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Railmark Holdings, Inc. (ABRX) operates in the railroad industry within four primary business segments: Railroad Operations, Track Construction & Maintenance, Rail Freight Logistics and Rail Entertainment. Railmark’s principals and employees are seasoned railroad industry veterans with extensive contacts and business relationships. Railmark is pursuing growth opportunities in all four of its business units, primarily in the US, but also in Canada. Combined with cutting-edge rail marketing, customer orientation and rail industrial development techniques, along with its veteran rail industry professionals, Railmark is confident in its ability to become a leader in the railroad industry. Its customers rely on and benefit through the Company’s delivery of its custom railroad services and products, “On Track” with its customer’s expectations and service needs.
Railmark has set acquisition targets of $50M in rail assets over the next twenty-four months. The Company’s overall Business Plan is designed to provide its customers with a comprehensive and cost-effective approach to doing business with the North American rail network and its investors and capital partners with solid returns.
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A description of Railmark’s Business Units and Management Team follows. Jump to section below:
Railroad Operations
Track Construction & Maintenance
Rail Freight Logistics
Rail Entertainment
Management Team
RAILROAD OPERATIONS
The Company’s “RAILROAD OPERATIONS” BUSINESS UNITS are either Common Carrier Class III Railroads (Short Line Railroads) or Industrial Switching Operations.
Common Carrier Class III (Short Line) Railroads
The Company owns the MICHIGAN AIR-LINE RAILWAY CO. (MAL) which is a rail line, currently with one division, operating in Oakland County Michigan, serving the communities of Wixom, Walled Lake, Commerce Township and West Bloomfield. The railroad’s reporting marks are “MAL” and its 260-Number is “992”.
Located in the metropolitan Detroit Michigan area, today’s Michigan Air-Line Railway Co. (“MAL”) owns and operates a former Grand Trunk Western Railway line from an interchange point with CSX Transportation (“CSX”) at Wixom Michigan, running eastwardly to West Bloomfield and headquartered in Walled Lake Michigan. The railroad company was originally formed in January 1984 as Coe Rail Inc. (“CRLE”) and in July 2006 the corporation was renamed Michigan Air-Line Railway Co. , to reflect the line’s original 1883 name. This modern day short line was among the earliest short line railroads created after industry deregulation and today hauls plastics, lumber, aggregates and hosts the famous Michigan Star Clipper Diner Train (www.rail-road.com). The Michigan Star Clipper is the oldest, continuously running dinner train and is regarded as one of the top premiere dinner trains in the United States with freshly prepared on-board meals, live tableside entertainment and a train excursion onboard classic, restored railcars from the Golden Age of train travel.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) primary reporting marks for the railroad is MAL and the company continues to own the reporting marks CRLE as “secondary owned marks”, as approximately 8,500 railcars in the North American rail network today bear the CRLE marks.
Both the customers and communities served by the MAL find a railroad operator focused on customer service delivery and sensitive to the interests of the communities in which we operate. The MAL brings to each of its operations a cutting edge rail marketing and business development program along with a customer service delivery strategy that goes far beyond coordinating actual placement and release times. Through an affiliated company Rail Freight Solutions (“RFS”), MAL offers rail logistics and transload services that are fully integrated, simple and user-friendly. The MAL’s overall Business Plan is designed to provide its customers with a simple, comprehensive and cost-effective approach to doing business with the North American rail network.
The railroad’s active freight tariffs are:
- MAL 8001 – Freight Tariff
- MAL 8002 – Accessorial & Special Charges
- MAL 8003 – Railcar Storage Tariff
- MAL 9100 – Demurrage Tariff
Each present and future Railmark shortline railroad operation offers its on-line customers, as well as, other customers in the 60-75 mile radius, a cutting-edge “Customer Service Center” function and a user friendly rail-to-truck transfer facility to deliver the maximum benefits of rail to both on-line customers and customers not directly served by rail or not serviced by rail competitively. The Company’s railroad operations also offer material storage, “doorstep” truck delivery and other logistics services. Railmark’s Customer Service Center utilizes the latest in railcar location software and custom designed internal software for customer interface with the Company website, demonstrating technology advanced for most shortline railroad operations. Each of Railmark’s common carrier railroad operations are geographically identified uniquely and utilizes its own individual website and local identity and works closely with each community to attract industrial and business development.
Industrial Switching Services
The Railroad Operations Business Unit also provides industrial switching services offered through Railmark Industrial Switching, Inc. (RIS). RIS offers the most complete and comprehensive suite of services in the industry, all from one source, needed and/or required by industrial switching operations, including: CUSTOMIZED SWITCHING, LOCOMOTIVES (including remote control), TRACK INSPECTION, TRACK MAINTEANCE AND CONSTRUCTION, RAILCAR REPAIR, and a variety of RAIL LOGISTICS SERVICES, including railcar tracking/tracing, transloading/drayage, warehousing and both internal and external event reporting using a system from simple event reporting to a fully integrated system. RIS, through its subsidiaries, can offer industrial rail switching services utilizing both represented and non-represented crews and design complete service packages around increasing efficiencies and throughput, while providing correct cost justifications. RIS can provide complete service package quotes within two business days of receiving the plant specifications and requirements.
