News Briefs - October, 2002
Press <Ctrl>-Reload to Refresh your screen with the latest posting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commuter train on track (if funds become available)...
A proposal to connect Washtenaw County to Detroit with a commuter train is moving forward after a larger plan was scaled down this summer. The latest version, presented to the Ann Arbor City Council this week, calls for a commuter train to run from Chelsea to Ann Arbor with additional Stops in Ypsilanti, Merriman Road near Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Greenfield Village in Dearborn and on to the New Center area in Detroit. A study of the project by the Parsons group, is funded by a $385,000 federal grant. If the proposal is approved and funded, trains could be running by January, 2006. "I really think its going to happen", said Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje said. Still, there are many bumps that could derail the project. Washtenaw County votors would need to approve a tax increase, and Wayne County and Detroit would need to find ways to fund their share of the project. The federal government would also need to approve 80% of the funding costs. 10% would be funded by the State and 10% local funding. From the Ann Arbor News.
Railroad Security tightened...
Railroad security in all areas has been tightened, and railfans are reminded to stay off railroad property. This is the text from CSX Vice President Al Crown to rail employees: "Yesterday, the FBI issued a warning to state and local law enforcement agencies that the U.S. railroads could be the target of a terrorist attack. We have been in contact with the Department of Transportation, the Transportation Security Administration and the intelligence community. As a result, CSX and the rail industry are operating at a heightened state of alert. Since the tragedies of September 11, we have periodically reminded employees to be observant about their surroundings and report any suspicious persons or activities. Your vigilance is now particularly important. No one is allowed on CSX property or locomotives without proper identification. Anyone entering our property must identify himself or herself as an employee, contractor, federal or state inspector (FRA, NTSB, Public Utilities Commission, etc.) and must have the proper identification. You should immediately report anyone without proper identification or any suspicious activity by contacting your local supervisor or the CSXT Police Communications Center at 1-800-232-0144. It's easy to allow current events to distract us. Now more than ever, our nation needs the transportation services we provide. Let's all stay focused on safety and service, while being vigilant about security. Thanks for your help."
MichiganRailroads.com posts 200th cover photo...
With this web site only 21 months old, MichiganRailroads.com has posted its 200th cover photo of Michigan regional railroading. My thanks to the two dozen or so rail fans who have contributed home page photos to the site thus far, specifically:
|
|
To each of you... thank you for your contribution to this web site and to the interest of railroads in Michigan. This web site is a collection of contributions from individuals. For those that have not contributed photos but who would like to do so in the future, please click here. If you have contributed and are waiting to see your photo, please be patient. The photos are changed three times per week and I try to balance large railroads and shortlines, along with other topical news interests. Thanks to everyone for helping. Keep those photos coming!
Dale Berry, Webmaster
MichiganRailroads.com
Michigan Railroad History Conference a huge success...
With an attendance of about 110 people, the 7th Annual Michigan Railroad History Conference was a success, according to Carl Bajema, Conference Chairman. According to participant Jeremy Winkworth, "...it was superb!" Jeremy commended Carl for doing a great job at moderating, and said that all of the presentations were of great interest. The conference facilities were excellent, including the refreshments. Jeremy added, "If you weren't one of the 110 or so people there, you missed out big time."
New 1225 Video available...
The new video of Pere Marquette 1225 June 22, 2002 Excursion Trip is now out for sale. Contact SteamRailroading Institute -MSTRP INC., PO Box 665, Owosso MI, 48867-0665 or 1-989-725-9464. Price is $25.oo. This is their second video.
Cow and Calf power at Rougemere...
For the past couple of days a cow and calf unit have been observed at the CSX Rougemere Yard in Dearborn. The Cow (or motive power) is CSX engine number 4287 and the calf also CSX, is number 1042. From Anthony Rzucidlo.
Model Railroaders meet to talk trains...
BLISSFIELD -- John Wright and Phil Dove, members of the Newcastle and District Model Railway Society from Newcastle, England, spent Monday with members of the Raisin Valley Model Railroad club that meets in Blissfield. Local club member Joe Watts first met John Wright, an expert on model trains, while surfing the Internet in the late 1990s. Watts traveled to Newcastle in 1999 and the friendship was formed. Last week, Wright flew into New York to begin a weeklong vacation, traveling to a model railroad museum in Pennsylvania, a tour of the rails in Pittsburgh and a train exhibition in Cleveland before coming to Blissfield to view the progress of the Raisin Valley Model Railroad project. One of Wright's unexpected tasks during his trip has been to repair damage done to the model trains he carried from England. They were damaged when baggage handlers in new York threw Wright's luggage onto a moving conveyor. A couple of the trains were damaged beyond repair.
