GENESEE & WYOMING INC
S-1/A, 1996-06-12
RAILROADS, LINE-HAUL OPERATING
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<PAGE>
 
     
  AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 12, 1996     
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-3972
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                               ----------------
                               
                            AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO     
                                   FORM S-1
 
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                       UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                               ----------------
 
                            GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                                     4011                    06-0984624
        DELAWARE
                               (PRIMARY STANDARD          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     (STATE OR OTHER              INDUSTRIAL             IDENTIFICATION NO.)
     JURISDICTION OF          CLASSIFICATION CODE
    INCORPORATION OR                NUMBER)
      ORGANIZATION)
 
                                71 LEWIS STREET
                              GREENWICH, CT 06830
                                (203) 629-3722
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                            MORTIMER B. FULLER, III
         CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                            GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
                                71 LEWIS STREET
                              GREENWICH, CT 06830
                                (203) 629-3722
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
 
                               ----------------
 
                                  COPIES TO:
     SUSAN MASCETTE BRANDT, ESQ.                 JOEL S. KLAPERMAN, ESQ.
       HARTER, SECREST & EMERY                     SHEARMAN & STERLING
          700 MIDTOWN TOWER                       599 LEXINGTON AVENUE
         ROCHESTER, NY 14604                       NEW YORK, NY 10022
                                                   
         (716) 232-6500                            (212) 848-4000     
 
                               ----------------
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
                               ----------------
 
  If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. [_]
 
                               ----------------
                        
                     CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE     
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- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                              PROPOSED         PROPOSED
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                       MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
    SECURITIES TO BE        AMOUNT TO BE   OFFERING PRICE     AGGREGATE         AMOUNT OF
       REGISTERED          REGISTERED (1)   PER SHARE (2) OFFERING PRICE (2) REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 <S>                      <C>              <C>            <C>                <C>
 Class A Common Stock,
  par value $.01
  per share............   3,045,200 shares     $16.00        $48,723,200         $16,802
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
(1) Includes 148,000 shares to be sold by a selling stockholder and 397,200
  shares that may be purchased by the Underwriters solely to cover over-
  allotments, if any.     
   
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.     
       
  THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(a) MAY DETERMINE.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                             GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
 
                               ----------------
 
                             CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
 
           PURSUANT TO RULE 404(a) AND ITEM 501(b) OF REGULATION S-K
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 ITEM NO.     FORM S-1 CAPTION                   PROSPECTUS CAPTION
 --------     ----------------                   ------------------
 <C>      <S>                        <C>
    1     Forepart of the
           Registration Statement
           and Outside Front Cover
           Page of Prospectus.....   Outside Front Cover Page
    2     Inside Front and Outside
           Back Cover Pages of       
           Prospectus.............   Inside Front Cover Page; Outside Back Cover
                                      Page    
    3     Summary Information,
           Risk Factors and Ratio    
           of Earnings to Fixed      
           Charges................  Outside Front Cover Page; Prospectus     
                                     Summary; Selected Consolidated Financial
                                     and Operating Data; Risk Factors        
    4     Use of Proceeds.........   Use of Proceeds
    5     Determination of
           Offering Price.........   Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
    6     Dilution................   Dilution
    7     Selling Security
           Holders................   Principal and Selling Stockholders
    8     Plan of Distribution....   Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
    9     Description of
           Securities to be          
           Registered.............   Outside Front Cover Page; Description of
   10     Interests of Named          Capital Stock                          
           Experts and Counsel....   Legal Matters; Experts

   11     Information With Respect
           to the Registrant
          (a)Description of
               Business ..........   Business; Recent Developments
          (b)Description of
               Property ..........   Property
          (c)Legal Proceedings ...   Business
          (d)Market Price of and
               Dividends on the
               Registrant's Common   
               Equity and Related    
               Stockholder Matters   
               ...................   Outside Front Cover Page; Dividend Policy;
                                      Principal and Selling Stockholders; Shares
                                      Eligible for Future Sale                  

          (e)Financial Statements    
               ...................   Financial Statements; Pro Forma Financial
                                      Information                              
          (f)Selected Financial      
               Data ..............   Selected Consolidated Financial and
                                      Operating Data                     
          (g)Supplementary
               Financial
               Information .......   Not Applicable
          (h)Management's
               Discussion and
               Analysis of           
               Financial Condition   
               and Results of        
               Operations ........   Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                                      Financial Condition and Results of   
          (i)Changes in and           Operations                            
               Disagreements with
               Accountants on
               Accounting and
               Financial
               Disclosure ........   Not Applicable
          (j)Directors and
               Executive Officers
               ...................   Management
          (k)Executive
               Compensation ......   Management
          (l)Security Ownership of
               Certain Beneficial
               Owners and
               Management ........   Principal and Selling Stockholders
          (m)Certain Relationships
               and Related
               Transactions.......   Certain Transactions
   12     Disclosure of Commission
           Position on
           Indemnification for
           Securities Act
           Liabilities............   Not Applicable
</TABLE>    
<PAGE>
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A         +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE   +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY  +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT        +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR   +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE      +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE    +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF  +
+ANY SUCH STATE.                                                               +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                   
                SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 12, 1996     
                                
                             2,648,000 SHARES     
 
LOGO
                             GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
 
                              CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                                ($.01 PAR VALUE)
   
  Of the 2,648,000 shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby, 2,500,000
shares are being sold by the Company and 148,000 shares are being sold by a
stockholder of the Company (the "Selling Stockholder"). See "Principal and
Selling Stockholders." The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale
of Class A Common Stock by the Selling Stockholder. Prior to this offering,
there has been no public market for the Class A Common Stock of the Company. It
is currently anticipated that the initial public offering price will be between
$14.00 and $16.00 per share. See "Underwriting" for information relating to the
method of determining the initial public offering price.     
 
  The Company's authorized capital stock consists of Class A Common Stock and
Class B Common Stock. The Class A Common Stock is substantially identical to
the Class B Common Stock, except with respect to voting rights, convertibility
and dividends. The Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share and
the Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes per share. Each share of
Class B Common Stock is freely convertible into one share of Class A Common
Stock. Shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to a 10% dividend preference
over shares of Class B Common Stock when, as and if dividends are declared by
the Board of Directors. See "Description of Capital Stock."
 
  The Class A Common Stock has been approved for quotation, subject to official
notice of issuance, on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market (the "Nasdaq
National Market") under the symbol "GNWR."
 
  FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING CERTAIN FACTORS RELATING TO THIS OFFERING, SEE
"RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR  HAS THE COMMISSION
OR  ANY STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY  OF
THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                           UNDERWRITING               PROCEEDS
                                 PRICE TO DISCOUNTS AND  PROCEEDS TO TO SELLING
                                  PUBLIC  COMMISSIONS(1) COMPANY(2)  STOCKHOLDER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>      <C>            <C>         <C>
Per Share......................    $           $             $           $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(3).......................   $           $             $           $
</TABLE>    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) See "Underwriting" for indemnification arrangements.
(2) Before deducting estimated expenses of $875,000 payable by the Company.
   
(3) The Company has granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to
    an additional 397,200 shares of Class A Common Stock at the Price to
    Public, less Underwriting Discounts and Commissions shown above, solely to
    cover over-allotments, if any. If this option is exercised in full, the
    total Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds
    to Company will be $   , $    and $   , respectively. See "Underwriting."
        
  The shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby are being offered by the
several Underwriters named herein, subject to prior sale and acceptance by the
Underwriters and subject to their right to reject any order in whole or in
part. It is expected that the Class A Common Stock will be available for
delivery on or about     , 1996 at the offices of Schroder Wertheim & Co.
Incorporated, New York, New York.
 
SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO.                                              FURMAN SELZ
 
                                        , 1996
<PAGE>
 
 
                                 [ART TO COME]
 
 
                               ----------------
   
  IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE CLASS A
COMMON STOCK AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET, IN
THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY
BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.     
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
   
  The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to, and
should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and the
Consolidated Financial Statements, including the Notes thereto, appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus. All references to "GWI" or the "Company" in this
Prospectus mean Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its
subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this Prospectus
(i) assumes an initial public offering price of $15.00 per share of Class A
Common Stock,(ii) assumes that the Underwriters' over-allotment option is not
exercised, and (iii) gives effect to an 18.5:1 stock split and reclassification
of the Company's common stock into Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock (collectively, the "Common Stock") which became effective on June 10,
1996.     
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
  GWI is a leading operator of short line and regional freight railroads, based
on revenues and total track miles. In 1977, when Mortimer B. Fuller, III
purchased a controlling interest in the Company and became its Chief Executive
Officer, the Company operated a single 14-mile railroad that generated $3.9
million in operating revenues, substantially all of which were attributable to
shipments of salt by Akzo Nobel Salt, Inc. ("Akzo"). As a result of the
Company's acquisition and marketing strategies, the Company has grown to
operate over approximately 1,500 miles of track and, in 1995, the Company
generated $53.4 million in operating revenues. The Company now operates in four
regions of the United States: Western New York and Pennsylvania; Illinois;
Louisiana and Texas; and Oregon.
 
  The Company's growth to date has been the result of its acquisition of rail
properties and its marketing efforts. This growth has largely been "stair-step"
in nature--large revenue increases resulting primarily from acquisitions,
followed by more gradual, incremental revenue growth as the Company implements
its marketing and operating strategies. The Company's growth has resulted in an
expanded customer base, a more diversified commodity mix and decreased
dependence on any one customer. The success of the Company's growth strategy is
evidenced by the fact that it has continued to maintain a stable revenue base
despite the collapse and subsequent closure of the salt mine operated by Akzo,
the Company's largest freight customer until 1994. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results in Operations--Akzo Mine."
 
  The Company's strategy is to become the dominant provider of rail freight
transportation in the markets it serves by (i) growing its business through
acquisitions to establish new regions or increase its presence in existing
regions, (ii) expanding its revenue base within each region through marketing
efforts, and (iii) improving its operating efficiency through rationalization
and consolidation of overhead expenses.
 
  The Company's fundamental acquisition strategy is to acquire properties that
have large industrial customers which will provide the Company with a stable
revenue base and the potential to generate incremental revenues and additional
customers upon implementation of a focused marketing plan. In the first four
months of 1996, the Company completed two acquisitions, one which established a
new region and another which increased and diversified its customer base in the
New York and Pennsylvania region. In both cases, the Company acquired rail
properties that serve large industrial customers.
 
  In February 1996, the Company formed Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc.
("Illinois & Midland") which acquired certain railroad assets from Chicago &
Illinois Midland Railway Company ("CIMR") (the "Illinois & Midland
Acquisition"). In 1995, CIMR generated operating revenues of $13.7 million and
transported 48,104 carloads, 91% of which consisted of coal shipments to two
power plants operated by Commonwealth Edison Company ("ComEd"). In April 1996,
the Company formed Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc. ("Pittsburg & Shawmut"),
which acquired certain railroad assets owned by three operating subsidiaries of
the Arthur T. Walker Estate Corporation (the "ATWEC Railroads") (the "Pittsburg
& Shawmut Acquisition"). Pittsburg & Shawmut
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
interchanges with one of the Company's other railroads in three locations. In
1995, the ATWEC Railroads generated operating revenues of $5.9 million and
transported approximately 17,500 carloads, 93% of which were shipments of coal
from four mines located along its lines. See "Recent Developments."
 
  The Illinois & Midland Acquisition established the Company in a new region
and broadened the Company's base of major industrial customers. This
acquisition provides the Company with an immediate presence in the midwest and
a strong base for additional growth in the region. The Pittsburg & Shawmut
Acquisition expanded the Company's presence in its New York and Pennsylvania
region and further broadened its customer base. The Company believes that the
proximity of Pittsburg & Shawmut to one of the Company's other railroads offers
an excellent opportunity for rationalization and consolidation of overhead
expenses as well as market extension and diversification.
 
  The Company's marketing strategy is to build each region on a base of major
industrial customers, to grow that base business through marketing efforts
directed at its major customers and to generate incremental revenues outside
the base of major customers by attracting smaller customers and providing
ancillary services which generate non-freight revenues. The Company believes
that over the long term, its strategy of building its regions around a core of
major industrial customers provides a stable revenue base and allows the
Company to focus its efforts on additional growth opportunities within a
region.
 
  The Company's operating strategy is to empower local managers with the
resources and authority to increase revenues, lower operating costs and
rationalize track where appropriate to make operations more efficient. GWI has
established incentive compensation programs that reward local managers for
improving results. The Company also seeks to increase the profitability of its
railroads by spreading regional and corporate overhead expenses over an
expanding revenue base.
 
  The Company's principal executive offices are located at 71 Lewis Street,
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. Its telephone number is (203) 629-3722.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
 
                                THE OFFERING(1)
 
<TABLE>   
<S>                                                  <C>
Class A Common Stock offered:
  By the Company.................................... 2,500,000 shares
  By the Selling Stockholder........................   148,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the Offering:
  Class A Common Stock(2)........................... 4,001,937 shares(3)
  Class B Common Stock(2)...........................   846,556 shares
 
                                                     ---------
    Total........................................... 4,848,493 shares(3)
 
                                                     =========
                                                     To repay debt. See "Use of
Use of proceeds..................................... Proceeds."
Nasdaq National Market symbol....................... GNWR
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
(1) The offering of shares of Class A Common Stock made hereby is referred to
    herein as the "Offering."     
 
(2) The Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share. The Class B
    Common Stock is entitled to ten votes per share. The Class B Common Stock
    is convertible into Class A Common Stock on a one-to-one basis at the
    option of the holder and, with certain exceptions, automatically converts
    upon transfer by the original holder thereof. The Class A Common Stock is
    entitled to a 10% dividend preference over the Class B Common Stock when,
    as and if dividends are declared by the Board of Directors. The Class A
    Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class
    except as required by law, and are substantially identical except with
    respect to voting rights, convertibility and dividends. See "Description of
    Capital Stock."
 
(3) Excludes (i) an aggregate of 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
    reserved for issuance under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan and Stock
    Option Plan for Outside Directors, of which options to purchase 350,500
    shares of Class A Common Stock are currently outstanding, (ii) 450,000
    shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's
    Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and (iii) 41,847 shares of Class A Common
    Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Bank Warrant. See
    "Management--Stock Options," "Management--Employee Stock Purchase Plan" and
    "Description of Capital Stock--Bank Warrant."
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
               SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
              (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND OPERATING DATA)
   
  The summary consolidated financial and operating data below has been taken or
derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and other records of
the Company. The summary consolidated financial and operating data should be
read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying
Notes contained in this Prospectus. The results of operations for the interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full
year. See also "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations." The pro forma financial and operating data is based
upon certain pro forma adjustments to reflect (i) the sale by the Company of
2,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in the Offering and the application of
the estimated net proceeds of the Offering as set forth under "Use of
Proceeds," (ii) the amendment and restatement of the Credit Facilities and
(iii) the closing of the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut
Acquisitions. The pro forma unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet data
assumes that the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition occurred on March 31, 1996,
and the pro forma unaudited condensed consolidated income statement and
operating data assumes that the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut
Acquisitions and the amendment and restatement of the Credit Facilities
occurred on January 1, 1995.     
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            THREE MONTHS
                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                 ENDED MARCH 31,           PRO FORMA
                         ------------------------------------------------  ----------------  -------------------------
                                                                                                          THREE MONTHS
                                                                                              YEAR ENDED     ENDED
                                                                                             DECEMBER 31,  MARCH 31,
                           1991      1992      1993      1994      1995     1995     1996        1995         1996
                         --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  -------  -------  ------------ ------------
                                                                             (UNAUDITED)            (UNAUDITED)
<S>                      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>          <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Operating revenues...... $ 20,536  $ 32,940  $ 49,645  $ 55,419  $ 53,387  $13,391  $16,608    $ 73,042     $19,448
Operating income........      275     2,748     6,144     8,038     6,572    1,526    2,814      12,416       3,558
Interest expense........   (1,583)   (2,319)   (2,864)   (3,212)   (3,405)    (766)  (1,274)     (4,020)       (948)
Net income (loss).......     (884)      637     1,624     3,011     1,657      502      965       6,104       1,620
Earnings per common
 share:
 Income before extraor-
  dinary item and cumu-
  lative effect of ac-
  counting change....... $  (0.39) $   0.28  $   0.88  $   1.31  $   0.92  $  0.21  $  0.41    $   1.36     $  0.33
 Net income (loss)...... $  (0.39) $   0.28  $   0.70  $   1.31  $   0.71  $  0.21  $  0.41    $   1.26     $  0.33
Weighted average number
 of common shares
 outstanding............    2,258     2,258     2,304     2,304     2,348    2,348    2,348       4,848       4,848
OPERATING DATA:
Total track mile-
 age(1)(2)..............      298       555       841       808       839      808      964       1,160       1,236
Total carloads..........   43,077    73,429   115,301   119,051   118,673   30,966   39,345     184,277      49,674
Total employees(2)......      176       266       357       380       397      399      462         485         489
Operating revenues per
 carload................ $    477  $    449  $    431  $    466  $    450  $   432  $   422    $    396     $   392
Operating revenues per
 employee............... $116,682  $123,835  $139,062  $145,839  $134,476  $33,561  $35,948    $150,602     $39,771
Carloads per employee...      245       276       323       313       299       78       85         380         102
Operating ratio(3)......     98.7%     91.7%     87.6%     85.5%     87.7%    88.6%    83.1%       83.0%       81.7%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       MARCH 31, 1996
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                                     AS FURTHER
                                              ACTUAL  AS ADJUSTED(4) ADJUSTED(5)
                                             -------- -------------- -----------
                                                         (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                          <C>      <C>            <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total assets................................ $115,859    $125,027     $125,027
Total debt..................................   66,207      72,207       38,207
Stockholders' equity........................   11,952      11,952       45,952
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Excludes track miles operated under trackage rights and operating
    contracts. See "Property."
(2) Based on monthly averages over the respective periods, except for pro forma
    data which is as of December 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996.
(3) Operating expenses divided by operating revenues.
(4) As adjusted to give effect to the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition. See
    "Recent Developments."
   
(5) As further adjusted to give effect to the sale by the Company of 2,500,000
    shares of Class A Common Stock in the Offering and the application of the
    estimated net proceeds of the Offering as described in "Use of Proceeds."
        
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                                 RISK FACTORS
 
  Potential purchasers of the Class A Common Stock should carefully consider
the following factors, as well as the other information contained in this
Prospectus, before deciding to purchase shares of the Class A Common Stock
offered hereby.
 
AVAILABILITY OF ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES
 
  The Company's ability to continue to grow is dependent in part upon its
ability to acquire additional rail properties. In making acquisitions the
Company competes with other short line and regional rail operators, some of
which are larger and have greater financial resources than the Company. There
can be no assurance that acquisition opportunities will be available to the
Company in the future or that the Company will be able to compete successfully
for available properties. The Company's ability to acquire additional rail
properties and related railroad assets may also be dependent upon its ability
to obtain financing for such acquisitions. Financing may not be available or
may be available only on terms and conditions unfavorable to the Company. In
addition, the Company's Credit Facilities contain certain limitations on the
Company's ability to make acquisitions. See "Business--Strategy--Acquisition
of Rail Properties," "Business--Competition" and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and
Capital Resources."
 
FLUCTUATIONS IN REVENUES AND EXPENSES
 
  The Company has historically experienced fluctuations in revenues and
expenses due to unpredictable events such as one-time freight moves, customer
plant expansions and shut-downs, railcar sales, accidents and derailments. The
occurrence of such events in the future could cause further fluctuations in
revenues and expenses and negatively affect the Company's financial
performance. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations--General."
 
CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION
 
  In 1995, the Company's ten largest customers accounted for approximately 50%
of the Company's operating revenues. The Company's two largest customers in
1995 were Akzo and Georgia-Pacific Corporation ("Georgia Pacific"), which
accounted for 9% and 8% of operating revenues, respectively. As a result of
the Illinois & Midland Acquisition, the Company anticipates that ComEd will
become its largest customer. On a pro forma basis after giving effect to both
the Illinois & Midland Acquisition and the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition,
ComEd represented 16% of operating revenues in 1995. See "Pro Forma Financial
Information." The Company's business could be adversely affected if its
customers suffer significant reductions in their businesses or reduce
shipments of commodities transported by the Company. See "Business--Railroad
Operations--Customers."
 
RELIANCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
 
  The Company's success to date has been largely dependent on the leadership
of Mortimer B. Fuller, III, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer. While the Company has a decentralized organizational structure and an
experienced management team, the loss of Mr. Fuller's services could adversely
affect the Company's operations. See "Business--Railroad Operations--
Management" and "Management."
 
RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLASS I RAILROADS
 
  The railroad industry in the United States is dominated by a small number of
large Class I carriers that have substantial market control and negotiating
leverage. Almost all of the traffic on the Company's railroads is interchanged
with Class I carriers. A decision by any of these Class I carriers to
discontinue transporting certain commodities or to use alternate modes of
transportation, such as motor carriers, could adversely affect the Company's
business. See "Business--Industry Overview."
 
  The Company's ability to provide rail service to its customers depends in
large part upon its ability to maintain cooperative relationships with Class I
connecting carriers with respect to, among other matters, freight rates, car
supply, reciprocal switching, interchange and trackage rights. A deterioration
in the operations of or
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
service provided by those connecting carriers, or in the Company's
relationship with its connecting carriers, could adversely affect the
Company's business. In addition, much of the freight transported by the
Company's railroads moves on railcars supplied by Class I carriers. Were these
carriers to reduce the number of railcars available for use by its railroads,
the Company might not be able to obtain replacement railcars on favorable
terms. See "Business--Railroad Operations" and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Results of
Operations."
 
  Portions of the Company's rail properties are operated under leases,
operating agreements or trackage rights agreements with Class I carriers.
Failure of the Company's railroads to comply with such leases and agreements
in all material respects could result in the loss of operating rights with
respect to such rail properties, which would adversely affect the Company's
business. See "Property."
 
COMPETITION
 
  Each of the Company's railroads is typically the only rail carrier directly
serving its customers; however, the Company's railroads compete directly with
other modes of transportation, including motor carriers and, to a lesser
extent, ships and barges. Competition is based primarily upon the rate charged
and the transit time required, as well as the quality and reliability of the
service provided. Any improvement in the cost or quality of these alternate
modes of transportation could increase competition from these other modes of
transportation and adversely affect the Company's business. Approximately
12.8% of the Company's 1995 freight revenues was generated by overhead traffic
(i.e. traffic neither originating nor terminating on one of its railroads).
Overhead traffic is subject to diversion based on service and prices charged
by other railroads. See "Business--Competition" and "Business--Railroad
Operations--Rail Traffic."
 
REGULATION
 
  The Company's railroads are subject to regulation by the Surface
Transportation Board ("STB"), the Federal Railroad Administration ("FRA"),
state departments of transportation and some state and local regulatory
agencies. See "Business--Regulation." Despite deregulation in recent years,
federal and state regulation continues to affect profitability and
competitiveness in the railroad industry. The federal and state regulatory
schemes negatively affect the Company through, among other things, the delays
and costs associated with protracted abandonment proceedings and the legal
costs associated with acquisition proceedings. Although the recently enacted
ICC Termination Act of 1995 (the "ICCTA") purports to aim at eliminating or
reducing such costs, the ICCTA has not been in effect long enough to determine
the extent to which it will be successful in this regard. In reducing
regulation, an effect of the ICCTA may be diminished regulatory protection for
small railroads, which negatively affects their competitive position with
their Class I connections. See "Business--Railroad Operations" and "Business--
Regulation."
 
LIABILITY FOR CASUALTY LOSSES
 
  The Company has obtained for each of its railroads insurance coverage for
losses arising from personal injury and for property damage in the event of
derailments or other accidents or occurrences. The Company believes that its
insurance coverage is adequate based on its experience. However, under
catastrophic circumstances such as accidents involving passenger trains or
spillage of hazardous materials, the Company's liability could exceed its
insurance limits. Insurance is available from only a very limited number of
insurers and there can be no assurance that insurance protection at the
Company's current levels will continue to be available or, if available, will
be obtainable on terms acceptable to the Company. The occurrence of losses or
other liabilities which are not covered by insurance or which exceed the
Company's insurance limits could materially adversely affect the financial
condition of the Company. See "Business--Insurance."
 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
  The Company's railroad operations and real estate ownership are subject to
extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations
concerning, among other things, emissions to the air, discharges to waters,
and the handling, storage, transportation and disposal of waste and other
materials. The Company's railroads regularly transport hazardous materials for
shippers, and also periodically use hazardous materials in their own
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
operations. As a result, the Company's business involves the risk of
substantial environmental liability as a result of current and past
operations. See "Business--Environmental Matters."
 
LABOR MATTERS
 
  Five of the Company's railroads have employees who are subject to collective
bargaining agreements. Strikes and work stoppages, whether brought against the
Company's railroads or against the Class I carriers with which they connect,
could adversely affect the operations of the Company's railroads. See
"Business--Railroad Operations--Employees."
 
DILUTION
 
  Purchasers of Class A Common Stock in the Offering will experience an
immediate and substantial dilution of $9.12 per share in the net tangible book
value of their shares. See "Dilution."
 
CONCENTRATION OF VOTING POWER
   
  Upon completion of the Offering, the directors and executive officers of the
Company will beneficially own approximately 27.9% of the outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock and approximately 99.0% of the outstanding shares of
Class B Common Stock, representing approximately 76.2% of the voting power of
the Company (including approximately 57.5% of the voting power of the Company
controlled by Mortimer B. Fuller, III, the Company's Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer). As a result, Mr. Fuller and the other directors and
executive officers of the Company will have the ability to affect the vote of
the Company's stockholders on significant corporate actions requiring
stockholder approval, including mergers, share exchanges or sales of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets. With such voting power, Mr. Fuller
and the other directors and executive officers of the Company may also have
the ability to delay or prevent a change in control of the Company. See
"Principal and Selling Stockholders," "Certain Transactions" and "Description
of Capital Stock."     
 
NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET FOR CLASS A COMMON STOCK
 
  Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Class A
Common Stock. Although the Company has applied for quotation of the Class A
Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market, there can be no assurance that an
active trading market for the Class A Common Stock will develop or, if it does
develop, that such trading market will be sustained after the completion of
the Offering. The initial public offering price will be determined through
negotiations between GWI and representatives of the Underwriters and may not
be indicative of the market price for the Class A Common Stock after the
Offering. See "Underwriting" for information relating to the factors
considered in determining the initial public offering price of the Class A
Common Stock. The market price of the Class A Common Stock could be subject to
significant fluctuations in response to variations in quarterly operating
results and other factors. In addition, general market price declines or
market volatility in the future could affect the market price of the Class A
Common Stock.
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
   
  Upon completion of the Offering, 1,353,937 shares of Class A Common Stock
held by certain stockholders of the Company will be eligible for sale subject
to the volume and other limitations of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"). In addition, all of the 846,556 shares of Class
B Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Offering are freely
convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock and, if so converted, will be
eligible for sale subject to the volume and other limitations of Rule 144.
Holders of the Bank Warrant are also entitled under certain circumstances to
demand and "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to the shares
issuable upon exercise thereof. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if
any, that future sales of shares of Class A Common Stock, or the availability
of shares of Class A Common Stock for future sales, will have on the market
price of the Class A Common Stock prevailing from time to time. Sales of
substantial amounts of Class A Common Stock (including shares issued upon the
exercise of options, warrants or the conversion of Class B Common Stock, or
under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan), or the perception that such
sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices for the
Class A Common Stock. See "Management--Stock Options," "Management--Employee
Stock Purchase Plan" and "Description of Capital Stock--Bank Warrant."     
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
   
  The Company, its officers and directors and certain other stockholders have
agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, subject
to certain exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this
Prospectus without the prior written consent of Schroder Wertheim & Co.
Incorporated. Following the Offering, an aggregate of 2,112,253 shares will be
subject to these restrictions. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and
"Underwriting."     
 
LIMITATIONS ON TAKEOVERS
 
  Certain provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws
may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition
proposal for the Company and may thereby inhibit a change in control of the
Company under circumstances that could give the stockholders the opportunity
to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market prices. Specifically,
mergers and certain other corporate actions require the approval of two-thirds
of the total votes represented by all Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with the members
of each class serving for staggered three-year terms, and the Board is
expressly authorized to consider a variety of factors and constituencies in
determining the Company's best interests. In addition, under certain
circumstances Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law makes it
more difficult for an "interested stockholder" (generally a 15% stockholder)
to effect certain business combinations with a corporation for a three-year
period. See "Description of Capital Stock--Limitations on Takeovers."
 
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
ILLINOIS & MIDLAND ACQUISITION
 
  On February 8, 1996, the Company established its Illinois region when
Illinois & Midland acquired certain railroad operating assets from CIMR. The
purchase price was $27.5 million (including the assumption of certain
liabilities and $159,000 of related costs) and was financed by the proceeds of
the term loan described below.
   
  The Illinois & Midland Acquisition is an example of the Company's strategy
of acquiring rail properties that service major industrial customers. In 1995,
CIMR generated operating revenues of $13.7 million and operating income of
$4.0 million and transported 48,104 carloads, approximately 91% of which
consisted of coal shipments to two power plants operated by ComEd. Illinois &
Midland has the exclusive right to serve these power plants and the majority
of the shipments are under long-term contracts extending until 2002. A second
coal customer, Illinois Power Company, began to receive coal shipments at a
power plant located in Havana, Illinois in 1996. Illinois Power Company has
entered into a contract to receive an average of 7,000 carloads annually
through 1999. The Company believes that these contracts will provide a stable
revenue base from which to grow other freight revenues and non-freight
revenues. In addition to coal, Illinois & Midland also transports flour,
roofing granules, ethanol and lumber.     
 
  The assets acquired by Illinois & Midland consist primarily of a 126-mile
line extending from Peoria, Illinois, through Springfield to Taylorville,
Illinois, a small number of railcars which will be used for maintenance of
way, and certain rights under real property leases. The rail line consists of
111 miles of FRA Class III track and 15 miles of FRA Class II track. The
Company believes that the track is in excellent condition and that a
relatively low level of capital expenditures will be required in the near
future. Illinois & Midland interchanges with 11 railroads, including six Class
I railroads, and also connects with the Illinois River through an unloading
facility owned by ComEd and operated by Illinois & Midland. The Company
believes there will be opportunities for additional expansion through
acquisitions in the midwest.
 
  In connection with the acquisition, Illinois & Midland hired 70 former CIMR
employees, including 55 operating and hourly employees who had been
represented by 12 different labor unions. Illinois & Midland, through
negotiation with the United Transportation Union ("UTU"), has entered into an
agreement whereby the UTU will represent all of these operating and hourly
employees. The agreement simplifies operating rules contained in the prior
agreements.
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT ACQUISITION
 
  On April 29, 1996, Pittsburg & Shawmut acquired substantially all of the
operating assets of the ATWEC Railroads. These railroad assets were previously
operated by ATWEC subsidiaries Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad Company, Mountain
Laurel Railroad Company and Red Bank Railroad Company. The purchase price was
approximately $15.2 million (including the assumption of a grant from the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and $250,000 of related costs). In addition, the
purchase and sale agreement provides for additional contingency payments of up
to $2.5 million in the event that coal revenues exceed certain agreed upon
levels. The purchase price was financed by the proceeds of the term loan
described below.
 
  The 237-mile line acquired by Pittsburg & Shawmut consists of a main line
that extends from Driftwood, Pennsylvania through DuBois to Freeport,
Pennsylvania, and branch lines that extend to Reidsburg and Lawsonham,
Pennsylvania. In 1995, the ATWEC Railroads generated operating revenues of
$5.9 million and transported approximately 17,500 carloads, 93% of which were
shipments of coal from four mines located along its lines. Pittsburg & Shawmut
has entered into a seven-year agreement covering the shipments by its largest
customer, which represented 60% of coal hauled by the ATWEC Railroads in 1995.
 
  The Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition is an example of the Company's strategy
of acquiring rail properties in its existing regions in order to capitalize on
operating efficiencies. Pittsburg & Shawmut consists of three separate rail
lines, which interchange with another of the Company's railroads in three
locations. The Company believes that the proximity of these two railroads
offers an excellent opportunity for rationalization as well as market
extension and diversification. The assets acquired by Pittsburg & Shawmut
consist of 237 miles of track, 859 railcars, 19 locomotives and various other
related assets necessary to operate the rail lines. As a result of operating
efficiencies obtained with the Company's existing railroads in the New York
and Pennsylvania region, Pittsburg & Shawmut plans to liquidate 42 miles of
track and sell a significant portion of the railcars and locomotives, thereby
reducing the effective purchase price of the acquisition.
 
AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF CREDIT FACILITIES
   
  On February 8, 1996, the Company and each of its subsidiaries entered into
an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement (the "Credit
Agreement") whereby the Company restructured its credit facilities (the
"Credit Facilities") with The First National Bank of Boston, as agent for a
syndicate of banks (the "Bank of Boston"). The Credit Agreement provides for a
five-year $34 million revolving credit facility and a five-year $40 million
loan. The term loan was made available to the Company in two tranches. The
Company borrowed $26 million in February 1996 to consummate the Illinois &
Midland Acquisition, and an additional $11.7 million was used in April 1996 to
consummate the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition. In connection with the Credit
Agreement, the Company issued to the Bank of Boston a warrant to purchase
41,847 shares of Class A Common Stock at a price of $.0005 per share (the
"Bank Warrant"). See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources" and
"Description of Capital Stock--Bank Warrant."     
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
   
  The net proceeds to the Company from the Offering are estimated to be $34.0
million ($39.5 million ifthe Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised
in full), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
expenses of the Offering payable by the Company. The Company will not receive
any proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Stock by the Selling Stockholder.
    
  The Company intends to use all of the net proceeds of the Offering to repay
borrowings under the Credit Facilities. Borrowings under the Credit Facilities
were used as follows: (i) $26.1 million in connection with the Illinois &
Midland Acquisition, (ii) $11.7 million in connection with the Pittsburg &
Shawmut Acquisition, (iii) $14.3 million to repay outstanding debt, including
$701,000 in debt held by or for the benefit of directors and officers of the
Company and members of their respective families (see "Certain Transactions")
and $2.7 million in prepayment and other financing costs, (iv) $8.3 million to
purchase rolling stock and locomotives, and (v) $700,000 to construct a
locomotive facility. As of May 31, 1996, the Company had $59.3 million
outstanding under the Credit Facilities at an interest rate of 8.53% per
annum. The interest rate fluctuates at increments over prime or London Inter-
Bank Offered Rates ("LIBOR"), based on the Company's ratio of debt to EBITDA.
   
  Following application of the net proceeds to the Company from the Offering,
the Credit Facilities will be available to the Company to finance future
acquisitions. See "Recent Developments" and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and
Capital Resources."     
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
  The Company has historically paid quarterly dividends in order to provide
limited liquidity to its stockholders. In 1994, 1995 and the first quarter of
1996, the Company paid total cash dividends of $63,000, $191,000 and $32,000,
respectively. Dividends in 1994 were reduced in anticipation of decreased net
income as a result of the loss of production at the Akzo mine. Because the
Company's net income increased in 1994 despite Akzo's decreased production, a
larger than usual dividend was paid in the first quarter of 1995 to offset the
lower dividends paid in 1994. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Akzo Mine." Although the
Company has paid dividends in the past, it currently intends to retain all
earnings to support its operations and future growth and, therefore, does not
anticipate the payment of cash dividends on the Common Stock in the
foreseeable future. In addition, the Credit Facilities have certain covenant
limitations on the payment of dividends. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-- Liquidity and
Capital Resources."
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
                                CAPITALIZATION
   
  The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company at March
31, 1996 and as adjusted to give effect to (i) the Pittsburg & Shawmut
Acquisition and (ii) the sale by the Company of 2,500,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock in the Offering and the application of the estimated net proceeds
of the Offering as described in "Use of Proceeds."     
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       MARCH 31, 1996
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                                    AS FURTHER
                                             ACTUAL  AS ADJUSTED(1) ADJUSTED(2)
                                             ------- -------------- -----------
                                                   (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                          <C>     <C>            <C>
Long-term debt:
  Current portion of long-term debt......... $ 2,894    $ 4,690       $ 2,730
  Long-term debt, excluding current portion.  63,313     67,517        35,477
                                             -------    -------       -------
    Total long-term debt....................  66,207     72,207        38,207
                                             -------    -------       -------
Stockholders' equity:
  Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value,
   12,000,000 shares authorized; 1,501,937
   outstanding and outstanding as adjusted;
   4,001,937 outstanding as further
   adjusted(3)(4)...........................      15         15            40
  Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value,
   1,500,000 shares authorized; 846,556
   outstanding(4)...........................       8          8             8
  Additional paid-in capital................   1,340      1,340        35,315
  Warrants outstanding(5)...................     471        471           471
  Retained earnings.........................  10,118     10,118        10,118
                                             -------    -------       -------
    Total stockholders' equity..............  11,952     11,952        45,952
                                             -------    -------       -------
      Total capitalization.................. $78,159    $84,159       $84,159
                                             =======    =======       =======
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) As adjusted to give effect to the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition as if it
    had occurred on March 31, 1996. See "Recent Developments."
   
(2) As further adjusted to give effect to the sale by the Company of 2,500,000
    shares of Class A Common Stock in the Offering and the application of the
    estimated net proceeds of the Offering as described in "Use of Proceeds."
        
(3) Excludes (i) an aggregate of 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
    reserved for issuance under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan and Stock
    Option Plan for Outside Directors, of which options to purchase 350,500
    shares of Class A Common Stock are currently outstanding and (ii) 450,000
    shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's
    Employee Stock Purchase Plan. See "Management--Stock Options" and
    "Management--Employee Stock Purchase Plan."
(4) For a description of the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common
    Stock, see "Description of Capital Stock."
(5) For a description of the Bank Warrant, see "Description of Capital Stock--
    Bank Warrant."
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
                                   DILUTION
 
  Pro forma net tangible book value per share before the Offering takes into
consideration the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition as if it had occurred on
March 31, 1996. The Company's pro forma net tangible book value at March 31,
1996 was $(5.5) million, or $(2.33) per share of Common Stock. Pro forma net
tangible book value per share is determined by dividing the pro forma tangible
net worth of the Company (total tangible assets less total liabilities) by the
total number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock
outstanding. After giving effect to the sale by the Company of 2,500,000
shares of Class A Common Stock in the Offering and the application of the net
proceeds as described in "Use of Proceeds," the Company's pro forma net
tangible book value at March 31, 1996 would have been $28.5 million, or $5.88
per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of
$8.21 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net
tangible book value of $9.12 per share to new investors purchasing shares of
Class A Common Stock in the Offering. The following table illustrates the pro
forma per share dilution at March 31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>     <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share..................         $15.00
  Pro forma net tangible book value per share before the Offer-
   ing(1)........................................................ $(2.33)
  Increase per share attributable to new investors...............   8.21
                                                                  ------
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after giving effect
 to the Offering(1)..............................................           5.88
                                                                          ------
Dilution per share to new investors..............................         $ 9.12
                                                                          ======
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Tangible assets include leasehold interests. Intangible assets include
    unamortized service assurance agreement (see note 1 to audited condensed
    consolidated financial statements), organization costs and financing costs
    in the amount of $17.4 million.
 
  The following table shows, on a pro forma basis at March 31, 1996, the
difference between existing stockholders and new investors with respect to the
number of shares purchased from the Company and the total consideration and
average price per share paid to the Company:
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                            SHARES PURCHASED(1)   TOTAL CONSIDERATION  AVERAGE
                            -----------------------------------------   PRICE
                              NUMBER    PERCENT     AMOUNT    PERCENT PER SHARE
                            ----------- --------------------- ------- ---------
<S>                         <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>     <C>
Existing stockhold-
 ers(2)(3).................   2,348,493     48.4% $ 1,362,995    3.5%  $ 0.58
New investors(3)...........   2,500,000     51.6   37,500,000   96.5    15.00
                            -----------  -------  -----------  -----
  Total....................   4,848,493    100.0% $38,862,995  100.0%
                            ===========  =======  ===========  =====
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
(1) The Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share and the Class B
    Common Stock is entitled to ten votes per share. The Class A Common Stock
    and the Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class, except as
    required by law.     
(2) The information presented assumes no exercise of outstanding options or
    warrants. See "Management--Stock Options" and "Description of Capital
    Stock--Bank Warrant."
   
(3) After giving effect to the Offering (i) existing stockholders (other than
    the Selling Stockholder) will beneficially own 1,353,937 shares of Class A
    Common Stock and 846,556 shares of Class B Common Stock, and new investors
    will own 2,648,000 shares of Class A Common Stock; and (ii) new investors
    will control approximately 21.2% and existing stockholders (other than the
    Selling Stockholder) will control approximately 78.8%, respectively, of
    the total combined voting power of both classes of Common Stock. See "Risk
    Factors--Concentration of Voting Power" and "Description of Capital
    Stock."     
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
              SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
              (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND OPERATING DATA)
 
  The following selected consolidated income statement data and selected
consolidated balance sheet data of the Company for the years ended December
31, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, and the three months ended March 31, 1995
and 1996, have been derived from the Company's consolidated financial
statements. The results of operations for the interim periods are not
necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year. The
following selected consolidated operating data for the years ended December
31, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, and the three months ended March 31, 1995
and 1996, have been derived from the records of the Company. All of the
information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Prospectus. See also
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                              THREE MONTHS
                                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                 ENDED MARCH 31,         PRO FORMA(1)
                          ------------------------------------------------  -----------------  ----------------------
                                                                                                              THREE
                                                                                                   YEAR      MONTHS
                                                                                                  ENDED       ENDED
                                                                                               DECEMBER 31, MARCH 31,
                            1991      1992      1993      1994      1995     1995      1996        1995       1996
                          --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  -------  --------  ------------ ---------
                                                                              (UNAUDITED)           (UNAUDITED)
<S>                       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>          <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Operating revenues......  $ 20,536  $ 32,940  $ 49,645  $ 55,419  $ 53,387  $13,391  $ 16,608    $ 73,042   $ 19,448
Operating expenses......    20,261    30,192    43,501    47,381    46,815   11,865    13,794      60,626     15,890
                          --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  -------  --------    --------   --------
Operating income........       275     2,748     6,144     8,038     6,572    1,526     2,814      12,416      3,558
Interest expense........    (1,583)   (2,319)   (2,864)   (3,212)   (3,405)    (766)   (1,274)     (4,020)      (948)
Other income............       105       643       165       192       456      105        81       2,711        113
                          --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  -------  --------    --------   --------
Income (loss) before
 income taxes,
 extraordinary item and
 cumulative effect of
 accounting change......    (1,203)    1,072     3,445     5,018     3,623      865     1,621      11,107      2,723
Income taxes............       319      (435)   (1,428)   (2,007)   (1,472)    (363)     (656)     (4,509)    (1,103)
                          --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  -------  --------    --------   --------
Income (loss) before
 extraordinary item and
 cumulative effect of
 accounting change......      (884)      637     2,017     3,011     2,151      502       965       6,598      1,620
Extraordinary item......       --        --        --        --       (494)     --        --         (494)       --
Cumulative effect of ac-
 counting change(2).....       --        --       (393)      --        --       --        --          --         --
                          --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  -------  --------    --------   --------
Net income (loss).......  $   (884) $    637  $  1,624  $  3,011  $  1,657  $   502  $    965    $  6,104   $  1,620
                          ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  =======  ========    ========   ========
Earnings per common
 share:
 Income (loss) before
  extraordinary item and
  cumulative effect of
  accounting change.....  $  (0.39) $   0.28  $   0.88  $   1.31  $   0.92  $  0.21  $   0.41    $   1.36   $   0.33
 Extraordinary item.....       --        --        --        --      (0.21)     --        --        (0.10)       --
 Cumulative effect of
  accounting change(2)..       --        --      (0.18)      --        --       --        --          --         --
                          --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  -------  --------    --------   --------
 Net income (loss)......  $  (0.39) $   0.28  $   0.70  $   1.31  $   0.71  $  0.21  $   0.41    $   1.26   $   0.33
                          ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  =======  ========    ========   ========
Dividends per common
 share..................  $   0.05  $   0.05  $   0.05  $   0.03  $   0.08  $  0.04  $   0.01
Weighted average number
 of common shares
 outstanding............     2,258     2,258     2,304     2,304     2,348    2,348     2,348       4,848      4,848
OPERATING DATA:
Total track mile-
 age(3)(4)..............       298       555       841       808       839      808       964       1,160      1,236
Total carloads..........    43,077    73,429   115,301   119,051   118,673   30,966    39,345     184,277     49,674
Total employees(4)......       176       266       357       380       397      399       462         485        489
Operating revenues per
 carload................  $    477  $    449  $    431  $    466  $    450  $   432  $    422    $    396   $    392
Operating revenues per
 employee...............  $116,682  $123,835  $139,062  $145,839  $134,476  $33,561  $ 35,948    $150,602   $ 39,771
Carloads per employee...       245       276       323       313       299       78        85         380        102
Operating ratio(5)......      98.7%     91.7%     87.6%     85.5%     87.7%    88.6%     83.1%       83.0%      81.7%
BALANCE SHEET DATA AS OF
 PERIOD END:
Total assets............  $ 44,404  $ 56,965  $ 63,653  $ 69,888  $ 78,429  $67,334  $115,859               $125,027
Total debt..............    26,592    32,109    35,095    32,640    39,941   31,415    66,207                 38,207
Stockholders' equity....     4,030     4,575     6,074     9,082    10,548    9,488    11,952                 45,952
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
(1) The pro forma financial information presented is based upon certain pro
    forma adjustments to reflect (i) the sale by the Company of 2,500,000
    shares of Class A Common Stock in the Offering and the application of the
    estimated net proceeds of the Offering as set forth under "Use of
    Proceeds," (ii) the amendment and restatement of the Credit Facilities,
    and (iii) the closing of the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut
    Acquisitions. The pro forma unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet
    data assumes that the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition occurred on March
    31, 1996, and the pro forma unaudited condensed consolidated income
    statement and operating data assumes that the Illinois & Midland and
    Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisitions and the amendment and restatement of the
    Credit Facilities occurred on January 1, 1995.     
(2) Represents the adoption, as of January 1, 1993, of SFAS No. 106,
    "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions."
    See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
    Results of Operations--Accounting Matters."
(3) Excludes track miles operated under trackage rights and operating
    contracts. See "Property."
(4) Based on monthly averages over the respective periods, except for pro
    forma data which is as of December 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996.
(5) Operating expenses divided by operating revenues.
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
                        PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
  The following Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements assume
(i) the sale by the Company of 2,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in the
Offering and the application of the estimated net proceeds of the Offering as
set forth under "Use of Proceeds," (ii) the amendment and restatement of the
Credit Facilities and (iii) the closing of the Illinois & Midland and
Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisitions. The Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheet assumes that the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition
occurred on March 31, 1996, and the Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Consolidated
Statement of Income assumes that the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg &
Shawmut Acquisitions and the amendment and restatement of the Credit
Facilities occurred on January 1, 1995.     
 
