News Briefs - April, 2003
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Above, the newest CMGN 5086 locomotive, joins its sister 5175 at Wenona Yard in Bay City. [Paul Cameron] |
Central Michigan is
about to get another BN C30-7 5086 in green BN paint. The unit was
spotted in Durand. Speculation is that it will probably keep the
same road number on the CM. From Jon Quinley via the MichiganRailroads
listserv. Paul Cameron further reports that the unit has arrived
in Bay City (see photo, left) and that it requires only minor repair to
get it into operation. The locomotive is rumored to have cost only
$20,000. It may be the CMGN's plan to match this unit with the
5175 for pulling heavy coal or large manifest trains.
The Escanaba & Lake Superior has suffered recent power breakdowns. As a result, they have leased an LS&I U30C on a temporary basis and are expecting other borrowed power from the nearby railroad museum in Duluth. According to Greg Bunce on the UP board, E&LS SD-9 1221 has been repaired by the LS&I shops (new traction motor), and the 1220 also went to LS&I's Eagle Mills for a similar repair. The borrowed U30C, the 3010, has been primarily used on the Channing to Ontonagon line because it weights 410,000 pounds and that line is in better shape to handle the weight. It has made the trip to Crivitz but does not venture off the main line.
Fun railroad fact about Iraq...
MichiganRailroads.com news editor Steven Williams points out that railroads in Iraq use the same 4 feet 8 1/2" gauge. For a track gauge listing of all international railroads, click here.
Coal arrives in Litchfield...
Jay Williams and Don Simon on the Lower Peninsula Board report that the first IN coal train came in to Hillsdale this weekend (4/12) and the first block of cars was taken to Litchfield. These were mostly NS top gon cars. A 30 car block was delivered and shuttled to Hillsdale. 15 of these were taken up to the Litchfield power plant Sunday morning. See www.MichiganShortlines.com for more info.
Semaphores still exist...
Just when you would think
that semaphores are all gone, an active semaphore signal has been
discovered in the readership area of MichiganRailroads.com. The
attached photo is of the eastbound Toledo T
erminal
approach to the Ann Arbor Railroad's Hallett Tower in northern Toledo
which apparently still uses them. Thanks to a 400 mm telephone
lens, I was able to get this photo without going on railroad property.
The only other known semaphore signal is on the approach to the CSX
Manistee bridge (which as of last year was "fixed" in position but
lighted). Does anyone know of others? If you do, go to the
RRHX History board and let us know.
CN plows the old South Shore...
CN ran Russell plow WC 302 with WC 6593 as power out of Gladstone on Sunday 4/6. 6893 ran with long end against the plow. Left Gladstone at 9:15am and waited for SORE3 until 9:50am at Larch. Flanged its way north on the Ore Line and then out the DSS&A. Passed Champion at 1:40pm and was to tie up at Baraga for the night. Most places there was only a few inches of snow over the rails. Plowed out the siding at Summit as there was enough pulpwood out of L'anse to require doubling the Hill on Monday. From the Upper Peninsula board.
Ford out of railroad business at the Rouge...
Ford Motor Company has done away with the track maintenance department at the Rouge Center in Dearborn, Michigan. March 31st was the last day of operation for this former department. It is believed that track maintenance work will be performed by the Canadian National. Thus, with this move Ford is out of the railroad business at the Rouge. If you recall railroad operations came to an end on December 1, 2002. November 31, 2002 was the last day of operation for the Ford Railroad also located at the Rouge Center. From Anthony Rzucidlo.