Red River Valley and Western Railroad

Infobox SG rail
railroad_name=Red River Valley and Western Railroad
logo_filename=Rrv&w.gif
logo_size=243
old_gauge=
marks=RRVW
locale=North Dakota with a branch into Minnesota
start_year=1987
end_year=present
hq_city=Wahpeton, North Dakota
system_

---

map_caption=Route map of the RRVW. Solid lines are trackage owned by the railroad; dotted lines are those with trackage rights.
map_size=250
The Red River Valley and Western Railroad Reporting mark|RRVW is a regional railroad operating in the US states of North Dakota and Minnesota, which began operations in 1987. Its convert|648|mi|km of track originally acquired from the Burlington Northern Railroad included:

* Breckenridge, Minnesota to Oakes, North Dakota
* Breckenridge, Minnesota to Brushvale, Minnesota
* Wahpeton, North Dakota to Casselton, North Dakota
* Chaffee Junction, North Dakota to Chaffee, North Dakota
* Casselton, North Dakota to Marion, North Dakota
* Oakes, North Dakota to Jamestown, North Dakota
* Horace, North Dakota to Independence, North Dakota
* La Moure, North Dakota to Edgeley, North Dakota
* Jamestown, North Dakota to Minnewaukan, North Dakota
* Pingree, North Dakota to Regan, North Dakota
* Carrington, North Dakota to Turtle Lake, North Dakota
* Oberon, North Dakota to Esmond, North Dakota

Shortly after operations began, the Red River Valley and Western Railroad acquired a convert|19|mi|km|sing=on rail line between Oakes, North Dakota and Hecla, South Dakota from the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad. convert|18|mi|km of this rail line, beginning just south of Oakes, North Dakota, however, would be abandoned on September 7, 2001.

Currently, the Red River Valley and Western Railroad owns and operates convert|490|mi|km of trackage which includes:

* Breckenridge, Minnesota to Brushvale, Minnesota
* Breckenridge, Minnesota to Oakes, North Dakota
* Wahpeton, North Dakota to Casselton, North Dakota
* Chaffee Junction, North Dakota to Chaffee, North Dakota
* Oakes, North Dakota to Jamestown, North Dakota
* Horace, North Dakota to Independence, North Dakota
* La Moure, North Dakota to Edgeley, North Dakota
* Jamestown, North Dakota to Maddock, North Dakota
* Pingree, North Dakota to Woodworth, North Dakota
* Additional trackage rights on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway from Sheldon, North Dakota to Lucca, North Dakota, from Casselton, North Dakota to Jamestown, North Dakota, and from Breckenridge, Minnesota to Lidgerwood, North Dakota

The Red River Valley and Western Railroad is affiliated with the Twin Cities and Western Railroad and Minnesota Prairie Lines Incorporated. Andrew Thompson is the chief executive officer of all three railroads.

References

* AAR Railfan Club (2005), " [http://www.railfanclub.org/archives/newsletters/March05/Shortlines.htm Railway Age Names Shortline, Regional Railroads of the Year] ". Retrieved March 10 2005.
* Red River Valley and Western Railroad (2005), " [http://www.rrvw.net/PROFILE.HTM Company Profile] ". Retrieved March 10 2005.

External links

* [http://www.rrvw.net/ Red River Valley and Western official website]