  The Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statement for the year
ended December 31, 1995 reflects the audited income statement of the Company
for the year ended December 31, 1995 and the audited income statements of CIMR
and the ATWEC Railroads for the year ended December 31, 1995 on a historical
basis.
 
  The Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statement for the
period ended March 31, 1996 reflects the unaudited income statement of the
Company for the period ended March 31, 1996 and the unaudited income
statements of CIMR and the ATWEC Railroads for the period ended February 8,
1996 and March 31, 1996, respectively, on a historical basis.
 
  The pro forma financial information is a presentation of historical results
with accounting and other adjustments. The pro forma financial information
does not reflect the effects of any of the anticipated changes to be made by
the Company in the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut operations from
the historical operations of CIMR and the ATWEC Railroads.
 
  THE PRO FORMA STATEMENTS ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND
SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO BE INDICATIVE OF THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL POSITION
OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS HAD THE TRANSACTIONS BEEN CONSUMMATED ON THE DATES
ASSUMED AND DO NOT PROJECT THE COMPANY'S RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR ANY FUTURE
PERIOD. SEE "RECENT DEVELOPMENTS."
 
  The following Pro Forma Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements and
accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements
and the financial information pertaining to the Company, CIMR and the ATWEC
Railroads included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
              PRO FORMA UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
                 OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          CHICAGO &        THE
                           GENESEE &   ILLINOIS MIDLAND   ATWEC                               PRO
                          WYOMING INC. RAILWAY COMPANY  RAILROADS COMBINED  ADJUSTMENTS      FORMA
                          ------------ ---------------- --------- --------  -----------     -------
<S>                       <C>          <C>              <C>       <C>       <C>             <C>
Operating Revenues......    $53,387        $13,733       $ 5,922  $ 73,042    $   --        $73,042
                            -------        -------       -------  --------    -------       -------
Operating Expenses:
 Transportation.........     14,262          2,593         1,027    17,882        --         17,882
 Maintenance of ways and
  structures............      6,127          1,814           806     8,747        --          8,747
 Maintenance of equip-
  ment..................     12,230          1,659           846    14,735        --         14,735
 General and administra-
  tive..................     10,309          2,203         1,918    14,430       (631)(1)    13,799
 Depreciation and amor-
  tization..............      3,887          1,437         1,808     7,132     (1,669)(2,3)   5,463
                            -------        -------       -------  --------    -------       -------
  Total operating
   expenses.............     46,815          9,706         6,405    62,926     (2,300)       60,626
Operating Income........      6,572          4,027          (483)   10,116      2,300        12,416
Interest Expense........     (3,405)        (1,461)         (481)   (5,347)     1,327 (4)    (4,020)
Other Income............        456          1,525           730     2,711        --          2,711
Loss on Sale of Assets .        --         (16,082)      (10,288)  (26,370)    26,370 (5)       --
                            -------        -------       -------  --------    -------       -------
Income Before Income
 Taxes..................      3,623        (11,991)      (10,522)  (18,890)    29,997        11,107
Income Taxes............      1,472         (4,545)       (4,214)   (7,287)    11,796 (6)     4,509
                            -------        -------       -------  --------    -------       -------
Income From Continuing
 Operations.............    $ 2,151        $(7,446)      $(6,308) $(11,603)   $18,201       $ 6,598
                            =======        =======       =======  ========    =======       =======
Income From Continuing
 Operations Per Common
 Share..................    $  0.92                                                         $  1.36
Weighted Average Number
 of Common Shares
 Outstanding............      2,348                                                           4,848
</TABLE>
 
 
 See accompanying notes to pro forma unaudited condensed consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
         PRO FORMA UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                   FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          CHICAGO &
                                      ILLINOIS MIDLAND
                                       RAILWAY COMPANY     THE
                          GENESEE &       (THROUGH        ATWEC                               PRO
                         WYOMING INC. FEBRUARY 8, 1996) RAILROADS COMBINED  ADJUSTMENTS      FORMA
                         ------------ ----------------- --------- --------  -----------     -------
<S>                      <C>          <C>               <C>       <C>       <C>             <C>
Operating Revenues......   $16,608         $1,420        $1,420   $19,448     $  --         $19,448
Operating Expenses:
 Transportation.........     4,480            532           261     5,273        --           5,273
 Maintenance of ways and
  structures............     2,186            411           210     2,807        --           2,807
 Maintenance of equip-
  ment..................     2,994            390           215     3,599        --           3,599
 General and administra-
  tive..................     2,809            757           400     3,966     (1,291)(1)      2,675
 Depreciation and
  amortization..........     1,325            184           442     1,951       (415)(2,3)    1,536
                           -------         ------        ------   -------     ------        -------
  Total operating
   expenses.............    13,794          2,274         1,528    17,596     (1,706)        15,890
Operating Income........     2,814           (854)         (108)    1,852      1,706          3,558
Interest Expense........    (1,274)          (107)          (78)   (1,459)       511 (4)       (948)
Other Income............        81             17            15       113        --             113
                           -------         ------        ------   -------     ------        -------
Income Before Income
 Taxes..................     1,621           (944)         (171)      506      2,217          2,723
Income Taxes............       656           (360)          (70)      226        877 (6)      1,103
                           -------         ------        ------   -------     ------        -------
Income From Continuing
 Operations.............   $   965         $ (584)       $ (101)  $   280     $1,340        $ 1,620
                           =======         ======        ======   =======     ======        =======
Income From Continuing
 Operations Per Common
 Share..................   $  0.41                                                          $  0.33
Weighted Average Number
 of Common Shares
 Outstanding............     2,348                                                            4,848
</TABLE>
 
 
 See accompanying notes to pro forma unaudited condensed consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
            PRO FORMA UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                              AS OF MARCH 31, 1996
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          THE
                           GENESEE &     ATWEC                                 PRO
                          WYOMING INC. RAILROADS COMBINED  ADJUSTMENTS        FORMA
                          ------------ --------- --------  -----------       --------
<S>                       <C>          <C>       <C>       <C>               <C>
ASSETS
Current Assets:
 Cash and cash equiva-
  lents.................    $  6,588    $ 2,697  $  9,285   $ (2,697)(7)     $  6,588
 Accounts receivable,
  net...................      14,764        710    15,474       (710)(7)       14,764
 Materials and supplies.       2,295        183     2,478       (183)(7)        2,295
 Prepaid expenses.......       1,747        298     2,045       (298)(7)        1,747
 Deferred income tax as-
  sets, net.............       1,364        --      1,364        --             1,364
                            --------    -------  --------   --------         --------
  Total current assets..      26,758      3,888    30,646     (3,888)          26,758
Note Receivable.........         --       1,249     1,249     (1,249)(7)          --
Property and Equipment,
 net....................      70,609     14,480    85,089     (5,312)(8)       79,777
Service Assurance Agree-
 ment, net..............      14,851        --     14,851        --            14,851
Other Assets, net.......       3,641         84     3,725        (84)(7)        3,641
                            --------    -------  --------   --------         --------
  Total assets..........    $115,859    $19,701  $135,560   $(10,533)        $125,027
                            ========    =======  ========   ========         ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCK-
 HOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
 Current portion of
  long-term debt........    $  2,894    $   125  $  3,019   $   (289)(7,9)   $  2,730
 Accounts payable.......      17,103        784    17,887       (784)(7)       17,103
 Accrued expenses.......       4,431        433     4,864       (433)(7)        4,431
                            --------    -------  --------   --------         --------
  Total current liabili-
   ties.................      24,428      1,342    25,770     (1,506)          24,264
Long-Term Debt..........      63,313      3,900    67,213    (31,736)(7,9)     35,477
Other Liabilities.......       2,055        333     2,388       (333)(7)        2,055
Deferred Income Taxes,
 net....................       4,489      1,921     6,410     (1,921)(7)        4,489
Deferred Items--grants..       9,622      3,168    12,790        --            12,790
Stockholders' Equity:
 Class A common stock...          15        194       209       (169)(7,10)        40
 Class B common stock...           8        150       158       (150)(7)            8
 Treasury stock.........         --         (33)      (33)        33 (7)          --
 Additional paid-in cap-
  ital..................       1,340      7,653     8,993     26,322 (7,10)    35,315
 Warrants outstanding...         471        --        471        --               471
 Retained earnings......      10,118      1,157    11,275     (1,157)(7)       10,118
 Pension liability ad-
  justment..............         --         (84)      (84)        84 (7)          --
                            --------    -------  --------   --------         --------
  Total stockholders'
   equity...............      11,952      9,037    20,989     24,963           45,952
                            --------    -------  --------   --------         --------
  Total liabilities and
   stockholders' equity.    $115,859    $19,701  $135,560   $(10,533)        $125,027
                            ========    =======  ========   ========         ========
</TABLE>
 
 
 See accompanying notes to pro forma unaudited condensed consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
   NOTES TO PRO FORMA UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
  The following notes identify the pro forma adjustments made to the
historical amounts in the pro forma unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements.
 
 1. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, represents the elimination of
    compensation of executive officers of acquired railroads not retained or
    replaced by the Company ($406,000), occupancy and other costs of the
    offices of the parent company of the ATWEC Railroads which were not
    acquired ($168,000) and retiree benefits retained by the selling railroads
    ($57,000). For the three months ended March 31, 1996, represents the
    elimination of transaction bonuses ($286,000), severance payments
    ($920,000), occupancy and other costs of the offices of the parent company
    of the ATWEC Railroads which were not acquired ($77,000) and retiree
    benefits retained by the selling railroads ($8,000).
 
 2. Represents the decrease in depreciation expense resulting from a decrease
    in the depreciable basis and a change in the depreciable lives of certain
    assets. Depreciation expense of CIMR and the ATWEC Railroads for the year
    ended December 31, 1995 and the three months ended March 31, 1996 was
    approximately $2,740,000 and $573,000, respectively. Pro forma
    depreciation expense of CIMR and the ATWEC Railroads, calculated on a
    straight-line basis, was approximately $1,200,000 and $173,000,
    respectively, or a difference of approximately $1,530,000 and $400,000,
    respectively. Pro forma depreciation expense was calculated using the
    composite depreciable lives utilized by the Company and the asset basis of
    the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisitions.
 
 3. Represents the increase in amortization expense for the year ended
    December 31, 1995 and the three months ended March 31, 1996 of
    approximately $179,000 and $20,000, respectively, resulting from a
    reduction in the amortization period for intangible assets, including the
    service assurance agreement from the acquisition of CIMR.
 
 4. Represents a decrease in interest expense associated with the reduction of
    debt as a result of the Offering, plus the effect of the reduced interest
    expense associated with the replacement of CIMR's and the ATWEC Railroads'
    credit facilities with the Company's Credit Facilities. Included in the
    pro forma interest expense is approximately $94,000 of amortization of the
    debt discount associated with the Bank Warrant for the year ended December
    31, 1995 and $10,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1996. The debt
    bears interest at an assumed rate of approximately 8.5%. Also included is
    the amortization of approximately $1,640,000 of debt financing fees over
    five years. An increase in the assumed interest rate of 1/8% would
    decrease net income by approximately $31,000 and $17,000 for the year
    ended December 31, 1995 and the three months ended March 31, 1996,
    respectively.
 
 5. Represents the elimination of the write down of assets of CIMR and the
    ATWEC Railroads to the purchase price paid by the Company.
 
 6. Represents the income tax effects of the pro forma adjustments. The
    Company's pro forma income tax rate is 40.6% for the year ended December
    31, 1995 and 40.5% for the three months ended March 31, 1996.
 
 7. Represents the elimination of assets (other than operating rail assets)
    and liabilities the ATWEC Railroads which the Company did not acquire or
    assume in connection with the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition.
 
 8. The total purchase price for the ATWEC Railroads of approximately
    $15,194,000 includes approximately $250,000 of costs related to the
    Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition. The purchase price was allocated to
    property and equipment, less the anticipated sale of assets of
    approximately $6,000,000.
 
 9. Represents reduction of debt through the application of the estimated net
    proceeds of the Offering, after giving effect to the additional debt
    incurred by the Company in connection with the Pittsburg & Shawmut
    Acquisition.
 
10. Represents estimated net proceeds to the Company in the Offering of $34
    million.
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
  The following discussion should be read in connection with the Company's
consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial
information included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
GENERAL
 
  GWI is a holding company whose subsidiaries own and operate short line and
regional freight railroads and provide related rail services. The Company
generates revenues primarily from the movement of freight over track owned or
operated by its railroads. The Company also generates non-freight revenues
primarily by providing related rail services such as railcar leasing, railcar
repair, switching and storage to shippers along its lines and to the Class I
railroads that connect with its lines.
 
  The Company's operating expenses include wages and benefits, equipment rents
(including car hire), purchased services, depreciation and amortization,
diesel fuel, casualties and insurance, materials and other expenses. Car hire
is a charge paid by a railroad to the owners of railcars used by that railroad
in moving freight. Other expenses generally include property and other non-
income taxes, professional services, communication and data processing costs
and general overhead expense.
 
  When comparing the Company's results of operations from one reporting period
to another, the following factors should be taken into consideration. First,
in 1994 and 1995, the Company experienced a substantial decrease in revenues
and operating income as a result of the collapse of Akzo's salt mine and
subsequent loss of salt production. See "--Akzo Mine." Second, the Company has
historically experienced fluctuations in revenues and expenses due to
unpredictable events such as one-time freight moves, customer plant expansions
and shut-downs, railcar sales, accidents and derailments. In periods when
these events occur, results of operations are not easily comparable to other
periods. Finally, much of the Company's growth to date has resulted from
acquisitions and this growth has been "stair-step" in nature--periods with
large revenue increases primarily as a result of these acquisitions, followed
by periods of more gradual, incremental growth as the Company implements its
marketing and operating strategies. The Company acquired two rail properties
in 1993, one in 1994 and one in 1995. In addition, the Company completed the
Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisitions during the first four
months of 1996. See "Recent Developments." Because of variations in the
structure, timing and size of these acquisitions and differences in economics
among the Company's railroads resulting from differences in the rates and
other material terms established through negotiation, the Company's results of
operations in any reporting period may not be directly comparable to its
results of operations in other reporting periods.
 
AKZO MINE
   
  The major customer of one of the Company's railroads is Akzo, which operated
a rock salt mine in Retsof, New York. In 1993, the last year the salt mine was
fully operational, Akzo accounted for $9.7 million or 19.5% of the Company's
operating revenues, $5.9 million or 15.2% of its freight revenues and $3.8
million or 35.0% of its non-freight revenues. In March 1994, a section of the
mine's roof collapsed, causing flooding from an underground aquifer. The mine
closed in September 1995. Akzo had previously announced its intention to
construct a new mine. In anticipation of the construction of a new mine, the
Company incurred approximately $600,000 of costs in connection with
construction of a rail spur. Akzo announced in April 1996 that a new mine will
not be constructed and that the Retsof location will be converted to a rock
salt distribution center. While the Company anticipates that it will be
reimbursed for these costs, there can be no assurance that such reimbursement
will occur.     
   
  The Akzo mine flooding negatively affected the Company's freight revenues in
1994 and 1995. Freight revenues attributable to Akzo totaled $2.9 million in
1994 and $1.9 million in 1995. The Company anticipates that freight revenues
attributable to Akzo will be minimal in 1996 and thereafter. The flooding has
not affected non-freight revenues from Akzo, which consist primarily of income
from railcar leases under long-term contracts. Non-freight revenues from Akzo
totaled $2.9 million in 1995 compared to $3.6 million in 1994.     
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
1995
 
 Operating Revenues
 
  Operating revenues were $16.6 million in the first three months of 1996
compared to $13.4 million in the first three months of 1995, an increase of
$3.2 million or 24.0%. The increase was attributable to a $2.4 million
increase in freight revenues and an $834,000 increase in non-freight revenues.
 
  Freight revenues were $13.0 million in the first three months of 1996
compared to $10.6 million in the first three months of 1995, an increase of
$2.4 million or 22.6%. The following table compares freight revenues, carloads
and average freight revenues per carload for the first three months of 1995
and 1996:
 
          FREIGHT REVENUES AND CARLOADS COMPARISON BY COMMODITY GROUP
                  THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     AVERAGE
                                                                                     FREIGHT
                                                                                    REVENUES
                              FREIGHT REVENUES                 CARLOADS            PER CARLOAD
                         ----------------------------  --------------------------  -----------
                                 % OF           % OF          % OF          % OF
COMMODITY GROUP           1995   TOTAL   1996   TOTAL   1995  TOTAL   1996  TOTAL  1995  1996
- ---------------          ------- -----  ------- -----  ------ -----  ------ -----  ----- -----
                           (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                      <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>
Coal, Coke & Ores....... $   694   6.6% $ 3,007  23.2%  3,324  10.7% 11,941  30.3%  $209  $252
Petroleum Products......   2,125  20.1    2,270  17.5   4,383  14.2   4,542  11.6    485   500
Pulp & Paper............   1,691  16.0    1,793  13.8   4,610  14.9   4,772  12.1    367   376
Lumber & Forest Prod-
 ucts...................   1,051   9.9    1,269   9.8   3,102  10.0   4,123  10.5    339   308
Metals..................   1,065  10.1    1,220   9.4   4,098  13.2   4,715  12.0    260   259
Chemicals & Plastics....   1,008   9.5      967   7.5   2,078   6.7   1,841   4.7    485   525
Farm & Food Products....     508   4.8      787   6.1   1,468   4.7   2,282   5.8    346   345
Autos & Auto Parts......     582   5.5      764   5.9   1,085   3.5   1,463   3.7    536   522
Minerals & Stone........     394   3.7      277   2.1   1,007   3.3     915   2.3    391   303
Salt....................   1,125  10.7       72   0.6   4,057  13.1     388   1.0    277   186
Other...................     327   3.1      528   4.1   1,754   5.7   2,363   6.0    186   223
                         ------- -----  ------- -----  ------ -----  ------ -----  ----- -----
 Total.................. $10,570 100.0% $12,954 100.0% 30,966 100.0% 39,345 100.0%  $341  $329
                         ======= =====  ======= =====  ====== =====  ====== =====  ===== =====
</TABLE>
 
  The increase in freight revenues was largely attributable to the
commencement of operations on Illinois & Midland, which generated freight
revenues of $2.5 million, $2.3 million of which were revenues from the
shipment of coal. A new line acquired in August 1995 in the Oregon region
generated an additional $591,000 in revenues in the first three months of
1996, primarily from shipments of grain and lumber. Excluding freight revenues
from the Akzo mine, freight revenues from all other operations increased
$389,000. These increases offset the continuing effect of the loss of
production at the Akzo mine. See "--Akzo Mine."
 
  Total carloads were 39,345 in the first three months of 1996 compared to
30,966 in the first three months of 1995, an increase of 8,379 or 27.1%. The
increase was attributable to 9,720 carloads transported by Illinois & Midland,
which consisted primarily of coal and 2,682 carloads from a new Oregon line.
These increases were offset by a decrease of 4,023 carloads from other
operations, most of which were related to the closure of the Akzo mine.
 
  Non-freight revenues were $3.7 million in the first three months of 1996
compared to $2.8 million in the first three months of 1995, an increase of
$834,000 or 29.6%. Revenues from car hire and car rentals were $1.3 million in
the first three months of 1996 compared to $818,000 in the first three months
of 1995, an increase of $491,000 or 60.1%. This increase includes a gain on
the sale of railcars of $593,000. Revenues from switching and storage
activities were $1.1 million in the first three months of 1996 compared to
$821,000 in the first three months of 1995, an increase of $307,000 or 37.4%.
The increase reflects the effect of increased capacity at the Company's
railcar storage facility in 1996 compared to 1995, and switching revenues
generated by Illinois & Midland.
 
  Operating revenues per carload were $422 in the first three months of 1996
compared to $432 in the first three months of 1995, a decrease of $10 or 2.3%.
The decrease is primarily due to the decline in average freight revenues per
carload associated with increased coal shipments.
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
 Operating Expenses
 
  Operating expenses were $13.8 million in the first three months of 1996
compared to $11.9 million in the first three months of 1995, an increase of
$1.9 million or 16.3%. Expenses associated with the Illinois & Midland
Acquisition represented $1.4 million of the increase. The Company's operating
ratio improved to 83.1% in the first three months of 1996 from 88.6% in the
first three months of 1995.
 
  The following table sets forth a comparison of the Company's operating
expenses for the first three months of 1995 and 1996:
 
                         OPERATING EXPENSE COMPARISON
                  THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                   1995              1996
                                             ----------------- -----------------
                                                       % OF              % OF
                                                     OPERATING         OPERATING
                                                $    REVENUES     $    REVENUES
                                             ------- --------- ------- ---------
                                                   (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                          <C>     <C>       <C>     <C>
Labor and benefits.......................... $ 4,764   35.6%   $ 5,452   32.8%
Equipment rents.............................   1,884   14.1      1,880   11.3
Purchased services..........................     779    5.8        780    4.7
Depreciation and amortization...............     926    6.9      1,325    8.0
Diesel fuel.................................     892    6.7      1,065    6.4
Casualties and insurance....................     635    4.7      1,157    7.0
Materials...................................     881    6.6        706    4.3
Other.......................................   1,104    8.2      1,429    8.6
                                             -------   ----    -------   ----
  Total..................................... $11,865   88.6%   $13,794   83.1%
                                             =======   ====    =======   ====
</TABLE>    
 
  Labor and benefits expense was $5.5 million in the first three months of
1996 compared to $4.8 million in the first three months of 1995, an increase
of $688,000 or 14.4%, primarily due to the commencement of operations on
Illinois & Midland. Labor costs decreased as a percentage of revenues,
however, to 32.8% in the first three months of 1996 from 35.6% in the first
three months of 1995. The decrease reflects the efficiency of the unit coal
train operations on Illinois & Midland.
   
  Depreciation and amortization expense was $1.3 million in the first three
months of 1996 compared to $926,000 in the first three months of 1995, an
increase of $399,000 or 43.1%. The increase reflects depreciation and
amortization related to the Illinois & Midland Acquisition and the
depreciation of rolling stock purchased during the second and third quarters
of 1995. Casualties and insurance expense was $1.2 million in the first three
months of 1996 compared to $635,000 in the first three months of 1995, an
increase of $522,000 or 82.2%. The majority of this increase reflects
increased derailment expenses.     
 
 Interest Expense and Income Taxes
   
  Interest expense in the first three months of 1996 was $1.3 million compared
to $766,000 in the first three months of 1995, an increase of $508,000 or
66.3%. The increase reflects the higher overall debt outstanding due to the
financing of the Illinois & Midland Acquisition and the financing of rolling
stock. The Company's effective income tax rate was 40.5% in the first three
months of 1996 compared to 42.0% in the first three months of 1995.     
 
 Net Income
   
  The Company's net income in the first three months of 1996 was $965,000
compared to $502,000 in the first three months of 1995, an increase of
$463,000 or 92.2%.     
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
 
 Operating Revenues
 
  Operating revenues were $53.4 million in 1995 compared to $55.4 million in
1994, a decrease of $2.0 million or 3.7%. This decrease was attributable to a
$1.4 million decrease in non-freight revenues coupled with a $633,000 decrease
in freight revenues.
 
  Freight revenues were $42.4 million in 1995 compared to $43.0 million in
1994, a decrease of $633,000 or 1.5%. The following table compares freight
revenues, carloads and average freight revenues per carload for 1994 and 1995:
 
          FREIGHT REVENUES AND CARLOADS COMPARISON BY COMMODITY GROUP
                    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        AVERAGE
                                                                                        FREIGHT
                                                                                       REVENUES
                               FREIGHT REVENUES                  CARLOADS             PER CARLOAD
                          ----------------------------  ----------------------------  -----------
                                  % OF           % OF           % OF           % OF
COMMODITY GROUP            1994   TOTAL   1995   TOTAL   1994   TOTAL   1995   TOTAL  1994  1995
- ---------------           ------- -----  ------- -----  ------- -----  ------- -----  ----- -----
                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                       <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>   <C>
Coal, Coke & Ores.......  $ 2,828   6.6% $ 2,656   6.3%  12,867  10.8%  12,398  10.5% $ 220 $ 214
Petroleum Products......    8,341  19.4    8,487  20.0   17,186  14.4   17,559  14.8    485   483
Pulp & Paper............    6,354  14.8    6,797  16.1   17,070  14.3   18,667  15.7    372   364
Lumber & Forest Prod-
 ucts...................    4,610  10.7    4,496  10.6   13,711  11.5   14,022  11.8    336   321
Metals..................    4,862  11.3    4,459  10.5   16,606  14.0   17,014  14.3    293   262
Chemicals & Plastics....    3,673   8.6    3,321   7.9    5,942   5.0    6,641   5.6    618   500
Farm & Food Products....    2,112   4.9    2,756   6.5    6,525   5.5    5,778   4.9    324   477
Autos & Auto Parts......    3,960   9.2    3,490   8.2    6,624   5.6    6,381   5.4    598   547
Minerals & Stone........    1,860   4.3    1,407   3.3    5,037   4.2    4,189   3.5    369   336
Salt....................    2,835   6.6    2,215   5.2   10,621   8.9    7,865   6.6    267   282
Other...................    1,550   3.6    2,268   5.4    6,862   5.8    8,159   6.9    226   278
                          ------- -----  ------- -----  ------- -----  ------- -----  ----- -----
 Total..................  $42,985 100.0% $42,352 100.0% 119,051 100.0% 118,673 100.0% $ 361 $ 357
                          ======= =====  ======= =====  ======= =====  ======= =====  ===== =====
</TABLE>
   
  The decrease in freight revenues was largely attributable to the continuing
effect of the loss of production at the Akzo mine. See "--Akzo Mine." Freight
revenues from Akzo totaled $1.9 million in 1995 on 6,934 carloads compared to
$2.9 million on 10,423 carloads in 1994. Excluding Akzo, total carloads
increased by 3,111 or 2.9% in 1995 compared to 1994, while total freight
revenues increased $338,000 or 0.6% in 1995 compared to 1994. In 1995, the
Company realized $673,000 in additional freight revenues attributable to the
acquisition of a new rail line in the Oregon region. This increase was
partially offset by a $470,000 decrease in freight revenues from autos and
auto parts to $3.5 million in 1995 from $4.0 million in 1994. Freight revenues
from autos and auto parts in 1994 included a large one-time move of finished
vehicles diverted to the Company by another carrier, which was not repeated in
1995.     
 
  Non-freight revenues were $11.0 million in 1995 compared to $12.4 million in
1994, a decrease of $1.4 million or 11.2%. Revenues from car hire and car
rentals were $3.2 million in 1995 compared to $5.2 million in 1994, a decrease
of $2.0 million or 38.7%. Revenues from car hire and rentals were unusually
high in 1994 due to a gain on the sale of railcars. The Company also had a
reduced operating fleet in 1995 as a result of a sale of railcars in 1994,
which reduced rental revenue. Revenues from switching and storage activities
were $3.6 million in 1995 compared to $2.7 million in 1994, an increase of
$934,000 or 34.5%. The increase reflects the operation of the Company's
railcar storage facility for a full year. Car repair revenues were $1.6
million in 1995 compared to $1.9 million in 1994, a decrease of $349,000 or
18.3%. The decrease was attributable to a lower number of cars required to
haul salt and the improvement in the quality of cars received in interchange.
 
  Operating revenues per carload were $450 in 1995 compared to $466 in 1994, a
decrease of $16 or 3.4%. The $1.4 million decrease in non-freight revenues
accounts for $12 of the per carload decline. The remainder is attributable to
a $4 decrease in average freight revenues per carload.
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
 Operating Expenses
 
  Operating expenses were $46.8 million in 1995 compared to $47.4 million in
1994, a decrease of $565,000 or 1.2%. The Company's operating ratio increased
to 87.7% in 1995 from 85.5% in 1994.
 
  The following table sets forth a comparison of the Company's operating
expenses in 1994 and 1995:
 
                         OPERATING EXPENSE COMPARISON
                    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   1994              1995
                                             ----------------- -----------------
                                                       % OF              % OF
                                                     OPERATING         OPERATING
                                                $    REVENUES     $    REVENUES
                                             ------- --------- ------- ---------
                                                   (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
   <S>                                       <C>     <C>       <C>     <C>
   Labor and benefits....................... $18,092   32.6%   $18,683   35.0%
   Equipment rents..........................   8,634   15.6      7,434   13.9
   Purchased services.......................   2,737    4.9      2,530    4.7
   Depreciation and amortization............   3,577    6.5      3,887    7.3
   Diesel fuel..............................   3,410    6.2      3,249    6.1
   Casualties and insurance.................   2,742    5.0      3,673    6.9
   Materials................................   3,401    6.1      2,531    4.7
   Other....................................   4,788    8.6      4,828    9.1
                                             -------   ----    -------   ----
     Total.................................. $47,381   85.5%   $46,815   87.7%
                                             =======   ====    =======   ====
</TABLE>
 
  Labor and benefits expense was $18.7 million in 1995 compared to $18.1
million in 1994, an increase of $591,000 or 3.3%. Labor costs increased as a
percentage of revenues to 35.0% in 1995 compared to 32.6% in 1994. The
increase was attributable to the start-up costs in connection with additional
lines in Oregon and expansion of operations in Texas.
 
  Equipment rents were $7.4 million in 1995 compared to $8.6 million in 1994,
a decrease of $1.2 million or 13.9%. The decrease reflects a reduction in the
number of operating leases and lower car hire expense. In 1995, the Company
purchased railcars and locomotives subject to an operating lease, which
reduced equipment rent expense under this operating lease to $606,000 in 1995
compared to $1.7 million in 1994. Car hire expense decreased to $4.2 million
in 1995 compared to $5.4 million in 1994, reflecting a concerted management
effort to reduce this expense. Depreciation expense was $3.9 million in 1995
compared to $3.6 million in 1994, an increase of $310,000 or 8.7%. The
majority of this increase reflects depreciation expense associated with
railcars and locomotives purchased in 1995.
 
  Casualties and insurance expense, including claims brought under the Federal
Employers' Liability Act, was $3.7 million in 1995 compared to $2.7 million in
1994, an increase of $931,000 or 34.0%. Additions to reserves for third party
liability were $1.4 million in 1995 compared to $669,000 in 1994, an increase
of $736,000. The majority of the increase in 1995 related to incidents
occurring prior to 1995. While the Company establishes reserves for incidents
as they occur, an unexpected legal action brought in 1995, together with
changes in circumstances relating to prior incidents, necessitated this
increase. In August 1994, the Company reduced its self-insured retention. If
this level of coverage had been in place when these incidents occurred,
necessary additions to reserves in 1995 would have been reduced by $400,000.
The remainder of the increase in casualties and insurance expense reflects an
increase in derailment expense.
 
  Materials expense was $2.5 million in 1995 compared to $3.4 million in 1994,
a decrease of $870,000 or 25.6%. The decrease was largely attributable to a
reduction in car repairs.
 
 Interest Expense and Income Taxes
 
  Interest expense was $3.4 million in 1995 compared to $3.2 million in 1994,
an increase of $193,000 or 6.0%. The increase reflects higher overall debt
outstanding related to the financing of rolling stock. During 1995, the
Company refinanced the majority of its outstanding debt into the Credit
Facilities, resulting in an effective
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
rate of interest that was lower than in 1994. See "--Liquidity and Capital
Resources." Penalties and fees paid to lenders related to the repayment of
debt resulted in an extraordinary charge of $494,000, net of related income
taxes of $357,000. The Company's effective income tax rate was 40.6% in 1995
compared to 40.0% in 1994.
 
 Net Income
 
  The Company's net income in 1995 was $1.7 million (or $2.2 million before an
extraordinary expense of $494,000 in connection with the early extinguishment
of debt) compared to net income in 1994 of $3.0 million. Excluding the effect
of this extraordinary expense, net income in 1995 decreased $860,000 or 28.6%
compared to 1994.
 
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993
 
 Operating Revenues
 
  Operating revenues were $55.4 million in 1994 compared to $49.6 million in
1993, an increase of $5.8 million or 11.6%. Of this increase, $4.0 million was
attributable to increases in freight revenues and $1.7 million was
attributable to increases in non-freight revenues.
 
  Freight revenues were $43.0 million in 1994 compared to $39.0 million in
1993, an increase of $4.0 million or 10.3%. The following table compares
freight revenues, carloads and average freight revenues per carload for 1993
and 1994:
 
          FREIGHT REVENUES AND CARLOADS COMPARISON BY COMMODITY GROUP
                    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993 AND 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        AVERAGE
                                                                                        FREIGHT
                                                                                       REVENUES
                               FREIGHT REVENUES                  CARLOADS             PER CARLOAD
                          ----------------------------  ----------------------------  -----------
                                  % OF           % OF           % OF           % OF
COMMODITY GROUP            1993   TOTAL   1994   TOTAL   1993   TOTAL   1994   TOTAL  1993  1994
- ---------------           ------- -----  ------- -----  ------- -----  ------- -----  ----- -----
                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                       <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>     <C>    <C>   <C>
Coal, Coke & Ores.......  $ 3,514   9.0% $ 2,828   6.6%  15,915  13.8%  12,867  10.8% $ 221 $ 220
Petroleum Products......    8,202  21.1    8,341  19.4   16,946  14.7   17,186  14.4    484   485
Pulp & Paper............    4,360  11.2    6,354  14.8   11,789  10.2   17,070  14.3    370   372
Lumber & Forest Prod-
 ucts...................    3,208   8.2    4,610  10.7   10,020   8.7   13,711  11.5    320   336
Metals..................    3,137   8.1    4,862  11.3   13,626  11.8   16,606  14.0    230   293
Chemicals & Plastics....    2,766   7.1    3,673   8.6    4,446   3.9    5,942   5.0    622   618
Farm & Food Products....    1,259   3.2    2,112   4.9    3,960   3.4    6,525   5.5    318   324
Autos & Auto Parts......    1,152   3.0    3,960   9.2    2,206   1.9    6,624   5.6    522   598
Minerals & Stone........    1,664   4.3    1,860   4.3    5,558   4.8    5,637   4.2    300   369
Salt....................    5,980  15.3    2,835   6.6   24,525  21.3   10,621   8.9    244   267
Other...................    3,711   9.5    1,550   3.6    6,310   5.5    6,862   5.8    588   226
                          ------- -----  ------- -----  ------- -----  ------- -----  ----- -----
 Total..................  $38,953 100.0% $42,985 100.0% 115,301 100.0% 119,051 100.0% $ 338 $ 361
                          ======= =====  ======= =====  ======= =====  ======= =====  ===== =====
</TABLE>
 
  The increase in freight revenues was attributable to a 3.3% increase in
carloads, to 119,051 in 1994 from 115,301 in 1993, combined with a 6.8%
increase in average freight revenues per carload, to $361 in 1994 from $338 in
1993. The increase in carloads occurred despite the collapse of Akzo's salt
mine which significantly decreased production from the mine. The loss of
production was primarily responsible for a 52.6% decrease in the Company's
freight revenues attributable to shipments of salt, to $2.8 million in 1994
from $6.0 million in 1993. See "--Akzo Mine."
 
  Total carloads of commodities other than salt were 108,430 in 1994 compared
to 90,776 in 1993, an increase of 17,654 or 19.4%. Autos and auto parts
shipments increased by 4,418 carloads due to new contracts with Canadian auto
plants and a large short-term movement of finished vehicles diverted to the
Company by another carrier. Pulp and paper shipments increased by 5,281
carloads due to plant expansion and increased production from plants located
on the Company's lines. Shipments of lumber and forest products increased by
3,691
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
carloads primarily due to a new contract with a paper mill. These increases
were offset by a 3,048 carload decrease in shipments of coal, coke and ores in
1994 compared to 1993 primarily due to lower shipments to a Canadian utility.
 
  Non-freight revenues were $12.4 million in 1994 compared to $10.7 million in
1993, an increase of $1.7 million or 16.3%. Revenues from car hire and car
rentals were $5.2 million in 1994 compared to $4.4 million in 1993, an
increase of $792,000 or 17.8%. The increase was primarily attributable to a
gain on the sale of railcars. Railcar repair revenue was $1.9 million in 1994
compared to $1.5 million in 1993, an increase of $373,000 or 24.3%. This
increase was primarily attributable to the increased volume of freight traffic
in 1994. Other non-freight revenues were $5.3 million in 1994 compared to $4.7
million in 1993, an increase of $579,000 or 12.3%. The increase was primarily
due to higher demurrage and storage charges and easement sales.
 
  Operating revenues per carload were $466 in 1994 compared to $431 in 1993,
an increase of $35 or 8.1%. The increase reflects a $23 increase in average
freight revenues per carload combined with the $1.7 million increase in non-
freight revenues.
 
 Operating Expenses
 
  Operating expenses were $47.4 million in 1994 compared to $43.5 million in
1993, an increase of $3.9 million or 8.9%. The Company's operating ratio
improved to 85.5% in 1994 from 87.6% in 1993.
 
  The following table sets forth a comparison of the Company's operating
expenses in 1993 and 1994:
 
                         OPERATING EXPENSE COMPARISON
                    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993 AND 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   1993              1994
                                             ----------------- -----------------
                                                       % OF              % OF
                                                     OPERATING         OPERATING
                                                $    REVENUES     $    REVENUES
                                             ------- --------- ------- ---------
                                                   (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
   <S>                                       <C>     <C>       <C>     <C>
   Labor and benefits....................... $16,499   33.2%   $18,092   32.6%
   Equipment rents..........................   6,726   13.5      8,634   15.6
   Purchased services.......................   3,407    6.9      2,737    4.9
   Depreciation and amortization............   3,115    6.3      3,577    6.5
   Diesel fuel..............................   2,788    5.6      3,410    6.2
   Casualties and insurance.................   2,446    4.9      2,742    5.0
   Materials................................   3,680    7.4      3,401    6.1
   Other....................................   4,840    9.8      4,788    8.6
                                             -------   ----    -------   ----
     Total.................................. $43,501   87.6%   $47,381   85.5%
                                             =======   ====    =======   ====
</TABLE>
 
  Labor and benefits expense was $18.1 million in 1994 compared to $16.5
million in 1993, an increase of $1.6 million or 9.7%. However, labor and
benefits expense decreased as a percentage of operating revenues to 32.6% in
1994 from 33.2% in 1993.
 
  Equipment rents were $8.6 million in 1994 compared to $6.7 million in 1993,
an increase of $1.9 million or 28.3%. Equipment rents increased as a
percentage of operating revenues to 15.6% in 1994 from 13.5% in 1993. The
increase was primarily due to higher car hire costs resulting from the change
in mix of commodities hauled. The Company's railroads pay minimal car hire on
shipments of minerals, which declined from 1993 to 1994, but pay relatively
high car hire fees on shipments of autos and auto parts, which increased from
1993 to 1994.
 
  Purchased services expense was $2.7 million in 1994 compared to $3.4 million
in 1993, a decrease of $670,000 or 19.7%. Purchased services expense decreased
as a percentage of operating revenues to 4.9% in 1994
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
from 6.9% in 1993. The decrease was attributable to a reduction in contracted
maintenance of way expense and a reduction in repairs performed by third
parties on railcars owned or leased by GWI railroads.
 
  Diesel fuel expense was $3.4 million in 1994 compared to $2.8 million in
1993, an increase of $622,000 or 22.3%. Diesel fuel expense increased as a
percentage of operating revenues to 6.2% in 1994 from 5.6% in 1993. The
increase was caused by an increase in fuel prices and severe winter weather
conditions in 1994.
 
  Other expense was $4.8 million in both 1994 and 1993, but decreased as a
percentage of operating revenues to 8.6% in 1994 from 9.8% in 1993 as a result
of the relatively fixed nature of these expenses. Other expense included
write-offs of other assets of $675,000 and $180,000 in 1994 and 1993,
respectively, both as a result of rail line abandonments.
 
 Interest Expense and Income Taxes
 
  Interest expense was $3.2 million in 1994 compared to $2.9 million in 1993,
an increase of $348,000 or 12.2%. The increase reflects generally higher
interest rates on the Company's debt in 1994. The Company's effective income
tax rate decreased to 40.0% in 1994 from 41.5% in 1993 due to lower state and
other income taxes.
 
 Net Income
 
  The Company's net income in 1994 was $3.0 million compared to net income in
1993 of $1.6 million (or $2.0 million before a cumulative change of accounting
for postretirement benefits of $393,000). Excluding the effect of the
accounting change, net income in 1994 increased $994,000 or 49.3% compared to
1993.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
  During the first three months of 1996, the Company generated cash from
operations of $6.0 million, which includes the effect of a $3.5 million
increase in net trade payables associated with the commencement of operations
of Illinois & Midland. In addition, the Company received $1.6 million in
proceeds from the sale of equipment and invested $970,000 in track and other
fixed assets (apart from its investment in the Illinois & Midland
Acquisition).
 