Members of the Raisin Valley club took advantage of their time with Wright Monday to learn from his 42 years of experience with model trains. Once in Blissfield, Wright met up with Dove, another member of his own model rail club in England, who had come to the United States a week earlier to visit relatives. This was the second trip to Blissfield for both men. Dove said there isn't a model railroad display anywhere in the United Kingdom that equals the Raisin Valley Model railroad. He explained that railroad interest in Newcastle is great because the first steam-powered railroad was perfected there in 1825. Both men said they were impressed with the mountain railroading exhibit owned by the Raisin Valley club. For more information on the Raisin Valley Model railroad, vistittheir Web site at www.rvmrc.org. From the (Adrian) Daily Telegram.
Will Bangor Elevator be saved?
BANGOR -- City officials are mulling the fate of the Bangor Elevator, a local landmark that dates to 1873. The Downtown Development Authority, which has purchased the building for $82,500 from Mark Mortensen, has started the process of getting bids for demolition. One possible use for the cleared site would be to create a parking lot. But Mayor George Sink and some others want to preserve the structure. "It is a huge part of Bangor's history," said Sink. "It would be a shame to see it torn down and turned into a parking lot. I just think we ought to at least look into the possibility of restoring it. There are government and other funds available through grants and so forth just for this type of thing. We are going to start looking into those possibilities as well." City officials plan to get an engineer to look at the building to see if it is structurally sound. The decision to have a study done came after more than 75 residents and local officials met earlier this month to review the issue.
Unlike some of the city's other historical buildings and artifacts, such as the train depot, Cable House and the Civil War cannon, there is very little written history about the elevator. The building was erected in 1873. It remains almost exactly as it was, except for the addition of the gables and the enclosed porch. During the early 1920s, the railroad forced the owners to move the building 15 feet. If an engineer comes back with the news that it is not restorable then Bangor's landmark grain elevator become just a memory marked only by an asphalt parking lot. Article from the St. Joseph Herald Paladiam.
Amtrak dies in New Buffalo...
On Wednesday evening Oct. 9th, Amtrak 355 (Detroit to Chicago) had electrical problems just west of New Buffalo. The lighting to the coaches, the engine's computer, and other systems were inoperative. After several hours sitting on the single track main, a bus arrived to take the passengers to Chicago. Another Amtrak locomotive was dispatched from Chicago to bring the empty train the 62 miles in to the maintenance facility. From Brian on the MichiganRailroads listserv.
|
|
|
Aftermath of ore train derailment near Little Lake, MI on the CN. [Tom Carello] |
About two weeks ago, the LS&I derailed a string of cars near Little Lake. Tom Carello, frequent photo contributor to MichiganRailroads.com snapped this photo of the aftermath. The CN wasted no time in removing the trucks from the cars and they were removed from the property recently. (Photo at left)
E&LS derailment...
According to E&LS crew member Greg Bunce, the derailment occured at MP 288.1 of E&LS Channing-Crivitz subdivision just east by timetable (south by compass) of the Menominee River bridge. The track was back in service last Friday October 11. While the track was out of service they detoured via the CN Iron Mountain-Hermansville-Pembine. It was caused by wide gauge in a curve. Seven cars did derail with one of them in a rock cut. Machinery could not get to the site so two pulpwood cars one holding 40 cords of wood and the other 25 cords had to be unloaded by hand.
Bangor may have buyer for train depot.
BANGOR (NEWS 3) - The city of Bangor has a potential buyer as it moves ahead with plans to develop the old train depot. The city bought the old depot from CSX railroad in June, 2001 with hopes of re-developing it and turning it into a central part of the city. The city has now received a proposal from Beacon Services to locate its corporate headquarters in the depot. The company is proposing $240,000 in renovations and 14 jobs. Other proposals are due November 8. From WWMT/News 3 web site. Submitted by Greg Peet.
Happy 65th Birthday Michigan Railroad Club...
The Michigan Railroad Club, the oldest railfan group in the state of Michigan (established 1937) will be celebrating its 65th anniversary this Saturday, October 5, 2002. To mark the actual date of the founding of the MRC, the club is running a combination anniversary/mystery trip for its members and their guest. Check out our website for further information at www.michiganrailroadclub.org.