Discovering the Meaning Behind the Name of the Ringneck Western Railroad

Just like coming up with a name for a newborn baby, Watco did its research to identify a moniker for one of our newer family members — a short line in South Dakota formerly known as Dakota Southern that was acquired last year.

Like some other acquisitions in the past, Watco sought to replace the name with one that better reflects the state where the railroads operate, and its traditions. The end result? The birth of the Ringneck & Western Railroad (RWRR).

In honor of National Bird Day earlier this month, we thought of no better time to share more details on how the RWRR got its name:

• South Dakota’s state bird is the ringneck pheasant.

• Ringneck pheasants are known to take cover in tall brush like the western wheatgrass, which also happens to be South Dakota’s state grass.

• One of the top commodities the RWRR moves is grain, a favorite food of the ringneck pheasant.

Thankfully, there’s enough grain to go around. The team transported nearly 5,000 carloads of grain including wheat, milo, and soybeans in the last six months of 2021.

Where do these commodities end up? Flour mills receive both the wheat and milo, which are later processed into bread and baked goods. Soybeans are moved to a processor to be squeezed for oil and ultimately used as a key ingredient to make margarine, salad dressings, and even mayonnaise.