Derailment or Track Related Emergency Contact:

Dylan Fossum

605-261-8032

Jerry Hegstrom

701-330-2264

About Us

Leading With Innovation and Experience

Built on four pillars—People, Safety, Quality, and Environmental Commitment—Ellis & Eastern is dedicated to operating safely, delivering top-notch railroad services, and minimizing environmental impact. Our mission is to lead the materials supply industry by empowering our team, driving efficient operations and exceeding customer expectations.

Leadership Team

Ellis & Eastern is led by a team of seasoned industry professionals who bring decades of combined experience in the railroad, transportation and contracting sectors. Their wealth of knowledge allows Ellis & Eastern to deliver efficient, reliable and customized railroad solutions to customers in the Midwest.

Ryan Hunsaid

General Manager

Justin Pearson

Business Development/Rail Logistics

Dylan Fossum

Contracting Management

Jerry Hegstrom

Contracting Management

Eric Berning

Operations Management

Mark Warwick

Supervisor of Train Operations

Mission Statement

Be the leader in the materials supply industry by:

Developing and rewarding our team

Operating safely, profitably and efficiently

Exceeding customer expectations of quality, value and service

Our History

Ellis & Eastern has a rich history of providing top-notch contracting, transportation and railroad services and quality to our customers across the Midwest. We are proud to continuously improve our rails, services and offerings as needs arise.

1870
1870
The rail was first built as part of the Chicago & Northwestern line.
1870
1980
1980
The Chicago & Northwestern (CNW) filed to abandon their line from Agate, MN to Mitchell, SD. Sweetman Construction purchased the rail with connections from the Union, Pacific, and BNSF.
1980
1989
1989
The rail was repaired and reopened; it stretched from Brandon, SD, through Sioux Falls, to Ellis, SD.
1989
2017
2017
Ellis & Eastern obtained the operating rights to the Minnesota Southern rail line. We were able to operate from Manley to Worthington, MN.
2017
2020
2020
We were awarded a federal grant to rehabilitate the rail line from Brandon through Valley Springs and into Manley, MN. Once this line was repaired, Ellis & Eastern could assist shippers in Minnehaha County, SD, through Rock and Nobles Counties in Minnesota, gaining access to the local Class I railroads.
2020
2024
2024
Ellis & Eastern joined with G.A. Fossum & Assoc. Inc. to start a contracting division. G.A. Fossum brought over 40 years of experience working for private industry and short line railroads. Ellis & Eastern now offers full-service railroad construction, consulting and maintenance contracting services.
2024
2025
2025
2025 Ellis and Eastern Rail Services Established in Grand Forks, ND.
2025

Our Partners

ASLRRA

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association represents the entrepreneurial owners and operators of short line and regional railroads and provides a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities.

NRC

The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association is a US trade association that advances the mutual interests of railway contractors and suppliers who construct, maintain, and supply railroads and rail-transit lines.

Avetta

An all-in-one contractor risk management platform that helps businesses around the world build safe, sustainable and secure connections.

ISnetworld

A global leader in contractor and supplier management services that helps businesses reduce risk by qualifying and monitoring contractors to promote safe and sustainable operations.

First Verify

A vendor information management service that helps organize and manage document retrieval and dissemination needs.

Appruv

A vendor management and safety consulting platform that helps businesses manage their network of vendors, contracts and suppliers.

AREMA

The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association offers educational opportunities and produces and publishes recommended practices for railway engineering infrastructure.

NAMRC

The North American Maintenance Railway Club is an organization of railroad maintenance professionals that provides a forum for education and camaraderie among professionals in an ever-changing industry.

Operation Lifesaver

A nonprofit focusing on rail safety education. OLI is committed to preventing injuries, collisions and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings.

Samsara

Samsara cameras are smart vehicle monitoring systems that uses AI technology to capture risky driving behaviors to allow for driver coaching while also helping to protect drivers and their employers from fraudulent accident claims.

Contact Us

Are you interested in learning more about our trans-loading services or starting a project with us? Please do not hesitate to reach out!