By Justin Franz

New England’s newest shortline will begin operations on Friday. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Genesee & Wyoming confirmed to Railfan & Railroad that Berkshire & Eastern would officially take over the former Pan Am Southern this week. 

As part of CSX’s takeover of Pan Am Railways in 2022, the Class I agreed to have G&W operate Pan Am Southern, a joint venture with Norfolk Southern that includes much of the former Boston & Maine west of Ayer, Mass. G&W plans to operate the main line across western Massachusetts and eastern New York, along with branches into Connecticut and Vermont. The new railroad will operate on about 425 miles of track. 

The start-up comes more than a year after CSX took control of PAR. Sources close to the railroad said the delay in having G&W take over stemmed from trying to hash out union agreements with the various crafts. The delay was just one reason why NS sued CSX earlier this summer. The competing Class I also alleged that CSX was “brazenly and repeatedly violating key contract provisions” and that it was having an impact on its own business. That suit has not yet been resolved. 

As part of the takeover, CSX will sell nearly two dozen locomotives to B&E, mostly a mix of B40-8 and C40-8 locomotives. B&E will also lease from CSX a handful of former Pan Am GP40 and SD40-2 locomotives.