ALBIA, Iowa, April 28, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- RELCO Locomotives, Inc. announced today the completion of its new locomotive rebuild and service facility located in southeastern Iowa. The facility, which has been under construction since the second quarter of 2004, will dramatically increase RELCO's manufacturing capacity and will complement RELCO's smaller Minooka, IL location. The 95-acre site contains a main locomotive shop, a self-contained blast and paint shop, office space, and over 10,000 feet of track. The 90,000-sq. ft. main locomotive shop houses five tracks, six overhead cranes with a capacity of up to 50 tons, two raised rail pits, a drop-table, state-of-the-art fabrication and component rebuild areas, and nearly 30 miles of track available for locomotive run-in and testing. The facility has direct interchange with the BNSF, and IC&E railroads and close interchange with the Union Pacific. Corporate operations will remain in Minooka, IL.
"This new facility positions RELCO as one of the largest locomotive rebuilders in North America," said Donald L. Bachman, RELCO's Chairman and CEO. "This dramatic expansion of our capabilities will allow RELCO to provide better service to our existing customer base and allow us to become a dominant player in the high-volume segment of the industry. This significant investment is indicative of our firm commitment to our customers and our confidence in the strength of the industry - both now and over the long-term. Over our 44 years in this industry, we have continuously strengthened our ability to provide complete motive power solutions. This new, state-of-the-art facility further demonstrates RELCO's on-going commitment to be the leading provider of rebuilding and maintenance services across all segments of the industry."
Since 1961, the RELCO Companies have been a leading provider of quality locomotives and locomotive maintenance services throughout the United States and Canada. RELCO Locomotives, Inc. carries a full line of switcher and road locomotives for sale and provides locomotive remanufacturing, system upgrades, maintenance, wreck repairs, painting, rebuilt components, parts and nationwide field service. RELCO Finance, Inc. is one of the largest full-service locomotive leasing companies of both switcher and road power in the United States. The RELCO Companies have developed a reputation for providing the finest motive power and maintenance solutions to fit any need for industrial rail users, commuter agencies, shortline, regional and class one railroads.