UTU and GTW reach agreement...

The United Transportation Union and the GTW have reached a tentative agreement covering 375 UTU members.  The agreement would provide hourly wages, job guarantees and more flexible work rules for UTU members on the GTW.  GTW is a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway.  UTU General Chairperson David Hiatt said details of the tentative agreement will be presented to his general committee March 1 for approval.  It requires membership ratification.

D&M Historical Society Flea Market is cancelled...

The D&MHS Flea Market, scheduled for March 24th in Freeland has been cancelled due to a lack of tables sold.  The group will consider next year's event when it meets this summer.

New Amtrak Port Huron - Chicago train schedule...

This schedule is effective April 26, 2004.  "People living along the Port Huron to Niles corridor will benefit from the convenience of the Blue Water schedule," said Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.  "I am pleased that the Michigan Department of Transportation is partnering with Amtrak to improve rail travel options for so many Michigan residents.  We anticipate the Blue Water route will also bring more Chicago area travelers to enjoy all that our state has to offer."   From Jim Slater.

Business train spotted at Rougemere...

Anthony Rzucidlo reports that a CSX business/inspection train was spotted in Rougemere Yard in Dearborn, Michigan at 11:15 am on 2/20.  The consist was powered by a CSX EMS locomotive, either the 8674 or 8675.  The train was traveling southbound in the yard.

Above, TSBY ran its plow train north towards Petosky last week, and it made it as far as Boyne Falls where it derailed at a grade crossing which had frozen over.  [Mark Andersen]

19 Year old driver hits train...

A 19 year-old St. Joseph, Michigan man was hit by a train while traveling southbound on Hilltop Road in St.

Joseph. He survived the incident but the car was completely destroyed. The Amtrak engineer reported that he was going 50 mph when the impact occurred. He was hit on the passenger side.  He was driving alone.  Fortunately, the car was hit toward the rear, which pushed it off the tracks and into a snow bank. Witnesses said the crossing devices were working at the time of the incident. There are no gates at Hilltop Crossing but there are crossbuck mounted and overhead lights. Crossing gates will be installed there sometime before next year. In late 2003, a man was killed at the very same crossing.   From Mike Dine.
 

FN tower torn down...

FN tower in Trenton, MI was torn down today (2/17), a pile of rubble by 2:20 PM.  It looked like there was an "armstrong" machine still in the tower, not being used.  From Brent Toth.

More troubles for the International...

The eastbound International, Train 364 (15FEB) arrived in Toronto.  As its equipment was backing out of a wye at the VIA Rail Canada Toronto maintenance base, it struck a moving locomotive and derailed.   There were no injuries to the VIA crew. Crew on locomotive sustained minor injuries.  .  Coach 44552 has major damage to one end, probable end frame cracked.  Coach 53503 has all wheels derailed.  Coach 54534 has one truck derailed.  Engine 27 was not derailed but is sitting on twisted rail.  The Westbound International, Train 365(16FEB) the following day, was cancelled.
 

International sets out hot wheel...

The westbound International with Amtrak 31 in the lead, while operating as VIA Train #85, reported activating lineside defect detector at Acton, ON, 15 miles west of Georgetown.  Inspection with tempilstik found hot bearing on first wheel, left side of Coach 34022.  Crew tried to set it out at Rockut, three miles to the west.  However there was snow and ice in the switches, and crew could not operate them.  Train was operated at reduced speed another seven miles to Guelph, where track crew was requested to assist with frozen siding switch.  Delay at Acton: approx one hour at Rockut:  approx. one hour.  From Rockut to departure from Guelph:  3 hr 19 min.  From Mark Worrall.

Ironville Tower Closes...

Norfolk Southern has closed Ironville Tower in Toledo, Ohio as of Monday, January 19, 2004.  Control has been transferred to the Toledo Terminal train dispatcher in Dearborn, Michigan.  From Richard Croy.

EL&S stored cars...

The E&LS continues to plug along.  The storage cars are gradually leaving the property.  The covered hoppers are mostly gone and boxcars are going through the shop in Escanaba for repairs prior to the return to service.  25 boxes went yesterday on the Pembine Turn to Wells.  The economy must be picking up because the boxcars are returning to service.  Some of these cars have been stored for over five years.  The mill in Ontonagon is undergoing periodic slowdowns and machine outages doe to slow orders.  The O&B is running every other day during some weeks.  The snow plow went up the O&B last week, the third time it has been used on the branch this year.  The snow level at Mass is getting up to hig level.  From Greg Bunce.

All Ore Move to Sault Ste. Marie...

Chuck Schwesinger reports that the ore loads are moving from Gladstone to the Soo on Train #553 (45 cars) and #411 (25 cars).  Right after the Soo locks closed, they went to 70 cars a day.  The empties return on train #554.  The reason for the split of the loads is siding capacity and also CN can "save" a unit on #553 by keeping it at 45 cars.  Train #411 runs with 3 units and hauls mainly empties back into Canada so it is never a heavy train and adding the 25 ore cars to the head end does not cause to many problems. #553 can continue to operate with just 2 units where if they had bumped to 70 cars a third would have been needed.
 

Chicago Transit Authority crash...

CHICAGO, IL - February 4:  Two Chicago Transit Authority trains collided at low speed during the rush hour Tuesday, sending about 45 people to area hospitals for minor injuries and delaying thousands of travelers.  The accident took place on elevated tracks just north of the Merchandise Mart when a Purple Line train rear-ended a Brown Line train, causing them to lock together, CTA president Frank Kruesi said.  CTA officials Tuesday were investigating and the National Transportation Safety Board will be involved. Both trains were leaving the station, a CTA spokeswoman said.

An array of electronic signals tells train operators when they can move forward and requires them to stay several hundred feet apart. If the electronic signals fail, CTA guidelines require operators to seek and obtain clearance from the control center before continuing on the tracks.  Because the operator of the Purple Line train did not make a request, Kruesi said that "at first blush," the accident appears to have been caused by "human error."  From the Chicago Tribune.

Amtrak on time performance...

Amtrak reports that Michigan trains ran on-time 62.3% in January, 2004.  From Mark Tomlonson.

Michigan Railroad Club changes spaces for February...

The February 2004 meeting of the Michigan Railroad Club will be held at the Ford Performing Arts Center located just east of the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn. The MRC will return to the library in March and for the rest of the year meetings will be held at that location.