Progress Rail

Progress Rail, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., is a leading supplier of locomotives, railcars, and rail infrastructure products. Headquartered in Albertville, Alabama, it offers comprehensive rail solutions including manufacturing, remanufacturing, parts, and services.

Progress Rail began in 1982 as a recycling company in Albertville, Alabama. Its early identity was therefore connected to materials recovery rather than to the full range of locomotive, infrastructure, and signaling activities associated with the company today. Over subsequent decades, it expanded its product and service base and developed into an integrated supplier to railroads and transit operators. A major ownership transition occurred in 2000. Progress Rail's owner, Florida Progress Corporation, merged with Carolina Power & Light Company, and Progress Rail became part of the resulting Progress Energy organization. In February 2005, Progress Energy announced that it would sell the business to One Equity Partners for $405 million. The sale closed on March 28, 2005, and Progress Rail operated as a separate private company. Caterpillar announced in May 2006 that it would acquire Progress Rail from One Equity Partners. The proposed consideration comprised cash, stock, and debt and was reported at approximately $1 billion. Caterpillar presented the purchase as part of its Vision 2020 strategy. After the acquisition, Progress Rail became a wholly owned Caterpillar subsidiary and served as Caterpillar's principal platform in railroad products and services. The business expanded through a series of acquisitions and international initiatives. In 2008, Caterpillar agreed to acquire MGE Equipamentos e Serviços Ferroviários, a São Paulo-based company involved in locomotive components and transit-car services. MGE became part of Progress Rail and represented the company's first entry into South America. In 2010, Progress Rail acquired Electro-Motive Diesel from Berkshire Partners and Greenbriar Equity Group. The transaction was completed on August 2, 2010, bringing the EMD locomotive business into Caterpillar's rail portfolio. During the same year, Progress Rail added Coast to Coast Signal Engineering, C&S Signaling, and a General Electric signal-related business, helping establish a broader signaling and inspection capability. In 2011, the company announced that it would assemble EMD locomotives at a leased facility in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This initiative reflected the company's attempt to develop manufacturing capacity and market presence outside its traditional North American base. The following year, the EMD plant in London, Ontario, was permanently closed after a labor dispute had halted operations. Progress Rail continued to add infrastructure capabilities. In 2019, it acquired Cleveland Track Material, previously a subsidiary of Vossloh Cogifer. The transaction complemented the company's existing activities in track materials and railroad infrastructure. The company's present structure is commonly described through two principal divisions: Infrastructure and Rolling Stock. The Infrastructure division encompasses rail and track products, signaling, grade-crossing and wayside equipment, inspection technologies, and associated services. Rolling Stock encompasses locomotives, locomotive components, rebuilding and repowering, used equipment, and related support. The EMD heritage remains central to the locomotive business, while the wider Progress Rail organization provides products and services for freight rail, passenger rail, transit systems, and rail-maintenance operations. Progress Rail has an international operating footprint. The referenced company description identifies facilities in the United States, Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Italy, and Germany, with the largest number located in the United States. This network supports the company's stated role as a diversified supplier serving railroad and transit customers in multiple markets. The company's history also includes a significant environmental criminal matter. In 2013, Caterpillar announced that a federal criminal indictment had been secured against Progress Rail over conduct involving the dumping of parts into the ocean. Progress Rail pleaded guilty in 2017 and paid a $5 million fine together with $20 million in restitution. The case remains an important legal and environmental event in the public record of the Caterpillar subsidiary.

• 2019

  Cleveland Track Material acquired

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition added a rail-infrastructure materials business formerly owned by Vossloh Cogifer.

• 2017

  Guilty plea and penalties in federal environmental case

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  Progress Rail pleaded guilty in the federal case and paid a $5 million fine plus $20 million in restitution.

• 2012

  London, Ontario EMD plant closes

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  The EMD plant in London, Ontario, was permanently closed after a labor dispute had shut the facility.

• 2011

  Brazilian locomotive assembly plan announced

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced plans to assemble EMD locomotives at a leased Minas Gerais facility.

• 2010

  Electro-Motive Diesel acquisition completed

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  Progress Rail completed its purchase of Electro-Motive Diesel, strengthening its locomotive manufacturing and engineering platform.

• 2008

  MGE joins Progress Rail

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition of Brazilian company MGE expanded Progress Rail into South America and added locomotive-component and transit-car services.

• 2006

  Caterpillar acquires Progress Rail

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  Caterpillar announced and completed the acquisition of Progress Rail, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.

• 2005

  One Equity Partners acquisition completed

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  Progress Energy sold Progress Rail to One Equity Partners, with the transaction closing on March 28, 2005.