  During 1995, the Company generated cash from operations of $2.6 million,
generated cash from asset sales of $318,000, received $3.5 million in state
grant funds for track rehabilitation, and had net new borrowings of $6.7
million. During the year the Company invested $8.6 million in equipment and
rolling stock and $8.0 million in track maintenance and buildings.
 
  During 1994, the Company generated cash from operations of $7.3 million and
cash from asset sales of $824,000, and received $1.8 million in state grants
for rehabilitation of track. The cash generated was used to fund $6.2 million
in capital expenditures and to repay a net $2.5 million in long-term debt and
capital leases. Track and track structures accounted for $5.3 million of these
capital expenditures, while the balance was invested in equipment.
 
  The Company has budgeted $7.3 million in capital expenditures in 1996,
primarily for track rehabilitation, of which $970,000 was expended during the
first three months of 1996. In connection with its lease of a rail line, one
of the Company's railroads has committed to install a minimum of five miles of
100 lb. rail or better in each of the next five years. The annual cost of this
obligation is included in the 1996 capital budget.
 
  In June 1995, the Company borrowed under the Credit Facilities to
restructure a majority of its long-term debt and finance the purchase of rail
equipment. The Company repaid $14.3 million in debt maturing at various dates
between 1996 and 2001 and bearing interest rates ranging from 6.75% to 15.0%
per annum, including the repayment of $701,000 in debt held by or for the
benefit of directors and officers of the Company and members of their
respective families. See "Certain Transactions." The Company borrowed $6.0
million under the Credit Facilities to purchase rolling stock which had been
under an operating lease.
 
  At March 31, 1996, the Company had long term debt (including current
portion) totaling $66.2 million, which comprised 84.7% of its total
capitalization. This compares to long term debt of $39.9 million, comprising
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
79.1% of total capitalization at December 31, 1995, and long term debt of
$32.6 million, comprising 78.2% of total capitalization, at December 31, 1994.
 
  In February 1996, the Company amended and restated its Credit Facilities to
provide funding for the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut
Acquisitions. As amended, the Credit Facilities include a $40.0 million term
loan and a $34.0 million revolving credit facility. The term loan requires
varying quarterly principal payments beginning September 30, 1996, with the
remaining balance payable in February 2001. The revolving credit facility
provides for a mandatory commitment reduction of $2.0 million on December 31,
1997 with the remaining balance payable in February 2001. The interest rate on
the facilities is a varying increment over the Bank of Boston's prime rate or
LIBOR, based on the Company's ratio of debt to EBITDA. The Credit Facilities
are secured by a blanket first-priority lien on all of the Company's railroad
assets except real estate, and a pledge of all capital stock of the Company's
subsidiaries. In conjunction with the financing, the Company paid a fee to the
Bank of Boston of $1.5 million and issued the Bank Warrant. See "Description
of Capital Stock--Bank Warrant."
 
  The Company's railroads have entered into a number of rehabilitation grants
with state and federal agencies. The grant funds are used as a supplement to
the Company's normal capital programs. In return for the grants, the railroads
pledge to maintain various levels of service and maintenance on the rail lines
that have been rehabilitated. The Company believes that the levels of service
and maintenance required under the grants are not materially different from
those that would be required without the grant obligation. While the Company
has benefited in recent years from these grant funds, there can be no
assurance that the funds will continue to be available.
 
  The Company has historically relied primarily on cash generated from
operations to fund working capital and capital expenditures relating to
ongoing operations, while relying on borrowed funds to finance acquisitions
and equipment needs (primarily rolling stock) related to acquisitions. The
Company believes that its cash flow from operations together with available
amounts under the Credit Facilities will enable the Company to meet its
liquidity and capital expenditure requirements relating to ongoing operations
for at least the next four years.
 
INFLATION
 
  In recent years, inflation has not had a significant impact on the Company's
operations. The Company's contracts with connecting carriers typically include
clauses that adjust the rates based on specific inflation factors.
 
SEASONALITY
 
  Historically, the Company's operating revenues from existing operations have
not been subject to significant seasonal changes.
 
ACCOUNTING MATTERS
 
  Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement
Benefits Other Than Pensions." The cumulative effect of the accounting change
resulted in an after-tax charge to 1993 earnings of $393,000. The Company does
not provide postemployment benefits to its employees. Accordingly, the
adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 112 "Employers'
Accounting for Postemployment Benefits" will have no effect on the Company.
 
  The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets
to be Disposed of" (effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1995), in the first quarter of 1996. The adoption did not have a material
impact on the Company.
 
  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-
based Compensation" (effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1995) encourages, but does not require, employers to adopt a fair value method
of accounting for employee stock-based compensation, and requires increased
stock-based compensation disclosures if the fair value method is not adopted.
The Company does not intend to elect the fair value method for stock options.
Accordingly, implementation of this Statement will have no effect on the
Company's operating results or financial condition.
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
                                   BUSINESS
 
  The Genesee and Wyoming Railroad Company, the Company's predecessor, was
founded in 1899 by E.L. Fuller and his partners. From its founding through
1977, the Company was dependent on a single commodity, salt, produced by a
single customer. In 1977, when Mortimer B. Fuller, III purchased a controlling
interest in the Company and became its Chief Executive Officer, the Company
generated $3.9 million in operating revenues over its 14 miles of track. In
1978, under the leadership of Mr. Fuller, the Company began a strategy of
diversifying its sources of revenues, initially in the railcar leasing
business and then through rail line acquisitions. As a result of the Company's
acquisition and marketing strategies, the Company has become a diversified
rail operation extending over approximately 1,500 miles of track and serving
over 280 customers in six states. In 1995, the Company generated $53.4 million
in operating revenues.
 
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
  The railroad industry in the United States has undergone significant change
since the passage of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 (the "Staggers Rail Act"),
which deregulated the pricing and types of services provided by railroads.
Since 1980, Class I railroads in the United States and Canada have taken
aggressive steps to improve profitability and recapture market share. In
furtherance of that goal, these Class I railroads have focused their
management and capital resources on their long-haul core systems, and certain
of them have sold branch lines to smaller and more cost-efficient rail
operators that are willing to commit the resources necessary to meet the needs
of the shippers located on these lines. Divestment of branch lines enables
Class I carriers to minimize incremental capital expenditures, concentrate
traffic density, improve operating efficiency and avoid traffic losses
associated with rail line abandonment.
 
  The commitment of Class I carriers to increase efficiency and profitability
has also led to an increase in merger activity among long haul railroads, such
as the mergers between Union Pacific Corporation and Chicago and North Western
Holdings Corp. and between Burlington Northern Inc. and Santa Fe Pacific
Corporation, and the pending merger between Union Pacific Corporation and
Southern Pacific Rail Corporation. Such merger activity is expected to lead to
additional short line divestments, as overlapping routes are sold and the
merged railroads seek to achieve operational synergies.
 
  The Company believes that there will continue to be opportunities to acquire
lines from Class I railroads in the United States and that there may be
opportunities to make acquisitions among the over 500 existing short line and
regional railroads. The Company believes there may be acquisition
opportunities in Canada and Mexico as well, although governmental regulations
may limit acquisition opportunities in these countries. Both Canadian National
Railway Company and Canadian Pacific Limited have divestment programs, and
Mexico has announced a privatization program of the National Railroad of
Mexico which could include the disposition of rail lines.
 
  Since 1980, more than 300 short line and regional railroads, operating
approximately 36,500 miles of track, have been created, largely through
divestments and other dispositions of track by Class I railroads. Reflecting
the downsizing and operations rationalization that has been occurring among
the Class I railroads, the proportion of total track miles operated by short
line and regional railroads in the United States has increased from
approximately 15% of total track miles in 1980 to approximately 27% in 1994
(the latest year for which information is available).
 
STRATEGY
 
  The Company's strategy is to become the dominant provider of rail freight
transportation in the markets it serves by (i) growing its business through
acquisitions to establish new regions or increase its presence in existing
regions, (ii) expanding its revenue base within each region through marketing
efforts, and (iii) improving its operating efficiency through rationalization
and consolidation of overhead expenses. The Company's growth to date has been
the result of the acquisition of rail properties, which has expanded the
Company's customer base and diversified its commodity mix, and its marketing
efforts. The Company intends to continue to grow its business in each of its
four regions and to acquire rail properties in new regions to build on its
experience and further diversify its geographic and customer base.
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
 Acquisition of Rail Properties
 
  The Company seeks to expand its business through the selective acquisition
of rail properties, both in new regions and in regions in which it currently
operates. The Company's fundamental acquisition strategy is to identify
properties that have large industrial customers which will provide the Company
with a stable revenue base and the potential to generate incremental revenues
and additional customers upon implementation of a focused marketing plan. In
new regions, the Company targets rail properties that have adequate size to
establish a presence in the region, provide a basis for growth in the region
and attract qualified management. When acquiring rail properties in its
existing regions, in addition to seeking properties with large industrial
customers, the Company targets rail properties where it believes the
successful implementation of its operating strategy is likely to generate
significant operating efficiencies.
 
  In evaluating acquisition opportunities, the Company considers, among other
matters, the size of the rail operations, opportunities for expansion,
commodity and customer diversification, revenue stability, connecting
carriers, track condition and maintenance requirements, and expected financial
returns. The Company also considers acquisition opportunities that have the
potential to enable its railroads to provide better or more cost-effective
service to major shippers or to increase and diversify the overall customer
base of its railroads. The Company develops acquisition prospects through its
relationships with Class I carriers and its reputation in the industry. In
addition, the Company currently has four consultants on retainer to assist in
the identification and development of acquisition opportunities. The Company
has successfully integrated eleven acquisitions of varying sizes and operating
characteristics, of which four were existing short lines and seven were Class
I divestitures.
 
  The Company acquires rail properties by purchase of assets, lease or
operating contract. Typically, the Company bids against other short line and
regional operators for available properties. The structure of each transaction
is determined by the seller based upon economic and strategic considerations.
In addition to the financial terms of the transaction, sellers consider more
subjective criteria such as a prospective acquiror's operating experience, its
reputation among shippers, and its ability to close a transaction and commence
operations smoothly. The Company believes it has established an excellent
record in each of these areas. In addition, by growing revenues on its
acquired lines and providing improved service to shippers, the Company is able
to provide increased revenue to the Class I carriers that connect with its
lines. The Company sees this ability to provide increased revenue to Class I
carriers as an advantage in bidding for properties.
 
 Marketing
 
  The Company's marketing strategy is to build each region on a base of major
industrial customers, to grow that base business through marketing efforts
directed at its major customers and to generate incremental revenues outside
the base of major customers by attracting smaller customers and providing
ancillary services which generate non-freight revenues. The Company believes
that over the long term, its strategy of building its regions around a core of
major industrial customers provides a stable revenue base and allows the
Company to focus its efforts on additional growth opportunities within a
region. Of the 13 customers that generated freight revenues in excess of $1
million in 1995, all but two depend exclusively on the Company for rail
service to support their facilities, and the Company believes that each of
these facilities is strategically important to the respective customers. While
the other two customers are not dependent on the Company, the Company's
railroads provide the best route for them to move their products by rail.
Through implementation of its marketing strategy, the Company intends to
increase further the number of major customers so that, over time, the
Company's reliance on any one customer will be reduced.
 
  Consistent with its decentralized management structure, the Company's sales
and marketing activity is coordinated in each region by a marketing manager.
The marketing manager works closely with personnel of each of the Company's
railroads and with other department heads to develop marketing plans to
increase shipments from existing customers and develop new business. The
Company focuses on providing rail service to its customers that is easily
accessible, reliable and cost-effective. The Company considers all of its
employees to be customer service representatives and encourages them to
initiate and maintain regular contact with shippers.
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
  Because most of the traffic transported by the Company's railroads is
interchanged with Class I carriers, the Company's marketing efforts are often
aimed at enhancing its railroads' relationships with Class I carriers as well
as shippers. The Company provides related rail services such as railcar
leasing, railcar repair, switching, storage, weighing and blocking and bulk
transfer, which enable Class I carriers and customers to move freight more
easily and cost-effectively. For example, the Company supplies cars to its
customers or its railroads when, among other things, a customer has a need
which cannot be filled by cars supplied by Class I railroads or the Company
has an opportunity to provide cars on a cost basis that both meets customer
needs and improves the economics of a freight move to the Company. The Company
actively manages its railcar portfolio, buying and selling equipment to take
advantage of changes in market value in conjunction with changes in its
customers needs.
 
 Operations
 
  The Company's operating strategy is to increase efficiency and profitability
in each region in which it operates. When acquiring new rail properties within
an existing region, the Company capitalizes on operating efficiencies created
by the presence of its other railroads within that region. For example, in
connection with the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition, the Company will be able
to liquidate 42 miles of track and sell a number of locomotives and railcars.
In addition, consolidation of revenue and accounting functions often allows
the Company to operate new railroads with fewer employees, as was the case
with both the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisitions. The
Company rationalizes its track, where appropriate, to make its operations more
efficient. Abandonments are planned on Buffalo & Pittsburgh, Louisiana & Delta
and Pittsburg & Shawmut in 1996 and 1997. The Company also seeks and grants
trackage rights to improve regional rail infrastructure efficiency.
 
  The Company intends to continue to improve the operating efficiency of its
railroads by track rehabilitation, especially where maintenance has been
deferred by the prior owner. Because of the importance of certain of the
Company's shippers to the economic stability and or development of the regions
where they are located, and because of the importance of certain of the
Company's railroads to the economic infrastructure of those regions,
approximately $17.5 million in state and federal grants for track
rehabilitation and service improvements has been invested in the Company's
rail properties since 1987.
 
RAILROAD OPERATIONS
 
 Management
 
  The Company's decentralized management structure is an important element of
its railroad operations. The Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer have responsibility for overall strategic and financial
planning. Significant operational discretion is given to local management of
the Company's railroads, with each regional Senior Vice President responsible
for implementing a strategic plan for the region based on annual budgets,
quarterly reviews and incentive compensation tied to results. Regional Senior
Vice Presidents and local managers also have specific operational objectives
for continuous improvement such as reducing car hire expense or on-the-job
lost time injuries. The plan for each region is updated annually and
constitutes a basis for incentive compensation. Each railroad is given
significant freedom in pricing, staffing, purchasing, marketing and
operations, enabling the railroad's management to be more responsive to
customer needs and emerging business opportunities. Managers from all regions
meet periodically to discuss operational matters such as marketing, safety and
locomotive acquisition and maintenance. Senior management of the Company also
meets monthly to review each railroad's operations.
 
  The Company believes that through its decentralized management structure it
has developed a culture that encourages employees to take initiative and
responsibility which is rewarded through performance-based profit sharing and
bonus programs.
 
 Customers
 
  The Company's railroads serve over 280 customers in its four operating
regions. Through 1995, the Company's largest customer was Akzo, which
accounted for approximately 20% of operating revenues in 1993,
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
12% in 1994 and 9% in 1995. Since 1994, revenues from Akzo have been
negatively affected by the flooding of the Akzo mine. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Akzo
Mine." As a result of the Illinois & Midland Acquisition, the Company
anticipates that its largest customer in 1996 will be ComEd. The Company's ten
largest customers accounted for 50% of operating revenues in 1995. These same
ten customers accounted for 51.6% of operating revenues in 1994. Assuming
continuation of the Company's acquisition strategy, management expects the
Company's reliance on any one customer to diminish over time. The Company
typically ships freight pursuant to transportation contracts among the
Company, its connecting carriers and the shipper. These contracts are in
accordance with industry norms and vary in duration from one to seven years.
 
  In recent years, the Company has benefited from the expansion of customers'
facilities on its railroads. For example, Willamette Industries recently
completed a $600 million expansion of its paper mill in Johnsonburg,
Pennsylvania, which contributed to a $1.6 million increase in freight revenues
from 1993 to 1995. A $98 million expansion at Armco Advanced Materials
Company's Butler, Pennsylvania plant contributed to an increase in freight
revenues from Armco of $478,000 from 1993 to 1995.
 
  Certain other customers have recently made or announced capital expansions
at facilities served by the Company's railroads. Georgia Pacific's pulp and
paper mill in Toledo, Oregon is undergoing a $100 million expansion that will
increase capacity by 300 tons per day and also increase the input of raw
materials. In 1995, Cascade Rolling Mills in McMinnville, Oregon began a two-
phased investment of $42 million to construct and install a new wire rod and
bar mill designed to roll an additional 500,000 tons per year. The Company
believes it is well-positioned to realize an increase in freight revenues from
these plant expansions. There can be no assurance, however, that these plant
expansions, or the Company's marketing efforts, will lead to increased freight
revenues.
 
 Commodities
 
  The Company's railroads transport a wide variety of commodities for their
customers. Some of the Company's railroads have a well-diversified commodity
mix while others transport one or two principal commodities. In 1995, pulp and
paper and petroleum products were the two largest commodity groups transported
by the Company's railroads, constituting 15.7% and 14.8%, respectively, of
total carloads. On a pro forma basis after giving effect to both the Illinois
& Midland Acquisition and the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition, coal accounted
for approximately 39.5% of total carloads in 1995. In 1996, the Company
expects that coal will be the largest commodity transported by the Company's
railroads as a result of the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg & Shawmut
Acquisitions. The following table summarizes the aggregate traffic volume of
the Company's railroads by commodity group:
 
                      CARLOADS CARRIED BY COMMODITY GROUP
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             YEAR ENDED          YEAR ENDED      THREE MONTHS ENDED
                          DECEMBER 31, 1994   DECEMBER 31, 1995    MARCH 31, 1996
                         ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
COMMODITY                CARLOADS % OF TOTAL CARLOADS % OF TOTAL CARLOADS % OF TOTAL
- ---------                -------- ---------- -------- ---------- -------- ----------
<S>                      <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>
Coal, Coke & Ores.......  12,867     10.8%    12,398     10.5%    11,941     30.3%
Pulp & Paper............  17,070     14.3     18,667     15.7      4,772     12.1
Metals..................  16,606     14.0     17,014     14.3      4,715     12.0
Petroleum Products......  17,186     14.4     17,559     14.8      4,542     11.6
Lumber & Forest Prod-
 ucts...................  13,711     11.5     14,022     11.8      4,123     10.5
Farm & Food Products....   6,525      5.5      5,778      4.9      2,282      5.8
Chemicals & Plastics....   5,942      5.0      6,641      5.6      1,841      4.7
Autos & Auto Parts......   6,624      5.6      6,381      5.4      1,463      3.7
Minerals & Stone........   5,037      4.2      4,189      3.5        915      2.3
Salt....................  10,621      8.9      7,865      6.6        388      1.0
Other...................   6,862      5.8      8,159      6.9      2,363      6.0
                         -------    -----    -------    -----     ------    -----
  Total................. 119,051    100.0%   118,673    100.0%    39,345    100.0%
                         =======    =====    =======    =====     ======    =====
</TABLE>
 
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
  Coal, coke and ores consist primarily of shipments of coal to utilities and
industrial customers.
 
  Pulp and paper consist primarily of inbound shipments of pulp and outbound
shipments of kraft and fine papers.
 
  Metals consist primarily of scrap metal and finished steel products shipped
to and from two steel mills, and coated pipe.
 
  Petroleum products consist primarily of fuel oil and crude oil.
 
  Lumber and forest products consist primarily of finished lumber used in
construction, particleboard used in furniture manufacturing, and wood chips
and pulpwood used in paper manufacturing.
 
  Farm and food products consist primarily of sugar, molasses, rice and other
grains and fertilizer.
 
  Chemicals and plastics consist primarily of various chemicals used in
manufacturing.
 
  Autos and auto parts consist primarily of finished automobiles.
 
  Minerals and stone consist primarily of gravel and stone used in
construction.
 
  Salt consists of mined rock salt used for roadway ice control.
 
 Rail Traffic
 
  Rail traffic is classified as on-line or overhead traffic. On-line traffic
is traffic that either originates or terminates with shippers located on a
railroad and is interchanged with another rail carrier. On-line traffic that
both originates and terminates on a railroad is referred to as local traffic.
Overhead traffic neither originates nor terminates on a railroad, but rather
passes over a railroad from one connecting carrier to another.
 
  The Company believes that on-line shipments provide it with a stability of
revenues because such traffic represents shipments to or from shippers located
along its lines which cannot easily be diverted to other rail carriers. While
overhead traffic is more easily diverted, it is less costly to handle. To
offset the potential for diversion of overhead traffic, the Company has sought
long-term contracts, based on a percentage of the shipper's annual rail
volume, on its significant overhead traffic. In 1995, approximately two-thirds
of GWI's overhead traffic was transported under such multi-year contracts. In
1995, 12.8% of freight revenues was generated by overhead traffic. On a pro
forma basis after giving effect to both the Illinois & Midland Acquisition and
the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition, approximately 9.0% of freight revenues
was generated by overhead traffic in 1995.
 
  The following table summarizes freight revenues by type of traffic carried
by the Company's railroads.
 
                       FREIGHT REVENUES BY TRAFFIC TYPE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               YEAR ENDED         YEAR ENDED          THREE MONTHS
                            DECEMBER 31, 1994  DECEMBER 31, 1995  ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
                            ------------------ ------------------ ---------------------
                                       % OF               % OF                  % OF
   TRAFFIC TYPE              AMOUNT    TOTAL    AMOUNT    TOTAL     AMOUNT      TOTAL
   ------------             --------- -------- --------- -------- ----------- ---------
                                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
   <S>                      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>         <C>
   On-line
     Originated............ $  18,784    43.7% $  16,770    39.6% $     3,862      29.8%
     Terminated............    16,504    38.4     17,104    40.4        6,836      52.8
     Local.................     1,964     4.6      3,068     7.2        1,035       8.0
                            --------- -------  --------- -------  ----------- ---------
       Total On-line.......    37,252    86.7     36,942    87.2       11,733      90.6
   Overhead................     5,733    13.3      5,410    12.8        1,221       9.4
                            --------- -------  --------- -------  ----------- ---------
       Total Traffic....... $  42,985   100.0% $  42,352   100.0% $    12,954     100.0%
                            ========= =======  ========= =======  =========== =========
</TABLE>
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
 Safety
 
  GWI's safety program involves all employees and focuses on the prevention of
accidents and injuries. The Senior Vice President of each region is
accountable for the results of the program, and each has an officer
responsible for day-to-day program administration. Line supervisors have
direct responsibility for the safety and training of their personnel.
 
  The Company maintains a corporate-wide safety policy facilitated by a full-
time Safety Director. The Company's safety program also gives each railroad
the flexibility to develop its own safety rules based on local requirements or
practices. Each railroad complies fully with all federal, state and local
government regulations. Operating personnel are trained and certified in train
operations, hazardous materials handling, proper radio procedures and all
other areas subject to governmental rules and regulations.
 
  The Company also participates in governmental and industry sponsored safety
programs. Members of the Company's management serve on the Board of Directors
of Operation Lifesaver (the national grade crossing awareness program), the
New Program Committee of Operation Lifesaver and the American Short Line
Railroad Association Safety Committee. In addition, the Company has a "working
team" consisting of the safety officers from each railroad. This team is
charged with ongoing development and refinement of the Company's safety
program and coordination with each railroad to insure compliance with and
implementation of all safety rules and regulations.
 
 Employees
 
  As of May 31, 1996, the Company had 484 full-time employees, 88 of whom were
hired in 1996 in connection with the Illinois & Midland and Pittsburg &
Shawmut Acquisitions. Of this total, 146 are members of national labor
organizations, including 52 employees hired in connection with the Illinois &
Midland Acquisition. The Company has seven contracts with these national labor
organizations which have expiration dates ranging from August 1997 to June
1999. The Company has also entered into collective bargaining agreements with
an additional 61 employees who represent themselves, all of which expire in
1999.
 
  In March 1994, approximately 40 employees of one of the Company's railroads
began an illegal work stoppage to protest the use of management on train
crews. A temporary restraining order was issued and the underlying dispute was
subsequently resolved in arbitration. The work stoppage did not have a
material effect on the Company's operations and the Company believes the work
stoppage has not had an adverse effect on its overall employee relations. The
Company has not experienced any other strikes or work stoppages for over 20
years. The Company believes that its railroads' relations with their employees
are good.
 
INSURANCE
 
  The Company has obtained for each of its railroads insurance coverage for
losses arising from personal injury and for property damage in the event of
derailments or other accidents or occurrences. The liability policies have
self-insured retentions ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 per occurrence. In
addition, the Company maintains an excess liability policy which provides
supplemental coverage for losses in excess of primary policy limits. With
respect to the transportation of hazardous commodities, the Company's
liability policy covers sudden releases of hazardous materials, including
expenses related to evacuation. Personal injuries associated with grade
crossing accidents are also covered under the Company's liability policy. The
Company also maintains all-risk property damage coverage, subject to a
standard pollution exception and self-insured retentions ranging from $10,000
to $250,000.
 
  Employees of the Company's railroads are covered by the Federal Employers'
Liability Act ("FELA"), a fault-based system under which injuries and deaths
of railroad employees are settled by negotiation or litigation based on the
comparative negligence of the employee and the employer. FELA-related claims
are covered under the Company's liability insurance policies.
 
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
  The Company believes its insurance coverage is adequate in light of its
experience and the experience of the rail industry. However, there can be no
assurance as to the adequacy, availability or cost of insurance in the future.
See "Risk Factors--Liability for Casualty Losses."
 
COMPETITION
 
  In acquiring rail properties, the Company competes with other short line and
regional railroad operators, some of which are larger and have greater
financial resources than the Company. Competition for rail properties is based
primarily upon price, operating history and financing capability. The Company
believes its established reputation as a successful acquiror and operator of
short line rail properties, in combination with its managerial and financial
resources, effectively positions it to take advantage of future acquisition
opportunities. See "--Strategy--Acquisition of Rail Properties."
 
  Each of the Company's railroads is typically the only rail carrier directly
serving its customers; however, the Company's railroads compete directly with
other modes of transportation, principally motor carriers and, to a lesser
extent, ship and barge operators. The extent of this competition varies
significantly among the Company's railroads. Competition is based primarily
upon the rate charged and the transit time required, as well as the quality
and reliability of the service provided, for an origin-to-destination
transportation package. To the extent other carriers are involved in
transporting a shipment, the Company cannot control the cost and quality of
such service. Cost reductions achieved by major rail carriers over the past
several years have generally improved their ability to compete with alternate
modes of transportation.
 
REGULATION
 
  The Company's railroads are subject to regulation by the STB, the FRA, state
departments of transportation and some state and local regulatory agencies.
The STB is the successor to certain regulatory functions previously
administered by the Interstate Commerce Commission. Established by the ICCTA
in 1995, the STB has jurisdiction over, among other things, service levels and
compensation of carriers for use of their railcars by other carriers. It also
must authorize extension or abandonment of rail lines, the acquisition of rail
lines, and consolidation, merger or acquisition of control of rail common
carriers; in limited circumstances, it may condition such authorization upon
the payment of severance benefits to affected employees. The STB may review
rail carrier pricing only in response to a complaint concerning rates charged
for transportation where there is an absence of effective competition. The FRA
has jurisdiction over safety and railroad equipment standards and also assists
in coordinating projects for railroad route simplification.
 
  In 1980, the Staggers Rail Act fundamentally changed federal regulatory
policy by emphasizing the promotion of revenue adequacy (the opportunity to
earn revenues sufficient to cover costs and attract capital) for the railroads
and allowing competition to determine to a greater extent rail prices and
route and service options. The ICCTA continues the trend towards limiting
regulation of rail prices. As a result of these changes in legislative policy,
the railroad industry's rate structure has evolved from a system of
interrelated prices that applied over different routes between the same points
to a combination of market based prices that are now subject to limited
regulatory constraints. While federal regulation of rail prices has been
significantly curtailed, federal regulation of services continues to affect
profitability and competitiveness in the railroad industry.
 
  To date, the most significant impact on the Company of the federal and state
regulatory schemes has been the delays and costs associated with protracted
abandonment proceedings and the legal costs associated with acquisition
proceedings. Although the ICCTA purports to aim at eliminating or reducing
such costs, the ICCTA has not been in effect long enough to determine if it
will be successful in this regard. In reducing regulation an effect of the
ICCTA may be diminished regulatory recourse for small railroads which
negatively affects their competitive position with their Class I connections.
 
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
  The Company's operations are subject to various federal, state and local
laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, which have
become increasingly stringent. These environmental laws and regulations, which
are implemented principally by the Environmental Protection Agency and
comparable state agencies, govern the management of hazardous wastes, the
discharge of pollutants into the air and into surface and underground waters,
and the manufacture and disposal of certain substances. There are no material
environmental claims currently pending or, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened against the Company or any of its railroads. In addition, the
Company believes that the operations of its railroads are in material
compliance with current laws and regulations. The Company estimates that any
expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with current laws and regulations
will not have a material effect on the Company's earnings or capital
expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that the current regulatory
requirements will not change, or that currently unforeseen environmental
incidents will not occur, or that past non-compliance with environmental laws
will not be discovered on the Company's properties.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
  The Company currently has no claims or legal actions pending other than
claims arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company believes
these claims, taking into account reserves and applicable insurance, will not
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
                                      37
<PAGE>
 
                                   PROPERTY
 
  The Company currently operates twelve railroads in six states, of which nine
are owned, two are leased and one is operated under an operating agreement.
The Company's railroads own or lease 1,236 miles of track and operate over an
additional 270 miles pursuant to trackage rights and haulage contracts. These
rail properties typically consist of the track and the underlying land. Real
estate adjacent to the railroad rights-of-way is generally retained by the
seller, and the Company's holdings of such property are not material.
Similarly, the seller typically retains mineral rights and rights to grant
fiber optic and other easements in the properties acquired by the Company's
railroads.
 
  The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
Company's railroads:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               TRACK                         CONNECTING
RAILROAD AND LOCATION          MILES     STRUCTURE           CARRIERS(1)
- ---------------------          -----     ---------           -----------
<S>                            <C>       <C>                 <C>
Allegheny & Eastern Railroad,   153 (2)  Owned               BPRR, CR
 Inc. ("ALY")................
 Pennsylvania
Bradford Industrial Railroad,     4 (3)  Owned               BPRR, CR
 Inc. ("BR").................
 New York, Pennsylvania
Buffalo & Pittsburgh Rail-      279 (4)  Owned/Leased        ALY, BLE, BR, CN,
 road, Inc. ("BPRR").........                                CPRS, CR, CSX, NS,
 New York, Pennsylvania                                      PS, RSR, SB
The Dansville & Mount Morris      8      Owned               GNWR
 Railroad Company ("DMM")....
 New York
Genesee and Wyoming Railroad     26 (5)  Owned (5)           CPRS, CR, DMM, RSR
 Company ("GNWR")............
 New York
Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad,   224 (6)  Owned               BPRR, CR
 Inc. ("PS").................
 Pennsylvania
Rochester & Southern Rail-       66 (7)  Owned               BPRR, CPRS, CR,
 road, Inc. ("RSR")..........                                GNWR, NS
 New York
Illinois & Midland Railroad,     97 (8)  Owned               BNSF, CR, GWWR,
 Inc. ("IMR")................                                IAIS, IC, KJRY, NS,
 Illinois                                                    PPU, SP, TPW, UP
Portland & Western Railroad,    107 (9)  Leased              BNSF, SP, WPRR,
 Inc. ("PNWR")...............                                POTB
 Oregon
Willamette & Pacific Rail-      185 (10) Leased              SP, PNWR
 road, Inc. ("WPRR").........
 Oregon
Louisiana & Delta Railroad,      87 (11) Owned/Leased        SP
 Inc. ("LDRR")...............
 Louisiana
GWI Switching Services, L.P.      0 (12) Operating Agreement SP
 ("GWSW")....................
 Texas
</TABLE>
- --------
 (1) See Legend of Connecting Carriers following this table.
 (2) In addition, ALY operates by trackage rights over 3 miles of CR.
 (3) In addition, BR operates by trackage rights over 14 miles of BPRR.
 (4) Includes 92 miles under perpetual leases and 9 miles under a lease
     expiring in 2090. In addition, BPRR operates by trackage rights over 27
     miles of CSX under an agreement expiring in 2018.
 (5) Track has been conveyed to a county industrial development agency and
     leased back to GNWR. In addition, GNWR operates by trackage rights over
     an aggregate of 49 miles of RSR.
 (6) In addition, PS operates over 13 miles pursuant to an operating contract.
 (7) In addition, RSR has a haulage contract over 52 miles of CP.
 (8) In addition, IMR operates by trackage rights over 15 miles of IC, 9 miles
     of PPU and 5 miles of UP.
 (9) In addition, PNWR operates by trackage rights over 2 miles of SP and 4
     miles of POTB.
(10) All under lease expiring in 2013, with renewal options subject to both
     parties' consent. In addition, WPRR operates over 41 miles of SP under a
     concurrent trackage rights agreement.
(11) Includes 14 miles under a lease expiring in 2011. In addition, LDRR
     operates by trackage rights over 91 miles of SP under an agreement
     terminable by either party after 1997 and has a haulage contract with
     M.A. Patout & Sons over 4 miles of track.
(12) GWSW operates via trackage rights over 5 miles of SP.
 
                                      38
<PAGE>
 
                         LEGEND OF CONNECTING CARRIERS
 
<TABLE>
<S>   <C>
BLE   Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Company
BNSF  Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.
CN    Canadian National
CPRS  CP Rail Systems
CR    Consolidated Rail Corporation
CSX   CSX Transportation, Inc.
GWWR  Gateway Western Railway
IAIS  Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd.
IC    Illinois Central Railroad Company
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S>   <C>
KJRY  Keokuk Junction Railway
NS    Norfolk Southern Corp.
POTB  Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad
PPU   Peoria & Pekin Union Railway
SB    South Buffalo Railway Company
SP    Southern Pacific Transportation Company
TPW   Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway Corp.
UP    Union Pacific Railroad Company
</TABLE>
 
  The following is a description of each of the twelve railroads operated by
the Company:
 
 Allegheny & Eastern Railroad, Inc.
 
  In 1992, ALY acquired from International Paper 153 miles of track between
Erie and Emporium, Pennsylvania. Connections are made with CR at Erie and
Emporium, Pennsylvania and with BPRR at Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania. Traffic in
1995 totaled 5,769 carloads, which included petroleum products, pulpwood, wood
pulp, chemicals and paper. In addition, a CR unit train operates over ALY
between International Paper plants in Lock Haven and Erie, Pennsylvania.
 
 Bradford Industrial Railroad, Inc.
 
  In 1992 BR acquired 4 miles of track running from East Bradford to Bradford,
Pennsylvania and 14 miles of trackage rights from Bradford to Salamanca, New
York, where BR connects with CR and BPRR. Traffic in 1995 totaled 722 carloads
which included paper products, petroleum products and plastics.
 
 Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
 
  BPRR purchased and leased 365 miles of track and obtained 27 miles of
trackage rights from CSX in 1991. BPRR conveyed its interest in the 26-mile
Clearfield Branch to CR in 1992. In 1993, BPRR discontinued service over the
60-mile Indiana Branch leased from CSX. BPRR connects with every Class I
railroad in the eastern United States and Canada. In 1995, BPRR handled 49,057
carloads. Principal commodities included aggregates, automobiles, chemicals,
coal, petroleum products, lumber, paper products and steel.
 
 The Dansville & Mount Morris Railroad Company
 
  DMM operates 8 miles of track from a connection with GNWR at Groveland, New
York to Dansville, New York, where it serves the Foster Wheeler Energy
Corporation. In 1995, DMM handled 21 carloads of steel and machinery. DMM was
acquired in 1985. In 1988, its 60-90 lb. rail was replaced with 131 lb.
continuous welded rail.
 
 Genesee and Wyoming Railroad Company
 
  GNWR commenced operations in 1899. The 26-mile GNWR mainline runs from
Groveland, New York to P&L Junction in Caledonia, New York. In addition, GNWR
operates via trackage rights over 49 miles of RSR to interchange with CR in
Rochester, New York. GNWR also interchanges with CPRS at Silver Springs, New
York. The principal commodity handled by GNWR is rock salt for snow and ice
control. Traffic in 1995 totaled 7,741 carloads and was negatively affected by
the collapse and closure of the Akzo mine. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Akzo Mine."
 
 Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc.
 
  The assets of PS were acquired on April 29, 1996. See "Recent Developments."
PS operates over 237 miles of track in western Pennsylvania, connecting with
BPRR in three locations and CR. Coal is the primary commodity hauled by PS.
 
                                      39
<PAGE>
 
 Rochester & Southern Railroad, Inc.
 
  The 93-mile RSR mainline and 6 miles of branch lines between Ashford and
Rochester, New York were acquired from CSX in 1986. RSR abandoned 33 miles
between Silver Springs and Machias, New York in 1991, leaving 60 miles of
mainline. RSR interchanges with CR at Rochester and Silver Springs, with CPRS
at Silver Springs, with GNWR at P&L Junction and with BPRR in Buffalo, New
York via a haulage contract with CPRS. Traffic in 1995 totaled 4,290 carloads
which included fuel oil, chemicals, coal, lumber and auto parts.
 
 Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc.
 
  The assets of IMR were acquired on February 8, 1996. See "Recent
Developments." IMR is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois and operates
between Taylorville and Peoria, Illinois over 97 miles of owned track, 15
miles of trackage rights over IC, 9 miles of trackage rights over PPU and 5
miles of trackage rights over UP. IMR handles principally coal to two ComEd
power plants. IMR connects with BNSF, CR, GWWR, IAIS, IC, KJRY, NS, PPU, SP,
TPW and UP and with the Illinois River through an unloading facility owned by
ComEd and operated by IMR at Havana, Illinois. Coal is the primary commodity
hauled by IMR.
 
 Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.
 
  PNWR acquired by lease 53 miles of SP's remaining Oregon branch lines on
August 18, 1995. The lease runs for 20 years with a 10-year renewal unless
terminated by either party. PNWR has trackage rights from Willsburg Junction,
Oregon to interchange with SP at Brooklyn Yard in Portland. On October 1, 1995
PNWR leased 54 miles of BNSF's former Oregon Electric subdivision for three
years with three-year renewals subject to termination by either party. PNWR
also interchanges with BNSF at Brooklyn Yard. In the last five months of 1995,
PNWR handled 3,753 carloads comprised principally of lumber and grain.
 
 Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc.
 
  In 1993 WPRR acquired, under a 20-year lease with renewal options subject to
both parties' consent, 185 miles of SP's Westside Branches between Portland
and Eugene, Oregon. WPRR operates under a trackage rights agreement over 41
miles of SP from Albany, Oregon to interchange with SP at Eugene Yard. Traffic
in 1995 totaled 35,281 carloads. Major commodities shipped on WPRR include
paper, newsprint, wood chips, lumber, steel, grain, scrap steel, fertilizer
and grass seed.
 
 Louisiana & Delta Railroad, Inc.
 
  In 1987 LDRR purchased and leased certain SP branch lines between Raceland
and New Iberia, Louisiana. Seven separate branches total 92 miles and are
connected by 93 miles of trackage rights over the SP mainline. Service to an
eighth branch, acquired by a shipper, began in 1989. LDRR handled 12,039
carloads in 1995. Principal commodities carried by LDRR are carbon black,
sugar and molasses, pipe, plastics, rice, salt and paper products.
 
 GWI Switching Services, L.P.
 
  GWSW began operation of a Dayton, Texas plastic pellet car storage yard in
1994 under a long-term contract. The yard was completed in December 1995 and
has capacity to hold 3,000 cars. The yard is located on over 100 acres along
SP's Baytown branch and contains over 50 miles of track. GWSW operates over 5
miles of SP under trackage rights to move the cars to and from the storage
yard and SP's Dayton rail yard. The yard has capacity to be expanded, at SP's
option, to hold approximately 4,500 cars.
 
TRACK CONDITION
 
  The Company's railroads conduct freight operations on 1,506 miles of track.
Of this total, 829 miles of track are owned by the Company's railroads, 407
miles of track are leased and the Company operates over 202 miles of track
pursuant to trackage rights agreements. In addition, the Company has a haulage
contract whereby it pays a connecting carrier to carry its customers' freight
over 56 miles of the connecting carrier's line. The remaining 12 miles are
operated by Pittsburg & Shawmut pursuant to an operating contract.
 
                                      40
<PAGE>
 
  Of the 1,506 miles of track operated on or by the Company's railroads, 13%
was in FRA Class IV condition, permitting speeds of up to 60 miles per hour
for freight trains. An additional 45% was in FRA Class III condition,
permitting speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, while 21% was in FRA Class II
condition, permitting speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. The remaining 21% was
in FRA Class I or FRA Excepted Class I condition, which permits maximum speeds
of 10 miles per hour. The following table summarizes the track condition of
the Company's railroads:
 
                                TRACK CONDITION
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               FRA CLASS
                                        ----------------------------
                                        IV   III  II    I   EXCEPTED TOTAL   %
                                        ---  ---  ---  ---  -------- -----  ---
<S>                                     <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>      <C>    <C>
Owned..................................  -   528  170   95     36      829   55%
Leased.................................  -   119  120   46    122      407   27
Trackage rights........................ 146   31   18    7     -       202   13
Contract...............................  50    2    3   13     -        68    5
                                        ---  ---  ---  ---    ---    -----  ---
Total miles............................ 196  680  311  161    158    1,506  100%
                                        ===  ===  ===  ===    ===    =====  ===
FRA Class as percentage of miles.......  13%  45%  21%  11%    10%     100%
                                        ===  ===  ===  ===    ===    =====
</TABLE>
 
  The Company's track maintenance policy is to maintain its railroads' track,
ties and roadbed consistent with safe operations and with the volume of
traffic transported over their lines. Safety-related maintenance receives the
highest maintenance priority, followed by high-density track segments on which
the highest volume of traffic is transported. Low-density segments, sidings
and lines for which higher transit speeds are not essential to providing
timely and effective service are maintained at lower FRA Class conditions.
 
  In connection with its lease of the SP rail line, WPRR installed 30,600
railroad ties and has committed to upgrade approximately 25 miles of rail. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
EQUIPMENT
 
  As of March 31, 1996, rolling stock of the Company's railroads consisted of
113 locomotives and 1,133 freight cars, some of which were owned and some of
which were leased from others. The average age of the Company's locomotive
fleet is approximately 28 years. The following tables summarize the aggregate
fleet of the Company's railroads at March 31, 1996(1):
 
                                  LOCOMOTIVES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   HORSEPOWER PER UNIT                                        OWNED LEASED TOTAL
   -------------------                                        ----- ------ -----
   <S>                                                        <C>   <C>    <C>
   3000 to 3200..............................................   18     7     25
   2000 to 3000..............................................   28     6     34
   1800 and under............................................   24    30     54
                                                               ---   ---    ---
     Total...................................................   70    43    113
                                                               ===   ===    ===
</TABLE>
 
                                 FREIGHT CARS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   CAR TYPE                                           OWNED LEASED MANAGED TOTAL
   --------                                           ----- ------ ------- -----
   <S>                                                <C>   <C>    <C>     <C>
   Covered hopper....................................  651    19     162     832
   Plain box car.....................................   25    -      101     126
   Equipped box car..................................   -     50      -       50
   Gondola...........................................   -    115      -      115
   Wood chip gondola.................................   -     10      -       10
                                                       ---   ---     ---   -----
     Total...........................................  676   194     263   1,133
                                                       ===   ===     ===   =====
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) In addition, in connection with the Pittsburg & Shawmut Acquisition, the
    Company acquired an additional 859 railcars and 19 locomotives, a
    significant portion of which will be sold.
 
                                      41
<PAGE>
 
                                  MANAGEMENT
 
  The following table sets forth information regarding the executive officers
and directors of the Company:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       NAME               AGE                      POSITION
       ----               ---                      --------
<S>                       <C> <C>
Mortimer B. Fuller, III.   54 Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and
                               Chief Executive Officer
                              Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Mark W. Hastings........   46  Treasurer
Forrest L. Becht........   52 Senior Vice President-Louisiana and Texas
Charles W. Chabot.......   49 Senior Vice President-New York and Pennsylvania
Robert I. Melbo.........   53 Senior Vice President-Oregon
Spencer D. White........   36 Senior Vice President-Illinois
Alan R. Harris..........   48 Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
James M. Fuller(1)......   55 Director
Louis S. Fuller(2)......   55 Director
John M. Randolph(1)(2)..   70 Director
Philip J. Ringo(1)(2)...   54 Director
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Member of Audit Committee.
(2) Member of Compensation Committee.
 
