Kaw River Railroad leases K.C.-area industrial line from BNSF The Kaw River Railroad (KAW) has completed its fourth track lease transaction in as many years. The short line recently leased 14.6 miles of industrial track in the Bedford Industrial Park in North Kansas City, Mo., from BNSF Railway Co. KAW began operating the line May 6. The Watco Cos. Inc. — which owns 16 short lines operating in 14 states — formed KAW in 2004 to operate a 12-mile Kansas City-area line leased from Kansas City Southern. In 2005, KAW leased 16 track miles between Kearney and Birmingham, Mo., from BNSF, and last year, the short line leased K.C.-area track from the Kansas City Transportation Co. L.L.C. “Kansas City is a vital area for rail transportation and we look forward to expanding our presence there,” said Watco Vice President of Marketing Alan Elliott in a prepared statement.
