Freedom Rail makes bridge repairs in Hopkins County

Freedom Rail has begun to make repairs to the former Blacklands line, according to a presentation by Freedom Rail senior vice president Jeff Lederer at the Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District (NETEX) regular September meeting on Thursday. 

Freedom Rail replaced two bridges, one at mile post 514.85 and one at mile post 514.97, Lederer said. Both of these bridges are located in Hopkins County east of Sulphur Springs. Freedom Rail replaced nine wooden supports encased in cement. 

“I’m very surprised several ton engines were going over that, as well as the amount of gross tons in railcar traffic,” Lederer told the News-Telegram. "I wouldn’t have walked over it.” 

Lederer said the group still plans to review and repair the 68 additional bridges across the entire line from Greenville to Winfield.

“One of our other big concerns on the railroad was the Sulphur Springs,” Lederer said. Used primarily by company Custom Commodities, Lederer estimates at any one time, 40 railcars weighing 143 tons each may rumble over the tracks two or three times a week.

Freedom rail put in approximately 30 crossties to straighten out the tracks, Lederer said. However, the 88.6 total miles of track from Greenville to Mount Pleasant will need half a million crossties, Lederer said. 

“They’re scary pictures, the before and afters,” NETEX board president Titus County Judge Brian Lee stated. “I didn’t know we had problems like that.” 

Freedom Rail has also engaged tree services, which they have applied to trackage near Saltillo in Hopkins County. Lederer said they plan to clear away more brush from the track in the fall and spring, but that it is a task that "takes a long time." 

Lederer said the next steps for the group are moving forward with initial conversations with the Dallas, Garland and Northeastern Railroad (DGNO) to create greater rail connectivity in the region and therefore more shipping options for shippers.