Otter Tail Valley Railroad Explained

Railroad Name:Otter Tail Valley Railroad
Marks:OTVR
Locale:Minnesota
Start Year:1986
End Year:present
Length:81miles
Hq City:Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Map State:collapsed
Website:www.gwrr.com/otvr/

The Otter Tail Valley Railroad is a Class III railroad operating 81miles[1] of track between Moorhead, Minnesota, and Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and short branch lines from Fergus Falls to French and from Fergus Falls to Hoot Lake.

History

The railroad began operations in 1986[2] on former Burlington Northern, ex Great Northern Railway track between Moorhead and Avon, Minnesota, interchanging with Burlington Northern. The railroad abandoned the 96miles of track between Avon and Fergus Falls in February 1991.[3]

In 2008, the railroad handled approximately 10,000 carloads, principally outbound grain and inbound coal.[2]

Otter Tail Valley Railroad is owned by Genesee & Wyoming, having been acquired in 2012. As of 2023, OTVR can hold up to 286,000 pounds of supplies. [4]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Otter Tail Valley Railroad – A Genesee & Wyoming Company .
  2. June 2010. RailAmerica's Empire. Trains. Kalmbach Publishing.
  3. Book: Lewis, Edward . 1996 . American Shortline Railway Guide, 5th Edition . Waukesha, Wisconsin . . 240 . 0-89024-290-9 . December 4, 2014. Google Books.
  4. Web site: Otter Tail Valley Railroad – A Genesee & Wyoming Company .