RailRoadFan.com

One of his videos showed up on my suggested YouTube viewing the other day.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZDPxl ... KJJxDIM7BQ
Don't know what or where this railroad is. He hasn't disclosed it.
It is a terminal railroad about a mile long. Hasn't been used in while and had nice sized trees growing in the gauge.
Seems to be close to an airport with jets. Truck has Ohio plates.

admin edit: edited the subject line for Daveo.

According to someone in the comments, the tracks are east of the airport in Columbus Ohio.

How about east of the north end of the Dayton Airport?

Link in the comments to a map of the Blacklick neighborhood in Columbus, a couple miles east of the airport.

Thank you, I see now the recent comment regarding the location.
The old adage, to make a small fortune in business, start with a large fortune, might seem to apply here.
Time will tell.
If he can get a truck or two off of the highway, that will be a good thing.

This is Rerail America https://www.rerailamerica.com/ Railroad location name is BLACKLICK STATION OH. Former Sonaco Lead that comes off Ohio Central and into the industrial park/warehouse area between I-270 and Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road on east side of Columbus OH. Initial use will be car storage and car repair.

Nice job finding a website URL.

I know that railroads over the past years have been outsourcing car repairs.
I get the feeling that over those same years many small operations have been formed to do those car repairs. Such as in this case.
This type of situation is where low bid is going to be the winner.
Assuming you can actually make money off of the bid.

Is it the tracks here: AMCOR RIGID PLASTICS
444 McCormick Blvd, Columbus, OH 43213
(614) 759-8470
https://goo.gl/maps/5Jkbt7tK6Wg31i7K7

Or here:

Mid-State Sales, Inc.
1101 Gahanna Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43230
(614) 864-1811
https://goo.gl/maps/jdYgP2sBaD9E4Avy8

The "in the ditch video" he mentions Conrail.

My guess is its this one

LansingRailFan wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 8:54 am

Or here:
Mid-State Sales, Inc.
1101 Gahanna Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43230
(614) 864-1811
https://goo.gl/maps/jdYgP2sBaD9E4Avy8

Yes I have been watching it as well. I would say Dayton as they were going to an auction in Springfield so Ohio for sure. Don't think it is the CCET but think an old CSX or NS track that didn't service anyone for a few years. The tracks we not in very good shape trees growing in the middle of the tracks and washouts in areas. Only a mile long. I was looking the snow. Cincinnati only got a dusting last week but there it appeared to be more than a dusting so it has to be around Dayton or just north east of there close to Columbus. The guy doesn't want to give the location but not that hard to figure out. Think AARR might have it

Having heard what West Michigan Railroad has done with less than 4 miles of track away from a large population center I believe under that right management they could make a go of this segment

Agreed, it is the Columbus area. Video 6 gave it away. Here's the Google view. https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9899597 ... a=!3m1!1e3

Jim_c wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 28, 2020 7:25 pm

Agreed, it is the Columbus area. Video 6 gave it away. Here's the Google view. https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9899597 ... a=!3m1!1e3

Cool so it was the first location I mentioned above.

Looks like there is a lot of potential customers there.

Yes - first location.

I have watched the series of videos.

I didn't even know anything above and it took me about 15 minutes to figure out where they were using the clues in the video.

Ohio plates.
East Terminal (well it's east of something)
The mentioned Conrail.
I could hear jets, but not only jets, BIG jets on close approach. Which meant near a large airport in the approach patterns for the runway.

So I had a look. And it didn't find long to find.

East Columbus Terminal Railway
592 MULBERRY ST
BLACKLILCK OH 43004

The thing is, according to the tax records, he doesn't even own all the track in the area.
He just owns Parcel ID: 010-165726-00 which is shows was bought for $8000

The area he calls the "Railyard" isn't theirs, is owned by other people.

He owns about a 1000 feet of rail. Though curiously, the active lead to the still active customer runs across his parcel.

BUT, even weirder. Is both the active, lead, and the lead to his track... run across land owned by the HOA for the neighborhood next to him. Likely the housing land the developer bought from a old industry and subdivided. Parcel ID: 520-271975-00 STONEHILL ASSOCIATION INC

He also didn't seem to buy the southern portion of the ROW. 010-165727. None of the videos have been from down on that section.

And that is why I think he is being so secretive. This guy is going to get NIMBYed, and NiMBYed BAD. And because of the stupid way the land was parceled up. The Nimbys have all the leverage..

Even weirder.. Ohio Central (G&W) is crossing his land, and the HOA land to get to the active customer. This is going to be a legal nightmare once he starts getting noticed by the homeowners. Assuming G&W will deal with him, which he does have leverage over them with them crossing his parcel..

Weird weird situation.

It sure does seems to be an interesting situation.

If not interesting...at least fascinating.
Live long and prosper.

I've checked the Surface Transportation Board to see if they have filed to be a railroad.
No luck finding anything to indicate that has been done.

Being a railroad under Federal law gives you lots of protection from local laws and lawsuits.
That's what Matty Moroun tried to do with the Mc Clouth Steel site in Trenton, Michigan.
They made a railroad to try to circumvent the local zoning laws that were preventing him from making it an intermodal terminal.
The courts didn't buy that though as it was clear the intent wasn't to run a railroad.

I don't even think "being a railroad" can help this guy. Since the homeowners association owns the parcel his track, and the active G&W track cross to get to the G&W Ohio Central.

Wouldn't take long for a lawyer hired by annoyed homeowners to figure this out.
This is likely the real reason for the secrecy.

It looks back in the early 2000s an empty industrial lot was turned into homes and subdivided. The corner the track was on was simply deeded to the homeowners association at a little bit later date.

If things go sideways, not only does this guy stand to get cut off, but G&W Ohio Central will stand to loose a customer.