Fillmore-based Stewart Southern Railway was awarded the Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association’s 2017 Safety Award, as they had a perfect record in 2017, with no incidents or issues.
Blair Stewart and his son Carter began operations of the short-line railway in 2010 as a small one-shipper rail line, and have since grown their business to nine shippers on the 80.3 miles of rail line that runs from Stoughton to Regina, with the head office in Fillmore.
Their shippers are diverse, ranging from oil to fertilizer to pulses, and from small shippers to large companies such as ADM, Sea-board, Victoria Pulse, Schoular and Providence/Lansing.
The railway has six locomotives and two shops, a service shop and a locomotive shop. A key to their success has been both their attention to safety and their excellent business acumen.
“Safety as a priority keeps employees and local communities safe. It also ensures that there are no work stoppages and that we run smoothly every day,” said Carter Stewart.
To ensure safety, the railway adheres to all provincial and federal rules, legislations and policies concerning rail operation, while also going above and beyond. Stewart Southern patrols before and after every train to ensure that everything is secure and safe. The rail line also uses geometry cars and rail flaw detection equipment to ensure that even what can’t be seen with the naked eye is addressed.
Another key element is the training and expertise of their rail staff, such as hiring former CP Rail employees, and maintaining training for all staff to the level of a Class 1 railway.
There is also a safety meeting every morning to ensure all staff is up-to-date on safety and operational issues and concerns on an ongoing basis.
While safety excellence has been a key to their success, Stewart Southern Railway would not be where it is today without superb business acumen developed over years in business and passion for the industry which has been passed down from father to son.
“Railways have always been a lifeline of sorts for smaller communities. Back in the day, there were four trains per day. People used to take the train into town to play hockey or to go the dentist in Regina,” said Blair Stewart.
The Stewarts believe that to be successful in business one must build a great team of people, have a long-term vision, and be both active and pro-active.
They also believe in giving back to the communities on their line, such as sponsoring curling clubs, 4-H clubs, local food banks as well as health facilities in their region. For example, the railway has been a significant supporter of the Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation and the Fillmore Ambulance.
The Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association is a non-profit membership-based group representing 14 short line railways across Western Canada.
