April, 2001

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Grant Awarded for Restoration.  The National Park Service has awarded a grant of $10,000 under their Challenge Cost Share Program for rehabilitation of the S.S. City of Milwaukee National Historic Landmark.  [From Dave Williamson, of the Bluewater Chapter, NRHS].

Marquette City Commission to Defer Purchase of Railroad Yard.  Looking to save costs, the Marquette City Commission decided not to set money aside to buy railroad yards.  The city's $15.3 million budget does not include a property tax increase, but it's possible that the Commission will raise millage later to underwrite municipal bonds to buy the south railroad yards and other property, according to Commissioner Tony Tollefson. [From the Detroit News, 4/27/01].

NS Clinton Industrial Track.  David Patch reports that activity on the Clinton branch between Toledo (Airline Yard) and Ottawa Lake is on an as-needed basis.  He suggests that if you are in the Toledo area and hear the "Mega-Terminal" yardmaster talking about somebody using the "Clinton", there is an Ottawa Lake move in progress or pending.  From MichiganRailroads@yahoogroups.com.

Anderson's Inc. Reports Loss.  The Andersons, Inc. of Toledo Rail Group leases and markets railroad cars and locomotives. It also repairs railcars and operates a custom steel fabrication business. The group's railcar
marketing segment has grown significantly in the past few years and now controls a fleet of more than 4,900 railcars and 30 locomotives that are leased to shippers, railroads and fleet owners in a wide range of industries in the U.S. and Canada.  Because of a slowdown in demand for many types of rail equipment throughout the past year, this group has primarily pursued short-term leasing opportunities rather than making car sales or entering into long-term leasing commitments. While there are signs that the cyclical downturn may be easing, the group incurred a slight operating loss for the quarter.  Click here for business information.

CP/CSX Wyoming Avenue Progress.  A site visit to the new connection between the Amtrak/CP Michigan Line and the CSX Plymouth subdivision in east Dearborn near Wyoming Avenue revealed that construction is nearing completion.  The track has been installed and ballasted.  Most signals are in, both on the Michigan Line and the Plymouth sub.  At least one additional dwarf signal has yet to be installed on the WB CR industrial track (old EB main line).  Crews were working on wiring power switches and street crews have begun pouring concrete for the replacement of the Southern/John Kronk street crossing.  

New CSX Trains.  CSX has added two new trains between Detroit and Salem, IL.  Q131 leaves Detroit (Monday through Saturday) at 2030 hrs, via Carleton (22:05) and arrives in Toledo/Stanley at 01:15.  Q132 (Salem to Detroit) leaves Toledo/Stanley Yard (Friday through Wednesday) at 21:25, via Carleton (00:15) and into Detroit at 06:00.  According to Wayne Kuhl, the trains are limited to 2000' and will use only 1 engine.

NS Derailment at Kendalville, Indiana.  CRTS Update #04-50 Wednesday, April 18th, 2001 at 21:30 EDT   A derailment earlier this morning has impacted Norfolk Southern's main line operations near Kendallville, Indiana (Kendallville is on the Norfolk Southern mainline about halfway between Chicago and Toledo).  Both main lines at this location are out of service. The location is east of Norfolk Southern's Elkhart Terminal and will impact traffic normally moving through this terminal.  Efforts are currently underway to clear and repair the tracks.  Operations over one of the lines should be restored about midnight and the second line should be operational by 9:00 AM, Thursday, April 19.   Where possible, traffic normally moving over this route is being diverted over alternate routes. However, customers with traffic moving through this area should expect up to a 24 hour delay.  Picture!  |  Toledo Blade  |  News-Sun  |  TV Station WANE.

LS&I building roof collapses.  In a late report from March 13th, the Marquette Mining Journal reports that a 70 foot section of roof on the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad building on Lake Shore Blvd. in Marquette collapsed under the weight of west snow, burying vehicles inside.  The building is 129 years old and was being used for storage by the railroad and an armored car company.  There were no injuries.   "It’s an old building.  We knew the roof has leaked occasionally,” said LS&I President John Marshall, pointing to aging timbers which make up the roof’s supports. “It’s been around a long time.”  The building was originally built as a foundry, although it’s unclear how long it operated in that capacity, Marshall said. According to LS&I records, the company acquired it in 1923; the railroad used it for storage and leased portions of it to various entities over the years.  The railroad renovated the building in the early 1990s.

TSBY to Begin Day Runs To Traverse City.   From the Traverse City Record Eagle:  Starting this week, Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway Co. freight train runs into Traverse City and Petoskey will be switched from overnight to daytime hours, railway officials said.  The company made the change hoping to quell persistent complaints from city residents about noisy train whistles going off at all hours of the early morning while freight trains rumble through town.  "We haven't been there in the daytime in Traverse City in 10 years," said James Shepard, railway president. "You have a bunch of people up there who don't think there is a train that runs through the city."  Operationally, Shepard said the overnight runs worked well for the railroad because rail customers could work on their scheduling during the day and the railroad could make pick-ups or deliveries at night. It also allowed the railroad to keep rail cars on a consistent three-day cycle running from Ann Arbor to Owosso to Cadillac and into northwest Michigan with few periods where the cars were idled - a significant factor since freight cars are paid for on an hourly basis.  "It's pretty light density up there - you've got to watch your pennies," Shepard said. "It was nice and easy running at night."   Click here for full article.

West Michigan Railroad.   Rob Wolshlager reports on MichiganRailroad e-groups that the West Michigan Railroad, which runs from Hartford (on the CSX) to Paw Paw is in operation.  They still park the NW-2 at the cold storage complex east of Hartford and their GP-9 is parked at the main crossing in Lawrence.  The NW-2 was recently observed in operation with 2 boxcars near the CSX main.  They also have three ex-EJ&E cabooses in Paw Paw.  It is rumored that Minute Maid, located between Lawrence and Paw Paw will be making a major expansion which will use rail service.  Click here for their web page.

Railroad Get Together In Grand Rapids.  The informal railfan get together in Grand Rapids is set for June 9, 2001.  The group will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Judd Street, off of CSX's Wyoming Yard.  Click here for a map.  Go to the dead end at the railroad.

2001 Lake Michigan Carferry Operation.  The S.S. Badger will again conduct cross Lake Michigan car and passenger ferry operations this year.  The ship, which was launched in 1952, carries 620 passengers, 180 vehicles, and is 410 feet in length.  It sails from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin and returns daily.  From May 11 to June 15, the ship makes one roundtrip each day.  From June 16 to September 1st, two round trips are made.  The boat returns to one round trip on September 2 and closes operation for winter on October 28th.

		5/11 to 6/15	6/16 to 9/1
		9/2 to 10/28	1st Round Trip	2nd Round Trip
	Leave Ludington	8:30 am	7:30 am	7:45 pm
	Arrive Manitowoc	11:30 am	10:30 am	10:45 pm
	Leave Manitowoc	2:00 pm	1:00 pm	12:30 am
	Arrive Ludington	7:00 pm	6:00 pm	5:30 am

 For further information, call 1-800-841-4243 or see the S.S. Badger web page at www.ssbadger.com.

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