DENVER, CO — Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) marked a milestone week at the 2025 ASLRRA Conference in Denver, Colorado, with the induction of its Chairman, Henry Posner III, into the Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame, alongside two other national industry recognitions.
A “lifelong rail activist” and thought leader in freight and passenger rail, Posner was honored for more than four decades of service and innovation. His leadership has supported IAIS’s success and culture, helping it grow into one of the nation’s most connected and service-driven regional railroads.
To celebrate the occasion, IAIS brought its historic business car, the Hawkeye, to Union Station in Denver, where it hosted friends, family, and industry colleagues during the weeklong conference. The fully restored, Amtrak-certified heavyweight car is a symbol of the company’s commitment to honoring rail heritage while advancing modern operations.
“While it is hard to cram a lifetime of experience-OK, a partial lifetime, as I am far from retired-into eight minutes, this was a great opportunity to raise the consciousness of our industry peers on many subjects: safety, policy, education, and also about the willingness to fail, doing the right thing, and attracting the next generation.
But most importantly, it was about family. IAIS is a family in its own way and is part of the RDC family of companies,” said Posner during his acceptance speech at the Short Line Railroad Hall of Fame induction, where he was introduced by his daughter and fellow IAIS board member, Ida Posner.
“And of course, my first railroad lifetime achievement was having Ida follow me into the industry eight years ago!”
In addition to honoring Posner’s contributions, IAIS was named 2025 Regional Railroad of the Year by Railway Age. The award highlights IAIS’s unique network position as the only Class II railroad in the U.S. with direct connections to all six Class I carriers, enabling broad market access from a single Midwest corridor. It also reflects the railroad’s safety culture, operational performance, infrastructure investments, and dedication to customer-first service.
Iowa Interstate Railroad also received the 2025 Environmental Award for its work developing the Newton Energy Rail Park, a facility built to support the wind energy sector. Located in one of the most active wind corridors in North America, the Newton site enables efficient rail movement of turbine blades and tower sections — reducing emissions and supporting clean energy supply chains across Iowa and the Upper Midwest.Together, these recognitions reflect IAIS’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, innovation, and environmental leadership — all made possible by the people who power the railroad each day.
About Iowa Interstate Railroad
Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) operates nearly 600 miles of track between Omaha, Nebraska, and Chicago, Illinois, with intermodal terminals on both ends. Owned by Railroad Development Corporation (RDC) and iCON Infrastructure, IAIS provides freight service to agricultural, energy, and manufacturing customers while combining Class I connectivity with the service and flexibility of a regional carrier.