Stout Steel restores Eugene rail spur for Oregon-made rebar

Stout Steel and Cedarwood are reopening a long-idle rail spur at a Eugene industrial property, with the first delivery of Oregon-made rebar scheduled for Nov. 11. The project aims to cut freight costs, reduce truck traffic and expand the family-owned businesses’ logistics capacity.

Why it matters: - The restored rail spur gives Stout Steel and Cedarwood a lower-cost, lower-diesel way to move steel from McMinnville to Eugene. - The project could also reduce truck traffic on I-5 by shifting freight from trucks to railcars. - The Eugene property adds industrial space that can support the Stout family’s business expansion and future rail-to-truck transfer services.

What happened: - Stout Steel and Cedarwood, family-owned building materials businesses based in Springfield, Oregon, are restoring rail service at an industrial property at 110 N Cleveland Street in Eugene. - The first delivery is scheduled for Nov. 11. - The shipment will bring Oregon-made rebar aboard a repurposed logging railcar. - The railcar will be the first to use the property’s spur in nearly two decades. - The restored spur connects steel production at Cascade Steel in McMinnville with distribution to contractors and building materials resellers across Oregon. - The spur runs inside the warehouse, allowing railcars to enter the building for unloading before steel moves to trucks.

The details: - Alan Stout said the family saw potential in the neglected building to serve again as a working industrial hub. - Randy Stout co-owns Stout Steel and Cedarwood with Alan Stout. - The Stout family bought the aging property to restore its usefulness and create room for the businesses to grow. - The Eugene location expands operations while keeping the existing Springfield site. - Restoring the spur required removing asphalt covering deteriorating railroad ties, replacing damaged ties, adding rock and regrading the track to align with the loading dock. - The rebuilt spur has passed railroad inspection. - Building work also includes siding repairs, roof restoration, window replacement and new motors for roll-up doors. - The warehouse includes about 27,000 square feet of industrial space. - The building has 30-foot clear height, fire sprinklers, three dock-height bay doors, a scale and a truck ramp. - The fenced property includes about 2.5 acres of additional land and about 2,000 square feet of office space. - The project repurposes former logging cars to carry steel rebar used in foundations, masonry, bridges and other construction. - Stout estimates each railcar can replace about three truckloads on the McMinnville-to-Eugene route. - Stout estimates the rail move cuts freight costs by about 30%. - Each railcar uses about 46% of the diesel required for truck transport. - The Stouts say the project creates room to serve other businesses through future rail-to-truck transfer services and possible use of all or part of the property. - For interviews, delivery updates or business inquiries, Alan Stout can be reached at 541-600-5009. - Stout Steel and Cedarwood serve contractors and resellers statewide with Oregon steel distribution and cedar products, including shakes and shingles. - More information is available on Stout Steel and Cedarwood. - The announcement also links to the company’s LinkedIn page and Facebook page.

Between the lines: - The project blends preservation and logistics, turning an underused industrial site into a transportation asset. - The move also signals confidence in regional manufacturing and distribution tied to Oregon-made building materials. - Randy Stout said small industrial businesses help keep the region working by supplying builders, creating local jobs and giving other businesses room to grow. - Randy Stout said he and Alan Stout are active in civic efforts to support business development.

What's next: - The Nov. 11 delivery will serve as the first test of the restored spur. - Stout Steel and Cedarwood plan to use the property for their own warehousing and steel distribution. - The family also sees room to expand into more rail-to-truck transfer work and additional business uses on the site.