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TRACK CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE
The Company’s “TRACK CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE” BUSINESS UNITS are all centralized under Railmark Track Works, Inc. (RTW), a holding company with an aggressive growth plan for the next twenty-four months. RTW’s strategy is to locate service locations in most of the major rail markets, primarily in the US, but also in Canada. RTW will locate either by external acquisition or by internal expansion. In cases where RTW may acquire an existing track construction and maintenance company, it’s the Company’s belief to maintain existing identity and staff, while making available additional resources and business relationships in order to expand upon existing customer relationships. RTW’s track construction and maintenance customers can expect a higher degree of service delivery and will find the Company the most proactive rail track service provider in the United States. RTW’s experienced and dedicated team of professionals understands the operational needs of track construction and maintenance, as opposed to “just making a fix”. This approach is designed to deliver the most cost-effective and long-term solutions to our customers.
The Company’s present operating location is in the metro-Detroit area, serving customers in Michigan and in central and western Ohio. Within the next sixty days RTW expects to open its Henderson, Kentucky facility, serving western Kentucky, southern Indiana and parts of western Tennessee. Later in 2008 the Company expects to expand into the Chicago and Northern Indiana area by internal expansion and currently has plans to expand into the south through acquisitions.
RTW believes that track contractors who have the knowledge of the customer’s specific operational & industry requirements, understands long-term rail needs, and who possesses the working knowledge of railroad operations, are better equipped and suited to perform track construction & maintenance work. RTW believes that its team is the best suited and invites the opportunity for bids and proposals.
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RAIL FREIGHT LOGISTICS
Railmark’s “RAIL FREIGHT LOGISTICS” BUSINESS UNIT consists of “Rail Freight Logistics Inc.” (RFS), a branded rail transloading and logistics company that provides cutting edge rail logistics services. Logistics is about getting the right goods and materials to the right places at the right time at the right level of quality and at the right cost. Rail freight logistics can be confusing and can cause a shipper to have to involve multiple service provides, who may not always work as a team in the best interest of the shipper. RFS is the one-stop source for any origin to destination movement that utilizes the North American rail network and US ports of entry.
Good logistics pays benefits for shippers and provides those companies with a competitive advantage. RFS is a non-biased rail service provider that utilizes the latest in railcar location technology and a vast network of contacts to keep our customer’s freight moving on time to the receiver’s doorstep. Logistics constitutes 10% of the US Gross Domestic Product and that is a great deal of money – and opportunity for cost savings through improved management and process. RFS will help you better balance inventory and procure or deliver more reliably and cost-effectively wherever a company is on the supply chain, while presenting the results to your management from a clear-sighted perspective in plain English.
RFS has secured a network of rail sites all over the United States for origin or destination of your company’s shipments. All RFS needs to begin is just a zip code and the commodity, its that simple! RFS is also a Common Carrier Trucking Firm, specializing in truck movements in combination with its rail and logistics services.
RFS operations are based currently in the Detroit Michigan and western Kentucky area. The company also offers specialized railcar and rail equipment transport utilizing its custom designed seventy-foot trailer. RFS offers box truck and flatbed deliveries, as well as, both short-term and long-term inside or outside storage.
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Rail Entertainment
Railmark’s “RAIL ENTERTAINMENT” BUSINESS UNIT presently consists of “Rail Entertainment USA Inc.” (REU) and Railmark Transit Services Inc.” (RTS). REU operates three long branded retail railroad entertainment attractions that the Company plans to expand to other markets in 2009. RTS has been recently formed to leverage the Company’s retail rail entertainment talents and retail rail operating history to the now explosive US transit industry.
Rail Entertainment USA Inc. (REU)
REU operates the branded “Star Clipper Dinner Train”, the oldest dinner train in the country and the only dinner train that offers live tableside entertainment and a freshly chef prepared onboard meal while traveling in a vintage moving train. The “Star Clipper” is now in its 24th year of operation and is a registered trademark, held by Railmark. The Company presently operates the Michigan Star Clipper Dinner Train and plans to use its “Star Clipper” branding to expand to other markets in 2009.
REU operates the branded “Pullman Palace Bed & Breakfast”, providing its guests with a unique overnight experience onboard a classic railroad sleeping car. The operation currently compliments the Star Clipper Dinner Train and other locations are planned alongside upcoming Company retail expansions during 2009.
