By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
The acquisition of the former Watco railcar repair shop in Junction City by Eagle Railcar Services was announced this past week. The general manager for Eagle Railcar Services James Bullard said the facility in Junction City is in a great location for them. "It's in a great location, the infrastructure that's here, the community, the opportunities for expansion, honestly it's really what drove us to acquire this facility."
Bullard said the same services will be offered but the facility will also be expanded into a tank car repair shop. "Currently it's strictly only a freight car shop but in 2022 we will actually be certified to become a tank shop as well. So there will be additional infrastructure and expansions to go along with that."
Bullard confirmed that some new employees were hired the first week and the goal is to take the employee total from 20 up to 50 in a 30 to 45 day period. "I would say by the end of the year we should be somewhere between 80 and 100 employees."