CSX
CSX customer Saint Paul Commodities’ (SPC) on Nov. 7 opened its $2.33 million blending plant in Selma, N.C. Developed with the Class I and Bailey Feed Mill, the plant features 940,000 gallons of storage capacity, dual rail sidings accommodating up to 20 railcars, eight loading/unloading positions for railcars, and the ability to load and offload up to nine trucks per hour, CSX reported Nov. 19.
“This blending plant represents what’s possible when great partners come together with a shared vision,” said SPC CEO B. Shane Grutsch, who took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony with company Vice President of Operations Anthony Pellegrino and Director of Operations Spencer Schreiner, Bailey Feed Mill owners Douglas and Albert Daniel, and CSX’s Director of Sales Nick Hall and Senior Sales Manager Lauryn King.
“CSX is proud to partner with SPC and Bailey Feed Mill on this transformative project,” said Maryclare Kenney, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at CSX, whose leaders from sales, marketing, finance, site design, and train operations contributed to the project. “The Selma Blending Plant is a strong example of how rail can enable growth, efficiency, and sustainability for our customers. Together, we’re building the infrastructure that keeps America’s supply chains moving.”
Last summer, CSX released a special video (above) on how it contributed to the 400% growth over 2.5 years at SPC, which specializes in the purchasing and selling of renewable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, yellow grease, and animal fats (poultry fat, choice white grease, tallow, etc.). SPC in 2024 recognized the railroad with an Excellence in Partnership Award.
In a related development, CSX in early November awarded Platinum Select Site status to a Dothan, Ala., industrial development property.
Further Reading:
- BNSF, CSX Offering More, ‘Faster’ Coast-to-Coast Service
- CSX’s Steve Angel to Co-Chair B&O Railroad Museum’s Capital Campaign
BNSF
BNSF customer Hybar on Nov. 12 held the grand opening of its rebar mill in Osceola, Ark., with more than 500 customers, suppliers, construction contractors, lenders, government officials and investors in attendance. BNSF reported working with Hybar—from site selection to rail design—to complete the project in 21 months.
“Hybar produces rebar using 100% renewable energy with connection to a solar installation,” the railroad wrote in a Nov. 19 social media post. “It’s the first steel producer in North America to be able to do this. Hybar’s scrap metal recycling steel production mill will produce more than 700,000 tons of rebar each year, accounting for approximately 7% of annual U.S. rebar demand.”
According to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), Hybar has now completed the mill, a “behind-the-meter solar and battery storage electrical energy facility,” and a Mississippi River port operation for a total investment of nearly $1 billion. The port is said to allows the company to “economically source its raw material and scrap metal and deliver its rebar steel along the Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois river systems.” Combined with its central location, on-site BNSF rail connection, and proximity to Arkansas’s highway networks, Hybar can transport scrap metal from nearly any geographic area of the U.S., according to AEDC.
During the grand opening ceremony, BNSF Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Tom Williams presented Hybar with a 2025 Sustainability Award (pictured above); the company was one of 32 recipients.
Prior to completing commissioning of its rolling mill and solar and battery storage facility, Hybar in June produced the first rebar at its steel mini mill.
NS
NS in November teamed with Habitat for Humanity as part of Homelessness Awareness Month. It said 77 railroad volunteers helped to build, paint, and landscape homes for families in need across the cities of Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Ill.; Atlanta, Ga.; Elkhart, Ind.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Pittsburgh, Pa. They worked on nine homes “to strengthen the communities we serve,” according to NS, which noted that in 2025 it has donated $1.73 million to organizations focused on housing insecurity.
“Home is the foundation on which we build our lives,” said Charlita Stephens-Walker, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Cause Marketing for Habitat for Humanity International. “When companies like Norfolk Southern dedicate their time and talent, we’re able to further our efforts of building stronger communities and better futures across the U.S.”
“Every build is a reminder that when we come together, we can create real, lasting change,” said Kristin Wong, Director of Norfolk Southern Foundation & Community Impact. “It’s inspiring to see how our employees show up for their neighbors and support the need for safe housing in our communities.”
Meanwhile, NS President and CEO Mark George (pictured above, right) has presented a $450,000 donation to Children’s of Alabama in support of an expansion project and health care education programs.
The donation “will help double the size of the hospital’s critical care space, equipping it with state-of-the-art technology and resources to serve more children in need,” NS reported Nov. 17. It also covers the cost of two simulation manikins, which “will strengthen the Community Healthcare Education Simulation Program, enabling staff to train parents and rural health care professionals in caring for critically ill or injured children,” according to the railroad.
NS’s support “is inspired by the families and care teams whose stories remind us that behind every hospital bed in this system is a child with dreams, a family with hope, and a team fighting for their future,” Mark George said.
“We are grateful to Norfolk Southern for their generous support, which will have a lasting impact on the care we provide to our patients,” said Tom Shufflebarger, President and CEO of Children’s of Alabama. “This generous donation underscores Norfolk Southern’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of children and families in Alabama and across the Southeast. By ensuring that medical teams and families are better equipped to deliver world-class care through training and simulation, this gift will help improve patient outcomes and reinforces the hospital’s dedication to providing exceptional care for children for years to come.”
Further Reading:
UP
UP’s Roseville Terminal in California “delivered exceptional results in 2024, driven by a strong safety culture and collaborative, cross-craft teamwork,” the Class I railroad reported on Nov. 20.
“Through daily engagement, hands-on coaching, and a commitment to ‘Stop the Line,’” the team there maintained more than 580 injury-free days, “while keeping one of the busiest terminals on the West Coast running safely and efficiently,” according to UP.
In recognition of these efforts, the team earned UP’s Building America Award (watch video, top).
