Great Western Commodities an affiliate company to short-line railway, Great Western Railway, was formed in 2018 to focus on providing better service to producers in the southwest by offering more opportunities to deliver their grain locally.
When the single desk model of the Canadian Wheat Board was discontinued in August of 2012, the privately owned local loading facilities as well as our own privately owned short line railway, Great Western Railway, would be facing new challenges in the days ahead. The Open Market was new to producers and loaders and finding new marketing opportunities became everyone’s focus. Continually looking for ways for the local producers of Southwestern Saskatchewan to ship their grain locally and in response to a growing number of requests for GWR to get involved in the coordination and in some cases, the buying and selling of grain in our trade area.
GWC coordinates with businesses and processing facilities as well as assists in sourcing quality grains from along the 700 km Great Western Railway rail network located in southwestern Saskatchewan. Cleaning, sizing, bagging, and bulk loading is all available at points along the rail line.
Great Western Commodities is licenced and bonded with the Canadian Grain Commission. Offer prompt payments, third party onsite grading for quality assurance, and own their own private railcar fleet for efficient & reliable service.
GWC offers a free FALL SAMPLING PROGRAM to producers interested in shipping along our lines, to provide them with the best marketing experience.
Our Mission
Working towards building personal relationships with local producers to better understand each of their individual marketing needs to help us serve them better.
Sask. short-line railway expands into grain buying
Great Western Railway Ltd. is Saskatchewan’s newest grain dealer.
The short-line railway has formed an affiliated company — Great Western Commodities Ltd. — which will buy grain from producers in southern Saskatchewan and sell to buyers in Canada, the United States and overseas.
GW Commodities Offers Farmers Another Option
Great Western Railway is branching out into the commodities business.
GWR’s focus has been on trying to recapture grain and freight traffic back to their rail line.
General Manager Andrew Glastetter says they’ve seen a lot of grain move up to the main lines to the big grain elevators over the years.