RailRunner: History

1993: RailRunner's container technology invented by Harry Wicks of El Paso, TX. Mr. Wicks previously had played a role in the development of similar bi-modal product for trailers, dry vans, and reefers that have been widely used in rail feight transport.

1997: RailRunner N.A., Inc. organized to develop, market and manufacture Wicks' RailRunner technology.

1998: RailRunner NA Inc. retains the services of the Arc Group, a Boulder, CO certified professional engineering firm specializing in rail rolling stock engineering. Four RailRunner engineering prototype vehicles are designed and manufactured. Prototype vehicles are successfully tested for compliance with FRA requirements and standard railroad practices at the TTCI testing center in Pueblo Colorado.

1999: RailRunner initiates the design of the production version of its Intermodal Rail Vehicles (IRV's). Terminal operation demonstrations begin at RailRunner's terminal demonstration facility in Griffin, GA.

2000: RailRunner NA Inc. completes design of the production version of its Intermodal Rail Vehicle and Transition Unit. 12 Intermodal Rail Vehicle prototypes and 2 Transition Unit prototypes are produced. RailRunner initiates regularly scheduled test runs on the Heart of Georgia Railroad (HOG) between Americus, GA and Vidalia, GA. Over 30,000 bogey-miles have been logged as part of this testing with HOG.

2003: RailRunner enters into a preliminary agreement with Triple Crown Services, Inc., a unit of Norfolk Southern Corporation to provide container based services on the Fort Wayne to Jacksonville portion of Triple Crown's network. NS submits a request to the Federal RailRoad Administration to operate RailRunner on its network.

2004: The Federal RailRoad Administration grants preliminary, temporary approval for the operation of RailRunner services on the network. RailRunner launches its RailReach service between Fort Wayne and Jacksonville.

2005: The Federal RailRoad Administration issues a long-term waiver for the operation of RailRunner on NS. RailRunner logs over 300,000 miles of commercial service. RailRunner launches "RailRunner Service Operator" program to provide RailRunner Services in vertical markets such as as Identity Preserved grain, Inland Ports and Commercial and Municipal Waste transport.