The BNG was a replacement for The Blackwell and Northern Railway (BNR), which started service over the same line on November 4, 2002, and which was in turn the replacement for the prior operator, the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad.[3][4] The BNG was chartered in Oklahoma on October 31, 2005, contracted to replace the BNR in late 2005, and began operating January 2, 2006.[3][4] It is an employer for the purposes of the Railroad Retirement Act.[3]
When the region experienced flooding in May of 2019, the line was severely damaged in areas around Blackwell, Braman, Oklahoma, and South Haven, Kansas.[5] The line was temporarily shut down while the affected areas were repaired.[5]
In October 2023, BNG filed to extend its leases on both the BIA and ODOT portions of its line.[7][8]
On February 2, 2024, the Federal Railroad Administration issued an Emergency Order shutting down the BNG due to public safety concerns over operations and maintenance of the line after new ownership and management took over in October 2023.[9][10] The FRA instigated its investigation into the railroad following two derailments which involved unqualified individuals operating locomotives at the railroad.[11] Prior to the shutdown order there was an incident involving a hi-rail truck on January 28th that nearly collided with a vehicle at an unprotected grade crossing.[12]
Rock Island Rail requested in late February 2024, and received in early March 2024, an FRA emergency order allowing it to take over operations of the BNG for at least 30 days to be able to handle urgent needs for two shippers on the line.[13][14] However on October 11, the Oklahoma & Kansas Railroad, part of the Rock Island Rail, was informed that its lease was terminated almost 6 months after agreeing to take control of the line. It was alleged by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation that the operator had made no effort to rehabilitate the line. As of the lease termination, ODOT is currently seeking a new operator for the line.[15]
