Founded 1982 | ||
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Ohi-Rail Corporation is a short line railroad that runs from Minerva, Ohio to Hopedale, Ohio, with the reporting mark "OHIC". Interchanges with Columbus and Ohio River Railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway give Ohi-Rail endless possibilities for the transportation of freight.
Ohi-Rail Corporation traces its roots back to the predecessors of the New York Central System, who built the railroad to tap into the vast coal resources found in southeastern Ohio.
Later known as Penn Central’s Secondary Track, the 34 mile line stretches south from the City of Minerva through the coal rich counties of Carroll, Harrison and Jefferson to Hopedale in south- eastern Ohio. Along with the 3.8 mile Wolf Run Branch, this railroad, commonly known as the “Piney Fork Line,” cut a path through this coal rich region of Ohio.
The rail line thrived by transporting coal well into the late 1960’s. With the last two mines ceasing regular operations in the late 1970’s, Penn Central moved to abandon and remove the track. Looking to preserve the line, the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Division of Rail Transportation Development purchased the Piney Fork Line and its associated track in July of 1982 and began looking for an operator.
Ohi-Rail Corporation, a group of always forward thinking rail investors led by visionary owner, Teresa Schiappa, stepped forward and signed an agreement with the ORDC to operate and preserve the Piney Fork Line. Ohi-Rail stepped up again in 1993 when Conrail decided to abandon Ohi-Rail’s northern connection in Minerva. Ohi-Rail not only purchased the threatened line from Conrail, but they also purchased the additional track from Bayard into Minerva, including the Minerva Yard. In 2002, Ohi-Rail continued to grow with the addition of community staple, Richard Delatore, as Vice President.
With little traffic being generated on the railroad, Ohi-Rail made a living storing rail cars in the Minerva Yard until rumors of a new natural resource boom began circulating around the communities the railroad served.
Suddenly, Utica Shale became the new life blood of the railroad as oil and gas wells, using the latest technology in directional drilling and fracking methods, began producing massive amounts of oil and natural gas liquids in the counties the railroad served. From pipe suppliers and frac sand distributors, to oil and gas liquids themselves, the railroad’s business opportunities seem endless.
Ohi-Rail moved quickly, and when a major frac sand distributor located on the railroad in Minerva, the railroad completely rebuilt the Minerva Yard to accommodate the projected increase in traffic. At that time, they also brought General Manger, Denny Varian, on board to handle operations with the added value of his extensive background in the rail industry. Today, the main line is being completely rehabilitated from Minerva south to tap into the vast industrial property reserves along the line. Along with the sand cars in the railyard, tank cars are being filled with natural gas liquids via trans-loading from truck.
After adding internal Customer Service and Marketing Departments headed by Desiree Dunlap and Sarah Ossman, the future is bright again as the once coal-focused railroad is transforming itself to serve the great energy development growth alongside other diverse, industrial business in eastern Ohio.