A ribbon cutting by locomotive instead of scissors marked the official opening of a unique transload facility in Great Bend, Kansas, in which Watco is a partner.
A transloading facility allows cargo to be transferred between rail and truck, eliminating the cost of wear and tear associated with heavy trucks being on the road for great distances.
Located in the Great Bend Industrial Park adjacent to the Great Bend Municipal Airport, this facility has been operating since Spring, but the ribbon cutting brought together partners, elected officials, and stakeholders for a milestone moment. In addition to Watco, partners include Kansas Department of Transportation, Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, the City of Great Bend, Fuller Properties, Sherwood Construction, and our Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad.
To date, the site has become a staging area for more than 500 wind turbine parts. The economic impact has been $1.4 million, officials said at the ceremony.
Watco Senior Vice President Pat Cedeño said during his remarks at the ceremony that opening up markets and opportunities in communities and the state will in turn open up markets and opportunities globally.
“It happens with a Team, it happens with great partners, it happens with visionaries, it happens with people that will believe in you…the City of Great Bend, the State of Kansas, Barton County, and everyone here believed in what we could do, and we will not let you down,” Cedeño said. “I promise you, we will not let you down. We represent all of you.”
Media coverage of the ceremony can be accessed via these links:
Progressive Railroading Magazine
The Great Bend Post – Eagle Radio