January 24, 2005
Wayne and Marjorie Ettinger, of Dunnville, Ontario, owners of Trillium Railway Co. Ltd., turned Wayne’s boyhood fascination with locomotives into a flourishing and thriving railway business.
A passion for the railway industry prompted Wayne to hang up his hat in the strawberry and sweet corn farming business in 1994, and become a railway man. To realize his locomotive dream, he secured two partners: an American short-line rail operator; and the Grand Erie Business Centre. They created a short line tourist train operation, and in doing so, The Caledonia and Hamilton Southern Railway was born.
After dealing with miles of red tape, in 1996 Ettinger secured a seven-mile rail track in Port Colborne, Ont. from CN railway. In the first fiscal year, The Caledonia and Hamilton Southern Railway, operating as the Port Colborne Harbour Railway Co., made $400,000 in revenue and almost broke even.
More changes occurred in the summer of 1997, when the Grand Erie Business Centre was bought out and a new incorporated company was formed – Trillium Railway Co. Ltd. This company was the premier short line railway to be established under the Ontario government’s new Short Line Railway Act.
Expansion was the key focus in 1998-99, as 35 miles of track were added on a rail line from St. Thomas to Delhi in addition to the purchase of 30 miles of track in the St. Catharines/ Port Colborne area.
In the summer of 2003, a hostile takeover bid was put forth by the American partner. To save Ettinger’s short line locomotive rail lines, he needed to come up with $400,000 in a mere 45 days. Contacting his local branch of the Community Futures Development Corporation, Ettinger was able to secure a $100,000 commitment from four of six area CFDCs, and was able to combat the takeover bid. That September, the Ettingers became sole owners of Trillium Railway Co. Ltd.
The company has grown to transport an array of different products, including chemicals, fertilizer, flour, steel, paper, and production equipment for local area businesses, thanks to strong links they’ve made with CNR and CP rail lines. To handle this additional business, the company employs 31 full- and part-time employees.
Financially, the operation has become lucrative. Annual sales revenue is $ 2.5 million and growing, with owner’s equity figures floating around the $ 2.6-million mark. Net income figures have surpassed $250,000.
Wayne Knox of the Grand Erie Business Centre describes Ettinger as “a focused, persistent, and honest hard-working man,” all characteristics of a successful entrepreneur.