RailAmerica buys Marquette

[atrainguy60]

Looking at Google Maps, RailAmerica will have to rebuild across a parking lot in White Cloud and through a golf course in Fremont if they do rebuild, unless it's possible to build around the parking lot and golf course. And it's kinda hard to tell, but in Fremont it looks like someone might have part of their property on the old trackage.

[PAT.C]

I HAVE KNOWN MANY OF THE MQT PEOPLE FOR OVER 6 YRS AND I AM ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW HARD THEY WORK.

.THEIR DEDICATION TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THEIR RAILROAD HAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED ME.

THEY HAVE EARNED AND THEY DESERVE EVERY DOLLAR THEY WILL GET.

GREAT JOB GUYS !!!!!!!!

PS/ YOU DO REMEMBER THAT I DRINK MILLER LITE AND I LIKE BURGERS AT THE NORTHSIDE BAR.

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af1 ... _5741A.jpg

[AveryRdhouse]

Everything that was once cool and fun, now suck's. In twenty years, I'll bet the track ends at Newaygo.

[AARR]

Everything that was once cool and fun, now suck's. In twenty years, I'll bet the track ends at Newaygo.

But you'll have that new connection to Fremont

[AARR]

Picked this up off another board

I'm more surprised that RA is willing to pay so much. $40 mil is over three times gross revenue, and over $2700 per carload per year, based on the reported Marq. volume of 15,000 cars/year. Even if they make $270 profit per car, it would take RA over 10 years to recover their investment.

Anyone know if the above numbers are accurate?

[MDH]

I figure each employee just made a good amount of money or should have,

In employee ownership situations each employee has a different size piece of the pie depending on what level they're at and how long they've worked there. A long time employee at any level should get a decent payout but a new low level employee wouldn't get much (or even anything if they're really new). NOTE - that is speaking very generally and NOT knowing anything about their specific situation but having insight into how employee owned companies work.

[Saturnalia]

Buffet Shoulda bought it
Anyway, I have a few questions:
1. Will the MQT reporting Mark Remain
2. Has the deal been finalized, and if not, when
3. Will MQT employees remain
4. Is RA planning new connection tracks at Fuller? Without a West-North Connection, they would likely block quite a bit of GR. I wonder if CSX is willing to sell down to Leonard or even Watson...

[AARR]

Buffet Shoulda bought it
Anyway, I have a few questions:
1. Will the MQT reporting Mark Remain
2. Has the deal been finalized, and if not, when
3. Will MQT employees remain
4. Is RA planning new connection tracks at Fuller? Without a West-North Connection, they would likely block quite a bit of GR. I wonder if CSX is willing to sell down to Leonard or even Watson...

1. My guess is yes. RA usually keeps the existing short line name.
2. Awaiting STB approval from what I read
3. If they want to I would think yes
4. Unlikely. Everything I have heard/read indicates MQT must interchange all cars with CSX. So even if a car goes to GDLK or GRE (which I am not aware of any that do) it must go through CSX.

[Saturnalia]

Buffet Shoulda bought it
Anyway, I have a few questions:
1. Will the MQT reporting Mark Remain
2. Has the deal been finalized, and if not, when
3. Will MQT employees remain
4. Is RA planning new connection tracks at Fuller? Without a West-North Connection, they would likely block quite a bit of GR. I wonder if CSX is willing to sell down to Leonard or even Watson...

1. My guess is yes. RA usually keeps the existing short line name.
2. Awaiting STB approval from what I read
3. If they want to I would think yes
4. Unlikely. Everything I have heard/read indicates MQT must interchange all cars with CSX. So even if a car goes to GDLK or GRE (which I am not aware of any that do) it must go through CSX.

for #2, I know they are awaiting final apporval, but how soon after that? Right away, a month, 10 years?
And, there ARE cars that go from GDLK to MQT, but via CSX. At least those cars have MQT reporting marks

[GreatLakesRailfan]

for #2, I know they are awaiting final apporval, but how soon after that? Right away, a month, 10 years?
And, there ARE cars that go from GDLK to MQT, but via CSX. At least those cars have MQT reporting marks

From the way things sounded when the news first broke (go back a page or three), the deal could take 10 months to a year or more to go through.