  The Company's Board of Directors is divided into three classes and directors
serve for staggered three-year terms. The current terms of office of James M.
Fuller and John M. Randolph expire in 1997, the current terms of office of
Louis S. Fuller and Philip J. Ringo expire in 1998, and the current term of
office of Mortimer B. Fuller, III expires in 1999.
 
  Mortimer B. Fuller, III has been President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company since 1977. He has been a director of the Company since 1973 and
also serves as Chairman of the Board and of the Board's Executive Committee.
He is a graduate of Princeton University, Boston University School of Law and
Harvard Business School. Mr. Fuller is a director of the American Short Line
Railroad Association. He is a founding member of the Regional Railroads of
America, and serves on that Association's executive committee. He also serves
on the Board of Directors of Detection Systems, Inc. Mr. Fuller is a first
cousin of James M. Fuller and Louis S. Fuller.
 
  Mark W. Hastings, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer, has been the Company's chief financial officer since he joined the
Company in 1978. Prior to joining GWI, Mr. Hastings was a credit analyst for
Marine Midland Bank. He currently represents the short line industry on the
Board of the Railroad Clearing House, which has been established to create the
administrative systems and banking functions for the electronic settlement of
all rail industry interline freight payments.
 
  Forrest L. Becht, Senior Vice President-Louisiana and Texas, joined the
Company in 1987 as General Manager of Louisiana & Delta Railroad, Inc., and
now serves as its President and General Manager. His 25-year career in the
railroad industry has included service with The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
Railway from 1968 to 1981 in a succession of staff and line positions in its
mechanical and operating departments. Mr. Becht is a director of the American
Short Line Railroad Association and is active in several other railroad
operating associations.
 
  Charles W. Chabot, Senior Vice President-New York and Pennsylvania, joined
the Company as Senior Vice President--Marketing and Sales in 1991. He became
President of Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. in 1992. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Chabot was employed for over ten years by the Chessie System
Railroad (predecessor of CSX Transportation, Inc.), where he served in various
capacities in marketing and freight equipment planning, including Director,
Minerals Marketing, Assistant Vice President, Chemical Marketing, and
Assistant Vice President, Planning and Equipment. He also served as a
management consultant with Booz, Allen and Hamilton. Mr. Chabot represents the
short line railroad industry on the Board of Directors of Operation Lifesaver,
Inc.
 
                                      42
<PAGE>
 
  Robert I. Melbo, Senior Vice President-Oregon, has served as General Manager
of Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc. since 1993. He joined the Company in
1993 after over 25 years of service in operations with Southern Pacific
Transportation Company in various capacities, including Manager-Field
Operations, Northern Willamette Valley, and Superintendent of the Oregon
Division.
 
  Spencer D. White, Senior Vice President-Illinois, joined the Company in 1988
as Chief Engineer of Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. after serving in
progressive engineering positions with CSX Transportation since 1982. He has
served the Company as Vice President-Operations of Buffalo & Pittsburgh
Railroad, Inc. and Chief Engineer of the New York and Pennsylvania railroads.
He assumed his current position in February 1996, following the Illinois &
Midland Acquisition.
 
  Alan R. Harris, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, joined
the Company in 1990 as its Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Harris is a certified
public accountant and from 1985 to 1990, he was Director of Accounting, and
subsequently Secretary and Treasurer, of Preston Trucking Company, Inc., an
interstate carrier.
 
  James M. Fuller has been a director of the Company since 1974. In 1995 he
became Regional Sales Manager of the Harvey Salt Co., a distributor of salt
and water purification chemicals. From 1983 until 1993, Mr. Fuller was
National Account Manager-Export for Akzo, where he served for over 25 years.
Mr. Fuller is a first cousin of Mortimer B. Fuller, III and Louis S. Fuller.
 
  Louis S. Fuller, has been a director of the Company since 1974. Since 1991,
he has been a member of Courtright and Associates, an executive search firm.
Mr. Fuller serves on the Advisory Board of Pioneer American Bank. He is a
first cousin of Mortimer B. Fuller, III and James M. Fuller.
 
  John M. Randolph, a financial consultant and private investor for more than
the past five years, has been a director of the Company since 1986. In 1965
Mr. Randolph founded and was Chief Executive Officer of Randolph Computer
Corporation, one of the first computer leasing companies. He subsequently
served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of J.M. Randolph and
Associates, a company created to manage certain computer leasing assets
acquired by the Bank of Boston. Mr. Randolph currently serves as a director of
Leasing Technologies International Inc. and as Vice Chairman and a director of
Financing for Science International, Inc.
   
  Philip J. Ringo has been a director of the Company since 1978. Since 1995,
he has been President of Chemical Leaman Tank Lines Inc., a trucking firm.
From 1992 to 1995, Mr. Ringo served as President and Chief Operating Officer
of The Morgan Group, Inc. and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan
Drive Away, Inc., a common and contract carrier for the manufactured housing
and recreational vehicle industries. From 1988 to 1992, he was Chief Executive
Officer and President of Energy Innovations, Inc., a monitoring and
communications equipment firm. Prior to that, he served as President of ATE
Management and Service Co., Inc., now known as Ryder/ATE, Inc. (municipal
transportation services). Mr. Ringo is a Trustee of the Bartlett Capital Trust
and the Bartlett Management Trust, and a director of Chemical Leaman, Inc.
    
                                      43
<PAGE>
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
  Shown on the table below is information on the annual and long-term
compensation for services rendered to the Company in all capacities during
1995, paid by the Company to those persons who were, at the end of 1995, the
Chief Executive Officer and each other executive officer of the Company whose
salary and bonus in 1995 exceeded $100,000 (collectively, the "Named
Executives").
 
                          SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     ANNUAL COMPENSATION      LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                                  ------------------------- --------------------------
                                                                  AWARDS       PAYOUTS
                                                            ------------------ -------
                                                     OTHER
                                                    ANNUAL  RESTRICTED                 ALL OTHER
                                                    COMPEN-   STOCK             LTIP    COMPEN-
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION  YEAR  SALARY  BONUS(1) SATION    AWARDS   OPTIONS PAYOUTS SATION(2)
- ---------------------------  ---- -------- -------- ------- ---------- ------- ------- ---------
<S>                          <C>  <C>      <C>      <C>     <C>        <C>     <C>     <C>
Mortimer B. Fuller, III,     1995 $286,456 $70,400     -        -         -       -     $8,933
 .......................
 Chairman of the Board,
 President and Chief Ex-
 ecutive Officer
Mark W. Hastings .......     1995 $115,375 $22,700     -        -         -       -     $7,086
 Senior Vice President,
 Chief Financial Officer
 and Treasurer
Charles W. Chabot ......     1995 $138,116 $15,400     -        -         -       -     $9,557
 Senior Vice President-
 New York and Pennsylva-
 nia
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The bonuses shown were awarded and paid in 1996 for services rendered
    during 1995.
(2) The amounts shown include (i) Company contributions to the Company's
    401(k) Savings Plan (see "--401(k) Savings Plan") on behalf of the Named
    Executives as follows: Mr. Fuller-$1,613, Mr. Hastings-$1,459 and Mr.
    Chabot-$1,613; (ii) the value of insurance premiums paid by the Company,
    and the economic benefit (projected on an actuarial basis) to the Named
    Executives, under split dollar life insurance arrangements as follows: Mr.
    Fuller-$6,845, Mr. Hastings-$5,152 and Mr. Chabot-$7,469; and (iii) $475
    in life insurance premiums paid by the Company for the benefit of each
    Named Executive under a group life insurance program.
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
  No options were granted or exercised during 1995 and no options to purchase
Common Stock were outstanding at the end of 1995.
 
 1996 Stock Option Plan
 
  The Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan") provides for
the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and non-statutory
options to executives and other employees of the Company to purchase up to an
aggregate of 450,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The Stock Option Plan is
administered by a Stock Option Committee comprised of at least two
disinterested directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Stock Option Committee is
authorized to determine the recipients of options, the type of options
granted, the number of shares subject to each option, the term of each option,
exercise prices and other option features. The term of an option may not
exceed ten years, except that if an incentive stock option is granted to an
optionee who would thereafter own stock possessing more than 10% of the
combined voting power of the Common Stock (a "10% Stockholder"), the term of
the option may not exceed five years. The exercise price must at least equal
the market value of the Class A Common Stock on the grant date of the option,
except that if an incentive stock option is granted to a 10% Stockholder, the
exercise price must at least equal 110% of such value. Options are not
transferable except by will or intestacy, and lapse within stated periods
following the death of the optionee or the termination of the optionee's
employment with the Company. The Stock Option Plan contains customary anti-
dilution provisions and provides for the acceleration of the vesting of
options upon a change in control of the Company. The Stock Option Plan
terminates in 2006. Options to purchase an aggregate of 350,500 shares of
Class A Common Stock at the initial public offering price are currently
outstanding.
 
                                      44
<PAGE>
 
 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors
 
  The Company's Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (the "Outside
Directors' Plan") provides for the grant to non-employee directors of the
Company of non-statutory options to purchase up to an aggregate of 50,000
shares of Class A Common Stock. The Outside Directors' Plan provides for three
categories of option grants: (i) options to purchase 8,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock at the initial public offering price, granted to each of the
Company's four current outside directors on the closing date of the Offering;
(ii) options to purchase 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at its market
value on the option grant date, granted to each new outside director of the
Company upon his or her election to the Board; and (iii) options to purchase
1,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at its market value on the option grant
date, granted to each such new outside director on fixed dates in 1997 and
1998 provided that the Company's net income after taxes for the most recently
completed year exceeds by at least 10% its net income after taxes for the
immediately preceding year. Options vest over a three-year period in
increments of one-third on each anniversary of the grant date, and expire on
the tenth anniversary. Options are not transferable except by will or
intestacy, and lapse within stated periods following the death of the optionee
or cessation of his service as a director. The Outside Directors' Plan
contains customary anti-dilution provisions and provides for the acceleration
of the vesting of options upon a change in control of the Company.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
  The Company is a party to employment agreements with each of its seven
executive officers which provide that upon termination of the officer's
employment with the Company within three years after a defined change in
control of the Company, the officer will receive a cash amount equal to three
times the average annual compensation payable to him by the Company during the
immediately preceding five years. The agreements provide for reduction of the
amounts paid pursuant thereto to the extent that such amounts would otherwise
be non-deductible to the Company under Section 280G of the Code.
 
CASH BONUS PLAN
 
  The Company awards annual bonuses to ten employees (including its seven
executive officers) based on pre-tax earnings targets and individual
performance objectives. Earnings targets, individual performance objectives
and bonus percentages are established at the beginning of each year by the
Compensation Committee of the Board. Maximum bonus percentages currently range
from 15% to 50% of annual salary.
 
401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
 
  The Company's 401(k) Savings Plan (the "401(k) Plan") provides retirement,
death and disability benefits to certain employees with a cash or deferred
arrangement intended to qualify under the Code. It became effective in 1994
and covers employees other than union employees covered by a collective
bargaining agreement with a union local (which employees are covered by a
separate 401(k) plan of the Company). Each participant may defer and have
contributed to his account under the 401(k) Plan up to 15% of compensation
each year, including any bonuses. The Company and its subsidiaries make
matching contributions annually equal to 25% of each participant's
contribution. The maximum matching contribution is 1 1/2% of the participant's
annual compensation. Each employer may make an additional discretionary
contribution for its employees which is allocated to participants' accounts in
proportion to their total compensation for the plan year for which the
contribution is made.
 
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
 
  The Company currently pays its outside directors $2,100 per Board meeting
attended, $500 per Board Committee meeting attended not in conjunction with a
Board meeting, $250 per Committee meeting attended in conjunction with a Board
meeting and $250 per meeting attended by telephone. All of the Company's
directors other than Mortimer B. Fuller, III qualify for such payments. In
addition, during 1995 the Company provided medical insurance on behalf of
Louis S. Fuller and John M. Randolph at a cost of $5,448 and $5,818,
respectively.
 
                                      45
<PAGE>
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
  During 1995 the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors was
composed of Louis S. Fuller, John M. Randolph and Philip J. Ringo. Mortimer B.
Fuller, III participates in the deliberations of the Compensation Committee
for the purpose of providing evaluations and recommendations with respect to
the compensation paid to officers other than himself. However, Mr. Fuller
neither participates nor is otherwise involved in the deliberations of the
Compensation Committee with respect to his own compensation, and those
deliberations are conducted by the Compensation Committee in executive session
without Mr. Fuller present.
 
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
  Under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase
Plan"), all full-time employees who have been employed by the Company for at
least two years are eligible to purchase from the Company shares of Class A
Common Stock by payroll deduction at market price. The Stock Purchase Plan is
administered by a committee composed of at least two disinterested directors.
An aggregate of 450,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (subject to customary
anti-dilution provisions) may be purchased under the Stock Purchase Plan.
During any year, a participating employee may purchase under the Stock
Purchase Plan shares having an aggregate market value of up to $25,000,
provided that after any such purchase, he or she would own no more than 5% of
the total combined voting power of the Company. The Stock Purchase Plan will
become effective upon the effectiveness of the Company's registration
statement on Form S-8 under the Act covering the shares subject to the Stock
Purchase Plan.
 
                             CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
  In 1983, the Company issued $598,365 in aggregate principal amount of
subordinated debentures maturing in 1998, including (i) a debenture in
$260,865 principal amount issued to Louis S. Fuller, a director of the
Company, and his wife, and (ii) debentures in $337,500 aggregate principal
amount issued to trusts for the benefit of James M. Fuller, a director of the
Company, and others. The debentures bore interest at the rate of 10% per annum
and contained customary loan covenants. Such transactions were at arm's
length, on terms and conditions identical to those offered to non-affiliated
third parties. In June 1995, the Company repaid all such debt with borrowings
under the Credit Facilities. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital
Resources."
 
  In May 1994, a subsidiary of the Company issued $990,000 in aggregate
principal amount of subordinated notes maturing in 2001, including (i) a note
in $100,000 principal amount issued to Louis S. Fuller, (ii) a note in
$100,000 principal amount issued to Frances A. Fuller, the mother of Mortimer
B. Fuller, III, and (iii) notes in $50,000 aggregate principal amount issued
to trusts for the benefit of John M. Randolph, a director of the Company, and
his wife. The notes bore interest at the rate of 12% per annum and contained
customary loan covenants. Such transactions were at arm's length, on terms and
conditions identical to those offered to non-affiliated third parties. In June
1995, the Company repaid all of such debt with borrowings under the Credit
Facilities. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources."
   
  The Company, Mortimer B. Fuller, III, the other executive officers of the
Company (the "Other Executives") and all of the holders of the Class B Common
Stock are parties to a Class B Stockholders' Agreement dated as of May 20,
1996. Under that agreement, if a party proposes to transfer shares of Class B
Common Stock in a transaction that will not result in the automatic conversion
of those shares into shares of Class A Common Stock (see "Description of
Capital Stock"), the Other Executives have the right to purchase up to an
aggregate of 50% of those shares, and Mr. Fuller has the right to purchase the
balance, all at the then-current market price of the Class A Common Stock. If
Mr. Fuller does not purchase the entire balance of the shares, the Other
Executives have the right to purchase whatever shares remain. Such purchase
rights also apply if the employment of any of the Other Executives is
terminated for any reason. The effect of this agreement will be to concentrate
ownership of the Class B Common Stock, which enjoys ten times the voting power
of the Class A Common Stock, in the hands of management of the Company,
particularly Mr. Fuller. See "Principal and Selling Stockholders."     
 
                                      46
<PAGE>
 
                       
                    PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS     
   
  The following table sets forth as of May 31, 1996 certain information
concerning shares of both classes of the Company's Common Stock held by (i)
each stockholder known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of
either class, (ii) each director of the Company, (iii) each Named Executive
(see "Management--Executive Compensation"), (iv) the Selling Stockholder, and
(v) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. The
address for each of the directors and Named Executives is the address of the
Company.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                             BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP                 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
                                              PRIOR TO OFFERING                      AFTER OFFERING
                                         ---------------------------- CLASS A ----------------------------
                                          CLASS A  CLASS B            COMMON   CLASS A  CLASS B
                                          COMMON   COMMON              STOCK   COMMON   COMMON
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER(1)    STOCK    STOCK  PERCENT(2) OFFERED   STOCK    STOCK  PERCENT(2)
- ---------------------------------------  --------- ------- ---------- ------- --------- ------- ----------
<S>                                      <C>       <C>     <C>        <C>     <C>       <C>     <C>
Mortimer B. Fuller,                        651,347 651,347    55.5%             651,347 651,347    26.9%(4)
 III(3).................
James M. Fuller(5)......                   283,901  11,100    12.6              283,901  11,100     6.1
Louis S. Fuller(6)......                   160,894 160,894    13.7              160,894 160,894     6.6
John M. Randolph(7).....                     7,400   7,400     0.6                7,400   7,400     0.3
Philip J. Ringo(8)......                     3,700     --      0.2                3,700     --      0.1
Mark W. Hastings(9).....                     7,400   7,400     0.6                7,400   7,400     0.3
Charles W. Chabot.......                       --      --      --                   --      --      --
Nancy E. Putney, Trustee                   159,470     --      6.8              159,470     --      3.3
 .......................
 Putney Family Trust
 4833 Leland Street
 Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Ryder/ATE, Inc. ........                   148,000     --      6.3    148,000       --      --      --
 1 Centennial Plaza,
 Suite 500
 705 Central Avenue
 Cincinnati, OH 45202
All Directors and Execu-
 tive Officers as a
 Group (11 persons).....                 1,114,642 838,141    83.2%           1,114,642 838,141    40.3%(4)
</TABLE>    
- --------
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, each stockholder shown on the table has sole
    voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned
    by him or it.
(2) Percentages are based on ownership of both Class A Common Stock and Class
    B Common Stock.
(3) The amounts shown include: (i) 351,592 shares of Class A Common Stock and
    351,592 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by Mr. Fuller individually;
    (ii) 188,607 shares of Class A Common Stock and 188,607 shares of Class B
    Common Stock held by a family trust for the benefit of Mr. Fuller and
    others, of which Mr. Fuller is a co-trustee; (iii) 83,583 shares of Class
    A Common Stock and 83,583 shares of Class B Common Stock held by another
    family trust for the benefit of Mr. Fuller and others, of which Mr. Fuller
    is a co-trustee; (iv) 925 shares of Class A Common Stock and 925 shares of
    Class B Common Stock owned by Mr. Fuller's wife, as to which shares Mr.
    Fuller disclaims beneficial ownership; (v) 10,915 shares of Class A Common
    Stock and 10,915 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by Mr. Fuller's
    mother which, together with the shares held by the above-mentioned family
    trusts, are subject to a Voting Agreement pursuant to which Mr. Fuller has
    been granted irrevocable proxies to vote all such shares through March 20,
    2008; and (vi) 15,725 shares of Class A Common Stock and 15,725 shares of
    Class B Common Stock held by a family trust for the benefit of Mr. Fuller
    and others, of which Mr. Fuller is the Trustee.
(4) Because the Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share and the
    Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes per share, immediately after
    the Offering the stock ownership of Mortimer B. Fuller, III will represent
    57.5% of the voting power of the Company and the stock ownership of all
    directors and executive officers as a group will represent 76.2% of the
    voting power of the Company.
(5) The amounts shown include 11,100 shares of Class A Common Stock and 11,100
    shares of Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Fuller individually, and an
    aggregate of 272,801 shares of Class A Common Stock held by family trusts
    for the benefit of Mr. Fuller and others, of which Mr. Fuller is a co-
    trustee.
(6) The amounts shown include 133,144 shares of Class A Common Stock and
    133,144 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Fuller individually,
    and an aggregate of 27,750 shares of Class A Common Stock and 27,750
    shares of Class B Common Stock owned by Mr. Fuller's children (as to which
    shares he disclaims beneficial ownership).
(7) Such shares are held by a trust for the benefit of Mr. Randolph, of which
    he is a co-trustee.
(8) Such shares are owned by Mr. Ringo's wife, and he disclaims beneficial
    ownership thereof.
(9) Such shares are owned by Mr. Hastings jointly with his wife.
 
                                      47
<PAGE>
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
  The following summary description of the capital stock of the Company is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws of the Company.
 
IN GENERAL
 
  The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 12,000,000 shares of
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 1,500,000 shares of Class
B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share. At the date of this Prospectus,
1,501,937 shares of Class A Common Stock and 846,556 shares of Class B Common
Stock were issued and outstanding, and there were 31 holders of record of
Class A Common Stock and 18 holders of record of Class B Common Stock.
 
CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK
 
  Voting. Holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share.
Holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. All
actions submitted to a vote of stockholders are voted on by the holders of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together as a single
class, except as otherwise required by law. Under current Delaware law, the
holders of the outstanding shares of a class are entitled to vote as a class
upon a proposed charter amendment that would change the aggregate number of
authorized shares of such class, change the par value of the shares of such
class or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of
such class so as to affect them adversely. Holders of the Company's Common
Stock are not entitled to cumulate voting in the election of directors.
 
  Conversion. Class A Common Stock has no conversion rights. Each share of
Class B Common Stock is convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock (i)
at any time at the option of the holder of the Class B Common Stock and (ii)
automatically upon any transfer by the holder thereof other than (a) a
transfer to a spouse, child or grandchild of the transferor by gift or upon
the transferor's death, or (b) a transfer to an individual or entity that is,
at the time of transfer, a holder of record of Class B Common Stock or an
executive officer of the Company.
 
  Dividends. Dividends are payable on the outstanding shares of (i) only Class
A Common Stock or (ii) both Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, in
each case, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors. If the Board
determines to pay a dividend on the Class B Common Stock, each share of Class
A Common Stock will receive a dividend in an amount 10% greater than the
amount of the dividend per share paid on the Class B Common Stock. Subject to
the foregoing, dividends in the form of stock can only be paid in shares of
Class A Common Stock. Although the Company has paid dividends in the past, it
currently intends to retain all earnings to support its operations and future
growth and, therefore, does not anticipate the payment of cash dividends on
the Common Stock in the foreseeable future. See "Dividend Policy."
 
  Liquidation. In the event of liquidation, holders of Class A Common Stock
and Class B Common Stock will share with each other on a ratable basis as a
single class in the net assets of the Company available for distribution after
payment or provision for the liabilities of the Company.
 
  Other Terms. Neither the Class A Common Stock nor the Class B Common Stock
may be subdivided, consolidated, reclassified or otherwise changed unless
contemporaneously therewith the other class of shares is subdivided,
consolidated, reclassified or otherwise changed in the same proportion and in
the same manner. In any merger, consolidation, reorganization or other
business combination, the consideration to be received per share by holders of
either Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock must be identical to that
received by holders of the other class. Neither the holders of Class A Common
Stock nor the holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to preemptive
rights, and neither the Class A Common Stock nor the Class B Common Stock is
subject to redemption.
 
  Listing. The Class A Common Stock has been approved for quotation, subject
to official notice of issuance, on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"GNWR."
 
                                      48
<PAGE>
 
BANK WARRANT
 
  As part of the consideration for the availability of the Credit Facilities
(see "Recent Developments"), in February 1996 the Company paid a fee of $1.5
million and issued to the Bank of Boston, for no additional consideration, a
warrant to purchase 41,847 shares of Class A Common Stock at a price of
approximately $.0005 per share (the "Bank Warrant"), subject to customary
anti-dilution adjustments. The Bank Warrant is immediately exercisable, is
transferable to members of the banking syndicate and their affiliates, and
expires in 2006. Holders of the Bank Warrant are entitled under certain
circumstances to demand and "piggy-back" registration rights, at the Company's
expense (subject to certain limitations), with respect to the shares issuable
upon exercise thereof.
 
LIMITATIONS ON TAKEOVERS
 
  Super-Majority Voting Provision. The Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-
thirds of the combined voting power of the Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock, voting together as one class, for approval of the following
actions: (i) any merger or consolidation unless the Company is the surviving
corporation in such transaction and no change of control (defined as any
person or group becoming the beneficial owner of shares of Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock representing 50% or more of the votes
represented by all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock) has occurred, (ii) any sale, lease or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company and (iii) any amendment of
the super-majority voting provision. These voting requirements could have the
effect of delaying, deferring or preventing such transactions.
 
  Classified Board of Directors. The Company's Board of Directors is divided
into three classes, with the members of each class serving for staggered
three-year terms. The classification of the directors will have the effect of
making it more difficult for stockholders to force an immediate change in the
composition of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors believes that
the longer time required to elect a majority of a classified Board of
Directors helps to ensure the continuity and stability of the Company's
management and policies since a majority of the directors at any given time
will have had prior experience as directors of the Company.
 
  Consideration of Non-Price Issues. The Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation permits the Board of Directors, in considering the best
interests of the Company, to consider the effects of any action upon
employees, general agents, customers, creditors, communities, the state and
national economies and the long-term as well as short-term interests of the
Company and its stockholders, including the possibility that these interests
may be best served by the continued independence of the Company, and all other
pertinent factors.
 
  Delaware General Corporation Law Section 203. Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law provides that, subject to certain exceptions specified
therein, a corporation may not engage in any business combination (which
includes a merger or a sale of more than 10% of the corporation's assets) with
an "interested stockholder" for a three-year period following the time that
such stockholder becomes an interested stockholder unless (i) prior to such
time, the Board of Directors of the corporation approved either the business
combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an
interested stockholder, (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that
resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested
stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding certain shares),
or (iii) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved
by the Board of Directors of the corporation and by the affirmative vote of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the
interested stockholder. Except as specified in Section 203, an interested
stockholder is defined to include (a) any person that is the owner of 15% or
more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, or is an affiliate or
associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within three years
immediately prior to the date of determination and (b) the affiliates and
associates of any such person. Under certain circumstances, Section 203 makes
it more difficult for an interested stockholder to effect various business
combinations with a corporation for a three-year period.
 
                                      49
<PAGE>
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
  The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A Common Stock is The First
National Bank of Boston.
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
   
  Upon completion of the Offering, 1,353,937 shares of Class A Common Stock
held by certain stockholders of the Company will be eligible for sale subject
to the volume and other limitations of Rule 144 under the Act. In addition,
all of the 846,556 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to the Offering are freely convertible into shares of Class A Common
Stock and, if so converted, will be eligible for sale subject to the volume
and other limitations of Rule 144 under the Act.     
 
  In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a holder (or holders
whose shares are aggregated) of "restricted securities," including persons who
may be deemed affiliated with the Company, whose shares meet a two-year
holding period requirement are entitled to sell, within any three-month
period, a number of those shares that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the
then outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (36,742 shares of Class A
Common Stock immediately after the Offering) or the average weekly reported
trading volume in the Class A Common Stock during the four calendar weeks
preceding the date on which notice of the sale is given, provided certain
manner of sale and notice requirements and requirements as to the availability
of current public information about the Company are satisfied. Under Rule
144(k), a holder of "restricted securities" who is deemed not to have been an
affiliate of the Company during the three months preceding a sale by him, and
whose shares meet a three-year holding period requirement, is entitled to sell
those shares without regard to these restrictions and requirements. However,
affiliates of the Company must comply with the restrictions and requirements
of Rule 144, other than the two-year holding period requirement, in order to
sell shares of Class A Common Stock which are not "restricted securities"
(such as shares acquired by affiliates in the Offering).
   
  The Company, its officers and directors and certain other stockholders have
agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, subject
to certain exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this
Prospectus without the prior written consent of Schroder Wertheim & Co.
Incorporated. Following the Offering, an aggregate of 2,112,253 shares will be
subject to these restrictions.     
 
  An aggregate of 450,000 shares of Class A Common Stock is available for
issuance under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (including 350,500 shares
subject to outstanding options, none of which are currently exercisable), and
an aggregate of 450,000 shares of Class A Common Stock is available for
issuance under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company expects
to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Act immediately after
the closing of the Offering to register all of the shares issuable under both
such Plans. In addition, an aggregate of 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
is available for issuance under the Company's Stock Option Plan for Outside
Directors, which shares, if issued, will be eligible for sale subject to the
volume and other limitations of Rule 144 under the Act. See "Management--Stock
Options" and "Management--Employee Stock Purchase Plan." The holders of the
Bank Warrant are entitled under certain circumstances to demand and "piggy-
back" registration rights with respect to the shares issuable upon exercise
thereof. See "Description of Capital Stock--Bank Warrant."
 
  Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Class A
Common Stock and no determination can be made as to the effect, if any, that
sales of shares of Class A Common Stock or the availability of shares for sale
will have on the market price of the Class A Common Stock prevailing from time
to time. Nevertheless, sales of substantial amounts of the Class A Common
Stock in the public market (including shares issued upon exercise of options
or warrants, the conversion of Class B Common Stock, or under the Company's
Employee Stock Purchase Plan) could adversely affect the market price of the
Class A Common Stock and could impair the Company's future ability to raise
capital through an offering of its equity securities.
 
                                      50
<PAGE>
 
                                 UNDERWRITING
   
  Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an Underwriting
Agreement dated the date hereof (the "Underwriting Agreement"), the
Underwriters named below (the "Underwriters") have severally agreed to
purchase and the Company and the Selling Stockholder have agreed to sell to
them, severally, the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock set
forth opposite their respective names.     
 
<TABLE>       
<CAPTION>
                                                                       NUMBER OF
            UNDERWRITER                                                 SHARES
            -----------                                                ---------
      <S>                                                              <C>
      Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated............................
      Furman Selz LLC.................................................
                                                                       ---------
            Total..................................................... 2,648,000
                                                                       =========
</TABLE>    
 
  The Underwriting Agreement provides that the several Underwriters are
obligated, subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel
and certain other conditions, to purchase all the shares of Class A Common
Stock offered hereby (other than those covered by the Underwriters' over-
allotment option described below), if any are purchased. Schroder Wertheim &
Co. Incorporated and Furman Selz LLC, as representatives of the several
Underwriters (the "Representatives"), have advised the Company that the
Underwriters propose to offer the shares to the public at the public offering
price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus; that the Underwriters
propose initially to allow a concession not in excess of $   per share to
certain dealers, including the Underwriters; that the Underwriters and such
dealers may initially allow a discount of not in excess of $    per share to
other dealers; and that the initial public offering price and the concession
and discount to dealers may be changed by the Representatives after the
initial public offering.
   
  The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, expiring at the close
of business on the 30th day after the date of the Underwriting Agreement, to
purchase up to an additional 397,200 shares of Class A Common Stock, at the
initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus,
less underwriting discounts and commissions. The Underwriters may exercise the
option only to cover over-allotments, if any, in the sale of shares of Class A
Common Stock in the Offering. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise
this option, each Underwriter will be committed, subject to certain
conditions, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to such
Underwriter's initial commitment.     
   
  The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Act.     
 
  The Company, certain management stockholders, directors and certain other
stockholders have agreed not to offer to sell, sell, grant any option to
purchase or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, subject to
certain exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this Prospectus
without the prior written consent of Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated.
 
  Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Class A
Common Stock. Consequently, the initial public offering price of the Class A
Common Stock will be determined by negotiations between the Company and the
Representatives. Among the factors to be considered in such negotiations are
the Company's
 
                                      51
<PAGE>
 
results of operations and financial condition, the prospects for the Company
and for the industry in which the Company operates, the Company's capital
structure and prevailing conditions in the securities market.
   
  The Representatives have informed the Company that the Underwriters do not
intend to confirm sales to accounts over which they exercise discretionary
authority in excess of 5% of the total number of shares offered hereby.     
 
                          NOTICE TO ONTARIO RESIDENTS
 
  The distribution of the shares of Class A Common Stock in the Province of
Ontario, Canada is being made only on a private placement basis and is exempt
from the requirement that the Company prepare and file a prospectus with the
relevant Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Accordingly, any resale
of the shares of Class A Common Stock must be made in accordance with
applicable securities laws, which may require resales to be made in accordance
with exemptions from registration and prospectus requirements. Purchasers are
advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of the shares of Class A
Common Stock.
 
  Each Ontario purchaser who receives a purchase confirmation regarding the
purchase of shares of Class A Common Stock will be deemed to represent to the
Company and to the dealer from whom such confirmation is received that such
purchaser is entitled under applicable Ontario securities laws to purchase
such shares of Class A Common Stock without the benefit of a prospectus
qualified under such securities laws.
 
  Ontario purchasers of shares of Class A Common Stock should consult their
own legal and tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of an
investment in the shares of Class A Common Stock in their particular
circumstances and with respect to the eligibility of the shares of Class A
Common Stock for investment by purchaser under relevant Canadian legislation.
 
  The securities being offered are those of a foreign issuer and Ontario
purchasers will not receive the contractual right of action prescribed by
Section 32 of the Regulation under the Securities Act (Ontario). As a result,
Ontario purchasers must rely on other remedies that may be available,
including common law rights of action for damages or rescission or rights of
action under the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities
laws.
 
  All of the Company's directors and officers as well as the experts named
herein may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be
possible for Ontario purchasers to effect service of process within Canada
upon the Company or such persons. All or a substantial portion of the assets
of the Company and such persons may be located outside of Canada and, as a
result, it may not be possible to satisfy a judgment against the Company or
such persons in Canada or to enforce a judgment obtained in Canadian courts
against the Company or persons outside of Canada.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  The validity of the Class A Common Stock offered by this Prospectus is being
passed on for the Company by Harter, Secrest & Emery, Rochester, New York.
Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Shearman &
Sterling, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The financial statements and schedules included in this Prospectus and
elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen
LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports with
respect thereto, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of
said firm as experts in giving said reports.
 
                                      52
<PAGE>
 
                            ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
  The Company intends to furnish to its stockholders annual reports containing
consolidated financial statements audited by its independent auditors and
quarterly reports containing unaudited interim financial information for the
first three quarters of each year.
 
  The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a
Registration Statement on Form S-l under the Act for registration of the
shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not
contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the
exhibits and schedules thereto, to which reference is hereby made. Statements
made in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other
document referred to do not purport to be complete; with respect to each such
contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of
the matter involved and each statement shall be deemed qualified in its
entirety by this reference. The Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto may be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the public reference
facilities of the Commission's Regional Offices: New York Regional Office,
Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048; and Chicago
Regional Office, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
60661. Copies of such material may also be obtained from the Public Reference
Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates.
 
                                      53
<PAGE>
 
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and Subsidiaries:
  Report of Independent Public Accountants................................   F-2
  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1994 and 1995 and March
   31, 1996 (Unaudited)...................................................   F-3
  Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 1993,
   1994 and 1995, and the Three Months Ended March 31, 1995 (Unaudited),
   and March 31, 1996 (Unaudited).........................................   F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended
   December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, and the Three Months Ended March 31,
   1996 (Unaudited).......................................................   F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31,
   1993, 1994 and 1995, and the Three Months Ended March 31, 1995
   (Unaudited), and March 31, 1996 (Unaudited)............................   F-6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..............................   F-7
Chicago & Illinois Midland Railway Company:
  Report of Independent Public Accountants................................  F-20
  Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and February 8, 1996
   (Unaudited)............................................................  F-21
  Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and
   1995, and the One Month and Eight Day Period Ended February 8, 1996
   (Unaudited)............................................................  F-22
  Statements of Shareholder's Equity for the Years Ended December 31,
   1993, 1994 and 1995, and the One Month and Eight Day Period Ended
   February 8, 1996 (Unaudited)...........................................  F-23
  Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and
   1995, and the One Month and Eight Day Period Ended February 8, 1996
   (Unaudited)............................................................  F-24
  Notes to Financial Statements...........................................  F-25
Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad Company, Mountain Laurel Railroad Company and
 Red Bank Railroad Company:
  Report of Independent Public Accountants................................  F-30
  Combined Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and March 31,
   1996 (Unaudited).......................................................  F-31
  Combined Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 1993,
   1994 and 1995, and the Three Months Ended March 31, 1995 (Unaudited),
   and March 31, 1996 (Unaudited).........................................  F-32
  Combined Statements of Shareholder's Equity for the Years Ended December
   31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, and the Three Months Ended March 31, 1996
   (Unaudited)............................................................  F-33
  Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 1993,
   1994 and 1995, and the Three Months Ended March 31, 1995 (Unaudited),
   and March 31, 1996 (Unaudited).........................................  F-34
  Notes to Combined Financial Statements..................................  F-35
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
 
       
                   REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors and
the Stockholders of
Genesee & Wyoming Inc.:
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of GENESEE &
WYOMING INC. (a Delaware corporation) AND SUBSIDIARIES as of December 31, 1994
and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1995. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
As discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, effective
January 1, 1993, the Company changed its method of accounting for
postretirement benefits other than pensions.
                                             
                                          Arthur Andersen LLP     
   
Chicago, Illinois     
   
February 16, 1996 (except with respect to matters discussed in Note 14 as to
which the dates are April 22, 1996, April 29, 1996, June 10, 1996 and June 12,
1996)     
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ---------------  MARCH 31,
                                                     1994    1995      1996
                                                    ------- ------- -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                 <C>     <C>     <C>
                      ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents........................ $ 5,884 $ 2,115  $  6,588
  Accounts receivable, net.........................  10,698   9,441    14,764
  Materials and supplies...........................   1,550   1,512     2,295
  Prepaid expenses and other.......................   1,005   1,455     1,747
  Deferred income tax assets, net..................   1,075   1,278     1,364
                                                    ------- -------  --------
    Total current assets...........................  20,212  15,801    26,758
                                                    ------- -------  --------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net........................  49,263  61,574    70,609
                                                    ------- -------  --------
SERVICE ASSURANCE AGREEMENT, net...................     --      --     14,851
                                                    ------- -------  --------
OTHER ASSETS, net..................................     413   1,054     3,641
                                                    ------- -------  --------
      Total assets................................. $69,888 $78,429  $115,859
                                                    ======= =======  ========
       LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of long-term debt................ $ 4,230 $ 1,239  $  2,894
  Accounts payable.................................  13,501   8,408    17,103
  Accrued expenses.................................   3,062   3,404     4,431
                                                    ------- -------  --------
    Total current liabilities......................  20,793  13,051    24,428
                                                    ------- -------  --------
LONG-TERM DEBT.....................................  28,410  38,702    63,313
                                                    ------- -------  --------
OTHER LIABILITIES..................................   1,629   2,043     2,055
                                                    ------- -------  --------
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, net...............   3,125   4,139     4,489
                                                    ------- -------  --------
DEFERRED ITEMS--grants from governmental agencies..   6,849   9,946     9,622
                                                    ------- -------  --------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 11)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Class A common stock, $0.01 par value; 12,000,000
   shares authorized; 1,501,937 shares issued and
   outstanding.....................................      15      15        15
  Class B common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500,000
   shares authorized; 846,556 shares issued and
   outstanding.....................................       8       8         8
  Additional paid-in capital.......................   1,340   1,340     1,340
  Warrants outstanding.............................     --      --        471
  Retained earnings................................   7,719   9,185    10,118
                                                    ------- -------  --------
    Total stockholders' equity.....................   9,082  10,548    11,952
                                                    ------- -------  --------
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity... $69,888 $78,429  $115,859
                                                    ======= =======  ========
</TABLE>
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                  (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              THREE MONTHS
                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,     ENDED MARCH 31,
                               ----------------------------  ----------------
                                 1993      1994      1995     1995     1996
                               --------  --------  --------  -------  -------
                                                               (UNAUDITED)
<S>                            <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>
OPERATING REVENUES............ $ 49,645  $ 55,419  $ 53,387  $13,391  $16,608
OPERATING EXPENSES:
 Transportation...............   11,444    13,357    14,262    3,663    4,480
 Maintenance of ways and
  structures..................    7,293     6,632     6,127    1,644    2,186
 Maintenance of equipment.....   12,365    14,533    12,230    3,198    2,994
 General and administrative...    9,284     9,282    10,309    2,434    2,809
 Depreciation and
  amortization................    3,115     3,577     3,887      926    1,325
                               --------  --------  --------  -------  -------
  Total operating expenses....   43,501    47,381    46,815   11,865   13,794
                               --------  --------  --------  -------  -------
  Income from operations......    6,144     8,038     6,572    1,526    2,814
INTEREST EXPENSE..............   (2,864)   (3,212)   (3,405)    (766)  (1,274)
OTHER INCOME..................      165       192       456      105       81
                               --------  --------  --------  -------  -------
  Income before provision for
   income taxes, extraordinary
   item and cumulative effect
   of accounting change.......    3,445     5,018     3,623      865    1,621
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES....   (1,428)   (2,007)   (1,472)    (363)    (656)
                               --------  --------  --------  -------  -------
  Income before extraordinary
   item and cumulative effect
   of accounting change.......    2,017     3,011     2,151      502      965
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM FROM EARLY
 EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT, net
 of related income tax benefit
 of $357,000..................      --        --       (494)     --       --
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
 ACCOUNTING CHANGE FOR
 POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, net
 of related income tax benefit
 of $263,000..................     (393)      --        --       --       --
                               --------  --------  --------  -------  -------
NET INCOME.................... $  1,624  $  3,011  $  1,657  $   502  $   965
                               ========  ========  ========  =======  =======
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
  Income before extraordinary
   item and cumulative effect
   of accounting change....... $   0.88  $   1.31  $   0.92  $  0.21  $  0.41
  Extraordinary item..........      --        --      (0.21)     --       --
  Cumulative effect of
   accounting change..........    (0.18)      --        --       --       --
                               --------  --------  --------  -------  -------
  Net Income.................. $   0.70  $   1.31  $   0.71  $  0.21  $  0.41
                               ========  ========  ========  =======  =======
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF
 COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING....    2,304     2,304     2,348    2,348    2,348
</TABLE>
 
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              CLASS A           CLASS B
                           COMMON STOCK      COMMON STOCK
                         ----------------- -----------------
                           SHARES    $0.01   SHARES    $0.01 ADDITIONAL                       STOCKHOLDERS'
                         ISSUED AND   PAR  ISSUED AND   PAR   PAID-IN    WARRANTS   RETAINED     EQUITY
                         OUTSTANDING VALUE OUTSTANDING VALUE  CAPITAL   OUTSTANDING EARNINGS      TOTAL
                         ----------- ----- ----------- ----- ---------- ----------- --------  -------------
<S>                      <C>         <C>   <C>         <C>   <C>        <C>         <C>       <C>
BALANCE, December 31,
 1992...................    1,480    $ 15      824     $  8    $1,280      $ --     $ 3,272      $ 4,575
  Net income............      --      --       --       --        --         --       1,624        1,624
  Cash dividends--$0.05
   per share............      --      --       --       --        --         --        (125)        (125)
                            -----    ----      ---     ----    ------      -----    -------      -------
BALANCE, December 31,
 1993...................    1,480      15      824        8     1,280        --       4,771        6,074
  Stock options
   exercised ...........       22     --        22      --         60        --         --            60
  Net income............      --      --       --       --        --         --       3,011        3,011
  Cash dividends--$0.03
   per share............      --      --       --       --        --         --         (63)         (63)
                            -----    ----      ---     ----    ------      -----    -------      -------
BALANCE, December 31,
 1994...................    1,502      15      847        8     1,340        --       7,719        9,082
  Net income............      --      --       --       --        --         --       1,657        1,657
  Cash dividends--$0.08
   per share............      --      --       --       --        --         --        (191)        (191)
                            -----    ----      ---     ----    ------      -----    -------      -------
BALANCE, December 31,
 1995...................    1,502      15      847        8     1,340        --       9,185       10,548
  Proceeds from issuance
   of stock warrants
   (Unaudited)..........      --      --       --       --        --         471        --           471
  Net income
   (Unaudited)..........      --      --       --       --        --         --         965          965
  Cash dividends--$0.01
   per share
   (Unaudited)..........      --      --       --       --        --         --         (32)         (32)
                            -----    ----      ---     ----    ------      -----    -------      -------
BALANCE, March 31, 1996
 (Unaudited)............    1,502    $ 15      847     $  8    $1,340      $ 471    $10,118      $11,952
                            =====    ====      ===     ====    ======      =====    =======      =======
</TABLE>
 
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                THREE MONTHS
                                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,     ENDED MARCH 31,
                                  --------------------------  -----------------
                                   1993     1994      1995     1995      1996
                                  -------- -------- --------  -------- --------
                                                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                               <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
 ACTIVITIES:
  Net income....................  $ 1,624  $ 3,011  $  1,657  $   502  $    965
  Adjustments to reconcile net
   income to net cash provided
   by operating activities--
   Cumulative effect of
    accounting change...........      393      --        --       --        --
   Depreciation and
    amortization................    3,115    3,577     3,887      926     1,325
   Deferred income taxes........      952      738       811      279       264
   Gain on disposition of
    property and equipment......      (55)    (169)     (195)      (8)     (627)
   Write-off of other assets....      180      675       --       --        --
   Changes in assets and
    liabilities--
    Receivables.................      633   (3,226)    1,257    1,511    (5,042)
    Materials and supplies......      (99)    (214)       38       (5)      (33)
    Prepaid expenses and other..      (29)    (236)     (450)    (439)     (292)
    Accounts payable and accrued
     expenses...................      497    2,855    (4,751)  (2,158)    9,227
    Other assets and
     liabilities, net...........       38      279       310       19       235
                                  -------  -------  --------  -------  --------
      Net cash provided by
       operating activities.....    7,249    7,290     2,564      627     6,022
                                  -------  -------  --------  -------  --------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
 ACTIVITIES:
  Purchase of assets of Chicago
   & Illinois Midland Railway
   Company......................      --       --        --       --    (26,335)
  Purchase of property and
   equipment....................   (7,600)  (6,153)  (16,632)  (1,135)     (970)
  Proceeds from disposition of
   property.....................      166      824       318        8     1,555
                                  -------  -------  --------  -------  --------
      Net cash used in investing
       activities...............   (7,434)  (5,329)  (16,314)  (1,127)  (25,750)
                                  -------  -------  --------  -------  --------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
 ACTIVITIES:
  Principal payments on long-
   term borrowings, including
   capital leases...............   (4,951)  (4,962)  (16,999)  (1,225)     (326)
  Proceeds from issuance of
   long-term debt...............    7,557    2,476    24,300      --     25,925
  Debt issuance costs...........      --       --       (641)     --     (1,642)
  Net proceeds (payments) on
   grants.......................      243    1,755     3,512      405      (195)
  Dividends paid................     (125)     (63)     (191)     (95)      (32)
  Proceeds from issuance of
   stock warrants...............      --       --        --       --        471
  Proceeds from exercise of
   stock options................      --        60       --       --        --
                                  -------  -------  --------  -------  --------
      Net cash provided by (used
       in) financing activities.    2,724     (734)    9,981     (915)   24,201
                                  -------  -------  --------  -------  --------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND
 CASH EQUIVALENTS...............    2,539    1,227    (3,769)  (1,415)    4,473
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
 beginning of period............    2,118    4,657     5,884    5,884     2,115
                                  -------  -------  --------  -------  --------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end
 of period......................  $ 4,657  $ 5,884  $  2,115  $ 4,469  $  6,588
                                  =======  =======  ========  =======  ========
CASH PAID DURING THE PERIOD FOR:
  Interest......................  $ 2,850  $ 3,075  $  3,204  $   538  $  1,240
  Income taxes..................      184    1,023     1,022      445        65
                                  =======  =======  ========  =======  ========
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH INVESTING
 ACTIVITY:
    Assumption of liabilities in
     connection with purchase of
     assets of Chicago &
     Illinois Midland Railway
     Company....................  $   --   $   --   $    --   $   --   $  1,162
                                  =======  =======  ========  =======  ========
</TABLE>
 
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   (Data with respect to the three months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, are
                                  unaudited.)
 
1. THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
  Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") operates 11 short-
line and regional railroads in New York, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Oregon,
Texas and, beginning in 1996, Illinois (see Note 14), through its various
subsidiaries. The Company, through its leasing subsidiary, also buys, sells,
leases and manages railroad transportation equipment primarily for customers
served by the Company's subsidiaries.
 
  In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements for the
three-month periods ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, are presented on a basis
consistent with the audited financial statements and contain all adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair
presentation. The results of operations for interim periods are not
necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year.
 
  On May 18, 1995, the Company changed its name from Genesee & Wyoming
Industries, Inc. to Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
 
  Principles of Consolidation
 
  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts
have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
  Revenue Recognition
 
  Revenues are estimated and recognized as shipments initially move onto the
Company's tracks, which, due to the relatively short length of haul, is not
materially different from the recognition of revenues as shipments progress.
 
  Cash Equivalents
 
  The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three
months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents for purposes of
classification in the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements
of cash flows. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair
market value.
 
  Materials and Supplies
 
  Materials and supplies consist of items for improvement and maintenance of
road property and equipment, and are stated at the lower of average cost or
market.
 
  Property and Equipment
 
  Property and equipment are carried at historical cost. Acquired railroad
property is recorded at the purchased cost. Major renewals or betterments are
capitalized while routine maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or
extend asset lives, are charged to expense when incurred. Gains or losses on
sales or other dispositions are credited or charged to other income. Gains of
approximately $790,000 and $593,000 realized by the leasing subsidiary on the
sale or disposition of transportation equipment during fiscal year 1994 and
the first quarter of 1996, respectively are classified in operating revenues.
Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the useful lives of
the property and are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
     <S>                                                             <C>
     Road properties................................................ 20-50 years
     Equipment......................................................  3-20 years
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Service Assurance Agreement
 
  The service assurance agreement represents a commitment from a significant
customer of the Company, through its subsidiary Illinois & Midland Railroad,
Inc. (see Notes 2 and 14), which grants the Company the exclusive right to
service three of the customer's facilities indefinitely. The service assurance
agreement is amortized on a straight-line basis over the same period as the
related track structure, which is 20 years. The Company continually evaluates
whether later events and circumstances have occurred that indicate the
remaining estimated useful life of the asset may not be recoverable. When
factors indicate that the asset should be evaluated for possible impairment,
the Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted future cash flows
over the remaining life of the asset in measuring whether the asset is
recoverable.
 
  Net Income per Share
 
  Net income per share is determined by dividing net income by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding during the periods, as adjusted
for the stock split discussed in Note 14. The dilutive effect of unexercised
stock options and stock warrants have not been included in the calculation as
the effect would not be material.
 
  Significant Customer Relationship
 
  A large portion of the Company's operating revenues is attributable to
customers operating in the salt, forest products and petroleum industries. The
largest ten customers accounted for approximately 51%, 53% and 50% of the
Company's revenues in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively. One customer in the
salt industry accounted for approximately 20%, 12% and 9% of the Company's
revenue in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively (see Note 14 for a discussion of
recent developments of this significant customer). The Company regularly
grants trade credit to all of its customers. In addition, the Company grants
trade credit to other railroads through the routine interchange of traffic.
Although the Company's accounts receivable include a diverse number of
customers and railroads, the collection of these receivables is substantially
dependent upon the economies of the regions in which the Company operates, the
salt, forest products and petroleum industries, and the railroad sector of the
economy in general.
 
  Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
  The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value
of each class of financial instrument held by the Company:
 
    Current assets and current liabilities: The carrying value approximates
    fair value due to the short maturity of these items.
 
    Long-term debt: The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is based
    on secondary market indicators. Since the Company's debt is not quoted,
    estimates are based on each obligation's characteristics, including
    remaining maturities, interest rate, credit rating, collateral,
    amortization schedule and liquidity. The carrying amount approximates
    fair value.
 
  Management Estimates
 
  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
2. EXPANSION OF RAILROAD OPERATIONS:
 
  Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.--In 1995 the Company formed a new
subsidiary, the Portland & Western Railroad, Inc. ("P&W"). This subsidiary
operates 107 miles of track in Oregon under two lease agreements. See Note 5
for further discussion.
 
  Finger Lakes Railway Corporation--In July of 1995, the Company invested
$175,000 to acquire 44% of the outstanding common stock of this entity. The
Company also provided a $150,000 irrevocable letter of credit in order to
provide assurance that the entity will comply with a certain agreement. This
investment will be recorded on the equity method. The results of operations
and financial position of this entity are not material.
 
  Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc.--Subsequent to year-end, the Company
formed the Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc. to purchase certain assets of the
Chicago & Illinois Midland Railway Company for approximately $27.5 million.
See Note 14 for further discussion of this acquisition.
 
  Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc.--Subsequent to year-end, the Company
formed the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc. to purchase certain assets of
the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad Company, Mountain Laurel Railroad Company and
Red Bank Railroad Company for approximately $15.2 million. See Note 14 for
further discussion of this acquisition.
 
3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
 
  Major classifications of property and equipment are as follows (amounts in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                     ---------------  MARCH 31,
                                                      1994    1995      1996
                                                     ------- ------- -----------
                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                  <C>     <C>     <C>
Road properties..................................... $41,420 $48,691   $57,203
Equipment and other.................................  21,596  30,540    32,323
                                                     ------- -------   -------
                                                      63,016  79,231    89,526
Less--Accumulated depreciation and amortization.....  13,753  17,657    18,917
                                                     ------- -------   -------
                                                     $49,263 $61,574   $70,609
                                                     ======= =======   =======
</TABLE>
 
4. OTHER ASSETS:
 
  Other assets includes approximately $605,000 of deferred financing costs at
December 31, 1995, net of accumulated amortization, which were capitalized in
conjunction with the refinancing transaction during 1995 (see Note 6). These
costs are amortized over the period covered by the related revolving credit
agreement using the straight-line method, which is not materially different
from the amortization computed using the effective-interest method.
 
  In 1993 and 1994, the Company wrote off all road property which was being
held for sale or future use to state the property at net realizable value.
These write-offs (approximately $180,000 and $675,000 in 1993 and 1994,
respectively) were recorded as a charge to maintenance of ways and structures
expense.
 
5. LEASES:
 
  Lessor
 
  A subsidiary leases rolling stock to third parties under agreements that are
accounted for as operating leases. The property held for lease on December 31,
1995, totaled $15,334,000 less accumulated depreciation of
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
$2,904,000. The following is a schedule of minimum future rentals receivable
on noncancelable operating leases (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
      <S>                                                                <C>
      1996.............................................................. $ 3,335
      1997..............................................................   3,198
      1998..............................................................   2,910
      1999..............................................................   1,160
      2000..............................................................   1,160
      Thereafter........................................................   3,402
                                                                         -------
                                                                         $15,165
                                                                         =======
</TABLE>
 
  Lessee
 
  The Company has entered into several leases for rolling stock, locomotives
and other equipment. Operating lease expense for the years ended December 31,
1993, 1994 and 1995, was approximately $2,264,000, $2,275,000 and $2,173,000,
respectively. The following is a summary of future minimum payments under
noncancelable leases (amounts in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               OPERATING CAPITAL
                                                                LEASES   LEASES
                                                               --------- -------
   <S>                                                         <C>       <C>
   1996.......................................................  $1,537    $479
   1997.......................................................   1,220     --
   1998.......................................................     957     --
   1999.......................................................     581     --
   2000.......................................................     263     --
   Thereafter.................................................     181     --
                                                                ------    ----
   Total minimum payments.....................................  $4,739     479
                                                                ======
   Less: Amount representing interest.........................             (26)
                                                                          ----
   Present value of minimum lease payments....................            $453
                                                                          ====
</TABLE>
 
  Also, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a Class I carrier for
one of its subsidiaries to operate 185 miles of track in Oregon in 1992, and
the subsidiary began operations in 1993. The Company has assumed all operating
and financial responsibilities including maintenance and regulatory
compliance. Under the lease, no payments to the lessor are required as long as
the subsidiary only interchanges its freight traffic with the lessor. Through
December 31, 1995, no payments were required under this lease arrangement. The
lease is subject to an initial 20 year term and shall be renewed for
successive ten year renewal terms, unless either party elects not to renew the
lease. If the lessor terminates the lease for any reason, the lessor must
reimburse the Company for its depreciated basis in the property.
 
  In August, 1995, the P&W signed an agreement with a Class I carrier to lease
and operate 53 miles of track in Oregon. The lease is subject to an initial 20
year term and shall be renewed for an additional ten years, unless either
party elects not to renew the lease. Under the lease, no payments to the
lessor are required as long as the subsidiary maintains minimum levels of
traffic and provided the subsidiary interchanges its freight traffic with only
the lessor and certain permitted carriers. The maximum annual lease payment
required if the P&W did not move any traffic would be $1.3 million. In
October, 1995, the P&W signed an agreement with another Class I carrier to
lease and operate an additional 54 miles of connecting track in Oregon. The
lease is subject to an initial three year term and shall be renewed for
successive three year intervals, unless either party elects not to renew the
lease. Under the lease, no payments to the lessor are required as long as the
subsidiary interchanges its freight traffic with only the lessor and certain
permitted carriers. Under both of these arrangements, the Company has assumed
all operating and financial responsibilities including maintenance and
regulatory compliance. Through December 31, 1995, no payments were required
under either lease arrangement.
 
                                     F-10
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  A subsidiary of the Company has entered into a trackage rights agreement to
operate over 91 miles of a Class I carrier. This agreement is terminable by
either party after 1997.
 
6. LONG-TERM DEBT:
 
  Long-term debt consists of the following (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ---------------  MARCH 31,
                                                     1994    1995      1996
                                                    ------- ------- -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                 <C>     <C>     <C>
Credit facilities with variable interest depending
 upon certain financial ratios of the Company, as
 defined (8.44% at December 31, 1995), due
 partially in quarterly installments, with balance
 due in 2001......................................  $   --  $24,300   $50,201
Promissory note payable with interest at 8% and
 principal payments due annually of $1,188,000 if
 certain conditions, as specified in the
 agreement, are met, with balance due in 1999.....    9,306   9,122     9,122
Term loan payable in quarterly installments,
 variable maturities through 2005 with interest
 adjusted quarterly at 90-day treasury bill rate
 plus 3.25%.......................................    6,691   6,066     5,895
Capital lease obligations with interest at 12.47%,
 payable in monthly installments of $47,885
 through 1996 (see Note 5)........................      937     453       322
Secured promissory note with the State of
 Illinois, interest at 3%, payable in annual
 installments over 10 years beginning on the first
 anniversary of the project completion date.......      --      --        667
Other long-term debt with interest rates varying
 from 6.75% to 15%, refinanced in 1995 (see
 below)...........................................   15,706     --        --
                                                    ------- -------   -------
                                                     32,640  39,941    66,207
Less--Current portion.............................    4,230   1,239     2,894
                                                    ------- -------   -------
Long-term debt, less current portion..............  $28,410 $38,702   $63,313
                                                    ======= =======   =======
</TABLE>
 
  On June 2, 1995, the Company refinanced approximately $14.3 million ($15.7
million as of December 31, 1994) of previously existing notes and purchased
approximately $6 million of rolling stock previously under an operating lease
by entering into a credit facilities agreement. In conjunction with this
refinancing transaction, an extraordinary charge for prepayment penalties and
other financing costs on the early extinguishment of debt for approximately
$851,000 ($494,000 net of income taxes) was incurred. These amounts have been
recorded in the accompanying consolidated income statement as an extraordinary
item, net of income taxes.
 
  Subsequent to year-end, on February 8, 1996, the Company amended and
restated the credit facilities agreement. In conjunction with this
transaction, the Company incurred additional indebtedness of approximately
$28.0 million, primarily for the purchase of certain assets of the Chicago &
Illinois Midland Railway Company (see Note 14 for further discussion). The
amended and restated credit facilities provide for a $40 million term loan and
a $34 million revolving credit facility. The term loan requires varying
quarterly principal payments beginning September 30, 1996, with the remaining
balance payable in February, 2001. The revolving credit facility provides for
a mandatory commitment reduction of $2.0 million on December 31, 1997, with
the remaining balance payable in February, 2001. The Company may voluntarily
reduce the commitment on the revolving credit facility at any time without
penalty, provided that no reinstatement of the commitment amounts may occur.
In conjunction with the amendment and restatement, the Company paid debt
financing fees of $1.6
 
                                     F-11
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
million, primarily to a financial institution. These costs have been
capitalized in the accompanying balance sheets as of March 31, 1996 as an
other asset and are being amortized over the period covered by the related
credit facilities agreement using the straight-line method, which is not
materially different from the amortization computed using the effective-
interest method.
 
  Both the term loan and the revolving credit facility accrue interest at
prime or the Eurodollar rate, at the option of the Company, plus the
applicable margin, which varies from 0% to 3% depending upon the Company's
funded debt to EBITDA ratio, as defined in the agreement. Interest is payable
in arrears based on certain elections of the Company, never to exceed three
months outstanding. The Company pays a 1/2% per annum commitment fee on all
unused portions of the credit facilities. Both the term loan and the revolving
credit facility require mandatory prepayments when certain events occur. These
events include, among other things, the generation of excess cash flow, the
disposition of certain levels of assets not subject to prior liens and the
sale of Company stock, all as defined in the agreement. These credit
facilities are secured by substantially all the assets of the Company and the
stock of certain subsidiaries. These facilities require the maintenance of
certain covenants, including, but not limited to, funded debt to EBITDA,
funded debt to net worth, cash flow coverage, EBIT to interest and minimum net
worth, all as defined in the agreement. The Company is also limited in its
ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens on its assets, make
certain capital expenditures and pay dividends greater than $32,000 in any one
quarter.
 
  The following is a summary of the maturities of long-term debt as of
December 31, 1995, as adjusted to reflect the payment terms of the amended and
restated credit facilities (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
        <S>                                                              <C>
        1996............................................................ $ 1,239
        1997............................................................   2,035
        1998............................................................   2,002
        1999............................................................   7,434
        2000............................................................     825
        2001............................................................  24,775
        Thereafter......................................................   1,631
                                                                         -------
                                                                         $39,941
                                                                         =======
</TABLE>
 
  The promissory note payable with an outstanding balance of $9,122,000 at
December 31, 1995, provides for annual principal payments of $1,188,000
provided that certain levels of revenue and cash flow are met. In accordance
with these provisions, the Company was not required to make any principal
payments in 1994 or 1995. The Company did, however, make principal payments of
$177,000 and $184,000 in 1994 and 1995, respectively, due to additional
requirements regarding the sale of assets, as defined in the agreement.
Management believes that the Company will be required to make the full
principal payments beginning in 1997 through the due date of the note. The
annual debt maturity schedule has been adjusted accordingly.
 
  The Company's debt has been secured by substantially all the assets of the
Company and the stock of certain subsidiaries. Certain obligations require the
maintenance of covenants including, but not limited to, funded debt to
EBITDAR, funded debt to net worth, EBIT to interest, cash flow and the
incurrence of additional indebtedness, as defined in the agreement. The
Company and its subsidiaries were in compliance with the provisions of these
covenants as of December 31, 1995.
 
7. INTEREST RATE RISK MANAGEMENT:
 
  The Company uses derivative financial instruments, specifically interest
rate caps and interest rate swaps, to manage its variable interest rate risk
on long-term debt.
 
                                     F-12
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Interest Rate Cap--In August, 1995, the Company entered into a three-year
interest rate cap agreement whereby the Company paid $90,000 to a financial
institution in order to cap the rate on three-month dollar deposits, as
defined, to a fixed rate of 8.0%. The notional amount under this agreement
reduces on a quarterly basis in varying amounts from $15,250,000 at September
30, 1995, to $11,438,000 at September 30, 1998 ($15,000,000 at December 31,
1995). The fees paid by the Company for the interest rate cap were capitalized
and are amortized over the period covered by the agreement.
 
  Interest Rate Swap--On February 14, 1996, the Company entered into a three-
year interest rate swap agreement with a financial institution whereby the
Company fixed its LIBOR interest rate at 5.14% by exchanging its variable
interest rate on long-term debt for a fixed interest rate. The notional amount
under this agreement is $10.0 million. Any fees paid or received under this
arrangement are accrued as earned, the effect of which results in fixed
interest expense over the period covered by the agreement.
 
  Interest Rate Risk Management Commitment--In conjunction with amending and
restating the Company's existing credit facilities as discussed in Note 6, the
Company entered a commitment to provide interest rate protection for at least
50% of the commitment amount ($37.0 million as of February 8, 1996) under the
credit facilities by June 30, 1996. This commitment will be waived if the
Company's ratio of funded debt to net worth, as defined, is less than 1.50 to
1.00 as of June 30, 1996.
 
8. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS:
 
  Pension
 
  The Company administers a noncontributory defined benefit plan for the
employees of a subsidiary who are members of a union and who meet minimum
service requirements. Benefits are determined based on a fixed amount per year
of credited service. The Company's funding policy is to make contributions for
pension benefits based on actuarial computations which reflect the long-term
nature of the plan. Contributions are subject to Board of Directors approval.
The Company has met the minimum funding requirements according to the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act.
 
  Pension costs for 1993, 1994 and 1995 were approximately $13,000, $13,000,
and $14,000, respectively. The pension liability recognized in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 1994 and 1995, was
approximately $85,000 and $80,000, respectively. The projected benefit
obligation was determined using a discount rate of 7.8%. The long-term rate of
return on plan assets was 7.5%. The plan assets, which consist of fixed income
securities, were approximately $109,000 and $117,000, respectively, at
December 31, 1994 and 1995. The unrecognized net transition obligation is
being amortized over the remaining service lives of plan participants.
 
  Postretirement Benefits
 
  The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106,
"Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions" (FAS
106), on January 1, 1993. This statement requires that employers recognize the
cost of providing benefits other than pensions to retirees during the years an
employee provides services.
 
  Historically, the Company has provided certain health care and life
insurance benefits for certain retired employees. Eligible employees include
union employees for one of its subsidiaries, and certain nonunion employees
who have reached the age of 55 with 30 or more years of service. The Company
funds the plan on a pay-as-you-go basis.
 
                                     F-13
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Total postretirement benefit costs for the years ended December 31, 1993,
1994 and 1995, were $711,000, $55,000 and $49,000, respectively, $656,000 of
which in 1993 represented the immediate recognition of the transition
obligation on the cumulative effect of accounting change for postretirement
benefits. The funded status of the plan at December 31, 1994 and 1995, was as
follows (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      1994 1995
                                                                      ---- ----
   <S>                                                                <C>  <C>
   Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation--
     Fully eligible active participants.............................. $  3 $  4
     Other active participants.......................................  114  145
     Retirees........................................................  460  486
                                                                      ---- ----
                                                                       577  635
   Plan assets at fair value.........................................  --   --
                                                                      ---- ----
   Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation in excess of plan
    assets...........................................................  577  635
   Unrecognized net gain resulting from change in actuarial assump-
    tions............................................................   99   51
                                                                      ---- ----
   Accrued postretirement benefit cost............................... $676 $686
                                                                      ==== ====
</TABLE>
 
  For measurement purposes, a 10.0% annual rate of increase in the per capita
cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 1996 and 1997. The rate
was then assumed to gradually decrease to 5% by the year 2002, at which time
the rate was assumed to remain level. To illustrate the effect of these
assumptions, increasing the assumed health care cost trend by 1% each year
would increase the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of
December 31, 1995, by approximately $65,000 and the net periodic
postretirement benefit cost for 1995 by approximately $6,000.
 
  Relevant assumptions used in accounting for the postretirement benefit plan
as of December 31 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1994  1995
                                                                     ----  ----
   <S>                                                               <C>   <C>
   Weighted average discount rate................................... 7.5%  7.5%
   Long-term rate of return on plan assets.......................... N/A   N/A
                                                                     ===   ===
</TABLE>
 
  Employee Bonus Programs
 
  The Company has performance-based bonus programs which include a majority of
nonunion employees. Key employees are granted bonuses on a discretionary
basis. Total compensation of approximately $92,000, $314,000 and $308,000 was
awarded under the various bonus plans in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
  Profit Sharing
 
  The Company maintains a defined contribution profit-sharing plan for two
subsidiaries. There were no contributions in 1993, 1994 or 1995.
 
  Effective January 1, 1994, the Company established two 401(k) plans covering
union and nonunion employees who have met specified length of service
requirements. The 401(k) plans qualify under Section 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code as salary reduction plans. Employees may elect to contribute a
certain percentage of their salary on a before-tax basis. For nonunion
employees, the Company matches the participants contributions up to 1 1/2% of
the participants salary. The Company's contributions to the plans in 1994 and
1995 were approximately $70,000 and $83,000, respectively.
 
                                     F-14
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Postemployment Benefits
 
  The Company does not provide postemployment benefits to its employees.
 
9. INCOME TAXES:
 
  The Company files consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns which include
all of its subsidiaries. The components of the provision for income taxes on
income before extraordinary item and cumulative effect of accounting change
are as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                YEARS ENDED       THREE MONTHS
                                                DECEMBER 31,     ENDED MARCH 31,
                                            -------------------- ---------------
                                             1993   1994   1995   1995    1996
                                            ------ ------ ------ ------- -------
                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                         <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>     <C>
Current--
  Federal.................................. $  473 $1,123 $  550 $    54 $   332
  State....................................      3    146    111      30      60
Deferred...................................    952    738    811     279     264
                                            ------ ------ ------ ------- -------
                                            $1,428 $2,007 $1,472 $   363 $   656
                                            ====== ====== ====== ======= =======
</TABLE>
 
  The provision for income taxes on income before extraordinary item and
cumulative effect of accounting change in each period differs from that which
would be computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to
the income before taxes. The following is a summary of the effective tax rate
reconciliation:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 THREE MONTHS
                                                YEARS ENDED          ENDED
                                                DECEMBER 31,       MARCH 31,
                                               ----------------  --------------
                                               1993  1994  1995   1995    1996
                                               ----  ----  ----  ------  ------
                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                            <C>   <C>   <C>   <C>     <C>
Tax provision at statutory rate..............  34.0% 34.0% 34.0%   34.0%   34.0%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax
 benefit.....................................   6.9   4.6   4.0     6.3     4.5
Other, net...................................    .6   1.4   2.6     1.7     2.0
                                               ----  ----  ----  ------  ------
                                               41.5% 40.0% 40.6%   42.0%   40.5%
                                               ====  ====  ====  ======  ======
</TABLE>
 
  The following summarizes the estimated tax effect of significant cumulative
temporary differences that are included in the net deferred income tax
liability, which is classified between current and long-term in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                  ----------------   MARCH 31,
                                                   1994     1995       1996
                                                  -------  -------  -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                               <C>      <C>      <C>
Deferred tax assets--
  Accruals and reserves not deducted for tax pur-
   poses until paid.............................. $ 1,349  $ 1,438    $ 1,554
  Alternative minimum tax credits................   2,487    2,903      3,258
  Net operating losses...........................     219      489        111
  Investment tax credits.........................     156       52        --
  Postretirement benefits........................     271      272        272
  Other..........................................     140       74         63
                                                  -------  -------    -------
                                                    4,622    5,228      5,258
Deferred tax liability--differences in deprecia-
 tion and amortization...........................  (6,672)  (8,089)    (8,383)
                                                  -------  -------    -------
    Net deferred tax liability................... $(2,050) $(2,861)   $(3,125)
                                                  =======  =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-15
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The Company's alternative minimum tax credits can be carried forward
indefinitely; however, the Company must achieve future regular taxable income
in order to realize this credit. The Company's net operating loss
carryforwards expire between 2008 and 2010. The investment tax credits expire
in 2000. Management does not believe that a valuation allowance is required
for the deferred tax assets based on anticipated future profit levels and the
reversal of current temporary differences.
 
10. GRANTS FROM GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES:
 
  During 1995, a subsidiary of the Company received a grant from the State of
Pennsylvania of $3,500,000 for rehabilitation of a portion of the subsidiary's
track. The agreement requires the State of Pennsylvania to reimburse the
subsidiary for 75% of the total costs of the project. This project was
approximately 85% completed as of December 31, 1995. Another subsidiary of the
Company received a grant from the State of Louisiana of $300,000 for
rehabilitation of a portion of the subsidiary's track. This project was
substantially completed as of December 31, 1995.
 
  During 1994, three subsidiaries of the Company received grants totaling
approximately $1,755,000 from the State of Pennsylvania for the rehabilitation
of a portion of each subsidiary's track. The agreements require the State to
reimburse each subsidiary for 70%-75% of the total costs for each
rehabilitation project. Each of these rehabilitation projects was completed by
December 31, 1994.
 
  During a prior year, a subsidiary of the Company received a grant from the
State of New York of $4,000,000 for the rehabilitation of a portion of the
subsidiary's track. This subsidiary also received a grant of $900,000 from the
Federal Railroad Administration for the same rehabilitation project. The State
of New York is entitled to 63.8% of the net liquidation value of the
rehabilitated track upon abandonment. The State of New York agreement also
requires the subsidiary to maintain the track structure by making capital
improvements with a value equal to or less than $4,000,000, payable over a 10
year period beginning on April 1, 1994. The capital improvements are computed
based on the number of loaded cars moved over the subsidiary's track. Failure
by the Company to propose the capital improvements by March 1 of the following
year will result in the State of New York assessing a penalty in the form of a
usage fee, thereby requiring the Company to repay a portion of the grant equal
to the required capital improvements. The Company believes that it has
proposed and/or performed capital improvements which eliminate any repayments
associated with the grant.
 
  All of the aforementioned grants do not represent a future liability of the
Company unless the Company abandons the rehabilitated track structure within a
specified period of time, as defined in the respective agreements. As the
Company does not intend to abandon the track, the Company has recorded
additions to road property and has deferred the amount of the grants as the
rehabilitation expenditures have been incurred. The amortization of the
deferred grant is a noncash offset to depreciation expense over the useful
life of the related assets and is not included as taxable income. During the
years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, the Company recorded offsets to
depreciation expense from grant amortization of $279,000, $313,000 and
$415,000, respectively.
 
11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
  The Company has built its portfolio of railroad properties through the
purchase or lease of road and track structure and through operating
agreements. These transactions have related only to the physical assets of the
railroad property. Historically, the Company does not assume the operations or
liabilities of the divesting railroads.
 
  In connection with the Company's lease of its 185-mile line in Oregon, the
Company has committed to the lessor to rehabilitate 25 miles of track over
five years, beginning February, 1993, at an estimated total cost of
approximately $5.0 million. As of December 31, 1995, the Company has completed
approximately $1.0 million of this rehabilitation.
 
                                     F-16
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The Company is a defendant in certain lawsuits resulting from the railroad
operations. Management believes that adequate provision has been made in the
financial statements for any expected liabilities which may result from
disposition of such lawsuits. While it is possible that some of the foregoing
matters may be settled at a cost greater than that provided for, it is the
opinion of management that the ultimate liability, if any, will not be
material to the Company.
 
12. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
 
  The Company entered into an agreement in 1978 (extended in 1987) with its
president whereby options to purchase 90,650 shares were granted. In 1994, the
remaining outstanding options to purchase 44,400 shares were exercised.
 
  In conjunction with the amendment and restatement of the Company's credit
facilities as discussed in Note 6, detachable warrants were issued to a
financial institution to purchase 41,847 shares of Class A Common Stock at an
exercise price of $0.0005 per share. These warrants are exercisable at any
time through March 1, 2006. Issuance of additional warrants for the purchase
of 11,950 shares of Class A Common Stock are required if the Company does not
successfully complete an initial public offering of at least $30 million in
net proceeds by December 31, 1996. These warrants provide a put option whereby
the warrant holder can require the Company to repurchase the shares based on
market value, as defined in the agreement. This put option is exercisable
under certain conditions after March 1, 2001. The warrants also provide a call
option whereby the Company can elect to repurchase the shares based on market
value, as defined in the agreement. This call option is exercisable under
certain conditions after March 1, 2003. Management has valued the warrants at
approximately $471,000, the amount of which was recorded as a debt discount in
the three-month period ending March 31, 1996. The discount is being amortized
over the period covered by the related credit facilities agreement using the
straight-line method, which is not materially different from the amortization
computed using the effective-interest method.
 
13. ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:
 
  In March, 1995, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets
to Be Disposed Of" ("FAS 121") was issued. Under FAS 121, an impairment loss
must be recognized for long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles
to be held and used by an entity whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. FAS 121
is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1995, and must be adopted on a prospective basis. Restatement of
previously issued financial statements is not permitted. The Company adopted
FAS 121 prospectively in the first quarter of 1996, the adoption of which did
not have a material impact on the financial condition or results of operations
of the Company.
 
  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-
based Compensation" (effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1995) encourages, but does not require, employers to adopt a fair value method
of accounting for employee stock-based compensation, and requires increased
stock-based compensation disclosures if the fair value method is not adopted.
The Company does not intend to elect the fair value method for stock options.
Accordingly, implementation of this Statement will have no effect on the
Company's operating results or financial condition.
 
14. POST DECEMBER 31, 1995 EVENTS:
 
  Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc.--On February 8, 1996, a newly-formed
subsidiary, the Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc., purchased certain assets,
primarily road and track structure, of the Chicago & Illinois Midland Railway
Company for approximately $27.5 million, including related costs and the
assumption of certain
 
                                     F-17
<PAGE>
 
liabilities. The purchase price was allocated to purchased inventory
($750,000), assumed note receivable ($1,220,000), property ($10,546,000), and
the service assurance agreement ($14,981,000). This subsidiary will operate
approximately 126 miles of track in the State of Illinois. A significant
portion of this subsidiary's operating revenues (83% in 1995) is attributable
to coal shipments for one customer which is an electric utility. The
acquisition was accounted for as a purchase. The allocation of the purchase
price is based on preliminary estimates and may be revised at a later date.
 
  Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc.--On April 29, 1996, a newly formed
subsidiary, the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc. purchased certain assets,
primarily road and track structure, of the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad
Company, Mountain Laurel Railroad Company, and Red Bank Railroad Company for
approximately $15.2 million, including related costs and the assumption of a
grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, the purchase and
sale agreement provides for additional contingency payments of up to $2.5
million. A portion of these payments are required (up to a maximum of
$500,000) if certain coal shipments during any calendar year from 1997-1999,
as defined, exceed 290,000 tons. The remaining contingency payments (up to a
maximum of $2.0 million) are calculated as 25% of the gross revenues
attributable to certain coal shipments that exceed 564,793 tons during any
calendar year from 2000-2009, as defined. Upon resolution of the amount of the
contingency payments, there will be an additional element of cost related to
the transaction, which will be recorded as excess cost over the fair market
value of tangible net assets acquired and amortized over the same period as
the related track structure, which is 20 years. A significant portion of this
subsidiary's revenue is attributable to coal shipments. The acquisition was
accounted for as a purchase. The allocation of the purchase price is based on
preliminary estimates and may be revised at a later date.
 
  Pro Forma for Acquisitions--Results for the operations of the Illinois &
Midland Railroad, Inc. and the Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc. are included
within the consolidated financial statements subsequent to February 8, 1996,
and April 29, 1996, respectively. Unaudited pro forma results assuming both
acquisitions had been made as of January 1, 1995, are as follows (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   MARCH 31, 1995 MARCH 31, 1996
                                                   -------------- --------------
                                                    (UNAUDITED)    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                <C>            <C>
Revenues..........................................    $18,204        $19,448
Net income........................................      1,393            280
Net income per share..............................      $0.59          $0.12
                                                      =======        =======
</TABLE>
 
  The above information reflects adjustments for only depreciation,
amortization and interest expense based on the new cost basis and debt
structure of the Company. Income per share information has been adjusted for
the stock split, but not for the underwritten initial public offering.
 
  Recent Developments of Significant Customer--As discussed in Note 1, a
significant portion of the Company's revenue is attributable to a customer
operating in the salt industry. This customer accounted for approximately 9%
of the Company's revenue for 1995, of which 40% was for freight hauling and
60% represented car rental revenue. Similar amounts for 1993 were 20%, 61% and
39%, respectively. Similar amounts for 1994 were 12%, 43% and 57%,
respectively. On March 12, 1994, this customer experienced a subsidence and
subsequent flooding at its Retsof, New York, salt mine. Salt shipments by rail
ceased until August, 1994. Rail shipments then resumed and continued, at a
lower level than experienced before the subsidence, until September, 1995,
when the mine closed. Car rental revenue from long-term operating leases with
this customer is unaffected.
 
  This customer had previously announced its intentions to construct a new
mine. On April 22, 1996, this customer announced that a new mine will not be
constructed and that the closed mine will be converted to a distribution
center. In anticipation of the construction of a new mine, the Company
incurred approximately $600,000 of costs in connection with construction of a
rail spur. While management anticipates that it will be reimbursed for these
costs, there can be no assurance that such reimbursement will occur.
 
                                     F-18
<PAGE>
 
                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
   
  Initial Public Offering and Related Stock Transactions--On June 12, 1996 the
Company filed an amended registration statement with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for an underwritten initial public offering of 2,648,000
shares of Class A Common Stock (the Common Stock Offering), of which 2,500,000
shares will be offered by the Company and 148,000 shares will be offered by a
selling stockholder. The proceeds of the Common Stock Offering will be used to
pay down borrowings on the credit facilities.     
   
  In connection with the Common Stock Offering, the Company, effective June
10, 1996, changed the par value of its Class A and Class B Common Stock from
$10 per share to $.01 per share and increased the shares authorized to 12
million and 1.5 million shares, respectively. The rights and privileges of
Class B Common Stock changed to substantially the same as Class A Common
Stock, except it will carry 10 votes per share, be convertible into Class A
Common Stock and have transfer restrictions. The Class A Common Stock also has
a 10% dividend preference over Class B Common Stock, as and if dividends are
declared by the Board of Directors. Also, the Company executed an 18.5 to 1
stock split and reclassified the Company's outstanding Class A Common Stock
into Class A and Class B Common Stock, depending on the election of the
shareholder. For purposes of this statement the reclassification has been
assumed to be equal between Class A and Class B Common Stock.     
 
  Also, the Company established an incentive and nonqualified stock option
plan for key employees and a nonqualified stock option plan for nonemployee
directors that will allow employees and directors to purchase up to an
aggregate of 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. In addition, the Company
established an employee stock purchase plan and reserved 450,000 shares under
the plan. The plan allows employees to purchase stock at market value.
 
  All references in the consolidated financial statements of the Company to
the number of shares authorized and outstanding of Class A and Class B Common
Stock have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reclassification of the
capital stock and the stock split.
 
                                     F-19
<PAGE>
 
                   REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To Genesee & Wyoming Inc.:
   
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND
RAILWAY COMPANY (an Illinois corporation) as of December 31, 1994 and 1995,
and the related statements of operations, shareholder's equity and cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.     
   
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.     
   
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Chicago & Illinois Midland
Railway Company as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for the each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.     
 
                                          Arthur Andersen LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois,
April 4, 1996
 
                                     F-20
<PAGE>
 
                   CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                   ---------------  FEBRUARY 8,
                                                    1994    1995       1996
                                                   ------- -------  -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                <C>     <C>      <C>
                      ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents....................... $    46 $   419    $   124
  Accounts receivable.............................   3,972   4,360      3,127
  Materials and supplies..........................     993     733        750
  Other current assets............................     541     302        859
                                                   ------- -------    -------
    Total current assets..........................   5,552   5,814      4,860
                                                   ------- -------    -------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET.......................  27,321  10,630     10,546
                                                   ------- -------    -------
LONG-TERM RECEIVABLE FROM AFFILIATE...............     360     439        439
                                                   ------- -------    -------
OTHER ASSETS, NET.................................  15,888  15,790     15,711
                                                   ------- -------    -------
     Total assets................................. $49,121 $32,673    $31,556
                                                   ======= =======    =======
       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable................................ $ 7,029 $ 8,367    $ 8,129
  Accrued expenses................................   1,509   1,286      1,740
                                                   ------- -------    -------
    Total current liabilities.....................   8,538   9,653      9,869
                                                   ------- -------    -------
LONG-TERM DEBT:
  Affiliates......................................   8,500   8,500      8,500
  Other...........................................   9,323   5,281      4,712
                                                   ------- -------    -------
    Total long-term debt..........................  17,823  13,781     13,212
                                                   ------- -------    -------
OTHER LIABILITIES.................................   1,395   1,252      1,095
                                                   ------- -------    -------
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, NET..............  12,394   6,462      6,439
                                                   ------- -------    -------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 10)
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY:
  Common stock, no par value; 10,000,000 shares
   authorized; 3,130,016 shares issued and out-
   standing.......................................   3,524   3,524      3,524
  Retained earnings (deficit).....................   5,447  (1,999)    (2,583)
                                                   ------- -------    -------
    Total shareholder's equity....................   8,971   1,525        941
                                                   ------- -------    -------
     Total liabilities and shareholder's equity... $49,121 $32,673    $31,556
                                                   ======= =======    =======
</TABLE>
   
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.     
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
 
                   CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   ONE MONTH AND
                                                                     EIGHT DAY
                                      YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,     PERIOD ENDED
                                     ----------------------------   FEBRUARY 8,
                                       1993      1994      1995        1996
                                     --------  --------  --------  -------------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                  <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
OPERATING REVENUES.................  $ 13,983  $  9,365  $ 13,733     $1,420
OPERATING EXPENSES:
 Transportation....................     3,017     2,547     2,593        532
 Maintenance of ways and struc-
  tures............................     1,702     1,752     1,814        411
 Maintenance of equipment..........     1,401     2,579     1,659        390
 General and administrative........     2,693     2,134     2,203        757
 Depreciation and amortization.....     1,569     1,579     1,437        184
                                     --------  --------  --------     ------
    Total operating expenses.......    10,382    10,591     9,706      2,274
                                     --------  --------  --------     ------
    Income (loss) from operations..     3,601    (1,226)    4,027       (854)
INTEREST EXPENSE...................    (1,345)   (1,613)   (1,461)      (107)
OTHER INCOME.......................     2,162       533     1,525         17
LOSS ON SALE OF ASSETS (Note 11)...       --        --    (16,082)       --
                                     --------  --------  --------     ------
    Income (loss) before income
     taxes.........................     4,418    (2,306)  (11,991)      (944)
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAX-
 ES................................     1,747      (850)   (4,545)      (360)
                                     --------  --------  --------     ------
NET INCOME (LOSS)..................  $  2,671  $ (1,456) $ (7,446)    $ (584)
                                     ========  ========  ========     ======
</TABLE>
 
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
 
                   CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                       STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                COMMON STOCK
                                                -------------
                                                              RETAINED
                                                              EARNINGS
                                                SHARES AMOUNT (DEFICIT)  TOTAL
                                                ------ ------ --------- -------
<S>                                             <C>    <C>    <C>       <C>
BALANCE, January 1, 1993....................... 3,130  $3,524  $ 4,232  $ 7,756
  Net income...................................   --      --     2,671    2,671
                                                -----  ------  -------  -------
BALANCE, December 31, 1993..................... 3,130   3,524    6,903   10,427
  Net loss.....................................   --      --    (1,456)  (1,456)
                                                -----  ------  -------  -------
BALANCE, December 31, 1994..................... 3,130   3,524    5,447    8,971
  Net loss.....................................   --      --    (7,446)  (7,446)
                                                -----  ------  -------  -------
BALANCE, December 31, 1995..................... 3,130   3,524   (1,999)   1,525
  Net loss (Unaudited).........................   --      --      (584)    (584)
                                                -----  ------  -------  -------
BALANCE, February 8, 1996 (Unaudited).......... 3,130  $3,524  $(2,583) $   941
                                                =====  ======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
 
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
 
                   CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   ONE MONTH AND
                                                                     EIGHT DAY
                                       YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,    PERIOD ENDED
                                       --------------------------   FEBRUARY 8,
                                        1993      1994     1995        1996
                                       -------  --------  -------  -------------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                    <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 Net income (loss)...................  $ 2,671  $ (1,456) $(7,446)     $(584)
 Adjustments to reconcile net income
  (loss) to net cash (used in) pro-
  vided by operating activities--
  Depreciation and amortization......    1,569     1,579    1,439        184
  Deferred income taxes..............      387      (850)  (5,932)       (23)
  Gain on disposition of equipment...      --        --    (1,074)       --
  Loss on sale of assets (Note 11)...      --        --    16,082        --
  Changes in assets and liabilities--
    Accounts receivable..............     (250)      697     (388)     1,233
    Materials and supplies...........      190       294     (167)       (17)
    Other current assets.............      (63)      (76)     239       (557)
    Accounts payable and accrued ex-
     penses..........................   (2,357)   (1,624)   1,115        216
    Other assets and liabilities,
     net.............................   (2,582)      146     (176)      (131)
                                       -------  --------  -------      -----
    Net cash (used in) provided by
     operating
     activities......................     (435)   (1,290)   3,692        321
                                       -------  --------  -------      -----
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Purchase of property and equipment..     (874)   (1,362)  (2,829)       (47)
 Proceeds from disposition of prop-
  erty and equipment.................       83        66    4,007        --
 Deposit on equipment................      --        --      (376)       --
 Advances to affiliate, net..........      --       (360)     (79)       --
                                       -------  --------  -------      -----
    Net cash (used in) provided by
     investing activities............     (791)   (1,656)     723        (47)
                                       -------  --------  -------      -----
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Proceeds from issuance of long-term
  debt...............................    1,075     2,498      271         11
 Principal payments on long-term
  debt...............................      --        --    (4,313)      (580)
                                       -------  --------  -------      -----
    Net cash provided by (used in)
     financing
     activities......................    1,075     2,498   (4,042)      (569)
                                       -------  --------  -------      -----
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH
 EQUIVALENTS.........................     (151)     (448)     373       (295)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning
 of period...........................      645       494       46        419
                                       -------  --------  -------      -----
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of pe-
 riod................................  $   494  $     46  $   419      $ 124
                                       =======  ========  =======      =====
CASH PAID DURING THE PERIOD FOR:
  Interest...........................  $ 1,350  $  1,498  $ 1,548      $ 269
  Income taxes (refunds).............    1,830      (275)   1,574        --
                                       =======  ========  =======      =====
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
 
                  CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
  (DATA WITH RESPECT TO THE ONE MONTH AND EIGHT DAY PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 8,
                              1996 ARE UNAUDITED)
 
1. THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
  Chicago & Illinois Midland Railway Company (the "Company") is a short-line
railroad located in Illinois that operates over 126 miles of track, including
29 miles of trackage rights over two Class I carriers and a terminal switching
carrier. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pawnee Railroad Company
("Pawnee").
 
