Fulton is looking into the past to find a solution. The city wants to bring back the railroad.

"Well, I think there's a number of businesses in Fulton and Callaway County now that I think are taking a more serious look at rail service than they once did," said Bruce Hackmann of the Fulton Area Development Corporation.

Semi-trucks carry about 48,000 pounds of weight, but with a surcharge for every mile traveled. A freight car carries three times as much without the surcharge.

"We would be very much an advocate of usage in that we could hopefully reduce our freight rate significally,"

The railway in Fulton will need maintenance, but Hackmann feels it will be worth the money to give businesses another option. He sees potential in the project.

The Ozark Valley Railroad owns the 27 mile track between Fulton and Mexico. It is their decision of whether or not to put the train back on the track.

Reported by Stephanie Cobb