Tiny Rail Takeover: Waste Wagons in Pennsylvania Woods
Published Date: 3/13/2026
Notice
Summary
Lampwrights LLC is taking over about 2,269 feet of railroad track in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, to run switching and transloading services, mainly moving containerized waste from trains to trucks. They plan to run one train a day and expect to make less than $5 million a year, keeping things small and local. This change can start as soon as March 27, 2026, with no big fees or extra rules attached.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Local transloading services begin
Lampwrights LLC will operate about 2,269 feet of track in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania to provide switching and transloading services, including transloading containerized waste from rail cars to trucks. They plan to run about one train per day and the operation may start on or after March 27, 2026.
Not a CRRA solid-waste facility
Lampwrights states that the waste it handles will remain inside the original shipping containers and so the facility will not be a "solid waste rail transfer facility" as defined by the Clean Railroads Act of 2008. That classification is based on the company’s statement about how waste will be handled.
Exempt from environmental and historic review
The Board notice states the transaction is categorically excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting under 49 CFR 1105.8(b). The exemption may be consummated on or after March 27, 2026.
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