Track length: 47 mi (76 km)
Other
Website: pioneerlines.com/elkhart-and-western-railway-ewr/