  In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements for the one
month and eight day period ended February 8, 1996, are presented on a basis
consistent with the audited financial statements and contain all adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair
presentation. The results of operations for the interim period are not
necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year.
 
  Revenue Recognition
 
  Revenues are estimated and recognized as shipments initially move onto the
Company's tracks, which, due to the relatively short length of haul, is not
materially different from the recognition of revenues as shipments progress.
 
  Cash Equivalents
 
  The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of three
months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents for purposes of
classification in the balance sheets and statements of cash flows. Cash
equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair market value.
 
  Materials and Supplies
 
  Materials and supplies, consisting primarily of fuel and replacement parts,
are valued at the lower of average cost or market.
 
   Property and Equipment
 
  Property and equipment are carried at historical cost. Major renewals or
betterments are capitalized while routine maintenance and repairs, which do
not improve or extend asset lives, are charged to expense when incurred. Gains
or losses on sales or other dispositions are credited or charged to other
income. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of the property and are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
      <S>                                                            <C>
      Road properties............................................... 24-79 years
      Equipment.....................................................  8-33 years
</TABLE>
 
  The Company continually evaluates whether events and circumstances have
occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful life of the property and
equipment may not be recoverable. When factors indicate that the asset should
be evaluated for possible impairment, the Company uses an estimate of the
related undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining useful life of the
asset in measuring whether the asset is recoverable.
 
  Income Taxes
   
  The Company is a member of a group that files a consolidated tax return. The
consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense is allocated among the
members of the group based on each entity's tax attributes using a separate
return approach.     
 
                                     F-25
<PAGE>
 
                  CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Significant Customer Relationship
 
  A large portion of the Company's operating revenues is attributable to the
shipment of coal for an electric utility. This customer accounted for
approximately 77%, 78% and 83% of the Company's operating revenues in 1993,
1994 and 1995, respectively. This traffic is covered under a service assurance
agreement. See Note 4 for further discussion.
 
  Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
  The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value
of each class of financial instrument held by the Company:
 
  Current assets and current liabilities: The carrying amount approximates
  fair value due to the short maturity of these items.
 
  Long-term debt: The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is based on
  secondary market indicators. Since the Company's debt is not quoted,
  estimates are based on each obligation's characteristics, including
  remaining maturities, interest rate, credit rating, collateral,
  amortization schedule and liquidity. The carrying amount approximates fair
  value.
 
  Management Estimates
 
  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
2. OTHER INCOME:
 
  In 1993, the Company settled a significant lawsuit for a third-party
crossing accident. Total cash paid for the settlement was $600,000, resulting
in a gain, from reversal of the related reserve, of $1,900,000 which is
included in other income.
 
  In 1995, the Company sold various railcars and locomotives to third-parties
for proceeds of approximately $4,007,000. The Company realized a gain on these
transactions of approximately $1,074,000 which is included in other income.
 
3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
 
  Major classifications of property and equipment are as follows (amounts in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                     --------------- FEBRUARY 8,
                                                      1994    1995      1996
                                                     ------- ------- -----------
                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                  <C>     <C>     <C>
Road properties..................................... $26,922 $27,696   $27,550
Equipment and other.................................   6,046   2,741     2,922
                                                     ------- -------   -------
                                                      32,968  30,437    30,472
Less--Accumulated depreciation......................   5,647  19,807    19,926
                                                     ------- -------   -------
                                                     $27,321 $10,630   $10,546
                                                     ======= =======   =======
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-26
<PAGE>
 
                  CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
4. OTHER ASSETS:
 
  Other assets at December 31, 1994 and 1995, consist of the following
(amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                    --------------- FEBRUARY 8,
                                                     1994    1995      1996
                                                    ------- ------- -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                 <C>     <C>     <C>
Service assurance agreement with significant cus-
 tomer............................................. $17,238 $17,238   $17,238
Organization costs.................................     446     446       446
Other..............................................     210     617       591
                                                    ------- -------   -------
                                                     17,894  18,301    18,275
Less--Accumulated amortization.....................   2,006   2,511     2,564
                                                    ------- -------   -------
                                                    $15,888 $15,790   $15,711
                                                    ======= =======   =======
</TABLE>
 
  The service assurance agreement represents a commitment from the Company's
significant customer which grants the Company the exclusive right to service
three of the customer's facilities indefinitely. The service assurance
agreement is being amortized on a straight-line basis over a 40-year period
through the year 2029. Organization costs are being amortized over seven years
through 1998. Amortization included in the statements of operations for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, was $505,000.
 
5. OPERATING LEASE AGREEMENTS:
 
  The Company has entered into several leases for rolling stock. As of
December 31, 1995, the Company is a lessee for 110 rotary gondolas. This
agreement requires payments of $230 per car per month ($303,600 annually)
through December 31, 1999, for total future minimum lease payments as of
December 31, 1995 of $1,214,000. The Company subleases the same 110 rotary
gondolas to another party. Actual future rental receipts from this sublease
are dependent, in part, upon usage by the lessee. Minimum future rentals to be
received under noncancelable leases in effect at December 31, 1995, are
$442,000, all of which are due in 1996. The net effect of all lease
arrangements are classified as a reduction in maintenance of equipment expense
in the accompanying statements of income. Net reductions in maintenance of
equipment expense for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 were
approximately $939,000, $1,249,000 and $358,000, respectively. Subsequent to
year-end, the Company assigned both of the above lease arrangements to
Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc. in conjunction with the transaction
discussed in Note 11.
 
6. LONG-TERM DEBT:
 
  Long-term debt consists of the following (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                     --------------- FEBRUARY 8,
                                                      1994    1995      1996
                                                     ------- ------- -----------
                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                  <C>     <C>     <C>
Unsecured senior notes due to affiliate with
 interest at 10.5%, due December 31, 1998..........  $ 8,500 $ 8,500   $ 8,500
Revolving line of credit with interest at prime or
 the Eurodollar rate, as appropriate, plus an
 applicable margin, as defined (9.00% and 7.94%,
 respectively, at December 31, 1995), due according
 to annual commitment reduction amounts with the
 balance due on April 10, 1998, secured by
 substantially all the assets of the Company.......    8,938   4,625     4,045
Secured promissory note with the State of Illinois,
 interest at 3%, payable in annual installments
 over 10 years beginning on the first anniversary
 of the project completion date....................      385     656       667
                                                     ------- -------   -------
  Total long-term debt.............................  $17,823 $13,781   $13,212
                                                     ======= =======   =======
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-27
<PAGE>
 
                  CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Subsequent to year-end, on February 8, 1996, all of the Company's long-term
debt was either paid in full or assumed by Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc.
See Note 11 for further discussion.
 
  Both the unsecured senior notes and the revolving line of credit require the
maintenance of certain covenants, including, but not limited to, minimum net
worth, minimum fixed obligation coverage and maximum debt to net worth. The
Company was in compliance with the provisions of these covenants as of
December 31, 1995.
 
7. RELATED PARTIES:
 
  The unsecured senior notes for $8,500,000 (see Note 6) are payable to
stockholders of Pawnee. As of December 31, 1994 and 1995, the Company owed
interest totaling $223,000 on these notes. Interest expense on these notes for
each of the three years ended December 31, 1995, was $893,000. Included in
other current assets at December 31, 1994 and 1995, are $367,000 and $155,000,
respectively, due from Pawnee and related entities.
 
  During 1994, the Company advanced $1,360,600 at 8% interest to Pawnee
Transportation Company ("PTC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pawnee, in
connection with the construction of a coal unloading facility located at the
Company's rail yard in Kincaid, Illinois. At December 31, 1994 and 1995, PTC
owed $360,000 and $439,000, respectively, to the Company under this
arrangement. Included in other income for the years ended December 31, 1994
and 1995, is $54,000 and $93,000, respectively, of interest earned from PTC.
 
8. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS:
 
  Retirement benefits for all employees of the Company are provided for in
accordance with the Railroad Retirement Act.
 
  The Company has 401(k) plans in effect for all management and certain union
employees. The 401(k) plans qualify under Section 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code as salary reduction plans. Employees may elect to contribute a
certain percentage of their salary on a before-tax basis. The Company matches
50% of eligible employee contributions up to a maximum percentage of the
employee's salary, as approved by the Board of Directors. Such percentage was
6% in 1993 and ranged from 1% to 6% for 1994 and 3% to 4% in 1995. For the
years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, the Company contributed $44,000,
$60,000 and $41,000, respectively, to those plans on behalf of its employees.
 
9. INCOME TAXES:
 
  The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes are as follows
(amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 YEARS ENDED
                                                 DECEMBER 31,       PERIOD ENDED
                                             ---------------------  FEBRUARY 8,
                                              1993  1994    1995        1996
                                             ------ -----  -------  ------------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
   <S>                                       <C>    <C>    <C>      <C>
   Current--
     Federal................................ $  955 $ --   $ 1,113     $(274)
     State..................................    221   --       274       (63)
   Deferred--
     Federal ...............................    471  (701)  (4,913)      (19)
     State..................................    100  (149)  (1,019)       (4)
                                             ------ -----  -------     -----
                                             $1,747 $(850) $(4,545)    $(360)
                                             ====== =====  =======     =====
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-28
<PAGE>
 
                  CHICAGO & ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The provision (benefit) for income taxes differs from that which would be
computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income
(loss) before taxes. The following is a summary of the effective tax rate
reconciliation:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                YEARS ENDED
                                                DECEMBER 31,        PERIOD ENDED
                                              -------------------   FEBRUARY 8,
                                              1993  1994    1995        1996
                                              ----  -----   -----   ------------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
   <S>                                        <C>   <C>     <C>     <C>
   Tax provision (benefit) at statutory
    rate....................................  34.0% (34.0)% (34.0)%    (34.0) %
   State income taxes, net of federal income
    tax benefit.............................   4.8   (4.3)   (4.9)      (4.7)
   Other, net...............................    .7    1.4     1.0         .6
                                              ----  -----   -----      -----
                                              39.5% (36.9)% (37.9)%    (38.1)%
                                              ====  =====   =====      =====
</TABLE>
 
  The following summarizes the estimated tax effect of significant cumulative
temporary differences that are included in the net deferred income tax
liability in the accompanying balance sheets (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                  ---------------  FEBRUARY 8,
                                                   1994     1995      1996
                                                  -------  ------  -----------
                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
   <S>                                            <C>      <C>     <C>
   Deferred tax liability--differences in depre-
    ciation and amortization..................... $13,512  $6,993    $6,970
   Accruals for casualty claims..................    (595)   (518)     (518)
   Other.........................................     (33)    (13)      (13)
   NOL...........................................    (490)    --        --
                                                  -------  ------    ------
       Net deferred tax liability................ $12,394  $6,462    $6,439
                                                  =======  ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
  Management does not believe that a valuation allowance is required for the
deferred tax assets based on anticipated future profit levels and the reversal
of current temporary differences.
 
10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
  The Company is a defendant in certain lawsuits resulting from its railroad
operations. Management believes that adequate provision has been made in the
financial statements for any expected liabilities which may result from
disposition of such lawsuits. While it is possible that some of the foregoing
matters may be settled at a cost greater than that provided for, it is the
opinion of management that the ultimate liability, if any, will not be
material to the Company's results of operations or financial position.
 
11. SUBSEQUENT EVENT:
 
  Subsequent to year-end, on February 8, 1996, the common stock of Pawnee was
sold to Stanford PRC Acquisition Corporation ("Stanford"), and Stanford and
Pawnee were merged into the Company. Also on this date, substantially all of
the assets of the Company, primarily road and track structure, were sold to
Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc. (an unrelated entity) for approximately
$27.5 million, including related costs and the assumption of certain
liabilities. The sale of assets represented a loss of approximately $16.1
million, as the book value of the assets sold exceeded the purchase price. The
Company recognized a loss on the sale of assets in the 1995 financial
statements to write down the property and equipment ($15,655,000) and the
materials and supplies ($427,000) to net realizable value. The proceeds from
this transaction were used to pay off the remaining debt instruments. The
Company is in the process of liquidating its remaining assets and liabilities.
Operations of the railroad by the Company have ceased.
 
                                     F-29
<PAGE>
 
                   REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To Genesee & Wyoming Inc.:
   
We have audited the accompanying combined balance sheets of THE PITTSBURG &
SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY, MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND RED BANK
RAILROAD COMPANY (Pennsylvania corporations) as of December 31, 1994 and 1995,
and the related combined statements of operations, shareholder's equity and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companies'
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.     
   
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.     
   
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of The Pittsburg & Shawmut
Railroad Company, Mountain Laurel Railroad Company and Red Bank Railroad
Company as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the results of their operations
and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.     
   
As explained in Note 4 to the financial statements, effective January 1, 1994,
the Companies adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities."     
 
                                          Arthur Andersen LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
 March 8, 1996 (except with respect to
 matters discussed in Note 11 as to
 which the date is April 29, 1996)
 
                                     F-30
<PAGE>
 
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                      MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
                            COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                 -----------------   MARCH 31,
                                                  1994      1995       1996
                                                 -------   -------  -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                              <C>       <C>      <C>
                     ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents..................... $ 1,421   $ 2,205    $ 2,697
  Accounts receivable, net......................   2,535       901        710
  Materials and supplies........................     322       192        183
  Prepaid expenses and other....................     240       254        298
  Notes receivable from related parties.........   2,659     1,584      1,249
                                                 -------   -------    -------
    Total current assets........................   7,177     5,136      5,137
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net.....................  26,789    14,944     14,480
OTHER ASSETS....................................   1,218       105         84
                                                 -------   -------    -------
         Total assets........................... $35,184   $20,185    $19,701
                                                 =======   =======    =======
      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of long-term debt............. $ 1,675   $   --     $   125
  Accounts payable..............................   1,549       971        784
  Accrued expenses..............................     583       530        433
                                                 -------   -------    -------
    Total current liabilities...................   3,807     1,501      1,342
                                                 -------   -------    -------
LONG-TERM DEBT..................................   5,584     4,025      3,900
                                                 -------   -------    -------
OTHER LIABILITIES...............................     474       336        333
                                                 -------   -------    -------
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITIES, net............   6,491     1,991      1,921
                                                 -------   -------    -------
DEFERRED ITEMS--grants from governmental agen-
 cies...........................................   3,296     3,194      3,168
                                                 -------   -------    -------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 10)
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY:
  Preferred stock, $1 par value; 215,000 shares
   authorized; 194,263 shares issued and 161,500
   shares outstanding...........................     194       194        194
  Common stock, $1 par value; 150,000 shares au-
   thorized; 150,000 shares issued and outstand-
   ing..........................................     150       150        150
  Additional paid-in capital....................   7,653     7,653      7,653
  Preferred stock held in treasury, 32,763
   shares.......................................     (33)      (33)       (33)
  Pension liability adjustment..................    (141)      (84)       (84)
  Unrealized gain on marketable securities......     143       --         --
  Retained earnings.............................   7,566     1,258      1,157
                                                 -------   -------    -------
    Total shareholder's equity..................  15,532     9,138      9,037
                                                 -------   -------    -------
         Total liabilities and shareholder's eq-
          uity.................................. $35,184   $20,185    $19,701
                                                 =======   =======    =======
</TABLE>
       
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial
                                statements.     
 
                                      F-31
<PAGE>
 
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                      MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
                       COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER      THREE MONTHS
                                              31,             ENDED MARCH 31,
                                     -----------------------  ----------------
                                      1993    1994    1995     1995     1996
                                     ------  ------  -------  -------  -------
                                                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                  <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>
OPERATING REVENUES.................. $9,558  $8,795  $ 5,922   $1,675   $1,420
OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Transportation....................  1,747   1,561    1,027      377      261
  Maintenance of ways and struc-
   tures............................    928     950      806      296      210
  Maintenance of equipment..........  1,138   1,275      846      233      215
  General and administrative........  2,477   3,021    1,918      499      400
  Depreciation and amortization.....  1,732   1,801    1,808      462      442
                                     ------  ------  -------  -------  -------
    Total operating expenses........  8,022   8,608    6,405    1,867    1,528
                                     ------  ------  -------  -------  -------
    Income (loss) from operations...  1,536     187     (483)    (192)    (108)
INTEREST EXPENSE....................   (725)   (595)    (481)    (146)     (78)
OTHER INCOME, net...................    331     334      730      132       15
LOSS ON SALE OF PROPERTY AND
 EQUIPMENT (Note 11)................    --      --   (10,288)     --       --
                                     ------  ------  -------  -------  -------
    Income (loss) before income tax-
     es.............................  1,142     (74) (10,522)    (206)    (171)
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAX-
 ES.................................    457     --    (4,214)     (84)     (70)
                                     ------  ------  -------  -------  -------
NET INCOME (LOSS)................... $  685  $  (74) $(6,308) $  (122) $  (101)
                                     ======  ======  =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
       
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial
                                statements.     
 
                                      F-32
<PAGE>
 
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                      MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
                  COMBINED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                COMMON                   PREFERRED
                         PREFERRED STOCK         STOCK     ADDITIONAL TREASURY STOCK
                         ------------------  -------------  PAID-IN   -----------------   RETAINED
                         SHARES    AMOUNT    SHARES AMOUNT  CAPITAL   SHARES    AMOUNT    EARNINGS
                         -------   --------  ------ ------ ---------- -------   -------   --------
<S>                      <C>       <C>       <C>    <C>    <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>
BALANCE AT JANUARY 1,
 1993...................      194   $    194  150    $150    $7,653       (33)   $   (33) $ 7,157
  Net income............      --         --   --      --        --        --         --       685
  Dividends.............      --         --   --      --        --        --         --      (152)
                          -------   --------  ---    ----    ------    ------    -------  -------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31,
 1993...................      194        194  150     150     7,653       (33)       (33)   7,690
  Net loss..............      --         --   --      --        --        --         --       (74)
  Dividends.............      --         --   --      --        --        --         --       (50)
                          -------   --------  ---    ----    ------    ------    -------  -------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31,
 1994...................      194        194  150     150     7,653       (33)       (33)   7,566
  Net loss..............      --         --   --      --        --        --         --    (6,308)
                          -------   --------  ---    ----    ------    ------    -------  -------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31,
 1995...................      194        194  150     150     7,653       (33)       (33)   1,258
  Net loss (Unaudited)..      --         --   --      --        --        --         --      (101)
                          -------   --------  ---    ----    ------    ------    -------  -------
BALANCE AT MARCH 31,
 1996 (Unaudited).......      194       $194  150    $150    $7,653       (33)      $(33) $ 1,157
                          =======   ========  ===    ====    ======    ======    =======  =======
</TABLE>
       
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial
                                statements.     
 
                                      F-33
<PAGE>
 
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                      MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
                       COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  THREE MONTHS
                                                                   ENDED MARCH
                                      YEARS ENDED DECEMBER31,          31,
                                      --------------------------  --------------
                                       1993      1994     1995     1995    1996
                                      -------  --------  -------  ------  ------
                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                   <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>     <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
 ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss).................  $   685  $    (74) $(6,308) $ (122) $ (101)
  Adjustments to reconcile net
   income (loss) to net cash (used
   in) provided by operating
   activities--
   Depreciation and amortization....    1,732     1,801    1,808     462     442
   Deferred income taxes............     (274)     (169)  (4,500)    (84)    (70)
   Gain on disposition of property
    and marketable securities.......     (123)     (131)    (497)    --      --
   Write-off of note receivable.....      164       --       --      --      --
   Loss on sale of property and
    equipment (Note 11).............      --        --    10,288     --      --
   Changes in assets and
    liabilities--
     Account receivable, net........   (3,419)    2,014    1,634     823     191
     Materials and supplies.........       94        53      130       9       9
     Prepaid expenses and other.....      (59)      (50)     (14)      3     (44)
     Accounts payable and accrued
      expenses......................   (1,453)    1,439     (632)   (535)   (284)
     Other assets and liabilities,
      net...........................     (16)       (15)     (40)     (2)     14
                                      -------  --------  -------  ------  ------
      Net cash (used in) provided by
       operating activities.........   (2,669)    4,868    1,869     554     157
                                      -------  --------  -------  ------  ------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
 ACTIVITIES:
  Purchase of property and
   equipment........................   (1,524)     (793)    (407)    (53)    --
  Proceeds from disposition of
   property and equipment...........      134       246      287     --      --
  Issuance of notes receivable, from
   related parties..................     (188)     (910)     --      --     (575)
  Receipts on notes receivable, from
   related parties..................      637        20    1,075     --      910
  Purchase of marketable securities.      --        --      (548)    --      --
  Proceeds from sale of marketable
   securities.......................      332       --     1,742     --      --
                                      -------  --------  -------  ------  ------
      Net cash (used in) provided by
       investing activities.........     (609)  (1,437)    2,149     (53)    335
                                      -------  --------  -------  ------  ------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
 ACTIVITIES:
  Principal payments on long-term
   debt.............................   (1,774)   (3,168)  (3,234)   (108)    --
  Proceeds from grants..............    3,500       --       --      --      --
  Dividends paid....................     (152)      (50)     --      --      --
                                      -------  --------  -------  ------  ------
      Net cash provided by (used in)
       financing activities.........    1,574    (3,218)  (3,234)   (108)    --
                                      -------  --------  -------  ------  ------
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH
 EQUIVALENTS........................   (1,704)      213      784     393     492
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning
 of period..........................    2,912     1,208    1,421   1,421   2,205
                                      -------  --------  -------  ------  ------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of
 period.............................  $ 1,208  $  1,421  $ 2,205  $1,814  $2,697
                                      =======  ========  =======  ======  ======
CASH PAID DURING THE PERIOD FOR:
  Interest..........................  $   732  $    602  $   488  $  107  $  112
                                      =======  ========  =======  ======  ======
  Income taxes......................  $ 1,012  $    --   $   --   $  --   $  --
                                      =======  ========  =======  ======  ======
</TABLE>
       
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial
                                statements.     
 
                                      F-34
<PAGE>
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                     MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
                    NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   (DATA WITH RESPECT TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996 ARE
                                  UNAUDITED)
 
1. THE COMPANIES' BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
  The accompanying financial statements include the financial statements of
The Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad Company (P&S), Mountain Laurel Railroad
Company (MNL) and Red Bank Railroad Company (RBK) (the Companies). The
Companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Arthur T. Walker Estate Corporation
(ATWEC) which is wholly owned by Dumaines, a private trust. The Companies are
short-line railroads that operate over approximately 237 miles of track in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
 
  In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements for the
three-month periods ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, are presented on a basis
consistent with the audited financial statements and contain all adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair
presentation. The results of operations for interim periods are not
necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year.
 
  Principles of Combination
 
  The combined financial statements include the accounts of the Companies. All
significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in
combination.
 
  Revenue Recognition
 
  Revenues are recognized based on the waybill, which, due to the relatively
short length of haul, is not materially different from the recognition of
revenues as shipments progress.
 
  Cash Equivalents
 
  The Companies consider all highly liquid instruments with a maturity of
three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents for purposes of
classification in the combined balance sheets and combined statements of cash
flows. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair market
value.
 
  Materials and Supplies
 
  Materials and supplies consist of items for improvement and maintenance of
road property and equipment, and are stated at the lower of average cost or
market.
 
  Property and Equipment
 
  Property and equipment are carried at historical cost. Major renewals or
betterments are capitalized while routine maintenance and repairs, which do
not improve or extend asset lives, are charged to expense when incurred. Gains
or losses on sales or other dispositions are credited or charged to other
income. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the useful
lives of the property as follows:
 
<TABLE>
      <S>                                                            <C>
      Road properties............................................... 10-35 years
      Equipment.....................................................  5-20 years
</TABLE>
 
  Income Taxes
 
  The Companies are members of a group that file a consolidated tax return.
The consolidated amounts of current and deferred tax expense is allocated
among the members of the group based on each entity's tax attributes using a
separate return approach.
 
  Significant Customer Relationship
 
  A large portion of the Companies' operating revenue is generated from
shipments of bituminous coal. The five largest coal shippers in 1993, 1994 and
1995 accounted for 65% or more of the Companies' revenue.
 
                                     F-35
<PAGE>
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                     MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
              NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
Revenue has decreased over the past two years primarily due to reductions in
coal shipments. The Companies regularly grant trade credit to all their
customers. In addition, the Companies grant trade credits to other railroads
through the routine interchange of traffic. The collection of the Companies'
accounts receivable is substantially dependent upon the economy of the region
in which the Companies operate, the coal industry, and the railroad sector of
the economy in general.
 
  Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
  The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value
of each class of financial instrument held by the Companies:
 
  Current assets and current liabilities: The carrying value approximates
  fair value due to the short maturity of these items.
 
  Long-term debt: Since the Companies' debt is not quoted, estimates are
  based on each obligation's characteristics, including remaining maturities,
  interest rate, credit rating, collateral, amortization schedule and
  liquidity. The carrying amount approximates fair value.
 
  Management Estimates
 
  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
2. NOTES RECEIVABLE FROM RELATED PARTIES:
 
  The Companies have notes receivable from the following related entities
(amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                      -------------  MARCH 31,
                                                       1994   1995     1996
                                                      ------ ------ -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                   <C>    <C>    <C>
ATWEC................................................ $1,581 $  674   $1,249
Brookport Resources Company, an affiliate company....    168      0        0
Shawmut Development Corporation, an affiliate compa-
 ny..................................................    910    910        0
                                                      ------ ------   ------
                                                      $2,659 $1,584   $1,249
                                                      ====== ======   ======
</TABLE>
 
3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
 
  Major classifications of property and equipment are as follows (amounts in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                     ---------------  MARCH 31,
                                                      1994    1995      1996
                                                     ------- ------- -----------
                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                  <C>     <C>     <C>
Road properties..................................... $30,026 $30,212   $30,212
Equipment and other.................................  19,230  18,973    18,973
                                                     ------- -------   -------
                                                      49,256  49,185    49,185
Less--Accumulated depreciation......................  22,467  34,241    34,705
                                                     ------- -------   -------
                                                     $26,789 $14,944   $14,480
                                                     ======= =======   =======
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-36
<PAGE>
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                     MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
              NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The notes are non-interest-bearing and are payable upon demand. Subsequent
to December 31, 1995, the note from Shawmut Development Corporation was paid
in full. The Companies issued an additional $575,000 demand note to ATWEC in
two separate distributions, in January and March of 1996.
 
4. OTHER ASSETS:
 
  Included in other assets are marketable securities of $1,074,000 in 1994.
Effective January 1, 1994, the Companies adopted SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for
Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." The adoption of SFAS No.
115 requires that equity securities that have readily determinable fair values
shall be classified as "available-for-sale" if not held for the objective of
generating profits on short-term differences in price. Based on the Companies'
intentions, the debt and equity securities are classified and treated as
available-for-sale. At December 31, 1994, debt and equity securities were
stated at lower of aggregate cost or market.
 
  SFAS No. 115 further requires that unrealized holding gains and losses
related to available-for-sale securities shall be excluded from earnings and
reported as a net amount in a separate component of shareholder's equity until
realized.
 
  The following summarizes the effect of applying SFAS No. 115 (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
      <S>                                                                <C>
      Cost basis........................................................ $  931
                                                                         ------
      Gross unrealized holding--
        Gains...........................................................    171
        Losses..........................................................    (28)
                                                                         ------
          Net unrealized gain...........................................    143
                                                                         ------
      Market value at December 31, 1994................................. $1,074
                                                                         ======
</TABLE>
 
  All of the marketable securities were sold in 1995 for a realized gain of
approximately $264,000 that is included in other income.
 
5. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS:
 
  Pension
 
  ATWEC administers a noncontributory defined benefit plan and a deferred
compensation arrangement for the employees of its subsidiaries. The specific
attributes of the defined benefit plan and the deferred compensation
arrangement are allocated to each subsidiary (including the Companies) based
on the Projected Benefit Obligation per individual per entity. Benefits are
determined based on years of service, compensation during the last five years
of employment and participation in the profit sharing plan or the defined
benefit plan. For the deferred compensation arrangement, benefits are based on
a fixed amount per year. The Companies' funding policy is to make
contributions for pension and deferred compensation benefits based on
actuarial computations which reflect the long-term nature of the plans. The
Companies have met the minimum funding requirements according to the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act.
 
                                     F-37
<PAGE>
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                     MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
              NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  Pension cost for both plans combined for 1993, 1994 and 1995 was
approximately $53,000, $50,000 and $31,000, respectively. The funded status at
December 31, 1994 and 1995, was as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1994   1995
                                                                  -----  -----
   <S>                                                            <C>    <C>
   Actuarial present value of benefit obligations................
     Vested benefits............................................. $ 779  $ 656
     Nonvested benefits..........................................   --     --
                                                                  -----  -----
   Accumulated benefit obligation and projected benefit obliga-
    tion.........................................................   779    656
   Plan assets...................................................   266    294
                                                                  -----  -----
   Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets.........  (513)  (362)
   Unrecognized net transition obligation........................    99     84
   Unrecognized prior service costs..............................    21     14
   Unrecognized net loss.........................................   145     69
   Adjustment to recognize minimum liability.....................  (265)  (167)
                                                                  -----  -----
   Pension liability recognized in the combined balance sheet.... $(513) $(362)
                                                                  =====  =====
</TABLE>
 
  The projected benefit obligation was determined using a discount rate of 7%.
The long-term rate of return on plan assets was 8%.
 
  Profit Sharing
 
  ATWEC has a profit sharing program for all non-collective bargaining
employees. Benefits for profit sharing are determined based on earnings of
ATWEC. Allocations to employees are based on eligible wages. Profit sharing
contributions were approximately $14,000, $14,000 and $56,000 in 1993, 1994
and 1995, respectively. Contributions are subject to Board of Directors
approval.
 
6. LONG-TERM DEBT:
 
  Long-term debt consists of the following (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       DECEMBER 31,
                                                       -------------  MARCH 31,
                                                        1994   1995     1996
                                                       ------ ------ -----------
                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                    <C>    <C>    <C>
Note A payable to ATWEC bearing interest at 6%,
 payable in annual principal payments of $120,000
 beginning in January of 1998 and interest payable
 semiannually, secured by all the property with the
 balance due January 1, 2017.........................  $2,400 $2,400   $2,400
Note B payable to ATWEC bearing interest at 6%,
 payable in annual principal payments of $125,000 and
 interest payable semiannually, secured by all
 property, due in January of 1997....................     250    125      125
Note payable to Dumaines bearing interest at prime
 plus 2% on the effective date of the note, interest
 payable quarterly, with principal and interest
 balance due December of 1997........................   1,500  1,500    1,500
Loan payable bearing interest at prime and repaid in
 1995................................................   1,849    --       --
Term note bearing interest at prime and repaid in
 1995................................................   1,260    --       --
                                                       ------ ------   ------
                                                        7,259  4,025    4,025
Less--Current portion................................   1,675    --       125
                                                       ------ ------   ------
    Long-term debt...................................  $5,584 $4,025   $3,900
                                                       ====== ======   ======
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-38
<PAGE>
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                     MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
              NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  The following is a summary of the maturities of long-term debt as of
December 31, 1995 (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
   <S>                                                                <C>    
   1996.............................................................. $    0
   1997..............................................................  1,625
   1998..............................................................    120
   1999..............................................................    120
   2000..............................................................    120
   Thereafter........................................................  2,040
                                                                      ------
                                                                      $4,025
                                                                      ====== 
</TABLE>
 
  At December 31, 1995, the prime interest rate was 8.5%.
 
7. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES:
 
  Revenue
 
  Included within revenues are $891,000, $461,000 and $167,000 for 1993, 1994
and 1995, respectively, for shipments for ATWEC subsidiaries.
 
  Interest Expense
 
  Included within interest expense is approximately $296,000, $288,000 and
$319,000 for 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively, for notes payable to related
parties.
 
  Management Fees
 
  Walker Management Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of ATWEC, allocates to
the Companies compensation and benefits for executives to perform certain
accounting, legal, communications, data processing, administrative and other
services ("corporate services") that are not specifically attributable to the
Companies. In addition, occupancy and other corporate office costs are
allocated to the Companies. These fees are approximately $324,000, $350,000,
$308,000 and $77,000 in the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and
the three months ended March 31, 1996, and are included in general and
administrative expenses in the combined statements of operations. Management
believes that the Walker Management Company corporate services allocated to
the Companies represent the cost of the services provided and that the costs
are reasonable.
 
8. INCOME TAXES:
 
  The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows (amounts in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             YEARS ENDED        THREE MONTHS
                                             DECEMBER 31,      ENDED MARCH 31,
                                          -------------------  ----------------
                                          1993 1994    1995     1995     1996
                                          ---- -----  -------  -------  -------
                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                       <C>  <C>    <C>      <C>      <C>
Current--
  Federal................................ $339 $ 145  $    67  $   --   $   --
  State..................................   66    26       (7)     --       --
Deferred.................................   52  (171)  (4,274)     (84)     (70)
                                          ---- -----  -------  -------  -------
                                          $457 $ --   $(4,214) $   (84) $   (70)
                                          ==== =====  =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
 
                                     F-39
<PAGE>
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                     MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
              NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
  The provision for taxes on income in each period differs from that which
would be computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to
the income before taxes. The following is a summary of the major items
affecting the provision (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            YEARS ENDED         THREE MONTHS
                                            DECEMBER 31,       ENDED MARCH 31,
                                         --------------------  ----------------
                                         1993  1994    1995     1995     1996
                                         ----  -----  -------  -------  -------
                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
   <S>                                   <C>   <C>    <C>      <C>      <C>
   Tax expense at statutory rate (34%).  $388  $ (25) $(3,577) $((((70) $((((58)
   State income taxes, net of federal
    income tax benefit.................   101      7     (940)     (18)     (15)
   Effect of change in state tax rates
    on deferred taxes..................   --      19      226      --       --
   Other, net..........................   (32)    (1)      77        4        3
                                         ----  -----  -------  -------  -------
                                         $457  $ --   $(4,214) $((((84) $((((70)
                                         ====  =====  =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
  The following summarizes the estimated tax effect of significant cumulative
temporary differences that are included in the net deferred income tax
liability in the accompanying combined balance sheets (amounts in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                     --------------   MARCH 31,
                                                      1994    1995      1996
                                                     ------  ------  -----------
                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
   <S>                                               <C>     <C>     <C>
   Deferred tax assets--
     Accruals and reserves not deducted for tax
      purposes until paid..........................  $ (289) $ (173)   $ (173)
     Alternative minimum tax credits...............    (387)   (463)     (463)
     Net operating losses..........................    (302)   (188)     (143)
     Other.........................................    (408)   (548)     (548)
   Deferred tax liability--differences in deprecia-
    tion...........................................   7,877   3,363     3,248
                                                     ------  ------    ------
     Net deferred tax liability....................  $6,491  $1,991    $1,921
                                                     ======  ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
  The Companies' alternative minimum tax credits can be carried forward
indefinitely; however, the Companies must achieve future regular taxable
income in order to realize this credit. The Companies' net operating loss
carryforwards (NOL) consist entirely of federal NOLs as state NOLs were used,
and excesses lost, in 1995. The Companies' federal net operating loss
carryforwards begin to expire in 2009.
 
  Management does not believe that a valuation allowance is required for the
deferred tax assets based on anticipated tax gain from the sale of the assets
(see Note 11) and the reversal of current temporary differences.
 
9. GRANTS FROM GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES:
 
  During 1993, the MNL received a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
of $3.5 million for acquisition and initial start up costs as well as rail
rehabilitation. The agreement required the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to
reimburse the MNL for 50% of the total costs of the project ($7 million). This
project was completed as of December 31, 1993.
 
  The aforementioned grant does not represent a future liability of MNL unless
MNL abandons the rehabilitated track structure within a specified period of
time, as defined in the agreement. As MNL does not intend to abandon the
track, MNL has recorded additions to road property and has deferred the amount
of the grant as the rehabilitation expenditures have been incurred. The
amortization of the deferred grant is a noncash offset to depreciation expense
over the useful life of the related assets and is not included as taxable
income.
 
                                     F-40
<PAGE>
 
                   THE PITTSBURG & SHAWMUT RAILROAD COMPANY,
                     MOUNTAIN LAUREL RAILROAD COMPANY AND
                           RED BANK RAILROAD COMPANY
 
              NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
  The Companies are defendants in certain lawsuits resulting from the railroad
operations. Management believes that adequate provision has been made in the
financial statements for any expected liabilities which may result from
disposition of such lawsuits. While it is possible that the foregoing matters
may be settled at a cost greater than that provided for, it is the opinion of
management that the ultimate liability, if any, will not be material to the
Companies' results of operations and financial position.
 
  The RBK operates under a lease and operating agreement which is renewable on
a year-to-year basis beginning in 1996. The lease agreement requires payments
to be made by MNL based on per ton of traffic moved on the RBK. Lease expense
related to this agreement in 1993, 1994 and 1995 was $338,000, $244,000 and
$121,000, respectively.
 
11. SUBSEQUENT EVENT:
 
  Subsequent to year-end, on April 29, 1996, substantially all of the assets
of the Companies, primarily property and equipment, were sold to Pittsburg &
Shawmut Railroad, Inc. (an unrelated entity) for approximately $11.7 million
in cash, excluding related costs and the assumption of the grant from the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, the purchase and sale agreement
provides that ATWEC or the Companies may receive additional contingency
payments of up to $2.5 million in the event coal revenues exceed certain
agreed upon levels. The sale of road property represented a loss of
approximately $10.3 million, as the book value of the assets sold exceeded the
purchase price. The Companies recognized a loss on the sale of property and
equipment in the 1995 financial statements to write down property and
equipment to net realizable value.
 
                                     F-41
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
  NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMA-
TION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PRO-
SPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE HEREBY AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE,
SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AU-
THORIZED BY THE COMPANY, THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER OR ANY UNDERWRITER. THIS PRO-
SPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY, ANY SECURITY OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS, NOR
DOES IT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN WHICH THE PERSON
MAKING SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR TO ANY PER-
SON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIR-
CUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AF-
FAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR SINCE THE DATES AS OF WHICH THE
INFORMATION IS FURNISHED.     
 
                                ---------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Prospectus Summary........................................................    3
Risk Factors..............................................................    7
Recent Developments.......................................................   10
Use of Proceeds...........................................................   12
Dividend Policy...........................................................   12
Capitalization............................................................   13
Dilution..................................................................   14
Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data........................   15
Pro Forma Financial Information...........................................   16
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations...............................................................   21
Business..................................................................   30
Property..................................................................   38
Management................................................................   42
Certain Transactions......................................................   46
Principal and Selling Stockholders........................................   47
Description of Capital Stock..............................................   48
Shares Eligible for Future Sale...........................................   50
Underwriting..............................................................   51
Notice to Ontario Residents...............................................   52
Legal Matters.............................................................   52
Experts...................................................................   52
Additional Information....................................................   53
Index to Financial Statements.............................................  F-1
</TABLE>    
 
                                ---------------
 
  UNTIL     , 1996, ALL DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE CLASS A COMMON
STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO
DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS DELIVERY REQUIREMENT IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGA-
TION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH
RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                
                             2,648,000 SHARES     
 
                                     LOGO
 
                            GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
 
                             CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                               ($.01 PAR VALUE)
 
                                ---------------
 
                            SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO.
 
                                  FURMAN SELZ
 
                                       , 1996
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
  The expenses in connection with the offering are estimated as follows:
 
<TABLE>       
<CAPTION>
           ITEM                                                         AMOUNT
           ----                                                        --------
      <S>                                                              <C>
      Registration fee................................................ $ 16,802
      NASD fee........................................................    5,373
      Nasdaq National Market application fee..........................   29,243
      Blue sky fees and expenses......................................   22,000
      Printing expenses...............................................  150,000
      Legal fees and expenses.........................................  335,000
      Accounting fees and expenses....................................  300,000
      Transfer agent and registrar fees...............................    2,500
      Miscellaneous expenses..........................................   14,082
                                                                       --------
        Total......................................................... $875,000
                                                                       ========
</TABLE>    
 
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
  Paragraph 10 of the Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
provides that the Registrant shall indemnify its directors and officers to the
fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL").
 
  With respect to indemnification of directors and officers, Section 145 of
the DGCL provides that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Under this provision of
the DGCL, the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not
act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.
 
  Furthermore, the DGCL provides that a corporation shall have the power to
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of
the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that
he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of
such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and
except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the
court in which such action or suit was brought shall
 
                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such
other court shall deem proper.
 
  Paragraph 9 of the Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
contains a provision, authorized by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, which
provides that a director of the Registrant shall not be personally liable to
the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability of the director (a) for any
breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its
stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of
the DGCL, relating to the payment of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock
repurchases or redemptions, or (d) for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.
 
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
 
  Since January 1, 1993, the Registrant has sold the following shares of
common stock which were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act") (the following does not give effect to the stock split and
reclassification of the Registrant's common stock referenced in the Prospectus
forming a part of this Registration Statement):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   NUMBER OF   AGGREGATE
   DATE OF SALE   NAME OF INVESTOR                                  SHARES   CONSIDERATION
   ------------   ----------------                                 --------- -------------
   <S>            <C>                                              <C>       <C>
   10/22/93       John M. Randolph................................     800      $20,000
   11/5/93        Sandra B. Ringo.................................     200      $ 5,000
                  Mark W. Hastings and Susan M. Hastings, as joint
   12/22/93       tenants.........................................     800      $20,000
   10/25/94       Mortimer B. Fuller, III.........................   2,400      $30,000
</TABLE>
 
  The sale to Mr. Fuller was upon exercise by him of stock options granted in
1978. All of the other sales were made following the Registrant's repurchase
of the shares from a stockholder. All of the shares listed on the table were
sold for cash except those sold to Mr. and Mrs. Hastings, for which Mr.
Hastings executed a promissory note which has since been paid.
 
