News Briefs - December, 2002

Press <Ctrl>-Reload to Refresh your screen with the latest posting.

MichiganRailroads.com programming note...

Given the number of photographs in "que" (in reserve), the home page photo on MichiganRailroads.com will now be changed every other day, instead of the current practice of every three days.  If you are unable to get to the site every other day to see the latest photo, you can view past photos by clicking on the photo album link on the left side of the home page.  The site already has about 225 fairly current photos from all over Michigan.

As your editor and webmaster, I appreciate all of the photo submissions that everyone sends in.  I have about a dozen people who regularly send in shots and I thank each and every one of you.  Please continue to keep me supplied.  Its a great way to show off your photographs and to keep people interested and informed about Michigan railroads. 

Though I can't use every photo, I keep the most interesting photos "in que" and try my best to post a variety for people to see.  If you have submitted a photo and it has not appeared yet, please be patient - I have about 75 "in que" (which is the reason why I've decided to change them more often).  Some photos are better than others and I move the best or most news worthy photos to the top of the que.  Please don't let the "que" discourage you... if you have a nice photo, please be sure to send it to me!

I try to post a variety of photos for people to see.  I select representative photos from  major roads (CSX, CN, NS, CP) along with short lines, and then other interesting shots of buildings and other odd things.  Hopefully, you all find the variety interesting.

To give you all some idea of what is in que, here the the current list:

In my humble opinion, the best photos tell multiple stories.  That's why I don't post "roster" photos very often.  As you capture your photo for MichiganRailroads.com, consider including scenery, adjacent buildings (especially if they have historic interest), signals, switches, colorful surroundings, snow, exhaust, people, and so on.  Readers should be able to look at a photo and learn more than one thing.

Areas of Michigan which are "under represented" include most of the UP (other than the wonderful LS&I photos which Tom Carello sends me), the TSBY, and many shortlines.  I also tend to have fewer shots from west Michigan.  So if you have photos from these under represented areas and roads, please consider sending them.

One other useful point:  After taking railroad photos for most of life, I never understood why they came out so dark, especially on overcast days.  In so many of my older photos, it is hard to see the engine's under frame parts like wheel and trucks.  On dark engines such as Norfolk Southern units, it was difficult to see detail.  It wasn't until I switched to digital photography (which gives the photographer immediate feedback) that I realized that I needed to "f-stop up" my photos by a setting or two to make useable photographs - particularly on overcast days where the sky was bright white and the under frame of the locomotive was almost black. If you haven't tried this, I recommend that you do.

Thank you again for helping make this site useful and interesting.  MichiganRailroads.com will be two years old in February, 2003 and it is getting about 300 hits per day - more than I ever expected - and it is growing each month.  As always, your comments are welcome.  If you have suggestions on ways to improve the site, be sure to send them to me.

- Dale Berry, Editor

FN tower closing?

Mike Delaney reports that FN Tower in Trenton, Michigan is scheduled to close this winter and the control of the interlocking will be relocated to the River Rouge Bridge.  FN controls the crossing of the Conrail Shared Assets line (former New York Central Detroit-Toledo line), with the CN former Detroit & Toledo Shore Line, and the CN line from Delray (Zug Island) to Flat Rock.  When the actual demolition will occur in unknown. New signals had been installed earlier this year and the new circuitry is being installed for remote control from RR Bridge.  This closing has been reported before, but new information suggests that it may happen this time.

If it closes, this will leave the following staffed interlocking towers in Michigan:  Delray (in southwest Detroit), *NS Bridge (at the Rouge River crossing of the old Wabash), *Rouge Bridge (on the old NYC just south of Delray), *Rouge Short Cut Channel Tower (near Zug Island, between Jefferson and the Detroit River), Schaefer Tower (staffed day shift only), and BO Tower in Kalamazoo.  Those towers marked with an asterisk (*) control drawbridges.

CSX derailment near Carleton...

Matt on the Shortlines board reports that CSX Q272 derailed 5 autoracks on 12/20 between Carleton and Romulus, slowing traffic on the double main line most of the day.  R. J. Corman was called in to rerail the pieces.

New book about MCRR power...

Glancy Train Show coming December 29th...

The Glancy Trains Show sponsored by the Bluewater Michigan Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is Sunday, December 29 at the Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Avenue at Kirby two blocks north of Warren Avenue in the University Cultural Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is free parking in the museum lot off Kirby.   The only admission charge is that to the museum, which is $5 for adults, $2.50 for seniorsand students, children under 4 are free. Tables are $15 and may be ordered by contacting Bob Cosgrove at (313) 499-3466. There still are some available, but they must contact me as soon as possible and no later than December 26.   Besides the dealers selling toy and scale model trains and the museum's famed Glancy O-Gauge Lionel layout with its ChooChooCam TV Train, there's a toy train appraisal, toy train repair advice and an auction.