REU operates railroad tour excursions onboard vintage 1920s railcars, providing its guests with a rail travel experience reminiscent of the 1920s-1930s. This operation feeds traffic to the Company’s other retail operations.
All of REU’s retail operations are marketed through the Company’s website: www.rail-road.com.
Railmark Transit Services Inc. (RTS)
RTS was recently formed to leverage Company strengths to the emerging US transit industry. With the rising costs of transportation and growing population, cities all over the United States are planning, developing and building local transit systems, also known as “light rail”. These municipal light rail systems are not designed to be revenue sufficient, but RTS offers concession services and entertainment options, both designed to provide auxiliary transit revenues that can be used to offset costs and operating deficits. RTS’s transit service packages can also be used to promote, enhance and expand local tourism and add greater public visibility to the local transit system.
Recently the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced the funding of 25 Light Rail Start-Up and/or Evaluation Projects for 2009 totaling $100,000,000 which the Bush Administration had just approved. This money is coming to the transit agencies in the form of grants. Increased funding for public rail transit enjoys widespread, bipartisan support and is now an integral component of resolving America’s dependency on foreign oil.
Railmark feels that its RTS subsidiary both capitalizes on and leverages the Company’s retail rail entertainment talents and retail rail operating history, unlike any other entity in the industry and feels that its services will receive widespread acceptance once fully launched in Fall 2008.
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
 B. Allen Brown – Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Brown is the founder of Railmark Holdings, Inc. and serves as its visionary and developer. Mr. Brown is in charge of the execution of the Company’s Business Plan and serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Brown’s railroad career began shortly after the 1981 Staggers Act, which deregulated the US railroad industry. Mr. Brown’s career has led to extensive railroad industry experience in acquisitions, accounting, customer service, divestitures, finance, operations, marketing, public relations and strategic planning. Mr. Brown has a working relationship with all of the major North American railroads, as well as, hundreds of smaller railroads and industrial operations. Mr. Brown enjoys extensive contacts within the railroad industry and has served in various senior management positions, company officer positions and on the board of directors of a publicly held railroad company and several privately held companies.
Upon graduation from college, Mr. Brown spent the first few years of his career with Peabody Energy (NYSE: “BTU”), the world's largest coal producer, in finance and strategic planning positions. Mr. Brown holds a Masters of Business Administration-Finance & Economics from the University of Evansville (Evansville, Indiana) and a Bachelor of Business Administration-Finance from the University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky).
Michael Beckham – General Manager, Train Travel Inc.
Mr. Beckham has been the General Manager of Railmark subsidiary Train Travel Inc. for over ten years. Mr. Beckman’s food service industry includes owning and operating a successful family restaurant and serving as Corporate Chef/Director of Research and Development for Gulf City Seafood. While in this position, Mr. Beckman developed, tested and marketed new food products for retail application and the wholesale seafood industry.
Michael J. Klier – Director of Entertainment, Train Travel Inc.
Mr. Klier has served as Director of Entertainment for the Railmark’s Train Travel Inc. subsidiary for over twenty years. Mr. Klier brings to the Company over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry. His vast knowledge of this ever-changing entertainment industry is especially valuable to the Company and his capability of delivering more diverse choices of entertainers contributed towards making Train Travel Inc. one of the leading entertainment venues in the Metro-Detroit area. Mr. Klier has Produced and Directed locally and internationally in the U.S., Canada and Ireland.
Mr. Klier holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Detroit, with a Master of Arts in Theatre and English. He also holds a Double Master of Arts in both Education and Theatrical Performance. He has served as a consultant for a multitude of educational committees. One his finest educational achievements was as an I.S.O. auditor which yielded one of the very first I.S.O. certifications to be given to any educational institution that of a I.S.O. 2000.
Tony Wirsu – Operations Analyst, Railmark Holdings & Subsidiaries
Mr. Wirsu joined Railmark in 2007 as an Operations Analyst and assists the Company in the areas of business development, operations management, market research, and the strategic implementation of new marketing programs.
Sally A. Zielinski – Chief Reservationists, Train Travel Inc.
Ms. Zielinski serves Railmark’s Train Travel Inc. subsidiary as Chief Reservationists, where she manages the Reservations Department, an extremely critical function in the Company. She has been with Train Travel Inc. for over 14 years, where she first came on board as a part time employee after spending 17 years as an educator with the Walled Lake School System. Prior to her successful career as an educator, Ms. Zielinski was an office manager for a local Walled Lake company. Ms. Zielinski holds a degree in education from Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan).
Other Company Professionals and Officials – Railmark is fortunate to have in its employ other professionals and experienced railroad employees, many of which have several years of tenure with the Company’s subsidiaries. Railmark railroad operations enjoy locomotive and railcar mechanics with many years of craft experience and its training department is headed by an individual with a long tenure with a major Class I railroad.
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