Grand Elk

Company History: The GDLK was launched in 2009 by the Watco Companies shortline group to lease the 151 mile line from Grand Rapids, Michigan south through Kalamazoo to Elkhart, Indiana from Norfolk Southern. This was formerly the Pennsylvania Railroad GR&I line. The GDLK has 55 customers on line and moves between 400 and 500 cars in a typical week. Traffic includes aggregates, agricultural products, auto parts, forest products, metals and plastics. The Grand Elk locomotive fleet includes: one GP38, one GP38-3, four GP40-2LW’s, and two SD40-2’s. The name refers to the end points of the railroad, Grand Rapids and Elkhart.

Successor/Parent History: The Watco shortline group is known for painting locomotives in special schemes for universities and even high schools along their lines. We own or operate over 5,500 miles of short line track in North America and Australia. Our vast network connects to all Class I railroads. You get the most efficient, cost-effective route for your shipment.

Using your locomotives or our own, Watco provides switching services at your manufacturing facility. Our experienced teams improve safety, reduce risks, and minimize costs.

Let Watco take care of your inactive railcars, so you can stay focused on your active fleet. Safely house empty or loaded railcars across our nationwide network of short line railroads and terminals.

Our proactive management, in-transit tracking, and real-time communication let you know where your cars are every minute of every day. And, our scheduled maintenance programs keep your rolling stock rolling.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.