  On February 8, 1996, the Registrant issued to The First National Bank of
Boston, for a purchase price of $0, a warrant to purchase 2,262 shares of
common stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--
Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
  In May 1994, Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc., a subsidiary of the
Registrant, issued $990,000 in aggregate principal amount of Subordinated
Secured Promissory Notes, guaranteed by the Registrant, to ten accredited
investors, including four related parties. See "Certain Transactions."
 
  Each of the issuances of securities described above was made by private
offering in reliance on the exemption from the registration provisions of the
Act provided by Section 4(2) of the Act.
 
 
                                     II-2
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
  (a) Exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement:
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER  DESCRIPTION
 ------- -----------
 <C>     <S>
 ***1.1  Form of Underwriting Agreement
    3.1  Certificate of Incorporation and Certificates of Amendment dated
         October 12, 1989, February 21, 1991 and May 18, 1995
  **3.2  Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation
    3.3  By-laws
    4    The exhibits referenced under "3" hereof are incorporated herein by
         reference.
 ***4.1  Specimen stock certificate representing shares of Class A Common
         Stock.
  **4.2  Form of Class B Stockholders' Agreement dated as of May 20, 1996,
         among the Registrant, its executive officers and its Class B
         stockholders
    4.3  Promissory Note dated December 28, 1989 of GWI Leasing Corporation in
         favor of Deutsche Credit Corporation
    4.4  Railcar Finance Notes dated July 8, 1991 and November 27, 1991 of GWI
         Leasing Corporation in favor of Deutsche Credit Corporation
    4.5  Railcar Finance Notes, dated November 27, 1991 and December 31, 1991
         of GWI Leasing Corporation in favor of Deutsche Credit Corporation
    4.6  Promissory Note dated October 7, 1991 of Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. in favor of CSX Transportation, Inc.
    4.7  Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated December 28,
         1989 between GWI Leasing Corporation and Deutsche Credit Corporation,
         and Amendment No. 1 dated December 28, 1989
    4.8  Loan and Security Agreement dated December 27, 1990 between GWI
         Leasing Corporation and Deutsche Credit Corporation, and Amendments
         dated June 28, 1991 and November 22, 1991
    4.9  Guaranty dated December 27, 1990 of the Registrant in favor of
         Deutsche Credit Corporation
    4.10 Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as
         of February 8, 1996 among the Registrant and certain of its
         Subsidiaries, The First National Bank of Boston, as agent, and the
         Banks party thereto
    4.11 Revolving Credit Note dated as of February 8, 1996 of the Registrant
         and certain of its subsidiaries in favor of The First National Bank of
         Boston
    4.12 Term Note dated as of February 8, 1996 of the Registrant and certain
         of its Subsidiaries in favor of The First National Bank of Boston
    4.13 Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of February 8, 1996
         among the Registrant, certain of its Subsidiaries and The First
         National Bank of Boston
    4.14 Amended and Restated Stock Pledge Agreement dated as of February 8,
         1996 between the Registrant and The First National Bank of Boston
    4.15 Amended and Restated Collateral Assignment of Partnership Interests
         dated as of February 8, 1996 of the Registrant and GWI Dayton, Inc. in
         favor of The First National Bank of Boston
  **4.16 Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan
         Agreement dated as of April 26, 1996 among the Registrant and certain
         of its Subsidiaries, The First National Bank of Boston, as agent and
         the Banks' party thereto.
 ***5.1  Opinion of Harter, Secrest & Emery
    9.1  Voting Agreement and Stock Purchase Option dated March 21, 1980 among
         Mortimer B. Fuller, III, Mortimer B. Fuller, Jr. and Frances A.
         Fuller, and amendments thereto dated May 7, 1988 and March 29, 1996
   10    The exhibits referenced under "4" hereof are incorporated herein by
         reference.
 **10.1  Form of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan
 **10.2  Form of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors
   10.3  Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and each of its
         executive officers
 **10.4  Form of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
   10.5  Agreement dated December 7, 1994 between Allegheny & Eastern Railroad,
         Inc. and its Engineering Department Employees
</TABLE>    
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER  DESCRIPTION
 ------- -----------
 <C>     <S>
  10.6   Agreement dated March 29, 1995 between Allegheny & Eastern Railroad,
         Inc. and its Mechanical Department Employees
  10.7   Agreement dated July 1, 1992 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad,
         Inc. and its Car Repair Department Employees, and the proposed changes
         thereto dated September 16, 1994
  10.8   Agreement dated December 1, 1994 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and its Engineering Department Employees
  10.9   Agreement dated April 30, 1991 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad,
         Inc. and the American Train Dispatchers Association
  10.10  Agreement dated February 9, 1995 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and the International Association of Machinists
  10.11  Agreement dated August 22, 1994 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad,
         Inc. and the United Transportation Union (Train and Engine Service
         Employees)
  10.12  Agreement dated November 7, 1994 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and the United Transportation Union (Representing
         Clerks and Storekeepers)
  10.13  Agreement dated November 1, 1994 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and the United Transportation Union (Representing
         Yardmasters)
  10.14  Agreement dated September 1, 1990 between Genesee & Wyoming Railroad
         Company and the United Transportation Union, and Tentative Agreement
         dated February 21, 1995 between Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Company and
         United Transportation Union Local Union 982
  10.15  United Transportation Union Agreement dated May 1, 1994 between
         Rochester & Southern Railroad, Inc. and its employees represented by
         United Transportation Union
  10.16  Shared Use Agreement for Albany Yard dated February 20, 1993 between
         Southern Pacific Transportation Company and Willamette & Pacific
         Railroad, Inc.
  10.17  Trackage Rights Agreement (Albany-Eugene Yard) dated February 20, 1993
         between Southern Pacific Transportation Company and Willamette &
         Pacific Railroad, Inc.
  10.18  Westside Oregon Lines Cooperative Marketing Agreement dated February
         20, 1993 between Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc. and Southern
         Pacific Transportation Company
  10.19  Trackage Rights Agreement dated March 11, 1987 between Southern
         Pacific Transportation Company and Louisiana & Delta Railroad, Inc.
  10.20  Trackage Rights Agreement dated July 1, 1986 between Rochester &
         Southern Railroad, Inc. and Genesee and Wyoming Railroad Company, and
         undated Modification
  10.21  Master Supplemental Agreement dated October 7, 1991 between CSX
         Transportation, Inc., Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway
         Company and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.22  Assignment and Assumption Agreement for the Allegheny and Western
         Railway Company Lease dated October 7, 1991 among CSX Transportation,
         Inc., Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway Company and Buffalo &
         Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.23  Mortgage and Assignment of Leases, Rents, Issues and Profits (New
         York) dated as of October 7, 1991 by Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad,
         Inc. in favor of CSX Transportation, Inc.
  10.24  Security Agreement (New York) dated as of October 7, 1991 between
         Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. and CSX Transportation, Inc.
  10.25  Mortgage and Assignment of Leases, Rents, Issues and Profits
         (Pennsylvania) dated as of October 7, 1991 by Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. in favor of CSX Transportation, Inc.
  10.26  Security Agreement (Pennsylvania) dated as of October 7, 1991 between
         Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. and CSX Transportation, Inc.
  10.27  Lease Agreement for Real Property between Butler, Pennsylvania and
         Eidenau, Pennsylvania dated as of October 7, 1991 between CSX
         Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.28  Lease Agreement for Personal Property associated with Butler to
         Eidenau dated as of October 7, 1991 between CSX Transportation, Inc.
         and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.29  Memorandum of Lease dated October 7, 1991 between CSX Transportation,
         Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER  DESCRIPTION
 ------- -----------
 <C>     <S>
 +10.30  Lease Agreement for Real Property on the Northern Subdivision dated as
         of October 7, 1991 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo &
         Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
 +10.31  Lease Agreement for Personal Property on the Northern Subdivision
         dated as of October 7, 1991 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and
         Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.32  Lease Agreement for Real Property at Buffalo Creek Yard dated as of
         October 7, 1991 among CSX Transportation, Inc., Buffalo, Rochester and
         Pittsburgh Railway Company, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad,
         Inc.
  10.33  Memorandum of Lease dated October 7, 1991 among CSX Transportation,
         Inc., Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway Company, Inc. and
         Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.34  Agreement Relating to Interchange at Buffalo, NY dated as of July 18,
         1988 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc.
  10.35  Agreement Relating to Interchange at New Castle, PA dated as of July
         18, 1988 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc.
  10.36  Agreement Relating to Trackage Rights between New Castle, PA and
         Eidenau, PA dated as of July 18, 1988 between CSX Transportation, Inc.
         and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.37  Agreement Relating to Fallback Trackage Rights between Eidenau and WS
         Tower, PA dated as of July 18, 1988 between CSX Transportation, Inc.
         and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
 +10.38  Lease Agreement dated December 30, 1992 between Southern Pacific
         Transportation Company and Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc.
  10.39  Lease Agreement dated September 1, 1994 between Railcar, Ltd. and GWI
         Leasing Corporation
  10.40  Locomotive Lease Agreement and Letter Agreement (Equipment Schedule
         01) dated October 17, 1994 between Keycorp Leasing Ltd. and GWI
         Leasing Corporation
  10.41  Lease Agreement dated May 3, 1994 between Greenbrier Railcar, Inc. and
         GWI Leasing Corporation
 +10.42  Allegheny-International Paper Transportation Service Agreement dated
         November 24, 1992 between Allegheny & Eastern Railroad, Inc. and
         International Paper Company
 +10.43  Conrail-Allegheny Operating Contract dated November 24, 1992 between
         Consolidated Rail Corporation and Allegheny & Eastern Railroad, Inc.
  10.44  Lease recorded December 19, 1881 between The Seneca Nation of New York
         Indians and The Great Valley & Bradford Railroad Co.
  10.45  Assignment and Agreement dated September 20, 1994 among CMC Railroad
         I, Ltd., GWI Switching Services, L.P. and Southern Pacific
         Transportation Company
 +10.46  Buffalo Terminal Operating Agreement dated July 18, 1988 between CSX
         Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.47  First Amendment to Buffalo Terminal Operating Agreement dated December
          , 1990 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc.
 +10.48  Operating Agreement and Car Storage Yard Agreement Consent to
         Assignments dated as of September 20, 1994 between NCC Charlie Company
         and GWI Switching Services L.P. with Exhibit I (Amended and Restated
         Car Storage Yard Agreement dated September 20, 1994 between Southern
         Pacific Transportation Company and CMC Railroad I, Ltd.) and Exhibit
         II (Amended and Restated Car Storage Yard Agreement dated September
         20, 1994 between Southern Pacific Transportation Company and CMC
         Railroad I, Ltd.)
  10.49  Trackage Rights Agreement dated March 12, 1994 between Southern
         Pacific Transportation Company and GWI Switching Services L.P.
  10.50  First Amendment to Trackage Rights Agreement dated September 20, 1994
         between Southern Pacific Transportation Company and GWI Switching
         Services L.P.
  10.51  Indenture of Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement dated January 17,
         1992 between Southern Pacific Transportation Company and Louisiana and
         Delta Railroad, Inc.
  10.52  Lease Agreement dated November 7, 1991 between CIS Corporation and
         Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
  NUMBER  DESCRIPTION
 -------  -----------
 <C>      <S>
    10.53 Notice and Acknowledgement of Assignment dated as of November 1, 1993
          between James P. Hassett as Trustee for CIS Corporation, Buffalo &
          Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. and ATEL Financial Corporation
    10.54 Agreement relating to Trackage Rights dated July 18, 1988 between CSX
          Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
    10.55 Commercial Agreement dated March 11, 1987 between Louisiana & Delta
          Railroad, Inc. and Southern Pacific Transportation Company
    10.56 Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated March 11, 1987 between
          Louisiana & Delta Railroad, Inc. and Southern Pacific Transportation
          Company
    10.57 Administrative Agreement dated as of February 19, 1985 between
          Consolidated Rail Corporation and Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Company
    10.58 Interchange Agreement (Goodman Street Yard) dated December 13, 1984
          between Consolidated Rail Corporation and Genesee & Wyoming Railroad
          Company
    10.59 Revolver A Note dated June 2, 1995 of the Registrant in favor of The
          First National Bank of Boston, as Agent
    10.60 Revolver B Note dated June 2, 1995 of the Registrant in favor of The
          First National Bank of Boston, as Agent
    10.61 Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of February 8, 1996 between
          Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc. and Stanford PRC Acquisition Corp.
    10.62 Guaranty dated as of February 8, 1996 of the Registrant in favor of
          Stanford PRC Acquisition Corp.
    10.63 Assignment and Assumption Agreements dated as of February 8, 1996
          between Chicago & Illinois Midland Railway Company and Illinois &
          Midland Railroad, Inc. (six)
    10.64 Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 8, 1996 between the
          Registrant and The First National Bank of Boston
    10.65 Agreement dated February 6, 1996 between Illinois & Midland Railroad,
          Inc. and the United Transportation Union
   +10.66 Lease Agreement dated as of August 18, 1995 between Southern Pacific
          Transportation Company and Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.
   +10.67 Lease Agreement dated September 15, 1995 between Burlington Northern
          Railroad Company and Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.
    10.68 Lease Agreement dated as of October 1, 1982 between Livingston County
          Industrial Development Agency and Genesee and Wyoming Railroad
    10.69 Lease Agreement dated as of February 1, 1995 between Livingston
          County Industrial Development Agency and Genesee and Wyoming Railroad
          Company
 **+10.70 Asset Purchase Agreement dated April 19, 1996 among Pittsburg &
          Shawmut Railroad, Inc., Genesee & Wyoming Inc., The Pittsburg &
          Shawmut Railroad Company, Red Bank Railroad Company, Mountain Laurel
          Railroad Company and Arthur T. Walker Estate Corporation, and
          Amendment No. 1 to Asset Purchase Agreement dated April 19, 1996
  **10.71 Amendment No. 1 to Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of May 31,
          1996 between the Registrant and FSC Corp.
  **11.1  Statement re computation of per share earnings
    12.1  Exhibit has been omitted because the required information is included
          in the financial statements or notes thereto forming part of this
          Registration Statement.
  **21.1  Subsidiaries of the Registrant
 ***23.1  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
 ***23.2  Consent of Harter, Secrest & Emery (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
    24.1  Officers' and Directors' Power of Attorney
  **27    Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR filed only)
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
***Filed with this Amendment.     
   
 **Filed with Amendment No. 1.     
       
  + Confidential treatment requested as to certain portions, which have been
    filed separately with the Commission pursuant to an application for such
    treatment.
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>
 
  (b) Financial Statement Schedules:
 
  All schedules have been omitted either as inapplicable or because the
required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto
forming part of this Registration Statement.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the Underwriters
at the closing specified in the Underwriting Agreement, certificates in such
denominations and registered in such names as required by the Underwriters to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
 
  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
    (1) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, the
  information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
  Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form
  of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
  497(h) under the Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration
  Statement as of the time that it was declared effective.
 
    (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each
  post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed
  to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered
  therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
  to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                     II-7
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES
   
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON
ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF NEW
YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK, ON THE 12TH DAY OF JUNE, 1996.     
 
                                          Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
                                                    
                                                 /s/ Mark W. Hastings     
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                      
                                                   MARK W. HASTINGS     
                                                   
                                                SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT     
   
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS AMENDMENT
NO. 2 TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS
IN THE CAPACITIES INDICATED AND ON THE 12TH DAY OF JUNE, 1996.     
 
              SIGNATURE                                TITLE
 
                                       Chairman of the Board, President and
               *                        Chief Executive Officer (Principal
- -------------------------------------   Executive Officer)
       MORTIMER B. FULLER, III
 
        /s/ Mark W. Hastings           Senior Vice President, Chief
- -------------------------------------   Financial Officer and Treasurer
          MARK W. HASTINGS              (Principal Financial Officer)
 
                                       Senior Vice President and Chief
               *                        Accounting Officer (Principal
- -------------------------------------   Accounting Officer)
           ALAN R. HARRIS
 
                  *                    Director
- -------------------------------------
           JAMES M. FULLER
 
                  *                    Director
- -------------------------------------
           LOUIS S. FULLER
 
                  *                    Director
- -------------------------------------
          JOHN M. RANDOLPH
 
                  *                    Director
- -------------------------------------
           PHILIP J. RINGO
          
       /s/ Mark W. Hastings     
*By: ________________________________
            
         MARK W. HASTINGS     
           ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
 
                                     II-8
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER  DESCRIPTION
 ------- -----------
 <C>     <S>                                                                
 ***1.1  Form of Underwriting Agreement
    3.1  Certificate of Incorporation and Certificates of Amendment dated
         October 12, 1989, February 21, 1991 and May 18, 1995
  **3.2  Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation
    3.3  By-laws
    4    The exhibits referenced under "3" hereof are incorporated herein
         by reference.
 ***4.1  Specimen stock certificate representing shares of Class A Common
         Stock.
  **4.2  Form of Class B Stockholders' Agreement dated as of May 20,
         1996, among the Registrant, its executive officers and its Class
         B stockholders
    4.3  Promissory Note dated December 28, 1989 of GWI Leasing
         Corporation in favor of Deutsche Credit Corporation
    4.4  Railcar Finance Notes dated July 8, 1991 and November 27, 1991
         of GWI Leasing Corporation in favor of Deutsche Credit
         Corporation
    4.5  Railcar Finance Notes, dated November 27, 1991 and December 31,
         1991 of GWI Leasing Corporation in favor of Deutsche Credit
         Corporation
    4.6  Promissory Note dated October 7, 1991 of Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. in favor of CSX Transportation, Inc.
    4.7  Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated December
         28, 1989 between GWI Leasing Corporation and Deutsche Credit
         Corporation, and Amendment No. 1 dated December 28, 1989
    4.8  Loan and Security Agreement dated December 27, 1990 between GWI
         Leasing Corporation and Deutsche Credit Corporation, and
         Amendments dated June 28, 1991 and November 22, 1991
    4.9  Guaranty dated December 27, 1990 of the Registrant in favor of
         Deutsche Credit Corporation
    4.10 Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement
         dated as of February 8, 1996 among the Registrant and certain of
         its Subsidiaries, The First National Bank of Boston, as agent,
         and the Banks party thereto
    4.11 Revolving Credit Note dated as of February 8, 1996 of the
         Registrant and certain of its subsidiaries in favor of The First
         National Bank of Boston
    4.12 Term Note dated as of February 8, 1996 of the Registrant and
         certain of its Subsidiaries in favor of The First National Bank
         of Boston
    4.13 Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of February 8,
         1996 among the Registrant, certain of its Subsidiaries and The
         First National Bank of Boston
    4.14 Amended and Restated Stock Pledge Agreement dated as of February
         8, 1996 between the Registrant and The First National Bank of
         Boston
    4.15 Amended and Restated Collateral Assignment of Partnership
         Interests dated as of February 8, 1996 of the Registrant and GWI
         Dayton, Inc. in favor of The First National Bank of Boston
  **4.16 Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and
         Term Loan Agreement dated as of April 26, 1996 among the
         Registrant and certain of its Subsidiaries, The First National
         Bank of Boston, as agent and the Banks' party thereto.
 ***5.1  Opinion of Harter, Secrest & Emery
    9.1  Voting Agreement and Stock Purchase Option dated March 21, 1980
         among Mortimer B. Fuller, III, Mortimer B. Fuller, Jr. and
         Frances A. Fuller, and amendments thereto dated May 7, 1988 and
         March 29, 1996
   10    The exhibits referenced under "4" hereof are incorporated herein
         by reference.
 **10.1  Form of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan
 **10.2  Form of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Stock Option Plan for Outside
         Directors
   10.3  Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and each of
         its executive officers
 **10.4  Form of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
   10.5  Agreement dated December 7, 1994 between Allegheny & Eastern
         Railroad, Inc. and its Engineering Department Employees
</TABLE>    
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER  DESCRIPTION
 ------- -----------
 <C>     <S>                                                                
  10.6   Agreement dated March 29, 1995 between Allegheny & Eastern
         Railroad, Inc. and its Mechanical Department Employees
  10.7   Agreement dated July 1, 1992 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and its Car Repair Department Employees, and the
         proposed changes thereto dated September 16, 1994
  10.8   Agreement dated December 1, 1994 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and its Engineering Department Employees
  10.9   Agreement dated April 30, 1991 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and the American Train Dispatchers Association
  10.10  Agreement dated February 9, 1995 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and the International Association of Machinists
  10.11  Agreement dated August 22, 1994 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and the United Transportation Union (Train and
         Engine Service Employees)
  10.12  Agreement dated November 7, 1994 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and the United Transportation Union (Representing
         Clerks and Storekeepers)
  10.13  Agreement dated November 1, 1994 between Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. and the United Transportation Union (Representing
         Yardmasters)
  10.14  Agreement dated September 1, 1990 between Genesee & Wyoming
         Railroad Company and the United Transportation Union, and
         Tentative Agreement dated February 21, 1995 between Genesee &
         Wyoming Railroad Company and United Transportation Union Local
         Union 982
  10.15  United Transportation Union Agreement dated May 1, 1994 between
         Rochester & Southern Railroad, Inc. and its employees
         represented by United Transportation Union
  10.16  Shared Use Agreement for Albany Yard dated February 20, 1993
         between Southern Pacific Transportation Company and Willamette &
         Pacific Railroad, Inc.
  10.17  Trackage Rights Agreement (Albany-Eugene Yard) dated February
         20, 1993 between Southern Pacific Transportation Company and
         Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc.
  10.18  Westside Oregon Lines Cooperative Marketing Agreement dated
         February 20, 1993 between Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc.
         and Southern Pacific Transportation Company
  10.19  Trackage Rights Agreement dated March 11, 1987 between Southern
         Pacific Transportation Company and Louisiana & Delta Railroad,
         Inc.
  10.20  Trackage Rights Agreement dated July 1, 1986 between Rochester &
         Southern Railroad, Inc. and Genesee and Wyoming Railroad
         Company, and undated Modification
  10.21  Master Supplemental Agreement dated October 7, 1991 between CSX
         Transportation, Inc., Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway
         Company and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.22  Assignment and Assumption Agreement for the Allegheny and
         Western Railway Company Lease dated October 7, 1991 among CSX
         Transportation, Inc., Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway
         Company and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.23  Mortgage and Assignment of Leases, Rents, Issues and Profits
         (New York) dated as of October 7, 1991 by Buffalo & Pittsburgh
         Railroad, Inc. in favor of CSX Transportation, Inc.
  10.24  Security Agreement (New York) dated as of October 7, 1991
         between Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. and CSX
         Transportation, Inc.
  10.25  Mortgage and Assignment of Leases, Rents, Issues and Profits
         (Pennsylvania) dated as of October 7, 1991 by Buffalo &
         Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. in favor of CSX Transportation, Inc.
  10.26  Security Agreement (Pennsylvania) dated as of October 7, 1991
         between Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. and CSX
         Transportation, Inc.
  10.27  Lease Agreement for Real Property between Butler, Pennsylvania
         and Eidenau, Pennsylvania dated as of October 7, 1991 between
         CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.28  Lease Agreement for Personal Property associated with Butler to
         Eidenau dated as of October 7, 1991 between CSX Transportation,
         Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.29  Memorandum of Lease dated October 7, 1991 between CSX
         Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
</TABLE>    
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER  DESCRIPTION
 ------- -----------
 <C>     <S>                                                                
 +10.30  Lease Agreement for Real Property on the Northern Subdivision
         dated as of October 7, 1991 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and
         Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
 +10.31  Lease Agreement for Personal Property on the Northern
         Subdivision dated as of October 7, 1991 between CSX
         Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.32  Lease Agreement for Real Property at Buffalo Creek Yard dated as
         of October 7, 1991 among CSX Transportation, Inc., Buffalo,
         Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway Company, Inc. and Buffalo &
         Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.33  Memorandum of Lease dated October 7, 1991 among CSX
         Transportation, Inc., Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railway
         Company, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.34  Agreement Relating to Interchange at Buffalo, NY dated as of
         July 18, 1988 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo &
         Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.35  Agreement Relating to Interchange at New Castle, PA dated as of
         July 18, 1988 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo &
         Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.36  Agreement Relating to Trackage Rights between New Castle, PA and
         Eidenau, PA dated as of July 18, 1988 between CSX
         Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.37  Agreement Relating to Fallback Trackage Rights between Eidenau
         and WS Tower, PA dated as of July 18, 1988 between CSX
         Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
 +10.38  Lease Agreement dated December 30, 1992 between Southern Pacific
         Transportation Company and Willamette & Pacific Railroad, Inc.
  10.39  Lease Agreement dated September 1, 1994 between Railcar, Ltd.
         and GWI Leasing Corporation
  10.40  Locomotive Lease Agreement and Letter Agreement (Equipment
         Schedule 01) dated October 17, 1994 between Keycorp Leasing Ltd.
         and GWI Leasing Corporation
  10.41  Lease Agreement dated May 3, 1994 between Greenbrier Railcar,
         Inc. and GWI Leasing Corporation
 +10.42  Allegheny-International Paper Transportation Service Agreement
         dated November 24, 1992 between Allegheny & Eastern Railroad,
         Inc. and International Paper Company
 +10.43  Conrail-Allegheny Operating Contract dated November 24, 1992
         between Consolidated Rail Corporation and Allegheny & Eastern
         Railroad, Inc.
  10.44  Lease recorded December 19, 1881 between The Seneca Nation of
         New York Indians and The Great Valley & Bradford Railroad Co.
  10.45  Assignment and Agreement dated September 20, 1994 among CMC
         Railroad I, Ltd., GWI Switching Services, L.P. and Southern
         Pacific Transportation Company
 +10.46  Buffalo Terminal Operating Agreement dated July 18, 1988 between
         CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
  10.47  First Amendment to Buffalo Terminal Operating Agreement dated
         December  , 1990 between CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo &
         Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
 +10.48  Operating Agreement and Car Storage Yard Agreement Consent to
         Assignments dated as of September 20, 1994 between NCC Charlie
         Company and GWI Switching Services L.P. with Exhibit I (Amended
         and Restated Car Storage Yard Agreement dated September 20, 1994
         between Southern Pacific Transportation Company and CMC Railroad
         I, Ltd.) and Exhibit II (Amended and Restated Car Storage Yard
         Agreement dated September 20, 1994 between Southern Pacific
         Transportation Company and CMC Railroad I, Ltd.)
  10.49  Trackage Rights Agreement dated March 12, 1994 between Southern
         Pacific Transportation Company and GWI Switching Services L.P.
  10.50  First Amendment to Trackage Rights Agreement dated September 20,
         1994 between Southern Pacific Transportation Company and GWI
         Switching Services L.P.
  10.51  Indenture of Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement dated
         January 17, 1992 between Southern Pacific Transportation Company
         and Louisiana and Delta Railroad, Inc.
  10.52  Lease Agreement dated November 7, 1991 between CIS Corporation
         and Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc.
</TABLE>    
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
  NUMBER  DESCRIPTION
 -------  -----------
 <C>      <S>                                                               
    10.53 Notice and Acknowledgement of Assignment dated as of November
          1, 1993 between James P. Hassett as Trustee for CIS
          Corporation, Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. and ATEL
          Financial Corporation
    10.54 Agreement relating to Trackage Rights dated July 18, 1988
          between CSX Transportation, Inc. and Buffalo & Pittsburgh
          Railroad, Inc.
    10.55 Commercial Agreement dated March 11, 1987 between Louisiana &
          Delta Railroad, Inc. and Southern Pacific Transportation
          Company
    10.56 Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated March 11, 1987
          between Louisiana & Delta Railroad, Inc. and Southern Pacific
          Transportation Company
    10.57 Administrative Agreement dated as of February 19, 1985 between
          Consolidated Rail Corporation and Genesee & Wyoming Railroad
          Company
    10.58 Interchange Agreement (Goodman Street Yard) dated December 13,
          1984 between Consolidated Rail Corporation and Genesee &
          Wyoming Railroad Company
    10.59 Revolver A Note dated June 2, 1995 of the Registrant in favor
          of The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent
    10.60 Revolver B Note dated June 2, 1995 of the Registrant in favor
          of The First National Bank of Boston, as Agent
    10.61 Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of February 8, 1996 between
          Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc. and Stanford PRC Acquisition
          Corp.
    10.62 Guaranty dated as of February 8, 1996 of the Registrant in
          favor of Stanford PRC Acquisition Corp.
    10.63 Assignment and Assumption Agreements dated as of February 8,
          1996 between Chicago & Illinois Midland Railway Company and
          Illinois & Midland Railroad, Inc. (six)
    10.64 Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 8, 1996 between
          the Registrant and The First National Bank of Boston
    10.65 Agreement dated February 6, 1996 between Illinois & Midland
          Railroad, Inc. and the United Transportation Union
   +10.66 Lease Agreement dated as of August 18, 1995 between Southern
          Pacific Transportation Company and Portland & Western Railroad,
          Inc.
   +10.67 Lease Agreement dated September 15, 1995 between Burlington
          Northern Railroad Company and Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.
    10.68 Lease Agreement dated as of October 1, 1982 between Livingston
          County Industrial Development Agency and Genesee and Wyoming
          Railroad
    10.69 Lease Agreement dated as of February 1, 1995 between Livingston
          County Industrial Development Agency and Genesee and Wyoming
          Railroad Company
 **+10.70 Asset Purchase Agreement dated April 19, 1996 among Pittsburg &
          Shawmut Railroad, Inc., Genesee & Wyoming Inc., The Pittsburg &
          Shawmut Railroad Company, Red Bank Railroad Company, Mountain
          Laurel Railroad Company and Arthur T. Walker Estate
          Corporation, and Amendment No. 1 to Asset Purchase Agreement
          dated April 19, 1996
  **10.71 Amendment No. 1 to Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of May
          31, 1996 between the Registrant and FSC Corp.
  **11.1  Statement re computation of per share earnings
    12.1  Exhibit has been omitted because the required information is
          included in the financial statements or notes thereto forming
          part of this Registration Statement.
  **21.1  Subsidiaries of the Registrant
 ***23.1  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
 ***23.2  Consent of Harter, Secrest & Emery (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
    24.1  Officers' and Directors' Power of Attorney
  **27    Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR filed only)
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
***Filed with this Amendment.     
   
**Filed with Amendment No. 1.     
       
 + Confidential treatment requested as to certain portions, which have been
   filed separately with the Commission pursuant to an application for such
   treatment.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1


                             GENESEE & WYOMING INC.
                                3,045,200 Shares
                              Class A Common Stock
                           (Par Value $.01 Per Share)

                          ___________________________

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                                                              New York, New York
                                                                   June __, 1996

SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO. INCORPORATED
FURMAN SELZ LLC
 As Representatives of the several
 Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
c/o Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated
  Equitable Center
  797 Seventh Avenue
  New York, New York 10019-6016

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell
to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters"), an
aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Class A Common Stock"), and Ryder/ATE, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Selling Stockholder"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated
herein, to sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 148,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock.  The 2,648,000 shares of Class A Common Stock to be sold by the
Company and the Selling Stockholder are herein referred to as the "Firm
Securities."  In addition, the Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters an
option to purchase up to an additional 397,200 shares of Class A Common Stock
(the "Option Securities"), on the terms and for the purposes set forth in
Section 2 hereof.  The Firm Securities and the Option Securities are herein
collectively referred to as the "Securities."  Except as may be expressly set
forth below, any reference to you in this Agreement shall be solely in your
capacity as the Representatives.
<PAGE>
 
                                       2


          1A.  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of
the Underwriters that:

          (a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-3972), and as a
     part thereof a preliminary prospectus, in respect of the Securities, has
     been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
     in the form heretofore delivered to you and, with the exception of exhibits
     to the registration statement, to you for each of the other Underwriters;
     if such registration statement has not become effective, an amendment (the
     "Final Amendment") to such registration statement, including a form of
     final prospectus, necessary to permit such registration statement to become
     effective, will promptly be filed by the Company with the Commission; if
     such registration statement has become effective and any post-effective
     amendment to such registration statement has been filed with the Commission
     prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, which amendment or
     amendments shall be in form acceptable to you, the most recent such
     amendment has been declared effective by the Commission; if such
     registration statement has become effective, a final prospectus (the "Rule
     430A Prospectus") relating to the Securities containing information
     permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the
     rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933,
     as amended (the "Act"), will promptly be filed by the Company pursuant to
     Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act
     (any preliminary prospectus filed as part of such registration statement
     being herein called a "Preliminary Prospectus," such registration statement
     as amended at the time that it becomes or became effective, or, if
     applicable, as amended at the time the most recent post-effective amendment
     to such registration statement filed with the Commission prior to the
     execution and delivery of this Agreement became effective (the "Effective
     Date"), including all exhibits thereto and all information deemed to be a
     part thereof at such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the rules and
     regulations of the Commission under the Act, being herein called the
     "Registration Statement" and the final prospectus relating to the
     Securities in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) of the
     rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act or, if no such filing
     is required, the form of final prospectus included in the Registration
     Statement, being herein called the "Prospectus");

          (b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
     Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary
     Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material
     respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of
     the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,
     however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any
     statements or omissions made
<PAGE>
 
                                       3

     in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to
     the Company by an Underwriter through you expressly for use therein;

          (c) On the Effective Date and the date the Prospectus is filed with
     the Commission, and when any further amendment or supplements thereto
     become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, the
     Registration Statement, the Prospectus and such amendment or supplements
     did and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the
     Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not
     and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
     state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
     the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this
     representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
     made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
     writing to the Company by an Underwriter through you expressly for use
     therein;

          (d) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
     a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
     with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and to
     conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and has been duly
     qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is
     in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns
     or leases property, or conducts any business, so as to require such
     qualification (except where the failure to so qualify would not have a
     material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
     business affairs or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
     a whole); and each of the Company's subsidiaries has been duly incorporated
     and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
     its jurisdiction of incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and
     other) to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in
     the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for
     the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each
     other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property, or conducts any
     business, so as to require such qualification (except where the failure to
     so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition,
     financial or otherwise, or the business affairs or prospects of the Company
     and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole);

          (e) All the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the
     Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid
     and non-assessable and are owned by the Company free and clear of all
     liens, encumbrances, equities, security interests or claims, except for (i)
     liens, encumbrances and security interests in favor of The First National
     Bank of Boston, as agent for a syndicate of banks (the "Bank of Boston")
     and (ii) the effect of certain voting trusts with respect to the capital
     stock of Portland & Western Railroad, Inc. and Pittsburg & Shawmut
     Railroad, Inc. (the "Voting Trusts"); there are no outstanding options,
     warrants or other rights calling for the issuance of, and there are no
     commitments, plans or arrangements to
<PAGE>
 
                                       4

     issue, any shares of capital stock of any subsidiary or any security
     convertible or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock of any
     subsidiary; all the partnership interests in GWI Switching Services, L.P.,
     a Texas limited partnership ("GWI Switching"), have been duly and validly
     authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by
     Genesee & Wyoming Investors, Inc. and GWI Dayton, Inc. free and clear of
     all liens, encumbrances, equities, security interests or claims, except for
     liens, encumbrances and security interests in favor of the Bank of Boston;
     there are no commitments, plans or arrangements to issue any further
     partnership interests in GWI Switching; except for (i) the shares of stock
     of each subsidiary owned by the Company, (ii) the partnership interests in
     GWI Switching owned by Genesee & Wyoming Investors, Inc. and GWI Dayton,
     Inc., and (iii) Finger Lakes Railway Corporation, neither the Company nor
     any subsidiary owns, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of
     any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, joint
     venture, association or other entity; and except for (i) Kittanning
     Equipment Leasing Company, a Pennsylvania corporation wholly owned by
     Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad, Inc., which has no assets (other than certain
     permits) or liabilities in excess of $10,000, (ii) Breaux Bridge Railroad
     Inc., a Delaware corporation which was incorporated but never capitalized,
     the only subsidiaries of the Company are listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the
     Registration Statement.

          (f) The Company has all requisite power and authority to execute,
     deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement; the execution,
     delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations under this
     Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite corporate
     action of the Company; and this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and
     binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
     accordance with its terms;

          (g) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, neither the
     Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the
     latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus, any loss or
     interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
     calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or
     court or governmental action, order or decree, which loss or interference
     is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and,
     since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been, and prior to
     the Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) there will not be,
     any change in the capital stock (other than shares issued pursuant to
     exercise of employee or director stock options that the Prospectus
     indicates are outstanding (the "Employee Option Shares"), exercise of the
     Warrant issued to the Bank of Boston (the "Bank Warrant") or conversion of
     shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock) or
     short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, or any material adverse change, or any development involving
     a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
     management, financial position,
<PAGE>
 
                                       5

     stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
     in the Prospectus;

          (h) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to
     all real property owned in fee simple and good title to all personal
     property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens,
     encumbrances and defects except such as are described in or contemplated by
     the Prospectus, or such as do not materially affect the value of such
     property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of
     such property by the Company and its subsidiaries, and any real property,
     buildings and personal property held under lease by the Company and its
     subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable
     leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with
     the use made and proposed to be made of such real property, buildings and
     personal property by the Company and its subsidiaries;

          (i) The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding
     capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, and all the
     issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly
     authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, are free of any
     preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights (except as
     provided by the Bank Warrant or that certain Class B Stockholders'
     Agreement dated as of May 20, 1996), were issued and sold in compliance
     with the applicable federal and state securities laws and conform in all
     material respects to the description in the Prospectus; except as described
     in the Prospectus, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other
     rights calling for the issuance of, and there are no commitments, plans or
     arrangements to issue, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any
     security convertible or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock of
     the Company; there are no holders of securities of the Company who, by
     reason of the filing of the Registration Statement, have the right (and
     have not waived such right) to request the Company to include in the
     Registration Statement securities owned by them;

          (j) The Securities to be sold by the Company and the Selling
     Stockholder to the Underwriters hereunder have been duly and validly
     authorized, the Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder are and,
     when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, the
     Securities to be sold by the Company will be, duly and validly issued,
     fully paid and non-assessable, and the Securities to be sold hereunder will
     conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the
     Prospectus and will be quoted on the Nasdaq National Market as of the
     Effective Date;

          (k) The performance of this Agreement, the consummation of the
     transactions herein contemplated and the issue and sale of the Securities
     and the compliance by the Company with all the provisions of this Agreement
     will not
<PAGE>
 
                                       6

     conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
     provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or
     imposition of any lien, charge, claim, or encumbrance upon, any of the
     property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to,
     any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement
     or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
     by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of
     the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
     subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
     the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws, in each case as amended to
     the date hereof, of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any statute
     or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
     body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
     of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order,
     registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency
     or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the
     consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
     except the registration under the Act of the Securities, and such consents,
     approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
     required under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws in connection
     with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;

          (l) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers
     or directors is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is the subject, other than litigation or proceedings
     incident to the business conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries
     which will not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse
     effect on the current or future financial position, stockholders' equity or
     results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
     whole; and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are
     threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened or
     contemplated by others; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
     is involved in any labor dispute, nor, to the Company's knowledge, is any
     labor dispute threatened;

          (m) The Company and its subsidiaries have such licenses, consents,
     orders, certificates, permits and other approvals or authorizations of and
     from governmental or regulatory authorities ("Permits") as are necessary
     under applicable law to own their respective properties and to conduct
     their respective businesses in the manner now being conducted and as
     described in the Prospectus; and the Company and its subsidiaries have
     fulfilled and performed in all material respects all of their respective
     obligations with respect to such Permits, including having made all
     declarations and filings with all federal, state, local and other
     governmental authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts
     and other tribunals, and no event has occurred which allows, or after
     notice or lapse of time or both would allow, revocation or termination
     thereof or result in any other material impairment of the rights of the
     Company and its subsidiaries with respect to such Permits;
<PAGE>
 
                                       7

     (n) Arthur Andersen LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of
     the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report
     with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules
     included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are independent
     public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of
     the Commission thereunder;

          (o) The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company
     and its subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus present fairly the financial condition, the results of
     operations and the cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the
     dates and for the periods therein specified in conformity with generally
     accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods
     involved, except as otherwise stated therein; and the other financial and
     statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus is accurately presented and, to the extent such
     information and data is derived from the financial statements and books and
     records of the Company and its subsidiaries, is prepared on a basis
     consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the
     Company and its subsidiaries; the pro forma financial information included
     in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus have been properly
     compiled and comply in form in all material respects with the applicable
     accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X of the Commission;
     no other financial statements or schedules are required to be included in
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

          (p) There are no statutes or governmental regulations, or any
     contracts or other documents that are required to be described in or filed
     as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described therein
     or filed as exhibits thereto; and all such contracts to which the Company
     or any subsidiary is a party have been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by the Company or such subsidiary, constitute valid and binding
     agreements of the Company or such subsidiary and are enforceable against
     the Company or subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof;

          (q) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate patent
     rights or licenses or other rights to use patent rights, inventions,
     trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, technology and know-how
     necessary to conduct the general business now or proposed to be operated by
     them as described in the Prospectus; neither the Company nor any of its
     subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with
     asserted rights of others with respect to any patent, patent rights,
     inventions, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, technology
     or know-how which, singly or in the aggregate, could materially adversely
     affect the business, operations, financial condition, income or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole;
<PAGE>
 
                                       8

          (r) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
     (i) any term or provision of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws
     (or similar corporate constituent documents), in each case as amended to
     the date hereof, or (ii) any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental
     rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or
     of any decree of any court or governmental agency or body having
     jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries except, in the
     case of clause (ii), any such violation which individually or in the
     aggregate would not have any material adverse effect on the property,
     business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a
     whole;

          (s) No default exists, and no event has occurred which with notice or
     lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default in the due performance
     and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any indenture,
     mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, lease or other
     agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
     a party or by which any of them or their respective properties is bound or
     may be affected, except any such default or event which individually or in
     the aggregate would not have any material adverse effect on the property,
     business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a
     whole;

          (t) The Company and its subsidiaries have timely filed all necessary
     tax returns and notices and have paid all federal, state, county, local and
     foreign taxes of any nature whatsoever for all tax years through December
     31, 1995, to the extent such taxes have become due.  The Company has no
     knowledge, or any reasonable grounds to know, of any tax deficiencies which
     would have a material adverse effect on the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries; the Company and its subsidiaries have paid all taxes which
     have become due, whether pursuant to any assessments, or otherwise, and
     there is no further liability (whether or not disclosed on such returns) or
     assessments for any such taxes, and no interest or penalties accrued or
     accruing with respect thereto, except as may be set forth or adequately
     reserved for in the financial statements included in the Registration
     Statement; the amounts currently set up as provisions for taxes or
     otherwise by the Company and its subsidiaries on their books and records
     are sufficient for the payment of all their unpaid federal, foreign, state,
     county and local taxes accrued through the dates as of which they speak,
     and for which the Company and its subsidiaries may be liable in their own
     right, or as a transferee of the assets of, or as successor to any other
     corporation, association, partnership, joint venture or other entity;

          (u) Except for holders of the Bank Warrant, there are no holders of
     Class A Common Stock or of securities convertible into or exchangeable for
     Class A Common Stock who are, or within a period of 180 days after the date
     of the initial public offering of the Securities will be, entitled to
     demand that the Company register under the Act any shares of Class A Common
     Stock owned by them or include any
<PAGE>
 
                                       9

     shares of Class A Common Stock owned by them in a registration under the
     Act made by Company on its own behalf.

