September 12, 2011

ST. CLOUD, MN - Northern Lines Railway (NLR) has appointed Justin J. Chalich to the newly created position of General Manager, and Steven J. Thissen to the newly created position of Lead Transportation Specialist.

Mr. Chalich has served as Manager of Maintenance and Operations since June of 2006.  Mr. Chalich began in train service with Northern Lines at start-up in 2005; prior to that he worked for Northern Plains Railroad in Fordville North Dakota in a variety of transportation and mechanical assignments.  Mr. Chalich has studied at Moorhead State University in Moorhead Minnesota, has completed railroad technical training at the University of Wisconsin Madison and at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and has recently completed the Michigan State Certificate Program in Railway Management. Mr. Chalich will report to NLR President Daniel C. Rickel.

Mr. Thissen is a certified locomotive engineer for NLR and has been with the Northern Lines since September of 2006. Prior to joining NLR, Mr. Thissen worked for the Twin Cities & Western Railroad as a car inspector and as a locomotive engineer. Mr. Thissen attended Willmar Community College in Willmar Minnesota and his background includes time spent managing grain elevators in western Minnesota and operating a small business with his wife.

The Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC) recently appointed Daniel C. Rickel to the newly created position of Vice President. Mr. Rickel will continue as President of NLR.

Both LIRC and NLR are affiliates of Anacostia & Pacific Company, Inc., Chicago, a leading U.S. railroad development and consulting firm.

Northern Lines Railway began operations on April 23, 2005 over 23 route miles of track formerly operated by the BNSF Railway.