A family-owned regional railroad in central North Carolina is reducing pollution and saving on fuel costs in its latest efforts to promote a “green” business environment.

The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway’s business strategy of innovation in both economic development and research and development has driven the “green” effort. Robert Menzies, whose family has owned ACWR since 1987, says the latest R&D efforts have cut pollution by 40%. “We strive to be leaders in environmental efforts,” says Menzies, who adds that railroading is four to 10 times more fuel efficient at moving freight.

And now, with its latest “home grown” equipment addition, ACWR is saving $250,000 per year in diesel fuel costs, passing savings to customers as well as continuing to help the environment. ACWR’s 4-man shop crew took on the challenge of converting a locomotive headed for the scrap pile into a “mate,” a task that has not been tackled by a North Carolina regional railroad.

The “mate,” also called a “cow/calf” by some railroad crews, rides just behind the locomotive, or “mother.” It has no power on its own, receiving its electrical power from the “mother” locomotive for its traction motors, but its contribution in pulling power to a train of 50 grain cars is tremendous.

“It adds traction without added fuel consumption,” says Menzies. “The ability to dig in is so important when you start to move freight. It makes our railroad even more fuel efficient.”

The railroad industry in general is front and center in environmental efforts. “If a truck used 100 gallons of fuel, we would use 10 to 25 gallons of fuel,” he says.

ACWR moves commercial freight on The Carolina Route, 160 miles of track that it owns through six south central North Carolina counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Stanly, Union, Montgomery and Moore. With a market reach of 8 million people, ACWR offers clients a healthy business climate in a fast-growing region, accessible land for development, access to large markets, and cost efficiency in moving product.

ACWR moves freight from businesses in the six counties to and from interchanges of both Norfolk Southern Corp. and CSX Transportation. ACWR connects with these larger Class 1 rail lines in Charlotte and a national transportation network.

This unique situation allows industry located along The Carolina Route to get competitive pricing options. ACWR moves agriculture, construction, forest and consumer products and liquid fuels.

It is a rarity for a regional railroad to have a “mate,” according to Menzies, adding that ACWR’s ”mate” is the only one owned by a regional railroad in North Carolina.

ACWR took on the project in its continuous effort at improvement.

“Very few railroads take on this project,” says Dale Parks, chief mechanical officer, who spearheaded the effort. “The key thing is that we built it ourselves.”

“It shows the capability of the guys in our shop,” says Menzies. “We’re constantly seeking new ways to be green and keep costs down,” says Russ Smitley, vice president of marketing.

ACWR has an average annual growth of 63.7% with more than $30 million invested in a 10-year period. “Much like the innovative work we are doing with our locomotive fleet, Aberdeen is about growing and finding development sites for businesses,” says Smitley. “We’re interested in long-term relationships with businesses that are environmentally friendly.”