• 2000

  Ownership passes into Progress Energy

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  Following the merger of Florida Progress Corporation and Carolina Power & Light Company, Progress Rail became part of Progress Energy.

• 1982

  Progress Rail traces its origins to an Alabama recycling company

  [1]Progress Railen.wikipedia.org

  A recycling business was founded in Albertville, Alabama, establishing the corporate roots of what later became Progress Rail.

An integrated, diversified rail-industry supplier spanning locomotives, rolling stock, infrastructure, signaling, inspection, parts, and maintenance services, supported by Caterpillar's industrial ownership.

• Locomotives

  EMD freight locomotives

  Progress Rail offers EMD-branded diesel-electric freight locomotives for railroad operators. The locomotive business is one of the company's principal rolling-stock activities and is supported by associated components, maintenance, rebuilding, and technical services. The EMD portfolio entered the Caterpillar organization through Progress Rail's 2010 acquisition of Electro-Motive Diesel.

• Locomotives

  Passenger locomotives

  The company markets EMD passenger locomotives for passenger-rail applications. These products sit alongside freight, repowered, and used locomotives within Progress Rail's broader rolling-stock offering. Specific model availability and production dates are not established in the supplied reference material.

• Locomotive services

  Repowered and rebuilt locomotives

  Progress Rail provides repowered and rebuilt locomotive offerings, extending the useful life of existing rail equipment through mechanical, electrical, and systems work. These services complement new locomotive sales and support operators seeking fleet modernization without full replacement.

• Locomotives

  Progress Rail PR22L

  The PR22L is one of the locomotive models identified in Progress Rail's product portfolio. The supplied reference material does not provide detailed specifications, target markets, launch timing, or production status beyond its inclusion among the company's offered locomotives.

• Locomotives

  Progress Rail PR30C

  The PR30C is a Progress Rail locomotive model listed among the company's offerings. No additional technical specifications or launch information are provided in the reference material.

• Locomotives

  Progress Rail PR43C

  The PR43C is another locomotive model associated with Progress Rail. The available source identifies the model but does not supply detailed performance, propulsion, customer, or market information.

• Rail infrastructure

  Rail and track materials

  Progress Rail supplies rail and track-related materials for railroad infrastructure. This area was reinforced by the 2019 acquisition of Cleveland Track Material, adding to the company's ability to serve infrastructure customers alongside its locomotive and signaling businesses.

• Rail signaling

  Signals and grade-crossing equipment

  The Signal Division produces grade-crossing and wayside signaling equipment. These systems support railway safety and traffic management and became a more important part of the portfolio after Progress Rail acquired several signal-industry businesses in 2010.

• Rail technology

  Inspection and information systems

  Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems represents the company's inspection and rail-information activities. The business was associated with signal-industry acquisitions made in 2010, including a former General Electric signal-related operation. Detailed product specifications are not provided in the supplied sources.

• 2013

  Federal environmental criminal case

  Caterpillar disclosed in 2013 that a federal criminal indictment had been secured against Progress Rail in connection with allegations involving the dumping of parts into the ocean. Progress Rail later pleaded guilty in 2017 and paid a $5 million fine and $20 million in restitution.

  Source

Read more

• 2019

  Cleveland Track Material acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Progress Rail continued to expand its railroad infrastructure-materials capabilities.

  Action taken

  Progress Rail acquired Cleveland Track Material, formerly a subsidiary of Vossloh Cogifer.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition broadened Progress Rail's track-materials and infrastructure portfolio.

  Source

• 2010

  Electro-Motive Diesel acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Progress Rail sought to expand its rolling-stock and locomotive capabilities through the acquisition of an established locomotive manufacturer.

  Action taken

  Progress Rail purchased Electro-Motive Diesel from Berkshire Partners and Greenbriar Equity Group, completing the transaction on August 2, 2010.

  Aftermath

  EMD became a wholly owned Progress Rail subsidiary and strengthened the company's locomotive manufacturing and service portfolio.

  Acquisition value. (2010)

  Source

• 2006

  Caterpillar acquisition of Progress RailM&A

  Background

  Progress Rail had become an independent private company after its 2005 sale by Progress Energy. Caterpillar sought to expand its industrial portfolio and rail-sector presence under its Vision 2020 strategy.

  Action taken

  Caterpillar acquired Progress Rail from One Equity Partners in a transaction involving approximately $1 billion in cash, stock, and debt.

  Aftermath

  Progress Rail became a wholly owned Caterpillar subsidiary and developed into Caterpillar's integrated platform for railroad and transit products and services.

  Source

1. 1Progress Railen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Progress Rail official websiteprogressrail.com