A small rail company that serves Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas, DeQueen and Eastern Railroad, will receive a nearly $12 million grant to make small freight rail improvements.
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin announced the awarding of the $11,830,000 grant,saying it came about in part due to his “advocacy efforts.” The funding was through the Resilient Infrastructure & Safety Enhancement Program to strengthen and modernize small freight rail.
“As your Senator, I am deeply committed to helping our localities secure targeted grant funding to strengthen Oklahoma’s growing infrastructure needs,” said Senator Mullin.
“I’m confident this grant will go a long way to fund track improvements, rehabilitate rural bridges, and modify select grade crossings across Southeast Oklahoma. I’m proud to have helped bring this grant application across the finish line to modernize small freight rail, meet existing and future demand, and enhance resiliency.”
The DeQueen & Eastern Railroad (DQE) are two connecting railroads that operate as one over a total of 91 track miles in southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas. The DQE interchanges with BNSF via the Kiamichi Railroad at Valliant, Oklahoma; the Kansas City Southern in DeQueen, Arkansas; and the UP at Perkins, Arkansas.
It is owned by Patriot Rail Company of Jacksonville, Florida. The firm owns 31 short line rail operations throughout the U.S.
The DQE owns a car repair facility, a fully equipped wheel shop and a locomotive repair shop in DeQueen, Arkansas. Both facilities are equipped with overhead cranes and the locomotive shop is also equipped with a pit and traction motor turntable.
There is a maintenance of way building located in DeQueen that has an equipment repair shop with overhead crane, pit, wash and service area. In Valliant, Oklahoma, there is a maintenance of way equipment repair facility with a wash area and storage, and an open car repair shed with two tracks under roof with capacity for 4 cars and a ready track that will hold 6 cars.
They still move timber products, like plywood chips and pulpboard, but they also carry bulk products like corn, stone, soybeans and chemicals.[1] The lines interchange with the BNSF Railway through the Kiamichi Railroad at Valliant, with the Kansas City Southern at De Queen, and with the Union Pacific at Perkins.[