Avalon Rail Inc. was a passenger railcar restoration and rebuilding company in West Allis, Wisconsin, United States, a community near Milwaukee. June Garland was the company's president.

Avalon Rail Inc.
IndustryRailcar restoration
Founded2000
Headquarters,
United States
Key people
June Garland, President
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20191218011338/http://www.avalonrail.com/, 2019 archive

The company was founded in 2000 by former employees of Northern Rail Car Corporation, a railcar manufacturer then owned by William E. Gardner, who also owned the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]


The company said that it was interested in subcontracting assembly work from manufacturers such as Talgo.[8]

In October 2009, it was awarded a contract by Via Rail Canada for rebuilding eight Château sleeping cars and four Park sleeper-dome-lounge cars originally built by the Budd Company.[9][10]

Closing edit

The company filed articles of dissolution with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions on November 22, 2019.[11]

In March 2021, some of the company's equipment was auctioned off by Gerlach Companies, Inc. [12]

References edit

  1. ^ Quigley, Kelly (June 16, 2000). "New railcar repair business moves into former Siemens plant". The Business Journal of Milwaukee. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  2. ^ Romell, Rick (December 31, 2001). "Rail Car Restoration Firms Avalon, Northern Settle Dispute". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 31, 2009 – via Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
  3. ^ Decker, Eric (2010-10-15). "Avalon Rail Inc". BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  4. ^ "PHOTOS: Train Cars Get New Life at Avalon Rail". WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  5. ^ Damos, Tim. "Badger No. 2 fish car quite a catch again". Baraboo News Republic. Retrieved 2021-07-02 – via Wiscnews.com.
  6. ^ "'Nebraska Zephyr' train is back at IRM". Trains Magazine. Vol. 69, no. 9. Kalmbach Publishing Company. September 2009. Illinois Railway Museum's Nebraska Zephyr has returned to service after an absence of four years following a switching accident. Avalon Rail Inc. in Milwaukee rebuilt the articulated stainless steel trainset.
  7. ^ Wrinn, Jim (April 2010). "Badger No. 2 'fish car'". Trains Magazine. Vol. 70, no. 4. Kalmbach Publishing Company. Mid-Continent Railway Museum's $950,000, 13-month restoration of Pullman-built "fish car" Badger No. 2 ended with the car's return to the museum at North Freedom, Wis., in December 2009. Repairs to the 72-foot-long, 1912 wooden car (with steel underframe) took place at Avalon Rail Inc., in West Allis., Wis
  8. ^ Mikkelson, Marti (August 3, 2009). "Two Area Companies Bidding for Rail Work". WUWM. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  9. ^ Barrett, Rick (November 9, 2009). "West Allis company that refurbishes rail cars wins a major contract". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  10. ^ "Via Rail Canada to boost famed transcontinental train's accessibility and appeal". Via Rail Canada press release (Press release). October 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  11. ^ "AVALON RAIL, INC. (A040386)". Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  12. ^ "Avalon Rail Auction". Gerlach Companies Auctions. Retrieved 2021-07-02.

External links edit