The Adrian and Blissfield Rail Road, founded in 1991, operates over some of the company's lines.

Under the provisions of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act, states could provide subsidies for the operation of services over lines that were not included in the Conrail system.

[1] In the first decade nine new shortline railroads were founded to take advantage of these subsidies and operate lines that would otherwise have been abandoned.

[4] The company purchased 3.8 miles (6.1 km) of the ex-Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad Tecumesh branch in 1979 and used trackage rights over the Norfolk and Western Railway to reach Adrian from Morenci and Weston, Michigan.

[5][4] In 1982, Penn Central abandoned the Morenci branch between Weston and Grosvenor after the bridge over the River Raisin was damaged.