Our History
Click a year to explore key milestones in MobilGrain’s story.
Founding — The Affleck Vision
MobilGrain was founded by brothers Lavern and Sheldon Affleck, driven by a vision to challenge conventional models in grain handling and rail transportation.
What began as a bold idea would grow into one of Saskatchewan’s most innovative infrastructure companies.
2005 — A New Kind of Grain Terminal
MobilGrain introduced a transportable grain terminal capable of being placed alongside any rail siding to collect, clean, and transfer product.
Its ability to relocate with industry demand — combined with advanced traceability technology — minimized human error and set a new standard. Through this work, the founders gained valuable experience collaborating with multiple railroad companies.
2009 — Last Chance for Last Mountain
When the opportunity arose to purchase track running from Regina to Davidson — rail that would otherwise have been abandoned — the decision was made to act.
After navigating the necessary agreements and legalities, the first locomotives were acquired and Last Mountain Railway (LMR) was born. MobilGrain relocated its terminal and established multiple grain collection sites along the 85-mile corridor.
2011 — Big Skies Ahead
Building on the success of LMR, MobilGrain acquired a second shortline railroad — the 250-mile Big Sky Rail (BSR).
CN provided running rights on approximately 100 miles of CN track to connect the two shortlines. By partnering with West Central Road and Rail (WCRR) and developing additional collection sites along the corridor, traffic grew significantly.
2012 — MobilEx: Access to Port
MobilGrain expanded its reach by acquiring an existing dry bulk port facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario, rebranded as MobilEx Terminal.
The railway loop-track, conveyor-unload system enabled direct rail-to-ship transfers, primarily handling grain and potash, while also offloading salt for regional distribution.
2015 — Kind of a Big Deal
The group of companies under Mobil Capital — including MobilGrain, Last Mountain Railway, Big Sky Rail, and MobilEx Terminal — was acquired by AGT Foods, a global but Saskatchewan-founded company specializing in the processing, trading, and exporting of pulses and staple foods.
AGT retained the existing management team and continued operating each business under its original name.
2017 — InterMobil Container Terminal
In collaboration with CN Rail, MobilGrain designed and constructed a state-of-the-art inland container terminal on the east side of Regina, Saskatchewan.
The terminal uses fully electric, rail-mounted gantry cranes as the prime mover of containers on site. InterMobil gives southern Saskatchewan consumers and suppliers competitive global container access to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts via CN’s intermodal network.
2020 — Cleaning at Scale
A high-throughput bulk grain cleaning facility was constructed in Delisle, Saskatchewan, capable of processing approximately 1,200 metric tonnes per hour to export standards and loading directly into railcars.
The site includes truck-to-rail receiving and a railyard with 10 miles of track, making it one of the largest grain cleaning facilities in western Canada and a major consolidation point for both railways.
2025 — A New Chapter
In January 2025, the nine grain loading facilities along Big Sky Rail and Last Mountain Railway were unified under the MobilGrain umbrella.
Shortly after, the entire group of companies was acquired by a consortium of GCM Grosvenor and Bluejay Capital Partners. AGT Foods continues as a valued customer partner, shipping grain through the MobilGrain infrastructure.
Today — The Adventure Continues
MobilGrain’s team continues to challenge the norm and pursue new opportunities within the rail transportation and first and last mile infrastructure industry.
As innovators and service providers, we remain dedicated to operating with integrity while delivering forward-thinking solutions for our partners and customers.
