EIRR and Omaha Teams Combine Forces

One of the advantages Watco has is the diversity of services offered. Not only is this beneficial to customers, but It has also proven to benefit the team as well. The Eastern Idaho Railroad (EIRR) had experienced a derailment earlier this year, which resulted in the need to get the 13 derailed railcars cut up and prepared for heavy repairs or to scrap. Enter the Omaha Railcar and Maintenance Shop in Nebraska. The Omaha location was experiencing a slow period and was able to send team members experienced in heavy repair – Moises Morales, Carlos Arciga, and Saw Taw – to Idaho to help out.

EIRR General Manager Darin Price said the three have been “a godsend. I wish I could replicate them. They showed up ready to work and already have the Watco culture ingrained in them.”

The Omaha-EIRR partnership has benefited both teams. “Normally we would have to either bring in an outside team, which would elevate costs, or we would have to do the work ourselves, which would cost us in time and take away from our daily tasks,” said Josh Kingery, EIRR Railcar Supervisor, who’s been overseeing the project. “Basically, this solution has given us the opportunity to expedite the project and gather fresh new ideas. It’s been a great learning opportunity for everyone involved.”

“They’ve taught us new things and different approaches to the work we need to do,” Price added. “It’s been a good experience for both teams to see how other places do things.”

Morales agreed, “It’s been a very good experience for me. I had experience on wrecks, but it’s been a great opportunity to learn and make plans for the railcars using the different perspectives. I’m very proud to be part of the team, and I’m learning a lot from Josh and everyone around.”

The three Omaha men are working at the derailment site, a remote area near Hazelton, Idaho. To facilitate site access, the Maintenance of Way team led by Roadmaster Cody Tracy have cut paths and made roads. Morales, Arciga, and Taw have been working on the cars to repair them so they can set them on wheels to be taken to the EIRR’s body shop in Rupert, Idaho. And during any downtime, while they are waiting for parts or confirmation on repairs, the trio has also assisted with inbound train inspections and heavier repairs.

Kingery commented on how smoothly the arrangement has worked. “From when we met at the parking lot of the hotel to today, we’ve had no issues. We’ve come together, and it’s been like we’ve been one team. It’s neat to see it firsthand. If you put us in a room, you wouldn’t know we didn’t work together longer than we have.

“I see this having a large ripple effect on the EIRR and other railroads. We’ve seen how well it has Price stressed the project as an example of collaboration. “We’re all wearing the same jersey,” he said. “We’re on the same team, and we’re playing like it.”