Milestone Commemorates Acquisition of Colorado’s Great Western Railroad, the First OmniTRAX Railroad

DENVER – July 15, 2026 – OmniTRAX, one of North America’s fastest growing privately held rail management companies, marked four decades of rail service with a gathering of community leaders at the site of its original Colorado railroad. Elected officials from four Northern Colorado communities joined OmniTRAX officials to commemorate the event.

“Northern Colorado isn’t just where the OmniTRAX story started, it’s part of who we are,” said OmniTRAX CEO Colby Tanner. “Great Western Railroad will always be our first railroad, our first community, and the first proof that collaborative local partnerships can achieve extraordinary things.”

Founded by industrialist Pat Broe in 1986, the OmniTRAX Rail Network traces its founding back to the original acquisition of Colorado’s Great Western Railway. Facing the closure of the line and loss of rail service to the region, Broe purchased Great Western Railway forty years ago and founded an adjoining industrial park to attract tenants that use rail service in their supply chains. Four decades later, the resulting rail-served project has attracted more than $300,000,000 of capital investments into Northern Colorado, as the OmniTRAX expanded to 35 rail operations nationwide.

“OmniTRAX has been a vital driver of economic growth in Weld County, connecting our agricultural producers, manufacturers, and businesses to national markets through reliable rail transportation, transloading services, and strategic industrial development,” said Weld County Commissioner Kevin Ross. “Their investments in local infrastructure have strengthened our local economy, created jobs, and enhanced our region’s competitiveness. We look forward to many more years of collaboration as OmniTRAX continues to power Weld County’s prosperity.”

OmniTRAX operates 35 railroads, serving ports and industrial parks across the country. By combining rail and real estate expertise, OmniTRAX continues to power major industrial hubs spanning from California to Georgia. As the largest private, family-owned short line holding company in North America, OmniTRAX has cultivated a reputation as a trusted growth partner for a diverse clientele of industry leaders and innovators.