By Justin Franz 

On October 29, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it would be doling out $2.4 billion in grants on 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C., as part of its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program. The money will fund everything from trackwork in Maine to locomotive upgrades in Arizona. 

The results of some of the grants will be hard to see for trackside observers — such as ones to study ways to reduce trespassing fatalities or workforce development — but others will have a big impact for railfans. Here are a few that caught our eye, particularly ones that will be impacting short lines. 

The Grand Canyon Railway will get $3.3 million to convert an older diesel locomotive to zero-emission battery power. It’s unclear what unit will become battery-powered (the railroad has a number of F40s), but when done it will be able to make at least one roundtrip per charge. The California Air Resources Board will receive $36 million to replace 10 diesel locomotives on a number of short lines with nine battery-electric units (five units will go to Pacific Harbor Line, four to Watco operations in California, and the Sacramento Valley Railroad will get one hydrogen fuel cell unit). The Modesto & Empire Traction will get funds to upgrade and repower nine locomotives to meet Tier 4 emissions standards. The Napa Valley Railroad will get $6.4 million to replace seven diesel locomotives with three new Tier 4 locomotives. The Trona Railway will replace six locomotives with three new Tier 4 units. Watco is getting $19 million to repower eight diesels into battery-electric, zero-emissions units at four rail-served facilities it does switching for, including in Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, as well as Montana’s Mission Mountain Railroad. Lastly, Minnesota Commerical is getting $15 million to replace nine older units with six Tier 4 locomotives. 

The Alaska Railroad is getting $43 million to rehabilitate a 1,298-foot bridge across the Tanana River in Nenanda, Alaska. The Arizona Eastern will be getting upwards of $21 million to rehab 34 miles of track, cut brush, replace three old timber bridges and outfit two tank cars for firefighting duties. Arizona & California will get $22 million for track improvement along 36 miles of main line, including replacing old 90-pound rail with 115-pound rail. The San Luis Central will get $1 million to replace about 6,000 ties. The Chicago, Ft. Wayne & Eastern is getting $21 million to acquire a 26-car continuous welded rail train and 75 ballast cars. The Iowa Interstate is getting $29 million for new bridges in Iowa and Illinois to reduce clearance issues. The Eastern Maine Railway will receive $53 million to upgrade or replace 97 miles of rail, along with installing crossties and ballast. Pan Am Southern (now Berkshire & Eastern) will get $21 million for upgrades to its main line and Waterbury Subdivision. Lake State Railway in Michigan will get $27 million to replace 52 miles of jointed rail with continuous welded rail and improve 34 grade crossings. The Twin Cities & Western is receiving $11 million for welded rail on 24 miles of main line. The Morristown & Erie in New Jersey is getting $4 million for trackwork on its Whippany Line. The New York, Susquehanna & Western is getting $3.9 million to install welded rail in Onondaga and Cortland Counties in New York. The Red River Valley & Western Railroad in North Dakota is getting $20 million for track improvement and the construction of two new sidings. Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad will get $6 million to replace two bridges in Ohio and West Virginia. Oregon’s Albany & Eastern will get $3.3 million for new ties on its Mill City Branch and $4.1 million for new rail on its Sweet Home Branch. The City of Prineville Railway, also in Oregon, will get $1.6 million to rehab its main line between Prineville and Prineville Jct. Coos Bay Rail Link will get $29 million for various upgrades related to the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port Project, including main line trackwork, new sidings and enhancements to its yard in Eugene, Ore. The Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority will get $8.9 million for track improvement on the Pocono main line between Slateford and Gouldsboro, Pa., presently used by Delaware-Lackawanna. And finally, Columbia Basin Railroad will get $11 million to replace 10 miles of rail and about 8,000 cross ties. 

To see the entire list of projects visit the FRA website.