          (v) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal
     accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
     transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
     specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
     permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
     accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets;
     (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's
     general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for
     assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and
     appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences;

          (w) The Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any
     and all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations relating
     to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous
     or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental
     Laws"), except to the extent that any non-compliance with such laws and
     regulations may be set forth in the Prospectus, (ii) have received all
     permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable
     Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in
     compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
     approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure
     to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to
     comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals
     would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
     the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

          (x) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
     any federal or state law relating to discrimination in the hiring,
     promotion or paying of employees nor any applicable federal or state wages
     and hours laws, nor any provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
     Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated
     thereunder, where such violation would have a material adverse effect on
     the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

          (y) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts pre-
     acquisition investigations of new railroad properties to identify potential
     violations of Environmental Laws, trains management personnel in the
     recognition of and proper response to incidents of noncompliance with
     Environmental Laws and establishes procedures for communicating such
     incidents to Company headquarters.  On the basis of such activities, the
     Company has reasonably concluded that potential environmental costs and
     liabilities arising out of or relating to (i) any event which has occurred
     on or prior to the date hereof or (ii) any condition which exists on the
     date hereof would
<PAGE>
 
                                       10

     not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
     Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

          (z) Except for an inadvertent excess political contribution of $250
     which has been refunded, none of the Company or its subsidiaries, or its
     officers, directors, employees or agents, has used any corporate funds for
     any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense
     relating to political activity, or made any unlawful payment of funds of
     the Company or any subsidiary or received or retained any funds in
     violation of any law, rule or regulation;

          (aa) None of the Company or its subsidiaries, or its officers,
     directors, employees or agents, have taken or will take, directly or
     indirectly, any action designed to or which has constituted or that might
     be reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or
     manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the
     sale or resale of the Securities;

          (bb) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
     "controlled" by an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

          (cc) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
     Florida Statutes (Chapter 92-198, Laws of Florida); and

          (dd) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any
     subsidiary and delivered to you or Shearman & Sterling as counsel for the
     Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or transactions contemplated hereby
     shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or such
     subsidiary, as the case may be, to the Underwriters as to the matters
     covered thereby.

          1B.  The Selling  Stockholder represents and warrants to, and agrees
with, each of the Underwriters that:

          (a) The Selling Stockholder has been duly incorporated and is validly
     existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
     Delaware; and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder;

          (b) The execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of, and the
     performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, this
     Agreement, the Irrevocable Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement signed
     by the Selling Stockholder and the Company, as custodian, relating to the
     deposit of the Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder and the
     appointment of certain individuals as the Selling Stockholder's attorneys-
     in-fact to the extent set forth therein, relating to the
<PAGE>
 
                                       11

     transactions contemplated hereby and by the Registration Statement (the
     "Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement") will not contravene any
     provision of applicable law, or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws
     of the Selling Stockholder, or any agreement or other instrument binding
     upon the Selling Stockholder or any judgement, order or decree of any
     governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Selling
     Stockholder, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of or
     qualification with any governmental body or agency is required for the
     performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations under this
     Agreement or the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement, except such as
     may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in
     connection with the offer and sale of the Securities;

          (c) The Selling Stockholder has, and at the Time of Delivery will
     have, valid marketable title to the Securities to be sold by it and the
     legal right and power, and all authorization and approval required by law,
     to enter into this Agreement and the Power of Attorney and Custody
     Agreement and to sell, transfer and deliver the Securities to be sold by
     the Selling Stockholder;

          (d) The Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement has been duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder and is a
     legal, valid and binding obligation of the Selling Stockholder enforceable
     against the Selling Stockholder in accordance with its terms;

          (e) Delivery of the Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder
     pursuant to this Agreement will pass marketable title to such Securities
     free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens, equities and other
     encumbrances; and

          (f) All information furnished by or on behalf of the Selling
     Stockholder for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is, and at
     the Time of Delivery will be, true, correct, and complete, and does not,
     and at the Time of Delivery will not, contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make such
     information not misleading.

          2.   Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company
agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of  2,500,000
Firm Securities, the Selling Stockholder agrees to sell to the several
Underwriters an aggregate of 148,000 Firm Securities, and each of the
Underwriters agrees to purchase from the Company and the Selling Stockholder, at
a purchase price of $_____ per share, the respective aggregate number of Firm
Securities determined in the manner set forth below.  The obligation of each
Underwriter to the Company and the Selling Stockholder, respectively, shall be
to purchase that portion of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be
sold by the Company or the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement as the
number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on
Schedule I bears to the
<PAGE>
 
                                       12

total number of Firm Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to
this Agreement, in each case adjusted by you such that no Underwriter shall be
obligated to purchase Firm Securities other than in 100 share amounts. In making
this Agreement, each Underwriter is contracting severally and not jointly.

          In addition, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters, as required (for the sole
purpose of covering over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Securities), up to
397,200 Option Securities at the purchase price per share of the Firm Securities
being sold by the Company as stated in the preceding paragraph.  The right to
purchase the Option Securities may be exercised by your giving 48 hours' prior
written or telephonic notice (subsequently confirmed in writing) to the Company
of your determination to purchase all or a portion of the Option Securities.
Such notice may be given at any time within a period of 30 days following the
date of this Agreement.  Option Securities shall be purchased severally for the
account of each Underwriter in proportion to the number of Firm Securities set
forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.  No Option
Securities shall be delivered to or for the accounts of the Underwriters unless
the Firm Securities shall be simultaneously delivered or shall theretofore have
been delivered as herein provided.  The respective purchase obligations of each
Underwriter shall be adjusted by you so that no Underwriter shall be obligated
to purchase Option Securities other than in 100 share amounts.  The Underwriters
may cancel any purchase of Option Securities at any time prior to the Option
Securities Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof) by giving written
notice of such cancellation to the Company.

          3.   The Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

          4.   Certificates in definitive form for the Firm Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter hereunder shall be delivered by or on behalf of
the Company and the Selling Stockholder to you for the account of such
Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the
purchase price therefor by certified or official bank check or checks, payable
in New York Clearing House funds, to the order of the Company, for the purchase
price of the Firm Securities being sold by the Company, and to the order of the
Selling Stockholder for the purchase price of the Firm Securities being sold by
the Selling Stockholder, at the office of Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated,
Equitable Center, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York, at 9:30 A.M., New York
City time, on _________ __, 1996, or at such other time, date and place as you
and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein
called the "Time of Delivery."

          Certificates in definitive form for the Option Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter hereunder shall be delivered by or on behalf of
the Company to you for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price thereof by certified or
official bank check or checks, payable in New York
<PAGE>
 
                                       13

Clearing House funds, to the order of the Company, for the purchase price of the
Option Securities, in New York, New York, at such time and on such date (not
earlier than the Time of Delivery nor later than ten business days after giving
of the notice delivered by you to the Company with reference thereto) and in
such denominations and registered in such names as shall be specified in the
notice delivered by you to the Company with respect to the purchase of such
Option Securities.  The date and time of such delivery and payment are herein
sometimes referred to as the "Option Securities Delivery Date."  The obligations
of the Underwriters shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that
there shall be delivered to the Underwriters on the Option Securities Delivery
Date opinions and certificates, dated such Option Securities Delivery Date,
referring to the Option Securities, instead of the Firm Securities, but
otherwise to the same effect as those required to be delivered at the Time of
Delivery pursuant to Sections 7(d), 7(e), 7(f), 7(g) and 7(j).

          Certificates for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities so to
be delivered will be in good delivery form, and in such denominations and
registered in such names as you may request not less than 48 hours prior to the
Time of Delivery and the Option Securities Delivery Date, respectively.  Such
certificates will be made available for checking and packaging in New York, New
York, at least 24 hours prior to the Time of Delivery and Option Securities
Delivery Date.

          5.   (a)  The Company covenants and agrees with each of the
Underwriters:

          (i) If the Registration Statement has not become effective, to file
     promptly the Final Amendment with the Commission and use its best efforts
     to cause the Registration Statement to become effective; if the
     Registration Statement has become effective, to file promptly the Rule 430A
     Prospectus with the Commission; to make no further amendment or any
     supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus which shall be
     disapproved by you after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly
     after it receives notice thereof of the time when the Registration
     Statement, or any amendment thereto, or any amended Registration Statement
     has become effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended
     Prospectus has been filed, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
     order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
     Prospectus or the Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the
     Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or
     threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by
     the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration
     Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and in the event of
     the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the
     use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such
     qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain withdrawal of
     such order;

          (ii) Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may request
     to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities or
     Blue Sky laws of
<PAGE>
 
                                       14

     such jurisdictions as you may request and to comply with such laws so as to
     permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions
     for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution, provided that
     in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a
     foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in
     any jurisdiction;

          (iii)  To furnish each of the Representatives and counsel for the
     Underwriters, without change, signed copies of the Registration Statement
     originally filed with respect to the Securities and each amendment thereto
     (in each case including all exhibits thereto) and to each other
     Underwriter, without change, a conformed copy of such Registration
     Statement and each amendment thereto (in each case without exhibits
     thereto) and, so long as a prospectus relating to the Securities is
     required to be delivered under the Act, as many copies of each Preliminary
     Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments or supplements thereto as you
     may from time to time reasonably request.  If at any time when a prospectus
     is required to be delivered under the Act an event shall have occurred as a
     result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would
     include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
     material fact necessary in order to make statements therein, in the light
     of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is
     delivered, not misleading, or if for any other reason it shall be necessary
     to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the
     Company will forthwith prepare and, subject to the provisions of Section
     5(a) hereof, file with the Commission an appropriate supplement or
     amendment thereto, and will furnish to each Underwriter and to any dealer
     in securities, without charge, as many copies as you may from time to time
     reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the
     Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such
     compliance in accordance with the requirements of Section 10 of the Act;

          (iv) To make generally available to its stockholders as soon as
     practicable, but in any event not later than 60 days after the close of the
     period covered thereby, an earnings statement in form complying with the
     provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act covering a period of 12 consecutive
     months beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal
     quarter next following the Effective Date;

          (v) To file promptly all documents required to be filed with the
     Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), subsequent to the Effective
     Date and during any period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered;

          (vi) For a period of five years from the Effective Date, to furnish to
     its stockholders after the end of each fiscal year an annual report
     (including a consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, cash flow
     and stockholders' equity of the Company and its subsidiaries certified by
     independent public
<PAGE>
 
                                       15

     accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first
     three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter
     ending after the Effective Date), consolidated summary financial
     information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in
     reasonable detail;

          (vii)  During a period of five years from the Effective Date, to
     furnish to you copies of all reports or other communications (financial or
     other) furnished to its stockholders, and deliver to you (i) as soon as
     they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements
     furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities
     exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; and
     (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial
     condition of the Company as you may from time to time reasonably request in
     connection with your obligations hereunder;

          (viii)  To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities in
     the manner set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds";

          (ix) That it will not, during the period of 180 days after the date
     hereof (other than pursuant to this Agreement), offer, sell, contract to
     sell or otherwise dispose of any capital stock of the Company (or
     securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, capital stock of the
     Company), directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of
     Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated, except for (i) grants or exercises of
     stock options under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan or Stock Option
     Plan for Outside Directors, (ii) sales of shares under the Company's
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan, (iii) exercise of the Bank Warrant or (iv)
     conversions of shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common
     Stock;

          (x) That it has caused the Securities to be included for quotation on
     the Nasdaq National Market as of the Effective Date; and

          (xi) To file with the Commission such reports on Form SR as may be
     required pursuant to Rule 463 under the Act.

          (b) The Selling Stockholder covenants and agrees with each of the
Underwriters that:

          (i) The Selling Stockholder will not, during the period of 180 days
     after the date hereof, except pursuant to this Agreement, offer, sell,
     contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, any capital stock of the Company
     (or securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, capital stock of the
     Company), directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of
     Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated; and
<PAGE>
 
                                       16

          (ii) The Selling Stockholder will not, directly or indirectly, take
     any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or which
     might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or
     manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the
     sale or resale of the Securities.

          6.   The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters
that the Company will pay or cause to be paid:  (i) the fees, disbursements and
expenses of counsel and accountants for the Company, and all other expenses, in
connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the
furnishing of copies thereof, including charges for mailing, air freight and
delivery and counting and packaging thereof and of any Preliminary Prospectus
and related offering documents to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of
printing this Agreement, the Agreement Among Underwriters, the Selling
Agreement, communications with the Underwriters and selling group and the
Preliminary and Supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda and any other documents in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities;
(iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for
offering and sale under securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof,
including filing and registration fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements
for counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in
connection with Blue Sky surveys or similar advice with respect to sales; (iv)
the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, securing any required review by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of
the Securities; (v) all fees and expenses in connection with quotation of the
Securities on the Nasdaq National Market; and (vi) all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance of their obligations hereunder which are not
otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 6, including the fees of the
Company's Transfer Agent and Registrar, the cost of any stock issue or transfer
taxes on sale of the Securities to the Underwriters, the cost of the Company's
personnel and other internal costs, the cost of printing and engraving the
certificates representing the Securities, all expenses and taxes incident to the
sale and delivery of the Securities to be sold by the Company to the
Underwriters hereunder and all reasonable expenses incident to the sale and
delivery of the Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder to the
Underwriters hereunder.  The Selling Stockholder will pay any transfer taxes
incident to the transfer to the Underwriters of the Securities being sold by the
Selling Stockholder.  It is understood, however, that, except as provided in
this Section 6, Section 8 and Section 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all
their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock
transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising
expenses connected with any offers they may make.

          7.   The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject,
in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties
and other statements of the Company and the Selling Stockholder herein are, at
and as of the Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company
and the Selling Stockholder shall have performed all
<PAGE>
 
                                       17

its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following
additional conditions:

          (a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective, and you
     shall have received notice thereof not later than 10:00 P.M., New York City
     time, on the date of execution of this Agreement, or at such other time as
     you and the Company may agree; if required, the Prospectus shall have been
     filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required
     by Rule 424(b); no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceeding for that
     purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all
     requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall
     have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

          (b) All corporate proceedings and related legal and other matters in
     connection with the organization of the Company and the registration,
     authorization, issue, sale and delivery of the Securities shall have been
     reasonably satisfactory to Shearman & Sterling, counsel to the
     Underwriters, and Shearman & Sterling shall have been timely furnished with
     such papers and information as they may reasonably have requested to enable
     them to pass upon the matters referred to in this subsection;

          (c) You shall not have advised the Company or the Selling Stockholder
     that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or
     supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact or omits to state
     a fact which in your judgment is in either case material and in the case of
     an omission is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the
     statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading;

          (d)  Harter, Secrest & Emery, counsel to the Company, shall have
     furnished to you their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery, in form
     and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

               (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
          existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
          of Delaware, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good
          standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of
          properties requires such qualification or the conduct of its business
          requires such qualification (except where the failure to so qualify
          would not have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial
          or otherwise, or the business affairs of the Company and the
          Subsidiaries, taken as a whole); and the Company has all necessary
          corporate power and all material governmental authorizations, permits
          and approvals required to own, lease and operate its properties and
          conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
<PAGE>
 
                                       18

               (ii) Each of the Company's subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to
          the Registration Statement (the "Subsidiaries") has been duly
          incorporated (or organized in the case of GWI Switching) and is
          validly existing as a corporation (or a limited partnership in the
          case of GWI Switching) in good standing under the laws of the
          jurisdiction of its incorporation (or organization in the case of GWI
          Switching), and is duly qualified to do business and is in good
          standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of
          properties requires such qualification or the conduct of its business
          requires such qualification (except where the failure to so qualify
          would not have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial
          or otherwise, or the business affairs  of the Company and the
          Subsidiaries, taken as a whole); each Subsidiary has all necessary
          corporate power (or power in the case of GWI Switching) and all
          material governmental authorizations, permits and approvals required
          to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
          as described in the Prospectus; and all certificates of limited
          partnership and any amendments thereto required to be filed by or in
          respect of GWI Switching have been duly filed;

               (iii)  All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
          Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and are validly issued and
          outstanding, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the
          Company of record and to the best knowledge of such counsel, (A)
          beneficially and (B) free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
          equities, security interests or claims of any nature whatsoever,
          except for liens, encumbrances and security interests in favor of the
          Bank of Boston and except for the effect of the Voting Trusts; and to
          the best knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry, neither the
          Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has granted any outstanding
          options, warrants or commitments with respect to any shares of its
          capital stock, whether issued or unissued, except as otherwise
          described in the Prospectus; all the partnership interests in GWI
          Switching Services, L.P., a Texas limited partnership, have been duly
          and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable
          and are owned by Genesee & Wyoming Investors, Inc. and GWI Dayton,
          Inc.  of record and to the best knowledge of such counsel, (A)
          beneficially and (B) free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
          equities, security interests or claims of any nature whatsoever,
          except for liens, encumbrances and security interests in favor of the
          Bank of Boston;

               (iv) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in
          the Registration Statement and all the issued shares of capital stock
          of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and
          are fully paid and non-assessable; and are free of any preemptive
          rights; except as described in the Prospectus, to the knowledge of
          such counsel, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other
          rights calling for the issuance of, and there are no
<PAGE>
 
                                       19

          commitments, plans or arrangements to issue, any shares of capital
          stock of the Company; the Securities being sold by the Company have
          been duly and validly authorized and, when duly countersigned by the
          Company's Transfer Agent and Registrar and issued, delivered and paid
          for in accordance with the provisions of the Registration Statement
          and this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
          non-assessable; the Securities conform to the description thereof in
          the Prospectus; the Securities have been duly authorized for quotation
          on the Nasdaq National Market, as of the Effective Date; and the
          certificates for the Securities are in valid and sufficient form;

               (v) To the best of such counsel's knowledge after due inquiry,
          there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened
          to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their
          respective officers or directors in their capacities as such is a
          party or of which any property of the Company or any of the
          Subsidiaries is the subject which, if resolved against the Company or
          any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or
          directors in their capacities as such, singly, or to the extent
          involving related claims or issues, in the aggregate, is of a
          character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus which has not
          been properly disclosed therein;

               (vi) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement
          of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
          terms, except as enforceability of the same may be limited by
          bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
          laws affecting creditors' rights generally and except as
          enforceability of those provisions relating to indemnity may be
          limited by the federal securities laws and principles of public
          policy;

               (vii)  The Company has full corporate power and authority to
          execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and the Company's
          execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Company's
          consummation of the transactions contemplated herein  and the
          Company's issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the
          Company with all the provisions of this Agreement does not conflict
          with, or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
          constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of
          any lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon, any of the property or
          assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to, the
          terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or
          other material agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which
          the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which the
          Company or any of the Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the
          property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is
          subject, nor does such action result in any violation of the
          provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or the
<PAGE>
 
                                       20

          By-Laws, in each case as amended, of the Company or any of the
          Subsidiaries, or any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to
          such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having
          jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of
          their properties;

               (viii)   No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration
          or qualification of or with any court or any regulatory authority or
          other governmental body is required for the issue and sale of the
          Securities by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the
          other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have
          been obtained under the Act and such consents, approvals,
          authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required
          under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with
          the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;

               (ix) Without any independent investigation, such counsel is not
          aware that either the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is currently
          in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or in
          default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, bank
          loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument of which
          such counsel has knowledge to which the Company or any of the
          Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their
          property is bound or affected (in any respect that is material in
          light of the financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries,
          taken as a whole);

               (x) There are no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or
          to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any
          Securities pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or
          By-Laws, in each case as amended to the date hereof, or any agreement
          or other instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is
          a party known to such counsel (except for preemptive rights of the
          holders of the Bank Warrant which shall terminate at the Time of
          Delivery); and to the best knowledge of such counsel, no holders of
          securities of the Company have rights to the registration thereof
          under the Registration Statement or, if any such holders have such
          rights, such holders have waived such rights;

               (xi) To the extent summarized therein, all contracts and
          agreements summarized in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
          are fairly summarized therein, conform in all material respects to the
          descriptions thereof contained therein, and, to the extent such
          contracts or agreements or any other material agreements are required
          under the Act or the rules and regulations thereunder to be filed, as
          exhibits to the Registration Statement, they are so filed; and such
          counsel does not know of any contracts or other
<PAGE>
 
                                       21

          documents required to be summarized or disclosed in the Prospectus or
          to be so filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, which have
          not been so summarized or disclosed, or so filed;

               (xii)  All descriptions in the Prospectus of statutes,
          regulations or legal or governmental proceedings are fair summaries
          thereof and fairly present the information required to be shown with
          respect to such matters;

               (xiii)  The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
          "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in
          the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and

               (xiv)  The Registration Statement has become effective under the
          Act, the Prospectus has been filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) of
          the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act, including
          the applicable time periods set forth therein, or such filing is not
          required and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
          suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been
          issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are
          pending or threatened under the Act, and the Registration Statement,
          the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of their
          respective effective or issue dates, complied as to form in all
          material respects with the requirements of the Act and the rules and
          regulations thereunder; it being understood that such counsel need
          express no opinion as to the financial statements and schedules or
          other financial or statistical data contained in the Registration
          Statement or the Prospectus.

          Such counsel shall also state that nothing has come to such counsel's
     attention that would lead such counsel to believe that either the
     Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time
     such Registration Statement or amendment or supplement became effective and
     as of the Time of Delivery, or the Prospectus or any amendment or
     supplement thereto, as of its date and as of the Time of Delivery, contains
     or contained any untrue statement of material fact or omits or omitted to
     state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
     the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading.

          In rendering their opinions set forth in Section 7(d) above, such
     counsel may rely, to the extent deemed advisable by such counsel, (a) as to
     factual matters, upon certificates of public officials and officers of the
     Company, and (b) as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
     Delaware and the United States and jurisdictions in which they are
     admitted, on opinions of counsel (provided, however, that you shall have
                                       --------  -------                     
     received a copy of each of such opinions which shall be dated the Time of
     Delivery, addressed to you or otherwise authorizing you to rely thereon,
     and
<PAGE>
 
                                       22

     Harter, Secrest & Emery in its opinion to you delivered pursuant to this
     subsection, shall state that such counsel are satisfactory to them and
     Harter, Secrest & Emery has no reason to believe that the Underwriters and
     they are not justified to so rely);

          (e) Steel, Hector & Davis LLP, counsel to the Selling Stockholder,
     shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated the Time of
     Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

               (i) the Selling Stockholder has been duly incorporated and is
          validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
          the State of Delaware; and this Agreement has been duly authorized,
          executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder;

               (ii) the execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of,
          and the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations
          under, this Agreement and the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement
          will not contravene any provision of applicable law, or the
          [certificate of incorporation] or by-laws of the Selling Stockholder,
          or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, any agreement or other
          instrument binding upon the Selling Stockholder or, to the best of
          such counsel's knowledge, any judgement, order or decree of any
          governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the
          Selling Stockholder, and no consent, approval, authorization or order
          of or qualification with any governmental body or agency is required
          for the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations
          under this Agreement or the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement,
          except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of
          the various states in connection with offer and sale of the Shares;

               (iii)  the Selling Stockholder has valid marketable title to the
          Securities to be sold by the Selling Stockholder and has the legal
          right and power, and all authorization and approval required by law,
          to enter into this Agreement and the Power of Attorney and Custody
          Agreement and to sell, transfer and deliver the Securities to be sold
          by the Selling Stockholder;

               (iv) the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement has been duly
          authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder and is a
          legal, valid and binding obligation of the Selling Stockholder
          enforceable against the Selling Stockholder in accordance with its
          terms; and

               (v) delivery of the Securities to be sold by the Selling
          Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement will pass marketable title to
          such Securities free and clear of any security interests, claims,
          liens, equities and other encumbrances.
<PAGE>
 
                                       23

     (f) Shearman & Sterling, counsel to the Underwriters, shall have furnished
     to you their written opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery, in
     form and substance satisfactory to you, with respect to the incorporation
     of the Company, the validity of the Securities, the Registration Statement,
     the Prospectus and other related matters as you may reasonably request, and
     such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may
     reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

          (g) At the time this Agreement is executed and also at the Time of
     Delivery, Arthur Andersen LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or
     letters, dated the date of this Agreement and the Time of Delivery, in form
     and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect, that:

               (i) They are independent certified public accountants with
          respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the
          Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

               (ii) In their opinion the consolidated financial statements of
          the Company and its subsidiaries (including the related schedules and
          notes) included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and
          covered by their reports included therein comply as to form in all
          material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
          Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder;

               (iii)  On the basis of specified procedures as of a specified
          date not more than five days prior to the date of their letter (which
          procedures do not constitute an examination made in accordance with
          generally accepted auditing standards), consisting of a reading of the
          latest available unaudited interim consolidated financial statements
          of the Company and its subsidiaries, a reading of the latest available
          minutes of any meeting of the Board of Directors and stockholders of
          the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the latest audited
          financial statements included in the Prospectus, inquiries of
          officials of the Company and its subsidiaries who have responsibility
          for financial and accounting matters, and such other procedures or
          inquiries as are specified in such letter, nothing came to their
          attention that caused them to believe that:

                    (A) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the
               Company and its subsidiaries included in the Prospectus do not
               comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
               accounting requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations
               promulgated thereunder or are not presented in conformity with
               generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
               substantially consistent with
<PAGE>
 
                                       24

               that of the audited consolidated financial statements included in
               the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

                    (B) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to
               the date of their letter, there was any change in the capital
               stock, or the long-term debt or short-term debt of the Company
               and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, or any decrease in
               total assets, total current assets, net property and equipment or
               total shareholders' equity or other items specified by the
               Representatives, of the Company and its subsidiaries on a
               consolidated basis, each as compared with the amounts shown on
               the March 31, 1996 included in the Registration Statement and the
               Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases or
               decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may
               occur or such other changes, decreases or increases which are
               described in their letter and which do not, in the sole judgment
               of the Representatives, make it impractical or inadvisable to
               proceed with the purchase and delivery of the Securities as
               contemplated by the Registration Statement; and

                    (C) for the period from April 1, 1996 to a specified date
               not more than five days prior to the date of such letter, there
               was any decrease, as compared with the corresponding period of
               the preceding fiscal year, in the following consolidated amounts:
               total revenues, income before provision for income taxes, net
               income or net income per share of the Company and its
               subsidiaries [conform list of items to appropriate line items in
               financial statements and add other line items as appropriate;
               percentages may be appropriate in certain situations], except in
               all instances for decreases which the Registration Statement
               discloses have occurred or may occur; or such other decreases
               which are described in their letter and which do not, in the sole
               judgment of the Representatives, make it impractical or
               inadvisable to proceed with the purchase and delivery of the
               Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

               (iv) in addition to the examination referred to in their reports
          included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the
          limited procedures referred to in clause (iii) above, they have
          carried out certain specified procedures, not constituting an audit,
          with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information
          specified by the Representatives, which are derived from the general
          accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries which appear in
          the Prospectus, or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the
          Registration Statement, and have compared such amounts and financial
          information with the accounting records of the Company and its
<PAGE>
 
                                       25

          subsidiaries, and have found them to be in agreement and have proved
          the mathematical accuracy of certain specified percentages; and

               (v) On the basis of a reading of the pro forma consolidated
          financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus, carrying out certain specified procedures that would not
          necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the
          comments set forth in this clause (v), inquiries of certain officials
          of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and who have
          responsibility for financial and account matters and proving the
          arithmetic accuracy of the application of the pro forma adjustments to
          the historical amounts in the pro forma consolidated financial
          statements, nothing came to their attention that caused them to
          believe that the pro forma consolidated financial statements do not
          comply in form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
          requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X or that the pro forma
          adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts
          in the compilation of such statements.

          (h) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
     sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
     included in the Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from
     fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
     insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order
     or decree; and since the respective dates as of which information is given
     in the Prospectus, there shall not have been any change in the capital
     stock (other than shares issued pursuant to the exercise of Employee Option
     Shares, exercise of the Bank Warrant or conversion of shares of Class B
     Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock) or short-term debt or
     long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor any change or
     any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general
     affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth
     or contemplated in the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case is
     in your judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
     inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
     Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

          (i) Between the date hereof and the Time of Delivery there shall have
     been no declaration of war by the Government of the United States; at the
     Time of Delivery, there shall not have occurred any material adverse change
     in the financial or securities markets in the United States or in
     political, financial or economic conditions in the United States or any
     outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis,
     the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the
     Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities or to enforce
     contracts for the resale of Securities and no event shall have occurred
     resulting in (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
     Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market
<PAGE>
 
                                       26

     being suspended or limited or minimum or maximum prices being generally
     established on such exchange or market, or (ii) additional material
     governmental restrictions, not in force on the date of this Agreement,
     being imposed upon trading in securities generally by the New York Stock
     Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market or by order of the Commission or any
     court or other governmental authority, or (iii) a general banking
     moratorium being declared by either federal or New York authorities;

          (j) The Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished or
     caused to be furnished to you at the Time of Delivery certificates signed
     by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, on behalf
     of the Company and by the Selling Stockholder, satisfactory to you as to
     such matters as you may reasonably request and as to (i) the accuracy of
     the Company's representations and warranties herein at and as of the Time
     of Delivery and (ii) the performance by the Company and the Selling
     Stockholder of all their respective obligations hereunder to be performed
     at or prior to the Time of Delivery; the Company shall have furnished or
     caused to be furnished to you at the Time of Delivery certificates signed
     by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, on behalf
     of the Company, as to (i) the fact that they have carefully examined the
     Registration Statement and Prospectus and, (a) as of the Effective Date,
     the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
     were true and correct and neither the Registration Statement nor the
     Prospectus omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
     or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (b) since
     the Effective Date, no event has occurred that is required by the Act or
     the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder to be set forth in
     an amendment of, or a supplement to, the Prospectus that has not been set
     forth in such an amendment or supplement and (ii) the matters set forth in
     subsection (a) of this Section 7;

          (k) Each director, executive officer and other stockholder of the
     Company referenced in the footnotes to the table under the caption
     "Principal Stockholders" in the Registration Statement shall have delivered
     to you an agreement not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise
     dispose of any shares of capital stock of the Company (or securities
     convertible into, of exchangeable for, capital stock of the Company),
     directly or indirectly, for a period of 180 days after the date of this
     Agreement, without the prior written consent of Schroder Wertheim & Co.
     Incorporated; and

          (l) The Company shall have delivered to you evidence that the
     Securities have been authorized for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market
     as of the Effective Date.

          8.   (a)  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue
<PAGE>
 
                                       27

statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky application or other
document executed by the Company specifically for that purpose or based upon
written information furnished by the Company filed in any state or other
jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all the Securities under the security
laws thereof or filed with the Commission or any securities association or
securities exchange (each, an "Application"), or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement made by the Company in Section 1 of this
Agreement, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating,
preparing to defend, defending or appearing as a third-party witness in
connection with any such action or claim; provided, however, that the Company
                                          --------  -------                  
shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission relating to an
Underwriter made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or such amendment or supplement or any Application in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

          (b) In addition to any obligations of the Company under Section 8(a),
the Company agrees that it shall perform its indemnification obligations under
Section 8(a) (as modified by the last paragraph of this Section 8(b)) with
respect to counsel fees and expenses and other expenses reasonably incurred by
making payments within 45 days to the Underwriter in the amount of the
statements of the Underwriter's counsel or other statements which shall be
forwarded by the Underwriter.

          The indemnity agreement in Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any
liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend upon the same
terms and conditions to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within
the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act.

          (c) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may
become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application, or arise
out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or such amendment or supplement or any Application
<PAGE>
 
                                       28

in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Underwriter relating to such Underwriter through you expressly
for use therein, and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim.

          The indemnity agreement in this Section 8(c) shall be in addition to
any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the
Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of the Act or the Exchange Act.

          (d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Section 8(a)
or 8(c) of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental
investigation), such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is
to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the
indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(c) except to the
extent it was unaware of such action and has been prejudiced in any material
respect by such failure or from any liability which it may have to any
indemnified party otherwise than under such Section 8(a) or 8(c).   In case any
such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  If, however, (i)
the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the
indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party or (ii) an
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that representation of such
indemnified party and the indemnifying party by the same counsel would be
inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct due to actual
or potential differing interests between them and the indemnified party so
notifies the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall be entitled to
employ counsel different from counsel for the indemnifying party at the expense
of the indemnifying party and the indemnifying party shall not have the right to
assume the defense of such indemnified party.  In no event shall the
indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel
(in addition to local counsel) for all indemnified parties in connection with
any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same set of allegations or circumstances.  The
counsel with respect to which fees and expenses shall be so reimbursed shall be
designated in writing by Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the Company in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(c).
<PAGE>
 
                                       29

          If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel as contemplated by Section 8(b), the indemnifying party agrees that it
shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after
receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
with such request prior to the date of such settlement (unless such fees and
expenses are disputed in good faith by the indemnifying party).  No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect
any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

          (e) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the
Act in any case in which (i) any Underwriter (or any person who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act) makes claim for
indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, but is judicially determined
(by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction
and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal)
that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the
fact that Section 8(a) provides for indemnification in such case or (ii)
contribution under the Act may be required on the part of any Underwriter or any
such controlling person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided
under Section 8(c), then, and in each such case, each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they
may be subject as an indemnifying party hereunder (after contribution from
others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from
the offering of the Securities.  If, however, the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the
indemnified party failed to give the notice required under Section 8(d) above,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion
as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities purchased under
this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the
total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with
respect to the Securities purchased under this Agreement, in each case as set
forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The relative fault
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact relates
<PAGE>
 
                                       30

to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on
the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Company and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this Section 8(e) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above in this Section 8(e).  The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 8(e) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(e), no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the
public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of a
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters' obligations in this Section
8(e) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.

          (f) Promptly after receipt by any party to this Agreement of notice of
the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim
for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (the
"contributing party"), notify the contributing party of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the contributing party will not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to any other party for contribution
under the Act except to the extent it was unaware of such action and has been
prejudiced in any material respect by such failure or from any liability which
it may have to any other party other than for contribution under the Act.  In
case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, the
contributing party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying
party and any other contributing party similarly notified.

          9.   (a)  If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to
purchase the Firm Securities which it has agreed to purchase hereunder, you may
in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase
such Firm Securities on the terms contained herein.  If the aggregate number of
Firm Securities as to which Underwriters default is more than one-eleventh of
the aggregate number of all the Firm Securities and within 36 hours after such
default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm
Securities, then the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall be entitled to a
further period of 36 hours within which to procure another party or other
parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Firm Securities on such terms.  In
the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company
and the Selling Stockholder that you have so arranged for the purchase of such
Firm Securities, or the Company and the Selling
<PAGE>
 
                                       31

Stockholder notify you that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Firm
Securities, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of
Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever
changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to
file promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary.  The term "Underwriter" as
used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section
with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement
with respect to such Firm Securities.

          (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of
the Firm Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you or the
Company and the Selling Stockholder or both as provided in subsection (a) above,
the aggregate number of such Firm Securities which remain unpurchased does not
exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Firm Securities, then the
Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have the right to require each non-
defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of the Firm Securities which such
Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-
defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of
Firm Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Firm
Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such
arrangements have not been made; but nothing shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.

          (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of
the Firm Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you or the
Company and the Selling Stockholder as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate number of such Firm Securities which remain unpurchased exceeds one-
eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Firm Securities, or if the Company
and the Selling Stockholder shall not exercise the right described in subsection
(b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Firm Securities of
a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the
Company or any Selling Stockholder, except for the expenses to be borne by the
Company and the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters as provided in Section
6 hereof and the indemnity agreement in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein
shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

          10.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations,
warranties and other statements of the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the
several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of
them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results
thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of
any Underwriter, or the Company, or an officer or director or
<PAGE>
 
                                       32

controlling person of the Company, or the Selling Stockholder, or any
controlling person of the Selling Stockholder, and shall survive delivery of and
payment for the Securities.

          11.  This Agreement shall become effective (a) if the Registration
Statement has not heretofore become effective, at the earlier of 12:00 Noon, New
York City time, on the first full business day after the Registration Statement
becomes effective and at such time after the Registration Statement becomes
effective as you may authorize the sale of the Securities to the public by
Underwriters or other securities dealers or (b) if the Registration Statement
has heretofore become effective, at the earlier of 24 hours after the filing of
the Prospectus with the Commission and at such time as you may authorize the
sale of the Securities to the public by Underwriters or securities dealers.

          If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof,
the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall not then be under any liability to
any Underwriter except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof, but if
this Agreement becomes effective and is not so terminated but the Securities are
not delivered by or on behalf of the Company or the Selling Stockholder as
provided herein because the Company or the Selling Stockholder has been unable
for any reason beyond its control and not due to any default by it to comply
with the terms and conditions hereof, the Company will reimburse the
Underwriters through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by
you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the
Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the
Securities, but the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Section 6 and Section
8 hereof.

          12.  The statements set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover
page of the Prospectus, the paragraph on the inside front cover of the
Prospectus containing stabilization language and the statements under the
caption "Underwriting" (to the extent such statements relate to the
Underwriters) in the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished by any
Underwriter through the Representatives to the Company for purposes of Sections
1(b), 1(c) and 8 hereof.

          13.  In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the
Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any
statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or
given by you jointly or by Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated on behalf of you
as the Representatives, and in all dealings with the Selling Stockholder
hereunder, you and the Company shall be entitled to act and rely upon any
statement, request, notice or agreement furnished in writing by or on behalf of
the Selling Stockholder.

          All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder, unless
otherwise specified in this Agreement, shall be in writing and, if to the
Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission (subsequently confirmed by delivery or by
<PAGE>
 
                                       33

letter sent by mail) to you as the Representatives in care of Schroder Wertheim
& Co. Incorporated, Equitable Center, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York,
10019, Attention:  Syndicate Department; and if to the Company, shall be
delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission (subsequently
confirmed by delivery or by letter sent by mail) to the address of the Company
set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention:  Mortimer B. Fuller, III,
President; provided, however, that any notice to any Underwriter pursuant to
           --------  -------                                                
Section 8(d) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission (subsequently confirmed by delivery or by letter sent by mail) to
such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or
telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the
Company by you upon request.  Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.

          14.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the
benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholder and, to
the extent provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof, the officers and
directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company, the Selling
Stockholder or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.  No purchaser of any of the
Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason
merely of such purchase.

          15.  Time shall be of the essence for this Agreement. As used herein,
the term "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in
Washington, D.C. is open for business.

          16.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES
THEREOF.

          17.  This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties
hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.  If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please
sign and return to us two counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by
you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance
hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters, the
Company and the Selling Stockholder.  It is understood that your acceptance of
this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority
set forth in a form of Agreement Among Underwriters, manually or facsimile
executed counterparts of which, to the extent practicable and upon request,
shall be submitted to the Company for examination, but without warranty on your
part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

                                    Very truly yours,
<PAGE>
 
                                       34

                                    GENESEE & WYOMING INC.


                                    By:
                                       ------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:


                                    RYDER/ATE, INC.
 
                                    By:
                                       ------------------------------
                                       Attorney-in-fact


Accepted as of the date hereof:

Schroder Wertheim & CO. INCORPORATED
Furman Selz LLC
   as Representatives of the several Underwriters

By:  Schroder Wertheim & CO. INCORPORATED

By:
   -----------------------------------------
   Managing Director
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE I


      Underwriter                                Number of Firm Securities
      ----------                                 -------------------------

Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated

Furman Selz LLC



Total  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .             _______________________

                                                 =======================

<PAGE>
 

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                                    [LOGO]
Class A COMMON STOCK                                    Class A COMMON STOCK
       NUMBER                                                      SHARES


    BOX                                                            BOX

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF                              SEE REVERSE FOR
     THE STATE OF DELAWARE                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS


                                                          CUSIP 371559 10 5

                             Genesee & Wyoming Inc


                                      Box

                              This Certifies That
                                is the owner of


FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE 
$0.01 PER SHARE, OF


                             Genesee & Wyoming Inc.


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(the "Corporation") transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder 
hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this 
certificate properly endorsed.  This certificate is not valid until 
countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.

WITNESS the facsimile seal of the Corportion and the facsimile signatures of its
duly authorized officers.

Dated:



Mark W. Hastings                                     Mortimer B. Fuller,III
Treasurer and Chief                                  President and Chief
Financial Officer                  Seal              Executive Officer
                                                     

Countersigned and Registered

By THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON

   Transfer Agent and Registrar


   Authorized Signature
<PAGE>
 
                            Genesee & Wynoming Inc

   The Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so
requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating,
optional, or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and
the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or
rights.

   The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this
certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM - as tenants in common                  UNIF GIFT MIN ACT____________ 
                                                                  (Cust)
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties          Custodian_____________________
                                                             (Minor)
JT TEN  - as joint tenants with                Under Uniform Gifts to Minors
          right of survivorship and             Act__________________________
          not as tenants in common                         (State)

                                      UNIF TRF MIN ACT_______________________
                                                            (Cust)
                                      Custodian (until age___________________)
                                      _________________under Uniform Transfers
                                           (Minor)
                                      To Minors Act___________________________
                                                            (State)

    Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list


FOR VALUE RECEIVED,___________________________hereby sells, assigns and 
transfers unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
   IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE


BOX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------Shares

of the Class A Common Stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------Attorney

to transfer the said shares of Class A Common Stock on the books of the within 
named Corporation with full power of substitution.

Dated________________________________


                            X__________________________________________________

                            X__________________________________________________
                            NOTICE:  THE SIGNATURES(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST 
                            CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS WRITTEN UPON THE 
                            FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT
                            ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.



SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED:


BY
- --------------------------------------------------------------
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION 
(BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH 
MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO 
S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15


<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                    [LETTERHEAD OF HARTER, SECREST & EMERY]



                                 June 12, 1996



Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
71 Lewis Street
Greenwich, Connecticut   06830

            Re: Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
                Registration Statement on Form S-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    You have requested our opinion in connection with your Registration
Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 333-3972), filed under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of (i) the proposed sale by
Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), of 2,500,000
authorized and unissued shares (or 2,897,200 authorized and unissued shares if
the underwriters' option as to over-allotments is exercised in full) of the
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Corporation (the "Class A
Common Stock"), to be issued subject to effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, and (ii) the proposed sale by a certain selling stockholder of the
Corporation so identified in the Registration Statement (the "Selling
Stockholder") of 148,000 authorized and issued shares of Class A Common Stock.

    We have examined the following corporate records and proceedings of the
Corporation in connection with the preparation of this opinion:  its Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, as filed by the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware on June 10, 1996; its By-laws, as in force and effect on this date; its
minute books, containing minutes and records of other proceedings of its
stockholders and its Board of Directors from the date of incorporation to the
date hereof; the Registration Statement and related Prospectus which constitutes
a part thereof; applicable provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware; and
such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary in the
circumstances.

    In rendering this opinion, we have made such examination of laws as we have
deemed relevant for the purposes hereof.  As to various questions of fact
material to this opinion, we have relied upon representations and/or
certificates of officers of the Corporation, certificates and documents issued
by public officials and authorities, and information received from searchers of
public records.

    Based upon and in reliance on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
<PAGE>
 
HARTER, SECREST & EMERY

Genessee & Wyoming Inc.
June 12, 1996
Page 2



    1.  The Corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware.

    2.  The Corporation has the authority to issue 2,897,200 shares of Class A
Common Stock upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

    3.  The shares of Class A Common Stock to be sold by the Corporation and by
the Selling Stockholder upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
will, when sold and paid for as described in the Registration Statement, be
validly authorized and legally issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-
assessable.

    We hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement and to the use
of our name under the caption "Legal Matters" set forth in the related
Prospectus which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement, as attorneys
who will pass upon the validity of the shares of Class A Common Stock offered
thereby, and we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to
the Registration Statement.

                              Very truly yours,


                              /s/ Harter, Secrest & Emery


<PAGE>
 
                                                                 
                                                              EXHIBIT 23.1     
                   
                CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS     

       
  As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our
reports (and to all references to our Firm) included in or made part of this
Registration Statement on Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1.     
 
Arthur Andersen LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
   
June 12, 1996     
 


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