City of Prineville Railway seeing brisk business

City of Prineville Railway officials said Friday they are seeing record traffic from companies bringing in and shipping cargo throughout Central Oregon.

“Our business is up about 60 percent so far this year,” City Manager Steve Forrester said.

A nearly 100-year-old railway is finally turning a profit for Prineville.

The freight depot is becoming viable as part of an economic incubator for existing businesses to grow and flourish, Forrester said.

City officials said the location has helped attract new clients and is generating thousands of dollars for the city budget.

Operations Manager Matt Wiederholt said they currently have more than 30 customers from a variety of industries, such as Les Schwab Tires and the Malheur Lumber Co. from John Day.

Over the years of budget constraints and lack of profitability, the city decided to wait on maintenance, so now the city is looking at expanding the depot.

Officials of the century-old railway, one of the few in the nation owned by a city, said they also are launching a 13-acre freight depot just north of Redmond.

Prineville officials say they are working at attracting a business from Redding, California.