This year for the first time, the Glancy Modular Railroad Club, sponsored by the museum, will bring their radio-controlled Lionel O-Gauge layout to the show. Visitors, especially kids, can operate these trains which include a ChooChooCam caboose. 

Conrail cabooses at Rougemere...

Anthony Rzucidlo reports that former Conrail cabooses were observed in the CSX Rougemere Yard in Dearborn on December 14th.  The cabooses in question were a former Conrail bay window caboose now numbered as NYC 21290 and a transfer caboose now numbered as NYC 18322.  Rzucidlo adds that the transfer caboose is in need of a paint job.  Nathan Nietering adds that the 21290 has been the active caboose at the CSX/NS (CR) interchange in Wayne, MI and 18322 was one of the resident cabooses in Plymouth. Both remain in Conrail colors, complete with logo and CR numbers. Only small 'NYC' initials indicate their CSX ownership.
 

NS Christmas and New Year Holiday Operating Plan...

In response to reduced customer demands during the Christmas holiday weekend, Norfolk Southern will begin a curtailment of operations on December 23.  Operations will be reduced to minimal levels by December 24, as necessary to meet customer demand where necessary and to provide for fluid operations in critical areas to enable a smooth transition to normal service levels on December 26, following the holiday period.  During the period of reduced operations, every effort will be made to minimize impact on customer operations while allowing Norfolk Southern employees to spend time with their families over the holiday.  The same plan will be followed for the New Year holiday period beginning December 30th.  To advise of any specific local service requirements, please  contact your Norfolk Southern Account Manager, or Central Yard Operations Division Manager.  The Central Yard Operations Center (800-898-4296) will be staffed at reduced levels throughout the holiday period.  The National Customer Service Center (800-635-5768) will be closed on December 25 and January 1.
 

Alco back in production?...

Jim Milnor sends this photo of a plastic cup made by "Alco Industries, Inc." of China.  Do you suppose Alco has reincarnated itself across the Pacific?  The photo inset is printed on the bottom of the cup.  Given that this is a "Lemon" cup, some people might suggest that they're still in the same business.  (Just joking.  Everybody loves Alcos!)

Car destroys CSX signals near Saginaw...

Doctors at Saint Mary's hospital today were battling to save a man involved in a one-car crash that left another man dead in Buena Vista Township.  The wreck occurred about 3:15 a.m. when an eastbound Chevrolet Monte Carlo went out of control on Webber at South 27th.  The car left the road, struck a CSX Transportation utility pole and flipped over, Smith said.  Buena Vista Township firefighters used a cutting device to free the other man from the mangled wreck, Smith said. The chief did not know the man's identity early today.  When the car struck the utility pole, the railroad warning system alerted the engineer of an oncoming train to a problem ahead, Smith said. The CSX engineer discovered the wreck minutes later as the train crept through the vicinity.  CSX rail traffic both north and south is now slowed to a crawl.  NB trains are being held at Tatham road for radio clearance to enter the yard. Speed is restricted to 10 mph or less through the area. The signals at Webber are now non-functional and the crossing requires flagging.  In addition to the pole damage, the crash demolished a line-side control building.  CSX estimates that it could take a month or more to replace the structure and contents.  Info from Bill Heilig and the Saginaw News.

Ford SW1001's still working at Rouge...

Nathan Nietering reports that Rougemere is still hosting Ford SW1001 switchers.  Number 10016 was seen spotting coal hoppers today (11/7).   Also present at Rougemere was the new ex-IC switcher refered to below.  Finally, one of CSX's 10 SD60s number 8706 was making a presence.  According to additional information forwarded by Anthony Rzucidlo, 10016 is leased to Rouge Steel and the crew is performing switching operation for Rouge Steel and not Ford. 

CANAC uses IC switcher...

Ken Borg reports that on Sunday (12/1) he spotted IC 1501, an SW14, at on the GTW at Schaefer Tower in Dearborn.  This locomotive is being used by CANAC to switch the Ford side of the Ford Rouge Plant in Dearborn.  CANAC has sub-contracted the GTW to supply crews.

MRC meeting this Wednesday...

With the recent snow, why not get into the Christmas spirit by attending the monthly meeting of the Michigan Railroad Club this Wednesday, December 4th.  Anthony Rzucidlo, president of the MRC, will be showing a holiday program.  Featured will be scenes from holiday decorations as well as scenes of railroading in the winter including cabooses, locomotives and train stations.  The MRC meeting starts at 7:30 P.M., and is held in the Henry Ford Centennial Library located in Dearborn near Michigan & Greenfield.

Rochester Hills Model Train Exhibit...

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm and the Stoney Creek Model Railroad Club invites the public to tour Riding the Rails: A Model Train Exhibit. The exhibit is on display from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays through Jan. 31. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and students. The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm is on Van Hoosen Road, one mile east of Rochester Road off Tienken. For information, call (248) 656-4663 or visit www.rochesterhills.org/museum.htm.
 

More News Briefs from November...