From what I understand of the agreement MQT has with CSX (which is clear as mud to me), any existing online business has to be interchanged to CSX. But is new business that MQT develops also subject to this arrangement? IIRC, one of the spin-offs on that side of the state was only required to interchange existing business with the Class 1...?

[PAT.C]

Postby MQT3001 on Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:28 pm
Buffet Shoulda bought it
Anyway, I have a few questions:
1. Will the MQT reporting Mark Remain
2. Has the deal been finalized, and if not, when
3. Will MQT employees remain
4. Is RA planning new connection tracks at Fuller? Without a West-North Connection, they would likely block quite a bit of GR. I wonder if CSX is willing to sell down to Leonard or even Watson...

WHY DON'T YOU RELAX AND WAIT AND SEE. ALL YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN DUE TIME.

IN THE INTERIM - DISCOVER GIRLS AND THEN YOU'LL STOP WORRYING ABOUT A LOT OF CURRENTLY IMPORTANT THINGS [THAT ARE NOT REALLY THAT IMPORTANT ].
AND YOU WILL STOP BOTHERING US TOO .

[AARR]

AND YOU WILL STOP BOTHERING US TOO .

Hey, I like MQT's questions. Gosh Pat you are sooooo Immature

[CAT345C]

A few years ago a rumor/joke was spread that MQT was relaying form the south side of PCA back to the main to avoid going around the lake, this would cause all of the PCA traffic would then originate on new MQT laid track thus the 700 dollars a car that CSX supposedly gets would end. That fella also said a 10 track yard was going in....

[AARR]

A few years ago a rumor/joke was spread that MQT was relaying form the south side of PCA back to the main to avoid going around the lake, this would cause all of the PCA traffic would then originate on new MQT laid track thus the 700 dollars a car that CSX supposedly gets would end. That fella also said a 10 track yard was going in....

I believe ferry service to WI out of Ludington will resume soon

[Buster Manning]

The rumor about relaying/building a track around the south side of the lake---thinking it had more to do with avoiding some bridges and all the associated costs to maintain them.....and I believe it was gonna be a 5 track yard--except the property owner didn't want to sell.

[HSO 1307]

The MQT track relocation is listed in the MDOT Rail Program post that is on here..

[AveryRdhouse]

To put an end to this. The reroute was shot down by Stronch and Filer City. The Clanny Gun Club didn't want tracks rebuilt on the edge of they're property. So because of the NIMBY's on the south side of the lake, we still have to deal with a bridge that is in dyer need of replacement and the bed wetter's stuck at both crossing's of US 31. Ask RailNazi how much fun he has with impatient motorist's. If you smile and wave you get results. If you piss him off......well hope you brought a lunch.

[KCS KNOCKE TOWER]

Hey Avery, US 31 is truely one of the perks. Its funny when the motorists do piss off the RailNazi. I've heard of the train stopping and backing up to make sure particular motorist know how much they screwed up other motorist behind them Windows roll up and other motorist laugh.

[J T]

"But they are going to rebuild the track from Fremont to White Cloud"...yeah when pigs fly. Read the part about NIMBYS....

That's always my first thought when I read ridiculous comments about tracks being put back in where they haven't existed in decades. The power of the NIMBYs is just way too strong (not to mention, it would just cost way too much).

[AveryRdhouse]

Thanx for your input Doc. It's nice to see some one Pro MQT that has insight. I would have been nice to have you up there. You could be the transportation coordinator instead of a certain used up yardmaster. As for any track being relaid. Come on people, This is Michigan and RA on top of that. We rip up track's. NO RAILS FOR YOU!