Can I come on railroad property?
             No.  The EVWR does not allow anyone other than employees on railroad property
             without prior, written authorization.  All trespassers will be prosecuted!  

Can I take photographs of trains? 

Safety is of prime importance to the EVWR.  We do not allow anyone other than employees on railroad property without prior, written authorization.  All trespassers will be prosecuted!

How do I contact the Railroad Retirement Board? 

            General Toll Free Number is: 800-808-0772

            Website is found at www.rrb.gov/retirement.html

District offices are located at (depending upon your location):

                Saint Louis, MO ---

                 Robert A. Young Federal Building, Room 7.303

                1222 Spruce Street

                Zip: 63103-2818

                Phone: 314-539-6220

                and

                Indianapolis, IN —

                The Meridian Centre, Suite 303

                50 South Meridian Street

                Zip: 46204-3530

                Phone: 317-226-6111

Can I ride on your trains?

The EVWR is a FREIGHT railroad only.  Only authorized personnel are permitted on EVWR property or aboard our equipment.

How do I do business with your railroad?

Your “first line” of contact is the Marketing Department.  contact Greg Phelps at 866-812-EVWR, 1, 4414, or E-mail at gwphelps@evwr.com.

My business is not rail served.  How can I take advantage of rail transportation to ship my products or receive raw material?

There are many industries not directly rail served which can still enjoy the benefits of rail transportation.

Team Tracks (available free of charge to the general public for loading and unloading of product to/from railcars) are located along the EVWR; contact Greg Phelps at 866-812-EVWR, 1, 4414, or E-mail at gwphelps@evwr.com.

How do I know what it will cost to transport my product by rail?

Before 1981 most rail rates were established through rate bureaus.  Since the Staggers Act of 1981, however, rail carriers have basically had the freedom to price according to the market.  Many “public” prices are found on each carrier’s web site; these can be utilized for many movements.  Confidential rates, however, are in many instances negotiated for competitive, volume movements by contacting the serving railroad’s Marketing Department.  CLICK HERE for EVWR Pricing Contact information.

Most rates are based upon (1) the product and volume to be shipped, (2) cost---which roughly corresponds with the distance moved, (3) equipment type, availability, and ownership, and (4) market conditions and competition.  Railroad freight rates include the empty return of a rail car to the point of origin.

My company doesn’t own any rail cars?  Can I still ship by rail?

Of course.  The EVWR’s can assist you in determining the type and size of railcar you need and in securing that car for loading and can be called upon for questions regarding proven and official loading methods and specifics.  Contact our General Manager.

What type rail cars are available?  How much can I ship in a rail car?

All rail cars in Mexico, the U.S.A. and Canada are listed in the “Equipment Register” and those operating on U.S. railroads must meet the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) and federal government construction standards for safety and interlining (movement between railroads), and must be maintained to those standards.

The common freight cars are: box, flat, covered hopper, open top hopper, tank, and gondola, each costing from $40,000 for a standard railcar ordered in quantity, to over $200,000 for a specialized tank car.  Special cars include the heavy duty flat, refrigerated box, pneumatic and pressure differential covered hopper, auto rack flat, 90' pole flat, 80' high-cube boxcar, 24' open top ore hopper, and many others.

All railcars are 9.5 feet wide, give or take 10 inches, and range from 24' to 90' in length.  Most are 10 to 12 feet high---except for flat cars which are, of course, flat, and gondolas usually have 3' to 4' high sides.  Car height is measured from the floors of rail cars, which are 3.5' to 4.5' above the top of the rail.

Most rail cars’ load capacities range from 120,000 (some boxcars and special cars for lighter commodities) pounds to 200,000 pounds (most newer cars of all types).  Some special tank cars and heavy duty flat cars for moving electrical transformers and equipment carry much more tonnage.  The load capacity and empty tare weight is stenciled on the side of every railcar.  Normal maximum gross weight (total weight of rail car and its contents) is 263,000 pounds.

For further information: Contact Jim Holloway at 866-812-EVWR or E-mail at jtholloway@evwr.com.

I have heard many terms related to railroads which I do not understand?  Could you tell me what some of them mean?