March, 2001

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Expressway Funding Questioned.  Observers have noted that $20 billion in funds proposed to widen I-94 from I-96 to 'Conner Avenue in Detroit could be used to fund regional rail transportation.  

   Kelly Thayer, of the Michigan Land Use Institute, noted that according to a 1997 Michigan Department of Transportation study, the cost of the I-94 expansion could underwrite a regional mass transit program.  
   "The $1.3-billion proposal is exactly 10 times the cost to build three commuter rail lines from Detroit to Mt. Clemens, Pontiac and Ann Arbor complete with trains, track and stations," Thayer said.
   Andy Zeigler, a regional planner for the state transportation department, said I-94 needs to be upgraded because 175,000 to 200,000 vehicles use the route daily. "It (I-94) needs to be reconstructed and is in desperate need of repair after 50 years," Zeigler said. "We have more traffic out there at peak hours than pavement to handle it."
   Karen D. Kendrick-Hands, of the Detroit-based Transportation Riders United, said the I-94 expansion would cost the equivalent of $20 million per city block.

NS Activities Around Kalamazoo.  Greg Peet reports on MichiganRailroads@yahoogroups.com that NS operates a two day per week Dowagiac Turn west from Kalamazoo.  The train is identified as B1G.  On 3/29 it has two units (3066,3069) and 12 empties.

CM Receiving Two GE Units.  Central Michigan RR may be in the process of receiving a BNSF B30-7 (5492) and a C30-7 (5075) from the same road.  Jon Quinley reports that one will be operated and the other used for parts.  They have not yet arrived in Bay City.

Track Maintenance Plans.  According to the March, 2001 issue of Progressive Railroading, CN plans to install 24 miles of 136-pound rail on the Flint Subdivision, 10 miles of relay rail on the Mount Clemens and Holly Subdivisions, and CTC on the South Bend Subdivision.  RailAmerica also plans to install ties on the Millington-Munger line north from Vassar, eliminating the 10 mph slow orders.  The diamond at Reese will also be replaced.  From Dave Williamson at the Blue Water Chapter, NRHS.

Railfans To Meet in Grand Rapids.  Robert Teusink (rateusin@mtu.edu) has organized a meeting of railfans in Grand Rapids on June 9th.  Interested particpants should meet on Judd St., adjacent to CSX's Wyoming Yard.  Time to follow.  Contact Robert by e-mail above, or at 906-483-7617.

Two New Books.  According to egroup posts, Morning Sun publishing is now distributing "Michigan Central Trackside with Emery Gulash".  According to Fritz Milhaupt (milhaupt@rust.net), the book is 128 pages in full color with many photos along the Detroit to Jackson main line of the MCRR, and downriver.  The cost is $54.95/list.  Joseph Geronimo (joegeronimo@usa.net) also reports that Morning Sun Books is releasing a volume about the DT&I in color next month.

River Rouge Office (Depot) Torn Down.  Ken Borg reports on MichiganRailroads@yahoogroups.com that the old yard office in River Rouge at Coolidge Road was demolished sometime last week.  It appears they will build a new yard office there.  The old yard office was also an old depot.

Schoolcraft Signals.  NS has installed new crossing protection in Schoolcraft.  Also, dual facing dual track signals have been installed by CN near 18th street on the CN South Bend subdivision between Schoolcraft and Vicksburg.  From Roger Oliver (oliverr@voyager.net) in a post on MichiganRailroads@yahoogroups.com.  According to Tom Bowers in another post, the signals are a part of a new CTC upgrade to Chicago.  New crossovers have also been installed in Cassopolis, at McKinley Avenue (MP 105) and just west of South Bend at Mayflower Road.

CSX McGrew Yard to Close?  It has been reported on MichiganRailroads@yahoogroups.com that CSX will be closing McGrew Yard in Flint in April.  Jim Flury posted a comment indicating that the importance of this yard was greatly diminished when Flint's Buick City plant closed a few years ago.

First Amtrak Reefer in Michigan.  From Railpace:  On March 8th, Chicago-Pontiac train #350 had a 60 foot refridgerated express car #74001 on the rear.  The car was set out at the CP Expressway facility near the old Michigan Central Station in Detroit.  Dave Williamson (DLWX@tir.com) via Bluewater Chapter e-mail.  3/13/01.

DTE Energy.  From DTE's 2000 Annual Report:  DTE Coal Services owns a fleet of 9,000 rail cars.  From Greg Peet (gregory.peet@wmich.edu) via MichiganRailroads@yahoogroups.com.  3/13/01

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