Mississippi Export Railroad (MSE) held a Gold Spike Ceremony for a new railcar repair shop specializing in tank qualification at the Helena Industrial Complex, Moss Point, Mississippi, on May 13. TheMark B. Miller Railcar Repair Shop, named after the company’s retired Vice President of Operations for 22 years, will service outside customers, specializing in tank qualification, cleaning, and blast & painting, bringing new business and growth to Jackson County.
“The new Tank Qualification Shop will be built on a 12-acre site in our Helena Industrial Complex,” said Kate Bourgeois, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mississippi Export Railroad. “The complex site is certified and shovel-ready to begin construction. We hope to add up to 24 new full-time jobs within the first five years of operation.” Tank cars transport various liquid commodities, including water, ethanol, crude oil, vegetable oil, and propane. At regular intervals, tank cars must be inspected or “qualified” by certified personnel to ensure their safety for carrying these commodities. The qualification process involves visual inspections, structural integrity checks, thickness testing, safety system evaluations, complete valve rebuilds, leakage pressure tests and internal coating inspections.
While tank car inspection and qualification are less common than other types of railcar maintenance, such as preventative maintenance repair, the services help protect the environment and the communities served by rail and ensure the long-term, overall safety of rail transportation. “The MSE team is proud to be able to fill this important need for our industry,” said Bourgeois. “MSE will now be ready to inspect and qualify tank cars for use all over the country while at the same time growing Jackson County’s economy.”
For more information about Mississippi Export Railroad, visit www.mserr.com or its development site-ready locations, please visit www.railcentric.com.
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About Mississippi Export Railroad
Mississippi Export Railroad (MSE) – headquartered in Moss Point, Mississippi – was founded on November 10, 1922, as a 42-mile short-line railroad extending from Evanston, Mississippi, to Pascagoula, Mississippi. It is in the north-south corridor, providing a critical commerce link between Canadian National Railway (CN) and CSX Transportation (CSX) to south Mississippi industries. Through MSE’s rail connections, customers also have access to Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Norfolk Southern (NS), in addition to the Ports of Pascagoula and Mobile, linking customers to all points on the continent and beyond. MSE’s team focuses on providing rail solutions for shippers, enabling easy utilization of rail. The commitment and determination of its employees have allowed MSE to grow and serve customers for over 100 years. For more information, visit mserr.com.
About Cooperative Energy
Cooperative Energy generates and transmits electricity to 11 Member-owned electric distribution cooperatives. Known as the Power of 12, Cooperative Energy and its Member cooperatives work together to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power from the Mississippi Delta to the Coast. The 11 electric cooperatives own and maintain more than 58,000 miles of distribution lines and provide service to more than one million Mississippians throughout 55 counties.