Final Call! Railway Age Small-Road Award Nominations Due Today
Railroads may describe outstanding achievement in one or a combination of areas, including but are not limited to: turnaround situations; consistent excellence; innovation in operations or maintenance; marketing; customer service; enhanced productivity; community relations; safety improvement; and ingenuity in dealing with the unexpected.
Small roads in the U.S., Mexico and Canada are eligible for an award. Our 2026 honorees will be recognized at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) 2026 Conference & Exhibition, to be held April 12-14 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Articles covering their achievements will appear in Railway Age’s March 2026 issue, which will be distributed at the show. Railway Age will work with the honorees to publicize the awards in online and national media.
“‘Grass roots’ best defines the service provided by the entrepreneurial short lines and regionals, which meet local needs and drive economic activity at the local level,” Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono says. “They are critically important first-mile/last mile rail connections and partners of the Class I railroads, which depend upon them to deliver—literally.”
The entry deadline is Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.
Complete this form to submit a nomination.
Photos and other relevant material will be gratefully accepted but are not required for entries. If you wish to submit supporting material, please email it to Railway Age Executive Editor Marybeth Luczak, mluczak@sbpub.com.
PRIOR HONOREES
2025
• Short Line: Rochester & Erie Railway LLC
• Regional: Railroad Development Corporation’s Iowa Interstate Railroad LLC
Honorable Mentions:
• Short Line: Central Montana Rail Inc.
• Short Line: Genesee & Wyoming’s Columbus & Ohio River Rail Road
• Short Line: Regional Rail LLC’s Great Sandhills Railway
• Short Line: R.J. Corman Railroad Company West Virginia Line
2024
• Short Line: Mississippi Export Railroad
• Regional: Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company
Honorable Mention:
• Short Line: Eastern Idaho Railroad
2023
• Short Line: Napoleon, Defiance & Western
• Regional: ArcelorMittal Infrastructure Canada Railway
Honorable Mention:
• Short Line: Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway
2022
• Short Line: Vermont Railway
• Regional: South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad
2021
• Short Line: RJ Corman Memphis Line
• Regional: Lake State Railway
Honorable Mentions:
• Short Line: Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad
• Short Line: Grenada Railroad
2020
• Short Line: Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
• Regional: Reading & Northern Railroad
Honorable Mentions:
• Short Line: Delmarva Central Railroad Company
• Regional: Vermont Rail System
2019
• Short Line: Louisville & Indiana
• Regional: Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern
2018
• Short Line: Lake State Railway
• Regional: Indiana Rail Road
2017
• Short Line: North Shore Railroad
• Regional: Conrail Shared Assets Operations
2016
• Short Line: New Orleans & Gulf Coast
• Regional: Central Maine & Quebec
2015
• Short Line: Palmetto Railways
• Regional: Reading & Northern
2014
• Short Line: Coos Bay Rail Link
• Regional: Arkansas & Missouri
2013
• Short Line: Gardendale Railroad
• Regional: Montana Rail Link
2012
• Short Line: Vermont Railway
• Regional: Indiana Rail Road
2011
• Short Line: Blacklands Railroad
• Regional: Reading & Northern
2010
• Short Line: Greenville & Western Railway Co., LLC
• Regional: Northern Plains Railroad
2009
• Short Line: Pacific Harbor Line
• Regional: Wisconsin & Southern
2008
• Short Line: Twin Cities & Western
• Regional: South Kansas & Oklahoma
2007
• Short Line: R.J. Corman West Virginia Line
• Regional: Florida East Coast
2006
• Short Line: Georgia Midland
• Regional: Buffalo & Pittsburgh
2005
• Short Line: Cedar Rapids and Iowa City
• Regional: Red River Valley & Western
2004
• Short Line: Nittany & Bald Eagle
• Regional: Wheeling & Lake Erie
2003
• Short Line: San Joaquin Valley Railroad
• Regional: Indiana Harbor Belt
2002
• Short Line: Winchester & Western
• Regional: Reading & Northern
2001
• Short Line: South Buffalo Railway
• Regional: Wisconsin & Southern
2000
• Short Line: Arkansas Midland
• Regional: Bessemer & Lake Erie
1999
• Short Line: South Central Florida Express
• Regional: Providence & Worchester
1998
• Short Line: St. Lawrence & Atlantic
• Regional: Texas-Mexican Railway
1997
• Short Line: Livonia, Avon & Lakeville
• Regional: Red River Valley & Western
1996
• Short Line: Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England
• Regional: Bangor & Aroostook
1995
• Short Line: Cedar Rapids & Iowa City
• Regional: New England Central
