BNSF
BNSF and Special Olympics Texas on April 26 will host the 25th annual Special Olympics Regional Cycling competition on BNSF’s headquarters’ campus in Fort Worth, Tex. Some 100-150 Special Olympics Texas athletes will compete in various cycling races along a guided route; 500-600 family members and volunteers will also be in attendance, BNSF reported on April 21. This is a state qualifying competition for Special Olympics Texas; it is free and open to the public.
Since 2001, BNSF has hosted and sponsored the event, and the railroad also coordinates and runs the competition. BNSF team members serve as volunteers.
“We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful partnership we have with BNSF,” said Alex Hubbard, Special Olympics Texas Executive Director, North Region. “For 25 years, our cycling event has been a mainstay on our calendar, and BNSF has been at the heart of the event every year. The commitment and passion shown by all the individuals at BNSF to support our athletes and their families is unmatched in our community. We look forward to continuing to work with BNSF for many years to come.”
“This competition allows these special needs athletes to compete and to do it in a way where they are being cheered on, not just by their family and friends, but the broader community,” noted Ed King, BNSF Assistant Director of Dimensional Clearance and Border Support. “Being a part of the community is part of our leadership model, vision and values here at BNSF. The reason I come back every year is that it’s not work; it’s hugs, smiles and high-fives. The energy the athletes bring is incredible.”
Event Details:
- 9 a.m. Saturday, April 26 on BNSF campus, 2650 Lou Menk Drive, Fort Worth, Tex.
- Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. The awards ceremony will begin at approximately 2 p.m.
- For more information and to volunteer for the event, email Wade Wilcox at wwilcox@sotx.org.
Separately, BNSF and the International Association of Sheet, Metal, Air and Transportation Workers’–Transportation Division (Yardmasters) earlier this month reached a tentative labor agreement. Plus, BNSF CEO Katie Farmer provided a commentary on growth as part of Railway Age’s special CEO Perspectives Series in the April issue.
NS
Petersburg, Va.-based Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) in 2024 received a $15,000 Thriving Communities Grant from NS and is using it for new tools and education support, according to the Class I railroad.
Volunteers for the nonprofit now have new tools to remove invasive plants and improve forest health along the river, NS reported April 21, and the Appomattox River Center is being enhanced so it can host more workshops and community events.
“We’re already seeing signs of success from the grant, and know more beautification is to come,” FOLAR Executive Director Wendy Austin said.
Launched in 2023, NS’s Thriving Communities and Safety First grant programs provide funding to organizations making a positive impact in communities across its 22-state rail network. The Class I awarded more than $6 million in grants last year to 408 organizations.
Grant applications are open through Sept. 1, 2025, for both programs. To apply, visit the NS Corporate Giving website.
NS on April 21 reported that customer SA Recycling is expanding the rail spur at its flagship Georgia facility to grow capacity from 14 to up to 25 daily carloads and eliminate main line switching conflicts (watch video above).
Located in Doraville, this 24/7 operation recycles autos, appliances, bikes, demolition debris, and structural steel, and is home to a 680-pound hammer shredder that can process 200 autos per hour. According to NS, the facility helped recycle steel from the Georgia Dome implosion in 2017.
Beyond crushing used cars, NS said, SA Recycling is “fueling a circular economy and creating new opportunities for sustainable growth—powered by rail.” The products are turned into feedstock for the steel and aluminum mills of the world, according to Bobby Triesch, SA Recycling’s Georgia Region General Manager, who discussed the operation and NS’s customer advisory board in a special video (above).
NS President and CEO Mark George, COO John Orr, CCO Ed Elkins, and other senior railroad leaders visited the facility in early April.
“With 20 facilities across Georgia, including a key site in Savannah near NS’s Dillard Yard, SA Recycling’s business continues to grow—and rail will be key,” NS reported.
